Cheryl Runs Florida

Cheryl Runs Florida 

Hello everyone! My name is Cheryl and I'm new to blogging. I'm embarking on a journey training for my first marathon and want to document my training and experiences. 

I've lead an active lifestyle from an early age in dance and sports. My world changed when I was 21 years old. I was having all sorts of aches and pains and one morning woke up with no vision in my right eye. Super scary to say the least! From that moment is was a 6 month journey of tests and doctor visits to come to the diagnosis of arthritis. Arthritis? At 21 years old? Yes, this would be my new reality. 

What followed was 6 years of inactivity. Six years of not being able to do the things I loved doing. I was frustrated, upset, sad, a bit depressed and in pain. When visiting theme parks I would have to get a wheelchair just to make it through the day.  This lead to many looks and unwelcome comments. 

The one day that will forever stay in my mind is when my friend and I were at Universal Studios going through the queue to get on a rollercoaster. There I was looking like the picture of health. This guy had the audacity to say "Oh, is she going to push you next?" WHAT?! Such a sad and infuriating moment. This brought me even greater compassion for those with diseases and disabilities that can't been seen by others.

From that point on I knew that I would have to deal with comments and discrimination of others. What followed was many doctors visits,  blood testing and an array of medications.

Fortunately with time my condition became less debilitating and I was able to stop taking some of my medications (usually because they were recalled). I would manage my condition by taking over the counter anti-inflammatories. Going shopping or any long amount of standing or walking is when I would feel the pain the most.

Almost six years later to the day I walked into a gym and signed up for a membership. I felt well enough to try some treadmill walking, lifting weights and group exercise classes. I would quickly learn my limits and what worked for me.

The one thing that was a big no no was running. This was frustrating since I was a track and field and cross country athlete.

Honestly,  I was just happy to be moving again and involved in fitness and if running was a no go it was a small sacrifice that I could live with.

The same year I joined the gym I also participated in my first IOA Corporate 5K. This race was open to runners and walkers so I entered as a walker. Successfully completing the 3.1 mile walk was a satisfying victory. 

Over the next few years I'd register as a walker,  but found myself adding some jogging and even trying to run across the finish line. Sometimes I felt the pain in my knee and sometimes I didn't. I eventually got to the point where I would jog or run the entire race. 

Me? Running again?! It was almost too good to be true! Mind you I would only run that one 5K race a year. No training runs,  just get out and do it.

After meeting my boyfriend we would do some casual running 1, 2 or 3 miles. I was feeling stronger,  but knee pain would still creep back in. Sometimes after the first mile, sometimes not until the run was over.

We decided to do our first nighttime glow run 5K together. Not only did we both have great runs, but we also got medals for our age group. I won 1st place! Again, such a satisfying and encouraging moment. 

From there I had been bitten by the running bug. The desire to push my limits. The next year we completed a 10K together and for this run I just did a bit of training which helped build the confidence that I could indeed run 6.2 miles, my furthest distance ever!

Naturally next up we went for a longer distance. Our 15K was in the fall of that same year. This was the first time I followed a training plan. I chose a 16 week plan and all was going well until I was injured. I took the last 5 weeks off and hadn't quite recovered. I was stubborn and determined to run and complete my longest distance yet. So there I was running the 9.3 miles injured. Not smart and not recommended, but my stubborn self completed the race better than I expected with my injury though not as good as my non-injured goal time.

I'm sure you can tell where this is going😊 You would be correct if you guessed "she's going to do a half marathon!"

This time around I chose a shorter 12 week training plan since I was afraid I might get injured again.  Fortunately, the 12 week plan was perfect for me. I maintained my health and successfully completed training. Come race day I was confidently prepared and excited. I typically always do better on race days and these 13.1 miles were nice exception! 

I finished the race 25 mins under my goal time and felt great the whole way through. I couldn't believe how well I felt, how effortless it seemed to be moving along with hundreds of other people. The last 2 miles I definitely was feeling it in my hips and knees, but the adrenaline and endorphins were pushing me through to the finish line. 

My boyfriend being the ambitious man that he is decided to skip right over the half and go for the full marathon. I was so happy to be there cheering him on and running him into the finish line.

This year it will be his turn. He's not racing this year,  but is fully supporting me in my journey to run my first marathon,  something I never thought I would be able to do 17 years ago.

I know it won't be easy,  not every run will feel good, I won't always want to be dragging myself out of bed at zero dark thirty (especially for those long runs). I do know, however,  that if my training is completed injury free and when race day comes on December 1st, crossing that finish line will be one of my proudest moments and sweetest victories in life thus far.

I feel blessed to have this opportunity and say yes to the challenge.  Believe in yourself and your dreams and anything is possible. 

I hope you'll come along with me on my journey. I can use all of the support and encouragement and greatly appreciate all the well wishes I've got this far.

Let's do this!🏃‍♀️