I am an athlete and I am a runner!

Name: Megan Poeller
Home: Buffalo, New York
Age: 28

Life before running
I am not an athlete.  At least I wasn't for the first 27 years of my life.  I was the chunky kid in the corner that forgot her gym shoes and was reading a book while everyone else played games.  By the time I was 27, I was a smoker of about ten years, I was obese, and although I did not admit it, totally unhappy with myself.  I had been married a couple of years and in September of 2008, I got pregnant.  While I successfully quit smoking, I also started eating more and more.  It did not matter that I was already big enough for two, in my head, I was eating for two!

Turning Point

The First Turning Point
On December 4, 2008 I miscarried.  It was one of the hardest things that I have been through.  My husband helped me through it, but really, what does a guy know?  I kept eating, hiding all of my emotions.

In February of 2009, I went back to the gym a few months before my membership expired (it turns out that luckily I had purchased a two year membership that I hadn't used in a year and a half.  If not for that membership card, I probably would still be obese).  I found spinning.  I started personal training with a wonderful girl named Pam.  I dropped 20 pounds in about two months.  I saw something in myself that I did not know existed.

The Second Turning Point
But I was not an athlete.  I used to tell Pam that I refused to run, I am not a runner, you couldn't pay me enough to run!  After I lost over 30 pounds, my husband and I planned a vacation to Jamaica.  There was no spinning and no training in Jamaica, so in May of 2009, I started running on a treadmill in Ochos Rios of all places.  My whole life changed at that point.  I became a "wogger" (walk/job).

The Plan
Every day I would wog the dog (my German Shepherd) for a mile. A mile turned into two, and then three.  I was slowly running more than walking.  My first goal, the Buffalo Turkey Trot was in November 2009.  I finished it in about 48 minutes.

Now?  I am addicted to 5ks, 8ks, 10ks and I have completed two half marathons so far (2:08 and 2:03).

The Biggest Reward
Now?  I am an athlete.  I have lost about 70 pounds (I'm American, you can figure out the kg!).  I have found my sass, my style, and I have such determination to finish a half in less than 2 hours this year.  I signed up for the International Marathon this fall, and the Chocolate Race is going to be my under 2 half, I can feel it!

My goals in life have changed.  What used to be contentment with who I was and what I was doing has turned into determination to do better, be better, and to help others reach their potential.  I am becoming a personal trainer so that I can help people find who they want to become.  It is time to pay it forward.  That is my biggest reward.  I am inspiring people to run now.  A friend of mine that helped motivate me at the start used me as her inspiration to run.  She just finished her first 5k.

Other rewards I have reaped are going from a XXL and barely a size 18, to a size 6, oh yes, I bought my first pair of size 6 Levis last weekend.  My marriage is happier.  I did not know what a happy marriage was until we lost weight (Matthew has lost about 70 pounds as well) and started DOING things together that didn't involve going out to eat or sitting in front of the TV.  We just had our 4th anniversary - we went on a biking/hiking/running excursion at Letchworth State Park in NY.   It was the best vacation ever!

My tips for success

Don't deny yourself!
Don't deny yourself -  I eat ice cream 3-4 times a month.  I love chocolate too - hence making this race perfect for me.  I don't OVER indulge though.  Know your limits and know your weakness!

Remember, "Obsessed is what the lazy people call the dedicated."