For the past four mornings, I have awakened before sunrise (as I always do) and waited until the sky was sufficiently lit by the pre-dawn sun to enable me to go for a walk without stumbling off a precipice in the dark.
The walks I’ve taken have been short, far shorter than I was used to taking back when I walked regularly. The first morning, I walked less than three-quarters of a mile, just down the street and back up. The walk down was easy; the walk back uphill was brutal.
The second morning, I boosted the distance and the time I walked just slightly, to around 1.2 miles. The next day, about the same. This morning, I upped it a tad to just under 1.4 miles, but at an appreciably faster clip.
For someone who used to walk, at a very fast pace, between four and nine miles almost every day, these little weeny-walks are nothing short of embarrassing. I tell myself that walking in Dallas, where a hill is defined as an increase in height of six inches over a distance of one hundred yards, was less taxing than walking in the Village, where we deal with some truly steep inclines. And that’s true. But the real reason I’m finding my short walks so taxing is that I’ve been indolent. I’ve been lazy, paying little heed to the need to get exercise. So, I’m forcing myself to expend the energy I must to achieve my objectives.
As I said to a friend on Facebook: “Rebuilding my stamina is the punishment I deserve for abandoning myself to sloth!”
And now, I am committed to abandoning sloth.
Juan, that’s exactly it. Not keeping it up is responsible for making a return a challenge. But it will, indeed, get easier!
This morning I returned to gym, and it had been nearly two weeks since I was there last. My workout lasted about 25 minutes before I was drained.
But first day back is like that. Tomorrow will be better.
If you’re up for pre-daylight walks during the retreat, I’m game. I plan to walk just as soon as it’s light enough to get out and about. My plan is to do as I usually do: get up, make coffee, and write until daylight, then walk for awhile. Then, back at the desk, writing or organizing what I’ve already written. Of course, I think I committed to making breakfast for the group, too; I’ll be into low card, low calorie stuff, though!
Well, well. Another goal we have in common. I have given up my walking time, which was also my writing time (in my head) and I am trying to get myself ready to start again. Start the habit. Start the muscles, start the energy. Start writing. Hey, maybe the retreat would be a great place to start.