Slowly but Surely

Well, I honestly never thought I'd be talking about my personal fitness, or lack thereof, on the internet. In fact, it's hard to believe that I'm the one who suggested this whole blogging idea! But I did commit to being a sponsor for the Twilight 5K, and really the basic goal of the event is to encourage people just like me to live healthier, more active lives.....so here we are.

I guess I'll just start by saying that I am not a very fit person. I won't go into all the boring details of how I got this way, but essentially I was once extremely fit and athletic (as a top-level soccer player) and now I'm a desk-bound writer who doesn't make exercise a priority.

In trying to get active again, I realize that I'm going to have to take things slowly, so I've started off with the most simple exercise there is: walking. I know all the experts say to walk first thing in the morning but I feel more energized around dusk, when I can just pop in my earphones and enjoy the beautiful scenery around my neighborhood.

Right now, I'm walking 3-4 days a week for about 1.5 miles. I think Old Ferguson West is a great training ground because so many of the streets are hilly. It also offers a great opportunity for "cross-training," otherwise known as trash pick-up around Central Elementary School, which forces me to use all sorts of muscles bending and stretching.

Next week, when I start real training with Lyle Johnson of MVP Fitness, I expect to have those muscles and many more begging for mercy. But that's ok. I am truly ready for a change in my health and just the way I move and feel in my body, so I'm looking forward to the challenge!