About a year ago, I decided I wanted to get into better shape, so I started jogging.
It was something I enjoyed and it quickly became a regular part of my life. My new routine: waking up at the crack of dawn, lacing up my sneakers, and firing up my iPod for a leisurely run each day before my kids got up for school and I went to work.
I really took to it, and on a cool day last month, I completed my first organized 10k run. It felt great!
It took me just over an hour to complete, which was great considering I’d suffered an injury and infection during my training, requiring me to take some time off as my leg healed in a cast.I’m sure you’ve experienced setbacks in your own exercise regimen, and an injury can be hard to come back from. Heck, the struggle to stick with a new routine—and the aches and pains that come along with it—can be difficult enough. But when you realize your goals, it is truly worth the short-term struggles!When I did the run, the weather was rather chilly. But instead of focusing on the chill, I kept my mind on my surroundings, as it was a city-wide run. Keeping a sustainable pace was essential and my number one goal was never to slow down to a walk. I’m glad to say I achieved it! While some runners blew past me going downhill, I soon passed them as they were huffing and puffing on their way back up!Overall, it was a great experience and provided a terrific opportunity to see my city on foot. In fact, knowing the route actually made it quite a bit easier, because I was able to set smaller goals and tell myself, “Okay, only four more blocks south, and then it’s the home stretch!”
Two years ago if you’d told me I’d be participating (and making decent time) in a 10k race, I wouldn’t have believed you. But the truth is that I made a decision to increase my fitness level and found something I loved. Getting out for a run, listening to some music, and letting my feet take me through the city has become an enjoyable and rewarding experience in a number of ways, and is something I plan to continue well into the future. In fact, I’m currently training for another run in mid-June and I’m hoping to finish in less than an hour.
The takeaway? It’s never too late to start a new, healthy routine. Just make sure you package it with something you enjoy and you, too, could be reaching your health goals in no time!
Sources for Today’s Article:
Yew, D., “Caffeine Toxicity,” Medscape web site, May 31, 2014; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821863-overview#a0101.
Diabetologia, “Increasing consumption of coffee associated with reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, study finds,” Science Daily web site, April 24, 2014; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140424190516.htm.
World Health Organization, “Diabetes,” WHO web site, January 2015; http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/.