This week I started running again. I used be super fit a few years ago, even called 'The Machine' by my coach because I could run and run and run. I used to find exercising easy, playing rugby meant that I could get fit almost effortlessly because I enjoyed it so much. Then, two years ago I injured my foot, lost my confidence and my fitness and haven't really done much since.
I tried doing a few rugby sessions last year but I was so unfit I found it hard to keep up. I tried running on treadmills and using the gym but it is so boring that I found it hard to commit to.
This week I've started to have more time on my hands, so I decided to get up early and go for a run each day. At first I found it difficult to run even 100 metres. I was gutted. I seemed so far away from being as fit as I was. I sat on a bench feeling proper down. Then I remembered some advice I'd heard while I was still playing rugby: 'Just Keep Moving'. I decided to run as much as possible, and then when I felt out of breath I'd walk until I'd regained my energy and start running again.
This was the best thing I could have done. I got up off the bench and did a 3.5 mile walk/jog. I was proper sweating but it felt good. I was exercising to my current ability and not feeling depressed because I couldn't do what I used to be able to. I tracked my jog on Map My Ride (great app) and found that by the time I'd got home I'd burnt 400 calories! That was such good motivation that I found it easy to get up every morning and go out.
Now I've got a route, with checkpoints that I try to run to before slowing down and walking. By doing this every day with 2 rest days in the middle, I've found that I can run for longer already. I've got 10 minutes quicker over the course of the week, and have burnt up to 670 calories per run. I can't believe how quickly my fitness has developed by just taking an hour to do it each day!
Over the course of the week I've lost 4lbs just by making this tiny change. I've began to realize how important walking is: I walked to my friend's house 2 miles away (a walk I've often done) which burnt 256 calories in 30 minutes.
I am so proud of myself and I feel so much better. Getting my fitness back to where it was actually seems doable now. I know I probably won't be able to go 5 times a week every week but as long as I work out 3 times a week it's definitely feasible. Hopefully I'll be able to start playing rugby again in July. Excited!
