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October 15, 2005
My Running Story
Once I “discovered� the concept of getting in shape, I found myself intrigued with the concept of running, and I set out with the goal of being able to run a mile non-stop. My first runs were pretty pathetic, as I had no idea how to train, and was in very bad physical condition. I distinctly remember my first mile attempt, how I would run for 30 seconds, then walk for 4 minutes – and thought I was going to puke by the time I finally finished the mile in about 13 minutes. Somehow, by pure luck, I made it through the first few months without permanently injuring myself.
It took about 6 months to get to where I could run an entire mile nonstop. Once I successfully completed the mile, I set my sites on 2 miles. Another six months, and I was able to run (albeit very slowly) two miles without stopping.
My first ever race was the Almond Blossom in Durham, in February of 2003. We walked the 5k course, in a blistering 54 minutes. The next year, after 52 weeks of running once or twice per week, I had managed to run the entire 5k route, with a time of 27 minutes. I started competing in two or three 5k races a year, still training only twice per week. The next year I was able to reduce my 5k time down to 25 minutes. My fastest time to date is 22 minutes and 50 seconds. While I probably will not be going to the Olympics with that time, I feel that it is pretty darned good for a middle-aged guy that sits at a desk most of the day.
Posted by Dennis at October 15, 2005 10:36 AM