5k | Finally Getting Fit at 50

Today was an amazing day for me, and while I’m not at my goal weight it showed me just how far I have come in the past year. When I first started loosing weight in June 2012, cycling was my exercise of choice and is still my favorite. I felt like it allowed me to do more then I ever dreamed possible and took me places I hadn’t been before because I was so fearful of walking. I actually had refused to walk around the block with friends. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, I wanted too. It was fear and terror that kept me sidelined. I was afraid that I would get halfway around the block and not be able to get back. When I would go shopping or to craft shows I would always need to take a break and sit down so I knew there was no way I could walk around the block and not need a break.

By September 17, 2012, I had started losing weight and my legs were getting stronger from my cycling so I decided to brave it and walk with a couple of coworkers during my lunch break. Ahead of time I had driven around the block and had calculated escape routes so that if I started having a hard time I could take a short cut and get back to the office. I was actually shocked and pleasantly surprised when I made it the full 1.5 miles. Two weeks later was the Susan G. Komen walk for the cure in our town. However, I refused to sign up and walk for it because the fear that I couldn’t make it was too great.

Fast forward one year, today not only did I sign up for the Susan G. Komen 5K run/walk, I ran the entire 3.1 miles and recorded my best time ever.

What a difference a year makes when you keep going in spite of fear. Each little victory helps you make it to the next goal. I started with the first walk during my lunch hour and that has continued almost daily over the last year. Then when I had to put my bike away for the winter I started walking in my neighborhood or on a treadmill at the gym. Then I got real brave and started the C25K (Couch to 5K) program on my phone. It wasn’t at all easy and I would repeat some of the weeks over for a couple of weeks before moving on to the next week, but I did it!

I never would have dreamed in a million years that I would ever be running, but I am and it feels awesome! It’s never too late to change habits and lifestyles to become a healthy fit person.

If someone had told me 14 months ago at the beginning of this journey that I would be walking a 5K let alone running one, I would have told them they were crazy. Walking was the last thing I ever thought I would be doing! After all, I had found my exercise and it was biking. My aversion to walking was so great that I would get irritated every time I watched The Biggest Loser and contestants would turn into runners.

Part of the reason I disliked it so much was the fear that it generated. I would ride my bike anywhere, but absolutely refused to walk around the block with my friends. I was terrified that I would get halfway from our starting point and not be able to make it back. Then one day after I had started loosing a few pounds, I did something crazy. I decided to try to walk at lunch with two other coworkers who walked for 30 minutes every day. I had worked out some escape routes in my head so that I could take some short cuts and make it back to the office if I started to feel like I couldn’t make it the whole way. No one was more shocked then I was when I made the 1.5 mile walk without a problem.

The next thing I knew, I was walking every day at lunch and would get frustrated if I had to miss my walk. When my exercise had to move inside to the gym over the winter months I started walking on the treadmill and before I knew what hit me, ever so slowly I would start to jog. Then one crazy night to keep myself motivated, I asked a friend if she wanted to sign up for a 5k. I didn’t think, I just jumped and signed up.

Fast forward to August 10th. I just completed my 3rd 5K since April and I’m ready to go again. This 5K was a blast! I ran the “Run or Dye – Toledo” 5k. This one isn’t timed and is a whole lot of fun for the whole family, it’s made just to get you active. Over the course of the run there are four dye stations which you run through and volunteers blast you with color. Just in case that wasn’t enough color for you, there’s a party stage where all the participants throw dye in the air at the count of 10 – of course they have some great music going to pump up the fun. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to be active and have blast at the same time.

Don’t forget you are never too old to try something new. Although it can be difficult, face your fears and you might actually find a fun time.

Doesn’t this look like someone who had fun exercising?

Finally Getting Fit at 50

one woman's journey to finally getting fit at 50

Tag Archives: 5k

What a Difference a Year Makes

Who Knew