In my late 30s, I was thin but out of shape — what I now know is called “skinny fat.” 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. I later cried thinking 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, and that was barely 1 mile. Despite the difficulty, I kept at it and started to feel stronger.

A couple of months later, a friend talked me into walking a 5K with her. I knew I could walk 3 miles, but thinking that we were going to “stroll” and chat, I showed up in blue jeans and a sweatshirt. My friend told me it was a “race” and left me in the dust! It took me nearly 55 minutes to finish, I came in behind a gentleman with a cane, and I was exhausted.

Despite the difficulty, I was excited to finish under the 1-hour deadline and was determined to walk more and get faster. Then that same friend talked me into training for a half marathon with Team in Training.

We trained hard, following the training schedule as closely as possible! We were so well trained we both finished the half marathon feeling 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, 71 half marathons, and I don’t remember how many other races.

That hike I couldn’t keep up with turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Walking has given me fitness, confidence, friendships, and more finish line photos than I can count.

And it all started with a walk around the block.

Has walking changed something for you? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below.

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