WEBSITE WEDNESDAY: SELF "PROVEMENT"

"Sunset South of the Channel" by PKSenagore November 2014 all rights reserved.

NOT JUST ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS BUT SELF “PROVEMENT”:  “How One Woman Lost 100 Pounds and Fell in Love with Running in the Process” by SELF magazine was published on MyFitnessPal.com.  The article tells the story of Rebecca Grafton, a 26-year-old who lost the weight over 2 years.
 
In addition to altering her diet, she began running as exercise, a major change for her. She recounted how she had always hated to run. But she stuck with it, running about 3 times a week because, as the item says, “she figured that if it was HARD IT JUST MIGHT BE WORKING.” (I added the ALL CAPS emphasis). What a positive way to think! So many times we give up on something because it seems too difficult. (By the way, what a great manta: “it must be working…it must be working…it must be working”.)
 
She is quoted as saying, “I remember one treadmill run I did in the beginning of my journey—I would normally get to 15 minutes and then stop and walk. I made it to 15 minutes and thought, I think I can keep going. I went a full 30 minutes without stopping. That was huge for me. It made me feel empowered—I was capable of pushing through all the huffing and puffing and jiggling.”
 
She had PROVED that she was capable of a sustained effort.
 
After one year, minus 77 pounds, she registered to run her first 5k race, then ran another and won her age group. Wow. Then Rebecca committed to train for and run a half marathon, and finished.
 
She had PROVED herself by competing, then becoming faster, then going longer. She gave credit to “commitment and consistency” for her successes.
 
The story of this young woman is inspiring and supports the philosophy of Earned Runs that committing to compete helps runners to focus and continue over time in their efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle.  Our Mission Statement begins:
 
“Earned Runs believes that the most effective way for runners to persevere in their sport, and experience the physical and mental health benefits of regular moderate-to-vigorous exercise over a lifetime, is to commit to regular competition with training. Training, in addition to running, involves strength conditioning and workouts to improve flexibility, mobility, balance, and speed. Competition may be personal or organized and involve self-driven or public goals. The rewards of frequent competition include confidence and a sense of accomplishment that enriches life in sport and at home and work.”
 
Rebecca PROVED that running can be more than a weight loss tool.

The former running-hater now looks forward to “peaceful” long weekend morning runs rather than dreading them. She is quoted by SELF as saying “That’s why I run—not to care about my pace or how many calories I’m burning, but to just hit the trail over and over again, one foot after another, and enjoy the process.”  Rebecca has gained more than just weight loss!

RUN HAPPY!
 
http://blog.mapmyrun.com/2016/11/how-one-woman-lost-100-pounds-and-fell-in-love-with-running-in-the-process/