On March 17, 2007... I ran my first mile since 2004
Back in the day I was an average runner. Or below average. I still have my junior high school mile time charts. I was one of those 9 minutes and 25-ish seconds kind of guys. But I always had one goal: NEVER STOP RUNNING
I took tremendous pride in the fact that throughout middle and high school, during my mile runs I never once stopped to take a breather. I ran from start to finish
I never stop running
Well...
I stopped
Done with high school, there were no more PE classes. No more coaches to whip me along. Nothing to run for but pure personal satisfaction. It's like reading a book. Does anyone really do that any more?
I'm only kidding... but there's half-truth in most jokes
OK, a quick show of hands. How many of you have made resolutions for New Year's, but don't follow through? Hey, I'm guilty as hell. Seems every year it's another broken promise. For 2007 my resolution was to simply run again. Somehow, over the years, I came to miss it. Three months later I was at a BORDERS book store, looking for a study guide. I came across this health book and read an excerpt that really hit home:
The benefits of a consistent program of diet and exercise are many. Improved cardiac output, improved maximum oxygen intake, and improvement of the blood's ability to carry oxygen are just a few of the benefits. Exercise also lowers the risk of heart disease by strengthening the heart muscle, lowering pulse and blood pressure, and lowering the concentration of fat in both the body and the blood. It can also improve appearance, increase range of motion and lessen the risk of back problems associated with weak bones and osteoperosis
5 minutes later, I found myself at the sporting goods store buying a stop watch. My best mile time came way back when I was 13 years old -- 8 minutes, 26 seconds
10 years later... has the kid still got it?
OLD STOMPING GROUNDS
The very next Saturday I was at my old high school track... the same track I had ran so many miles on with my coach watching. My first mile time was pretty bad. But on that day a seed was planted. I was going to, by hook or crook, beat my best time of 8:26
I recorded my overall times (as well as laps) on a journal. Below are the results. I challenge you to match 'em. I'm sure for many of you that will pose as no problem (these times are no world beaters lemme tell ya!). For others, it might be more daunting a task. Regardless, I challenge you. Challenge you to live a healthier life (if you don't already). I think many people need some kind of nudge to start something that may not seem all that appealing at first. I know I sure did
(Note: Lap times were not tracked until mile #3)
MILE #1 (Saturday 3.17.07)
Overall: 9:36.54
Whew damn my first mile in THREE years! I was just glad when I finished... my lungs were killing me! Sadly, I collapsed on the football field, heh heh. Even more sad, my legs were sore for the next FOUR days. But the first step was made, and sometimes, that's the biggest step of 'em all....
Craziest thing was I ran into three old high school faces. Two of whom I used to play basketball with here and there. The other was the school's biggest class clown. He told me he was going through some rough times. After I ran my mile, I was walking by the basketball court and saw him again -- this time he was sleeping on the bare ground... like a hobo. It was a sad, sorry sight. I felt bad for the guy. We had French I and II together. He was one of the most popular kids in high school... the kind who appeared on every other page in the yearbook
Reminds me of another time, some time during last year. I was at a mom n pop pizza joint, grabbing lunch when I ran into another old face from high school whom I too, ironically, played ball with off and on. He was doing great, looked great and it's always nice to see old buddies and see that life's been good to them. Out of nowhere stumbles in this kid we both knew in high school. He was, ironically, another class clown-type. He tried to act like the 3 of us were tight and everything. He even asked us for change. He looked HORRIBLE, carrying some kind of liquor inside a brown paper bag. He just sat there taking sips with a blank expression
Some nights I wonder whatever happened to so and so from high school. Some of whom... I wish I just never found out
MILE #2 (Saturday 3.24.07)
Overall: 9:13.70
Woo-hoo! I shaved 23 seconds from last week's run! My legs this time were not sore the next day! Just my 2nd mile run and already I was feeling more and more like the "old" Steve [Talking in third person again are we? -Ed.]
This time, I didn't run (pardon the bad pun) into any old faces. Oddly, I never did again
MILE #3 (Saturday 3.31.07)
Lap 1 - 1:56
Lap 2 - 4:05
Lap 3 - 6:27
Overall: 8:53.34
Under 9 minutes, baby! HA! Kid still got it! Although I felt great finishing under 9, I was not yet satisfied. I needed 8:25 or better... and couldn't wait til next Saturday...
MILE #4 (Saturday 4.7.07)
Lap 1 - 1:56
Lap 2 - 4:08
Lap 3 - 6:29
Overall: 8:52.83
Improved by less than a second. Very very similar to last week's run, down to the individual lap times even. I remember seeing 8:35 on my watch in the final distance there, and picked it up to improve on last week's time. Barely did so!
MILE #5 (Saturday 4.14.07)
Lap 1 - 1:54
Lap 2 - 4:02
Lap 3 - 6:20
Overall: 8:37.94
This was a crazy day. Earlier me and Kat (yes yes, same Kat from Spring FEVER) did some partner work at one of our colleague's place where we had to interview her son for a school assignment. After that I drove to the track. It was sprinkling, and I almost headed home, but I didn't want to break up this routine, rain or shine. So I ran
And got my best mile time yet (as far as 2007 is concerned)
MILE #6 (Saturday 4.21.07)
Lap 1 - 1:40
Lap 2 - 3:43
Lap 3 - 5:55
Overall: 8:11.60
I BROKE MY JUNIOR HIGH BEST OF 8:26!!! Man, I must love the rain, because it too was raining on this day. I surprised myself a bit when I crossed lap 1 and saw 1:40 on my stop watch. I just felt unbelievably good that day. In just my sixth mile run, I shattered my decade-long best time
But now... I had my sights set on getting under 8 minutes...
MILE #7 (Saturday 4.28.07)
Lap 1 - 1:43
Lap 2 - 3:53
Lap 3 - 6:15
Overall: 8:40.91
It was scorching today. I just didn't have it... just wasn't feeling it. Really lost it from lap 1 to 2 as you can see. Still, disappointed as I was, I got well under 9 with ease... something I rarely did in high school
MILE #8 (Saturday 5.5.07)
Lap 1 - 1:45
Lap 2 - 3:51
Lap 3 - 6:07
Overall: 8:16.07
Last week's run I put too much pressure on myself to get under 8 minutes. This week I relaxed and it paid off. My 2nd best mile time yet. Still not under 8 though, but it was a good day
MILE #9 (Saturday 5.12.07)
Lap 1 - 1:44
Lap 2 - 3:44
Lap 3 - 5:51
Overall: 7:57.28
UNDER EIGHT! UNDER EIGHT! Wow, I felt terrific today. I came to the track, stretched and then ran like the wind (by my standards, anyhow). You can see I didn't drop off too much especially compared to my other runs. I kept it around a consistent 2 minute average per lap which if you do the math obviously is required for an 8 minute or better mile run
For the last lap, I knew I would be cutting it close... so I ran like hell. Did the last lap in 2:06. But could I repeat this? Or was this all a fluke?
MILE #10 (Saturday 5.19.07)
Lap 1 - 1:41
Lap 2 - 3:42
Lap 3 - 5:49
Overall: 7:56.17
ANOTHER NEW RECORD TIME! This was a crazy day. I had a test in the morning from the butt crack of dawn (no joke) that ran past the lunch hour. Then after that, I drove to my cousins' to celebrate my nephew's 1st Birthday. The house was packed as usual and everyone was asking me if I thought I passed the test. Vince was there and it was nice to catch up with him. (Yes, the same Vince from Tha Crossroads). Did I mention, I pulled an all-nighter studying for that damn exam? After the party I headed to the track around 6:30.... and with no sleep whatsoever for the last 24 hours... ran like a man possessed
The sun was starting to set... which looked like someone took a giant paint brush and smeared the sky with large orange strokes... it was such a perfect setting. So perfect in fact, I told myself if I never best'ed 7:56... that would be alright with me
Week one: 9:36
Nine weeks and miles later: 7:56
One whole minute and 40 seconds improvement. I was very proud of myself
MILE #11 (Saturday 5.26.07)
Lap 1 - 1:38
Lap 2 - 3:39
Lap 3 - 5:50
Overall: 8:14.69
Got my best one lap time ever (just under 100 seconds) but between lap 3 and lap 4, I just couldn't sustain it
MILE #12 (Saturday 6.2.07)
Lap 1 - 1:49
Lap 2 - 3:53
Lap 3 - 6:15
Overall: 8:37.20
Talk about slipping. Funny thing is, not too long ago I would have been happy with this time, but now it just pissed me off. I just didn't have it today, but the beauty of running is -- there's always next week
But somehow my body was trying to tell me something. Next week, if I fail to get 8:20 or better, I'll quit my routine
MILE #13 (Saturday 6.9.07)
Lap 1 - 1:45
Lap 2 - 3:50
Lap 3 - 6:08
Overall: 8:35.50
You can see during the final lap I just didn't have it. I kept my word. I didn't do better than 8:20
It was time to quit this routine
... And start a better one
I've never been a time guy. But when I started this initial routine I wanted so badly to know my times like I did during middle and high school. Now I knew my times. I accomplished my goals. Now it was time to focus on endurance
My sophomore year in high school I once ran 11 miles non-stop. NON-STOP. I was wondering if somewhere deep inside... that kid still exists
SATURDAY 6.16.07
Ran 2 miles non-stop. Got a good sweat going and it felt great to run more than four laps again. I made sure I kept a good pace though... otherwise it's no good. Next week I may shoot for 3 miles
SATURDAY 6.23.07
2 miles again. Was going for 3 miles when on lap 5 my side started aching real bad. I gutted through the final 3 laps. Next week, for sure, I told myself
SATURDAY 6.30.07
Just two days ago. 3 miles... non-stop. Felt pretty damn good afterwards. I did pushups on the football field and also did suicide sprints endzone to endzone (100 yards each way). I was almost amazed by how much my conditioning has improved since week one, way back in March some odd three months ago
I'm aiming for four miles next Saturday, then five, and from there... only the wind knows
WRAP UP
In addition to my weekend mile runs, I'm working out Monday through Friday for 45 minutes each session. A lot of people make excuses about why they don't exercise (more often). Some folks have major setbacks, be it supporting their family, bad knees, etc. But if you're truly willing to make the effort and time, you sure as hell can
[Update: I'm now running 5 miles every Saturday, nonstop... takes me about 50-55 minutes]
Remember, it's never too late to start living healthier
