Run, Run Run!!!
- Image via Wikipedia
It’s been three weeks now since I’ve started my exercise plan, I walk/run (Galloway) about 8 miles a week and do some light cardio and stretching afterward. My diet is a bit modified and all in all things are going pretty well. I’ve also signed up for my first 5k in November, I can’t believe with all the running I’ve done in the past I’ve never run an official 5k. There’s a Kids run too so Logan is going to enter and have some fun as well.
To an outsider running probably seems easy but focusing on stride, foot strike, pacing and proper breathing takes a lot of thought and correct technique is vital if you want to do it for any length of time. At first my lungs gave me the biggest trouble, smoking for 24 years took it’s toll for sure but now my muscles have started to rebuild and my breath isn’t the issue it was. I’m not going to say in 3 weeks I’m in shape, far from it, I still don’t run the whole time, I walk for 3 minutes and try to run for 2, I do that for about 30 minutes at a 12 minute per mile pace with a warm up and cool down. It seems to be working for me and it’s going to be a few months before I can run non-stop and without soreness.
I got a physical Friday, doctor says everything looks okay but we’re waiting on my lab results for the real deal. I told him my knees felt tight, I haven’t done any real running since ‘91 so I suppose my knees are expected to be tight. The first walk/run I did I went 2.4 miles, I probably pushed it a bit and I’ve since scaled back a little on the pace. I’ll watch it closely but I’m pretty nervous about something actually being wrong with my knees.
So why now? Good question. I suppose I was tired of watching my muscles wither away to nothing as my belly grew bigger and bigger when I used to be so athletic and in shape. I have some goals that I’ll keep a secret for now, we’ll see how it goes. But I’m 40+ pounds lighter and the best part is that I feel great and that’s all that matters.
Thanks for listening, see you on the road!
PS – Congrats to my brother Jason, he won a 2009 ESPY for Best Male Athlete with a Disability. He deserves it, though I do wish he had more time for his brother, guess that comes with the “fame”.
