Is Exercise the Best Drug for Depression? - Yahoo! News

Middle-brow, obvious, but true.

Penance

I went for a run after lunch today. My first real run since getting back from vacation and I figured the layoff would be murder. Plus coming back from sea level to altitude. Plus I think I have a cold. Plus I'm not too sure about my new Asics which feel like the most comfortable shoes in the world when you put them on, but start feeling sort of painful after they get hot and sweaty.

Anyway, I was picturing that it would be a lot like going to confession, y'know, "forgive me Father for I have sinned, it's been 8 days since my last run" and then for penance you actually do the run. Gasping, pain, etc. But, it wasn't actually that bad once I got going, and after the first 3/4 of a mile I was pretty much doing my normal thing.

It probably didn't hurt that it is 61F (16C) today (which pretty much guarantees that we'll get 4 feet of snow for the weekend, but that's another story). So, all in all I can't complain, considering how lazy I was the last week.

Morning Run - 5 Miles

I opted for distance over speed this morning and added about 1.2 miles to each end of my normal loop. Small potatoes, you say. Just you try it, I say.

Anyway, I was very deliberate in my pace and probably ran a little slower than I needed to. But the whole way I kept psyching myself for that last mile which is uphill all the way. It was a little overcast and only around 60 degrees so the weather was perfect.

The downside is that it took me about an hour and 15 minutes door to door which is a ridiculously long time. But, like I said I'm just building on longer distances at this stage and not worrying about how fast I'm going.

Got home and immediately did an hour of yoga which helped release all the tension in my hamstrings and cooled me down in a nice gentle way.

Morning Run - 32:19

I think that's it for speed drills this week.

I literally could not have physically moved myself faster.

I actually felt a little fatigued at the end. Limbs went rubbery.

Still, 32:19. Woo-hoo.

Morning Run - 33:08

Another great morning. I didn't have any one setting the pace, so I had to do what I could on my own.

Random thoughts:

• The sunrises are coming later and later (and just when I was getting used to them coming earlier and earlier). I can already feel the summer slipping away and am silently dreading the Fall
  
• There was a mule deer buck with a big rack down in the clearing behind the HP A-frame. Looked like some sort of mythical stag as he stood there in the tall grass chewing his cud
• Also saw the usual: rabbits, magpies, humming bird, three joggers, three hikers, two good dogs, two bad dogs, and no mountain bikers
  

Morning Run - 32:34

Started my run today at 5:55. As soon as I hit the trail, I fell behind another guy who was clearly much faster than me. One of those guys that I could tell would put it into some gear I don't have if I was nervy enough to try to pass him. Not letting that discourage me, I was able to settle in about 10-20 yards back and let him set the pace. I'd gain ground on the climbs, he'd pull away on the straightaways. If he knew I was back there, he never indicated it. Anyway, it was tremendously helpful and I completed my run in a new personal best time of 32:34.

Morning Run

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I've been running this 3.6 mile loop on a daily basis for almost a year now. I've done it in 90 degree summer heat and 15 degree winter cold. Dust dry, rain, mud, snow, ice, you name it. The park itself is at about 6500 feet of altitude and its hilly so you climb up and down by about 600 feet. The terrain is rough, sandy in some areas, rocky in others. There are also some nice wooded areas that take you through pine forest.

My goal is to do it in 30 minutes. Then I'll start adding to the distance.

Notes

• When I started last Summer it took me 54 minutes and I literally thought I was going to die. I was willing myself to put one foot in front of the other; everything hurt; I couldn't breath. It was awful.
  
• I remember each of my milestones with an unhealthy level of pride: first time I made it all the way around without having to stop for rest; first time under 50 minutes; first time under 45 minutes; first time under 40 minutes; first time under 35 minutes. Each triumph equal to the last in the feeling of awesomeness.
  
• Two weeks ago I was passed by a marathon runner and was completely pissed at how slow I was going. That day I clocked in at a personal best 32:50. Lesson: competition is good.
  
• This morning, I ran what I thought was a pretty strong time but it turned out to be something lousy like 35:30. Lesson: You just can't tell.
• Pet peeves: dogs off of leashes. Mountain bikers. That's all I'll say on the matter.¹
• Unavoidable but hilarious: scaring the crap out of people listening to their iPods when you come up from behind. They really freak out and you feel bad, but still. Ha.
• Good things: People who say good morning or hello when you pass. Reaching that point where your brain shuts off and all you are aware of is the sensation of movement through space.
  

¹ Except, c'mon people! Cut it out. Learn some trail etiquette for God's sake. Leash your dog. Slow down and pass on the left. Say, "on your left". It's not that hard.