21 Comments
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Rebecca Coates's avatar

As a very tall, late-30s-something woman, and former overweight child.... I feel all this!

Thank you for sharing your story, Erinn!

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Same! I was overweight during a part of my childhood, and I definitely feel that 12-year-old boy's shame over it still. Erinn put it into words more beautifully than I could!

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Erinn C's avatar

Always struggling to find running leggings long enough! Thank you for the kind note, Rebecca!

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Blue's avatar

Great story. This was a great idea Terrell

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Thanks, Blue! I've really enjoyed doing them, and it's also a way I hope to highlight as many of you as possible -- the community we've built here is what makes it so much fun for me, and so fulfilling, and so I hope this gives back a little :)

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Mary Borba's avatar

I just love reading these stories--they really are inspiring. Keep them coming!!

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Will do!

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Debby Jones's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing, Erinn! I appreciate your honesty about many things in your life. It is hard to get out the door in the morning sometimes, as you said, and I am not sure there are many runners who ever regret taking that run, just as you shared. You are an inspiration!!!

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Erinn C's avatar

Thank you, Debby! Getting out the door is truly half the battle but always worth it 💪

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David Weinstock's avatar

Really great story … I was the “nice Jewish boy” growing up in Miami … so, not into sports. Fast forward to late 20s, early 30s and taking kids for walks. Yo-yo weight issues all the way to age 50 and then made efforts to get fit. Your boyfriend’s encouragement is a godsend … having wife “on my side” has been great. Traveling for races has provided us with great experiences … GTIS in Colorado gave us Vail, Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak, Disneyland gave us Disneyland, Jack and Jill gave us Seattle and Snoqualmie, Wisconsin (Kenosha) gave us a two-fer — Chicago and Milwaukee, rock-and-roll/Memphis gave us Grand Ole Opry. Erinn, your story is truly inspiring.

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Erinn C's avatar

Thanks, Dave! It is crazy how weight issues can have such a big influence over long swaths of life- never far from my mind. Those all sound like amazing trips, we are trying to figure out our race for next year and your list has given me some ideas!

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David Weinstock's avatar

I’ll offer up a couple of others: 1) Cincinnati’s Flying Pig (typically, early May): 2) AthHalf in Athens, GA (THM meet-up this past November) … you get the change of seasons fall colors); and 3) Rock & Roll / Las Vegas … if nothing has changed, you can play tourist including a side trip to the Grand Canyon and do the half (or full) at night. Stay healthy!

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Edith Zimmerman's avatar

Fantastic

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Right? I'm loving hearing from everyone who's been writing in -- maybe someday we'll make this a group chat/Zoom or something like that. Gotta noodle on that... 🤔

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Steph Weiss's avatar

Way to go Erinn! I love your positive vibe. Keep trying that NYC lottery. It’s an amazing experience.

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

I may have asked you this before, but you've run the NYC marathon before, right, Steph?

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Steph Weiss's avatar

Yep, 2019. Amazing experience. The crowds, the weather, everything so perfect…. 🥳🥳🥳 I had a PR for the first half marathon of it, which is not the best way to pace a full marathon 😂

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Erinn C's avatar

Thanks so much, Steph! I will keep on entering that lottery, watching videos from NYC give me chills every time.

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Greg Puckett's avatar

Great read. Love to hear about Erinn’s motivation for running. Very inspiring.

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

I thought so too -- and, I wasn't aware of Allie Ostrander or Clayton Young either, so I definitely learned something!

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Erinn C's avatar

Thank you, Greg-- appreciate you reading and your kind note !

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