Hi! Thank you for visiting my blog. My name is Mendy and this is my running story!
A long time ago I was a fairly active person. I was never involved in sports, but I enjoyed going for walks, skiing, hiking - basically play!
1986
When I was 18, my best friend's fiance set me up on a blind date with his best friend, Brian. The attraction was instant and intense, and 364 days later we were married.
Before long, our family had grown to include 2 little boys and 2 little girls. I was pretty much up to my eyeballs in feeding, diapering, and homeschooling children - leaving precious little time or resources for a gym membership or other outside interests.
Before long, our family had grown to include 2 little boys and 2 little girls. I was pretty much up to my eyeballs in feeding, diapering, and homeschooling children - leaving precious little time or resources for a gym membership or other outside interests.
1994
Through
all that I remained pretty much the same size, but then I hit 30 and my
weight started climbing. I told myself it was normal - expected even.
Of course, I tried dieting... but the weight I took off always managed
to find its way back.
1999
2001
But what did it matter? - I was happy, and relatively healthy.
Then, in 2004, Brian and I decided to add a couple more children to the family.
First came Levi in 2005
And then Gracie in 2007
They were horrible pregnancies. I puked the entire 9 months. I had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction while pregnant with Levi and could barely walk. I had to ride the scooter at Wal-mart, for heaven's sake!
With
Gracie, the combination of being overweight and pregnant led to persistent
heartburn - which led to my aspirating stomach acid - which led to
asthma. (Thank goodness I didn't give a mouse a cookie!)
Basically not a happy time in my life.
I ended up weighing 10 lbs less after Gracie was born than before. I also turned 40 four days before her birth. So I thought - "Now is the time! I've already got a head start. Plus, I'm breastfeeding. If I ever want to get this weight off and get healthy - it's now or never!"
So I joined Weight Watchers, and very slowly - 1 lb a week - the weight came off. I lost 35 lbs (45 lbs altogether) and looked a lot better.
(October 2007 - I remember being so excited because I could actually fit in a kiddie ride!)
However, I felt soft and out of shape. Plus, I knew that when the honeymoon baby hormone stage passed I would once again be battling depression. I needed exercise!
I began with the elliptical and some bodyweight exercises.
Then I discovered Zumba! Boy did I love that! It was the first time I had ever been excited to exercise! After a while I read a book called :"The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women" and began some serious strength training.
One thing I did NOT do is run.
NO Siree!
Why would anyone run when Zumba was so much fun??
Now, my husband had been running for a couple of years. I knew he would like to run with me, and I considered it a few times, but I didn't want to admit to him that I could only run about 1/4 mile before I felt like passing out.
Then in June 2012 tragedy stuck. My Zumba teacher injured herself and would be out for 6 weeks. What was I to do? Elliptical? No way! Spin? Boring! Running?
Running...
hmm... maybe...
So, I hesitantly started running at the local park with my husband. Just a little at first. 2 minutes running and then 2 minutes walking. My husband was very patient with me. Very encouraging.
Then - on July 20, 2012 I ran my first ever 5K. It was the Vestcor Bridges 5K - and I didn't have enough sense to know there might be hills!
The whole run was pure torture. I promised myself over and over that if I just finished this race I would NEVER, EVER race again.
(That's me... grimacing and swearing I will never do this again!)
That was the day I discovered that runners are habitual liars!
These days, I spend much of my free time reading about, planning, researching and dreaming about running.
So - Welcome! And thank you for helping to fuel my obsession by reading my blog!
I'd love it if you'd take a moment and introduce yourself in the comments below!
Basically not a happy time in my life.
I ended up weighing 10 lbs less after Gracie was born than before. I also turned 40 four days before her birth. So I thought - "Now is the time! I've already got a head start. Plus, I'm breastfeeding. If I ever want to get this weight off and get healthy - it's now or never!"
So I joined Weight Watchers, and very slowly - 1 lb a week - the weight came off. I lost 35 lbs (45 lbs altogether) and looked a lot better.
(October 2007 - I remember being so excited because I could actually fit in a kiddie ride!)
However, I felt soft and out of shape. Plus, I knew that when the honeymoon baby hormone stage passed I would once again be battling depression. I needed exercise!
I began with the elliptical and some bodyweight exercises.
Then I discovered Zumba! Boy did I love that! It was the first time I had ever been excited to exercise! After a while I read a book called :"The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women" and began some serious strength training.
One thing I did NOT do is run.
NO Siree!
Why would anyone run when Zumba was so much fun??
Now, my husband had been running for a couple of years. I knew he would like to run with me, and I considered it a few times, but I didn't want to admit to him that I could only run about 1/4 mile before I felt like passing out.
Then in June 2012 tragedy stuck. My Zumba teacher injured herself and would be out for 6 weeks. What was I to do? Elliptical? No way! Spin? Boring! Running?
Running...
hmm... maybe...
So, I hesitantly started running at the local park with my husband. Just a little at first. 2 minutes running and then 2 minutes walking. My husband was very patient with me. Very encouraging.
Then - on July 20, 2012 I ran my first ever 5K. It was the Vestcor Bridges 5K - and I didn't have enough sense to know there might be hills!
The whole run was pure torture. I promised myself over and over that if I just finished this race I would NEVER, EVER race again.
That was the day I discovered that runners are habitual liars!
These days, I spend much of my free time reading about, planning, researching and dreaming about running.
So - Welcome! And thank you for helping to fuel my obsession by reading my blog!
I'd love it if you'd take a moment and introduce yourself in the comments below!
