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ocelotOriginal: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2001/3/15/0216/27725
This morning, I woke up at around 6:15 (an hour and 15 minutes before I usually wake up). Lay in bed for about 15 minutes worrying about work and taxes, and realized that I wasn't going to get back to sleep. So I got up and went for a run.
The odd thing about this is that I don't run. I seriously dislike it. When I was in school, taking PE class, running laps was the worst torture the teacher could give us. I'd tolerate running during other activities I enjoyed (like soccer). But that was pretty much it, with one exception.
The end of my eighth grade year was hellish. School was awful for various reasons, I could barely sleep, and when I did, I had awful nightmares. During that time, I actually ran during PE instead of walking the whole way. And I liked it. Concentrating on running drove everything else out of my head, and gave me a few minutes of peace and quiet. During that time, I would often be the second one finished, since I was pacing myself with a girl who was a serious athlete.
Of course, she wasn't running her hardest and I was, and none of the rest of the class was really bothering at all. But that's beside the point. It was pretty much the first time I ever felt good about how I was doing in a physical activity.
I think that somewhere along the line I got it into my head that I'm awful at any physical activity, when it isn't really true. I'm out of shape, sure. And I've never been truly in shape, I don't think. But hopeless? Nah.
Did the rest of you all (Well, the US members of "you all", anyways) have to take those awful Presidential physical fitness tests? I hated those, because I never passed them. Not even for the Vice-Presidential certificate or whatever it was that was a step down from the highest one.
When I played soccer, I was always the worst on the team. Persistant though. I stuck with it for seven years, until 9th grade. After I quit playing soccer in a league, we played one day during PE class. I was one of the last people chosen. We played, and I apparently did well, because the next day I was 3rd.
My guess on this is that by the time I quit, I was at a level where everyone who sucked worse than I did, and probably quite a few of those who didn't, had dropped out. So I was stuck in with those who were pretty good/serious, keeping in practice between the school seasons.
My next big physical activity was karate. I've taken classes off and on since 8th grade, most intensivly in 11th and 12th grade, when I took it for PE. I really enjoyed it, but I never felt I was improving. That's kind of the nature of martial arts, I guess. You're encouraged to go your hardest at all times, so it never feels like it's getting any easier.
Probably the nature of life in general, really. It never gets any easier. You just eventually realize that even though it isn't getting any easier, you really are doing ok, and making progress.
Anyways, it looks like I went about 2.5 miles this morning. Well, not running the whole way. In fact, not really running at all. Jogging and walking, and really more of the latter. But it's a start. Now let's see if I ever feel motivated enough again to repeat it. I think I should definetly try to. I felt much more focused and on task at work today than I usually do. Whether this is the result of running or just another symptom of the unusually good mood I've been in since the weather changed I don't know.
I'll need to pick up some better shoes, though. Converse All-Stars just aren't gonna do it for running, and that's the best I have right now.
Oh, and the best thing about it?
Getting in the shower afterwards. A warm shower when you're simultaneously too hot (from running) and too cold (because it's chilly out) is a truly wonderful feeling.
This morning, I woke up at around 6:15 (an hour and 15 minutes before I usually wake up). Lay in bed for about 15 minutes worrying about work and taxes, and realized that I wasn't going to get back to sleep. So I got up and went for a run.
The odd thing about this is that I don't run. I seriously dislike it. When I was in school, taking PE class, running laps was the worst torture the teacher could give us. I'd tolerate running during other activities I enjoyed (like soccer). But that was pretty much it, with one exception.
The end of my eighth grade year was hellish. School was awful for various reasons, I could barely sleep, and when I did, I had awful nightmares. During that time, I actually ran during PE instead of walking the whole way. And I liked it. Concentrating on running drove everything else out of my head, and gave me a few minutes of peace and quiet. During that time, I would often be the second one finished, since I was pacing myself with a girl who was a serious athlete.
Of course, she wasn't running her hardest and I was, and none of the rest of the class was really bothering at all. But that's beside the point. It was pretty much the first time I ever felt good about how I was doing in a physical activity.
I think that somewhere along the line I got it into my head that I'm awful at any physical activity, when it isn't really true. I'm out of shape, sure. And I've never been truly in shape, I don't think. But hopeless? Nah.
Did the rest of you all (Well, the US members of "you all", anyways) have to take those awful Presidential physical fitness tests? I hated those, because I never passed them. Not even for the Vice-Presidential certificate or whatever it was that was a step down from the highest one.
When I played soccer, I was always the worst on the team. Persistant though. I stuck with it for seven years, until 9th grade. After I quit playing soccer in a league, we played one day during PE class. I was one of the last people chosen. We played, and I apparently did well, because the next day I was 3rd.
My guess on this is that by the time I quit, I was at a level where everyone who sucked worse than I did, and probably quite a few of those who didn't, had dropped out. So I was stuck in with those who were pretty good/serious, keeping in practice between the school seasons.
My next big physical activity was karate. I've taken classes off and on since 8th grade, most intensivly in 11th and 12th grade, when I took it for PE. I really enjoyed it, but I never felt I was improving. That's kind of the nature of martial arts, I guess. You're encouraged to go your hardest at all times, so it never feels like it's getting any easier.
Probably the nature of life in general, really. It never gets any easier. You just eventually realize that even though it isn't getting any easier, you really are doing ok, and making progress.
Anyways, it looks like I went about 2.5 miles this morning. Well, not running the whole way. In fact, not really running at all. Jogging and walking, and really more of the latter. But it's a start. Now let's see if I ever feel motivated enough again to repeat it. I think I should definetly try to. I felt much more focused and on task at work today than I usually do. Whether this is the result of running or just another symptom of the unusually good mood I've been in since the weather changed I don't know.
I'll need to pick up some better shoes, though. Converse All-Stars just aren't gonna do it for running, and that's the best I have right now.
Oh, and the best thing about it?
Getting in the shower afterwards. A warm shower when you're simultaneously too hot (from running) and too cold (because it's chilly out) is a truly wonderful feeling.
