In my late 30s, I was thin but out of shape. I had no idea there was such a thing as “skinny fat” back then, but that is exactly what I was.

I had no idea how out of shape I was until a family vacation. A group of us were hiking and I couldn’t keep up. I was younger than everyone by at least 5 years. I was the smallest, lightest person – yet I could NOT keep up. If I was this out of shape in my late 30s, what would I be like in my 40s or 50s?

As soon as we got home, I started walking in our neighborhood. At first, just walking around the block was hard, but I kept at it.

After a friend talked me into entering a 5K – it took me nearly 55 minutes to finish, and I was exhausted – that same friend talked me into training for a half marathon for Team in Training.

We trained hard and we did great! We both finished the half marathon feeling that we could have walked much farther. At the finish we agreed to enter a full marathon to celebrate my 40th birthday. Though life events prevented her from doing the marathon with me, I trained for and completed the Air Force Marathon the September before my birthday.

It took me nearly 7 hours, but I felt invincible! I was healthier and stronger than I had ever been in my adult life! And turning 40 was a piece of cake. If I could train for and walk a marathon – what couldn’t I do?

Since then, walking has been a regular part of my life. I finished one more full marathon, more than 55 half marathons and I don’t remember how many other races.

WALK! Magazine

In 2005 I decided to combine my love of walking with my love of publishing and started WALK! Magazine. Because of the economy and a lack of advertising dollars, the magazine was folded in 2009.

Now, I’m still trying to figure out a way to combine my love of walking with publishing. The WALK! Blog is a start. I have lots of things on my mind and I’m not quite sure how I will make it happen.

I hope you will stick around to see what happens!

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