Cycle of Activity

What possesses men and women to rise before the sun, line up with thousands of strangers and race through the town’s streets? Is it a personal challenge, a benchmark or a driver for change? All three? Something else? Perhaps a drunken dare? Whatever the motivation, setting goals and participating in local events is an excellent way to improve your fitness.

Sixteen weeks ago I set myself a goal to complete a half marathon in under 2 hours and finish in the top half of the field. When I started training, my longest run was only 5K. I was running 2-3 days per week and competing in sprint distance triathlons. As triathlon season started winding down, I switched to a longer distance training program from www.runnersworld.com/smartcoach which seemed to work quite well. I made a few mistakes toward the end of my training; however, I am very happy with my finish time of 1:58. I’ve also learned the importance of following the training program as closely as possible.

One of the most difficult aspects of getting fit is sticking with the program. People get motivated and jump into a program hell-bent on success. A few months later you find yourself off the program and back to doing whatever you do on your “free” time. Set goals and compete in local charity events. You’ll be helping yourself by setting a date and distance goal and you’ll be helping out a worthy charity.  After you get hooked and do several events, you’ll get a new wardrobe of t-shirts!. Believe me, the shirt size you request at the beginning will not be the shirt size you need at the end.

If you have never ran a 5k race, that’s a good place to start. Look for one that is about 12-16 weeks away, sign up and pay your money. Mark your calendar and find a training program that fits your schedule and abilities. www.runnersworld.com/smartcoach is a good place to start as is Bob Glover’s book. All you need is a good pair of shoes and proper clothes. That’s it!!

You now have a goal, a plan and the gear. Get started!

Here come the excuses - I can hear them already. I’m too heavy, too old, too tired, too lazy. Get over yourself, find an event and get your body moving. Be selfish and do this for yourself. Be generous and do it for your kids or spouse. Better yet - get fit as a family!!

If you are ready for something more intense or longer in distance, the same process applies. The training plan that you follow must be based on your goals and your current conditioning. Don’t expect to go from a mid-pack 5K runner to a podium finisher in 4 weeks. Don’t expect to significantly increase mileage or speed in a short period of time without getting injured. Positive change comes slowly through constant training.

Mission accomplished!! Well… not exactly. This is just one step in a life long commitment to health and fitness. Once you complete the race, take a few days off to reward yourself and then seek out the next challenge. Maybe you like the shorter distance; however, you’d like to go faster. Maybe the longer distance gives you the time you need to find your rhythm. The actual event, the distance and the speed really don’t matter in the grand scheme of fitness. The key is that you have created a cycle of activity that leads to a healthier body inside and out.

Pretty soon you’ll be tracking your finishing times and looking forward to the next event to see what you are capable of. Don’t you want to find out?