Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable

My brain is all over the place this week... Ahhh! Take a look to the right at my counter... less than 5 days until thee Marathon.  Yes, it deserves to be capitalized.  So I apologize in advance, but blog this week is going to be all about the Marathon and may get a little emotional...

Check out this video I stumbled across on Mom's Home Run.  I picked up my first cigarette at the age of 14 (sorry, Mom!), partied with them throughout college, and pretty much made smoking a part of life despite several attempts at quitting.  It wasn't until I had children that I really tried to cut out the cancer sticks.  Even then, the stress of caring for two small babies had me sneaking out into the garage for an escape.  It wasn't until I took up RUNNING that I finally gave nicotine the kick to the curb.  To start running is probably the single best decision I ever made for myself.  So this little advertisement makes me melt, especially as I'm on the verge of conquering the Marathon...

EX-SMOKERS ARE UNSTOPPABLE!

I've been holding out awhile now... trying to think of a "real name" for my blog, which obviously has never come to me.  So Run with Jess it will stay, for at least a year.  I made the plunge and bought the address www.runwithjess.com... no more blogspot in the address!  I'm hoping it still works with everyone's readers.

I had a beautiful morning run yesterday with three of my Sole Sisters.  We went 7.5 miles along the riverfront and over the bridge.  We kept it smooth and consistent, just under an 11:00 min pace.  It felt comfortable, as I chatted away the whole time.  It got me thinking race strategy for Sunday's marathon.  A 10:40ish pace may be a good pace for me to go out the first half and then see how I feel from there.  Secretly, I want a decent time (what runner doesn't!), but I also don't want to die at mile 23.  Thoughts of "how to run my marathon" have consumed me... Sorry kids, momma may miss a couple things this week... like say swim lessons yesterday!  Opps!

Were you ever a smoker?  How did you quit?

Marathoners... how do you determine your race strategy?  Advice welcome!!

12 comments:

  1. Vanessa @ Gourmet RunnerSeptember 20, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    I love this! I was a smoker for a couple of years...why I ever started in beyond me, but running was the catalyst to make me stop. So much stronger because of it!!!!!!

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  2. amandamdaleySeptember 20, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    I was a smoker for about 6 years. I smoked pretty much through my first half marathon and then I decided to get serious and train hard. Then I quit and my half marathon time improved by 20 minutes (2:22 to 2:01) in 7 months. I love being smoke free and now an athlete.

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  3. MotherRunnerSeptember 20, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    I'm a former smoker too. Quitting was the hardest thing I've ever done. Cold turkey and never looked back. I do sercretly wish I could smoke the occasional cigarette, but I know I'd be a pack a day smoker the next day if I ever cheated, so I'm done with them!

    So excited for your marathon!!

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  4. UnknownSeptember 20, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    I was never really a true smoker - I have smoked socially.

    Good luck on your Marathon! I know you will rock it.

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  5. MarissaSeptember 20, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    I was a college social smoker too...blah! guess we all have things we've overcome :)

    GOOD LUCK ON MARATHON...KICK MAJOR BOOTY!!!

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  6. ClareSeptember 20, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    I celebrated 4 years of being smoke-free on Labor Day. It took another two to discover running though! It was also one of the best things I've ever done. I used the Easy Way to Stop Smoking book by Allen Carr. It was amazing and I finally got it!!

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    I was a smoker from age 18 to 28 and then I decided to quit and start running in place of smoking, it was the best decision I ever made and I am so proud to be a runner now!
    Congrats on quitting smoking for running!

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  8. Jess KSeptember 21, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    I don't know if it's good or bad ... but I was always too broke to smoke. I saw what it did to my grandparents (and just recently found out that the only grandparent who I thought never smoked actually did up until I was born!) and I was there as my grandfather was dying of lung cancer, so it just never really interested me. Plus, I think my dad would KILL ME if I even looked at a cigarette. lol

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  9. christineSeptember 21, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    My smoking story is the same as yours. Good luck on your marathon! I really enjoy your blog.

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  10. GillianSeptember 21, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    I was a smoker for over 20 years, smoking about half a pack a day. I finally quit on July 4, 2005 (easy to remember date!) through simply giving it up. I tried the patch and anti-depressants before but they didn't work. Until I lost weight over the last year, that was my greatest accomplishment and one that I'm still really proud of.

    Good for you on quitting and particularly good for you to take up running. I bet you hardly even miss it now, eh?

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  11. newport cigarettesJanuary 29, 2012 at 11:11 PM

    I applaud them of their healthy lifestyle after quitting smoking. That itself is an accomplishment.

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  12. DexterinhoNovember 29, 2013 at 3:41 PM

    Well, I'm former smoker. After 20+ years of smoking, I read a Allen Carr's book and never put that poison in my mouth again. The very same day I went out and start running. That happened some nine months ago. Today, I'm 1:40 half marathoner and can't wait to start the new season.

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