OK, it’s hitting me. Five miles is a long way. But for me, running just two is also coming a long way.
Beginning my third week of training, my legs told me that they aren’t as ready to run a full five miles as the rest of my body is.
I have been consistently running a mile and a half, while still walking the rest of the time to complete my now-40 minutes of non-stop exercise, as prescribed by Todd Smoot, and it appears that I may have to walk some of the way up and down Baytree on July 4.
If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m pretty competitive against myself, and when it comes to sports, my ego is as oversized as Rosie O’Donnell’s opinions.
So, finding out that I can’t do something all the way through stung a little.
Walking around the Lowndes High track to end my 35 minutes Tuesday was setting myself up for a disappointing week, but a followup visit to the doctor made just the short time I have been working at the goal of finishing the Baytree 8K worthwhile.
Four months ago, my blood pressure was an alarming 150 over 100. At the young age of 26, and with more illnesses than an HMO would know what to do with in my family tree, I was a little worried.
My blood pressure has been fluctuating to worrisome heights since I was 19, and I figured now was the time to get to normal.
Upon visiting the doctor, I was told to drop some weight and exercise regularly, then given a prescription to take every day. Again, I’m 26, so every day is probably going to be a lot of days. But that wasn’t the scary part.
My entire life, I was told I’m exactly like my father. Look like him in pictures, enjoy the same spicy food, check out the same girls passing by, have the same mannerisms, same sense of humor and lack of patience. But in February, it went too far when our doctors placed us on the same prescription. I’m pretty sure I mentioned we’re about 30 years apart.
So I exercised a little and took my pills. When the chance to sign over 20,000 contracts to run in this 8K with the people of Lowndes and Valdosta, putting my credibility on the line if I didn’t go through with it, I did it.
I didn’t do it to have something easy to write at work, or even to get the stylish T-shirt that comes with the race. It’s about my health.
The day after I realized running five straight miles may have to wait for the 2008 Baytree 8K, I had a three-month followup with the doctor.
The news made me happy just to walk a half-mile of this race.
I was yanked off the medication, and given a feeling that I helped myself out. Not only do I not have to shell out another $20 on the prescription that was running out, but I can go back to feeling better without a pill.
After talking with Smoot, I realized that it really was a big deal and a first step on the way to just getting back to breathing easier and having more energy.
By no means do I want to be a skin-and-bones runner, competing in 5, 8, 10, whatever-K’s around the country. If my grandmothers were alive, they would scoff at me for being as skinny as I am now, so I’m not going to belittle my good name by fitting into Size 32 pants.
But just being able to breathe without knowing my heart is going to take a time-out in 20 years is a reason to get the T-shirt in itself.
Baytree 8k
June 25, 2007
Training for 8K is getting me healthier
- 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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