Our teacher put us in groups and had us each check our resting pulse. Next, we took turns running a specified distance and checking our pulse immediately afterward, and a few minutes afterward. My ego was stroked when I saw that I our little exercise really didn’t do much to raise my heart rate.

Anyway… Fifteen years later here I am, 30 years old and get winded when I walk up a set of stairs. I decided to get back to running again so I can achieve the goal I’ve had since I was in my early 20’s: get in excellent shape and be able to participate in activities that my poor fitness has forbade me from doing in the past. I haven’t been since I stopped running and going to the gym regularly while in high school. Now that I live a block away from Green Lake, it seemed like an opportune time. Green Lake is 2.6 miles around the inner path where presently I run.

I started Monday of last week, running about a quarter around the lake in all, with much walking interspersed. On Wednesday I upped it to a third of the way, and on Friday I managed to make it half way.

I took the weekend off to make sure I recovered properly. This Monday I was able to make it a two thirds around the lake with minimal stops, and today I made it three quarters the way without any real stops. Hopefully Friday I can make it the whole way.

I’ve had to fight my urge to overwork myself, as it’s really easy to do, and every time I’ve tried in the past I have burned out as quickly as I got started. I highly recommend pacing yourself.

If you have any experience running, or questions, by all means drop a line in the comments!