jowtow's 2025 running journey (and my journey from morbidly obese to just obese)

January 1st of 2025, I ran 1 mile without stopping for the first time in my life. I know, not a super impressive metric, but it means something to me. Today, September 7th, I ran 2 miles without stopping for the first time in my life. I'm no running expert, I'm far from the first to do these things. Doesn't matter. This post is to put a mile marker in my progress thus far and recap how we got here.

As I stated above, I completed my 1 mile goal on the first of this year. I started exercising more intentionally in November of 2024. I have always had this 1 mile goal. I've never been a particularly healthy person. Something I've found to be true: January 1st is a terrible time to set a resolution. There's no identity in it. If it's health related, you're just coming out of the best time of year for binge eating. Everyone else is setting goals, so your resolution weirdly doesn't feel as much like it's yours. Set a resolution any other time, I promise it'll work out better!

The heaviest I think I've been was in college, I capped out at about 330 pounds. Blimy I was a large fella, I was stressed by school and other things so I'd often eat to counteract that stress. On top of that, I've always been surrounded by people who love and care about me regardless of my weight. Nothing wrong with being a big fella, I just started to get concerned about my health. The first time eating healthy and exercising seemed healthy to me was when I viewed it as a means to become a happier and healthier person. In the past, I've thought about it as a way to be different than I was at that point. That perspective came from a negative self image and that's not a great motivator.

Now I am right around 260ish. Still obese, and I love to call myself morbidly obese. Mostly because the BMI chart is messed up and a great way to make yourself feel terrible. Either way, that's enough about my health. I want to talk about running and what's worked for me.

Stress

I'm a stressed out person. I stress myself out, it's how I get things done. I wouldn't have gotten a 4.0 in college if I didn't stress myself out about not studying enough. But as it turns out... stress is really bad for you. I overthink, it's hard for me not to. One thing I've found out is that "getting out of my head, and getting into my body" is a great way to mitigate stress. It's hard to think about anything other than breathing and taking the next step when you are big and trying to run. Running is a stress reliever, first and foremost (for jowtow).

A pat on the old back neck

When you become an adult, there are a lot fewer opportunities to give yourself a pat on the back. Less gold stars and more expectations can make life feel gray and uninteresting. It's good to give yourself goals and rewards. With many things, no one is going to tell you what to do or congratulate you on getting there. Do it for yourself. Running is about rewarding yourself (for jowtow).

Protect the peony

As you get older, your iron man mentality fades. I don't know if I ever had that mentality, but as I've aged and seen the fragility of life more up close and personal, I've realized my life and health is much more like a frightened little peony flower. I've got to tend to it. Take it inside when it's windy. I've got to encourage it to grow. If you've ever worried about your own mortality, I feel you. Exercise has made me feel more in control of my mortality. Yes, I'm still going to die, but maybe not because of obesity, and that influence that I'm able to have means something to me. Running is about staying alive (for jowtow).

Conclusion

Two coffees, two donuts. That's all I consumed this morning before my run. Felt jazzed. Keep eating donuts and start running! Had no idea I'd make it to 2 miles, didn't do it fast, but I did it. Onto the 3-mile goal!