On running

Shelly asked me to blog more about running. Glad to oblige.

I ran track and cross-country in high school. So long ago. It was a great sport for me: I'm not athletic or physically strong or coordinated. But those things don't matter (too) much in running, especially if you're a long-distance runner, like I was. The big thing is just endurance--having the will to keep moving. I was good at that.

After high school, I went long stretches--years, sometimes--without running at all. Then I'd get back into it and hate, hate, HATE it for a few weeks until my body adjusted. But I wouldn't keep at it for long: the weather would get too hot, I'd get too busy with work or kids or whatever. One thing that *would* motivate me: signing up for a race. But after the race was done, I'd go back to my old, sedentary ways.

Right now, I've got four things motivating me:

1. My faculty union put together a team for this weekend's Race for the Cure. My goal is simply to finish before the walkers finish.

2. I have high cholesterol, and my doctor's been on me to do more cardio work.

3. At 38, I'm realizing that, yes indeed, bodies really do change with age. I used to be able to lose weight just by *thinking* about it. Not the case now.

4. I really, really like that endorphin explosion you get from vigorous exercise.

That last item is the biggest for me: My head feels better after I run. Clearer. Whatever mind work I have to do the rest of the day--teaching, writing, grading--comes more easily and seems richer somehow.

The big challenge will be to keep up with the running after Saturday. I'm thinking that blogging my progress--maybe even blogging my mileage, like Addy does with her walking--might help.