July 2022

Commit just a little every day...

By: Dave Scott

I was chatting with a friend recently about the importance of exercise as we age and how to face the challenges our bodies throw at us.

It sounds simple enough. We just need to take the time to do some activity that benefits our whole health.

Our daily life can sometimes make it hard to commit to exercise; with work, home life, family, friends, and events, it all adds up to a full day!

Last year I found myself trying to train for

(running)

races

and

kept

getting

minor

nagging injuries. To be honest, my first thought

was that I was just getting old, but what I failed

to recognize was maybe I needed to be a little

smarter

and

reshape

my

commitment

to

running.

I stopped trying to follow my training program and decided that for the next year, I would run every day for at least one mile. If I felt good, I would keep going until I had enough.

I put no pressure on myself, just focused on one easy mile.

With every step, I felt a little more excited for the next run. It did not feel like work, but more like an opportunity to make my day and myself a little stronger.

If there was a rough day at work, I turned it around by looking forward to my short run, just a few hours away!

Of course, there were days where physically I was under the weather, but away I would go (it was only a mile) and get it done, and I would constantly feel a little better when it was done.

It has been seven months since I started this little routine, and I have to say I feel much better physically and mentally.

Why do I feel better? From a running point, I have rebuilt my base and now can consider starting a more challenging training program. Before, I was pushing too hard instead of focusing on the small steps.

My body now accepts and looks forward to its daily run from a health perspective.

Mentally the routine is now craved, recognising the need for my own time to recharge daily.

There was one day I almost forgot. Of course,it was raining lightly and late in the day. I put on my runners while still in my work shorts and heavy shirt, tired from a long day, and out I went. It was one of the best runs, and I enjoyed it immensely!

Yes, age is a factor in our lives, but we can help the process slow down a little one mile at a time!

(One mile equals 1.60934 km)