Carrick

I think of all the goals I’ve set for myself here on 43 Things this is the one that I have taken to most sincerely, and for that reason, I feel the triumph of success will be the most satisfying.

And I’m almost there.

Without a doubt my fitness has improved to a level that I really didn’t expect. I have exceeded all my hopes. I can’t remember ever feeling as good as I do now. It’s kind of ridiculous, really.

It’s been the running that’s done me the most good. I never was much of a runner. Looking back on my life I can’t understand why this is true. I have a runner’s physique and always have. Why didn’t I enjoy running earlier? Now, after running regularly for a few months, keeping track of my runs and measuring my progress, making sure I didn’t push too hard, taking care not to injure myself, now I feel like I need to run. This past week I didn’t run once and was feeling pretty crappy, and then today I hit the pavement and immediately felt great. I tore it up for 3.5 miles at a 8 min/mile pace. I could have gone further if I had had some water with me. I’m already thinking about my next run (should I go again tomorrow or give myself a day of rest in between?) and the next one after that. I’ve got a few regular courses of varying lengths and I’m gradually extending my once-a-week “long” run. I’m a little obsessed.

The regular running has proven to give me more energy and strength throughout my day, too. I just have a lot more energy than before.

OK, so none of this should be surprising to me, but it is. I’ve surprised myself. I wasn’t sure I could do it, turn things around and build an exercise habit in a relatively short period of time and actually like doing it.

I have a month left to complete this goal and I’m sure now that I’ll succeed. And not only that, I’m sure I will continue working on this goal for as long as my body can take it.

I realized yesterday there are 13 Mondays between now and my 40th birthday. But undaunted by this depressing factoid, this morning I slipped into my running shoes, strapped on the iPod, and hit the pavement once again.

I feel I’ve perfected the 30 minute run. This is my niche right now. Either that or it is my wall. I can routinely run 30 minutes at about a 9-minute-mile pace. Sometimes I go shorter, sometimes longer. And I need to run more often and spread out my runs. Right now it’s a weekend activity, Saturday and Sunday. It would be better to run three times a week with a day or two of rest in between. Last weekend I busted out my bicycle for a 10 miler along Lake Washington, which was absolutely thrilling. I’ll be doing that more often.

My secret weapon for the 30 minute run is the perfect playlist. I’ve almost got it down. Here it is in its nearly perfect form:

1. Mr. Blue Sky – ELO (perfect pick-me-up)
2. Girl – Beck
3. Pull Up The People – M.I.A.
4. Go Junior, Go Senior – Junior Senior
5. Strange Overtones – David Byrne & Brian Eno
6. + 81 – Deerhoof
7. Gone Daddy Gone – Gnarls Barkley
8. Hustle Rose – Metric (perfect cool down song)

And how do I feel as a result of this increase in exercise? Really, really good. Definitely stronger, more energetic, more focused but at the same time more restless. I have experienced the fabled “runner’s high,” and last weekend, when it was very hot, I nearly puked halfway through my run. That could be due to my stupid breakfast that day of sugary scones and too much coffee. Live and learn.

Today was a first: I ran 2.5 miles in under 25 minutes on mostly flat terrain without too much exhaustion and no pain in my troublesome left knee.

I’m starting Week Four of my fitness campaign and already seeing benefits. I can tell my legs are getting stronger; they feel like they want to keep going longer than my heart and lungs do. I have more energy throughout the day than I used to. And I’m eating more, converting calories into muscle. I figure my endurance will improve gradually as I continue the routine, allowing me to go further and faster.

So far, so good.