Dear friends, stalkers, randoms, Romans, and countrymen,
It's been 2 years since I've picked up my sneakers and heaved myself off the couch. Mostly because there are like 5 sidewalks in all of Georgia [not really...more like 35...] and partly because I went mental adjusting to life in "the SOUTH." Yes, it is part of the United States, but heck if I ever cried so much in my life. I felt more at ease in the Korean DMZ than I ever did here and grad school blew chunks. I don't really want to get into it...except I was extremely miserable here my first year and sank into a depression and anxiety that I have never experienced before [hospital level/strait-jacket badness]. Scenes from stories like "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "The Awakening" kept playing in my head and I started thinking I had nothing to live for. That's all I'm gonna say since the focus of this blog is not about how I [insert negative verb] ATL and can't wait to escape back to civilization, but about getting HEALTHY and back into caring for myself while also contributing to a cause.
Let's start with the title of the blog:
Yes folks---I AM A FATTY. Don't argue. I know it, my jeans know it, and my doctor certainly does. I have stretch marks and I drool...The scale is afraid of me and I haven't met a cheeseburger I didn't love. I make dinner plans with Jabba quite often. Nothing wrong with a lil bit of chub, but what I am is a danger to my heart [not to mention a scare to the mirror]. So, laugh with me and not at me as I try to get back to some kind of peace with my body.
Why write this?
While living in Philly, I started running; something I never ever thought I would do in my life. Running is for mice on wheels and just seemed incredibly boring. I stuck with tennis and other team sports in HS and college...but when I fell off a mountain in Australia and twisted my ankle, I realized how incredibly fragile and useful my ankles are to me. So, I started looking into running but didn't commit until 2007. I worked my way from a Couch to 5k then to 8k and 10k and finally to the Broad Street run (10 miles). Running became an addiction. I was training 4 days a week and doing about 15 miles on Saturdays. I was planning on doing a half-marathon when I moved to Georgia, but things didn't go as planned. SOOOOOOO, I am running one in MARCH 2012!
Me in Philly after my first 5K
Why Team in Training [TNT] and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society [LLS]?
Studying public health and working in communities in Atlanta, I've gotten to meet so many inspiring people: refugee women and girls who are patients at the Center for Torture and Trauma Survivors [which, btw, is one of 28 centers in the US and the only one in the South besides the one in FL], homeless US veterans, and children with leukemia. My problems and issues seem so much smaller in comparison. So I just really hope that whatever little I contribute helps.
Frankly, I suck at self-motivation. I need a group of people who are excited and committed to making it to a 1/2 or full marathon. Plus, they are AWESOME! And leukemia and lymphoma...who doesn't know someone who knows someone who has had leukemia or died from it? Heck, who doesn't know someone how has had cancer or has cancer? Personally, volunteering at Children's and seeing all the kids that linger til death due to leukemia just tugs at my bitter heart. And on a need to know basis, there definitely was a very personal scare that has made me even more motivated to see this through.
What can YOU do?
Since I am not a doctor or nurse and they don't need any more health educators or volunteers at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta [especially weepy ones who I cry themselves sick whenever they see beautiful children in pain], I joined Team in Training to raise money for blood cancers, like leukemia. I know times are tough, so I am not expecting much, but I'd thought I'd ask. I will be running a half-marathon, something which I intended to do in 2009, and I'll be doing it to support a cause. Your donation (even 50 cents), would be appreciated so greatly. If you can't give anything at all, I understand and I still <3 you. If you can give, please click on: Show LLS the Money!
...And if you love me even more, you'll spread the word and help me raise 1000.00!
And I'll keep you all updated with my training goals, my new kicks, more info about leukemia, LLS, TNT, recipes, tips on running (as a curvvvyyy woman), etc.
Most of all, best wishes and happy holidays!
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