When I was in college, during one of the summer sessions, out of curiosity, I took the Running for Fitness PE class. I told myself, this would be a run in the park (pun intended). Immediately after our first day, I realized I could not be more wrong. My leg muscles and feet were aching so much that walking was an ordeal. I thought, I should have taken table tennis instead.
I could have quit right there but for whatever reason, I stuck to my guns and continued with the class, painstakingly though, on the first week. Remarkably, during the second week, the muscle aches lessened and I was beginning to like running. Being an introvert, I was realizing that running was a very individual and contemplative activity. Four weeks later, as our final exam, we ran a 10km race sponsored by Coca-Cola. It was quite a memorable experience since I finished the race in less than one hour. Because of this accomplishment, I was hooked and continued running for more than a year... and then I stopped running.
Fast forward to the present, almost 20 years after, 10 inches more on my waistline and 25 pounds overweight. I do not know what hit me but suddenly I have the urge to start exercising again. Unfortunately, I do not know where to start. I looked at various exercise regimens such as Tae Bo and boxing but nothing piqued my interest. And then, just like the exercise urge, I have another realization, why not running!
As a result, here I am again, experiencing the same aches and pains 20 years ago but with a huge difference. I am no longer doing this to pass a class or even pass the time. I am doing this for myself! I may not be able to regain my previous waistline or get that killer abs, but putting myself back to the health lane through running is more than enough reward for me.
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