TEA for Me

Updated 6.22.2014; reformatted 9.3.2015
So I've started jogging on the treadmill again. I haven't been able to walk while working quite as often recently due to circumstances, and while I continue to stand while working, I am missing actually moving a bit. Also, I've been thinking for awhile that I needed to add some actual aerobic activity to my habits. I have upped my NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), but I have neglected the thermogenesis exercise activity term in the energy balance.

My initial resolution for the year was to walk briskly (> 3 mph) for 30 minutes. But this never happened. Literally. Not once through the first 6 months of 2014 did I walk for 30 minutes at a brisk pace.

I think the reason I didn't is that 30 minutes at 3 mph is fast enough to work up a sweat and too fast to do anything on the computer. And if I can't be productive on the treadmill I'm not a huge fan of being on it (which I've discussed elsewhere and is part of the reason that I began using a treadmill desk in the first place).

I've run in the past, in fact for a few years in my 20s I did 3 and 5k runs pretty regularly. I haven't done one is a LONG time and have no real desire to one ever again. I had to stop running due to injury, and when I tried to restart in 2008 by running barefoot on the treadmill, I got injured again. Not because of running barefoot— but I actually liked that and I DID break my habit of striking my heel down first. I now believe that running heel first is why I had injuries while running in the first place.

No, I had to stop because I tried to run too far and too fast too soon. This time I am going slower. I've done a mile both times I've run so far, and my speed the first time was 3.3 mph, and 4 mph the second. I do not intend to run too much faster than that, though I will gradually increase the distance. But I won't do that for a week or so. I'm going to run 3 times a week and I'm going to stay at 1 mile @ 4 mph for as long as I need. When I'm comfortable at that distance and speed (and I wasn't today) then I'll think about changing.

So far, I am running in shoes. I might try the barefoot deal again, but even in shoes my stride is different and my foot is landing mid-foot, definitely not on my heels. My knees and feet feel fine (It was feet last time that couldn't take it, my knees were fine.)

So I've run twice, one mile each time. The first time I average 3.3 mph, the second time 4 mph. I'm not going to increase my speed the next time I run, nor am I going to increase the distance I'll run. But eventually I will increase the length of time I run. At least for the first two runs the effect has been positive.

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