Running for fitness

I just started running for fitness last October. A growing waistline was the main factor but the voluntary health screenings that my employer just started last September also motivated me to get off my butt and onto the track and treadmill. I simultaneously improved my diet as well. More fruit and vegetables - less refined sugar. It will be interesting to see what my cholesterol values will be the next time I'm tested.

Since October, I have run about 75 to 100 miles total on outdoor and indoor tracks and on my home treadmill (I'm not sure how many miles I have run combined and I just started making a log). I started out by only walking in September, progressed to walk/run by mid October, and now I walk only during warm up and cool down. I have lost 10 pounds and 2 inches from my waistline since the start of this fitness program.

Today, I achieved my goal of jogging non-stop for at least 55 minutes at a sub 10 minute mile pace before my 55th birthday - which is later this week BTW. I jogged 6 miles in 58 minutes on the treadmill this morning. I usually jog 2 to 3 miles on the treadmill at a quicker pace. I'm usually able to run on the treadmill at a 9 minute mile pace for 3 miles before I need to slow to a walk and catch my breath. The treadmill is set at a 3 degree incline so the faster I run the more quickly I tire out since I'm essentially running uphill. I prefer jogging on an outdoor track but I don't like to run outside when the temperature is below 40°F or when there's more than a 15 mph wind.

Anyone else running to keep fit?

 

My employer offers the health screening every September (before Open Enrollment). This should be enough time for improvement in my blood numbers, right?

 

18 miles on the home treadmill in the last four sessions over the last five days (one day of rest on Monday).

4 + 6 + 4 + 4 in a total of 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Only 8.2 miles to go in the next few days and I will have run a marathon - sort of - yeah right, dreamer.

I'm soooooooooo far away from running a marathon in one session it ain't funny.

Not that I aspire to, you understand.

I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.

Dual post, Oops.

All right. Completed the last 8.2 miles in two sessions today so I ran a marathon distance on my cheap treadmill in eight days and six sessions. Have I mentioned before that the treadmill is inclined by 3° ? I think I'll calculate how far I ran uphill in 26.2 miles.

According to my calculations - I ran approximately from sea level to an elevation of 7,240 ft in 26.2 miles! No wonder I'm so tired. LOL!

 

Yeah, after I run 4 or more miles on the treadmill in one session, I'm drenched with sweat.

Not sure about the generator idea, though. Too much of a workout.

 

Yeah, I'm going to start cross training soon. I'm thinking of getting a used elliptical or I might just join a community health club. The health club is not as convenient though, too far from my home.

And, when the weather improves, i.e. winter ends, I will be out riding a bike again. Just not the one shown.

That's a Raleigh bike I bought used over 30 years ago that I have since passed on to my daughter (at least for now). It might be 40 years old - I've researched it but can't find an exact mfg date. The photo is misleading. Unless you're over 6 feet tall, the seat doesn't need to be raised. The horizontal segment on the frame is pretty far off the ground. Don't know exactly how far and it's not easy for me to measure at the moment since it's raised to the garage ceiling with one of my cars underneath it.

New personal best on the treadmill today - I ran 6.4 miles in 60 minutes. While that might not
seem fast (and it ain't), I amazed myself by jogging at this pace nonstop for an hour! That's what
the treadmill will force you to do, no slowing down allowed as long as you don't touch the speed
control - no matter how much you want to.

And, I bought a used elliptical trainer last Tuesday. It's a really nice cheap one I bought for one and a half Benjamins (Pro-Form 6.0 ZE). It's going to take me a while to learn how to use it. I'm going to try it tomorrow on my cross training day. I ran 11.4 miles on the treadmill the last two days.

 

I have used my Pro-form 6.0 ZE elliptical twice so far - each time for a 30 minute programmed workout. The resistance level changes several times during the workouts.

I don't know if the elliptical is the reason but I have been running at a a faster pace the past two weeks.

Today I ran a 5K on the treadmill in 25' 45". That's a 7.2 mph pace (8' 19" per mile pace) which is nearly 1 mph quicker than I was running a 5K a month ago.

I'm pretty sure the gains I make in the next month will be less impressive, but continued improvement no matter how small will be welcome.

Tomorrow, I'm going to try running a 10K in 54'. It's within my reach.

It was warm enough outside today to run on the track around the football field at the old high school.

Ran 25 laps in lane 2 (10 kilometers - 6.2 miles) in 52' 50" - better than I expected!!!

That's a 7 mph pace, an 8' 31" per mile pace, or 2" 08" per lap - not too shabby, Abby.

 

My running pace continues to improve.

Ran a 5K on the football field track in 24' 48" last week. That's an 8 minute per mile pace

Ran a 10K on the home treadmill in 50" 15' yesterday. That's an 8' 07" per mile pace.

Slid the speed control up a notch today.
Ran a 10K on the home treadmill in 49" 12'. That's an 7' 56" per mile pace!
I did start to run out of gas the last half mile but I made it.

Not bad for a 55 year old who has only trained for five months and never
had run long distance before in his life.

Maybe I'll be able to do a 10K in 45 minutes someday.

That's my goal and it might be achievable.