Warning: Confessions ahead. Not a pity party but a call to action.
This is what I looked like when I finished the Chicago Marathon in 2008. It was 87 degrees and I had just finished my 9th marathon with a PR of 3:57 and change. If I could pick a time when I was in the best shape of my life, this was probably it. It was fairly soon after this that I started to train for Ironman in 2009 and while I had endurance for the ages, I lost a sh**-ton of speed and gained quite a bit of weight (and let’s face it, it wasn’t all muscle). I have completed two more marathons and an Ironman since this picture but I have lost so much fitness. Stairs hurt, planks only last 30 seconds, and 9 miles takes almost 2 hours, says the girl with a 1:19 PR at A10….
I hopped on the scale the other day my friends, which I don’t do very often, mostly at the doctors. I am not one to really stress about numbers but this time it is serious. I am fat. And not in a “I say I’m fat so you say I’m skinny” way. I am actually officially “unhealthy” by national standards AND my own. I have lost really any credibility to call myself an athlete. I don’t feel good about the way I feel or the way I look. I have about 3 pieces of clothing that fit without distress and I now keep a tube of body glide in my purse for the chub rub. I am officially in “mission critical” mode.
I need accountability friends. One of the reasons I was fit in 2008 was because I ran at least 4 days a week with the world’s best running partner. When she moved away and Ironman was over, I struggled to find accountability. Now that I live about an hour away from the running community I know well, I am struggling even more. I make a ton of excuses for not working out and at this point I am in a place where it is gonna hurt, a lot, before it gets better. But that is ok, this is no longer acceptable and I need to get my a** in gear, before said a** takes over my entire body.
I know I don’t get a lot of traffic on this blog (hi Mom) and it is mostly a place for me to put my randomness out into the world but this time I really need accountability. And a little kick in the pants. It is time for health. It is time to get to the place where I feel like a real runner and healthy human again. Can you help?
“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start”–John Bingham
Hopefully I can find the courage soon.
RunSingTeach 
Try this site Sarah. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ I use it on my iPhone. You can set a goal and log your daily calories and physical activities. I lost 9 lbs using it.
If you’re struggling with not having a goal… I had been contemplating asking if you’d want to run my first marathon with me! (No date set yet.) 🙂 I’m good about running regularly, but not good about feeling successful with my accomplishments. Want to help me feel successful!?
Sarah! Absolutely. I am running Rehoboth Beach in December if you would like to join in. You absolutely must feel successful in the same way I need to actually get back to running regularly! 🙂
Oh poop. I think that’s too soon for me. I’m training for a half marathon at the end of October. I was looking at the Disney Marathon in January. I don’t think I can double the miles before Jan.
You can do it! My motivation is hard too. I wish we lived closer and could physically keep each other going. I’m here across the miles though 🙂 OR, if we can find a way to meet on the weekends sometimes, that could work too. I’m bricking it these days gearing up for a DU an IG in August 🙂
Ill help however you would like! I can start meeting you for 30 min jogs!!!! I need the support as well.
Hi Sarah, I write to you today as a fit-and-overweight dude who is about 20-25 pounds north of where he needs to be to meet his racing goals. Consensus is pretty clear that body composition is about 80% diet and 20% activity. Frankly, I think your activity level is not the issue, it’s what you are putting (or not putting) in your mouth that’s the problem. I know it is with me. We are all getting older, our bodies are changing and along with it so is our metabolism. We need to be adjusting our intakes to keep them in line with our goals and our needs.
So, my unsolicited advice to you is to become merciless in your choices about what to put in your body. I am having reasonable results reducing sugar, gluten and other carbohydrate and increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins and fats. There are many resources online to help you do this, so I encourage you to check it out. Email me for specific recommendations.
The body composition race is long and difficult. Start slowly but maintain pace, and you will arrive. Good luck!
Sarah,
I would like to help, as it will help me also to have accountablility! I have gained almost 20 pounds in the past year. My excuse was school and work left me no time however an hour is not going to change my grade on an exam.
Theresa