We never know where life is going to take us or what challenges it brings. In January 2010 I was happy, so happy I wanted to stay that way for as long as I could. I realised that if Ali and I wanted a long and healthy life together, we had to change. I was clinically obese, had a bad back and my knees were feeling the strain. I had various health problems and I was ageing faster than my years. I looked ahead to a life I did not want. It was time to change. By the end of the year I had lost 4 stone - 56lbs. My confidence rocketed - I had taken control and it had worked. I was exercising, enjoying buying clothes, speaking up for myself.

I began to believe in myself again, I began to dream. For years I had watched marathons with admiration and a lump in my throat. In April 2013, I ran my first marathon.

This blog is about living life as a slim person, staying slim and fulfilling my dreams. Come and join me, support me, advise me!



Take care, Sue

Saturday 22 January 2011

Race for Life and Living

Every single woman should do Race for Life at least once.  Unusually for me, I'm almost lost for words to describe what it's like, it's just amazing. The excitement of the gathering - who's going to be there, will you know anyone? Will all the girls turn up? The warm up laughter as we get the legs and arms moving and the chat going. The moment's silence, as we remember why we are all there, together but in our own hearts for that minute. And then we race for life - your life, my life, our children's lives. Doesn't matter if you run, walk, jog or wave and cheer (believe me waving and cheering really makes a difference!).

Almost everyone running will have a name written on the back of her shirt, people they love who have or have had cancer. Too many names, far too many. You want to hug everyone and make it better. Whatever you do, wherever you go, you'll not find a gathering quite like it.  These women are amazing, inspirational.
Everyone does Race For Life in her own way. We trot, jog, walk, run and sprint. We pant, glide, hobble and waddle. We don't care what other folk think, whether it hurts or whether we're any good, that's not what Race for Life is about. Everyone there runs a personal best just by being there.  We do Race for Life because we love life and we want our life and the lives of those we love and care about to be long and happy and healthy.  We run to raise money and we run to raise awareness, to support each other and lift spirits. 
You don't have to like running to love Race for Life, but I know people who have come to love running that way. More and more women are taking up running, you just need a good sports bra (definitely worth it believe me) and trainers and you're off.   I kept doing Race for Life even at my largest when I mainly walked my 2k. This year I'm going to do the 10k, I remember thinking I'd never do that. They say almost anyone can do a 5k with a bit of training and that starts with walking. It's all just one foot in front of the other.

And if you really can't manage - then sponsor someone or raise money. No excuses!

So, here's the link to Race for Life. Please sign up if you can.raceforlife.org

Some tips:
  • Write your name on your top so people know who to cheer
  • Make sure you've got water
  • Smile as much as you can (your face should hurt more than your legs afterwards!)
  • and most importantly --- wear waterproof mascara. I defy anyone not to shed a tear at some point during the day.

Enjoy every moment and tell everyone how you got on.


  
Love from Sue

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