I can't believe this blog just turned three. When I look back on the past three years, I'm so impressed by all we have accomplished here at 2 Fat Nerds, as a community. We all participated in motivating each other to get moving, feel better about ourselves, and are now healthier as a result. Everyone has made tremendous progress, and I'm excited to see where we go this year.

When I look back to where I was three years ago, I am kind of shocked by how much has changed. Three years ago I was getting ready to graduate from college, I was thirty pounds heavier, and I lacked all motivation to get healthy. I was working at a spa and salon in Boston, and I was spending the majority of my nights out eating nachos, drinking beer, and then regretting it later. When Jon started running and writing daily posts here on 2FNS I was not only proud of him, but I was embarrassed by how unhealthy I had gotten.

A year ago I started a Couch-to-5k program and signed up to run the Boston Athletic Association's Distance Medley. The first time I ran 2 miles without walking I cried, and was so excited because I knew it was going to be the start to a healthier rest of my life. When I ran 2.5 miles in Montreal in the 45-degree pouring rain because my schedule said I had to, I knew I was changing. When I finished the B.A.A. 5k in April after a 10-day stomach flu, I was excited to keep training. After the 10k in June, I had never felt better in my life, and it is all thanks to the contributors and supporters of this blog. I ran the 10k, with my dad by my side, and although I wasn't speedy, I never had to walk. I was ecstatic.

When I went to the doctor two weeks ago and he told me I had fractured my foot and would have to wear a walking boot for the next few weeks, I was devastated. The Half Marathon, the race that was to put a nice cap on my year, is in a week and a half, and I can't run it. It's so upsetting to learn what "can't" actually means. When I was starting out and a run wasn't going well, I would think to myself, "I can't do this." But that's not true. I could do it, and I did do it. While I am very upset that I will not be running with my dad and Gracie on October 12th, I am choosing to take something from my broken foot. When this thing heals, I know I will have a new perspective on running. My friend Andrew once wrote a post here on 2 Fat Nerds about how each run is a gift. Every time you have the opportunity to go out for a run, to use your able-legs, and breathe fresh air, you are receiving a gift from yourself and from the universe. I will never take that for granted. Getting healthy isn't really a choice, it's something that each and every person owes themselves to do, and it is a gift that we are able to.

I took my boot off this weekend, and am now walking OK without it. I think it is a really good sign that I can stand all day at work and have little pain. It is not completely pain-free, and I should probably try going for a walk before I try going for a run, but I know that it's getting better. I will be signing up for another Half Marathon, because this isn't over yet.