The Anatomy of a Run

November 30, 2008

I finally did it. I got off the couch and hit the pavement. I’m back on the horse that has bucked me off countless times. Yes, I’m finally running again.

My brother, Cousin Francis, informed me a few weeks ago that he was planning on running Walter’s Run on Sunday December 14th. As many of you know Walter’s Run starts and ends at the YMCA on Bellevue Street. Check out their website for the history of the run as well as sign up and race info: http://www.waltersrun.org/

It’s a 5K (3.1 miles) and having the illustrious running heritage that I do (my dad Big Al has run 27 marathons) I figured with a little bit of training I should be able to knock off a 5K.

I’ve been through this process many times. Ambition hits me like the lighting of a match. Maybe I was mortified by my heavy breathing after climbing a few flights of stairs. Maybe I caught my profile in the reflection of a store window. It’s always something that sparks a fire in the giggling belly to get out there and get in shape.

Like many people in their younger years, I was in top physical condition in high school playing soccer, baseball, and track and field. Then college happened. They say college is an experience…for me it was a condition, a state of being. The lure of a sedentary beer-fueled lifestyle sprinkled with credit card funded pizza delivery took over. I took the “freshman fifteen” and made it the “senior fifty”.

After college I experienced many periodic episodes of inspiration where I made the commitment to get back in shape. Sometimes it was the gym and weight lifting but most times it was running. I’ve found running to be the easier fit for a busy schedule. In the space of forty-five minutes you can stretch, run two or three miles, and be cooled down.

The motivation to get in shape has changed slightly over time. It used to be more about looking good. Most times I’d get a glance at a recent picture of myself and I’d be shocked at the shape I was in. That was incentive enough to get back out there and shed some pounds.

Now the incentive to look better, while still present, is more of a fringe benefit. Let’s be honest I look pretty awesome as is. Whoever thinks a real life version of Fred Flintstone isn’t about the hottest thing going may need to get their eyes checked.

Being a part of a growing family has changed my perspective. It is significantly more important to be healthy (and at the risk of being overly dramatic) so that I’ll be around to see the children graduate, get married, etc. Having a baby will do that to you. I’d imagine it falls under the “it’s no longer about me” metamorphosis that happens when that little bundle arrives.

For those of you who have ever started out, the workout regimen it is never an easy thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people lose ambition quickly. It really is a battle both physically and mentally. When you first start out not only are you dealing with out of shape muscles but your cardiovascular system has suffered quite a regression in it’s previously placid state. One day the leg muscles feel strong as an ox but it feels like you have a piano on your chest. The next run you can barely make it down the street because of the pain in your legs but your breathing is virtually unchallenged.

Then there are the games in your head. I will tell you, like most people, it seems there is not enough time in the day to squeeze in a run. That compounded with a tough day at work and the overwhelming urge to relax with a bowl of ice cream in front of the television can be an epic battle of will power.

I feel that if you are going to have any chance of getting past the initial aches and pains you need to have a plan of action. Setting specific long term goals has never worked for me. I’ve found it can be a slippery slope. If I don’t meet the goals I’ve set I tend to get discouraged. Setting daily or weekly goals is something I have found works much better. I’ll commit to running three to five days a week for a minimum of two miles.

I’ve found focusing on the fact that I am running three to five times a week is much more beneficial to my willpower than focusing on why I haven’t lost a certain amount of weight over a predetermined period of time. In the end it’s about what works best for you in your lifestyle while still offering improved health over the long term.

Oddly enough I have set a goal for myself which is out of the norm of my usual “training” methods: December 14, 2008 Walter’s Run. I must admit before I signed up for this run I looked quickly at the route and thought it looked pretty similar to the Corrib Road Race route. For anyone that has run the Corrib Road Race they know the toughest part is getting up Corey Street coming of the Parkway. The best part of the race is coming off Howitt Street and coasting down LaGrange to the finish. Actually that’s the second best part. The best part is putting back on the calories I burned off during the run by way of free hot dogs, burgers and beer, but I digress.

What I didn’t realize until it was way too late was that Walter’s run goes in the opposite direction. While not exactly the Corrib route Walter’s Run will take me UP Mt. Vernon street and UP LaGrange! Are you kidding me?! I’m out of breath when I drive up LaGrange. This is nothing short of sadistic.

Nevertheless I am determined to complete the race without stopping. Not quite sure how I’m going to achieve that feat but I will find a way. I’m definitely at an advantage seeing as I can attempt to run the route multiple times before the big day. Either way I hope to see many of the area’s residents there.

And do me a favor…keep your eyes open. You’re bound to see a 200 lb+ strapping young lad in overalls and a flannel shirt running around the neighborhood. There is an excellent chance he’ll be in need of some medical attention or (at the very least) a ride back to the Bellevue Hill water tower. Giddy up.

Written by The Bellevue Hillbilly · Filed Under Bellevue HillBilly, Charity Events, Local Events & Parties