One Year and (Roughly) Forty Pounds Ago
It's been a year today, my friends, since I started my fitness journey by hiking just a little way up the M trail. Little did I know, that day, where this journey would take me.
I was in a bad place that day. I was feeling physically very unhealthy and I was struggling to save a failing relationship. Mentally and emotionally, I was a wreck. I felt really terrible about myself at that point, in so many ways. But I decided that day to literally put one foot in front of the other and move forward and I'm really glad that I did.
I didn't get very far up the hill that day. Just to the 3rd switchback. But I had found a method of approaching exercise that worked for me and that I'm still using a year later. Baby steps. Small bites. Small, achievable goals. Slowly increasing my distance over time and then gradually adding difficulty by not stopping as often and by adding running to some segments. Eventually that helped me "give in" to my friend Mr. S's suggestion that I try out the Galloway run/walk/run method with the Missoula Back of the Packers on that November Beer Run. And I was HOOKED. And then it all took off.
As most of you know, that time period was really rough for me. My failing relationship finally failed in mid-August, and I had a really hard time for a while after that. But my friends propped me up and helped me through and I kept plugging away at my goals. Looking back, I realize now that it was all very much for the best. Reaching a sort of bottom, in terms of how I felt about myself & my body, how my body was functioning, and in my relationship all in such a short time span probably helped kick me into gear better than anything else would have.
And it's worked out wonderfully. The honest truth is, beyond my marathon aspirations most of you don't know the details yet about just how well things have worked out for me, but you will soon. For now just let me say that I am in a place right now that is so much better than last year as to be in a whole other galaxy. A galaxy far, far away. And even though a lot of that is due to the amazing improvements in my personal life, I don't know that I would have been able to get where I am without having improved my fitness (and hence my confidence) or without the love and support of you guys. So it's all very interrelated, as you can see.
It's weird to look back and actually be thankful for the pain and the drama, but I am. I'm deeply thankful, actually. Because it got me here. In a lot of ways, all that pain led directly to where I am today, and where I am today is FUCKING AWESOME. Sure, I could use a better paying job and I have a few more pounds to lose, but those things are actually pretty trivial compared to the rest of my life improvements.
So, as always, my special thanks, love and appreciation goes out to Mr. S for not giving up on me and pushing me to go on that Beer Run, and to unrulynarrator, serverwench, jesterati, smoonn geetz and everybody else for your patience, understanding, love and support. You guys got me through a year that started out with a lot of pain and anguish and landed in a fantastic place, and I love you for it. Thank you!
I was in a bad place that day. I was feeling physically very unhealthy and I was struggling to save a failing relationship. Mentally and emotionally, I was a wreck. I felt really terrible about myself at that point, in so many ways. But I decided that day to literally put one foot in front of the other and move forward and I'm really glad that I did.
I didn't get very far up the hill that day. Just to the 3rd switchback. But I had found a method of approaching exercise that worked for me and that I'm still using a year later. Baby steps. Small bites. Small, achievable goals. Slowly increasing my distance over time and then gradually adding difficulty by not stopping as often and by adding running to some segments. Eventually that helped me "give in" to my friend Mr. S's suggestion that I try out the Galloway run/walk/run method with the Missoula Back of the Packers on that November Beer Run. And I was HOOKED. And then it all took off.
As most of you know, that time period was really rough for me. My failing relationship finally failed in mid-August, and I had a really hard time for a while after that. But my friends propped me up and helped me through and I kept plugging away at my goals. Looking back, I realize now that it was all very much for the best. Reaching a sort of bottom, in terms of how I felt about myself & my body, how my body was functioning, and in my relationship all in such a short time span probably helped kick me into gear better than anything else would have.
And it's worked out wonderfully. The honest truth is, beyond my marathon aspirations most of you don't know the details yet about just how well things have worked out for me, but you will soon. For now just let me say that I am in a place right now that is so much better than last year as to be in a whole other galaxy. A galaxy far, far away. And even though a lot of that is due to the amazing improvements in my personal life, I don't know that I would have been able to get where I am without having improved my fitness (and hence my confidence) or without the love and support of you guys. So it's all very interrelated, as you can see.
It's weird to look back and actually be thankful for the pain and the drama, but I am. I'm deeply thankful, actually. Because it got me here. In a lot of ways, all that pain led directly to where I am today, and where I am today is FUCKING AWESOME. Sure, I could use a better paying job and I have a few more pounds to lose, but those things are actually pretty trivial compared to the rest of my life improvements.
So, as always, my special thanks, love and appreciation goes out to Mr. S for not giving up on me and pushing me to go on that Beer Run, and to unrulynarrator, serverwench, jesterati, smoonn geetz and everybody else for your patience, understanding, love and support. You guys got me through a year that started out with a lot of pain and anguish and landed in a fantastic place, and I love you for it. Thank you!