We love to be active. We love to sweat. We love to eat healthy. We love to push ourselves to the limit and then pass it. But why? It hurts. We’re tired. We get sore and dirty, then ravenous after the strenuous activities that we put ourselves through. It’s tough and tricky, sweaty and strenuous, and man oh man… carbs everywhere.
Yeah, that’s the beginning and middle. But in the end, when the race is over, when the workout is done, when mile 10 has come and gone, when your jeans from 20 pounds ago fit again, when the doctor says that you no longer need to take those pills for high blood pressure, when you beat your best time, when you beat diabetes… then you’ll know why we love it.
This is the first of many in a brand new series called Active in NWI. People around the region share their stories of how and why they are active. It will range from running to kickboxing to healthy eating to dancing. So read on and enjoy the first installment in the series which was contributed by Debbie Shaffer.
"Today is my Runiversary,"Valparaiso High School teacher, Debbie Shaffer said following the Foot Pursuit 5K this past Saturday at Sunset Hill Farms.
Shaffer, a Nutrition & Wellness teacher, has been running for just over a year. While on vacation, she was shocked by how out of breath she was while hiking. This, combined with a photo from the trip, made her decide it was time to make some lifestyle changes. The next day, she joined Weight Watchers Online and started walking. Three months later, she had lost 20 pounds. One morning, while reading the paper, she noticed a woman running down her street.
"If she can do that, so can I," Shaffer thought. “It's now or never!”
So she put on her tennis shoes and took off! Shaffer could barely run one block without having to stop, but she kept at it. She had never run in my life! ?A friend saw her running and asked Shaffer to join her in the 2012 Foot Pursuit 5K.
"I didn't even know how far a 5k was! It was so much fun that I knew I wanted to race again!" Shaffer said.
Through the suggestion of a former student, Shaffer joined the NWI Region Runners and the Calumet Region Striders. She then signed up for the Striders' Gold Cup series. In the course of a year, Debbie has run in 42 races, including three half marathons and has dropped another 20 pounds.
"We are truly blessed with a wonderfully supportive running community in Northwest Indiana. I could never thank them, my family, and friends enough for the support and encouragement they've given me." Shaffer said. ?
Shaffer's favorite runs have been the Popcorn Panic, the Boilermaker Half in West Lafayette, Chicago's Hot Chocolate Run and the weekend training runs at the Indiana Dunes. Her next running goal is training with the Opportunity Enterprise Team and running the Chicago Marathon next October.
"Running has been one of the most positive experiences of my life. It has afforded me better health, new friends and I 'm a better role model for my students. It's one thing to talk with them about Nutrition and Wellness. It's even better to show them,” Shaffer said. “I've begun to wear running shirts to school on Fridays with the hope that even one student will think, ‘If she can do that, so can I!’"