Don't Run Out of Determination

Less than a year ago, I sat in my sports medicine doctor’s office. I had been plagued by trouble since my knee injury and was feeling frustrated. I had lost about 35 pounds at that point and wanted to be able to do more physically. I wanted so badly to run and jump again but my injuries were causing me a lot of pain. That day my doc looked at me and said, “Jen, you may have to accept that you can’t run again and find some less strenuous exercises to do instead.”

When you set your mind to it, you can do anything. Don’t ever listen to that voice in your head that tells you you can’t do it. It’s wrong. You can do anything.

I was pretty devastated by that. It confirmed my worse fear that my knee injury had ruined my ability to run forever. I walked out of the office and I continued on my weight loss journey. I was doing the elliptical, stairmaster, spinning and yoga. I could feel myself getting stronger and stronger, but I was so scared to try and run. I kept hearing those words echo in my ears, and I feared injuring myself even worse. And then, one day, I got on the treadmill. I could only run for literally 30 seconds before I had to stop, but I had run. It felt like a revelation. From that point on I started adding small lengths of running to my walks and hikes with my dogs. I did several 5ks where I alternated between walking and running, until I could run the whole thing. And today I ran another 5 3/4 miles while as part of my training for a half marathon. I am going to run this half marathon in May and afterwards I am going to dance in the streets and shout at the top of my lungs!!!

Never believe that something is impossible. When you set your mind to it, you can do anything. Don’t ever listen to that voice in your head that tells you you can’t do it. It’s wrong. You can do anything.

#DrJennyGetsFit