Well…they did it! All 14 runners, mostly non-traditional size 2’s or even 4’s, who took the challenge to train and participate in the 10 mile Broad Street Run, all finished. The weather conditions were not so pleasant as it rained most of of the day but that did not scare them off. The night before, I sat and thought how hard they trained and that most of them had never even ran a mile let alone 10 in one day and what a celebration it would be for them. I always believed in them, even when they did not believe in themselves.
I remembered my first race and how nervous I was and after the first 5 miles wondered what the heck I was doing it for. Then I remembered…I did it because I could and I wanted it to be a personal challenge. They emailed me and called me and got cold feet sometimes but through it all I had so much faith in them; I knew they could do it.
There were those early morning power walks in the cold weather and weekends that they needed to be trained. On the day of the race it rained most of the time but they still hung in there determined to see it through. As we gathered on race day I was so proud to see them with their official numbers on their shirts and I could tell that most of them were nervous, but we started as team and we would finish the same way. With a little pep talk and the gun going off we were on our way.
The SHAPELYGIRL FITNESS TEAM was officially a part of history; 27.000 runners and we were a tiny piece of that. It was now time to do our thing and get to the finish line. As I took off and got into a nice pace I let my mind wander off knowing they were behind me somewhere amongst the thousands, but I always felt their presence around me. As I approached the 4 mile marker and it began to drizzle lightly I began to cry. I was in my own zone thinking of my own journey and how fitness became a big part of my life beginning at 300 pounds, not the size I am today, I remembered the first person who motivated me and let me believe that I could do it and that my SIZE did not matter, that it was the ATTITUDE that I needed to really believe in myself. Prior to that I always thought that I could never get fit and healthy. I did, and have been on that journey for many years.
So, does size really matter? Well, ask my girls who feel and look terrific and finished a 10 mile race on Sunday. Their size did not stop them from doing what most people half thier size only wish they could do.
Debra
2009 Broad Street Run recap
2009 Broad Street Run
Well…they did it! All 14 runners, mostly non-traditional size 2’s or even 4’s, who took the challenge to train and participate in the 10 mile Broad Street Run, all finished. The weather conditions were not so pleasant as it rained most of of the day but that did not scare them off. The night before, I sat and thought how hard they trained and that most of them had never even ran a mile let alone 10 in one day and what a celebration it would be for them. I always believed in them, even when they did not believe in themselves.
I remembered my first race and how nervous I was and after the first 5 miles wondered what the heck I was doing it for. Then I remembered…I did it because I could and I wanted it to be a personal challenge. They emailed me and called me and got cold feet sometimes but through it all I had so much faith in them; I knew they could do it.
There were those early morning power walks in the cold weather and weekends that they needed to be trained. On the day of the race it rained most of the time but they still hung in there determined to see it through. As we gathered on race day I was so proud to see them with their official numbers on their shirts and I could tell that most of them were nervous, but we started as team and we would finish the same way. With a little pep talk and the gun going off we were on our way.
The SHAPELYGIRL FITNESS TEAM was officially a part of history; 27.000 runners and we were a tiny piece of that. It was now time to do our thing and get to the finish line. As I took off and got into a nice pace I let my mind wander off knowing they were behind me somewhere amongst the thousands, but I always felt their presence around me. As I approached the 4 mile marker and it began to drizzle lightly I began to cry. I was in my own zone thinking of my own journey and how fitness became a big part of my life beginning at 300 pounds, not the size I am today, I remembered the first person who motivated me and let me believe that I could do it and that my SIZE did not matter, that it was the ATTITUDE that I needed to really believe in myself. Prior to that I always thought that I could never get fit and healthy. I did, and have been on that journey for many years.
So, does size really matter? Well, ask my girls who feel and look terrific and finished a 10 mile race on Sunday. Their size did not stop them from doing what most people half thier size only wish they could do.
Debra
Well…they did it! All 14 runners, mostly non-traditional size 2’s or even 4’s, who took the challenge to train and participate in the 10 mile Broad Street Run, all finished. The weather conditions were not so pleasant as it rained most of of the day but that did not scare them off. The night before, I sat and thought how hard they trained and that most of them had never even ran a mile let alone 10 in one day and what a celebration it would be for them. I always believed in them, even when they did not believe in themselves.
I remembered my first race and how nervous I was and after the first 5 miles wondered what the heck I was doing it for. Then I remembered…I did it because I could and I wanted it to be a personal challenge. They emailed me and called me and got cold feet sometimes but through it all I had so much faith in them; I knew they could do it.
There were those early morning power walks in the cold weather and weekends that they needed to be trained. On the day of the race it rained most of the time but they still hung in there determined to see it through. As we gathered on race day I was so proud to see them with their official numbers on their shirts and I could tell that most of them were nervous, but we started as team and we would finish the same way. With a little pep talk and the gun going off we were on our way.
The SHAPELYGIRL FITNESS TEAM was officially a part of history; 27.000 runners and we were a tiny piece of that. It was now time to do our thing and get to the finish line. As I took off and got into a nice pace I let my mind wander off knowing they were behind me somewhere amongst the thousands, but I always felt their presence around me. As I approached the 4 mile marker and it began to drizzle lightly I began to cry. I was in my own zone thinking of my own journey and how fitness became a big part of my life beginning at 300 pounds, not the size I am today, I remembered the first person who motivated me and let me believe that I could do it and that my SIZE did not matter, that it was the ATTITUDE that I needed to really believe in myself. Prior to that I always thought that I could never get fit and healthy. I did, and have been on that journey for many years.
So, does size really matter? Well, ask my girls who feel and look terrific and finished a 10 mile race on Sunday. Their size did not stop them from doing what most people half thier size only wish they could do.
Debra