The Day I Started Challenging Myself

I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma and outdoor allergies when I was seven years old. Needless to say, I’ve never been able to run. I was the kid who had a doctor's note because I wasn’t capable of running at all for gym class. Due to this, I assumed running would never be something I’d accomplish in my life. I had given up before I ever even began.

What I learned this year is that I can run. I may not be fast, but I can do it!! In March, I started working out at the gym after a long hiatus. The treadmill looked like some giant obstacle I’d never be able to conquer, but I thought I’d give it a try anyway. The first day I could only run for two minutes straight. As the days and weeks progressed, my running improved, and before I knew, it ten minutes would go by and I was still running.

Yoga and meditation has strengthened my breathing, and light weightlifting has strengthened my muscles and helped with my posture and stride. By May, I had accomplished running a mile in a little over ten minutes (on the treadmill).

I knew running outside would be different than running in the gym, so I attempted my first mile run outside and failed. I tried to keep up with my boyfriend and the dog. I wasn’t moving at my pace, I was trying to keep up with his pace. I felt defeated. Training had been going so well in the gym, yet applying that to the outdoors was challenging.

The next week though, I got my running shoes back on and ran three miles in 45 minutes. Not the best time by a long shot, but it’s a start. The start of me overcoming something I never thought possible for myself. I couldn’t give up, I wouldn’t give up. What I needed was to keep pushing forward and keep reaching towards my goal.

I ran my first 5K the end of June, and again, my time wasn’t the best, but that wasn’t what was important. What is important is that I finished it. I started this journey for myself because I wanted, no needed, to challenge myself. I’ll keep pushing on and keep running, one day moving up to a 10K hopefully.

“Do one thing a day that scares you.” Challenge yourself for you and no one else and see how amazing you feel after conquering it.