Running.. Finally

I saw a commercial the other day from Dick's, which said that May was "National Runner's Month". I said to myself, well, that's as good of a reason as any to get back into the swing of it.

So, late Saturday morning, I turned to Mrs. Raul and said "I'm going to go for a run.". She gave me a quizzical/surprised/amused look and said "Oh, OK". So, I got all ready, and out I went.

I got on my way and started trying to remember the last time I actually did run. I did pretty good after mini-Raul was born. Of course, I wasn't working at the time, and freeing up 50 hours a week really opens up the schedule. Once I got back to work, things started to go downhill. So, I was able to convincingly say that I haven't run in 6 months, if I was being honest with myself. I thought about adjusting that to say, 7 months, but, I didn't want to be TOO honest.

I guess part of why I didn't run was that I was just scared to. It had been so long. What would my fitness be like? What was going to hurt? Would I tire out after a half a block? Sure, there was the scheduling issue, just trying to get that run in. With the days being longer now, that's not as big of a problem. The weather issue is a lot better now, I can't complain about it being too cold. It got the point that it was just *me* holding myself back.

So, I did a little short of 2 miles. Threw in some walk breaks to go Galloway-style, but I got it done. All in all, I was really frickin' happy. I had a good amount of muscle fatigue, but that was my main problem. I truthfully did far better than I ever imagined I would.

The next goal... doing it again. And not 6 months from now.

Keep on rockin'.

Daddy's Back

I'm back. (Or so I hope.)

I was --> <-- this close to saying, well, the blog is suspended until further notice. Then I started perusing my Google Reader, and I saw this post by Cindy, and I said to myself "That's not a bad idea. Let's call it a hiatus, and move on."

I enjoyed blogging, and I enjoy the friendships I've made while blogging. There's no reason to throw that out.

So, I figure that my old posting habits aren't going to stand up to my schedule right now.. so, I'll post when I can, hopefully twice a week or so like that. I probably won't be around to all of your blogs every day, but I will be around. I've lurked a little bit on everyone's blogs, but I have been out of the loop for a lot of things.

As far as what I'm going to write about, it's almost a new slate. My running has gone down to, well, zero. Let's be honest here. Zero. I have rode my bike on a trainer, oh, maybe 4 times this winter. That's an honest 4, at least. Of course, by not altering my dietary intake, but changing the exercise output, I've put on a few pounds over the last few months. Cruel, but predictable.

I want to get back to running. I've got the schedule crunch going, so I'm hoping to get 2 runs a week in starting at some point in the near future. I need to do some strength/flexibility training, as my legs just hurt any more, and need to become more limber.

I have started walking at lunchtime, though. A good 5K walk with some solid hills and the like. Hey, it's a start.

Future posts may be about running, perhaps a few on child raising and the mis-adventures thereof. I've started doing some cooking, maybe some thoughts on that.

So, here's to the end of a hiatus, and a new beginning. Keep on rockin'.