https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6nFhcI4tgI
First things first: I was hesitant to write this because the last thing I want to become is ‘Running Guy.’ You know who I’m talking about, the guy who only talks about running, wants to break down shoes with you, gets a ‘13.1’ or ‘26.2’ bumper sticker for his car, that ain’t me. But how can I give myself a pat on the back for a fitness goal reached last year and NOT come off as Running Guy?? That’s the delicate balance we’ll attempt to navigate for the next 500 words.
A little background: I started making a concerted effort to run more about 4 years ago. Ever since college I’ve had a gym membership, but mostly I lifted a few weights (curls for the girls), listened to a bunch of music, stared off into space, and went home. $50 a month well spent!
Well, as it turns out, that type of workout is only effective when you have the metabolism of a 20-year old. Not so much when you hit your 30’s, and soon to be 40’s. Very annoying! So at some point in 2016, I ventured over to the cardio equipment. I started VERY slowly. Literally would start a on a treadmill, walk for 3 minutes to warm up, run for 6 minutes, and cool down with a 1 minute walk. Bingo bango, 10 minutes of cardio.
After doing that for about a year, I started to push myself a little more. An extra minute here, and extra minute there, until I started knocking out 20 minutes, then 30 minutes, then an hour at a shot. That sentence makes it sound simple, but it was about a 3 year effort to get to a point where I had the wind to run for an hour straight.
So at the beginning of 2020, blissfully unaware that eventually we’d be living out real life scenes from The Purge, I set a goal to run 1,000 miles in the calendar year. It’s roughly 3 miles a day, and I got a healthy mix of running outside with running on a treadmill. Last week, during the end of my month of vacation, I crossed that threshold and ended my year with 1,051 miles logged.
A few things I learned along the way: shin splints are real, runner’s high is a myth, and nipple chaffing is VERY real. I don’t think there’s a scene in TV history that I’ve pulled more of a 180 on than this scene from The Office:
Funny scene, right? I remember the first time I saw it I laughed out loud. Well let me tell you, it’s no joke. I learned that the hard way (pun intended) about a month in. After experimenting with different shirts and a bunch of Vaseline, I got a handle on it. Now my nipples are in tip top running shape. I ran 1,000 miles and my nipples are tougher than elephant hooves.
Another thing that I learned, and Lindsey will corroborate, is that once you get into a routine with something like running, even if you don’t enjoy that activity, you get REAL irritable when you don’t do it. I didn’t run every day, I think ultimately I was ‘active’ for around 200 days of the year, but if I went more than 2 or 3 days without running, I was, and pardon my French here, a real bitch.
Again, I wouldn’t say I was ever chomping at the bit to run on days where I knew I was going to get out and knock out a few miles, but clearly my body and mind became accustomed to getting that energy release.
Well, if you’ve read this far, I’m betting you’re expecting me to tell you about how much better shape I’m in because of this effort. Some sort of before and after picture that shows you how much trimmer I look. Not so much. I couldn’t tell you what I weighed when I started this and I can’t tell you what I weigh now, but I think those numbers would likely be very close to the same. I wear the same sized shirt and the same size pants. The reason for that? One of the great joys, maybe really the only great joy of running, is eating a TON of food after you run. If I burned 1,000 calories during a jog, I turned around and ate 1,000 within 30 minutes of getting home. I know I’m healthier, my resting heart rate is much lower and presumably I’ve built some leg muscle, but I look no different than I did at the beginning of last year.
So, it was an interesting year. I ran at the beginning of the year because I set the goal. I ran when the pandemic hit because it was a way to get outside and get some fresh air. I ran when my dad passed away because I was really angry and sad. I still am. A year later I think I’m healthier, I sleep better at night, and my stress levels are down. I honestly still hate running, but I know that no matter how long of a run I’m going on, I’ll feel better when I’m done. Trust me when I say that anyone can do this, I blog about sports on the internet and did it. I realize not everyone has the free time that I have, but even if you’re just working in a 15 minute walk every day, it’s definitely worth it.
And with that semi-inspirational moment, I think we’ve dipped a bit too far into ‘Running Guy.’ Thank you for your time, and if you ever see me driving around with a 13.1 or 26.2 bumper sticker, please slap me in the face.
PS: I also learned that there are really only about 11 days of really good running weather in Wisconsin. Hot and humid in the winter, cold/windy/icy in the winter. At some point in October when temps are in the 50’s and the colors are changing, there’s about a two week period where it doesn’t suck running outside. Wisconsin!
