It does not seem like a month since I started running but, sure enough, I wrote Now I’m a Runner back on July 20. This week I am up to running five minutes then walking five minutes (repeated three times, for a total of 30 minutes). A month ago, I could not have run for five minutes, let alone 15 minutes out of a 30 minute span. In a few more weeks, I should be up to jogging 30 minutes non-stop. That will be a first for me.
I spent yesterday at the airport, washing and waxing the plane with David’s help. It was hot, hard work but we got it done. We then verified that reduced air friction from the smoother paint truly does improve performance; the glistening plane is at least 5 knots faster while parked in the hangar. I woke up this morning with my body tired and achy. After all that work yesterday, I figured that I would take it easy and skip my usual Monday run. Imagine my surprise when 7:00am rolled around and I found that I wanted to get outside and at least walk for half an hour or so. Heck, it was just 68° outside; I could not waste a cool morning. I was doubly surprised when I had walked to the point where I usually being to run and I felt like running, not walking, so I did. The half hour run/walk felt great. A year ago, I never would have imagined that I would actually be looking forward to my next chance to get outside and run.
I had my annual physical exam last week and got the best surprise of the day came late this afternoon when I called the doctor’s office to learn the results of the blood tests. Not only was everything “OK” but my cholesterol numbers have continued to drop. When I started walking in May 2009, I was taking both Zetia and Lipitor to keep my cholesterol under control. The walking and weight loss helped enough that I was able to drop the Zetia on February 8. This afternoon, my doctor agreed that I can drop the Lipitor as well. I will do another blood test in six weeks to confirm that my numbers stay within the desired limits but I have high hopes.
