Reader Questions & Answers #8

On Sundays, I will answer some readers' questions in a post. If you have a question that you would like me to answer here on the blog, just send me an e-mail at: SlimKatie (at) runsforcookies (dot) com with the subject "Q&A", and I may include them in a future Q&A post. They don't have to be about weight loss or running--anything is game!  (Remember, I'm not a doctor or dietician, or any sort of medical professional--I can only answer questions from my own experience).

Q. Have you always been a fast runner? I just started running in January and I just ran my first 5k this weekend and finished in 44:54 (my goal was under 45:00!) The next day you posted about the girl who walked it in 40 minutes! Did you get faster as you lost weight? As you trained more?

A. First, congrats on reaching your goal! "Fast" is only relative to each person. I'm definitely a "middle of the pack" runner, and a lot of runners would probably consider my pace on the slow side. But my definition of "fast" has changed since I started running. I remember that first, I was aiming for a 12-minute mile, which seemed fast to me. Then a big goal was a 10-minute mile, and then a sub-30:00 5K. Once I was running a 10-minute mile, the 12-min mile seemed SO slow. Now, I'm happy when I run sub-9:00 miles in a race. But if I compare myself to my friend Renee, I'm practically a turtle at that pace!

My point is, what is fast to you may be slow to someone else, and vice versa. So rather than compare yourself to other people, just look at your 44:54 time for the 5K as a baseline. You might make your next goal 43:xx, which technically WOULD be fast--for you!

To get faster, you need to run faster--sounds obvious, but if you never push yourself to run faster, then you probably won't improve. Also, adding mileage can help with your speed as well. My speed was constantly improving for about the first 7 months of running. I know I can still improve it with the right kind of training, but right now my focus is on the marathon (slow and steady).

Q. Does your husband read your blog?

A. The short answer is no, he doesn't read it. Once in a while, he will come home from work and say, "Hey, I read your blog today." I've been blogging for 12 years, and he's probably only read a handful of posts. I don't mind if he doesn't read it, and I don't mind if he does... but it's probably not very interesting to him! If he wrote a blog about something he found interesting (Star Wars, ugh) you couldn't pay me enough to read it ;)  (He was just reading this over my shoulder, and said, "You've been blogging for 12 years?!" Haha, my point exactly).

Jerry is extremely supportive of my blogging, however. When I'm trying to write a post or respond to e-mails, he will keep the kids out of my hair. He'll make me a cup of tea to drink while I write, and he listens when I tell him stories about my readers (yes, I talk about you as if you are my friends!) And he totally lets me steal the spotlight when it comes to our weight loss ;)  He's lost 75 pounds...

Q. When you were a big girl how did you get up the courage or nerve to start running? I am too afraid to even start!

A. Normally, I'm a very nervous person, so I'm surprised that I didn't have any anxiety about running. I talked to my friend Renee (my only "runner friend" at the time) and told her that I had a long-term goal to enter and RUN a 5K race. In the back of my mind, I really didn't think it was possible for me. Renee seemed very confident that I could do it, so I decided to go ahead and register for a 5K that was many months away.

I can't believe I'm posting this pic--this was
from after one of my first runs. *cringe*

Once I registered for that race, I knew I would HAVE TO train for it. I was kind of embarrassed to run in public, because of my weight, but I promised myself that I would do it three times per week, no matter what. I actually found that running in public was helpful--I didn't want to appear as if I was really struggling to run if I encountered someone else, so I faked being a strong runner until that person had passed me. "Fake it 'til you make it" really does work when it comes to running. I only got better at running, and smaller in size :)

If you're overweight and thinking of running, but afraid to start, I would highly recommend checking out Carly's story. She started running at 350 pounds, and she's had some AMAZING progress. 

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And now a question for all of you...

What is your favorite Easter candy?

I am partial to Cadbury Cream Eggs--LOVE THEM. Not surprising, because I love frosting and chocolate. I also love the Reese's Eggs--the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter is perfect. Much better than the Reese's Cups.