Tag Archives: #running

My Journey Back

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Week 21

What inspired you to exercise and why did you choose the exercise you are doing? Everyone has a story to share, what had inspired them to exercise reasons could range from losing weight to health problems. Why did you choose yoga or running or kick boxing? Some say to reduce stress, others will say they enjoy boxing? This is my story.

I had completed my studies over fifteen years ago and had gone on a holiday. It was a secured location, and the place had everything. A golf course, a swimming pool, a gym, a little supermarket and a library. You couldn’t leave the location without a driver and travelling on your own was dangerous.

So, keeping myself busy, I started exercising. I hadn’t exercised for over five years. My exercise of choice was running because it is fast. I began my morning with a run, no stretching, no warm up or anything. For an hour, I ran around the neighbourhood, ran up and down the hill. I went to check the pool after my run. The waiter told me I can’t swim in my gym clothes if I didn’t know how to swim. I am a terrible swimmer, but I can swim. Jumped in the warm water with my gym clothes and swam for an hour. Kept myself busy during the day. Went to the library, grabbed a few books to read and watched movies. Couldn’t wait for a good sleep.

I experienced the worst pain in my whole life, my whole body cramped at night from my toes to my head. (The pain started from my toes and slowly went to my head). I was in so much pain didn’t sleep the whole night. I promised myself I won’t put my body in so much pain again, rested for two days, and then went for a walk the following day. I vowed to exercise every year, which I do now. It’s a rollercoaster journey, but I make sure I exercise every year.

What has this experience taught me

  • Start with warm up and finish with a cooldown.
  • Always stretch after exercising.
  • Never overdo it.
  • Always start slow if you are a newbie. Start with a short walk and jog. As the weeks progress increases, distance and time.
  • Do different activities on different days.
  • Have a recovery day.
  • Never swim with your gym clothes.

My Journey back

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Week 5

Completed one month of exercising. I have increased my distance from 4 km to 8 km. I have lost weight and moved from walking to running. My Monday started with my mind being my mind not wanting to run until Tuesday but I came out of the bed, wore my running clothes and went for a 6 km run. I felt better and glad I didn’t listen to my mind. My knee is better today and ran longer. Sometimes you need to rest.

 Something I have noticed ever since I have been running. There are only three times you see the bus. When you begin your run. You don’t need the bus because you are getting started. In the middle of your run, you need the bus because you’re tired, but here is no bus stop or buses nearby. Instead, you walk until you feel like running again. When you finish running, you see the bus again, but you don’t need it anymore. The school term has begun and saw a woman take pictures of her kids near the bus stop.

It was a hot day on Wednesday but I still ran. I completed a circuit around the neighbourhood, ran on smaller hills this week. Ran through someone’s sprinkler. It’s so interesting to watch people who stare at you when you run closer to the sprinkler. It was hot, and the sprinkler cooled me down. People walk further away from the sprinkler, but I love running closer to the sprinkler. 

I didn’t run on Friday because I walked on Thursday. I was volunteering this week, so I walked around a new suburb. The suburb had many restaurants mainly for dinner, massage parlours, clothes shops and other stores. I wanted to run on Friday but I exhausted my body from walking and standing, so I rested. It is good to listen to your body when you feel exhausted.

You should have a rest day, according to this article. I agree with the article, rest to avoid stress fracture, rest your muscles and give your brain time to rest.

6 Reasons Why Rest Days Can Actually Help You Run Stronger.

https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a20864022/why-rest-days-are-important/

Another article I came across has ten ways to motivate yourself if you don’t feel like running. I did one, that is; I go out and ran. Another motivation I came across is, I change my routes every time I ran.

Running Motivation: 10 Tips When You Don’t Feel Like Running.

https://www.blissfrombalance.com/running-motivation-10-tips-when-you-dont-feel-like-running/