Running

Hi

Well, I'm trying to return to my former glory days of running a lot. InshaAllah. Make dua that I'm able to. I'm the king of inconsistency when it comes to exercising [insert sarcastic commentary here like, "You? Inconsistent about exercising? Perish the thought!"], but I'm hoping that this reserve of time I have these days will help change that (again, InshaAllah!).

So today and yesterday I've averaged just over 2 miles/day. Nothing too impressive considering that it's been only two days. What's cool to point out, though, is the RunKeeper app I'm using on my iPhone. This app is phenom! Using the iPhone's GPS functionality, it keeps track of the distance you run, time, speed, and other things. You have to love technology, man. (Side note: I wonder if Umar's Nokia -- which, per Umar, does everything my iPhone can and then some using a custom app on the Nokia called "Umar's Imagination Gone Wild" -- can do this, too? Most likely, the old, outdated Nokia can probably do all that RunKeeper can on the iPhone plus run the actual course you set out to do, right, Umar?!)

Anyway, another nice feature RunKeeper has is a map view of whatever you ran (see map below). Both days the map trail it shows has been spot on. Being Pakistani, I of course didn't buy the Pro version (can I get a "Perish the thought!" on that one, please!), but I know that it has additional features like a voice prompt that will tell you something along the lines of, "At this interval, run fast for 2 minutes. And then run slow." Basically it keeps you in check by motivating you with goals. Something like that is good for training, too. Hopefully next year I'll be able to run the Soldier Field 10 again (10 mile marathon on Lake Shore Drive) and in between then and now participate in other marathons. Then one day I'll do the Chicago Marathon. That's one of my main running goals in life...

Man, back in the day (walk down memory lane for me for a sec) when I lived on campus in Lincoln Park, I used to average anywhere from 5 - 10 miles per day. Sigh. I just realized that being the true Pakistani I am, I'm now talking like an uncle reliving his youthful, active days. This is what I hope to avoid and my motivation to see this through. (But maybe it's also the result of approaching the big 30 later this year!)

Before signing off, I will say that running is a great form of exercise. There are some people who just don't get running. Honestly, I've had conversations with people who are like, "I don't get it. You just keep running. What's the point?" The problem is that these people are too focused on the idea of needing to score a point by, most common example I can think of, shooting a ball into a basket. While basketball is fun, competitive to play (and yet another sport I mashaAllah dominate in), there is nothing like getting a "runner's high." The runner's high is something I've experienced in my heyday (yes, another "uncle moment"). You simply reach a point in your running where you just can't stop. Well, you of course can, but you don't want to. At that point, you feel like you can conquer the world; that it doesn't get much better than this. Before you realize it, you suddenly have more energy to run and sometimes run faster. It usually occurs when you're well into the run, so don't expect it right away (if you're tempted to try). And, most importantly, don't try to smoke a doobie while running. Sure, technically you can argue that smoking a doobie while running would qualify as a runner's high, but c'mon...

Humor me and my attempt to sound like I'm a professional runner who's just started a blog about the joys of running...




Regards