Week 2 of my Baytree 8K training is in the books.
So far, so good, as I have absolutely no complaints, and surprisingly, only good things to say about my newfound activity.
Yeah, taking a half hour to an hour out of my busy schedule of watching “Sopranos” reruns to sweat and stare at an artificial moving ground isn’t like a trip through a grand buffet, but I’ve noticed several small pluses.
I’ve been on the treadmill most of the time thanks to the constant smoke covering Lowndes County. But I’m sick of dwelling on it, so now I just think of it as the artificial fog as I run out of the tunnel toward my running debut in dramatic fashion.
The almost daily regimen of running and sit-ups is getting me prepared for the July 4 race, but also helping me in the present tense.
First of all, the compliments from the ladies about how it looks like I’ve lost some weight certainly doesn’t hurt my more than slight ego. Besides, it’s true.
Since I last checked, I’m down 10 pounds, which is a positive for me in a career field that requires vast knowledge of fast food.
Also, and probably the biggest for me, I’ve noticed that after I’m done running or walking a long distance, that it takes little to no time to return my breathing to normal.
As Todd Smoot exclaims quite frequently in his columns featured in The Valdosta Daily Times, fitness should not be about breathing in a huffing and puffing style. And indeed it hasn’t been. I have been pleased in noticing that my breathing remains slight.
The weight being down and my breathing and heart rate slowing down has convinced me that I’m becoming healthier, and let’s face it, at 26 with diagnosed high blood pressure, and more chronic ailments than a medical ward in my family tree, I have to start focusing on the old bod.
But the biggest thing that has come up recently for me in running this extremely long stroll down Valdosta is the fear is starting to evaporate.
Throughout the duration of the last two weeks, I have only been walking about two miles in a half hour, but it comes with no stress on my body, lungs or heart. This convinces me that with six more weeks of adding miles to my legs, I can at least partially run and partially walk five miles and be none the worse for wear.
My new mantra for the run is that the start line is the finish line for me.
Sure, crossing the finish line will be a good feeling, but keeping myself in shape these six weeks is the biggest benefit of this training, as well as the weekly journal to you, the reader.
These past two weeks started with 30 minutes of walking, which went without a hitch, along with as many sit-ups that I can do.
The walking distance and speed increased over a week and a half, and I recently started adding in some jogging.
Thursday, I took to the track and put in a mile run for the first time in the longest time. My heart didn’t go crazy, I didn’t pass out and I didn’t see my lunch, so all in all, it went well.
The working slow strategy is paying off as I condition myself without killing myself, which is a good thing, because the thousands who are reading this can’t shower me with congratulations after I finish if I’m not around after 8 kilometers.
With running regularly in my routine now, I head into Week 3, hoping to add distance and soften breathing while coming across the biggest challenge I will meet thus far.
Thursday, I head toward my parent’s house, which is a training program’s Bermuda triangle — it gets near the location to never be seen again.
The visit is five days away, and already Momma Fazio has hit the grocery store twice and asked what I want to eat for breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner and dessert for all four days.
However, with the public knowing my goal, I think I can stay on course to start my finish line.
Baytree 8k
June 8, 2007
Week 2 and still training
- Baytree 8k
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Seppala takes 8K again
The field was bigger, the weather was hotter, but the result was the same: John Seppala dominated the Baytree 8K.
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Seppala runs away with Baytree 8K
On Wednesday, John Seppala ran away from the other 180 runners at the Baytree 8K road race.
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Column: I did it!
Wow, I did it!
- Column: It’s finally time for the race Dear Valdosta,
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BAYTREE 8K - Registration Form
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Training for 8K is getting me healthier
OK, it’s hitting me. Five miles is a long way. But for me, running just two is also coming a long way.
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Rise and shine, 8K runner
This far into preparations for the Baytree 8K, my legs are supposed to be a little sore. However, I can’t tell over the pain my fist is experiencing from the fifth week.
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Nothing can stop me now.
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Baytree 8k, Here I come!
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Week 2 and still training
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