On April 19, I posted on this blog that I had been working on my run time and was currently at 5-miles in 40 min 15 sec. I took quite a hiatus after that, due to end of semester stress and lack of discipline. But I’ve been back at the gym regularly for over a month (starting at 3 times per week, and now up to 5 or 6 workouts). Today, I managed to break my previous record, at 5 miles in 39 min 25 sec. A 50 sec drop, and 5 miles at 7 min 55 sec per mile. It is still not an excellent time, but I’m proud of the progress.
As for my workouts in general, I’ve been placing a heavy emphasis on cardio, placing weight training as a second priority. My goal right now is to increase my energy efficiency and endurance, and cut away the beer belly I’ve accumulated over the years. At this rate, another six weeks of making cardio the priority will probably get me to my goal. At that point, I will switch my priority to weight training.
My cardio routine places the priority on running, and second place goes to the stair climber. I will run on the first day after a break, then use the stair climber on the second, then back to running, etc., until I take another break.
In the mean time, I’m still working on weights, but only after I’ve exhausted my body with a run or stairclimbers. My muscles are slowly getting reacquainted to the work, and progress is going well. Today I did my first pull-ups in a very long time. I managed to hit 8 complete pull-ups (completely locked arms when down, chin above bar when up, no swinging). I was at 29 when I was a 21 year old Marine.
I am making physical fitness my priority now. Not because it is the most important thing in my life, though. Being a good teacher is the most important thing in my life: it is my purpose. But when I force myself out of bed and to the gym at 6am, and when my body is in excellent shape, I am better at managing the rest of my life. And so it is the practical priority, while the ethical priority is in teaching and learning.
Natural Causes 
I wish I had your motivation/knowledge of getting in shape.
I admit it would have been very difficult if I hadn’t been in the Marine Corps. No one else really taught me how to take care of my own body. Physical Education classes at my k-12 schools were a joke, and I certainly never took them seriously.
However, the health benefits for even moderate physical activity for 30 min 3-4 times per week are tremendous. I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately that even report evidence of increased brain cell regeneration and overall better thinking habits from moderate exercise.
Getting in shape doesn’t require a lot of knowledge. Getting in excellent shape does, though.
And as for motivation, that’s a hard one. If I don’t go first thing in the morning, I’ll never go. But if I just tell myself, “this is the most important thing I could do this morning,” it’s easier.
Thanks for the feedback!
I am not surprised one bit that exercise does promote increased brain cell regeneration for I am sure the benefits of exercising are truly endless. I too agree that p.e. was a joke, even during high school. I never did learn any useful routines other than your basic sit-ups/pull-ups. Perhaps if I alter my mentality into thinking and believing exercising is the most important thing I could do… then maybe I’ll gain some sort of motivation. Now to figure out how to go about doing this… *ponders*