Operation Cardio

I like being active, but I like lying down more … way more. To combat my penchant for lying down, I’ve been pushing myself to get more cardio exercise.

A couple of weeks ago I started going to the CMU’s gym to use the cardio machines. You know CMU’s gym, it’s the one with all the young college students. It’s intimidating, but overall I like their gym. It’s very open with lots of windows and lots of machines.

I started using the ellipticals, but didn’t feel like I was really pushing myself hard enough. This week I decided to start running/ walking on the treadmill for 3.1 miles (aka 5K) a couple of times a week.

I like that I have a distance goal instead of a time goal because I push myself to finish faster. And you know what? I’ve already shaved three minutes off my time.

And you know what else?

I think it’s going to kill me.

After I’m done with my 5K, I stagger across campus to try to find my car. I’m sweaty and flush. My legs are made of Jell-O. My head is foggy. If this is the runner’s high I’ve heard about, I’m getting ripped off. I look like I’m diseased, spreading contagion all over the young people on their way to class.

Once I stop sweating, my hips and knees start aching. And they never stop. My right knee is still singing the blues from my trip to the gym yesterday.

I see people running and they don’t look like they are in pain or on the verge of crying. Maybe I’m doing it wrong. Or maybe I just need to go lie down.