Determination, Dedication, and Discipline.

After an hour of a fitness program at school, I dragged myself down to the gym for a run.
I could tell that I was obviously tired out from the last few days and the workout at school. My timing wasn't as good, and my calves were tingling.

So I jogged at an easier pace (about 8km/hr) and tried to distract myself by watching sports on ESPN.

Now... I have NEVER actually watched sports.
But this was pretty interesting.
I saw these guys practically flying through the air - long jump of some sort.
I found myself almost cheering at one point when this guy in the lead managed to get a jump of more than 17 (meters I think?).
Are these people HUMAN???

I also watched some javelin throwing, high jump, and a 200 meter sprint (mens).
VERY inspiring.
Before long, I had run almost 3 km.
So I decided I'd stick in and run 4km.
Since watching sports seemed to be a pretty good distraction.

Next came some running events.
Nice.
I managed to take some mental notes:
mostly heel-toe runners.
Arms pump hard.
Focus written on faces.
The winner of one of the men's events was shown in slow-motion, and I noticed that his breathing was very deliberate and measured.
So far so good - points that I had been more or less trying to practices when I run.

Then came a women's race.
I think it was a cross-country.
Better still - I can observe how the gals run long distance.

Off they went at a pace that immediately shamed me.
Arm pumping hard, they stayed together in a pack.
Again, heel-toe.
But this time I noticed how they practically pulled the ground with their feet as they run.
I don't know how else to describe it other than pulling the ground.
It looked as if they used their feet and friction to give them more speed.

I looked at the distance covered on my treadmill - almost 5km!
So I decided to sprint the last bit to 5km.
Pumped up the speed to 12km/Hr.
As I pumped my arms, I tried doing what I had seen with my feet.
OK, a bit hard on the treadmill... somehow.
Or maybe I'm just not used to it.
But after a while, I noticed that my limbs felt like a well-oiled machine.

5km!
PHEW!

Slowed the pace - didn't want to kill my heart.
I'm not THAT in shape.... :p