2018 will mark my 34th year of jogging regularly.
When I was younger I used to jog everyday, Monday to Sunday no exception, and only extreme weather condition such as hurricanes or heavy rains can stop me. Being young I often kept late nights with my friends over beer and song but I still manage to get up the morning after to do my regular run. On mornings when I wake up late, I would call in sick just so I can run and not let work spoil my fun. Oh, I love running. It gave me a fresh and clean feeling after every run. It kept me trim and fit. And it allowed me to eat and drink as much as I like and can.
Fast forward to today.
Age has caught up with me. I noticed that it now takes longer for my body to recover from the run. Getting up from bed, especially after an all night stand doing Steemit, has gotten to be more and more difficult. Staying longer in bed and having a hearty breakfast always seems to be a better option than going out to jog.
But I still continue to jog. Maybe not everyday now but at least every other day. How do I do it? How do I overcome laziness and the comfort that goes along with it? Here is my secret to longevity with this regular routine:
Jogging time is when I plan my day. I take note of what I have to do for the day, my itinerary, travel routes to save time and gas. Basically, my business plan for the day is done when I jog.
Source: PixabayA doctor once told me jogging 30 minutes non-stop eliminates excess sugar in the body. Beyond 30 minutes, the body starts to burn stored fats. I have a sweet tooth and I love chocolates. I also eat anything I fancy (in moderation of course). So when I run, I know I am burning sugar which can potentially harm me if it remains in my body unprocessed and also excess fats from the food I eat. No diabetes. No fats (or at least less fats). Burn! Burn! Burn! Just like matchsticks lit up ha ha ha.
source: pixabayI jog alone. I always have. I prefer to run alone because then I can do it at my own pace. I don't have to keep up with people who jog faster than my regular speed. Neither do I have to slow down to wait for people who run a step slower than me. Jogging alone gives me the concentration I need to start and finish my routine the way I normally do it. If you get used to being with a group when you exercise, it gives you a good excuse not to run if your running partners can't make it that day.
I run a set distance or time whichever comes first. This is important because I can gauge my performance for that run. I know I have to jog at least 30 minutes (for excess sugar) and another 10 minutes for stored fats. This is a total workout of 40 minutes. Normally, with my speed, this can cover about 3 miles or 4.8 kilometers. Now when I run and I cover the 3 miles in less than 40 minutes, then I know I am in good condition and I stop. No need to overdo things. But there are also times when I reach 40 minutes without completing the 3 miles. I still stop after that. There'll be other days with which to do better.
Source Jogging gives me the opportunity to commune with my Creator. I take this time to say a prayer of thanks for all blessings I have received. It is the time to ask Him for help with my challenges, seek for guidance and discernment to face the day ahead according to His will.
I have at least 2 or 3 regular places I can jog in at anytime in the morning before 10 a.m.
Why is this important? It's because when I wake up late say 8 in the morning with the sun already shining bright, I have a venue where I can run that would be shaded and cool and still be relatively free of people or traffic. One such place is called Baywalk (see picture above). It's a reclaimed area which is open to the public. As you can see there are trees where you can run underneath when the sun gets too hot. Or when it's overcast, you can jog along the seaside. There's also the parking lot of a big mall near our place where one side would always be protected from the sun and is closed to the public before 10 am. So making up an excuse like "It's late to jog" is not valid.
Source I have a jogging venue that allows me to run even if it rains. A good excuse not to jog is when it rains. But that doesn't hold anything with me because my parking lot has covered walkways coming from and going to the main mall all the way to the parking lot. These covered pathways protect me from rain when I jog. Of course most would not be so lucky to find an ideal spot in which case, perhaps a gym where you can do treadmill exercise would do but you'll have to pay for it.
Lastly, jogging is my way of keeping my weight down and making me look fit and trim. It makes me feel good about looking good. It also allows me to skip dieting which makes me feel miserable being unable to eat what you want.
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There you have it. If you are having problems keeping an exercise routine like jogging or running, try to see if what I enumerated above can help you keep your desire and enthusiasm going through the years. Because for me, exercising is a better way of life than constantly being on a diet.
Hey Gems, you have inspired me. I know I do not have your level of commitment, but perhaps I can start it a little bit a time.
Really love the:
Glad, I finally got a chance to read this!!
Have a blessed day!
Every journey begins with a single step. I am happy my article encouraged you to start that first step. Here's a thought: In my 34 years of running, I must have circled the world 5 times over and boy does that make me feel good. Maybe you should try for once around the world? For starters?
Thanks for all the assistance in bringing this article to a broader audience. I would have been really disappointed if it went DSTO (Down Scrolled To Oblivion - quote unquote @bycoleman.)
Don't know how much I helped with the DSTO, but the article is worth the fullest view I can give it.
Did I really make a useful quote :) Thank you Father!
Check my latest blog. Special mention to you as the one responsible for the term DSTO. Needed a light moment so I made that post.
Yup, that was a useful quote Reverend @bycoleman.
Thanks, It is a joy to know you!
Ah, I exercise daily and am healthier now than I was 20 years ago. What you wrote has inspired me; in that I will use this time to be more fully with the Lord instead of thinking about all the things I want to do this day. I "micro pray" all day long, every moment, but there is no substitute for one one one with the Father. It is so easy to drift from useful priorities.
Thank you brother!
Yes, what better time. It used to be that my whole workout time was devoted in prayer. But somehow, as you said, other worldly concerns make it so easy to drift from what is important. But will work on upping the prayer time. Thanks for the reminder.
First of all thanks for sharing a very good post.
Yes! It's true for keeping routine exercise like jogging is very much important in everyone's life.
You said it. It has been my routine for 34 years running. Hope I can keep it up for another 15 years. Thanks for visiting.
when I was still studying we regularly run for 18Km every weekend.. tsk tsk and now I'm in KSA, exercise no more.. huhu I should do it at least 30minutes a day.
Thanks for sharing sir.
Wow! Almost a half marathon 4 times a month. I never ran that far. But you should pick it up again. You need to burn away the undesirables inside the body : ) Salamat sa bisita @g10a. If you think this article can help someone to start the habit, please share it with them.
Yup sir., I am a frustrated track and field player/runner LOL (100m-400m dash was my fav since grade school) I also joined a 21Km marathon when I was in 2nd year high school but was 7th placer out of 100 plus runners during the first Palarong Panglungsod in our town. Saklap hehe
7th? You could have had a future in athletics. Sayang. Sana napatuloy mo. Anyway, once a runner, always a runner. Hinay hinayig balik. I don't know the running conditions in KSA. Can you jog outside in the streets? Dili ba too hot or too cold? Start siguro sa gym treadmill usa.
Baka typo lang yan 1 or 8 km lang hahaha 5 km lang na lakad ko kinaumagahan inaapoy ako ng lagnat 😅
2 km lang kaya ko :-D
waaahhh kac hindi ka tumakbo ullit kaya nilagnat ka., ahaha araw2 nilalakad namin 8 km grade 1 & 2 pa kami bahay-skul-bahay 16km na un balikan, kaya ang ungas ko eh haahaha.
Talaga lang? High school lang ako naglakad 2 km lang talaga pinakamalayo kong lakad 4 km balikan haha kaya pag 5 km one way mamamatay na ako :-D
Nagjogging lang ako nong college from Luneta to PICC di na ako makabalik sakay na hahaha :-D
Elementary malapit lang bahay namin sa skul.
Kami elementary hanggang high school malayo bahay sa skul. Kaya lang sakay skul bus kaya ang nilalakad ko lang ay bahay hanggang sakayan mga 50 meters lang.
Pero nung nagwork ako sa Manila every Sunday ko na jog ay PICC to Luneta and back. Ginagawa nilang one way ang south bound na lane sa Roxas Blvd kaya medyo maaliwalas at wala masyadong usok.
Really? Ang layo nun. Kaya lang, dahil bata pa, bale wala yung ganyang lakaran lalo na pag may mga kasama. Masaya pa siguro kayo nun.
I never become a runner in my whole life, and I jog/brisk walk only about 3-5 times last year, that's I know too much laziness within my system.
I envy the stamina and the drive you have to run, I wish to possess that too.
Actually, it has been my long time plan even at least a 30 minutes brisk walking I hope I can make it soon.
Thanks for the time out you gave to reply to this post.
As I always say, Want will always win out over Need. Dapat may Want ka na matindi para masimulan mo ang plan mo to brisk walk. How about you buy a really really expensive pair of pants that is 2 inches smaller than your actual size? That in order to wear it you have to lose 10 pounds? That could be a Want strong enough to get you really started. Try mo : ()
very informative sir, I should follow this and exercise regularly
In every health regimen, exercise is a must. Just do it @jun2.
Thanks for dropping by. If you find value in this, you can spread the word and resteem this.
Nagjjog lang ako pag may kasama baka kasi baka makidnap ako hahaha joke po (^_^)
Ha ha ha. Salamat sa bisita. Slim na slim ka naman kaya kahit hindi na magjog ok lang. Eh tapos food mo panay pa gulay luto ng kapitbahay so healthy living pa.
Opo para akong kambing kinakain ko madalas mga damo 😅
Meeh meeh meeh. Dapat nga ako sa edad ko ganyan na din. Kaya lang kapitbahay ko lagi adobong baboy and ulam : ()
Very good info
Thanks.
Is it true?????????????
Yes it is.
What an inspiring article! Hope I can replicate you ninong!
Balik jogging pre. Kayang kaya mo nga 8K mas mabilis pa sa 5k ko. Don't lose it.