At 47 I ran my first half-marathon. I remember feeling like I was in the best health ever while training and then successfully completing the run. I loved the whole process so much that I did a second half-marathon the following year. For those of you who were reading my blog back then, you’ll remember that I did these runs as part of a fundraiser for a homeless youth agency in Denver I support. Running for a cause definitely helped!These days, just a couple years later and now 51, I’m not as physically fit as I was back then and sometimes I feel like giving up. Not giving up on a muscle-chiseled body (I’ve never exercised for that purpose) but in the sense of the commitment and effort to work out so I stay as healthy as possible.
I’m not giving up, and neither should you.
One can be the best vegan ever and if there is no exercise going on then the health effects of being vegan will only go so far. The real reason for me not wanting to give up is because I feel so much better, both physically and mentally, when I exercise that no matter how “tough” it might be for me it is all totally worth it.
I know that life is crazy. Days fly by and before you know it a month has passed. Then a year. With work, family, traffic, activism and so on, it’s easy (at least for me) to think that there is no time to work out, or that it’s a hassle. It’s all worth it for me. Sometimes it’s a quick walk around the block from our home. Maybe it’s going up and down the stairs at work. Running is fun and for me when I run consistently I feel incredible. The gym is great. No matter what weight you can lift, it’s exhilarating! There is also yoga, swimming, racquetball and so much more! In regards to exercise, there is something for everyone.
Don’t give up. And definitely don’t shame yourself for not exercising this way or that amount of time. Exercise at a level that works for you. If I can keep it up so can you!
