Interview with Runner, Megan McNamara, for the MY JOURNEY Story Series
LAC: When did you decide to start making your health a priority (what or whom inspired this decision) and what were your goals?
Megan: I’ve always hated running. It’s literally a pain in the butt! Back in 2014 I decided to stop being a big baby and take on a challenge. I decided to run the very first Queen Bee half marathon in Cincinnati, OH. I trained for 6 long months during the hottest months of the year for the inaugural race. I’m proud to say I did it. The girl that hates running ran a half marathon and I’ve been running since (I still hate it). I’m running my 2nd half in April 2016!
LAC: How did you get started and what did you do to improve your health?
Megan: Besides running, I started working on my core. It is still a work in progress. Abs and push-ups always make me feel stronger. I’m also trying to clean up the junk food and snacking. Those bad habits aren’t helping fuel my running mission. I just moved to Louisville from Baltimore, MD where I had a wonderful gym family and was happy to find LAC here in town.
LAC: How did you stay motivated and what was the biggest challenge?
Megan: Motivation is simple…my daughter. She’s about to turn 4! When I completed my first half marathon, she was a few hundred feet from the finish line and I scooped her up for that grand finale. It was an epic moment. The biggest challenge is the mental aspect of running. Telling yourself just run to that next mailbox or the next stop sign and then pushing your mind to go further than that.
LAC: What positive changes did you see in your life and what did you learn throughout this process?
Megan: I completed a goal that felt impossible to me. I battled self doubt that has always crippled me. I gained empowerment. The process showed me that when raising a strong little girl, I’m going to need to be fearless and tackle obstacles no matter how big they seem.
LAC: Final Thoughts? Is there anything else you would like share about your story?
Megan: I’m a work in progress. One half marathon under my belt doesn’t make me a superwoman but it does make me strive to climb mountains and achieve what I think is the unthinkable. I grew up with a mom whom, although was the most fun, beautiful woman, she had no idea. She never thought she was worth it. I’m here to stop that cycle and show my three year old that not only am I worth it, she’s worth it!!! Yeehaw!