My regular readers may remember that I am … well, getting older.

Recently (OK, yesterday) I took the very large step of trying to get back into shape – no, seriously! – by starting my running regime again.

For those of you who have some medical training tucked under your belts, rest assured that I did not jump right in and run five miles. No no, I started out nice and easy, with about a half-mile or so. (Apology to Texas Fred – in our chat on YIM yesterday, I mentioned three quarters of a mile, and I measured it last night, turned out to be shorter than that.) I did manage to make the run yesterday morning in just a tick over five minutes (great – ten minute miles from a guy that used to run three in fifteen minutes. i have a long way to go) and again this morning in 5:10. This morning’s slower time I am chalking up to lack of practice, but my left knee is really letting me know I haven’t done this in a while. My thigh muscles are screaming, and of course my shins are wanting to convince me I have splints forming.

However, I wasn’t wheezing and huffing nearly as much as I was yesterday. I think I managed to blow out all the dust and build-up that was in my lungs – haven’t hacked things like that since I quit smoking. (funny side-note – i would run the three miles in fifteen minutes right after finishing a cigarette, and would light one up at the finish line. i was stupid. i have smartened up a bit since then)

I am very happy to report that on neither run did I stop and walk – I chugged right on through.

My plan is to work on this distance until it’s down to about four minutes, and then I’ll start increasing the distance while maintaining the time; once I get to running five minute miles I’ll start working on distance again.

Now, pardon me while I go ice my knee…

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