The Last Man to Run

DISCLAIMER: I do this for all those who have wanted to give running a try but don't know how to feel about it. I hope my experiences will allow you to vicariously live the first and most feared days of training. Ok. So this time was only a little over 1 mile, but the fact that I even went out after the beating I took last time, makes me feel like a new man. Are you wondering what it feels like to not run and then push yourself hard? Let me answer in 2 ways. 1- On a personal level: It feels awesome. Learning or re-learning that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, is really empowering. It doesn't matter if it's a great distance or not. All that matters is that it's a challenge to you, and that YOU accomplish it. You are only accountable to yourself. In fact, this makes it easier to get out and do it. No one is going to tell you that you didn't do as much as someone else on their first try. However, this is also why it's so dangerous, because n...

Ok, it wasn't a 10K or anything impressive - (are 10K's impressive? it sounds impressive but maybe I'm just making myself look like an even bigger running virgin). My first shot at running was a humble 1.8 miles. Just from my house to the city library and back. I didn't set out to inspire anyone, however, usually that would be a drive for me. A distance worth driving is too far to walk and much less to run. This is why I thought it'd be a good goal, I'd be pushing myself but at the same time and in a worst case scenario I could drag myself the last 3 blocks. Also, it is a decently trafficked area on either side of the route so someone would have noticed my unconscious body on the sidewalk - and hopefully someone would have done something about it. So, I put on my Fila Skeletoes shoes (more on this later), secured my Camelbak - pathetic I know, but just in case, after all I didn't know how my body would respond not only to the physical aspect of it but...

"Born to Run my ###! Running is for fools!" That's what I have always said and always truly have believed. My name is Brigham Iraheta, and this is quite the fun experiment. I hope you enjoy it and that you can find something helpful to you - even if it's just forgetting about work for a bit, because you're probably reading this instead of doing your job. I won't tell. "Why? Why? What's so fun about running, going from point A to B? At best that's like being a more mobile, faster zombie - which would be catastrophic, actually." No way! If there's not a basketball, football, soccer ball or even volley ball to go after, don't even bother trying to get me involved. I need an opponent across the way to put to shame - or accuse of cheating if I lose - otherwise I'm not going to mess with it. That was me 2 months ago. Then again, back then I also looked like this. Look, I know it's nothing impressiv...