Easterthon 2010 Day 0

Blog written at 22:41 on Saturday April 3rd 2010

Today is Holy Saturday. Tomorrow is Easter Day. Just as Mary turned away from the sorrow of the tomb to meet the risen Jesus, so the image of turning and rejoicing, leaving tears behind, speaks to me of new beginnings and hope.

March 2009 was the last time I was photographed with both feet off the ground. This was at the Chicks Chase at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes. The pictures tell many things about me - not least that I am unhappy being so overweight and undertrained, and am trying to be invisible in dark cover-all clothing.  This was 5 months after the onset of patellar femoral problems with my left knee, and I still have that today when I forget to do the strengthening exercises.  At least I now know what it is.  That day was also a day when I struggled to run for more than a couple of minutes; hauling extra weight around on asthmatic and untrained lungs is a recipe for a very high heart-rate and a very red face.  J ran with me and was very encouraging, but it was a long 3 miles.  Since then I've become heavier and even less fit. It is an even longer road back.

However, the proverb says that a journey of a thousand miles starts witt a single footstep, and I've taught enough people about eating an elephant in small chunks, that I know some form of return to running is possible and I also know that I have the potential to be much fitter than I am.

There are three major elements that need training.  The first is cardio-vascular - very weak at present, the second is legs - mitchondria take time to build. The third is the hardest - the grey stuff between my ears. 

I've spent Lent in a period of quite hard thinking and allowing myself to feel things that have been safely tucked away until now. Sometimes that has been painful, sometimes it has given me insights into other people's situations that I didn't have before; they say no pain is wasted if you use it for good. Can I train my brain to run because it makes me feel good? Do I deserve to meet my potential?  Can I get past the history? I did once before.

Easterthon 2010 - from Easter Day to Pentecost is 50 days.

My aim is to start small.  A minimum of just  one mile per day, every day, travelled on foot. 

Let the journey begin.