Running to Success – Samantha’s Introduction
January 8, 2013 in Introduction by Samantha
Hey, y’all!
For those of you who don’t already know me, I’m Samantha, I’m 25 years old, and I’m just your average gal. When Melissa asked me to be a blogging member of this community, I was so excited and honored! I can’t wait to write along with my good friends, Melissa, Evanna, and Devin, and I’m looking forward to getting to know David.
Like millions of others, I’ve been riding the health rollercoaster for as long as I can remember. I first gained weight around middle school (all of those Big Mac’s caught up with me, I guess). From there, it was a slow climb up the scale until I was 15 when I reached my extreme high, and I was technically obese. From middle school until forever, I attempted to incorporate running into my lifestyle. I first started in 7th grade, but when I gained weight and, you know, breasts, I stopped.
Fast forward through 12 years of weight fluctuation, eating disorders, and failed and successful goals, and here we are. My eating became healthy and normal in late 2009, and I was no longer starving/restricting/binging/purging/over exercising. What a blessing it has been to be, for the first time in almost 10 years, free of the constant (and I mean constant) obsession with and fear of food. I’m much healthier and more confident, however, I’m not quite happy with my body or daily diet. Not yet.
About a year and a half ago, I temporarily moved to Los Angeles, and I began running for the last time. I’ve been running consistently ever since, and it has changed my life in remarkable ways.
When I started running in LA, it was different than all of the other times that I’d tried. This time, I wasn’t doing it to burn off the piece of bread I’d so guiltily eaten. I wasn’t doing it to lose weight. I wasn’t doing it so other people would be impressed if/when I got skinny.
It was no longer about losing weight, and let’s be honest, running is not exactly a fat-burning exercise. I began running for me, for my health, and to prove to myself that I could.
And I could.
All the time, I continue to discover that I can do more than I ever thought possible. I’m so excited to get to know you, the readers, and share with you my journey to reach new heights in health and fitness. I’ve learned so much, and I will continue to learn and pass it all along.
Amazing!
When I first met you Sam, you were just at the beginning of your running journey. Its so inspiring to see how far you’ve come in the past year alone! 2013 is going to be a fucking fabulous year for you…I just know it!
xx
Devin, you’re so right! I forgot that you and Evy really witnessed when I was just getting started. That’s crazy. I can’t think about my life before running OR before you!
I have my fingers crossed for 2013. Thanks so much for the kind words! I can’t wait to read your first post!!
Miss you, girl. <3
Hey Samantha thank you so much for sharing your story! I was wondering; how long did it take you to get in the habit of running everyday? Now that you’ve been doing it for so long is it something that you just do kind of as second nature or is it still kind of something that you have to tell yourself to do everyday? (hope that makes sense) I’m asking because I want to start running everyday (today was my first day, I did 30 minutes lol) but I’m wondering if I’ll eventually get to a point where I don’t even have to think about it and I just do it and make time for it everyday?
Hi Ivette! Honestly, it took a couple months before I really started to enjoy running. After a while, without even trying, I eased into a rhythm with my breathing so that once I was running, I could just zone out and enjoy the ride. These days, it isn’t necessarily a chore that I have to force myself to do. I get lazy, of course, but once I get my running clothes on, that’s it. I’m ready. There is no better feeling than when you finish a long run, even if your version of a long run is two miles. Reaching new speeds/distances and feeling yourself get stronger is the best.
If you’re just starting out, I wouldn’t recommend running everyday. Your muscles need to recover and you don’t want to put too much pressure on your joints (I learned this the hard way when I first started. My knees were not happy. You want happy knees). Also, you don’t want to burn out. If you’re forcing yourself to go everyday, you’re going to get over it real fast. Try cross-training on your days off from running.
This response is way too long…
Thanks for reading!
I’m so excited you’re here with us sharing your story, because I love watching how you’ve shifted from weight-focused to health-focused. I’m jealous of your running as when you started I used to run more than you! Now you’re all RACEY. Anyway I’m proud. <3
Hahaha, “all racey.” That’s the best. You’re going to be racing with me sooooon. Thank you <33
Hi Samantha! I’m jealous of your ability to enjoy running. Getting myself to that mindset is one of my major goals for this year. Unfortunately, I do not live in sunny SoCal so the incredibly cold weather often discourages me from running, but I’m hoping that seeing your posts will motivate me to just bundle up and head outside.
Good luck with your exercise goals!
Hi Dara! Where do you live? I don’t live in SoCal anymore. I’m in southeastern PA, so when I run in the morning, it’s around 20 degrees! Of course, there are many places in this country and elsewhere that get severely colder.
Let me tell you about running in cold weather: if you suit up correctly, it can be amazing. Before I even hit a mile, I’m ripping off my gloves and taking off my headband that keeps my ears warm. It’s so INVIGORATING. Just get outside before you even think about it. Don’t forget: when you plan on running in the cold, keep in mind that you should dress for 20 degrees warmer than it actually is so you aren’t overheating when you bundle up! I make sure I’m wearing my light running jacket with pockets so I can throw my gloves in there when I’ve warmed up… and to keep tissues ready for when I finally stop running and my nose starts running.
Trust me. It took a very long time before I began to enjoy running!
I’m actually near you right now, but at the end of the week I’ll be back at school in southern Connecticut. It’s around the same temperature, but I’m also one of those people who gets cold very easily and would love to live in a place where the temperature never drops below 60. Thanks for the advice!
Hi and thanks for sharing! I’m really looking forward to your posts, because I got myself into running regularly for about two months last year, but then I fell out of the habit, and now I’m looking to start back up again. Reading your comments is already getting me excited, though, so I think this is going to be good.
Thanks, Kara! It’s so easy to fall off the running wagon, even after you thought you created a habit out of it. I hope that reading my blog posts as well as using the forums and the community will help you get motivated to start running again and never stop!
I’ve tried running several times but I just despise it. I guess because I’ve never tried hard or long enough, but I just hate the feeling of running out of breath and choking up and my heart pounding and blah. I have never felt satisfied afterwards. I want to try again though, this blog is making me feel like exercise really could help me feel better on a daily basis. I just wish it was warm outside here, like it is in Cali, so I don’t have to be restricted to my treadmill in the basement.
Excited to read more! <3
Alex – I totally understand hating that feeling. It isn’t wrong! In the many times I attempted to start running on a regular basis, I was just embarrassed at all the heaving and suffering that like, a quarter of a mile caused. It’s just about the process, though! Really, though, running isn’t for everybody. Find your thing and embrace it! Swimming, bicycling, elliptical training, kickboxing, etc.
I’ve been really love running in the cold weather, which might make me a little crazy. I don’t live in LA anymore, so we’re rocking 10-30 degrees in the mornings here in PA. I’m not sure where you’re located, so it could be way colder where you are!
Thanks for reading!!