I spend a lot of time in a chair behind a computer. Doesn’t do much to promote good health. Over time I’ve picked up a few extra pounds and found my energy level to be steadily declining with age. Meanwhile, my wife joined a gym, started watching what she ate, and commenced putting me to shame.
After a while I decided to jump on the bandwagon. So I also joined a gym and decided to watch what I ate. As it turns out, a gym membership doesn’t do much good without actually showing up. And counting calories only helps if you actually stop eating when that count reaches the daily limit. I have been inconsistent at best in my efforts.
A couple years ago, I decided I would try running. Once again, Jen put me to shame. We would go out “running” together. I would make it roughly 5 minutes before I would collapse in a heap on the sidewalk while she continued on her way. I wasn’t much of a workout buddy.
Over time I gradually worked up to the point where I could “run” on a treadmill for 20 – 30 minutes. It was a victory of sorts. So while slapping myself on the back, I decided to sign up for a 5k race. I chose the DATCU Dash, scheduled for May 18, 2013. My training was sporadic and half-hearted, and all done on a treadmill at 0% incline in a climate controlled environment.
Race day came, and true to my style I was full of (over-)confidence. I shot out of the blocks like the speed-demon I knew I was. I did alright for the first mile. At about mile 2 the little kids started passing me up, and I began hoping for sudden death. Somehow I made it to the finish line without walking, and without collapsing into the fetal position. My official time was 30:39.
Justin Shelley 
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