I've learned to breathe!

I know that probably sounds weird and/or ridiculous.  When I walked into the door from working out and declared it to Justin, he made a smart ass comment about breathing in, and then breathing back out again.

But seriously guys, I ran an entire mile on the track without stopping AND without getting any sort of side/lung cramp.  This is news!

My Uncle Luis e-mailed me after I wrote about not being able to run very far without getting crippling side cramps.  Since I've started my work out routine again, I could generally only run 2-3 laps around the track without being in pretty severe pain, and then would have to walk 1-2 laps, and then run 1-2 again, alternating back and forth so I could get my breath back and alleviate the pain in my side.  Anyways, he suggested breathing in for 4 counts and breathing out for 4 counts, using my steps as indicators--then moving to 2 and 2 when my breathing picked up.  Stephanie from work also suggested the same thing to me when I saw her at work.  And let me tell you, THIS WORKS.  So seriously, thank you to both Luis and Stephanie.

It was amazing to be able to keep up with the other people on the track.  I always felt like such a loser for only being able to run a few laps and then walk when other people are running laps around me.  While I'm still not in awesome shape, I know I was in good enough shape to run more than 1/4 of a mile around a track.

After my work out, I was thinking about it, and I've never not had side cramping when running.  I always just assumed that it had something to do with me never being in excellent shape or because I've always been some kind of overweight/obese, and that's what happens when fat people try to run.  I've played soccer most of my life, but the nice thing about that sport is as a defender you're not generally running the entire game, so I always had moments of rest, so the side cramps never completely immobilized me.

I know its silly to be excited about "learning to breathe," but this is cool.  Now I can concentrate on running further and longer instead of feeling like I'm going to keel over and die at the rec center.

Woot!