Running to Live

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    Part of Living to Imporve is staying healthy. My favorite way to do that is to run. I'm on the local high school's cross country (XC) team, and for three years I've run with an amazing group of talented kids. 

    The reason I say that running is a part of living boldly is that to unbury your dreams, or if you're like me and don't need to unbury them, chase your dreams, you 100% need to be alive. 

    Like it or not, it has been scientifically proven that exercise helps your health. The nice thing about running is that it can be mindless. How hard is it to put one foot in front of the other? If you can run, you can Run. That's not to say it'll be easy, of fun at the start, but after you do it for a while, a nice, slow, long run can wake you up, or just give you a chance to get out, and be alone. Or with your significant other. Or your music, podcast or audiobook. Kill two birds with one stone.

    Or, if you're looking for a more intense workout, run 400 meter repeats. Do interval training. Run slow, run fast, sprint, repeat. My favorite is this 1.5 mile loop. It's hilly, and Coach J. makes (some of) us run it 4 times. Depending on the day's focus, we run easy uphill and on the flats, and sprint downhill, or, alternatively, easy downhill and on the flats, and charge uphill.

    I'll be starting summer training for XC soon. Likely tomorrow. Being an experienced runner, just over two weeks after track ended, my first workout is definitely going to be focused on endurance/reconditioning. Probably 4+ miles. Not to mention the cooldown. Generally I would do a warmup, also, but again, as an experienced runner, it won't be necessary for this particular run.

    Beginners, I would suggest a mile jog to warmup, a 2 mile jog, and a 5 minute or half mile (up to 1 mile) cooldown, plus stretching before and after. 

    As I run this summer, I hope to post at least weekly updates about my running life, including what my workouts were, daily and/or weekly miles ran. I will also include, if I can, where I'll be running. There are some great 5k road races around, and I love running, so if you want to run, leave a comment and (again, if I can) I'll respond with the date and place of my next race, plus a link to the registration. Don't worry, most won't exceed $25, and all I've been to give you a shirt, which naturally gives you bragging rights.

    Also, if you want corresponding workouts to what I'll be doing this summer, leave a comment implying so, and I'll try to hook you up with runs that will be proportionate to your skill level.

        -Living Boldly,

            Benjamin

    


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