Just last year we read about how Kandi lost over 70 lbs!!  Well now she's moved on from working out to DVD's in her living room to running 5K's and preparing for a marathon.  Read her exciting interview below!!

When and what made you decide to add running to your exercise regimen?

I started exercising doing dvds in my bedroom by myself.  Eventually I wanted to go outside and exercise with others.  Running is something that I always figured I couldn’t do.  I couldn’t run for more than 1 min and 30 seconds when I began but I just started there.

What was the training process like?  Please talk about how you started doing intervals (running & walking) and lead up to distance running?

My mom and I started walking a 1 mile loop around my neighborhood.  It’s built in almost even ¼ mile sections.  First we would walk 3 loops then eventually we started to run alternate sections of the loop.  It was then that I figured out….I don’t really like running very much at all….it’s too hard.  However I could faster results with the running and walking that most everything else I was doing so I stuck with it.  I just had to find a way to beat it before it beat me.  I researched everything I could to make the running easier (what to wear, how to breathe, how to roll my feet, intervals).  I read everything I could all the while I kept running.  I would just do intervals always pushing myself until I had to stop and I would start again at a certain time and always stick to the times. Eventually I could run continuously so I would just increase the distance time or the distances.

When did you run your 1st 5K?  What made you decide to do it?  What was the feeling like after you completed it?

I ran my first 5K in March of 2007.  I decided to do it on a whim.  My job sent out an email offering to pay employee entry fees for the Little Rock Marathon.  I noticed they had a 5k event so I entered with my sisters and my niece.  Even though my time wasn’t as fast as I could have done because I stayed with my younger sister who hadn’t trained….I still had a ton of fun.  I love running events.  The atmosphere is always so inspiring.

How many 5K's have you done?

I started entering 5K’s again in December of 2008.  Again my company offered to pay entry to a local 5K event.  I roped my boyfriend and a couple of coworkers into joining with me.  Again I was hooked by the event.  I asked my boyfriend and a coworker to commit to entering 10 races within the following year.  And we’ve done it...plus some. So far I’ve done 16 5K’s and 1 – 4 miler.  They have all been fun and each with its own story.  Like the 4^th of July run in Chicago this year.  Apparently I lost a few inches around my waist since the last time I wore the running capris I had chosen.  Well I ended up running the race alternating between holding and tugging my pants up, and just letting my blue lace underwear show proudly.  Oh and the trail run!!  My goodness…it was like running a race in sand.  I had no idea what a trail run meant until we hit the course.    

How has running changed your life?  Do you feel better energy wise?  Has it changed your physical appearance?

Learning how to run was more of a mental thing for me.  I hated running when I began…long afterwards…and really I’m not terribly fond of it now.  I just had to figure out a way to endure it.  It was an obstacle that I was determined to overcome.  There are definite endurance gains to be garnered by taking up running.  My legs have toned up dramatically.  My heart has gotten so efficient that my resting heart rate is close to nothing.

What was it like to place 3rd?  Was it a goal to place or do you mainly just do it for fun?

It was great!  I did win 3^rd overall and that dreaded trail run but I didn’t count that one because it was a new race with only a few participants.  It was fun to finally win at an established race.  In most of my races I would always place in the top 10 of women my age. My time would drop about 30 seconds a race so I figured it was about time I won something.  And it’s been almost a full year since my boyfriend and a coworker started running together so it was a great culmination of events.  I just wish they had won too.

Kandi's running partner!

I know you run longer distances than 5K's, do you plan to enter any 10K's or Marathons?

My crew and I are planning on entering the Little Rock Marathon next March.  We are training for it right now.  I thought about a half marathon.  But really that wouldn’t be a big enough challenge even though I only enter 5K’s.  I run and do strength training so my endurance level is pretty high. So we are going full out.  The guys aren’t so excited about it but I am.

Any advice for beginners who aspire to enter 5K's, 10K's?

I think 5k’s are great events for all fitness levels.  There are always runners and walkers of all levels.  It’s just like a big fitness party.  Don’t concentrate on how long it’s going to take you or whether you run or walk…just get out there.  I have entered my niece and nephews in races with me just to have fun…I stick with them and help them along it doesn’t matter how long it takes us to cross the finish line.  They always have a ball.  They have all kinds of races to benefits any charity you can think of…so when you enter you aren’t just helping yourself….you could be helping others.  Some of the events we’ve entered have been to benefit homeless shelters, domestic violence, breast cancer, juvenile diabetes, and heart health….the list goes on.  So I encourage everyone to just get out there and try it out.  Drag a few family members or friends out there with you. 

 Overall, you have made a complete lifestyle change, what drives you?  What keeps you motivated?

What drives me to keep pushing is how strong I feel….not only physically but mentally.  A lot of exercising to the point of drastic change has to do with pushing yourself through your endurance boundaries to create a new and higher one.  I never stop at the burn….I always push myself higher and harder.  I stay motivated because everyone seems to be in awe of my drive.  Sometimes when I race there are experienced runners that keep an eye on me to compete.  Sometimes they stop me after and say how hard it was to catch me.  Now I can recognize the look they give me when I come by.  That drives me to continue.  I’m pretty good at something I really don’t like to do and that says something about my character.  I give everything my all.  And now that I have a workout buddy that’s also a motivator to keep going.  Often times when one person wants to workout and the other doesn’t, we won’t give in, so we just always end up working out…sucks sometimes…but it keeps me on it.