Run

December 15th, 2005 | Uncategorized

I just ran the 4.5 km (2.8 miles) home from work in 20 minutes 53 seconds. I was a bit disappointed, as I’m trying to break the 20 minute barrier, something I haven’t done since I started running again after a long break. “Since I started running again” has been, admittedly, only the last two weeks, and about four or five times.

My best recorded time over that distance that I can find is 19:43, from October 11, 2004. Yes, I used to record my times so I could see how I was improving. When I had a membership at the university gym (and for $8 per week, why not?) and went running on the treadmill regularly, I usually ran 5km but never kept record of how long it took me. From memory it was around 21 minutes on average.

Having a good look at my family tree, you would for the most part think it was a pear tree. I have no idea what a pear tree looks like, but you can make a logical connection from the general body shape of the folk who have fallen from it. We’re on the whole, short, stocky and ‘big-boned’. At the same time everyone in my immediate family seems to be quite limber, no matter their body shape. Our body types (and eating habits) mean we gain weight quickly and a little too easily, but that also seems to provide us with large stores of energy, allowing us to work longer, harder and faster when we choose to. Or in the case of some of us, play sport longer, harder and faster without letting up, even at times of pear-shapedness.

And so this post comes full circle. I’m running again because it was the only exercise I was getting and, while I hadn’t gained more than 5kg (11 lb), I realise how much stomach circumfrence I’ve gained since I stopped. Not that I measure that, but it had become obvious beyond the denial I was employing. In general terms I also have no problem with gaining a few kilos, but coming up to my wedding I wanted to get back into a little bit of shape. Speaking of, it’s now exactly 57 hours until the ceremony commences.

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