I Too Was a Beginner Once...

A friend at work and I were discussing ways to get in shape and to lose weight.  I explained my typical weekly routine which includes 6 days of running both on the road and treadmill.  My friend said that it seemed daunting to keep up an exercise routine like that.  I replied that I obviously didn't start out running 35 to 40 miles per week.  I had to build up to it.  I explained that I am convinced that anyone can become a runner if they are willing to try.  We ended the conversation agreeing that it was possible.  But she said, it just isn't for her.

As I thought about our conversation (one I have had with many other people), I realized that while I know I am right, most people either don't like running or don't have the gumption to just try it.  I am not suggesting that someone who never has run suddenly go out and run a marathon.  What I am saying is that anyone can become a runner if they just go out and run.  Run to the end of the block every day.  Soon it will become a routine.  Then run a little further.  Before you know it you will find that running isn't some drudgery you have to do.  You will find that it is something you want to do because it is enjoyable and beneficial to your well being.

I started running in 1986 when my wife and I moved into our first home in Watauga, TX.  I had put on a little weight having eschewed exercise since graduating college in 1983.  I decided I wanted to try and lose a few pounds and to get back in shape.  I figured the easiest way to do that was to go out and run.  I didn't have to join a gym.  I just had to get a pair of running shoes and head out the front door.  I started slowly.  I ran 1 mile every other day.  After several months of this, I started to run slightly further.  Before I knew it I was running 2 miles per day every other day.

I am sure you have all read that for something to become a habit you need to do it for 21 days.  I personally am not a believer in that adage.  How long it takes to form a habit depends on the individual, the habit you are trying to form and a number of other outside factors.  I didn't really feel that running was really a part of my being until I had been running for several years and had run several 5K and 10K road races.  If I try to ascertain when it truly became a habit, I would say it was right around the one year mark.  Believe me when I say that habits don’t form overnight and it may take some time before running becomes a part of your routine. But I know that if you start slow and stay with it the rewards can be amazing.

You are probably wondering what you can do to start making running a healthy habit in your life.  Everyone has different motivations to start running.  For me the initial motivation was that I wanted to become healthier and lose 10 pounds.  As I explained above, to achieve those goals, I had to find a way to make running a part of my daily routine.  What I needed to do was to simply be consistent in my running routine.  If I could get to the point where I would feel empowered after my daily run then I would have a sense of achievement from being consistent.  Hopefully if I remained consistent then I would find that place where running simply made me happy.

Here is what I did to make running an integral part of my life.  I started out at a slow jog.  I focused on how long I was out on the road.  I started out with a short distance (1 mile) which only took a small amount of time (about 10 minutes).  I went out every other day for three months.  As each week passed, I would had 2 - 3 minutes of running every 3rd run.  Before I knew it, I was running 2 miles.  I was amazed at how easy it was to extend my time and distance.  I now know it is because I took it slow.  As a beginner, I am suggesting that you start with an extremely manageable and realistic goal and work up from there.   If you make sure your goal is realistic and small, you will make running something you look forward to rather than dread.

After several months of consistent running, it had become a part of my morning ritual.  A ritual is a specific set of behaviors that you do at the same time every day.  I chose to get my runs in during the early morning hours.  I recommend this time because work, kids, television, dinner and now social media will all sabotage your afternoon or evening running routine.  It is extremely hard to lace up your shoes and go for a run with all of those distractions.  I find that in the early morning (usually before sunrise), when the rest of the world is still asleep, there are no distractions and I almost never missed a run once I switched to a morning routine.

After 2 years, I was getting up every other morning to get in a run before breakfast.  I had created a healthy habit.  But I suddenly started to wonder whether it was all worth it.  There was no end in sight.  Then I realized I lacked a concrete goal to shoot for.  I read an article by the late Dr. George Sheehan that said the difference between a runner and a jogger was a signature on a race application.  There was the answer.  I needed to sign up for a local road race.  Since I was consistently running 2+ miles every other day, I figured I would be able to run a 5K race.  I signed up for the Jingle Bell Jog 5K which was run in December near my house in Sunrise, FL.  Now I had something to shoot for and I was really excited about it.  It really rejuvenated my routine.

By setting a goal, you will be able to work towards something concrete. Without a goal, you will find that you make stuff up as you go.  Improvement will come slowly and you run the risk of ending your newly found running routine.  I have found that if I am not constantly pushing towards a goal, then I have low motivation and I don't see any improvement in my running.  Just make sure you set a realistic goal.  If you haven't ever run a race, I recommend nothing longer than a 5K.  I can tell you when I crossed that finish line the first time, I was elated.  I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.  I ended up signing up for future race that day.  I know that if you set a goal and stick to your new routine you will have that same feeling of accomplishment when you finish the race.

There is one other bit of advice I want to give you that will make all the difference in the world.  Don't chintz on your running shoes.  They are by far the most important running equipment.  They will be the difference between running comfortably and in pain.  With the proper shoes you can also prevent injury. When I finally went to an actual running store, I finally found that I could run comfortably for longer than I had ever run.  A running store is where you can find knowledgeable people who can watch you run and tell you what kind of shoe you need.  Make sure to try on several different brands and models. There is no such thing as the universal perfect running shoe.   Most importantly don't select a shoe merely by the name, model or color.  Pick the shoe that fits comfortably and almost feels like it is a part of your foot when you are running.

Here I am almost 30 years later and I can honestly say that I love to run.  When I started, I could never have imagined running a marathon.  Now there are mornings where I have to tell myself to slow down or to not add that extra mile.  I am no longer running to be healthier.  I am healthier.  Now when I head out the door, I am simply grateful for the chance to get some time to myself and all of the things that running has given me.  The greatest gift it has given me is the people it has brought into my life over the years.  I constantly remind myself that I am lucky to be healthy enough to run with friends of all ages.  Each morning I am out there running, I simply breathe it in and relish every mile.  I try to look at each day as a chance to celebrate all the years, the miles and the fact that I still want more.

July 6 – 5.50 miles (50:47, 9:14 pace)
July 7 – 6.20 miles (56:58, 9:11 pace)
July 9 – 6.50 miles (1:01:20, 9:26 pace)
July 10 – 6.20 miles (54:39, 8:49 pace)
July 11 – 7.10 miles (1:06:33, 9:22 pace)
July 12 – 8.10 miles (1:16:47, 9:29 pace)
July 13 – 5.10 miles (46:13, 9:04 pace)
July 14 – 6.20 miles (57:17, 9:14 pace)
July 15 – 4.50 miles (50:00, 11:06 pace)
July 16 – 6.20 miles (58:38, 9:27 pace)
July 17 – 6.20 miles (55:16, 9:03 pace)
July 18 – 8.10 miles (1:13:58, 9:08 pace)
July 19 – 7.20 miles (1:07:30, 9:23 pace)

Total Miles:  82.8 miles
2015 Total Miles:  1,127.3 miles

What is my identity?

"In Judaism, we had 12 Tribes that went in 12 different directions, and went around the whole globe and acquired whole different cultural backgrounds that they brought with them as luggage when they migrated from place to place.

The Jewish mind is inquisitive.  It wants to know about itself.  We ask that question more than anybody else.  I think.  How does the world see me? How do I want the world to perceive me? What is my identity, as a Jew or as a human being?"

When I read the above in The Jewish Daily Forward it struck me that I too have an inquisitive mind and I have migrated from place to place.  I don't subscribe to the thought that it is because I am Jewish.  I suspect that there are many people in this world who wonder how the world views them as a human traveling on this big blue marble.  I am constantly wondering how others see me.  I hope that they see me as casually carefree.  I also know that I have acquired different aspects of who I am from the many places that I have lived.

As I thought about what I want others to see, I realized that I simply want those around me to see me as a light-hearted person who always goes with the flow.  I want to make others feel calm and relaxed without much effort.  I would hope that my presence gives comfort to those around me.  At the same time, I want people to know that when it comes to my work and career, I am serious and results oriented just not at the expense of others.  I truly believe that a team of people who are aligned can do so much more than one individual.

As I try to define myself, I know that I send a clear message about who I am through my actions. Unfortunately, sometimes my actions don't always reflect my core values.  I know that if my actions look hypocritical, then those around me will perceive me in that way.  That is definitely not the way I want to be seen by others.  I lead a fairly large group of people in my job.  What I have learned over time is that if I  don't stick to my own deadlines, forget prior commitments or do not show support to others on my team, then I am clearly not conveying that I am a leader who they can count on.

Despite the above, I cannot divorce myself from the fact that I am Jewish.  In fact, I am a Jew by Choice.  My father is Jewish and my mother is not.  So when I chose to live my life as a practicing Jew, I went through a Conservative conversion education and process.  One of the first things I learned was that Jews are very self reflective.  In fact, Jewish tradition emphasizes the importance of self reflection every day.  Part of our daily bedtime prayer includes an opportunity to examine the day, evaluating our actions and our interactions.  While I don't recite the prayer, I take time each day to ask myself whether I was the best person I could be that day.  I try to forget about any mistakes I made and pledge to try to improve in the future.  Finally, I forgive others whom might have slighted, angered or antagonized me that day.  This  reflective time allows me to keep in touch with my inner self and to try and always be my best.

Jewish tradition recognizes that humans are not perfect.  I am certainly not perfect.  Our tradition tells us that each individual has the potential to engage in proper, caring and decent behavior.  But we also have the potential to do wrong.  These inclinations are known as “yetzer hatov” (inclination towards good) and “yetzer hara” (inclination towards evil).  Obviously I try to always choose moral and good behavior.  I try to perform acts of loving kindness toward others every chance I get.  Most importantly, I try to take actions that support the world through mutual responsibility and compassion.  This is why I am so proud of my support of Dana Farber.  Each of us has to acknowledge that we have a choice.  We are all individually accountable for our decisions.  I choose to make a conscious effort to consider all of my actions thoughtfully and always reach towards hatov (the good).

If I can succeed in reaching towards the good, then I will be able to live up to the Jewish value of derech eretz.  Derech eretz means to act with proper respect, consideration and kindness, and to always practice common decency.  In Yiddish a person who lives up to this value is known as a “mensch”.  A mensch is a particularly good person with the qualities one would hope for in a dear friend or co-worker.  I don't consider myself a mensch.  But I would hope that others might see me this way.  It is an extremely high standard to live by.  The reason it is so difficult is that a mensch is a person with strong character, dignity, and a sense of what is right, responsible, and decorous.  Who wouldn't want to be considered a mensch.

Each day I try to get to know myself better.  It is my belief that it will make me feel more comfortable in my own skin. Hopefully it will make me a better husband and parent.  In the end whether others see me as a mensch probably doesn't matter.  I just need to be the best me that I can be.   Besides, I can never be something I am not.  No matter how hard I try the real Ted will come out eventually.  As long as I can stay true to who I am and continue to take time each day for self reflection, I will be a better person to all who come in contact with me.

June 15 – 5.10 miles (44:44, 8:46 pace)

June 16 – 6.20 miles (57:03, 9:12 pace)

June 18 – 6.20 miles (58:39, 9:28 pace)

June 19 – 6.10 miles (53:35, 8:47 pace)

June 20 – 7.10 miles (1:06:02, 9:18 pace)

June 21 – 7.10 miles (1:06:11, 9:19 pace)

June 22 – 5.20 miles (45:25, 8:44 pace)

June 23 – 6.20 miles (56:43, 9:09 pace)

June 25 – 6.20 miles (58:37, 9:22 pace)

June 26 – 5.10 miles (48:25, 9:22 pace)

June 27 – 8.10 miles (1:14:35, 9:12 pace)

June 28 – 6.10 miles (1:04:05, 10:30 pace)

June 29 – 5.10 miles (50:00, 9:44 pace)

June 30 – 6.10 miles (60:00, 9:50 pace)

July 1 – 5.10 miles (50:00, 9:48 pace)

July 2 – 6.50 miles (1:01:11, 9:25 pace)

July 3 – 6.10 miles (55:37, 8:58 pace)

July 4 – 7.10 miles (1:10:45, 9:58 pace)

July 5 – 7.10 miles (1:06:33, 9:22 pace)

Total Miles:  117.8 miles

2015 Total Miles:  1,044.5 miles