How do you go from being completely inactive to running 5k?

OK, I’d decided that I needed an attitude overall so I started with my activity (or lack of it!)…

I began by changing the way I thought about exercise.

I went from thinking

‘exercise is something I have to do to lose weight’

to thinking

‘exercise makes me feel good & is great for my health’

I found that when I thought about it in terms of health rather than weight loss I was more inclined to do it!

After all my goal was to be healthy right?

So I started setting goals!

My first exercise related goal was to run 5k!

Ambitious I know – I’d never ran 5 metres let alone 5 kilometres…

In fact, I’d only ever considered running something I had to do if there was a fire…

 

But I set my goal & I set about training for it.

I found an 8-week training program online & I was off…

We lived at Airlie Beach & the foreshore is nothing less than spectacular – I had a stunning backdrop to motivate me.

But living in the tropics had its challenges…when the weather was good it was PERFECT but when the weather was bad it was HORRENDOUS!

In the two years we were in Airlie we lived through an earthquake, numerous floods & 3 cyclones, Ului, Anthony & Yasi - the kids & I evacuated for Yasi. Ben was with the SES so he had to stay - it was a most harrowing time...

But I continued to train - I ran in the sun, I ran in the wind, I even rain in the rain (I figured I was only going to get wet) – I didn’t let anything stop me. And in July 2010 I did my first 5k run. I did it in just over 36mins & I was SO proud of myself!

Never had I felt such elation as I crossed that finish line with my beautiful family & friends waiting for me.

 

I did it!
It didn’t matter that LOADS of people finished
in front of me, even the winner of the 10k race beat me!
But I wasn’t competing with anyone else that day,
this was about ME & being the best that I could be…

I finished that race & raised almost $400 for The Cancer Council in the process.
I didn’t realise at the time how significant this fund raising was but the following year my dear dad would be diagnosed with lung cancer…

 

After the race I continued to run & still do today.
I love the way it makes me feel – strong, healthy & free!

By Christmas 2010 I weighed 78kg.
I’d dropped 9 kilos by simply adding exercise to my day!

Those 9 kilos made all the difference to the way I looked & the way I felt, my confidence soared…

I was almost at my goal weight,
but that’s a story for next time…
see you then.

Toni x