soooooooooooo i’m a runner

lets talk about kmg and running

never ever -eva – eva- eva …. in my wildest dreams did i think i would be a runner

but

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

i am!!!

Someone asked me awhile ago how I got into run and pretty much “how do you do it?”

Running is different for everyone. There are tons of apps, blogs, articles, sites, fitness groups, social media groups, trainers, and physical running groups you could join to learn about running. Here is my journey with being a runner….

I remember when I couldn’t run a mile. It seems crazy now that there was a time that I couldn’t run a mile. and when i say i couldn’t run a mile i mean it. after 1/4 of a mile i was winded and didnt want to go on…. but i slowly worked my way from 1/4 of a mile to 1/2 a mile then from 1/2 a mile to 1 mile.

in the beginning of my running journey it took me about 22 minutes to complete my mile. i know. i know. thats a long time. i really wanted to improve that so my immediate goal was to get to 20 minutes. when i completed my mile in 20 minutes i felt so accomplished. i believe in setting smart and reasonable goals. even though i hit this goal of a mile in 20 minutes i knew that i could do better. so i told myself 16 minutes – cut 4 minutes off of my mile running time for my mile. i knew that this would not be easy but i would have to be consistent with going to the park – walking-jogging-and running to hit this goal.

 – facts – i always want an extra box of girl scout cookies! always

it wasnt long before i set another goal. my big goal for running a mile was to be able to run a mile in 12-13 minutes. since i started my running journey i have never focused fully on speed – but more on distance- even with a distance focus i wanted to pick up the pace to cover more ground – so that my distance numbers would increase. i can know run a mile in about 11-13 minutes- keeping a good steady pace.

i did several things to help with becoming a better runner.

-i joined BLACK GIRLS RUN — and became a #BGRChick  — this was a great decision for me because eventhough the majority of the ladies in the group were experienced runners no one slighted you because you didnt have as much experience as others – and you were encouraged to walk, jog, or run — just keep moving

-i pushed myself 

-in the beginning i would just use Pandora and find a station that I enjoyed to use during my workout. i would walk a song – then ‘jog’ or move faster to a song – then walk – then jog – etc … until the time i set for my workout was complete. soon i would walk-jog-jog-walk-jog-jog ….until i was able to jog/run consistently.

-i drank (and still do) lots of water

-i know we know this but we need water. we should drink lots of water. everyday. im not going to tell you how much water you should drink a day because we all come to our own conclusions with the exact amount – but you need to drink lots of water everyday. i push myself to drink about 1/2 a gallon a day (and it keeps me running to the bathroom a lot)

-realized how important sleep is

– you need to sleep

-i used the CouchTo5k App … 

– i highly reccomned this app if you are a new runner

-i downloaed an app where i could add my friends who run and we challenge ourselves each month and can track how we do with each month.

-i am currently using RUNTASTIC … Adidas also has a great running app and MAP MY RUN.

---

one of the biggest things that has made running enjoyable for me is doing it with my friends. Signing up for organized events is a great way to push yourself (hopefully) to train for the event to help you improve and become a better run. organized events are fun- and if you do them with friends- its even more fun… lots of them have metals you get when you cross the finish line and tshirts. my friend and i travel for races and make weekend vacations out of them. fun-fitness-friends all wrapped into one.

running has really changed my life! i remember one day the nurse telling me that i was pre-hypertensive… that shook me! i didnt know what to think or what to do. i only decided to get my blood pressure checked because it is a service that my church offers on 1st Sundays and there’s always a long wait to leave church (the real reason) so I figured it if i get my bp checked when im finished i wont have to wait in a long line in the church parking lot. i didnt think getting my bp checked would change my life. when she checked it her eyes got big and she seemed really concerned. so she said lets sit a moment, allow you to calm down, and check it again. well – we checked it again and it was very high. so high she recommended that i visit my doctor during the coming week. i immediately made an appointment and saw my doctor on Tuesday. i told her (my doctor) about my experience at church and when she checked my bp it was still high. it could have been high for any number of reasons (clearly im anxious and nervous) but we decided to take it very seriously. she told me to track it and get it checked throughout the week for the next two weeks. i made another appointment to come back and see my doctor in two weeks. my bp was still high as i checked it at the local pharmacy so my doctor prescribed medicine to help me regulate my bp.

i was extremely discouraged. 28- young and taking bp meds. the exact reason why my bp was high is still a mystery but we came up with a list of reasons that ‘could be’ …. after about 6 months of taking these pills my bp was normal but i just wasnt okay with taking meds forever to have a good bp reading. i made an appointment with my doctor and asked what could we do…. i made drastic changes to my diet and my fitness life…. i took a lot of things out of my diet – the biggest being salt and fast foods – and i started running …. this is when my running journey really started …

when talking with my doctor we … nope I came up with a plan for me to not have to stay on meds. it was my idea – i told her “i dont want to take this medicine anymore” and she responded “what are you going to do about it” to which i explained to her my plan of changing my diet, drinking more water, and working out more.

since then i have been consistent with running… some seasons better than others but i am definitely a runner now. i enjoy running – mostly because its free. whereas i am not against the gym and i appreciate them – especially during hot summer months and super cold winter days – i dont want to pay for the gym. i can run anywhere. when i travel i always try and get a run in. i can push myself- run alone- or run with friends … it works – for me… so i do it….

the thing about this fitness journey is you have to find what works for you! and keep at that thing.

oh …. i am no longer taking blood pressure medication so thats exciting. i still try and get it checked regularly and if it ever peaks a little too high its a reminder to focus on my health (food/water/sleep/fitness) and stay consistent.

^the real reason i run^

---

so this post didnt have much to do with china/shanghai but some folks have asked me about running and how i do it. its not for everyone but i enjoy it. for me a playlist is everything … good music – good weather and hit the pavement …

if you can run while people are talking play a TEDTalk or a podcast or even an audio book – there are ways to make it enjoyable.

since ive been here in China I have been running a lot … mostly alone because schedules are crazy with friends but every once in awhile i find someone i can run with and thats nice

I love this picture!!!! I did a 5K while in Seoul — but life is also about balance so I also went to Krispy Kreme and tried some yummy snacks in the night market

#yolo #liveyourbestlifeeverday #smile #karlagirljoy

 

also as we talk about running- i set a goal to run 650km this year … i am currently 54% of the way there with 351 KM logged… just 299km to go!!!! (Yall know we used a different metric system here …

650KM = 403 miles 

299KM = 185.7

351 KM = 218.1

 

Make it a great week everyone! Month 8 blog post coming soon ….

 

---

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY!

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’ 

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4-Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

#FearlessinShanghai #Thankful #joychangeslives #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJoy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #BlackInShanghai #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla  #KarlaGirlJoy #BlackGirlInShanghai #eatsleeppartyrepeat #givingisgood #givingisfun #WakandaForever #ShuriAndNakiaAndOkoye #MelaninMagic #Blessed #FaithfulIsMyGod

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE*