Good bye old life - Hello new life

I have decided to make a change to my life style. After an almost 12 year break (actually more like an 8 year break) I have decided to take up road running again. Indeed friends, believe it or not I used to compete in races like the Spar Ladies. (that isn't really such an achievement)

I used to run 5 km a few times a week when I was at school and I was terribly ridiculously fit (teen age bodies are wonderful dynamic under appreciated devices). Then I gave it up to be captain of the chess team (honestly we mostly played cards). I was fine without the regular running because I was still catching the bus home from school (minus one tog bag of running kit) and taking a brisk walk between bus stops and home. Even into my university years I was sprinting between classes as well as the bus stop run.

But now I am no longer a student and have entered into a professional career and I own a car which willingly carries me to all sorts of places that buses just won't do. I am well aware that I am no longer as fit and spry as I used to be. And so, I was spurred on by MrT and have decided to make a change and take up some exercise before my blood pressure drops so low that standing up from a chair will make me see stars.Before I develop premature flappy arms and a pot belly. Before my metabolism packs up and goes on an extended holiday. Before I can not longer play racing games with my Brownie Guides. Before I have to buy too many more pairs of elasticated pants.

I look at photos of myself in those fitter days and I feel a little tragic to notice that I really was a gloriously slim creature. Not that slimness is the only acceptable form, and not that I am really that dramatically much fatter but having to change trouser size after 12 years of wearing the same size is very damaging to the ego. In fact, my butt should hopefully not vanish to much by this endeavour because I have my heart set on a mermaid wedding dress skirt. My bootahay is part of my beautahay.

I found out, by some strike of luck, that there is a Run Walk for Life crew that meets in close walking distance from my front door. Oh Joy!

...They meet at 7 in the morning. (For reference, I usually only wake up at 8am most days.)

And so today, I am in mourning because tomorrow I will be conscious and out of my warm bed for much more of the early (freezing chilly cold dark dreaded painful dreary winter sub zero cold) morning.

And let us hope that I will be persistent and focused and start reaping some benefits in three to six months time. (I hope my body forgives me of my laziness and gives back the other 90% of my lung capacity)

 

Here's to good health! (and more veggies and fruit and less fudge and chocolate)