Whoa, today is an exciting day in Family History….
In between church and an early Christmas party on Sunday, I reached another milestone in my running career. It was about eleven months since I began regularly hopping on a treadmill a few times a week. My goal back then was to lose a little weight. My goal on Sunday was to run farther than I ever had before — specifically, 15 kilometers (about 9.3 miles). I originally wanted to complete this task on the streets of Sturtevant, but anyone who took a step outside that day would understand my decsion to do it on the treadmill instead. I clocked in at 1:22:58, which is a pace of 8:54 / mile. This is about the pace at which I ran the Roma 5K
back in July. Granted, running on a treadmill is easier than running outside, even when the weather is perfect. On a treadmill, the impact on your knees is smaller, and you can hold on to the side rails to catch your breath if you’re getting tired (I did that several times during the last mile or two). In any case, I’m excited that I was able to complete a 15K, and I’m still determining what challenge I’ll take on next.
In the “How much do you weigh?” department, I’ve lost approximately 50 pounds this year, and I currently tip the scales at 175 pounds. The difference is readily apparent after watching a video of me from Ella’s baptism last year. I recently got a letter from Adam H., one of my groomsmen, who was apparently inspired by my efforts and has lost 35 pounds of his own (way to go, buddy!). I certainly don’t need to lose any more weight, but if I keep working out, it might happen. One option I have is to increase the frequency/effort of my strength training to build some muscle. In any case, if I put on a holiday pound or two in the weeks ahead, I won’t sweat it one bit.
Got any questions about my exercise habits? I’m more than happy to share. Write or leave a comment below.
