Black Girls Run!

Camille Cunningham
Guest Blogger
Runner

A runner is thin. A runner is lean. A runner is someone with thin textured every day washable hair. A runner is immune to cold weather. A runner is not me.

These are only a few of the misconceptions I have had about runners for 33 years. Running is not something I have ever attempted or even contemplated in my life. It is not that I didn’t struggle from overweight and obesity. Growing up in the south, I became a fan of fried foods, bad carbohydrates, and sugar in any capacity at an early age. Unhealthy eating was – is a part of my culture; isn’t it? But why?

For years I have told myself, “It’s okay to be a little thick, black men like thick women.” So, I ate a carbohydrate filled diet and at the age of 15 I was already 5 lbs overweight. By the age of 30, I had gained 65 more pounds. At 5 foot 3 inches tall, I weighed 205 lbs. Now, I can blame this on the college 15 or the extra 20 lbs of happy fat that came after marriage; but the only blame lies with me. The thing most people don’t tell you about gaining weight is that you don’t realize how big you’ve gotten until after you’ve lost the weight. When I look back at the photos of myself, I am saddened and I often wonder “How did this happen to me?”

As I examine my childhood, teenage years and adulthood I realized one thing. Running is not something I associated myself with because it is not a sport that I have seen my image represented. Runners did not live in my neighborhoods, attend my churches, or reside within my social circles. I am an African American woman; raised in an African American household in the southeastern region of the country. My parents were raised poor. Although they climbed the corporate ladder to provide a middle-class upbringing for my sister and I; their eating habits were quite similar to many African American families. Simply put, I was not exposed to healthy eating.

Today, both of my parents suffer with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type II diabetes. The same is true for my husband’s family; his father suffered 3 strokes in 2 months before the age of 50. Seeing my family members take pill after pill, I decided to make a change. I, like many others tried several unsuccessful fad diets. In 2009, I decided to significantly curtail my eating habits to a no carb, no sugar, and no alcohol diet. Although I lost 40 lbs in 4 months, at least 15 of those pounds came back within a year because my new eating habits were unrealistic and unsustainable. So now what?

In October 2011, Tracie, a dear friend, introduced me to Black Girls Run (BGR)! She explained that BGR had an Atlanta chapter of women that ran all over the city encouraging each other to push past their limitations and stereotypes. Honestly, when she first told me of the group I thought she was a little crazy. I mean I was no runner. What about my hair? What about the cold temperatures? Lastly, I thought “Black women don’t run – do they?!” Because Tracie was such a trusted friend of mine I decided to check it out.

I will never forget, it was Sunday, October 16 at 7:00 a.m. – the temperature was 42 degrees. Tracie drove as I sat in silence thinking “What the heck am I doing!”, “I hope they have a medic on standby”, “This is the silliest thing I’ve ever done.” We pulled into Walden Park subdivision and everything from there is still a bit hazy. But this is what I remember: I remember 116 black women in layers of clothes and bandanas. I remember jogging two steps and walking twenty. I remember seeing a girl twice my size and age pass me up a hill. And it was at that moment that I said, “Oh, heck no!”

After the run, or walk I should say, I felt mixed feelings of disappointment and determination. The disappointment came from realizing how out of shape I had become. The determination came from the seeing and feeling this huge amount of support, positivity and camaraderie from Black Girls Run. There is something about a group that is inclusive of all sizes, ages, and races of women. And there is something magical about 100+ women cheering you through the finish line each and every time.

Since joining Black Girls Run on October 16th, I have run a minimum of 13.5 to 20 miles per week. I have participated in two 5k’s (one of which I had the 2nd fastest time), have registered for one 10k, and I am in training for a half marathon in March. And, just a few days ago, I ran (not walked) 8 miles nonstop for the first time. I am now a runner for at least 3 days a week. Just running, and incorporating more fruits and vegetables in my diet has allowed me to lose over 15 lbs. in five weeks. I am only 13 pounds from my goal weight, a size 6/8. I am smaller than I have been since 1998. My husband is in awe, my friends are in wonderment, and my haters just don’t know what to do.

Today, I can proudly say thank you to support of 100+ women of the Black Girls Run Camp Creek chapter for adding years to my life. As with anything positive, I like to spread the word! If you are looking for a way to change your life, come join BGR. Since joining I have converted 8 women into runners. We don’t care about your race, age, size, or level. Once you try us, you’re hooked for life. Come get some!!!


Camille and Tracie in training for their first half marathon in March 2012



Serenbe 5K

Yesterday was the Hill Country 15 K and 5KTrail Race at Serenbe.  The Hill Country Trail Race is in it's 4th season. Serenbe is located about 32 miles south of Atlanta in Palmetto, GA.  I first heard about this beautiful piece of country from my friend Teresa who celebrated her 40th birthday here with her lady friends. Teresa  participated in the 5K last year and sent out an invitation on facebook to join her. 

I was excited to participate in my second 5K.  I was looking forward to the challenge and the experience of running in cooler weather.  My first 5K run was in June and the heat and humidity were rather formidable.  I had continued to run intermittently since the last race and  had enough time to give more focused attention to running. 

During those 41 days, I didn't give a more focused attention to running.  And in the last two weeks, I might have walked a few times.  As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.   I could always run as much as I could and walk as needed.  I was still excited about the race.

Here's my t shirt, race number and timing chip for my shoe. 

This is what I actually wore on race day.  I came down with something evidenced by a scratchy throat, swollen glands and an achy body.  With morning temperatures below freezing and important events in the next two weeks, I was unwilling to do anything that just might send me over the edge.  

This didn't prevent me from participating in some way and supporting good 'ole Teresa.  I also wanted to visit Serenbe.  From all accounts from Teresa and friends, it seemed like my kind of place.  We met up at 6:45 am and headed to Serenbe which was about an hour away. The 5K race began at 8:15 am.

We parked in the designated location for runners and walked to the event.  It was nice to be out in the open country. 

We passed this decorated tree on the way to the course...

Porta pottyies were available.  As a new runner, I don't know enough about races and access to bathrooms.  I tend to be worried about the bathroom situation at public events.  Handwashing stations with soap, water and hand sanitizers were provided.   

There was a saxophonist who played the national anthem. 

The 5K race started closer to 8:40 a.m., 15 minutes after the 15K.

Go Teresa (#1571)...go!

The last of the runners (top of photo) headed to the trails and the others (foreground) hung out.   

 

I walked around the village and took photos.  I  met one of the residents who's been living in Serenbe for almost a year.  I wondered how in the world she ended up living in Serenbe.  She has a horse and wanted to find a place where she and the horse could be closer.  She had lived in metro Atlanta for many years. 

Before I knew it, Teresa was finished.  I couldn't get my camera phone together in time to catch her as she approached but I caught her from behind (tiny speck in the center of the photo).

Teresa finished and improved her time from last year.

We walked around afterwards and took in the sites. 

Beer and burritos were provided for all of the participants.  We weren't in the mood for either.  Instead, we enjoyed a nice breakfast at the Blue Eyed Daisy Restaurant in the village.

5K...Doin Life!



Photo courtesy of Teresa



The run was great.  Not because it happened exactly how I imagined it.  At times it was hard.  Heat, hills and humidity. Ok, so the one hill was a slight and gradual incline. But, it was on the side of Centennial Park that had no tree covering so it was full on sun.  And, our 5K in Atlanta was running around the perimeter of the park 5 times.  Therefore, a few times I walked a little when I felt very nauseated and a little dizzy.  I think we would all agree that this is when one should walk.   I know...poor me.   

The race was also fun, joyful and worthwhile.  I was running as part of the Ben Does Life unofficial 5K running tour.  There are a lot of people participating in the tour who have made substantial lifestyle changes to improve their lives.   I'm sure running is just one part of their story.    I was supported by my friend Teresa who ran with me and that was cool.  And being around all of that good will and optimism is pretty amazing.   Fox 5 Atlanta was there and did a really nice feel good story. 

Teresa and Karen (Photo courtesy of Do Life)

Last year, I hadn't seriously thought about running a 5K.  Me?  In Atlanta's heat?  As my father would say, Shhhhhh-i-i-i-i-i-t!  But I did and here's how it happened. 

First, I made a decision.  That was half the battle.  Then, a few times a week, I would get out of my bed around 6 a.m.  By 6:30, I would be out the door and on my way.   Once, I tried to run after work and that was a most horrible decision.  It was about 7 or 8 pm and it was still too hot and humid.  I don't do hot and I don't do humid.  This decision meant that I was going to have to make some changes.  I did.  It also meant that I would have to keep deciding again and again and again.  I did that too. 

The day before I was always excited about running.  It is exhilarating to think about reaching a new goal and and all of the glory I've attached to it.   That's the easy part.   I have the capacity to live a very glamorous and successful life entirely in my head.  But the morning came as it always does.  Most of the time I got out of bed on autopilot.  My eyes, glazed over like a zombie.   My body, moved like the tin man.  My mood...relatively foul.  But somehow I found myself outside with dog in tow.  Even as I started my run I would be yawning like the day was coming to an end.  I kept moving. 

Teresa, Ben and Karen

After each run, I felt completely different than when I started.  Yes, I was sweating like a pig and my body was taxed.   Yet, my mood was lifted and I felt optimistic about the world and me in it.  I felt proud.   Did I just do that?  Well, what else can I do? 

Then, one day, I found myself able to run 4 miles.  My pace is still quite slow but that's ok.  I'm not making this up or exaggerating a little.  I pretty much finished the 5K close to last.  But that was good for me and where I was on that day.  I was running my race - embracing my path, my process and my progress. 

Decide and do.  Again and again and again.

You can follow the tour either on facebook or via Ben's blog. 

Atlanta - Doin Life! (Photo courtesy of Do Life)

5K, Just a Week Away!

I am a week away from my first 5K.   I am participating in the Ben Does Life Running tour.  I'm excited about the run except for the starting time of 10 am.  Ben doesn't know...he just don't know.  He don't know that it is too doggone hot to start running at 10 am in the ATL.  But this is Ben's first 5K running tour so it is ok if everything isn't perfection.  I am going to support the tour because the premise of Ben Does life is that if you hate your life...do something about it. 

I thought I would share a few journal entries about my running struggles and triumphs.  I capture just about everything in my journal.    I have one other blog about this personal goal.   

November 18, 2010

Yesterday was weird for me.  I felt completely insane at times.  Irritated, anxious, mad, etc.  Probably the best part about yesterday was getting in my 4 mile run/walk.  I can't call it a 4 mile run yet.  ...this is the longest time I've sustained this activity longer than a week or two.  I think this started for me back in September.  I must say I'm fascinated with the process of becoming a runner. 

January 2, 2011

The weather should be nice enough for me to jog at the park.  Time to get back into a work out routine.   I woke up feeling like I need to lose weight and feeling heavy.  So-- time to do something about it.  I was on a good roll until I started working* about a month ago.

*For most of 2010 I had been laid off but was able to work contractually from home.

March 6, 2011

The last few weeks I've increased my distance for my walk/run.  Maybe I should just call it running.  I'm up to 5 miles and about half of it is running.

May 1, 2011

I reached a milestone with my running.  I jogged 1.2 miles without stopping.  I am accepting that to reach my goal of running a 5K at the end of June I am going to have to exercise (i.e...run) a few days a week when most days I am not going to want to do that.

May 11, 2011

After work (yesterday) I went to the park to get in my exercise.  I had much trepidation because it was about 90 degrees outside.  The hour before I kept going back and forth about going.  I can barely imagine myself running.  In the heat?  OMG!  But the realization that I had was that I will always come up with an excuse not to exercise on a particular day.  So I went.  I completed 3 miles and incorporated more walking and was glad I had my water bottle in hand.

May 17, 2011

I went jogging before work with good 'ole Brandi.  She is extra when I'm trying to jog.  I mostly jogged from here (home) to Home Depot and back (~2 miles).  It has been unseasonably cool so it felt great outside.

May 28, 2011

I've been consistently running 2 miles.  This morning I want to take it a little further.  *Maybe 2.5 miles?  We'll see. 

*I ended up running 3 miles.  When I was in the second mile, I said to myself, I think you can do another mile.  And I did.

May 31, 2011

How did Monday get here so fast?  My weekend was fabulous.  I mean it.  I ran 3 miles twice!  The first time was much easier than the second.  Yesterday, it was just too hot.  I realized that if I am going to run outside at all I will need to be finished by 9 a.m.  Yesterday, I started at 9 a.m.  I feel quite accomplished.  Yesterday, I willed myself through each mile because I was sooo uncomfortable.  Between each mile I got a sip of water.  Soon, I'll be running five miles.  I can see it quite clearly now.  But no pressure.

June 16, 2011

I ditched Brandi today.  Like I said, she can be Xtra.  Xtra is not what I need when I'm trying to run.  So I left her at home and went to Mountain Park around 6:30 a.m.  There was this older gentleman running in an opposite direction from me.  The first time we jogged past each other, he looked up and gave me a big smile.  When we passed each other during my second mile, he looked up with surprise and said Hey!  I just smiled back at him.  At the start of the third mile we passed each other again and he said...Well...Alright!!!   This time I laughed.  When I was close to completing the fourth mile he started clapping as I approached and said...Great job!  I said, almost done!   He nodded with approval, clapped some more and said again, Great job!  I completed 4 miles, another milestone, and it took me about an hour.  

If I can do it, you can too. 

5K, here I come!

I've always wanted to be a runner and I've always wanted to be a swimmer.  Recently, I've taken on running.  The swimming can wait as this may involve psychotherapy.  Let's just say that a swimming instructor physically forced a terrified child, head-first, into the deep end of the pool.  I guess that was how the YMCA taught children who can't swim, to dive, back in the mid to late 70's.  As I said, psychotherapy. 

I want to make it clear about the type of runner that I want to be.   As of today, I have no desire to run in half marathons or marathons.   I have no desire to time myself.  Running a 5K here and a 10K there without stopping would be quite sufficient.  This is my goal today.   One day, I may want to do more.

About 2 months ago, as part of this goal, I decided that I would participate in the Ben Does Life tour  when it comes to Atlanta on Sunday, June 26.   I thought that was realistic since I could comfortably walk 5 miles.   In the last few months, I would run at least a third of it.  My strategy was similiar to the Couch to 5K running plan.  So, I could possibly complete a 5K without walking.  If only I believe.

Initially, when I made a conscious decision to jog longer than half a mile, I remember exactly how I felt.  Sluggish, slow and annoyed.  Sluggish and slow, because I was.  Annoyed, because I didn't want to feel sluggish and slow.  I wanted to go jogging off into the sunset like I had been running for years.   But that's not how it works.  One great piece of advice given to me from a colleague and friend was that I should jog at a really slow pace.  She said something like... Karen, c'mon...like for real...technically you could jog at a slower pace than you currently walk.  That made a whole lot of sense to me and it works. 

When I'm running, I'm aware of demoralizing thoughts such as BOY ARE YOU SLOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, YOU ARE WAYYY TOOO BIG TO BE RUNNING, I BET YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS AND SOMEWHAT FLICTED...etc, etc, etc.   I no longer worry about these thoughts or chastise myself for having them.  That's just fear and disbelief talking.  They do a whole lot of yappin initially in protest of change.   Besides, thoughts come and go.  All I need to do is to just keep running.  And I do.

The place where I am in training is Mountain Park Park.  And yes, it is really named Mountain Park Park.  One of my friends who lives close to the park told me about it.  I love it.  There are all kinds of friendly people there of different ages and skin hues.  Just the other day a tall, white fellow with beautiful grey hair in his sixties or seventies jogged past me and waved his hand and said...Hello there!  It was almost as if we knew each other.  I want to be like that twenty years from now.  I want to be jogging past people, enthusiastic, vibrant and saying hi to people I don't know. 

The park gets great useage because of the trails, baseball fields, tennis courts, skateboard park, soccer field and playground.  The 1 mile multi-use paved trail has 1/10 mile distance markers and that is great for what I'm trying to do.  This is one great use of public dollars.

On this particular day, I spent the first mile leisurely walking and taking photos (see below).  I then jogged the next two miles without stopping.  The last mile I walked and smiled like a fool.  It was approximately 1:08 pm, Sunday, May 15, 2011 when I finished 4 miles.  When I started the first mile at 11:55 am, I had no intention of jogging 2 miles.  However, I have consistently jogged 1-1.5 miles without stopping the last two weeks.   This time, I had reached a particular stopping point and decided to keep going.   It was a pretty simple decision.  Just keep going.  5K, here I come!

The starting point.  Most distance markers are partially hidden. 

A visually appealing pond that sometimes smells weird and stinky.

Maybe its the ducks...

This photo of the skatepark was actually taken several months ago.

Baseball fields down to the right

A lonely little stretch....

Playground and soccer fields.  A visible distance marker!

Just through the trees on the left is the public library.

My favorite distance marker...I'm close to finishing a mile.