Greetings. Today I did my first winter run. Start time was 7:05am and the temperature was brrr:

< With the way my daily schedule is, morning runs will probably always suit me the best, despite all the after work runs I did in 2010 and last year. As mentioned in a the previous, I'm getting back in the saddle. The temps this morning, surprisingly, only afffected my hands (as I misplaced the running gloves I got a few months back). What was most aggravating was the headphones that kept slipping off. I run with the Nike+ system, aka Nike+ iPo, so I get audio markers statuses from my *coach*. I really got hooked after reading an article in Wired two years or so ago:

and afterwards, that’s all she wrote. As for the run (walk), a 12:58 min mile…slowww (thanks headphone issues and slight shin splints). Slow and steady is what I gotta focus on as I get back into this thang> On the positive, I felt and still feel really good, alert, etc. Run stats are here.

After work, it’s the gym. Focus will be on weights, though I may run again. Current Nike+ goal is 12 runs in 4 weeks. After that…NEW HEADPHONES!

That’s it…back to work.

August 25, 2011 or thereabouts. That was the last run I had that was consistently done after many before that…and I was on vacation in Florida at that. Needless to say, vacation ended and it was back to work for me, back to school for the kids. This, unfortunately (I allowed it) ended consistent workouts and runs. What I realized, though I never physically liked it, was that running did many things for me that I only read about: cleared my mind, made me more alert (day or night), caused me to eat better (my appetite never wanes lol), mentally made me feel greatand forced me to go to bed earlier.

Now that 2012 is here, though I’m not one for new year resolutions, it provides a clean slate. One that I can (and everyone should) approach day by day – especially when trying to achieve goals. After picking up running and getting back in the gym this month, I feel great again. Adopting this schedule (again) doesn’t come without work and a mindset change, but realizing the benefits again is worth it. So, that being said, feel free to encourage me, make me accountable…ha! I’m looking for different ways to keep the momentum and motivation up. I think blogging on the regular might work, I’ll try it..we’ll see. If anything, maybe it will motivate others. Consider this the first post of many.

I mentioned that I dislike running. Actually since I started in July 2010, made some progress (small but nonetheless) since then, that’s probably not true. If it wasn’t for the Nike Plus system and other ways of electro-virtually tracking my performance, I don’t think running would be as interesting…though I really like the ease of being able to do it (being non-dependent on equipment etc), not to mention how it improves cardiovascular health. The whole tracking performance by numbers technology highly appeals to me.

The one key phrase I hope to live by this year and beyond is “optimize” – fitness, health, work, relationships, musicianship, financial health, but most importantly, the one and true foundation – my relationship with Jesus and God. Though physical fitness excites me, one scripture keeps me grounded about it – 1 Timothy 4:8.