My name is Carlee McDot (well, my last name is technically Padot McClurg, but since I couldn’t talk the hubby into combining our last names when we got married I figured I could at least use the combo on social media). I live in Southern California (and have since I moved four days after graduating from the University of Michigan in 2006).
My running story seems rather boring, but it’s MINE and that is what matters (we all have a story to tell, no matter how insignificant we may think it is)!
Back at the beginning of 2012 a friend of mine told me about a little thing called runDisney. You see, at that point I was NOT a runner, but I did love me some Disney. She knew my affinity for the Mouse and suggested that I consider running the Disneyland Half Marathon. Seeing as I was not a runner, I was glad that she suggested this while I still had nine-ish months to train for the event.
At the time I was looking for something to call my own. My hubby had an array of hobbies (surfing, motorcycle, art, etc) but I didn’t have anything that I felt spoke to my
I started by walking daily for thirty minutes on my lunch break and eventually began using the elliptical in the office gym a few times a week. Let’s be real, the beginning is tough (it is for us all), but with a goal in mind, it made the work worth it. In due time I started pounding the pavement and fell in love! Don’t get me wrong, at first I was only running a half mile or so at a time, but I was so proud of what my body could accomplish that I'd smile through the hard effort. [You can read my post about training in January of 2012 HERE and my post about running outside in March of 2012 HERE.]
The 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon was my first half, and this year, when I return for the 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon (as a part of my third consecutive Dumbo Double Dare) it will be my thirty-first half marathon! I would have never imagined that running could have had such an impact on my life when I first started, but I can truly say that it has made the world of difference! I am forever grateful for the ability I have been blessed with, the people running has brought into my life and the places I have been able to see and explore because of this sport!
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| I did it! And even had the opportunity to run the 2012 Disneyland Half with Megan, my friend who originally challenged me to start running in the first place! |
What's YOUR running story?
8 comments:
I started running 9 years ago when my now 13 year old needed kids to play with. I didn't have girlfriends with kids her age and I wanted to exercise more so I joined a gym. She had a blast in the babysitting part with other kids and I was able to walk on the treadmill. The walking turned into running a few minutes at a time until I was running more than walking. When she started Kindergarten, I took it outside.I was definitely hooked. It became my passion and also outlet for dealing with my other daughter who has some Asperger qualities. Raising her has been a challeng, so running was my world where I could escape and, like you said, it was something that was mine.:)
Awesome story! I love to hear/read running stories! Mine is not terribly exciting, but it's mine :-) Having been overweight for all of my middle/high school and college years one day in the summer of 2007 to try day 1 of couch to 5K. I literally thought I was going to die, I hurt for a week, and didn't do it again. In January of 2008 (6 months before my wedding) I decided to sign up for Weight Watchers online and lost 60 pounds before my wedding (insert nightmare dress fitting stories). I continued living life on Weight Watchers and my husband and I began walking at the local park, daily. He, being much more lean and athletic than I ever had been, started challenging me to run quarter miles at a time. I started couch to 5K on my own; this stalled out with the pregnancy and birth of my son. After Conor was born in March 2010 I waited for my 6 week clearance and started up couch to 5K again and I kept running. Now I'm 4 half marathons in and have been running for 210 days straight! I'm so glad my stalled attempts did not keep me from picking it back up each time!
I forgot to add that the combination of Weight Watchers and running led me to lose 100 + pounds from when I first began WW and running is a HUGE part of that success!
Very similar story! A friend signed me up for a 5k and I figured "why not?" I felt I didn't have any real hobbies and all my interests seemed superficial (read: playing Facebook games and napping lol). I also felt like I hadn't really accomplished anything significant since I graduated college! When I took up running it gave me new goals to aim for and a new passion for life :-) and of course then I discovered pro socks and how amazing they went with my outfits and the rest is history!
I was a stand out high school track/xc runner who suffered from a terrible case of ITBS. I had to take seven years off. A friend of mine challenged me to run the pittsburgh marathon 5k in 2012. Exactly one year later I ran the Pittsburgh marathon!
I was a high school runner in XC and track. I only ran a few miles in 4 years of college. After college, I did the only thing I knew I was good at to get in shape. Running! I ran some local 5Ks, 10Ks and ran a half marathon. This was in 1994. The rest as they say... is history.
I ran distance in track in high school and kinda quit after going to nursing school, got married etc. I picked it back up around 2004 and ended up with knee injuries and kind of just gave up...again :( I walked in a 5K race that was called "The Fat Ass 5K" Legit. It's in Springfield, IL every May (my neck of the woods) I felt the nudge to try running again after that. I had been afraid of re-injuring my knees I think. At this point in my life I was a new mom to a then 3 year old. No time for knee injuries right? Well, I let go of my fears and gave it a try one day and I kind of had a Forrest Gump moment "I am running"!! I had no pain, I had no pain the next day or the day after. God gave me another chance and I was determined to be smarter about it, taking better care of myself, educating myself, etc. I did a 5K race then a 10. I stumbled upon the Galloway run walk method at this point and fell in love with the 4:1 interval which I still do to this day. I set my sites on a half. I did it, then a week later did another one and was hooked! I knew if I could do that I can do a full. Yep, I was full crazy! I did the Chicago Marathon last October via a charity entry (Team Make A Wish Illinois) I developed bronchitis the week of but I got medicine, sucked it up and crossed that finish line. I turned 40 last year so that was a great goal. I'm heading back to Chi town this October to do it again. Running has become my time with God, my time to feel strong yet free as a bird, my reminder that we truly can do anything we put our minds to. I love the running community's support of one another. Like my fave Proverb "Iron sharpens iron" I love to go to races to enjoy the journey and fellowship with others. That's my story.
DL 2011 is the beginning of my running story <3 I definitely haven't upped my mileage or number of races the way you have, but I am starting to come to terms with the fact that I might be "a runner." ;) I can't wait for this year's race!
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