I recently experienced that awkward moment when you realize that you have BACK FAT. Yep – THAT awkward moment. It was BAD. REALLY REALLY BAD. I hope you never have THAT moment. Let me tell you about it.
It’s my first private training session with Danielle, who is an endurance training coach. That was YESTERDAY. She put me on the treadmill to assess my running style and gait – to see if anything I was doing is causing or contributing to my IT band issue. She video tapes my treadmill run from behind. She let’s me watch the video, and she points out various things to me. I can barely hear a darn thing, because the whole time, I’m thinking:
OMG. I have BACK FAT! When did THAT happen?
It was one of the most horrifying realizations I’ve had all year!
Perhaps I should start at the beginning and give you’all some background….
Last year, I had a secret goal: run a marathon. I didn’t tell anyone, but I just started running. At first it was excrutiating – there were moments I thought I might die, moments when I questioned my sanity, and still other moments where I questioned the sanity of the runners around me. But as I ran more often, and longer distances, I realized, I wasn’t going to die – and then one day, I magically got that runner’s high everyone talks about.
OMG. THAT was TOTALLY AWESOME.
THIS is what I want to look like - lean, mean running machine with NO back fat!
I had been bitten by the runner’s bug. I started looking for every opportunity to run. I’d run during my lunch hour, I’d run early in the morning before my day began. I sometimes snuck in a run on break – just around the block. I ran with my dog. I walked my dog. I ran to the local video store. I ran everywhere. I was up to running 5-6 days a week. The farthest distance I ran all in one shot? 10 miles. The day I ran THAT, I was beaming from ear to ear – my secret goal of running a marathon was within reach!
Then, one day, I started having pain in my IT band. That was last September.I stopped running long distances, and started picking up other physical activities. I never gave up on that secret goal.
This year, as part of my 2012 Goals, I decided, the game was ON. I had all winter to think about it. No more secrets. I was going to tell my friends. I was going to train. I was going to surround myself with other people doing the same thing, and I was going to do IT. And just as I cast that desire out to the world, my neighbor, Maria, sends me this message on Facebook: (Truly, an answer to my prayer!)
Ladies: Happy New Year! As many of you know I am turning 40 this year! I thought it would super fun to get a group of people together to do a local Duathalon…The Event I picked is…..Iron Girl, Bloomington, MN SEPT 23rd 2012. The distance is short and sweet… 2 mile run, 22mile bike, 2 mile run. I did this event last year, it was a blast….it is an all woman event and is perfect if you are new to duathalons….PLEASE JOIN ME…and invite a friend.
Training….My Coach, Danielle Pellicano, has offered to coach us thru this race…she has been a tremendous asset to me…She coached me for my 1st 5K a few years ago, the TC 10 miler and the Iron Girl last year…
To kick off this event….Danielle and I are hosting a sign up party
FEB 11th, 10am-11am
Danielle’s Studio
4930 35th Street West
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Please RSVP back to me if you are” in” for this event and are able to make the sign up party…
For more information
check out
www.irongirl.com
Hope to see you all very soon!
Maria
SCORE! All in one feel swoop, I had found a group of women who have similar goals, who will be supportive, and the perfect trainer. It’s funny how life works sometimes! When you know exactly what you want, and it’s your time to do it – all the pieces fall in place.
Since I had problems with my IT band, I knew I needed specialized help and training in order for me to be able to race. I signed up for some private training sessions with Danielle. OK, so NOW FAST FORWARD to my first private training session with Danielle. YESTERDAY. She put me on the treadmill to assess my running style and gait – to see if anything I was doing is causing or contributing to my IT band issue. She video tapes my treadmill run from behind. She let’s me watch the video, and she points out various useful tips to me, like how I swing my arms too much. I can barely hear a darn thing, because the whole time, I’m thinking::
OM MY GOD. I have BACK FAT! When did THAT happen?
So, now, I’m even more motivated than ever to train hard and run this race. Not only is it a goal for 2012. I have a back fat problem!
And yes, TODAY, I am sore in all the right places, but that only means I am one step closer to my dream of running in a marathon. I’m loving it!
What’s your dream?
PS – Dream BIG!
-Daisy Nguyen
Dreamer. Writer. Creator.
Daisy,
Yep. It happens. My solution is don’t look. And get many back massages. (My favorite ones are in Bali). We can get them at the Ubud Writing Festival in October.
Love,
Kristi
http://www.168coaching.com
So fun that you are getting a group together to do the Dualthalon! I have always wanted to do something like that but my knees prevent me from doing it now, but perhaps a walk never hurt! As for the back fat, it’s very traumatic and I just had a moment the other day where I saw some and said, time to cut out the sugar and get my hiney in gear! Great post, and love the notion of ‘Dream Big.’
Shannon from mynewfavoriteday recently posted..Shorter Days, Longer Nights, and a Future Worth Living For.
I want to run a marathon too…some day. My farthest race has been a couple of half-marathons.
That’s awesome that your trainer taped you so you could see your running style! Hope your IT band heals SOON!!
Sad day when I discovered I had back fat. Now I just don’t look!
Robbie recently posted..Exercise Class Drop Out
My hat is off to you, and all runners. I am just not a runner and I’m sure I have back fat, but I need to do something else to get rid of it, like yoga or swimming – my bod is just not cut out for running. (-: Good luck on your duathalon!
Ado recently posted..What If Mommy Has ADHD?
Funny you should right about this, because I just discovered that I had back fat a couple of weeks ago. UGH! I’ve never been so disgusted with myself. Not cool at all. But VERY cool about your running goals. That takes dedication! Good luck!
Katie recently posted..Evening the Score
That should probably be “write”…and I should probably proofread my comments before posting. Ha!
Katie recently posted..Evening the Score
Shannon: are you sure it’s your knee? My IT band issue feels like it hurts in the side of the knee, but it’s actually the IT band. My trainer is helping me strengthen my core, hamstrings and gluteus > to that I am engaging ALL of my muscles. My problem was that all those other muscles weren’t strong and weren’t contributing to the run equally, so my IT band hurt. Also, since she has watched my running gait, she has made minor corrections and asked me to run with a longer stride – and that is helping ALOT.
Shannon/Runnermom-Jen: If you want to run, I think it’s worth it to work with a trainer (specifically someone who understands marathons & running) to make sure you are doing all the right things. I am learning that it’s a lot of small little things and adjustments that make a HUGE difference in my ability to do IT!
Daisy Nguyen recently posted..Anthony Robbins Quote: CAN & MUST
Robbie/Ado/Katie: Realizing I had a back-fat problem (it jiggled!) was a sad, sad, sad day, but the day I finish the duathalon and move onto a marathon is going to be SOOOOO sweet! I’ve never been a runner, but once I got that runner’s high, I was SMITTEN!
Daisy Nguyen recently posted..Anthony Robbins Quote: CAN & MUST
Good on you for your marathon goal and in no time, you’ll kill that back fat with all that running!
My 2013 goal is to run a marathon too. After I have this baby
I’m running a 10K race in April and I.am. FREAKING. out. I can run 5 no problem but once I pass that it’s like I seriously hit a wall. I’m afraid I’m just not a runner – I’ve yet to truly enjoy it but I have this thing inside that keeps telling me otherwise even though I feel like I might die every time.
I’ve yet to check if I have back fat though…I think it’s best I just not go there. Good for you for such an AMAZING goal!!!
January recently posted..Facing a Fear
I’ve never considered myself much of a runner. I never thought I would be able to run anything more than 3 miles. I ran on a running/walking/biking path – I saw that runners came in all shapes and sizes and ages and abilities, and I realized that the only person who set that 3 mile limit was MOI. Next thing I knew, I was running 5mile, then 7 miles and then 10 miles. Now I’m learning all the things I need to do to make sure that I CAN run 23miles. If you can run 5K, I’m sure you’ll figure out how to get past that range too!
Daisy Nguyen recently posted..Anthony Robbins Quote: CAN & MUST
I agree with Kristi and Robbie: don’t look! You look fabulous from the front (just going by your photo on the blog), so blow off what you can’t see and keep running!
Louise Ducote recently posted..Old Yeller Lives
I seldom ever wear anything that I should be even remotely concerned about back fat. But I’m glad I saw it, as it’s definitely motivated me to work harder at getting rid of it!
Daisy Nguyen recently posted..Anthony Robbins Quote: CAN & MUST
I’m guessing it’s one of those instances where no one but you would notice it. Like all of us we are acutely aware of something that no one else sees. More important, you’re running a marathon! How cool is that! I used to run quite a bit. And then I found Ashtanga yoga. I feel the same way about that as you do about running. It’s super sweet when that happens! Good luck with your training. I know you’ll do it!
stephanie recently posted..She’s Not my Mom!
Stephanie – I LOVE yoga too! Any kind will do, but I especially love the warm or hot yoga the most. What’s the difference between regular yoga & Ashtanga yoga? Maybe that will be my next obsession!
That Sabotaging BITCH!
[...] that I would run a marathon this year. I hired a personal trainer, Danielle Pellicano. (Read about my first session with Pellicano here. This post is VERY traumatizing, so be [...]