Time on my hands

I am sitting here with some free time on my hands, so I decided to post.  As I mentioned in "A little about me",  I got into running as a well of getting back into shape.   In the summer of 2011 I found myself at the highest weight ever for my 5'8 frame; nearly 240 lbs.  I was without health problems but two things were glaringly obvious:  I was not setting a good example as a health care provider and eventually I would have health issues if I continued like this.  I started doing zumba and power-walking in the park.  My clothes started fitting looser but the scale stayed the same.  I was feeling good as well.

I had wanted to give running a try for a long time, but never had the guts, motivation or support to do so.   Pretty soon I started doing intervals of jogging and walking in the park until I was able to do pretty long intervals of jogging.   On Thanksgiving morning I was in the park and came across of group of women wearing sweatshirts that proclaimed "Black Girls Run".   My interest was piqued.

There has always been talk that Black women didn't "work out", "run", etc because of issues with our hair.  There is the sobering statistic that 4 out of 5 Black women are overweight or obese.  Obviously it is not just a problem for Black women but a problem for many Americans.  Black Girls Run! started as a blog created by two sorority sisters as they took on their own issues with fitness and starting run.  One of the founders had her own mother proclaim to her that "her uterus would fall out".   That blog grew into running groups in cities across the country.

Going back to that Thanksgiving Day,  I went online to find out more.  I went to the site which led my to the Facebook group for Black Girls Run! NYC.   I joined and looked into the weekly group runs that were being held.  That next Tuesday I was out at the 7pm Prospect Park group run and I never looked back.  I was of course the last woman to complete that loop, but I didn't do it alone.  The BGR! motto is "No woman left behind".   One of the NYC ambassadors Nykia came back and finished the loop (which consists of that dreaded Nellie Hill).   I kept coming back for group runs.  I met other women in the group who lived right by me.   I started running early mornings (in the middle of winter) with my new running buddies.

I starting seeing more results from being more active and also making lifestyle changes.   I cut out soda and juice (I have them sparingly now) for water and seltzer.  I have not eaten beef or pork in years but I started looking into other changes to make to my diet.  Chickpeas, quinoa, and more veggies added.  I have a sweet tooth and I don't stay away from sweets; I eat them in moderate.  Surprisingly I found myself not craving some of those bad items anymore.   I never looked at my changes as "dieting"; this was a lifestyle change.

My involvement in BGR! and hearing the ladies talk about doing half marathons, 5Ks, etc eventually had wanting to enter a race of my very own.  Late winter of 2012 many ladies were planning to run the More Half in April.  I did not think I would be ready for that one, so I sat out.  Eventually the bug got me and I signed up for the Verrazano Half marathon along Shore Promenade.  I followed a beginner's training schedule which got me up to that day April 27, 2012.  It was a sunny but cool day and I had the support of a couple of my new BGR! friends along the course.   I had no particular goal time for the race but didn't think I would finish before 2:45.

I had probably shed about 20-25 pounds by that day.  The gun went off and once I was near the start, off I went.  I didn't run this entirely.  I ran and took walk breaks as needed.   Occasionally I would look ahead and see someone who I would use as a target to catch up to.   Two hours, 29 minutes, and 26 seconds later I crossed the finish line.  It was an amazing finish.  I finished just under 2:30; which was unbelievable to me.    Not too long after than I found myself signing up for more races: 10K, 5milers, 5k, and another half marathon.  I lost more weight, and with that (and adding in cross and strength training) I was becoming a faster runner.   With the help of a running coach I set my goals on running at half marathon at a 10:30 min/mile pace.  That meant cutting over 9 minutes from my 2nd half marathon Diva Long Island in October 2012 which I completed in 2:26:36.   Months of running including speed workouts, hills, tempo runs paid off at the 2013 Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon which I completed in 2:17:10, a 10:28 pace.

I run now because I love the way it makes me feel.  I feel completely free.  I enter races because I like trying to beat my former self.  I decided to do a half-marathon a month in four months challenge as I way to feel out my endurance before committing to running a full marathon.   Half marathon number two of four is tomorrow.  I am not trying to beat my last time but I plan on enjoying feeling free!