Every runner has a story...
At Sexy Mother Runner we believe that sharing those stories is a great way to share the gift of running while helping to motivate others.
I am so thankful for this lady! Janet and I
have gotten to know each other better
this year and it goes without saying that she is an awesome runner,
but even bigger than that is her amazing heart!
Love ya, Janet! ~Danyelle
My story
started about 4 years ago. I had my daughter in November of 2008. I had gained
quite a bit of weight before pregnancy as I had been on many different steroids
to aid in having her. After she was born I gained some more weight. In January
of 2010, I had already decided that I had to get serious about losing weight
and just being healthy, when several people I taught with decided to have a
“Biggest Loser” contest. It was just the push I needed. I joined Weight
Watchers and picked out an exercise program that worked for me, a busy working
Mom of two with a
husband working out of town quite frequently. By August of 2010, I had lost
over 40 lbs and had met my first goal weight. For some reason though, I just
wasn’t satisfied. When we returned to school in August I saw one of my friends
I taught with who had been doing the Couch 2 5k program over the summer. I was
very curious! Then in September she came back from her first run, the 2 mile
Pumpkin Classic run. I couldn’t believe the difference in her, not just her
body, but her confidence! I thought, “I WANT THAT!” So, I asked her about it.
She sent me the links and I downloaded the Couch 2 5k podcasts onto my MP3
player. I started the program the last week of September 2010. In just a couple
of weeks it will be two years since I became a runner.
When I tell you running changed my life that is NO
exaggeration. I did lose a little more weight after starting my running
journey, but I GAINED so much more! I completed the Couch 2 5k program in
November of 2010 and ran my first 5k, the Jingle Bell, in December 2010. Since
then I have ran in numerous 5k’s, a 10k, Steamboat Classic 4 mile and 15k, 3
half marathons (already registered for the 4th), had the wonderful
opportunity to be a St. Jude runner and
am in the middle of training for the Chicago Marathon in October! I have also
had the privilege of meeting some of the most amazing women through running and
am proud to call them my friends! I couldn’t get through this journey without
them!
I am proud of the medals and accomplishments I have achieved
since I became a runner, but how it has impacted my children is what I am truly
grateful for. I always tell people that I no longer run just for me, but also
for my children. My son is an asthmatic. He has struggled with it his whole
life. He completed the Couch 2 5k program this summer and ran his first 5k with
me in August. I can not even begin to put into words the pride I felt when I
crossed that finish line with him. The look on his face when he realized what
he had just accomplished will forever be with me! If I had never began my
running journey, I would have never dared to open this door for him! My
daughter loves to dance and run back and forth in our basement while I do my
treadmill runs, she is constantly telling us about her busy day and the “miles”
she has to run that day. She is my biggest fan, beaming with pride every time
she asks, “Is it your big race day Mom?”
Running has allowed me to push myself in all areas of my
life. It has taught me that I AM stronger than I ever thought I was. I not only
push myself when running, but I do it even in life now. This past Spring I made
a decision that before running I would have never had the courage to do. I
decided to put my 14 years of teaching on hold to stay at home to be a full
time wife and mom. I love every minute of being at home with my daughter, being
able to be at all of my son’s baseball games, appointments, etc… I am training
hard for my first marathon. I focus on keeping an organized and clean house and
providing healthy and tasty meals for my family.
I am forever grateful to my friend for inspiring me to start
this running journey! My life will never be the same and for that I am truly
thankful!
Janet, rocked the Chicago Marathon on
October 7, 2012 and finished in 04:55!
We are so happy for you, Janet!
You are an inspiration!
Would you like to be a SMR Featured Friday Runner?
If so, send us your story to sexymotherrunner@yahoo.com
and inspire someone today!
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