Being awesome isn't enough?

Aw. I'm just frustrated that I don't seem to be in any better shape than I was a month ago. Perhaps I am and I don't realize it.

I like this "month" thing, though. It's not too hard to commit to doing something every day for a month.

How much did you usually run before? Running isn't any easier or faster?

Indeed, a month isn't too long.

From about March through May in the years 2004, 2005, and 2006, I was running this much in terms of mileage. I've never actually gone running every day for a month, though. That's new.

It may have gotten easier since the beginning of the month, but it's hard to say. It was never exactly hard. I'm pretty sure it hasn't gotten any faster, but I wasn't really trying to get faster.

Every day for a month is pretty amazing, I think. Maybe you should just keep track of how many miles you run every, say, week, and try to keep increasing that.

I think of running as fairly hard, but I've never been a runner. I guess once you get in good enough shape to just go, it's a lot like walking—you can pretty much do it indefinitely.

What improvement were you hoping for? I bet you you could climb stairs more easily now, or sprint faster, or something. I also bet you could do better in a marathon now.

The improvement I was hoping for was to be smokin' hot.

Put something flammable on you and see what happens.

you probably are and don't see it. getting more fit through regular exercise is something that changes you a tiny bit every day, so you might not be able to notice it really. like a frog boiling in a slowly heated pan. maybe if yo uhad taken extensive pictures of your body at the beginning of the month and then took more at the end you could have put them side by side and seen a difference..


perhaps if you kept it up for another month you could...

Thanks for reminding me of that. I've been here before. I should have learned by now that the change is gradual.

64 is an awesome resting heart rate. What is it now?

If I could find my pulse, I could tell you. I bet that 64 was inaccurate, though.

Other statistics, as if you care: I weigh 145 pounds now. I've been as low as 127 (May 2006). That was Totally Insane. I think that 135 or so would be ideal.

I like to go to the drug store or grocery store or whatever and use the blood pressure machines. They tell you your pulse as well.

All right, with my fingers pressed hard into my upper arm, squishing the poor axillary artery against the bone, I can just barely feel it. My wrists seem to be useless for pulse-taking.

58 is crazy good.

I just tried it again (this time my neck), and I got 70. That's probably more accurate.

it's a tricky one to remember, for sure.

I've been thinking about beginning to run. It appeals to me, I'm just lazy and can't seem to make myself actually *do* it. I need motivation...and maybe better shoes.
My coworker started running this spring or summer. She's 5'5", maybe, and pretty slim -- probably weighs around 120 -- and she hasn't done any kind of official exercise before. Her clothed appearance hasn't changed. I imagine that she probably looks different without her clothes, but I don't see that.

I really want to start running too. I can't right now because of my back (well, I could, but it would really stress my disc in a way that it shouldn't be stressed right now) but once that's fixed, I'm gonna do it.

One way to motivate yourself might be to pick out a race sometime in the next six months, that you'd like to be in. That way, you have a concrete goal to work toward. Pick a distance that'll be a challenge for you, but not inconceivably hard. If you're like me (I'm not fast), your goal will be simply to finish, not to break any records.

I've used the guides on Hal Higdon's website a lot over the last few years. The site is perhaps a bit dorky, but it's sound advice!