"If you ever see me running it's a matter of life and death!"
"If you ever see me running it's a matter of life and death!"
- this used to be my usual comment followed by a laugh when someone told me I should start running. I was such an anti runner it wasn't funny. - I had smoked since I was about 15 so my lungs would hurt if I ran a few meters to catch the bus. While being of the cigarettes when pregnant with Rixy I promised myself not to start smoking again. - I never wanted to go back to that habit. So I needed a new addiction. - and for some ironic reason that became running.
I started as soon as I got the 'ok' from the doctor. (The before photo was taken that day) It was super hard I had no fitness at all. - I started walking on the treadmill. Then I managed to run a K without stoping. And for a while I would run/walk/run. Until suddenly one day I managed to run 5K without stopping. - I ran my first ever race and got a medal! A medal! Me! - and with my boys witnessing this it became my addiction. Not only did I feel amazing but I made my boys proud. Exactly a year after giving birth to Rixen I ran my second 10k race and I promised myself that the year after, I would run my first half marathon. And so I did. On the 6th of July I ran the Gold Coast Half Marathon. - it was awesome and I was crying running through that finish line. Partly because of the pain in my hips (I guess because of my two natural births) but mostly because I had set myself a goal and I had done it!
Every runner has a story. - mine isn't very different to others but it's such a big achievement for the person who I was when smoking 20 cigarettes pr day and not knowing the word exercise. It's changed my view of well being and how our bodies operate. - it's made me so aware of the connection between food as a fuel to keep the body going. - it's amazing to feel how your efforts don't mean a thing if you don't put the right food in your mouth. - and the bonus side of running; the body I have never had. - muscles and abs appearing out of no where and a lean toned figure.
Ohh how I wish I could give you a magic tip to the success I've had. - it's been long coming and my advice is to work hard and be determined. Nothing happens overnight. So don't go for the easy and quick solutions with some kind of magic diet. Live life happy and eat healthy and allow yourself an icecream with your kids. - teach them about the importance of staying healthy and fit. And find something you enjoy doing - like I did with my running. Then it just comes naturally. Set yourself little goals and celebrate every achievement. And move up the ladder from there. I started walking on a treadmill and couldn't even run 1k !! So I set myself realistic goals and succeeded. - there's never an excuse for not getting a half hours exercise done. Wether it's at the gym or at home (with your kids).
#nevernotrunning
Paulie. X
