I’m experiencing such a range of emotions right now.
One year.
Wow.
I feel amazement, shock, pride, and gratitude.
I feel stronger, healthier and dare I say it? . . . . younger.
I’ve proven a few things to myself this past year.
I have grit. I have determination. I’m not a quitter.
I’ve experienced pain, failure, and disappointment, but I’ve also experienced freedom, achievement and unabashed joy.
I’ve quoted often from John Bingham’s book,An Accidental Athlete
I think back to my first days and weeks of learning how to run and I think of this quote:
“It was in that moment that I had the flash of enlightenment. How many times had I gotten to the end of my limits and quit? How many times had I allowed myself to believe that just because I thought I couldn’t take another step, I couldn’t? How many times had I let my head tell my body what it could and couldn’t do? How many times had I let my emotions dictate what I was capable of? . . . . The gift of self-discovery is one of the greatest gifts that comes from living as an athlete. I don’t know any other way to truly come face-to-face with your own beliefs about yourself. . . . My brain said I couldn’t. My will said I had to. My brain said I didn’t have anything left. My will said there is always something left. You just have to know where to look.”
I’ve dug deep this past year. Deeper than I thought possible on certain occasions.
I’m the same person I was a year ago . . . then again, not really. There are days I feel like the tortoise who slowly and painstakingly makes its way forward. Other days I feel as though I’ve made the transition from caterpillar to butterfly.
On a purely practical level, running has given me the key to keeping my weight off. Now, I haven’t had dramatic weight loss over the past year. I think around 20-ish pounds. Roughly. I’m okay with that because the amazing thing to me is I haven’t gained any weight back.
This is the longest I’ve ever been able to maintain a certain weight or continue to lose weight in my adult life. I’ve always been really good at losing weight and keeping it off for a few months before it comes back. Not so this time around. The reason? Running.
This was me the morning of my very first 5K last October. Glamorous? Not so much. ::snort::
“It may be true that the glamour of the sport belongs to the runners at the front of the pack, but the glory belongs to any one of us, regardless of whether we’ve stood atop an Olympic podium. If we face the obstacles, overcome our fears, and push our limitations, we can emerge victorious.” ~ John Bingham, An Accidental Athlete
Let’s do it, y’all. Let’s continue to face down the obstacles in life, overcome our fears and push past our limitations.
xo
Ruthanne!
you look great!! and your smile. . . amazing:)
xoxoxxo
congratulations!!
Dee
Girl, you look so so great!!!
I am so very proud of you, both who you were then and who you are now. You are a strong, beautiful woman!!
you rock…
Very proud of you! I know you have worked hard.
Cheers and blessings.
Happy 1 year! You are doing such a great job of sticking to your goal and putting in the word!
Such a great example to anyone of what it takes to get in shape!
I am new here but I’m staying.
I just started this journey in February. I need to surround myself with people who inspire me! You are a joy. As I’ve been poking around I can see myself saying your words. In February I could barely make it through my 90 seconds of running in my c25k training. I just ran 5 (slow and steady) miles last week! FIVE!
This is such an encouraging post. I feel your excitement! Thanks for being such an inspiration.
you. look. AWESOME!!
Love those top photos, too. Very cute and magazine-y.
You look fantastic! More importantly though is the pride you have in yourself! Great job! You’ve just taught your children a very valuable lesson:)
Love Love Love the pictures of you! You look stronger, healthier, younger and absolutely gorgeous! You are quite an inspiration on so many levels. And for that, I thank you!
I love your beautiful smile! You have a way of drawing people in. We like you, we really really like you!
(And quit trying to convince me to exercise and be healthy! Every time I read your posts, you motivate and encourage me.)
Congratulations on an awesome year!!!
You are awesome and an inspiration, my friend!
Thanks so much for sharing this journey with us here! You’ve been such a HUGE inspiration! And those pictures up there? Beautiful and confident!