As of today it has been two years since I laced up my new running shoes and started out for my first run, in what I thought would only be something I would do occasionally. Little did I know that the first kilometer would be so energizing that I would put aside all the other forms of exercise I was exploring and just “Go Running”. Yes, it’s bragging time!
That first run was 5.28km and took me 46 min 10 sec to complete at a snails pace of 8 min 45 sec per km. I did allot of running and walking during the first few months. I would run as far and fast as I could and then walk until I caught my breath and then run some more. The wonderful thing is that I was getting that runners high and continue to get it now for 99% of all my runs.

That first run set me on a cloud so high I felt like I had done some really great drugs, and in essence I had. I was experiencing the ultimate runners high and my endorphin’s had been looking for a reason to drop. The interesting thing I have discovered is that not every runner gets that super runners high and there are even runners who enjoy running and get a great feeling from it, but they have never experienced the “Runners High”. The best way to describe a runners high if you never felt one is to picture yourself on top of a mountain top looking over the ocean and feel like you are in total control.
The Result of Two Years of Running
Today’s run two years later was on the exact same route and only off by 70 meters at a total of 5.21km in 30 min and 7 sec at a pace of 5 min 47 sec per km. It was one of my goals when I started to be able to complete 5k in under 30min and I only started doing that in the past 5 months on a consistent basis.

This run brought me the same feelings as my first run and left me with a runners high that lasted all day, and it was there from the first 100 meters as was the first run. My feet felt like they where gliding on air even though my shoes were on their last run. I may have to put these shoes in a museum since this run takes them to their 400+k limit
So what has two years of running done for me aside from insuring my friends get caught by the bears or zombies, since I only have to be faster than them. Onto some stats:
Distance Covered : 1795.6km so I could have made it to Denver, Co and enjoyed some BC Bud. Only 1752km
Total running time: 205.25hrs. the equivalent of 8 days and 13hrs of running.
Total Calories Burned: 136,294 enough to energy to power an average house for 5 days
Climbed as high as 2, 709meters in a month of running that’s over 1.6miles high
All my personal bests are below:

I have lost about 50lbs of unneeded weight dropped 3 inches on my waist. I sleep better most of the time. I no longer feel the depression that was weighing on me.
Probably one of the best things was that I got taller from the running and core body work, my height actually increased by about 3/4 of an inch and I have DR’s. charts to prove that. Since I see my Dr every year for an annual physical, my overall health has gotten better such as blood pressure and more.
By becoming active I just generally feel better, and while running may not be for everyone it sure has been just what I needed.
One of the great things I have noticed is that if you run faster over the same distances you actually burn more calories which of course means more beer.
Of course not only did I start with running and some other exercises but I started eating better. It seems if you want to be effective at any form of exercise you need to put better fuel in the tank and this means fewer trips to the fast food places and starting to cook some real meals again. You need to start eating food that contain calories that provide more than just fat and sugar. You need to look at your carb intake as well as fiber and even what type of fats you are eating. not all fats are created equal nor are all carbs. Over the next year as I work on better food and health I will start to write about what I find.