Well, more akin to running like a gentle breeze.
Jordan is done with school at 2:30 p.m. The pick-up process involves parents backing into spaces and waiting for the children. Once every car has a child(ren), the teacher on duty dismisses the cars one at a time. There are about 40 to 50 spaces for cars; however, there are always more cars than that. If you don't make the first cut, you have to wait for the entire, one-by-one dismissal process before you get to back into a space. Most parents are not fond of the second wave, so people start arriving before 2 p.m. to ensure a space. Once I arrived at 1:52 and I was the fifth car. Crazy.
But I have decided to make good use of my time, thanks to the great weather we have been having. At first, I started walking around the neighborhood for up to 30 minutes. Last week, I decided to try running again, something I had not really done since I ran the Steelers 5k three years ago. The first day went well. I managed to run (and by run, I really mean jog) about eight minutes without too much trouble. The second day was a bit more challenging. Yesterday, I ran about 10 minutes, walked for one, and then ran another seven. My best day yet.
I was feeling pretty good until I realized I was running about a 12-minute mile. Considering I can walk a mile in under 15 minutes, this was a bit disheartening. And when I used to run 5ks, I would average under a nine-minute mile. But I have to remember that I am in my late 30s and have not run in years. And the road has some hills (I know, how odd for Pittsburgh).
Instead of beating myself up for not being what I once was, I should be patting myself on the back for getting back in the saddle, trying to do something more challenging than walking, and not polluting the environment by running my car for 30 minutes like so many other parents. I have read and heard so much about health care over the past few months, and I don't want to be one who does not take care of myself. Of course, there are not guarantees in life, and just because you exercise does not mean you will stay healthy (Brian would say I am just ruining my joints by running).
I am going to try to stick with this exercise for awhile, at least when it is not raining; once the snow comes, I can probably still walk, but we will see.
Wish me luck and no nasty falls.
Jordan is done with school at 2:30 p.m. The pick-up process involves parents backing into spaces and waiting for the children. Once every car has a child(ren), the teacher on duty dismisses the cars one at a time. There are about 40 to 50 spaces for cars; however, there are always more cars than that. If you don't make the first cut, you have to wait for the entire, one-by-one dismissal process before you get to back into a space. Most parents are not fond of the second wave, so people start arriving before 2 p.m. to ensure a space. Once I arrived at 1:52 and I was the fifth car. Crazy.
But I have decided to make good use of my time, thanks to the great weather we have been having. At first, I started walking around the neighborhood for up to 30 minutes. Last week, I decided to try running again, something I had not really done since I ran the Steelers 5k three years ago. The first day went well. I managed to run (and by run, I really mean jog) about eight minutes without too much trouble. The second day was a bit more challenging. Yesterday, I ran about 10 minutes, walked for one, and then ran another seven. My best day yet.
I was feeling pretty good until I realized I was running about a 12-minute mile. Considering I can walk a mile in under 15 minutes, this was a bit disheartening. And when I used to run 5ks, I would average under a nine-minute mile. But I have to remember that I am in my late 30s and have not run in years. And the road has some hills (I know, how odd for Pittsburgh).
Instead of beating myself up for not being what I once was, I should be patting myself on the back for getting back in the saddle, trying to do something more challenging than walking, and not polluting the environment by running my car for 30 minutes like so many other parents. I have read and heard so much about health care over the past few months, and I don't want to be one who does not take care of myself. Of course, there are not guarantees in life, and just because you exercise does not mean you will stay healthy (Brian would say I am just ruining my joints by running).
I am going to try to stick with this exercise for awhile, at least when it is not raining; once the snow comes, I can probably still walk, but we will see.
Wish me luck and no nasty falls.
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