Over the last couple weeks I have returned to my old past time, running. The last time I ran regularly was in high school. I was in excellent shape at the time and remember feeling pretty full of my self one day in science class when we were learning about our cardiovascular systems.
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!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I’ve recently started running too after a long break. I just started getting past the hump where it feels painful and slow like running through water to where I get that runner’s high and I can’t wait to get running. I want to encourage you to keep going!! Once you get through the beginning blahs it’s amazingly worth it on the other side. Plus, you can’t find a lower maintenance sport than running: no special equipment and you can do it virtually anywhere at any time.