Adventure 12: Adventure as Motive for Fitness

For some, the difference between 0.125 miles and 13.1 miles is 12.975 miles. For me, it’s 12.975 miles and four years of struggle.

In 2008, I went for my first official “run.” I made it to the end of the block, roughly 1/8th (0.125) of a mile. I probably should mention that, at the time, I weighed 236 lbs. That first official “run” was my last official run for about a year. Because I knew then that running was for crazies.

All this time, ever since that horrible jogging attempt, the same picture has been stuck on my refrigetor. Torn out of a magazine, the picture (and add for Glenfiddich whiskey) shows two hikers backpacking through the Scottish highlands. Across the top, in big white letters, it reads: “ONE DAY YOU WILL.”

I made my first trip to Scotland in 2008 and fell head-over-heels in love with Edinburgh. My husband promised that we’d be back one day. From then on, my reward for reaching my weight loss goal was a backpacking trip through the highlands.

Well, it’s four years later, and I’m sixty pounds less than what I was — a mere thirteen pounds away from my goal weight. The tickets are purchased, the trip planned: we will be walking the 95 mile West Highland Way in May 2013 with nothing but what fits in our backpacks and a tent. This means I have seven months to lose fifteen pounds.

It doesn’t sound like much — 13 pounds — but for the last year I’ve hit the dreaded weight loss plateau. The scale has not budged an inch in either direction. The bastard. I needed something different, something new… I turned to my bitchin’ stepdad for inspiration. The guy is 50 years old, about 210 pounds, and a running addict. If he could run marathons, surely I could run a half. So I signed up for the Illinois Half Marathon in Champaign-Urbana. The finish line is the 50-yard line of the Illini football stadium. Awesome!

So eight weeks ago, I took another stab at going for a run. Thankfully, shedding sixty pounds helped me pass that 0.125 mile in no time. My first day out, I ran two miles. Last Saturday, I ran seven. The half marathon is still months away, but I know I’ll have plenty of time to prepare. I just hope it’s enough to help me reach that final goal. Enough to take me to Scotland on the adventure of my dreams. I have a deerstalker hat ready to go.

What adventures keep you fit?