Date: 2010-01-09 18:06:14 Created: 2010-01-09 13:06:02
Ever since I got into the habit of running again, almost four years ago now, I have only got lighter. More than ten kilos, in fact. This has some strange effects for me.
To start off, I can actually consider myself both quite thin and in good physical shape. Both these things still feel new, surprising and energising to me. Rightfully or not, my self image has always been more along the lines of "slightly too round and definitely not in good shape".
I can eat whatever I want, as long as I do not do it all the time. And this, just like exercise in itself, seems pretty self-enforcing. I keep eating decently, and when I do break out into candy, desserts and other great things I do not consume as much of them as I may have previously. But I certainly enjoy good food, drink and candy just as much as I always have.
Another fun effect is that I have become twisted enough that I sort of expect every irregularity in exercise and/or food intake to completely break the trend and turn me into a shapeless blob. There is still a kick when, as has been the case every time to far, I get back into my habits and discover that this is not the case.
However, there is at least one potential downside for the rest of the world. My natural tendency is to not consider what I do very special. I assume that someone else who puts in the same amount of time will achieve a similar or better result, and I rarely consider my own achievements remarkable. In short, I tend to assume that what I do everyone else can do at least as easily. I am not quite sure, but once you get the feeling that running 21 kilometres well under two hours is not such a special thing, it might not help or motivate other people to say that anyone should be able to do the same pretty easily.
Where does it stop? I have no idea. So far I have kept improving, but I get the feeling that I am approaching a level that I should try to maintain "indefinitely" instead of trying to push for more. Once I started thinking that I am in my best shape ever, the thought that it might all be downhill from here was not so far off. Hence: a thought to enjoy it while it lasts, make sure it lasts as long as possible, and do not try to pull any mad stunts which could backfire and ruin things.
Yes yes, I know I am getting old. I am trying to be at ease with it, see? If this is as good as it is ever going to get, I can still feel good about it.