Training - for real this time
As the founder and publisher of theLocalTourist.com, it's my job to help people enjoy Chicago.
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This morning I ran. Actually, it was more like walking punctuated by brief bouts of jogging. The good news is I saw that it was 43 degrees, grabbed my ski cap, and was out the door by 7:27. The bad news is I couldn't even jog one lap around tiny little Palmer Square.
I can walk for hours. Traipsing my way the 5.5 miles from downtown to Logan Square with a 15lb pack on my back is like a stroll in the park. Hiking up and down forest preserves with boots that could double as dumbbells? Easy. Ask me to pick up the pace and my lungs cramp up like a kid who went swimming too soon after lunch and my heart races faster than a junkie after a new fix. This is not a good state to be in to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I read yesterday that most of the people who die while attempting to climb, and there are about 10 each year, do so from heart attacks.
Fortunately I can fix that before we leave for Africa. Much of exercise - and this climb - is mental. Instead of looking at this morning's "run" as a failure because I couldn't keep a consistent pace for more than a couple of minutes, I'll look at it as interval training, and I know that's the fastest way to physically improve. I'll also give myself a quick pat on the back that I got up on a cold chilly morning and just did it.
There are added benefits; I'm a list maker, and I immediately checked one item off and that gives me a sense of accomplishment before 9am on a Monday. Plus for some reason, running/walking/whatever you want to call it always prompts the next blog post or the next paragraph. It's like a shock to the synapses that gets them to fire in ways I just couldn't seem to jump start with coffee.
Since having my lungs and heart in shape is fairly important, I'm going to commit to doing some cardio every morning, Monday through Friday. I'll post updates here so you can keep me honest. If you haven't seen any updates for a couple of days, call me out! Tweet me, post on my Facebook wall, leave a comment here...basically publicly shame me into getting my butt out there. With your help I can get up this mountain!
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3 Comments
johnk said:
Unfortunately you never had a drill sergeant to motivate you. His voice still rings in my ears lo these many years later. You can get the next best thing ... get Amy Guth to train you. Even with a bum hip she is still running the Chicago Marathon. I'm told she is like a velvet hammer when she trains someone.
Theresa Carter said:
She gave me her stair climber. I'm surprised she hasn't been hounding me asking me how many minutes I'm up to...Amy, are you listening? :)
Veronica Ludwig said:
Great idea!! Stuff like this helped me: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-380-381-386-9397-0,00.html
Also, I vlogged my training weekly. That definitely held me accountable! http://www.youtube.com/veronicaludwig
Good Luck!!!
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