This year has been a year of goals, I’m working on many goals and hope over the next weeks or months to spell them out here and get your input. The first area I’m trying to work on is my Physical Health.
I think I’m probably pretty healthy. Whenever I’ve had my blood pressure taken its usually low (110/65ish) and I always have more then enough energy to get through the day, but I’ve never felt very physically fit or like I’ve been in great shape. There have been a few times (mostly when I was in High School, or right before I got married) that I was physically active every day. I really enjoy physical activities and have involved myself in various activities throughout my life:
- Rollerblading in Junior High
- Lacrosse in High School
- Rock Climbing, I had a membership as a freshman in college
- Racquetball, I took a summer course
- Cycling, I was given a bike as a gift and would ride 25-35 miles up Provo Canyon
By far my favorite was cycling but then I moved to Boston where there are fewer bike paths, more drivers who run red lights, and all around less nature to look at as I ride. Needless to say, cycling like most everything else I’ve tried didn’t stick.
Now as spring is approaching I’ve decided to make this be the summer that I do something. No more talking about getting fit, no more scheming about ways to get fit. This is going to be the summer that I get fit (err or rather more fit than I am). I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, (mostly to calm my wife’s fears of being a widow at the age of 30).
Two weeks or so ago I got an email from my wife’s cousin Jared Jones. Jared recently decided to participate in the Ragnar Relay race from New Haven, CT to Boston MA. The relay requires a team of at least 10 people and Jared invited me to join his team. Participation on the team requires me to commit to running each week and I will be held accountable for slacking off.
The race is in September so that means that I have plenty of time (I hope) to get ready and prepare myself for something I never thought I’d try. Each runner has 2 or 3 legs of the race to run from 3-8 miles on each leg with the entire race taking about 25-30 hours to complete.
I’m excited to start working out and I plan on keeping a log here, so that I can track my progress. If anybody has any suggestions on the best ways to build up endurance and numb yourself to the pain of and hatred for running I’d love to hear them.
Mark
/ April 13, 2009Good job for trying this. If you stick to it, it will change your life. Seriously, it will.
I love running but I don’t consider myself an expert on how to get the best results. If you really want to get into it, subscribe to Runner’s World or something. They have awesome articles. Micah is a much better runner than I – you can probably get some good advice from him.
Leslie Ann
/ April 13, 2009I am so proud of you. Good Luck, David an I are training for a marathon right now and loving it.
Micah E.
/ April 14, 2009Having a race to work toward is the best way to get into running. I run, but 9 runs out of 10 I tell myself I’m never going to do it again. It’s that 1 time in 10 that always makes it worth it.
Email me you address when you get a chance—I have some stuff I want to send you.
Bridget
/ April 16, 2009SO, first of all, WHY did I not know you had this blog?! I feel slightly betrayed, but only slightly….
Anyway, for thoughts on running. I have a feeling that we probably have a similar take on this horrible thing people do to their bodies for exercise. Before I was on the track team with Leslie Ann in high school, I NEVER would have considered running as an enjoyable activity. However, there is something about it that is addicting; and as much as I hate it, I now have a constant desire to get myself outside and run for a while.
Here are my tips: make a goal of going at least 3-4 times a week and start out small. Don’t kill yourself on a huge run, because you will hate it and never do it again. Work up to longer distances. If you have the time to go everyday, try alternating longer runs with shorter runs every other day. That way you have the accomplishment of going for a long run, but are not overwhelmed by the next one tomorrow. Also, that is better on your body and also your mental strength.
Anyway, basically the biggest strength you will develop is MENTAL. That is really what running is all about. It is a mind game with yourself and you have to decide who is going to win.
I don’t want to come off like a super-pro-runner, but I consider myself one who has overcome the lack of will, body-type, personality-type, and out of shape-ness that comes with one who is not naturally inclined to run. And I love it now. So I am proud of you and am excited to hear all your experiences, and just want to say, GO FOR IT!!!
David Tanner
/ April 17, 2009Here are some things I learned from training for and running the Illinois Marathon:
1) The greatest weight loss during a run comes from using the Port-a-Potties along the way.
2) Make a pump up music list on your ipod, and play it loudly while you run. This has always made my running feel like it goes by faster. Make sure it’s charged before you run.
The music needs to be so loud and so rockin’ that you can’t help but sing out loud while you run.
3) Your runs for the first couple of weeks can be as slow as you want; just the motion of trotting instead of walking is training your muscles. I’ve done plenty of runs where I was jogging slower than I could walk.
4) But running insoles for $20 for your shoes; the added cushion will spare your knees and ankles.
5) I always hated running the same route twice. For me running was a change to explore the city on my own; without a car or bike to help me.
6) I bought a cammel-pack, so I could drink water easily along the way. I especially loved this little toy as the weather got hotter (my water froze in the winter) and when my runs got longer than 5ish miles.
7) Commit Aubrey to your running schedule. She needs to reserve the right to kick you out of the house via guilt trip to make you run. Some days I needed JaNae to help me with that.
8) Run in the early morning. Late morning it’s too hot; at night you won’t be able to fall asleep because your legs will tingle for hours after a longer run (I made this mistake a couple of times).
9) I would highly recommend chocolate flavored power-bars over the GU packets (those little packets of goo taste more aweful than power-bars).
10) MOST IMPORTANT! Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about your running. Other people will tell your about their running stories about running farther or faster than you, and that might make you think that your running is less significant. I struggled with this. Sometimes I would proudly tell other people that I’m running, and they would just tell me about how they already run more. The cure for this is turning item #2 up even louder.
And I may think of a few more things later. I started running for my health too. And I really do feel better about myself. So…good for you; I’m really proud of my X-college roommate.