Barking Mad About Running

My name is Kim Prytherch, and I am Barking Mad About Running! (www.BarkingMadAboutRunning.blogspot.com) I am a mother of 2 teenagers and I work full time as an Elementary School Special Education Paraprofessional.

I started my journey in August 2011. I had been training for the 3 Day for the Cure with a friend who suddenly decided she wanted to go alone. I fundraised and trained…and stayed home. I was sad, angry, and hurt. I felt like I needed a new outlet, so I started running using the C25K plan with Susan Komen’s Race for a Cure as my goal. I averaged about a 15-16 minute mile when I started.

Once I completed that race, I started the C210K. Early into my training, I decided to switch to Half Marathon Training with the Long Branch Half in NJ as my goal race. I started training just after New Year’s Day, 2012 and barely missed a run. My average pace during training dropped to 13-14 minute miles. I felt like Super Woman. I ran 5Ks and 5 mile races for motivation and I was having a blast! Why didn’t I start this sooner? As an added bonus, I was losing weight! I was counting calories, and trying to eat healthier. I was also taking yoga and the occasional sculpting class at the gym. By race day I had dropped about 15 pounds, and I was ready to go! I completed the race in about 2:35 with an average pace of around 12 minutes per mile! To many that is slow, but I felt *amazing*. I couldn’t wait to do it again and again!

My next goal has become the Disney Marathon in January 2013, 3 months shy of my 40th birthday. During my training I will also be running 3 Half Marathons to earn my Half Fanatic Status. I just finished the Rock n Roll Philadelpia Half in 2:39 for my first race, and will be doing NYRR Staten Island Half and the Hershey Half in October. 3 races in about 35 days. I am definitely addicted now! There is nothing quite like the elation, exhaustion, relief, and tears you experience when you cross that finish line. I hope to experiencing that for many years to come.

To date I have lost almost 25 pounds, and hope to lose another 20. My next challenge will be to clean up my food choices. The Paleo Diet will be arriving tomorrow, and I look forward to feeling fit *and* healthy! Counting calories is definitely an improvement over my former habits, but I still have a long way to go.

I am a completely different person than I was a year ago. No longer sad, no longer angry, I am lighter physically and mentally. I run 3 days a week, do yoga on the beach on Saturdays, plank every day, ( 3 minutes and 30 seconds is my record so far!) and take sculpting classes when I can. I recently became a Sweat Pink Ambassador at www.FitApproach.com and I am enjoying spreading the SweatPink love! What an amazing honor! I am still glowing!

I would love to hear from other moms who are struggling to become fit and healthy, paleo or not! Please stop by my blog and say hello, or follow me on Twitter @BarkingMadRun. Let’s do this together!