Roughly a year ago, I read a wonderful book by Jayne Williams, "Slow Fat Triathlete," describing how she battled the bulge by training for a triathlon. She has since become a competitive "Tri" and has some very impressive personal records.
Another writer/runner, John Bingham, calls himself "The Penguin," and is noted for his humorous approach to being a less than sleek or fast runner. He has also been an inspiration to me, and thousands of other overweight distance runners/walkers.
Although people tell me I don't look fat, I'm still a good 20 lbs overweight, that I call "menopaused weight." Because the scale had kept climbing, regardless what dietary regimen I followed, I decided to kick my fitness routine up a notch by training for a marathon...at age 50-something.
What I noticed in my first marathon training season nearly 4 years ago was that I was not alone in my goal. Easily 1/3 of our training group (we get upwards of 250 participants every season) had weight issues, even obesity issues, and heart disease, arthritis, you name it!
Going online, I found there were several blogs and forums for slow fat runners, but no "formal" group; so, I formed one earlier this year. SlowFatRunners.com is alive and well, and we're now sponsored by our local major running store. I currently have a growing online team of about 140 doing virtual training through another online health and fitness community, and have been live coaching half marathon and marathon walkers for about three years. I just launched a new walk group at the running store this summer.
The whole premise is that we're not about the speed, we're all about the fitness. If you look around at just about any open 5K to marathon, they are no longer races, they are events. The majority of participants are not stick thin elites or seeded runners. They are all ages and physical conditions, there are growing numbers of walkers among the runners, and of Athenas and Clydesdales - the heavyweight categories. Some are pretty darned fast on their feet, too! I actually ran an event as an "Athena," qualifying for the classification by 1 lb, lol!
My mission is to enable those who think "why bother" to believe "why not." I have heard from women who said they used to feel self-conscious about shuffling down the road and getting unkind comments from people. But, now, they're getting high fives because they've developed a new confidence in their own achievements and abilities.
Imagine the pride in realizing you've gone from a 20-minute 1/2 mile walk, to walking your first half marathon (13.1 miles) and finishing in 3 1/2 hours (16 minute mile pace), after your first training season. Then, being able to run at a 13-minute mile pace after the second season. Then completing a half marathon, a full marathon, the Danskin Triathlon, a sprint triathlon and a 40-mile bike ride - all in one year.
That woman is my best buddy and running partner. She no longer calls out, "hello, fast skinny runners" as the more slender and swift pass us by. She knows she's a Slow Fat Runner, but has shed 45 lbs, is gradually swapping more fat for muscle, and is proud of the bling she has earned along the way. We're going to do a Komen 3-Day 60-mile walk with our team in November.
Now, that's the power of walking.
She'd have been a good one to have straightened out that couple at the restaurant.
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Roughly a year ago, I read a wonderful book by Jayne Williams, "Slow Fat Triathlete," describing how she battled the bulge by training for a triathlon. She has since become a competitive "Tri" and has some very impressive personal records.
Another writer/runner, John Bingham, calls himself "The Penguin," and is noted for his humorous approach to being a less than sleek or fast runner. He has also been an inspiration to me, and thousands of other overweight distance runners/walkers.
Although people tell me I don't look fat, I'm still a good 20 lbs overweight, that I call "menopaused weight." Because the scale had kept climbing, regardless what dietary regimen I followed, I decided to kick my fitness routine up a notch by training for a marathon...at age 50-something.
What I noticed in my first marathon training season nearly 4 years ago was that I was not alone in my goal. Easily 1/3 of our training group (we get upwards of 250 participants every season) had weight issues, even obesity issues, and heart disease, arthritis, you name it!
Going online, I found there were several blogs and forums for slow fat runners, but no "formal" group; so, I formed one earlier this year. SlowFatRunners.com is alive and well, and we're now sponsored by our local major running store. I currently have a growing online team of about 140 doing virtual training through another online health and fitness community, and have been live coaching half marathon and marathon walkers for about three years. I just launched a new walk group at the running store this summer.
The whole premise is that we're not about the speed, we're all about the fitness. If you look around at just about any open 5K to marathon, they are no longer races, they are events. The majority of participants are not stick thin elites or seeded runners. They are all ages and physical conditions, there are growing numbers of walkers among the runners, and of Athenas and Clydesdales - the heavyweight categories. Some are pretty darned fast on their feet, too! I actually ran an event as an "Athena," qualifying for the classification by 1 lb, lol!
My mission is to enable those who think "why bother" to believe "why not." I have heard from women who said they used to feel self-conscious about shuffling down the road and getting unkind comments from people. But, now, they're getting high fives because they've developed a new confidence in their own achievements and abilities.
Imagine the pride in realizing you've gone from a 20-minute 1/2 mile walk, to walking your first half marathon (13.1 miles) and finishing in 3 1/2 hours (16 minute mile pace), after your first training season. Then, being able to run at a 13-minute mile pace after the second season. Then completing a half marathon, a full marathon, the Danskin Triathlon, a sprint triathlon and a 40-mile bike ride - all in one year.
That woman is my best buddy and running partner. She no longer calls out, "hello, fast skinny runners" as the more slender and swift pass us by. She knows she's a Slow Fat Runner, but has shed 45 lbs, is gradually swapping more fat for muscle, and is proud of the bling she has earned along the way. We're going to do a Komen 3-Day 60-mile walk with our team in November.
Now, that's the power of walking.
She'd have been a good one to have straightened out that couple at the restaurant.
July 16, 2008 - 5:22pmThis Comment
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