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I was approaching 40 and tired of being overweight. Sound familiar? I couldn't tie my shoelaces without huffing and puffing, my back was always sore and generally feeling tired all the time. Finally, I decided to do something about it. Weeks of researching on the internet about diet and exercise. I came to the conclusion that 'dieting' is not how to go about losing weight, it was about choices and portions and to start exercising. Walking was my first choice of exercise at the time, bought a pedometer and started a journal. After months of walking, I started to lose a little weight and gained more energy. By this time, walking was not so much as a challenge anymore. I saw a runner running down our main street in town, noticed how fit she looked and thought, 'that is how I want to look'. I bought myself a pair of runners the following week and walked to the local walking path and started to run. HA! little did I know how difficult it was, so I started with realistic goals, I used telephone poles and park benches as my marker for run/walk and counting in my head for how many seconds it would take me to run from one pole to the next. After awhile I gave up counting because I would lose count when distracted, so I invested in a cheap running watch. In spring of 2004, I joined our newly formed running club, here I was sitting amongst all these runners at the first AGM, they all look so fit and strong, I have to admit, I felt self conscious and intimidated. But I kept reminding myself that I will soon be fit and strong if I keep this up. As I was filling out the membership form, there was a question about health issues/conditions. Oh boy...I really toyed with that one, should I write it down? Retinitis Pigmentosa? Hearing impaired? Ushers' Syndrome? What will the people say about this? Am I a liability to the club? Will they tell me I couldn't join? It had never occurred to me about blindness and running on how this would affect me, losing weight has been my only focus. I decided to write it down and hope I could still run with the club. This was the first time in my adult years that I had to tell someone about my condition. It almost seemed like I was ashamed of it. Looking back now as I am writing this, I realized how I have come a long way with changing my attitude, confidence, accepting my condition and talking about it. I have learned so much from running, it has shaped me to who I am today. Having said all that, I LOST 46lbs! and to this day, I still keep a journal. That is why I started running 9 years ago. Would love to hear comments about why or who motivated you to get moving ~
10 Comments
Nora Devane
10/4/2012 02:34:38 am
Great reading your story Rose, I too need to get out there and run... well I will...
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Angel
10/14/2012 01:34:52 pm
Great post, Rose! I used to run in high school, mostly distance events in track and field and also cross-country. Seeing people running in my neighborhood got me wanting to get back into it. I used to get shin splints pretty badly, which kept from resuming. I broke down and got a good pair of running shoes and am running at least twice a week and have never felt better. I also have changed my diet and am glad I did!
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Lorna Dawson
10/4/2012 03:11:04 am
Hi, I am Nora's buddy here in Canada! I too just started to run in May...same reason as you basically..weight loss, although I walked a half Marathon in 2010 it was what made me want to do it again! BUT I did not want to walk it.
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Robbie Burt
10/4/2012 06:21:48 am
Hello Rose thanks for sharing your story I to started walking first. in 2007 I 235 LBs and not feeling to good about myself so I decided to make a change and started walking a lot in a little over a I went from 235 pounds to about 180 pounds at this point I still had no thoughts of running. In late July early August 2008 I received a email from the C.N.I.B. this lady said she looking to see if there was any interest from the Blind/VI community to put together a triathlon team for Blind/VI individuals & if I was interested to full out and submit the application form. That night talked it over with my wife and said you know I can't really swim I have not been on a bike in over 10 years and I don't run but this really sounds interesting she replied it certainly sounded crazy but if I wanted to try it then go for it. So filled out the application then in about a week or so I got a call from Jan Ditchfield and she did a over the phone interview so I went out and got a pair of running shoes and started I could only run for about 3 minutes and I though I was going to die I said there was no way I was going to be able to stick with this. I continued running a couple times a week then in September 2008 I went to Ontario for a 4 day introduction to triathlon training camp the first day all 30 individuals gathered and we did a introductions and we had to explain why we applied for the team. after listening to a lot of people speak about going to the paralympics and getting medals in different sports I thought to myself I am in way over my head they picked the worg person for this team. Then it came to me I had to explain why I applied and I had to stop and think for a few minutes and I told them of this crazy dream I have had since I was young of running the Boston marathon I told them I thought if I could train to do a sprint triathlon may be I could train for and complete a marathon and just may be some day qualify for Boston. Over the next 4 days I received a lot of great information and encouragement and by the end of the training camp I had a good idea it was possible on the drive back to Toronto to the airport I sat beside Ron Hackett who had run for years and has ran multiple marathons by the time we made it to Toronto it was no longer a thought I knew 100% some day I would run the Boston marathon. When I got home I started training pretty hard the following July 2009 I went back to Ontario and completed my first sprint triathlon once I completed this race I knew step 1 was complete and I told everyone that I was going to attempt the P.E.I. marathon in October. when I was at the starting aera a friend asked me what my Boston qualifying time was and I laughed and said I just hope to finish but told her for a VI runner I though it was 5 hours the one thing about this race I will never forget is as I was crossing the line my friend yelled hey Robbie how does it fell to be going to Boston I stoped die in my tracks I could not believe I just qualified for Boston. I have since ran Boston twice and have no intentions of slowing down and could not imagine not running.
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Deb haas
10/4/2012 07:41:09 am
Well Rose I've known you all my life and when I think of us a kids I remember alot of happy times and the challenge that you have been faced with on a daily basis. I never looked at you as any different you were My BEST friend!! 44 yrs later look at you!!! There must be something about turnIng "40". I have quit smoking almost 5 years and lost 40 pounds. It's called a lifestyle change. Step out of the box (our comfort zone) and let yourself grow. We are never to old for change and to challenge ourselves. My next goal and has been to be more fit and I know I will do it because I've conquered my other goals!! Watching you grow and face your challenges has made me very proud of you as well as your family and friends. I know your mom is SO VERY PROUD of you!! Keep challenging yourself Rose it looks good on you!! Luv you!!
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Rose Kamma Sarkany
10/15/2012 01:45:12 am
That is fantastic! It does make a difference with good shoes and how we feel when excercising.
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