In the fall of 2010, I decided to run my first marathon for two reasons: I had always wanted to run a marathon (face a fear being a former 10k runner) and second, I was 46 years old and I wanted to get back in shape. I went ahead and trained with a running group all season. In March 2011, I finished the L.A. Marathon in 5 hours and 38 minutes, but sadly the weight did not drop off as I had hoped. In fact, just before the marathon I had been diagnosed with hypothyroid. As a result my weight actually started going up and I became more sluggish. I began taking medication and continued my running in an attempt to manage my weight, but it didn’t work and I only got heavier. By October 2011, I was at my heaviest and I pretty much had to walk the final five miles of the Long Beach Half Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 38 minutes.
I was beyond frustrated and finally decided to do something about it! I knew a personal trainer, Annie Mello (www.fitchicla.net), who added cross-fit into my workouts. I also completely revamped my diet. Within the first two months, I dropped 20 pounds and my workouts were getting easier and faster. In December 2011, I ran the Las Vegas Half Marathon and I barely walked the entire race outside of my timed intervals, but the best was yet to come.
As a New Year’s resolution, I decided that I wanted to break 5 hours in the next L.A. Marathon (March 2012), and I finally agreed upon 4 hours and 58 minutes. Hey, if I was going to break 5 hours, I was going to break 5 hours. In the two months that followed, Annie continued to push me hard physically during my cross-fit training and I continued to eat healthy meals. By the February Surf City Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in Huntington Beach, CA, I was down 40 pounds and I finished the race in 2 hours and 11 minutes. I PR’d (personal record), beating my October Long Beach time by almost a half hour. Next up, L.A.!
It was chilly the morning of the March 2012 L.A. Marathon at Dodger Stadium. I was down 45 -50 lbs and ready! My fellow running club members were already amazed by my transformation both as a runner and as an inspiration. Thanks to Annie and my running mentor Dan Manns, I smashed L.A.! I finished the marathon in 4 hours and 58 minutes as predicted, beating my time from the previous marathon by 40 minutes!! But the story doesn’t end there…this past Sept (2012), I ran back to back half marathons: the Disneyland Half Marathon finishing in 1 hours and 58 minutes, and the Chicago Half Marathon in 1 hour and 57 minutes. Two more consecutive PRs!
I still continue to perform the cross-fit exercises Annie showed me and I am still following my diet, which I started October 2011. To date, I have lost 60 pounds and I have dropped from a size 42 down to a size 34! In fact, my doctor took me off my cholesterol medication after 16 years as a result of my healthy transformation.
Positivity does inspire success and I am planning to run as many half and full marathons as I can!
October 2011 – Long Beach Half May 2012 – Pasadena Half