Three Years Ago I Couldn’t Climb a Hill—Today I Run 5Ks

Nearly three years ago, I could barely walk up a hill without wheezing. I thought it was just my asthma acting up, and I believed that there wasn't much I could do about it.

I’ve lost 32 kg, and my asthma symptoms have completely disappeared. I’ve now completed my sixth parkrun—a 5K run I never would have dreamed of attempting back then.

When I started my journey with a low-carb lifestyle, even yoga for beginners left me out of breath. But over time, as I lost weight and nourished my body properly, I improved. I moved on to intermediate yoga, and soon I began to crave more of a challenge. That’s what happens when your body starts to rebalance—suddenly, movement becomes joyful instead of difficult, and lifestyle diseases no longer stand in your way.

If you're thinking about starting park runs or running in general, here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Focus on breathing. Deep belly breathing helps prevent side stitches and keeps you from getting out of breath. Shallow chest breathing is a common cause of discomfort.

2. Find your pace. Many runners start fast and burn out. I’ve found that a steady pace lets me finish strong—today I even overtook a few runners in the final stretch.

3. Start where you are. If running feels out of reach right now, that’s okay. Begin with walking or gentle yoga. Moderate exercise can come later, and you’ll get stronger along the way.

Your body is capable of amazing things with the right support and nutrition. If I can go from inhalers to 5 Ks, you can too.