The exercise thing.
Many, many years ago, I was a runner.
Then I left the military, and got fat. I tried it twice during the time I was very large, and my back complained - a lot. I didn't do it again for a long time.
Now, I've lost some weight (although some of it has crept back on, but I'm aware of that and working on it) and began feeling the urge to run again. When I grew up, I was lucky enough to run in the woods - on trails carpeted by pine needles and leaves, around lakes and through beautiful fields and marshes. I was spoiled. Road running has never really appealed to me, and as someone with a large frame in any case, it's not the best thing for me. But in the last couple years, I've been walking my dogs on the trails in Hawden Park and thinking about how it's a lot like those places I ran when I was young.
Last week, I bought a real pair of running shoes. Tuesday, I took my first run in I don't know how many years. It was probably between a quarter and half a mile, but I did the whole thing, I set a course where the last couple hundred feet is an uphill, and forced myself to finish strong. The feeling of stretching, then slow running, then speeding up to cruising speed, ticking off the various twinges and creaks as my body settled into its rhythm felt like coming back to an old friend. Except this old friend was my body stretching out and running - and loving it. I had aches later, and definitely needed (and appreciated) the hot tub before bed.
Today, I went back. Added to the original route, but finished the same way. It was probably just over a half mile, and I did a lot of walking afterward as I went back to get Miss Kittin (who is fast, but not consistent - she's a sprinter and I think it will be just me on the runs from now on). We finished out our excursion with a long walk back to the car and Kittin kept me company while I stretched out. I'm well aware I need to approach this slowly and carefully so I don't break anything. *grin* I want to keep doing this because I so missed that feeling of settling into your body, feeling the strain of exertion and the pride in accomplishment that is such a part of running.
It's good to have this part of me back again. Looking forward to building on what I've started.
Then I left the military, and got fat. I tried it twice during the time I was very large, and my back complained - a lot. I didn't do it again for a long time.
Now, I've lost some weight (although some of it has crept back on, but I'm aware of that and working on it) and began feeling the urge to run again. When I grew up, I was lucky enough to run in the woods - on trails carpeted by pine needles and leaves, around lakes and through beautiful fields and marshes. I was spoiled. Road running has never really appealed to me, and as someone with a large frame in any case, it's not the best thing for me. But in the last couple years, I've been walking my dogs on the trails in Hawden Park and thinking about how it's a lot like those places I ran when I was young.
Last week, I bought a real pair of running shoes. Tuesday, I took my first run in I don't know how many years. It was probably between a quarter and half a mile, but I did the whole thing, I set a course where the last couple hundred feet is an uphill, and forced myself to finish strong. The feeling of stretching, then slow running, then speeding up to cruising speed, ticking off the various twinges and creaks as my body settled into its rhythm felt like coming back to an old friend. Except this old friend was my body stretching out and running - and loving it. I had aches later, and definitely needed (and appreciated) the hot tub before bed.
Today, I went back. Added to the original route, but finished the same way. It was probably just over a half mile, and I did a lot of walking afterward as I went back to get Miss Kittin (who is fast, but not consistent - she's a sprinter and I think it will be just me on the runs from now on). We finished out our excursion with a long walk back to the car and Kittin kept me company while I stretched out. I'm well aware I need to approach this slowly and carefully so I don't break anything. *grin* I want to keep doing this because I so missed that feeling of settling into your body, feeling the strain of exertion and the pride in accomplishment that is such a part of running.
It's good to have this part of me back again. Looking forward to building on what I've started.