This Woman Started Running 5K Races AT 436 Pounds
“For as long as I can remember, I was very anti-running. Picture Fat Amy horizontally running in the movie Pitch Perfect,” Hay told Runner’s World via email. “But something started ticking over in my mind. This is something I can do anywhere, and I’m only really competing against myself.”
She had signed up for Parkrun months before, but it took her until January to work up the courage to actually go.
“When I mentioned on Instagram that I wanted to try it, I was embraced by runners from all over the world, and I was met with such encouragement,” she said. “From that moment on, I knew within myself that I could do this.”
It was then that Hay decided she would set her sights on completing a marathon one day.
“I wanted to set a goal that wasn’t necessarily weight-loss orientated—obviously losing weight is a bonus—but rather something I could put out there, start working away at, and make progress with,” Hay said.
Learn how to master the perfect running form:
Related: She Overcame Major Obstacles, Lost 100 Pounds, and Became a Runner—Now She’s Helping Others
Although she spent most Saturday mornings throughout December 2016 turning off the alarm that signaled it was time to get up and run, the first Saturday in January was different.
“It was time to make good on some New Year’s resolutions,” Hay said. “I was teary because I needed my husband’s help to put my shoes on, I was teary on the drive there, and I was an emotional wreck by the time I arrived. I almost drove back home, but I sensed that whatever decision I made would enviably set the tone for the rest of my year. Finally, I made the right decision.”
When runners passed her less than half a mile into the first of three laps, she considered giving up. But when two of them circled back to join her during her second lap in support, their words of encouragement helped her to stick it out the rest of the way.
“I was in horrendous pain, but I was so unbelievably proud of myself,” she said. “I knew continuing to do Parkrun would help me mentally and physically.”
The next week, Hay beat her time by five minutes and was further along in the course before people began to pass her.
RELATED: How Running Changed Me
Hay has participated in 16 Parkruns so far, and while she started out as a walker, she has since worked up to being able to run part of the way.
“Now that I run and walk, I’ve had to get my head around the fact that my running stride is actually smaller than my walking stride,” she said. “So right now, it’s not about beating the clock, but increasing my running as much as possible. Hopefully some day soon I will be able to run the entire 5K without walking breaks.”
This #FlashbackFriday is so bright that it blinded me for a moment in the left pic! In all seriousness as many of us know, you never really realise how ‘large’ you were/are until you compare pics. The struggle is real but the denial is crippling!! It’s just like ordering the same coffee everyday, driving the same way to work or wearing your hair the same way. You just get used to it. Sadly being overweight is the same. There is a point you just get used it. By no means is anyone comfortable with it but you get used to the same baggy clothes that you’ve been wearing for years, you get used to cursing from pain as you get up, you get used to avoiding having your picture taken, you get used to saying the diet starts Monday and you get used to feeling like your failing. BUT today I chose these two Parkrun pics to put side by side because in both of them I’ve made the decision to try get fitter, there’s no avoiding the cameras and there’s no more settling. I don’t want to get used to a painful, sad, unhealthy and overweight life. I want more and more photos of myself – especially like the pic on the right where I’m running across the finish line at Parkrun. Trust me, the rut can be broken. It won’t be overnight but everyday you make a better choice or do something you’re not used to, it will help chip away at that version of yourself that you want to be. That you deserve to be! That you will be. •••••••••••••••••••••• #thelongweighdownwithjess #marathondreams #dontquit #hurtingsucks #athlete #igotthis #fit #fitness #running #fitspo #fitfam #fitnesslifestyle #instahealth #weightloss #keepitreal #bigfitgirlmovement #fattofit #ithinkican #notgivingup #riseandgrind #naturalweightloss #tougher #wlstories #stronger #slay #runner #marathon #goals
A post shared by Jess-Marathon Dreams/Parkrun (@thelongweighdownwithjess) on Jun 16, 2017 at 5:00am PDT
Between attending Parkrun, another local running club, and running on her own time, Hay logs anywhere from 10-20 miles per week. In March, she completed a challenge to run 30 miles in 10 days, and she is currently training for Run Melbourne’s 10K at the end of July.
And although she hasn’t stepped on a scale since she began her journey—and has no plans to do so anytime soon—she knows she’s lost weight and inches off her waist. But that’s not the only progress she’s making.
At her very first Parkrun, Hay averaged about 25 minutes per mile. Now, she’s down to 16 minutes per mile.
“My husband urges me to keep going when I’m coming up with all the excuses to give up, and my daughter loves it when I arrive home from runs,” Hay said. “She’ll say, ‘How was your run, Mummy?’ and I just love hearing her ask that question.”
Recently, the CEO of Run Down Under, a virtual challenge to run the 14,080K (or 8,749 miles) it would take to traverse the entirety of the continent, reached out to Hay with a free membership for the year and was chosen to be an ambassador to the program.
“When I’m so kindly gifted opportunities like this I sincerely feel it adds years to my life,” she said. “I am recognized as someone who is worth being given an opportunity to reach for their goals. The running community has my back and I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of it.”
Hay is working steadfast to achieve her goals, and is planning on doing a half marathon sometime next year, putting her even closer finishing a marathon.
“I could say that I want to be half my body weight, that I want feel comfortable at a restaurant again, that I want to go on a roller coaster with my kids. These are very worthy milestones and I’ll definitely celebrate them. However being able to tell someone that I’ve ran a marathon or display a well earned finisher medal would mean the world to me.
<![CDATA[
]]>
(Get the secret to banishing belly bulge from WH readers who’ve done it with Take It All Off! Keep It All Off!)
“The journey is going to be long, but I know I will get there. I’m proud that my children will get to witness Mummy achieving a goal she worked so hard for.”
Hay’s advice for those who are in the same position she was merely five months ago? Ignore the haters.
“You’re being watched silently by many others, and they admire your bravery. They admire that you’re doing something to better your health. Your dedication to not give up has triggered their thought process to think, ‘if they can do it, I can do it.’”
The article This Woman Urges Others to Be Brave and Ignore the Haters originally appeared on Runner’s World.