The Road to 40 Day 361/365: The Running Era

I’ve always said that I preferred walking over running, but here I am now, chasing distance milestones.

I’ve always thought I didn’t have to run to get more fit, because I could get the same burn by walking around. Walking is more enjoyable, I think, as I get to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of wherever I am.

However, since I started embarking on this fitness journey, I’ve felt that running has its perks. When I started, it felt like I was needlessly torturing myself.

I would post stories about my routes and runs, knowing that my age group is now very concerned about health. It gave me much-needed and well-appreciated advice and feedback on how to do it better.

I’m not about to be a run lifer, but I did buy proper running shoes and tried to run consistently and progressively longer both in time and distance. With workouts and a better diet, I’ve lost a ton of weight and I’m feeling better and less lethargic. I’m planning to sign up for a gym to do more strength training soon.

Of course, with progress, there is an expectation to do more. A marathon, maybe better physique and more defined muscles. However, my goal has always been to live longer more than improving my physical appearance.

If looking better and running marathons was the goal, I would have done this at least two years earlier. I have been told that I’m fat, been told that I eat bad, and was given unsolicited advice on how to live my life. Those could have been enough to get me started trying to live healthier, but my nature kicked in and just fell deeper into my regular routines.

I wasn’t about to let myself get affected by what people were telling me, and I was going to live my own life.

But when I experienced some discomfort and my doctor told me that everything I felt wrong would get better if I decided to live healthier, I started committing myself to getting healthier.

Now, I am feeling better, and I think I am looking better, at least size-wise. I knew I got bigger towards the end of the year, but looking at my wardrobe and my pictures, I realized I was huge.

All that said, I think I’m fine with the new routines I’ve built. Maybe I’ll try to finish a marathon in the future, but you probably won’t see me doing running content. Signing up for runs won’t be in my checklist of things to do. I love my sleeveless shirts, but I probably won’t buy those with insanely huge cuts on the side.

I’m fine being mid. I’m not a great basketball player, but I can contribute when I’m on the floor. I don’t know how to dribble a football, but I could hold my own on defense, running, and passing.

I’m probably going to peak at 7:00mins/km with running, and I’m never going to make any podium on runs, and I’m going to be happy with it. You won’t ever see me benching 200 pounds in the gym, but I’d be there to clock in every other day.

Ultimately, I’m putting in the work because I want to live longer. I want to see who Vino will be when he grows up. I want to be there when he looks back anytime he steps into something new.

I also want to see the world with Che. I want to still be able to carry our bags and drive her around as we explore places when she decides to focus on just enjoying the fruits of her labor.

I’m entering this running era for them, and I believe that motivation will be enough to maintain these routines.