Katie is a Runner’s World+ member. Altras Timp 4 Is a Softer, Faster Trail Shoe chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. Other Hearst Subscriptions online Catch her on the Fayetteville trail system!
reads the plaque by my treadmill, under which one 10K and three half marathon medals hang. As I step up each morning, I remember: I am thankful and I am blessed that this day, I can run.
I used to love running, and in 2005 ran my first half marathon. But through my 40s I lost focus and gained weight, reaching 247 pounds by the time I turned 49! I felt defeated, like life was living me instead of me living life. So in January 2017 I decided: I would be “Fit by 50.” I lost 101 pounds in 2017 through nutrition and in 2018 started running.
I ran my first 5K in May 2018. In October, I ran a 10K, finishing first in my age group. In May 2019, I ran the same half marathon I’d completed in 2005, except this time, I placed 6th in my age group. Two weeks later, I took first in the Fargo Half. And now, I’m hooked. Fourteen years elapsed between those first two medals, but only months between the others. I am a runner. I am a victor, not a victim. Every day I am grateful for the reminder that this day, I can run.
As someone newer to the sport, I have so much to learn. I love the RW+ community of learning, inspiration and support, fueling my passion for what is possible and helping me grow beyond my present capabilities.
...to keep me moving, growing, getting stronger over time. I don’t ever want to go back to where I was before, sitting on the couch and missing out on life, so I constantly work on goals that pull me forward. Focusing on these goals propels me to get up and get my training in, to make the daily choices that—compounded over time—will create the healthy, vibrant life I want to be living. And let’s face it, the endorphins feel amazing!
I love starting out my day with a morning run, getting the endorphins pumping and my mind set right. If I wait, the day seems to get away from me too quickly. From April/May through October, I run outside along the Moccasin Creek pathway and all around our small town, enjoying the fact that I can actually be outside! But once the cold and snow set in, I’m indoors on my home treadmill, with my vision board mounted in front of me, reminding me of all the amazing places I want to visit, the trails I want to run, and the mountains I want to hike. It’s my healthy rewards bucket list that keeps me running strong through the long South Dakota winters.
Strategies for Getting Faster Why I joined RW.
I love not having to carry my phone while running to listen to my favorite tunes. And I would be lost without my Garmin training watch: GPS, pace, heart rate monitor and training calendar all in one!
My current goal is to run my first full marathon in the spring. I haven’t decided on a particular race yet, and I’d love to hear everyone’s favorite recommendations for a first-timer!
