In 2013 I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that chewed a hole in my cerebellum, atrophied various muscles, impaired my vision, balance, coordination and consequently stole my ability to run. I have dedicated the summer of 2018 to regaining my strength, coordination, balance, and relearning how to run. I am participating in a 5k run on September 23rd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is my training journal. This is my attempt to grow physically strong again.

Write on. Fight on.  

The previous training sessions can be found here, under “Fight on- Summer Training Log”

Time:

7:05 am to 8:20 am

Conditions:

75 degrees, rain

Training Maxim:

No hurry. No pause.

Training Performed:

1 hour and 15 minutes of jogging/walking intervals. Including:

• 10 walking hill shuttles ( from start line to finish line (or stop sign to stop sign) is approximately 128 strides. Uphill I averaged 1 minute and 45 seconds from start line to finish line. Downhill I averaged 1 minute and 35 seconds from start line to finish line.

• 10 full basketball court sprints ( approximately 84 feet long)

• 50 push-ups to celebrate the 10 full court sprints

Accomplishment:

50 celebratory push-ups after 10 full court sprints. I like the idea of celebrating one physical feat with another–like earning the right to push yourself harder.

Song I Had on Repeat Today:

“Your Hand in Mine”- Explosions in the Sky

Quote I’m Thinking about Today:

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regretor disappointment.”  ~ Jim Rohn

Reflection:

Think like a professional. 

In the writing world there’s a popular thought that you only have the right to call yourself a writer when you’re writing. Being a writer has nothing to do with being paid or published, awards or movie rights. A writer is anyone who consciously sits down and writes. The quality, content, and form is negligible. If you want to call yourself a writer, all that is required is the discipline to sit down and write.

The same applies for running.

You’re a runner when you’re running. The distance doesn’t matter. 24.5 miles or 285 feet. The speed doesn’t matter. The medals and finish times are meaningless. A runner, like a writer, only earns their title by doing–which requires courage, patience, the audacity to endure, to ability to silence the ego, and the fortitude to push forward.

This morning, between 7:05 am and 8:20 am, I was a runner.

And again this morning, while writing this post, I was a writer.

From Yesterday’s Training Session:

The purpose of a training session is to make the world quiet and small.