Mr. Motivated

Exercise. That's something I've never really put any serious commitment into over the last year or so. But as time goes on and I notice my waistline getting larger and larger, I knew something needed to be done. I started noticing friends of mine posting on Twitter about a new program they were involved with called Couch to 5K (Here's the link). So, I snooped around, asked some questions, and realized it was probably something I could handle, so now I've officially joined the program.

I'll be finishing the first week in the 9-week program tomorrow. It's been a good test, that's for sure, because I haven't run any sort of long distance in quite some time, probably since my military days (almost a decade ago). But, it definitely puts my body to the test, and demands a lot from my bad wheel (knee), but not so much that I can't handle it. The only drawback for me is waking up early enough to run before the sun gets so hot that my shoes melt to the pavement. Other than the early wakeup to avoid heatstroke, the running itself has been more than tolerable, and it feels rewarding when it's over.

It's strange how quickly something like that can motivate you if you let it. Throughout the entire week I've been looking for more ways to keep moving, to stay active, that I usually don't do. Whether it be swimming, or basketball, or even a night of dancing with my wife (like I did the night before for the 1st time ever), it's good to find a program that can motivate you to do other  things. That's something I'm already getting out of this program, the willingness to push it even further once the workout is completed.

I'm not only looking forward to completing the program, but have agreed to run in the first local 5K race available once I do finish. That's the kind of goal that can keep me hungry and focused. Who knows? Maybe it will lead to  bigger and better things. But the best thing about the motivation is that it's contagious. Being determined to excel in one area, like fitness for example, can spread to other facets of life like school, work, parenting, and even spiritual matters. Motivation is a huge key to a healthy lifestyle, and as long as I stay focused, that's what I'm setting my bar for.