The Journey

My journey has not been an easy one, or quick. I started this road 2.5 years ago. With one goal: to be skinny by 30. That didn't really happen. I lost some weight ran some races and gained almost all of it back.

No, the journey had not been easy, but it has been filled with amazing lessons, wonderful people and personal growth I cannot define.

2.5 years ago I was 45 pounds heavier, unhealthy, and very inactive. I started doing the C25K programmed and day one almost killed me. But I kept at it and I signed up for my first 5K. It took me 41 minutes or so. It was cod, rainy, painful and one of the most amazing moments. I crossed that finish line and felt amazing.

I continued to run races and improve. I ran my first ½ marathon later that year and it was great. I never stopped running or stopped loving running, I just in a way stopped loving me. Putting myself first. Making my health a priority stopped.

My running got weak, and the weight started to come back on.  Last summer while trying to get back in control I decided lets signed up for a full marathon, (Seriously what was I thinking). Of all the marathons to choose from, the Seattle Marathon in November is the one I pick??? Crazy! I trained hard, well actually I ran hard and that’s about it. I did not eat great, cross training was non-existent, and my life style choices were let’s say, not awesome. The marathon came and I finished, 6 hours of pouring rain and I finished. One of my proudest moments.

You would think that after doing that this amazing thing came over me and I trained harder and ate better and planned my next race…

NOPE!.......

I went into what I call “Hayley’s Marathon mourning period” It was awful. I didn’t do anything and felt terrible.  The next 6 months I began to really put the pounds on and pretty much forgot how to run. Sad, sad time in my life.

I got engaged in January 2012, yay! I tried getting motivated, I ran, re-joined weight watcher for like the millionth time started running a little, but still it wasn’t there.

March I ran in my 3^rd St. Patrick’s Day 5k it was My worst performance since my first 5k. It was horrible, my stamina was a joke, my legs hurt, my feet hurt and I had packed on almost 30 pounds.

That was my wake up call, Kinda. It took me until April to really get it going but when I did boy did I.

4^th of July I ran my fastest 5k ever so-far J It was the best feeling to feel myself coming back and being better than I was.  There is a quote going around that is really helping me “ The only person you should try to be better than, is who you were yesterday” I just love that.

The journey has been rough, and I still have a long way to go, but I feel confident in me. These set backs are lessons learned. They made me strong and I am fighting on.

I have a half marathon in 5 days and I am excited, I am just going to go out there and see what I can do. I have no expectations yet…

Every other time I have tried to do this, it has not been fun. I am enjoying this ride every day, and getting better and stronger. I will finish this journey, even though I took the long way. The scenery hasn’t always been good…. But it’s getting better…