Progress

I ran another personal best timed mile on the treadmill this week. I did it in 8:37. I am in completely uncharted territory and am knocking on the 8:30 door. While on the treadmill yesterday, I read my workout journal to see where I used to be. I guess I also read it to keep me distracted from the boredom that only the treadmill can inflict.

My lifting partner said he doesn’t like to look to the past, only to the future. While part of that is probably a good idea, I think learning and motivation can be derived from the past. I mentioned previously that keeping a list of accomplishments motivates me when I’m trying to do new things. While on the treadmill, I read that in the past year, I tried and failed to run a mile at 6.8mph and twice I tried and failed to run a mile at 6.7mph. I read that the day after I successfully ran a mile at 6.9mph.

It’s been really fun to keep track of the strength progress too because my lifting is coming along pretty well. I’m lifting heavier weights than I ever have. I used to struggle to incline bench 50lb and now I can do 85lb 8 times on my third set. When I was at Case, my 1 rep max out bench press was 105lb and now I’m somewhere in the 125lb range and I can do 105lb 8 times. With authority.

I keep getting faster and stronger but I’m not losing any weight. BAH. Though my body weight is not budging and my body fat analyzer is not recognizing an increase in muscle mass, I will not be discouraged. Adopting a slogan I really like from a website, I will not be defeated. And neither will you.