My running journey has not been easy. I set a lot of obstacles for myself because of my weight, body image issues, confidence, fitness and self image problems. Today I’m sharing the biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome with running.
Check out the video and feel free to share any obstacle you’ve had to overcome – we need to celebrate all our victories no matter how big or small.
This vlog is part of the Hyland’s Powered Team Challenge. We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with a bib! Woman have overcome so many obstacles – let’s recognize and cheer for them!! I’m super proud to be a part of this all female team and share my marathon training journey. But this week I’m sharing a kind of sad confession – it’s an obstacle I set for myself.
We’re 39 days away from the Boston Marathon. Training is getting serious. These topics are getting serious too!
Sadly, one of the biggest obstacles I’ve dealt with was one I set for myself. Not cool Monican.
Happily, it’s a struggle I can now share with you and hopefully some good will come of it!
Today I’m talking about…
What is an obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your running journey?
Moral of the story: Don’t get in your own way.
OC Marathon and Half Marathon Discount Code
Interested in running the OC Marathon or Half Marathon? I love this race! Here is a discount – use code: RER5Off
Love this and it’s so so true that runners come in every shape and size etc. I remember running my first 1/2 marathon and watching a woman in front of me thinking “she has a really wonky gait, that’s not very efficient” and then I though “well, she’s ahead of me, guess that gait is working out just fine for her!”
Your video was amazing and something I told myself for years- I can still be guilty of it. So sad how we are brainwashed that beautiful
Can only be a certain way.
Btw- love your shirt. I mean, obsessed. Where is it from?
Thank you for posting this. I’ve lost 80 lbs and so much if it is mental strength. Now that I’m trying to lose another 40 or 50 lbs it’s getting a lot harder and I’m about to start running.
I have done this in my relationship. I had a hard time being in a committed relationship for fear it wouldn’t last long based on past situations including a husband who died of cancer on me (can we say ptsd). So I would make obstacles to keep me from moving forward. It’s been quite an emotional ordeal for me but I feel like it’s also been intense therapy and I understand why I do things. I’ve made great strides recently. Running right now has been challenging due to a chronic injury 🙁
Thank you SO MUCH for this post!!!! I’ve always wanted to run, but had every excuse not to start….including the very same obstacle as you! We finally bought a treadmill, and I’ve been running a few times a week since January. Finally last week, I signed up for my first 5K in May. I live in Eastern Canada, and we have LOTS of snow, so as soon as it starts to melt….I’m planning on taking my running outside, and I can’t wait….but I so needed to hear your video to realize this! So THANK YOU!!
Getting back into running postpartum and setting way too high of expectations for myself was a huge obstacle for me. I had an extremely difficult recovery due to complications with my c-section and completely blew up trying to run a half marathon 10 months postpartum. My body wasn’t ready and I tried to push myself to pre-baby levels of running and I almost injured myself badly. Luckily I recognized I was doing damage and walk/ran the last 3 miles of the race. Now I know I have to be more kind to myself!
I attempted to run a 25K my sophomore year of college, but my body felt awful that day and I wasn’t able to finish. I felt very discouraged by that and didn’t think that long distance races would ever be a part of my reality. But I kept at it and several years after than ran a half marathon and then ran a marathon the next year! I am currently dealing with IT Band issues which feels like a big obstacle, but I am determined to overcome it like I have overcome obstacles in the past.
Thank you for sharing that Monica. I have the same struggle as probably a whole lot of us women do out there. Not only with running, but even when I step into the gym I try to focus on just having a good workout n not feeling crappy because I don’t have that perfect physique. I’ve got a muscular build with some healthy thighs n a backside that’s rather bubbly so I’ve always been self-conscious about that. Now I just work with God gave me and try to set a good example for my daughters and nieces so they can be confident with their body image.
Great message. I was reluctant to join a running group because I was so insecure with how I looked and my pace, etc, but runners are the most accepting people! That was well over 10 years ago and I’ve done so many races and accomplished so much running since then.
I tried to run a half marathon last year having very little running experience. It was too much for me and I recognized it when I felt like I was running at the edge on an injury.
running is so mental. this is something i struggle with too. i actually made a list of things to remind myself of when im running so i dont get in my own way.
https://cuckoolemon.com/2016/02/21/7-things-i-always-have-to-remind-myself-about-running/
Girl, this is SO relatable. I trained for my first race (a half marathon) purely on the treadmill… I think I ventured outside twice and felt really uncomfortable. The anxiety of running outside also compounded the physical stress of running/exercising in general, and made me feel–on top of self-conscious about my body–inferior in my fitness, too.
I have to admit, five half marathons later, and as someone who takes 99% of her runs outdoors, I still feel weirdly self-conscious about it. I just think confidence and comfort in one’s body is an ever-moving target… at least for me!
Thanks SO much for sharing. I think I’ll have to share this post with my readers, too. <3
V
Love this women group!! I definitely don’t have high expectations for myself when it comes to running so that results in me holding myself back a bit
I had a lot of body confidence issues and when I first began running, it was purely to lose weight. After stopping for a few years, I’ve begun to slowly run again, this time taking care to face it with the mindset that I’m doing it to nourish my body, not to punish it.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com