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Starting Line

I started running in 2011. The decision to start couch to 5k happened after I heard the words that every woman dreads hearing from their doctor: obese. I knew I was heavier than I wanted to be, but surely I wasn't clinically overweight. The scaled don't lie. At 5'3" I was clocking in at 170 lbs.

Me in 2011 at my heaviest
 I ran exclusively on treadmills when I started because I was so ashamed of being a beginner, not looking like a runner and risking people seeing me. When you're heavier, it's amazing how often you wish you weren't so visible, and didn't take up so much space. I even went to the office gym during off peak hours to avoid being in the same room with other athletes. However, running inside presented another problem. It gets really hot, even in capris. My lack of a thigh gap has always - even today - made shorts impossible and uncomfortable for me.

That's when I found it. Running skirts. I looked forward to getting them because they're super cute and I felt comfortable in them. Soon I was running outside and enjoying the amazing parks and trails that Washington, DC had to offer. Before I knew it, it was time for my first race. I didn't know how fast I'd run, or what the weather would be like, but I did know what I would wear: my favorite blue running skirt. It has cute pleats in the back that flow in the wind as I go, not unlike a cape.

My first race, and running skirt
Running created a community that always welcomed and accepted me, no matter what my weight. I'm happy to be in a healthier place now, although I have gained some of the weight off. Friends who see me now and the mileage I put up never know where I came from, but that's what makes me an advocate for running and runners everywhere. So, put on your skirt, or whatever you feel most comfortable in and get out there!


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