This weekend, after 12 weeks of training, I completed the Hershey Half Marathon and came in 30 seconds under my goal time!!! That means I ran -without stopping- 13.1 miles!! That is just crazy to me, seeing as before my sleeve I never ran even a city block.

Around mile 12 I really wanted to walk, but I just kept thinking "the girl I was before couldn't have done this, I'll finish for her." I pushed through & did it and outside of the birth of my kids and my wedding, it was the best day of my life.

As a side note, we went to Hershey park the day before the marathon with my teen daughters & I rode every single roller coaster. The last time I was at that park, I tried to ride one with my daughter, but couldn't fit. It was the most humiliating moment of my life, so it was pretty fitting that a year later I returned there to ride all the rides AND run a 1/2 marathon!!!

This is just an example of how working with my sleeve to reach goals has helped me transform my life. ....and now I'm registered for my first full marathon in a few months!!

Edited October 22, 201411 yr by livvsmum

One more pic!! I need to order the print but haven't gotten the chance yet.... Finish line!!!!

Wow! You look SO fit! It boggles my mind that you did this after one year!

Thank you!! It's hard for me to believe too! Lol

Way to go!

Awesome! No more worrying about legs rubbing raw if I walk or run. Can't wait for that day.

Awesome! I did 3 halves earlier this year and took off a few months for plastics. I'm ready to get back at it. What training plan are you following for the full marathon? I'd like to do one next year, as well as a mud run, and maybe an obstacle course race. I've got a charm bracelet that I'm adding a charm for each fitness event.

Awesome! I did 3 halves earlier this year and took off a few months for plastics. I'm ready to get back at it. What training plan are you following for the full marathon? I'd like to do one next year, as well as a mud run, and maybe an obstacle course race. I've got a charm bracelet that I'm adding a charm for each fitness event.

I was just looking at charm bracelets last night for the same reason! Lol. I'm using the Higdon plan for the full. It's what I used for the half and I thought it was perfect....no injuries, feeling fully recovered.

Wow! Running a marathon is on my bucket list and I was thinking I would use running as the exercise of choice once I am sleeved.

Yay, congrats on your half marathon. It really is amazing, isn't it? I ran a half marathon around 5 years ago (before I gained the weight back) and I agree that it ranks up there as one of the top days. I am looking forward to running again and signing up for lots of events in 2015.

Reward yourself with a nice medal rack to hold all the medals you're bound to accumulate. There are lots of people out there selling them but I loved mine that I got from Allied Medals. https://www.medalhangers.com

CONGRATS........that is so awesome and amazing!! I ran a full marathon when I was in the Marine Corps, 32 years ago and my goal is to do a half marathon in the fall of 2015 and a full one in 2016

I was just looking at charm bracelets last night for the same reason! Lol. I'm using the Higdon plan for the full. It's what I used for the half and I thought it was perfect....no injuries, feeling fully recovered.

I love the one that I have: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007J9GUVI/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_M3T1_ST1_dp_1#

I used the Higdon plan for the half as well. Started Couch to 5K last week and hoping to go through it a little bit faster.

Here's mine (flower for Maui half, charm for OKC half, Ragnar logo for Ragnar relay, and tiara for Disney Princess half):

You are an inspiration. Congrats.

You are an inspiration. Congrats.

Thank you! :-)

I love the one that I have: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007J9GUVI/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_M3T1_ST1_dp_1#

I used the Higdon plan for the half as well. Started Couch to 5K last week and hoping to go through it a little bit faster.

Here's mine (flower for Maui half, charm for OKC half, Ragnar logo for Ragnar relay, and tiara for Disney Princess half):

ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1413986294.816599.jpg

Very cute! I love it!

Congrats you look amazing