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Running can’t kill you, can it?

Since I quit smoking a few weeks ago, I figured it was time to institute some other changes as well. No, no silly, I haven’t yet given up decent eggs / hashbrowns / sausage breakfasts.

I decided on Monday to start exercising again. Running on Mon/Wed/Fri and push-ups / sit-ups on Tue/Thu. I haven’t really exercised since I left the Army, over 8 years ago.

So I set my Mon-Fri alarm a 1/2 hour early to 5:30am. To be honest, “run” isn’t quite the right. More like jogging. Well, after my 10 minute huff and puff around the neighborhood, I’m sitting back at my kitchen table feeling my lungs burn like I’ve never felt them do before. After 4 years in the Army, I wouldv’e thought I’d run through the full spectrum of physical exhaustion. I was wrong. I honestly was worried enough, that I actually had my cell phone in my hand, fingers ready to dial 911 just before I passed out. Just in case.

Well, today I got to try the run again. Things did not speed up considerably, but the “lung burn” only last 12 minutes this time (24 minutes on Monday). This is good.

Maybe in a few months, I’ll be able to actually run.

Cheers,

- Jake

Posted by Jake Covert on 10/18/2006, terribly early in the morning

Comments

Glad to hear you’re trying to quit Jake! Keep it up! The burning sensation will go away with time. This October is 2 years having quit for me. I wish I could run, but I never fully recovered from my knee surgery. Biking is the way to go for me!

Comment submitted by Jason on 10/18/2006, 17:54 PM

Congratulations. I am back on my bike, stretching and doing the necessary sit-ups now also.

Problem with the quitting is that your metabolism changes. You’ve got to builid the muscle up to burn the calories, just too stay even, let alone lose any.

Keep it up. I’m rooting for you to successfully quit. Dad

Comment submitted by on 10/23/2006, 10:05 AM