Return to Running

Lucky for me, I have not suffered a severe injury recently. What does this matter? If I had, it would preclude me from running, or returning to running. Maybe that is not such a good thing, after all.

As I have stated, I am in the Army. Being in the Army, we run. Now, when I was enlisted, we ran all the time. Depending upon where I was stationed, I either ran M-F or MWF.

In the Army, we take a fitness test, called the Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT. If you query it, or Google it, you can find that it is broken down into male/female and age divisions. There are three events: 2-minute push-ups, 2-minute sit-ups, and 2-mile run. You get a 0-100 score for each event, and then those three scores are added together for the composite score with a 300 possibility. When I was enlisted (for eight years), I can honestly say that I never scored less than 290, except in basic training. I even "maxxed" it a few times with perfect 300 scores. Then, I became an officer. Since becoming an officer, I have rarely scored above 230. Why? That is subject to various different excuses, but suffice it to say, I haven't been exercising as regularly or consistently as I should. Therefore, I am not ready for the 2-mile run.

That brings me back to the topic at hand: Returning to Running. Today was my first run in probably a year. My children just started running in cross-country, and I have an APFT coming up. As a result, I was able to finally kick myself out of bed and go run this morning. Now, I did not do it as a Physical Therapist would prescribe; something about mechanics having the worst cars, doctors being the worst patients, etc. I went out and jogged 3-miles. It took me 25-minutes, but I did it!

I realize I should gradually return to running; that would be the smart thing to do. I teach people all the time on the importance of gradually progressing an activity to safely increase tolerance to that activity. For someone that is injured, that would mean going from pool walking/jogging to elliptical machine to treadmill walk/jog to track to street running to (in the Army) formation or group running. But, as I am not truly injured (just my pride), I can begin running, albeit at a slow pace. I will listen to my body and adapt as necessary; I know what to look for (see "cardinal signs of inflammation" on Google).

Now is the time to begin. It is the time to begin to return to fitness, time to get your life back on track. If I might paraphrase George Romney (Mitt Romney's dad) in a quote, "If not now, when? If not (running), (what)?" Running is a great activity to free clogged bowels, to lift the spirit, to increase tolerance to activity, to free the mind, and to get you in shape. Is it the only way? No, but it is a good way. If you are healthy enough, go out tomorrow and run. Your body will thank you. If you aren't healthy enough yet, gradually "return to running" with the above stated progression: pool walking/jogging to elliptical machine to treadmill walk/jog to track to street running to formation or group running.

See you on the road!