I figured the best thing to do first is give a little history of how and when I started running. Some of it is detailed in my profile but here I can give a more detailed version. For some time leading into 2012 I had been gaining weight and physically feeling worse. My job involves driving in a work van all day and gave me direct access to fast food. Before I knew it, I weighed over 200lbs for the first time in my life. For me being 5'8", this was a big strain on me causing back and rib pain. I started to notice one of my friends posting on Facebook the runs she was doing every morning. I finally talked to her about it, found out why she was doing it and what she was going through, and decided that running was something I was willing to try again. In JH and HS I ran Cross Country and Track so I knew it was something I was capable of. On the morning of May 31st, 2012 I went out and ran about 2 1/2 miles. I ran on the sidewalk in the neighborhood and in a little under 30 minutes, arrived back home huffing and puffing and hurting all over. It would have been easy to give up. To not get up the next morning and do it all again. But I set the alarm again for 5am and did it over and over. The shoes I had were inadequate, the clothes I wore were basically basketball shorts and a cotton shirt. But the more and more I ran, the more changes I started seeing. Times decreased and mileage increased. Finally I discovered something that I was good out. Something that I could excel at. My best friend was so impressed with my determination that he took up running. There is a great local running club in this area and we both joined it and started running in the trail and other races they put on. Within 6 moths of running I had lost 50lbs, I ran my first 5k and by late fall was looking for a Half to run. Not able to find one, I finally decided I was just going to train for a Full the following Spring. I trained over the winter and in April of 2013 I ran my first marathon. I learned many things from that experience and went on to run my first Half, my first 50k and my first 50 Miler that summer. In one year I had come so far. That first year of running changed my life and I haven't looked back since:)
2 Comments
Michael Orlando
1/5/2015 12:00:01 pm
Congratulations and well done. That is one of the things I love about other runners is they each come with a story. Yours is a good one. Thanks for sharing!
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Beth Frilling
1/6/2015 05:21:51 am
Awesome Dave! Great story! And Congrats on being a sponsored athlete!
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