THINSPIRATION STORY - STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY

Think You Can’t Run…Think Again

by Erinn

  

I was never a runner..ever. The longest run I had ever been on was two miles.

I have always worked out. I had even deluded myself into thinking that I was a ‘fit/fat” person. Yeah, NEWS FLASH folks, you can’t be fit and fat.  By my late 30’s I had finally lost about 40 pounds and terrified of putting the weight back on, (I had already gained ten pounds back) I decided I needed to run.

I started out slowly on the treadmill. Treadmill running, while many detest it, has its benefits. It allows you to control the speed at a continuous pace. It also keeps track of your time and calories burned.  There is no cheating on a treadmill (unless you hold onto the sides) and in no time, I was running four miles nonstop. I wasn’t running fast, but I was running.

Soon, I began participating in more 5K’s and a few 10k’s and a friend and I had signed up for the very first Mud Run. For those of you who may not know a Mud Run takes you through a three to six mile military type obstacle course ending with a belly crawl through a pool of mud. It was the time of my life. It was after the completion of the Mud Run that I decided I was going to run a half marathon.

I signed up for the half marathon training with Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet is an amazing athletic store that specializes in running. I met with a very lovely trainer who signed me up with the assurance that even though I was 40, had only run five miles once or twice, I could complete the training and more than that, I would finish the run.  Finishing was my only goal.

Fleet Feet’s training method is one day distance running, one day speed running. We began training on Saturday mornings, in the dead of winter, at 7am.Your first distance run, you start out at about 5 miles with each week adding another mile until you’ve reached 11 miles. After that, it’s a week of easy runs followed by the main event - The Shamrocken’ Half Marathon.

Training was grueling at times, emotional as a first time runner and educational.  During your training, you are also taught about proper hydration and nutrition, running form, gear, shoes and injury prevention. You also meet incredible people of all running levels on their own remarkable journey. For me, years of self-doubt and insecurities began to subside with each mile I was able to complete. I remember running a seven mile training run and yelling at the end. “Take that 40!”

I never thought I was ‘athlete’ enough to worry about nutrition and hydration. Sounds funny now, but it’s true; I’m not skinny. I mistakenly thought because I had a few extra pounds that I would be fine. I had enough stored up to see me through a work out.  Wrong. My body needed calories during long runs just like ‘real athletes’. I had to fuel properly the night before, during and after. I had to hydrate; and soon I could feel the difference in my body depending on the food I ate. I was changing my mind set; food was now becoming fuel for my body. I was actually making decisions about what to eat based on what type of work out I was going to do an hour from then or the next day. I wasn’t on a diet. I was fueling. I was eating blocks and Gels while running, I could tell you when I felt my electrolytes were low. Through trial and error, I found what worked best for my body before a specific type of work out.  Little did I know I was making a life style change.Something else was changed too, I was finally accepting, I was an athlete.

My goal in running my first half marathon was to run the whole way, and I did. While I’m sure there were times during the race that I could have walked faster than I was running, I kept running. I crossed the finish at 2:32. I was ecstatic. Crossing the finish line, seeing my friends in the stands cheering me on, makes me emotional to think about to this day. My sister, a marathon runner who was recovering from yet another ankle surgery, had been my biggest support. It took me two hours after the race to muster up enough call her. Each time I tried, I would get choked up. My body was so tired. I had such a new found respect for my sister. I had nothing left after 13 miles. My sister could go another 13. She is my hero, and my hero was proud of me…

Fast forward to May of 2011. My gym was hyping a new class taught by a little fireball, power house instructor named Lisa (the owner/writer of this blog site).  R.I.P.P.E.D is a high intensity, muscle confusion class that mixes cardio (endurance), intervals, plyometrics and weight training; very athletic based. I took one class and I was hooked. It was hard. Not hard as in, “ I’m tired today and don’t feel like giving a 100%”, but hard as in, "I wasn’t in as good of shape as I thought I was and I was humbled." The class is easy to follow, however it challenges every part of your body.  Lisa makes sure of that! It’s not so hard that you are discouraged, just hard enough that you set goals for yourself that by the end of three weeks you WILL do all the push ups like a guy and NOT A GIRL!

Within in four to five months I lost another 20 pounds. My arms and legs were more defined.  I was still running about 10-15 miles a week and attending R.I.P.P.E.D once a week. My diet continued to improve. I was in the best shape since high school. The real test came the following October when I signed up for the Mud Run again. Obstacles I could not do the year before, I could do with ease now. I could jump and pull myself over a five foot beam. I was able to pull my body weight up and over a slicked down wall by a rope. I couldn’t believe how much stronger I had become. R.I.P.P.E.D had strengthened my body.

January 2012, I began training for my second half marathon. My goal this year, to beat 2:32.  I knew I was leaner. I knew I was stronger; I just needed to be faster if only by one minute.  Training was the same, but this time I paid more attention to form, diet and hydration. By race day I knew I was ready. Finishing wasn’t even a question this time, now speed was. I finished 2:14. I had taken 18 minutes off my previous time. I was ecstatic. R.I.P.P.E.D had not only changed the way I looked, but made me stronger and faster. R.I.P.P.E.D has also changed the way I feel about myself.  I feel I’ve finally earned the right to call myself a runner…I am an athlete!

BEFORE

AFTER

ERINN & I GETTING READY FOR A QUICK 5 MILE RUN ROUND THE PARK

01/12