24 Hours

My largely sedentary lifestyle is beginning to show as I get older. I’m soft(er) around the middle and fuller in the face than even just a few years ago. My family, on both sides, has a history of heart disease and cholesterol problems. (Who’s family doesn’t these days?)

In late August I took a look in the mirror and decided I didn’t like what I saw, nor where I was certainly headed if I didn’t get off my duff and do something about it. So I headed to the store and picked up a pair of running shoes, the Nike+ iPod attachement for my Nano and was off to the races – both figuratively and literally.

My first run set a benchmark (and a low one at that). I couldn’t make it a mile and my pace was laughable – over 14 minutes a mile. That’s not too much faster than walking. Clearly I had room to improve!

After a month of training we ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Newport Beach. I couldn’t run the entire 5K (approximately 3 miles) but I’d significantly improved my pace and didn’t feel like a bus had driven over my knees after the race. Progress!

In January I ran another 5K at the OC Marathon (with Spiff) and turned in a much better performance: 28′ 05″ with an average pace of 9′ 02″ per mile.

Despite my life-long distaste for running I’ve stuck with it and am happy to report that I’m actually enjoying myself. Every other day I wake up at 5:30 AM, stretch for a bit and then head out for a 2 or 3 mile run, depending on my mood. On the weekends I typically head out later in the afternoon and run 4 miles.

Some fun stats about my runs, courtesy of Nike and Apple:

  • Number of workouts: 54
  • Distance run: 137.8 miles
  • Time spent: 24.46 hours
  • Calories burned: 17,092
  • Farthest run: 4.04 miles
  • Best mile: 8′ 11″
  • Best kilometer: 5′ 07″

3 thoughts on “24 Hours

  1. We love you, Daddy. You are doing an excellent job and we sooo proud of you. Keep up the good work, handsome (remember what Emma said the other night;) )!

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