The Life Ledger

Fitness is a way of life.

So today was my first run outside for awhile. Beautiful morning, when I prefer to run, and a nice cool 55 degrees out. The only “complaint” was that I was without tunes - My ipod wasn’t charged. So for most of the way I had to listen to the birds sing. If all off life’s problems were that Horrific. Laugh

But it was a good run, down around the Lake. Running on pavement is worlds different than running on a treadmill. While the health benefits are there for both, actually moving in the world and being able to see the distance you’ve traveled gives a better sense of accomplishment. It’s a more tangible thing, at least to me. Pull up google maps, and I would be able to trace it for you.

Another detriment to running on a treadmill is that the numbers fib to you. The speed setting might be set to 7.5 mph (8 minute mile) but given how you run, you can be moving quite a bit slower. Being 6′ 3″, I just lengthen my stride. And when both feet are off the ground the track just goes by underneath.

The last and most important difference, to me, is the texture. You can feel the difference when it comes to running on pavement, sand, “trail”, and even the treadmill. Each has its own give or softness, its own resistance which is something different. In fact someone who is used to running on pavement can be slower if they try to perform the same on sand, or trails. Your body has to learn. So to prepare for my race, I have to run on roads and pavement since it has been awhile.

Which leads me to today’s numbers. Didn’t wear a watch, but in feeling my pace the first 1.5 miles was cruising right along at an 8 minute mile. After that I slowed down to a 10 min mile. Which isn’t bad. But slower than my personal goal right now.

And in case anyone wants to donate, visit here to donate straight to Habitat, or follow the instructions here for me to donate in your name. Have a great day, and to those that run, waddle on!

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So as I say elsewhere here, I lost most of my weight by running. And I was steadily increasing my distance. My longest distance was a little over 9 miles, I think, and averaging around 20 miles a week. Then I met my wife.

Heh, you know what? I didn’t notice, or care, that I was running less. My preferred time to run is in the morning, but now that time is put to better use holding my wife. Yes, I’m a bit of a romantic; what can I say? But the fact that she is such an amazing and health-conscious cook is why my weight was able to stay steady. So at the time I didn’t miss running.

Currently the only running I do is about 30 minutes before my karate class. And while that’s nice for general cardio, it lacks the ability to get me to that “cleansing place” where all of life falls away: just you and the road. After runs like that I get this sense of clarity that’s amazing. It’s very similar to a Nike commercial I saw just the other day(but I was unable to find it on youtube yet).

Now I’m looking to try and get refocused. And I’ve decided to do that by signing up for a race. It’s not a long race, only 5k(or 3.11 miles for us Imperialists) . I’m not usually competitive, and trying to run with about 500 more people is going to be interesting to say the least. At the same time, the money goes Habitat for Humanity, so that’s motivation right there as well.

In fact, tell you what. For each person who tags The Life Ledger as a Technorati favorite blog, I’ll add 5 dollars as an additional donation. Race day, I’ll write the names on my number or carry them some other way, and then post a picture of it afterward.