Always keep on running

[davidn]

I'm really glad that I started keeping this graph now, because in addition to the reward of being able to just add to the curve every time I come back from the gym, it gives me a permanent reminder of where I was before I started all of this. Experiencing such gradual improvement over time, it's easy to forget how much I've improved... it's hard to imagine that having to alternate running and walking for minute-long stretches used to be too difficult for me to keep up for twenty minutes.

I feel the difference on every tier of the plan, though. Week 3 started off as pretty much identical in difficulty to week 2 (or it felt like it - now I look at it, it was obviously a steady increase), but introduced running for longer periods of time. When I took a further step up to week 4 and did the first workout where I was running for five straight minutes twice during a session, I actually felt that that was my peak and that it was more painful than enjoyable now - but after extending the week slightly and gradually trying to extend the periods where I was running, I absolutely snoozed through the fifth workout this afternoon without even the power of metal to keep me going.

I'm seeing distances of over two miles pop up on the display for the first time now in my half-hour sessions, and am capable of running for eight minutes non-stop at a stretch. Perhaps on Sunday I'll allow myself to move up a level again and start the cycle once more.

I still weigh one hundred and seventy-one pounds.