Friday, June 18, 2010

Before & After

First of all, thanks so much for all the kind tweets, texts, DM’s, messages, and e-mails about Wednesday’s post. It still isn’t over, as I received an e-mail from him yesterday. Blog post to come on that.

If you had told me four years ago that my mom would be training for a marathon, I would have laughed in your face. My mom? The woman who can barely walk up two flights of stairs? Who considers walking to Wendy’s (right next door to her work) as exercise? That obese woman? Nope. No way.

Because this used to be my mom:

PICT5470Please don’t judge my brother and I on our jerseys.

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And now? She’s a completely different person.

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She’s lost 80 pounds (and kept it off for almost 2 years). She has completely transformed her life. She’s a completely different person. She loves to exercise. She gets home from a run filled with endorphins and happiness. Her healthy eating habits are absolutely astounding. She took on this healthy challenge with no abandon.

She began her journey in October 2006. I was away at college and called her from my night class. (I was in a terribly place at that time and called her 3-4 times a day, just to calm myself down.) She didn’t answer when I called her. When I called her after my class, she told me she had been in a Weight Watcher meeting. My response? “No, you haven’t. Really. Where were you?” But, yep, that’s where she was. Earlier that month, she had received word from her doctor that he wanted to go over some test results. She got scared, thinking she was pre-diabetic. Luckily, she wasn’t but it was the fire in her belly that made her start taking her health seriously.

It was amazing to see her transformation. It’s been inspirational.

It’s been four years. Two years of losing weight, two years of maintaining her weight. Yes, she has weeks where she goes off the deep end. She has days where she just wants to stop counting and stop having to be so in control of everything she eats. But, for the most part, she’s done awesome. She’s a healthy person, leading an active life.

She began running in 2006. We’ve done 4 Turkey Trots together. In 2006, we walked the 5K. In 2007, we ran the 5K. In 2008, she ran the 5K and I walked the 5K. In 2009, she ran the 10K and I walked/ran it. A month later, she ran her first half-marathon, with a time of 2:43. In April, she ran a 15K. She’s a full-fledged runner now. And she absolutely loves it.

And now she has a new goal. On January 9, 2011, she’s going to run the Walt Disney World Marathon.

A marathon? Yes, I think she’s nuts. Yes, I don’t doubt she can do it. Yes, I will be there every step of the way. If anyone can do it, she can.

So here’s where you come in, dear bloggers and friends. Runners and non-runners alike, do you have any advice for her? Advice on training. (She’s following a plan, but other advice would be welcome!) Advice on running gear. Advice on what to do before and after a long run? Anything and everything, please!

If you don’t have any advice, just tell her how awesome she is. Because she kinda is.

21 comments:

  1. I have not advice for training - but just wanted to say your mum looks amazing! Good on her - such an inspiration!!!

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  2. Umm...take regular breaks? Haha, I have no idea. But seriously, that is amazing! What an accomplishment. She looks so healthy!

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  3. Wow. Tell your mom that I think she. is. awesome. Sadly, I don't have any advice, just feebly encouragement because that totally rocks. And hey, who knows, one day you might be posting about another marathon...the one YOU are running in! I wouldn't be surprised.

    When it comes to your dad, I meant to leave a comment but my internet has been all weird because of some bad weather I've been getting. But I want you to know that like everyone else, I am here praying for you. *tight hug* Stay strong, honey. If God brings you to it, He can bring you through it. Just cling to Him.

    Blessings,
    ~Laura

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  4. Wow! Your mom looks great (both before and after)! Running does give an awesome high. Good luck on her marathon...the only thing I have to say is water, lots and lots of water!!! Steph-if you can be there to cheer her on at different points in the race, I'm sure she'd LOVE that.

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  5. Holy!!! She looks AMAZING and that's such an inspiration! :) I'm not a runner (yet!) so I don't have advice to offer, but your mum is definitely awesome. :)

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  6. This is SO inspiring! She looks so great!!! And it's so much harder for women our moms' age--we've got NOTHING to complain about when you figure their hormones and childbearing into the equation! My mum used to run marathons and she says always make sure you replace your shoe after roughly 300 miles, and she swears by the carboload, though to me that's so hideous! Haha.

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  7. I have absolutely no advice on training, since I don't run unless I'm being chased. But I have to say your mom looks AMAZING! What big accomplishments for her!

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  8. Your mom is so inspiring!! Thank you for sharing her story! Good luck to her! I've always had dreams of running Disney

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  9. Your mom looks amazing! What a transformation she made! I can only imagine how proud you are, and that's awesome that you have such great inspiration for your own journey.

    I'm not much of a runner (though I'd like to be some day!), but do you ever read Caitlin over at Healthy Tipping Point? (www.healthytippingpoint.com) She has some great advice on training and other things health-related, as she's a pretty avid runner who participates in a lot of races.

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  10. 1. Your mom is AWESOME! She looks AMAZING. What a great transformation.

    2. Running advice: Sounds like your mom has done a lot of running/training so this might be preaching to the choir, but:

    a)Cross-Train! I have read again and again that cross-training while Marathon training is SOOOO important because it works the muscles in your body that marathon training doesn't so you don't have underdeveloped muslces and overdeveloped muscles.

    b) Chocolate Milk! My favourite post-workout drink BY FAR! Nothing is more refreshing than chocolate milk after a long run!

    c) Ice baths!! Sounds scary but they do AMAZING things for your legs. After I do any run over 10 miles I soak my legs in an ice bath for a good 10-15 minutes. It hurts getting in but it helps SO MUCH with recovery because the ice helps stop the inflammation and swelling in your legs after running that far.

    d) My favourite piece of advice to give - HAVE FUN! I'm having a blast so far with my training plan and I hope your mom has a blast with hers! Though, I have NO IDEA how she manages to train in the Florida heat, so kudos to her for that!!

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  11. That's amazing and so inspiring. Congrats to your mom on all her success.

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  12. Wow, go mom! I hate running, so no advice from me, but what an inspiration!

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  13. Wow!! I do not have an ounce of advice (I am sooo not a runner) but I had to say that your mom is awesome!

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  14. This is awesome! You go Momma Bear!!! You must be so proud, Steph :) I wish I had some super good advice but I've NEVER and probably will never run that kind of distance in my life. That's just plain challenging. I wish her the best of luck!!!

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  15. Absolutely no training advice. Just wanted to "weigh in" on the awesome part. Yes. Your Mom is totally amazing. Inspirational!

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  16. That's amazing! I have so much respect for those how can make that kind of change and stick too it! No wonder you were inspired by her!! Good luck with the marathon!

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  17. Hooray for your mom! What an inspiration!!

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  18. I have no advice, just cheers! It's incredible how she's turned her life around!

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  19. Wow, your mom looks amazing!!! Now I feel more pumped to lose weight just after hearing this story. :) This blogger lost a lot of weight in less than a year and loves running - you should check her blog out for some tips & advice (http://enduranceisntonlyphysical.blogspot.com/)

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  20. Wow. Tell your mom that I think she. is. awesome. Sadly, I don't have any advice, just feebly encouragement because that totally rocks. And hey, who knows, one day you might be posting about another marathon...the one YOU are running in! I wouldn't be surprised.

    When it comes to your dad, I meant to leave a comment but my internet has been all weird because of some bad weather I've been getting. But I want you to know that like everyone else, I am here praying for you. *tight hug* Stay strong, honey. If God brings you to it, He can bring you through it. Just cling to Him.

    Blessings,
    ~Laura

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