This afternoon I went for a run. Of course I did.
Maybe all of you think I'm going to drop dead while running. I doubt it. If you read my blog, you know that not only do I think running is amazing for your overall health but that it's a wonderful antidote for growing older. I'm not saying there aren't any risks. Drink coffee? Coffee can kill you, but it can also keep dementia away. Eggs will clog your arteries. Oh wait -- there are health benefits from eating eggs. In the end, you can make your case for living whatever kind of life you want to live.
Personally, I feel that running is a gift from God. It's far better than sitting on the sofa watching TV all day and eating Doritos. I don't really care what this study or that study says. Anything you do in life involves a risk. So you find what you love to do and then accept the risks. The alternative is to live your life always thinking about every little thing that could happen to you.
I will not live my life that way.
Yes, I will be responsible. Yes, I will see my cardiologist annually. Yes, I will take probiotics, multivitamins, and enzymes daily. Yes, I will eat well and sleep well. Yes, I will listen to my body. Will I stop running? The answer is no.
Everything we do is a risk. Doing no exercise is bad for you. Doing too much exercise is bad for you. The same can be said about anything else in our lives. Even drinking water. Frankly -- and here's something Baptists are particularly reticent to accept -- nearly everybody in North America is on the too little exercise side of the equation. I run several times a week. At no time am I sore or achy. At no time am I out of breath. I'd prefer the risk of running and being able to perform hard physical labor any day over being sedentary. What if I do die running? Then I died doing something I loved.
At 74, my motto is, "Everything in moderation." I still run 32-mile ultras but I am not an "extreme" athlete. I run (or walk) slowly and take my time finishing the race. I run ultras simply for the athletic aspect of it, regardless of the level I compete at. In fact, because of my God-given temperament, even if there were no health benefits from running, I would still do it if it made me feel on top of the world. I love running like so many others do but not necessarily to have a longer life but to have a better life. The feeling of wellbeing cannot be overstated. I am a true believer that you do what works for you. Give your body what it needs to be healthy.
Thank the Lord, I've never felt better or stronger. I still have a lot of work to do with my aging body and will continue to push myself. If I die in the process, so be it. I choose to live better each day. Running makes me live better.
Everything in moderation -- including moderation!