Runner Profile: Amanda Wright
Posted by Admin | September 8, 2009 | 11 Comments
Amanda in 2008 (left) and now in 2009
Name: Amanda Wright
Age: 28
Residence: Troy, NY
Hometown: Long Island City, NY
Number of FRW races: 1
2009 result: 31:55
My goal for next year is to break a 30 minute 5k!
I played basketball from 2nd grade through junior year of high school. A basketball was pretty much glued to my hand. If someone needed to find me, the first place they knew to look was the basketball court! I also tried my hand at running around the age of 8. My dad was an avid runner and would enter me in races. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the running bug until 20 years later.
I celebrated my 1-year anniversary of running on August 19th.
I am currently training for the HMRRC Marine Corps half marathon so I have been logging 15 – 20 miles a week.
I am a born again morning runner. When I first began to run I refused to get up in the morning. I tried several times and found the runs to be difficult. This all changed when the summer and half marathon training collided. I realized I could not get in the miles after work in the heat. I now get up at 5 a.m. before work and run 3 – 5 miles and love every minute of it. I feel so accomplished after completing a run while most people are still in bed. An added bonus are the beautiful sunrises. I do have a feeling that once the winter hits most of my morning runs will be done inside on a treadmill.
My most favorite part of running is that it’s something that I can do for myself. All I need are my sneakers and I am off. It’s time by myself that I use to reflect on the day and even run out the stress of the week. I always feel calm after a run.
Running has changed my life. A year ago I was around 230 lbs and desperately needed to bring exercise into my life. I was on the right track with losing weight by following the weight watchers program but I knew I needed something else (I had lost 40lbs at this point). I came across the Couch to 5K program on the weight watchers message boards. The program immediately caught my attention. I thought back to my younger basketball days and then I thought of my dad who ran for years and was always fit and slender.
The first week of the program has you running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds – I could barely complete these intervals! I was committed to finishing the program and 10 weeks later I was able to run 30 mins straight! On thanksgiving morning I laced up my sneakers for my very first 5k. My only goal was to finish the race without any walking. I crossed the finish line in 39:02! I was ecstatic! Six months later I ran my second 5k and crossed the finish line in 32:55!
If you told me a year ago I would be training for a half marathon I would have said you were crazy. 3.1 miles was all that I ever imagined I could do. The thing with running is that you always surprise yourself with what you can accomplish. That is why I love to run. It amazes me what my body is capable of doing.
To date I have lost a total of 95.8 lbs and I owe it all to running.
Amanda can be reached at manderzny309@aol.com. If you’d like to be featured in our Runner Profile series, or if you know of someone who might, drop us a line here!
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September 8th, 2009 @ 11:41 am
Amanda ,
Your will to not only drop all of the weight but to put all of yourself, heart, body and soul into running is more then amazing!! Keep up the good work! And maybe someday Ill get your will and run along side of you!!!
-kristin
September 8th, 2009 @ 11:43 am
congrats Amanda!
September 8th, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
I am so proud of you. You’re an inspiration and you have done a great job. keep up the GREAT work!!!
September 8th, 2009 @ 12:31 pm
I am so proud of your accomplishments. To think all this years later you are running. It wasnt easy or fun standing on the sidelines watching your father run. Keep it up and you will meet your goals.
Love
Mom
September 8th, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
Way to go Amanda! It is so great that you are sharing your story with everyone… you are a true inspiration! Good luck!
September 8th, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
Gives me inspiration!!!
September 8th, 2009 @ 6:50 pm
you are such an inspiration amanda!! keep it up hun, you look amazing
September 9th, 2009 @ 12:09 am
Amanda, I always knew you as an athlete and for that period that you were inactive I didn’t even recognize you and I am sure I wouldn’t have even known who you were. I am so happy to see the drastic turn around you have made and I am so proud of, inspired by you and happy that you are so happy.
September 13th, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
I am starting the Couch to 5k tomorrow (9/14/09) and printed out my registration form for the 2010 race. I’m sure I will have run several 5ks by that time, but I can’t wait to join you in Albany in 2010! You are an inspiration!
October 16th, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Amanda,
Hope we get to run together – though I think you’ll leave me in the dust, so I’ll settle for the SAME event. lol
Robin
November 30th, 2009 @ 5:50 am
Amanda,
Yes, I’m a complete stranger. But I came across your profile on a google search and I have to say you are incredibly inspirational. I just wanted to say thank you for inspiring me to believe that you can be anything you put your mind to. Thank you.
Katie