Why I Run the Bellin Run: Joann Will, Manitowoc

May 21, 2013

Last year I never imagined that I would register for the Bellin Run as I weighed 259 lbs. This past mid-October I was kind of feeling in the dumps and needed to put something on my calendar to look forward to, so weight loss it was.

The more time and energy I put in at the gym, the more I decided to put it into something bigger than weight loss, hence the Bellin Run. I have an incredible work ethic when it comes to exercise. I don't like to push myself a little, I like to push myself a lot. Most days I work out two times a day and am always striving to do something faster, lift a little more weight, etc. What drives me? I think it comes from the pain in my life partially due to my weight problems as I have been overweight or obese most of my life. 

I have only been running for several months because I always seem to have some kind of pain – hip, groin, knee, foot – that prevents me from running as much as I would like. Fortunately, it's nothing major and can be handled with a little extra TLC. The chiropractor has been very helpful for ultrasounds, deep tissue massage and spinal adjustments. I'm crossing my fingers that I will have some good training time in and be pain free before the Bellin Run.

Until recently, I hadn't done any running since high school cross country, and I'm now 36 years old. Running is a lot different when you're younger. Weeks ago I ran my first 5K and my time was a lot faster than I anticipated which I was very pleased with. I'm proud to say that when I’m feeling good and pain free, I'm down to almost a 9-minute mile for a 5K.

At this time I have lost more than 85 lbs. and am still losing weight through diet and exercise. What brings tears to my eyes now is all the hurt that I used to motivate myself to work out is slowly being replaced with confidence.

My story is still very much in the works and I can't wait to see what the future brings.

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Send us a few paragraphs on why you’re participating in the Bellin Run and we’ll use your stories in a variety of ways, including posting them on our website’s blog at http://www.bellinrun.com
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E-mail your reasons for running (or walking) to Femi Cole at [email protected]. Put “Why I run/walk the Bellin Run” in the subject line. We’ll be watching for your stories.