Hi guys! Today you have a fun guest post to read from Lindsay! Lindsay blogs over at Lindsay Weighs In to help herself stay motivated and to get support from others on her journey to lose 70 pounds. Enjoy!
Why I Wanted To Become A Runner
Growing up, I was always active. I started playing soccer when I was four, and I played on both club teams and school teams until I was 17.
My first ever soccer photo! Age 4. Wasn’t I a cutie?
I quit playing soccer after my junior year of high school, because I was afraid I wouldn’t make the varsity team. Isn’t that silly? I didn’t even try. I wrote it off that I wasn’t going to be good enough, and I didn’t even attempt it.
Pretty much a collage of my awkward years, haha!
I’ve never been skinny by any means, but when I was playing soccer I at least had my weight somewhat under control. However, when I stopped playing, my weight started to creep up.
Everything in moderation, right?
When I got to college, it got even worse! There was a dining hall where I could eat wherever I want, and trust me, I was not working out. I’ve never been comfortable with my weight, but in college I became the most uncomfortable. A lot of my friends were in great shape, and I always felt a bit like the “fat friend.”
Shortly after I graduated, I decided to get my weight under control. I lost 40 pounds, and I was beginning to become more comfortable with my weight.
Running my first 5K, at my skinniest, with my friend Keri
However, I was going through a hard time, and again turned to food for comfort. Since then, I gained the 40 pounds back… and then some.
But, I refuse to give up. I haven’t failed until I stop trying, right?
Right now, I’m sitting at 230 pounds, the most I’ve ever weighed.
I still want to become a runner. I want to prove that if you run, you’re a runner. It doesn’t matter what size you are, or how fast your mile time is. It matters that you’re out there, trying.
I signed up for my first half marathon, and I’ll be running through the streets of DC this spring. I’m going to kick 2014’s boo-tay!
Am I terrified? Of course, but that’s not stopping me.
I’d love to run a full marathon someday, and maybe even a triathlon as well. I obviously have big dreams. 🙂
I may never run a full marathon, do a triathlon, a half Ironman, or a full Ironman. But as long as I’m out there, even running a mile, I’m a runner. And that’s good enough for me.
Chat with Lindsay! Would you classify yourself as a runner? What’s one of your fitness goals?
Thanks for your guest post, Lindsay! You are very inspiring, and I wish you the best of luck with all your running goals.
Thank you SO much for allowing me the privilege of hanging out over here today, Athena! I’m so honored 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying your time off!!
You’re welcome, Lindsay! Loved having you. 🙂
Thank you SO much for allowing me the privilege of hanging out over here today, Athena! I’m so honored 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying your time off!!
You’re welcome, Lindsay! Loved having you. 🙂
You are totally a runner Lindsay! You go out there and you do it. You’re lapping every single person sitting on the couch or sidelines telling themselves they can’t. Squash that voice in your head if it ever tells you, you can’t, again! I’m also training for a half marathon in the spring…I already know you’re going to kill that goal!
Thank you so much, Jessi!! It’s so hard to tell that voice in your heard telling you that you can’t that it’s wrong! I can’t wait to read about you crushing your half marathon goal as well! <3
You are totally a runner Lindsay! You go out there and you do it. You’re lapping every single person sitting on the couch or sidelines telling themselves they can’t. Squash that voice in your head if it ever tells you, you can’t, again! I’m also training for a half marathon in the spring…I already know you’re going to kill that goal!
Thank you so much, Jessi!! It’s so hard to tell that voice in your heard telling you that you can’t that it’s wrong! I can’t wait to read about you crushing your half marathon goal as well! <3
Yay Lindsay I love this! I always love seeing old pictures of people when they were kids 🙂 I think you totally have this half marathon in the bag! I can’t wait to read about all of your training and progress!
I’m so lucky that my mom took so many pictures because it is so awesome to look back! Those are pictures of pictures from my scrapbook 🙂 I’m becoming more and more terrified about the half, but I know it will be okay!
Yay Lindsay I love this! I always love seeing old pictures of people when they were kids 🙂 I think you totally have this half marathon in the bag! I can’t wait to read about all of your training and progress!
I’m so lucky that my mom took so many pictures because it is so awesome to look back! Those are pictures of pictures from my scrapbook 🙂 I’m becoming more and more terrified about the half, but I know it will be okay!
Lindsay, I swear you’re explaining my story! I was so in to sports in high school and then quit after playing JV basketball and cross country because I was afraid I wasn’t good enough. I went to college and put on so much weight, trying multiple times to lose it. This is the longest I’ve kept it off, but I can feel myself slipping into old habits. I really need to figure out what motivates me to stay active and then keep it out! Love this!
I love that we have similar stories, Roomie!!! I want to lose the weight this time and keep it off forever! 2014 is going to be our year! 🙂
Lindsay, I swear you’re explaining my story! I was so in to sports in high school and then quit after playing JV basketball and cross country because I was afraid I wasn’t good enough. I went to college and put on so much weight, trying multiple times to lose it. This is the longest I’ve kept it off, but I can feel myself slipping into old habits. I really need to figure out what motivates me to stay active and then keep it out! Love this!
I love that we have similar stories, Roomie!!! I want to lose the weight this time and keep it off forever! 2014 is going to be our year! 🙂
Hey Lindsay!
I am so excited for you! I am too about to sign up for my first marathon. I’ve actually never run a half “officially”, because I am also late in thinking I want to run one / do not want to pay the “late registration fees”, but have actually ran 13.2 miles comfortably. So I am thinking to challenge myself in 2014, a marathon might work best for me! Like you mentioned, training is key! I know you can do it, i went from 0 running to running miles easily within 3 months. Have you researched a plan you want to follow? I highly recommend Hal Higdon’s plans. They are free, straight the point, and worked well for myself and others! Good luck!!!
Thank you SO much!!! You’re totally going to rock your marathon, and I’m so excited for you! You’re making me feel so much better that you upped your mileage that quickly! I’m working with a running coach, so thankfully she is writing my plan! Good luck to you as well, my friend!!!
Hey Lindsay!
I am so excited for you! I am too about to sign up for my first marathon. I’ve actually never run a half “officially”, because I am also late in thinking I want to run one / do not want to pay the “late registration fees”, but have actually ran 13.2 miles comfortably. So I am thinking to challenge myself in 2014, a marathon might work best for me! Like you mentioned, training is key! I know you can do it, i went from 0 running to running miles easily within 3 months. Have you researched a plan you want to follow? I highly recommend Hal Higdon’s plans. They are free, straight the point, and worked well for myself and others! Good luck!!!
Thank you SO much!!! You’re totally going to rock your marathon, and I’m so excited for you! You’re making me feel so much better that you upped your mileage that quickly! I’m working with a running coach, so thankfully she is writing my plan! Good luck to you as well, my friend!!!
LINDSAY IS AMAZING!
Thank you so much for sharing your story, girl! I can totally relate to the bit about not wanting to try out because of the fear of failure. Fear of failure is what kept me out of sports entirely growing up.
You are going to kick some half marathon butt and I can’t wait to read all about your training journey! And then I know of quite a few great races around here in the summer if you are interested!
PS. This blog rocks too! So glad you were guesting here today so I could find it!
Yay Salt I’m SO glad that you you made your way over here!!! Fear of failure is so strong, and it’s so hard to tell that voice in your head to shut up. I’m so excited to really up my training and get ready! YES, I would love to do a race with you this summer!!! Athena’s blog is awesome, I’m so glad that you like it! 🙂
LINDSAY IS AMAZING!
Thank you so much for sharing your story, girl! I can totally relate to the bit about not wanting to try out because of the fear of failure. Fear of failure is what kept me out of sports entirely growing up.
You are going to kick some half marathon butt and I can’t wait to read all about your training journey! And then I know of quite a few great races around here in the summer if you are interested!
PS. This blog rocks too! So glad you were guesting here today so I could find it!
Yay Salt I’m SO glad that you you made your way over here!!! Fear of failure is so strong, and it’s so hard to tell that voice in your head to shut up. I’m so excited to really up my training and get ready! YES, I would love to do a race with you this summer!!! Athena’s blog is awesome, I’m so glad that you like it! 🙂
Go for it Lindsay! Having running goals really helps to keep me on track, I’m sure it will work for you too. Be sure to do an update on your progress and thanks Athena for choosing Lindsay as one of your guest bloggers, she is awesome!
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Sheila! I had a lot of fun writing this post 🙂
Go for it Lindsay! Having running goals really helps to keep me on track, I’m sure it will work for you too. Be sure to do an update on your progress and thanks Athena for choosing Lindsay as one of your guest bloggers, she is awesome!
Thank you so much for your sweet words, Sheila! I had a lot of fun writing this post 🙂