I went on my “long run” last Saturday, and yesterday I was still feeling tired, creaky, and achy. Not a good thing, since I was supposed to do my “intervals” workout, which consisted of running really fast for a few hundred meters, followed by moderate jogging.

I told Markie I didn’t feel like going to the track. Later on, I changed my mind and said I’d go, but I’ll only be walking around.

So that’s what I did for about 2 laps (800 meters). After that, I felt ashamed that the 8- , 10- and 12-year-old kids from a local school’s sprint team were zipping past me, so I went into a slow jog. Then I paused to do stretches.

I’d just do a 30-minute warm-up instead of my usual 20-minute one, I told myself. So back into the track I went, slogging on slow and steady, slow and steady.

Thirty minutes came and went. I was no longer feeling very creaky, but my legs still felt kinda heavy. I decided to extend my “warm-up” for another 10 minutes.

Feeling a bit better after 40 minutes of just warming up, I chose a starting line up ahead. When I got there, I sprinted some 200 meters, my hands pumping the air, my legs pounding the track. Then I went into a moderate jog for two laps. And then repeated the process, one more time. Sprint. Jog. Then one more time after that. Sprint. Jog.

Wow, that felt really good.

By the time I did my cooling-down jog and stretches, I was feeling very, very good. I thought I could even have done more, but the track was closing as it was now sundown.

So, yesterday I re-learned that all-important lesson: the first step in getting fit is getting off your butt.

Posted under Running