Anybody who has ever been to a sanctioned race has been able to see all types of people. The skinny dudes in short shorts, moms with baby joggers, normal 9-5ers out bettering their health, and even people like me. Hi, my name is Kelsey and I am an overweight runner. Most races I tend to stick towards the back so that I don’t get in anybody’s way and so that I don’t get passed as much. I have been “running” off and on since my freshman year of college when I had to complete a health project that included completing a 5k. I stopped running after that but still participated in several half marathons and other various races, mostly walking the entire distance. After that I was selected for a marathon weight loss team which trained for a half while losing weight. During the program I lost almost 40 pounds and knocked 37 minutes off my half marathon time. But yet again, I stopped running. Last spring I tried out for my university’s division one rowing team and made it. The two-a-day workouts combined with early morning track sessions and afternoon long runs got me back in relatively good shape to help me complete a PR half marathon that spring. But guess what? You guessed it…I stopped running after the season was over. And I packed on the pounds I had formerly lost.
So here I am today starting from scratch. I’ve started, stopped, started, stopped, started, stopped. Learning to run again is at the top of my to-do list. I’m slow, can hardly run a mile without stopping, and I”m fat. Is that going to stop me? NO. One foot is going to go in front of the other and I’m going to train and get faster. Sure, I’ll still start at the back of the pack and still be just a mediocre runner. But I will be standing straight with my head held high knowing that I am doing something so many other overweight people in America wouldn’t dream of doing. It takes courage to show up at a race and pound 240 pounds of body weight on your size 11 feet. Showing up is the first part.
Over the next few months I will be chronicling the adventures of learning to run again, losing weight (and keeping it off), and being a pack of the pack overweight runner who totally rocks it! If you feel as though you can’t possibly run a race of any distance because you are overweight and/or scared, then I am here to tell you that YES YOU CAN. You can most definitely do it. If I can, then anyone can. Don’t let fear or weight stop you! Come join us June 16 at the SF Marathon! I’ll be waiting on you.
Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU. Finally a SFM blogger just like me. I look forward to your posts in the future and our journey together. This year will be my THIRD San Francisco (Half) Marathon and I cannot wait. Cheers, Kelsey.
What a great post! I am new to running and overweight. Six wks ago I started training with ZOOMA Women’s Racing as part of couch to race day training program. I got bit by the running bug and am loving it! I’m slow, but at least I’m doing it. LOVE this post and subscribing! Best of luck training!
I am so glad that I read this post. I am overweight as well and recently started running. I am doing my first half in April & I am terrified but I am putting in the work. I will be probably be doing the SFM Progressive Marathon as I did last year or maybe the half. Who knows? I look forward to reading more of your posts.
AWESOME post, so so good to see something like this is its honest to goodness truth. Keep going girl, you’re inspiring so many!
Awesome! I am 31, live in Chattanooga, and I’m signing up for the half marathon. A friend of mine from college that lives in Seattle is also doing the half! Keep up the good work!