I have waited many months for this day........ and here it is. Back in July, when I returned from the rez and got more serious about my diet and exercise, I bought the running shoes that you see in the pic above (yes, my feet really are that big). I also took a pic of my Lakota nephew Bernie and his two girls and had it made into a size 2X t-shirt for me to run in.
At the time that I bought the shoes and the shirt, neither would fit me and I was far, far away from doing any running. At the time, my shoes were a 13 XXXXW and my shirt a 4X-- and those are men's sizes. The shoes above are a 12 xxw - the size I wore when I was last able to call myself a runner -- about 11 years ago. And the shirt is a 2X-- a size I hoped to be able to fit into by spring.
I've been wearing walking shoes and have noticed them getting looser and looser, so my feet are actually smaller now. Last night, I was doing walking/jogging intervals on the way to the gym and when I really started to get into it and push myself, one of my shoes actually came right off. LOL
So, today, I got brave and took the new running shoes off my dresser where they have been sitting since I bought them (so that I'd have to look at them first thing every morning)and slid them on---THEY FIT PERFECTLY, almost as if they were custom-made for me. And they are so flippin' comfortable! I love them!
I was so thrilled that I decided to see how the t-shirt would fit. IT FITS!!!!!! I nearly fainted! So, outfitted in gear I didn't think I'd wear until March, I headed out the door to do my walk/run intervals--and I couldn't ask for a better day. It is unseasonably warm here in CT. I had on a light hoodie and got overheated at the end.
I can already see that my hilly neighborhood is going to be a challenge in determining how far I can actually go at a stretch. A lot of the hills are tough enough that back when I was a fit runner, I would have found them difficult. Now, I can barely walk them.
Last night, I filled out and printed my application to run in the New Haven Road Race, which is a half-marathon and takes place on September 6th, 2010. I am not mailing it yet though. I stuck it on the cork board by my desk so that I have to look at it every time I come to my computer. I'll leave it there for awhile as motivation and mail it in a few months.
Bernie (on the t-shirt) participated in the Sun Dance and my friend Jeanne and I were there to support him in that. As you know, I was so fat when we traveled to the rez that I had to buy two airline seats. Bernie and his family keep praying for us and for our health. They are people with a lot of faith. In fact, faith is one of the few things they have a lot of on the rez.
So this t-shirt is to remind me that I only want to buy ONE airline seat this time. And it's also to keep me from getting so physically oriented (through the diet and exercise) that I forget to allow myself a spiritual life.
Even though this journey began in March and was renewed in July, I felt another sort of renewal today, my journey back to becoming a runner became more real today; it moved from being something that might happen in the future to something that is happening now. This has really revitalized my enthusiasm! The lighter you are, the faster you can run-- so this should be motivation for me to be even more careful with the food going forward.
Helen, thank you for the offer of running links and advice. I'll take any help I can get, with gratitude. So, wrap it up, I'll take it!
Well, that is enough for today! I have a lot of work to do and need to squeeze in a ChaLEAN workout in order to stay on track with my fitness goals for the week. I hope you are all well! Be good to you today!
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