I started running in 2015 and quickly fell in love with the sport. And even with multiple half-marathons and marathons under my belt, I still get those who scan me up and down then say, “YOU’RE a runner?”

Despite losing 100 pounds since I first tied on a pair of running shoes, I’m still overweight. The runners who win the races I enter typically have mile paces on the scale of minutes faster than me. I may never be able to time-qualify for any of the big races such as Boston, London, or New York City. But that doesn’t matter to me.

I just keep running.