JB’s

Thoughts on Running

I should start by saying that I am not much of a writer or a runner. OK – not a strong opening for a written piece about running. Let me clarify. I do run. More precisely, I jog. A couple times a year I will enter a 5K race and someday, I hope to get a time of under 30 minuets. Not everyone calls that running. It keeps me moving though. As for the writing part, suffice to say, it is harder than I thought it would be.

I started running about five years ago. Both my dad and my father-in-law spent much of their time during last several years of lives watching TV. They did this mostly because they were physically unable to do anything else. Both were active in their younger days but inactivity seems to be a habit that creeps up on you and I want to forestall that as long as possible.

When I started running, it was for very short distances that would often finish up with me walking home. Not a bad way to start. After a month or so, I could jog a couple of miles without wanting to throw up. That had been my goal and I was happy. Now I actually enjoy my time on the road. I generally do three or four miles when I go out but unfortunately, I seldom go out more than two or three times a week. I have been told that this limited training schedule is preventing me from improving my race times. I am sure it is, but I truly don’t care. I am 54 years old and I will never be a competitive runner. I would however love to be like that 91 year old gentleman that completed the last 5K I was in. Not that it matters, but he didn’t come in last.

I am a fair-weather runner. The winters in New England are just too cold for me to enjoy a “nice brisk run” – so I don’t stay as active as I should when the snow flies. I use a tread mill occasionally but not with the regularity that would keep me truly fit. I find walking on treadmills boring and running on treadmills just requires too much concentration (not to fall down!)

To be continued soon…

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