The Lazarus Project begins ...

Righteo ...

Okay,

It's nearly been 12 months since my last up date and I've been exercising but nothing like I was. January 2010 was beset with a couple of chest infections, an eye infection and then my back started to play up. Over 2010, I've been exercising in little chunks - as my back has allowed and I started seeking the help of some health professionals to get me back on the 'track' again.

To make it short, the physiotherapist-biomechanic dude said all was structurally sound and gave me some stretches and core strengthening exercises to do. My podiatrist recommended some proper 'remedial' footwear and tended to my gross feet. My massage lady has been encouraging and mean (but extremely helpful) as she works out the knots and my doctor reckons it's all good.

So what am I doing now? I do a 1 hour boxing workout once a week, I walk once a week, I've been encouraged to add swimming and water running (running in water) into the mix - which I will do and I'll slowly build up to something even if it's not a marathon; though that hasn't been thoroughly discounted as yet.

It's my middle-aged body you see ... aches, pains and stiffness (and not the good stiffness either!) make it hard to do every day at the moment but it's baby steps and then back out on the track ;-)

So, things are pretty comfortable at the moment, and just quietly - I'm loving the boxing, and I'll pop in with more updates in the near future.

:-)

Days 4 & 5

Well, you wouldn't believe it. I swallowed another fly!

This may become the fly chronicles by the end. I'll have to detail the stats for the number of flies swallowed over the whole training period; at this stage, 3 out of every four running sessions a fly can expect to be swallowed!

Bleeeeaaaack!

Anyway, the session on day 4 was quite good: no whining from a flagging spirit and at the end I still felt as though I had a bit of energy left in the tank. A bit of a breakthrough moment I think.

The muscles and joints are still feeling sore, but with the load, that is not a surprise ;-)

Todays session was just a brisk walk along the beach followed by a refreshing dip in the water. About 35 - 40 minutes all up. It's been good easing into the exercise thing - a big change from bull-at-a-gate-fall-over-injured which is the usual hallmark of my exercise forays.

Touch wood, all is well.

Songs for the day:

Learning to Fly by Tom Petty &

Stop Draggin My Heart Around by Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks

Day 3

Another fucking fly down my gullet!!!

Bleccch!

Oh well ... It was a hard session today. Not so much because it was hot or I was eating flies but the spirit was a little weak. Even those lovely endorphines aren't that inspirational when you're a bit lagging.

But, I did it and it was all good - afterward.

Ankles are a bit grungey today and I expect that to be a quite regular occurrence.

And the song that's been running around my head for the last few days?

Step by Step by New Kids On The Block! I hope another running related song will replace that real soon.

Day 2

Well there you go ... first hurdle negotiated, 1000 more to go! I backed up day 1 with a day 2 and didn't feel too bad about it. Definitely felt a bit stronger and my back didn't hurt as much and I've also got a massage booked in for this afternoon so I'm feeling pretty chipper right now.

My goodness endorphines are great!

Day 3 set for Monday Dec 7 ... touch wood it wont be too hot and sticky.

Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot ...

Day 1

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step ... "

Hello

I'm sneaking on because I've only just started this latest journey and I'm not 100% certain I'll last the distance. The blog, for the most part, will be my personal journal and expression of my ups and downs as I step along the path.

So, what the hell am I doing you ask?

I've decided that I need a goal to kick start my exercise program to make it an integral part of my life ... So, to that end, I have decided to start training for a marathon in 2011. Quite probably the Canberra Marathon. But, with sensible reflection (rare for me) I've decided to take gradual steps into that goal. Next year, 2010, I hope to do a 10km run and join a team with my mate Digger (from Canberra) and compete in a Team Triathlon. After those goals have been ticked off I will start the training program for the marathon.

There it is. This isn't a small undertaking, seeing as though I currently weigh in at around 180kgs the training regime will have to be carefully managed. I haven't consulted the Doc yet but he will be visited in the next month. My massage therapist is on board and of course my wonderful wife is giving me all the encouragement I can stand. Which brings me to the curious reason I have decided to take this on alone.

Well, firstly, I hate trainers. When I played football, whenever the coaches yelled platitudes (or abuses) at me to train harder I just wanted to blow them up or punch them in the nose. I've always run on what an old PE teacher called 'intestinal fortitude' or guts. It's a meditative thing, it's conquering the inner demons that yell at me so often to give up the things that I do ... So, I figure this is up to me and not some blathering fool on the sidelines. Secondly, always being a keen runner at school (I once clocked the 10km Canberra Times Fun Run in around 42 minutes - when I was 16!) the marathon has always been on my bucket list and I am keen to tick it off. As a goal to work towards and as a good way of getting more exercise into the old legs.

Yesterday (1/12/2009) was day one and today I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be. That's a good thing but I'm sure tomorrow's session will be a challenge and as long as I don't swallow any more flies, we'll be tickety boo!