Fitness Finesse

Fitness and exercise used to be more of a hobby than a true commitment. It wasn’t until I joined the Air Force that I began to take it seriously. Every year, we had to pass a fitness evaluation where we had to run one and a half miles. It doesn’t sound like much now, but back then it might as well have been 20.

With the impending date of the evaluation just around the corner, I woke up one morning and decided to just do it. I got dressed and went out on the road alongside the flight line and attempted to run.

However, after about a quarter mile, I was totally out of breath. I literally thought I was going to die. I was determined not to give up, so I took it slow, running a little farther each time.

Soon I was easily running up to two miles and not only did I pass my evaluation, but I began to love running. It gave me a certain freedom that I never felt before.

When you get older, it's not about being able to fit into your favorite jeans; it becomes more about being fit and healthy. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have to be cute, but I get a bigger rush out of running five miles, three times a week, and being able to carry my five-year-old and a bag of groceries at the same time.

They say it all comes together at 40, if that’s the case I want to see how good it gets at 50, 60 and beyond! My great-grandmother lived to be 101 so I think I’ve got a shot.