He said the word sprints and I thought yep I can do that, He demonstrated a standing start and the right motion to get speed and  said “go” and off about 20 teachers went running full pelt down the basketball court. the adrenalin I feel when I run kicked in and I went for it. I look around at one point and realised I wasn’t last lol I actually was killing it (in my head anyway) I came third!!!!, third I only started running this year. Last year I would have stood there and laughed, me run that’s a joke right. Never ran at school and if I did it was never fast!  

Thursday was so much fun. Not a word I have ever in my life associated with Physical Education. In high school I hated it, but when your a chubby teenager who is a little unco it was embarrassing and led to taunts.  I am sure my PE teacher hated me, I was that kid who complained and did not want to participate. I did softball as summer sport in year 8 I hated it, I think I hit one ball that season. Thankfully after 3 weeks of sitting back watching and only going on if they were in dire need, I had to have my knee operated on, after tearing my cartilage swimming of all things. I got to score, that was the last summer sport I did till they brought in water polo. Now don’t get me wrong I have always been sporty but also abjure competitive and as I put on the pounds I was no longer competitive and so I just didn’t participate and life has kinda been like that for me for the past few years. My participation levels in anything strenuous or active were non existent and I would laugh and scoff at anything that would remotely work up a sweat or make me feel unfit or un coordinated. Pride can screw you over.

Until 4 months ago no one but my family saw we work up a sweat. I exercised at home and ran at 5am to avoid people seeing my bulky arse being dragged down the street. I but I love exercise and as I got fitter I decided to brave the gym and now I go at least three if not four times a week. Thursday was the first time I have run in front of people I know. I was not embarrassed I was really proud of myself because now I can do it. I CAN DO IT!!, We played loads of games and did lots of different skills and exercises. I participated in every single one. I am still hopeless and cricket and I am sure if I attempted softball again I would be so crap at that, but I joined in and that is massive. I am participating in life again and I am loving every minute of gaining my life back. The weight loss has been slow but the fitness and life I have gained over the past 12 months has been amazing and I will keep moving and I will keep trying and the weight will keep creeping off, because I know better now and don’t want to go back.