Momma Mel of 5: September 2010

I have made myself so busy by living that I haven't taken the time to type out a little of my thoughts...starting a little later. I'm off to my workout!

My Start

In 2001 my neighbor quit smoking and started running and convinced me to do so also. It was a gradual process of quitting smoking and learning how to exercise. Running became something I enjoyed doing most of all. I trained and ran my first 5K that year. The following year I decided to do the 1/2 marathon; I accomplished my goal by running the entire race. I don't think I loved it then but I liked it well enough to train for the Chicago Marathon. During my training, like at the 17 mile run mark, I ruptured a disc in my back, L4. I was out! The pain was excrutiating, I couldn't walk alone to the bathroom let alone continue running. My then boyfriend, now husband, helped nurse me back and we started doing sprint triathlons. The training was much easier on my body and I made the decision to never train for long distance running again. Nothing was worth that pain.
In 2005 Jimmy and I were married and our focus became increasing the size of our family. I had 2 children from a previous marriage and we wanted 2 together. The idea of 2 became the reality of 3 and we each got fatter and fatter and fatter with the pregnancies. I found myself at a STURDY 241lbs at the final pregnancy of Walter.
That was enough of that, I decided to lose the weight I had put on and decided to make my family lose some as well. Within this past 15 months I have lost 96lbs, and the family has lost much too. We are happier, healthier and have athletic goals in our sights.
I am currently training to COMPETE in the very 1st Kalamazoo Marathon with a hope time of sub 4 hrs.
This is my journey, please enjoy!

Quote of the Day

"Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discourged men who kept on working."

-Franklin Roosevelt

Momma Mel of 5

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Starting Again

YMCA