Time to make a change
In 2008 I decided that I was actually going to try and achieve two things that I had wanted to do for a long time. Pass my motorbike test & get a bike, and run in the Glasgow 10k run. In early 2009 I put plans for both into action.
By February I had my motorbike license and had got a lovely blue Suzuki SV650. Step 1 achieved.
Then … nothing.
A couple of weeks back, I was forced to take a different route in the car than I was planning, due to all the road closures for the Great Scottish Run 2010. This brought home the painful fact that I had now missed my second goal …. not only by a year, but by two.
The reason I originally wanted to do the run was two fold. Firstly I wanted to do something active, that would push me physically and that I could be proud of, looking back. To really feel like I’d achieved something. The second was to get back into shape.
I was never a particularity athletic person, but overall I feel I used to be reasonably fit. However, since university, and particularly since getting a proper job, I have become more and more sedentary and it has got well past the stage of beginning to annoy me. I’d say it is (at times) pretty close to depressing me.
I certainly don’t feel things have improved any over the last two years, which is why this reminder that I’d missed that goal was even more annoying.
As a result, I plan to redouble my efforts, and will be entering the Great Scottish Run 2011. Not, however, the 10km race as originally planned, but more likely the half marathon. Not one to do things by halves; If I’m going to fail, I aim to fail spectacularly.
I am currently medically over-weight for my height, by a fair bit. Although fortunately still a fair way from obese. But, I seriously plan to do something about it. As part of this I’m aiming to reduce my weight by about 20%, which I’ll probably not achieve by next September (when the run is), but at least I should be well on my way.
And my decision is here for all to see, do feel free to point out this post when you see me sitting in the pub, nursing a pint. God knows I need the encouragement.