I started walking again this morning. It felt good to soak in the fresh, cool, damp air of a late summer morning. My wife and I started walking together first thing in the morning back in July. We went a week, then got lazy for a week or so, then we did two weeks straight (going 3 miles a day!), but then really fell into a bad spell for the past 3 weeks. It's time to get back on the horse and ride it ragged. The problem is that getting up early is a paradox for me. My body tells me that sleeping would be so much better for me; in my grogginess, my thoughts, dreams and desires all agree with my body, but ... I ... must ... resist ... for once I put on my shoes and step out of the door and start walking, its a whole new world. Being out of the house is very pleasant. I love watching the sunrise and feeling its orange and yellow rays beam upon my face. As you can see, I really enjoy the walk. I mean, It's truly pleasurable. In the near future, I want to be able to run every morning! I've never experienced a runner's high, and the last time I ran a continuous mile was in high school--I want to run a 5K, then possibly train for a mini-triathlon. But to get to that point, I must start with a walk; and to start with a walk, I must fight through the paradox between my desire to sleep and my joy in being awake. I must remember that there is nothing like a cool shower after a sweaty workout in the morning! [Read More]
Sweat, though, hasn't been my friend. While the main reasons I stopped my active lifestyle 6 years ago was the birth of my second child followed by my first full-time (i.e. sit down all day) job and starting my PhD, being sweaty became a deterrent to me. The only time I have had to be active, since then, was either early in the morning, or late at night. But I don't like going to bed sweaty, if I can avoid it, and I don't like taking showers right before bed. Because even after a shower, my body continues to sweat for 30 to 45 minutes (yes, I'm a sweaty beast). I even used to take walks on breaks during my work day, but my issues with sweat bothered me. I doubt it really bothered anyone else, but I hated the feeling and the perception (real or not) of being a sweat hog in a dress shirt. But I have discovered something! On days that I walk in the morning, I sweat less during the day, even when doing more strenuous activity than walking. Someday, I'll do some research on whether or not that is merely a change in my perception or if there are physiological reasons behind the difference, but I like the results anyway (perceived or actual)! Another benefit of walking early in the morning is that it has helped me to drink more water later during the day. Furthermore, I have much more energy at work and more focus when I go to study. Why do I forget these benefits? No more! Not again!
May this not be said of me: Proverbs 24:30-34
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