The NY Times recently stated that "Staying healthy isn't just a matter of your genes and your diet - good health is also a product, in part, of your sheer proximity to other healthy people. " In conclusion the study said "If you want to improve the world with your good behavior, math is on your side. For most of us, within 3 degrees, we are connected to more than 1000 people - all of whom we can theoretically make healthier, fitter and happier just by our contagious example."
My house growing up was not what you would call unhealthy but it wasn't what its like today. We always had like 5 cartons of ice cream in the freezer and chocolate hidden in special places but if we wanted junk food, we went to the neighbors. Now, its even worse. The freezer is down to 3 cartons, no hidden chocolate anywhere and we still have to go to the neighbors for junk food. I have to say that as the years after I moved out continue to pass, the house becomes more and more "Rachel Friendly". Meaning, only whole wheat bread, quinoa, no cookies anywhere... Like I said, its not that we ever had any real junk food in the house, but I do like to think that I had some type of influence on how the members of my family eat now, even with me not there. But they are still cooking with margarine and eating dairy products, gross. We have a treadmill that my Mom uses, my Dad goes to the gym every day and my brother is on the RKYHS Soccer team. As a personal trainer, I do have an influence on people around me to persue a healthier lifestyle and it has worked on some of my classmates too. I would never force anyone to do something that they didn't want to do unless it was a life or death circumstance... Come to think of it, not exercising is a life or death circumstance. We are learning Internal Medicine now in school and every disease we have covered has sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor, that and smoking. Still, I hope that my healthy aura and toned delts and glutes have their effect on those around me :)
With that said, I continue on my quest in spreading the wealth and health of running. There are lots of ways to benefit from running other than shrinking a wasteline. I admit that I did start running as a means to get fit and it seems to be doing the trick now with the extra miles that I am logging each week. What I would like to share with the masses is that running can be as theraputic as a punching bag and believe me, I speak from experience. One day a while back, say 5 years ago, I was in a really bad mood and I was going to be having a boxing session that next morning but I needed to somehow get out my frustrations right then and there so I took to the pavement. It was the best thing I could have done. I felt so wiped after but yet so refreshed. Now, whenever I am in a bad mood you can guarentee that I will do 1 of 2 things, bake or run, sometimes even both, but not at the same time... Sprints are the best medicine for a bad mood. I go for a half hour, even 20 minutes and I am a happier person. I know for a fact that I am not the only person who this pertains to. Try it out for yourselves.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds up, please god (!), I will be logging 13-14km outside on the hills of Jerusalem with Danielle. (I can't wait for my new running shoes to come with my Mom!) I have no idea how long it will take us, probably an hour 45. We will be running part of the track of the 1/2 marathon through the Jerusalem Forest, one of the nicest places to run. Back when I was training for the 2008 1/2 marathon I ran through there every time I ran outside, it is my favorite place in this town to run, even if its hills are a bitch. Someone should piss me off tomorrow morning, maybe it will help me on those hills...
Now to log in my passed runs...
Wednesday was my speed work day. It went down like this: 8oo meters sprint, 400 meter walk x3 + 200 meters sprint, 100 meter walk x4 and the rest run = 5 km. It was hard, but obviously beneficial. Thursday was my rest day. Friday was also sprints since I didn't have time for a 10k. I ran 2km pretty fastly paced and the last 3 were 2 minute sprints 1 minute walk/jog until I finished the 5 kms. All days included some arm and ab work.
Hope y'all have a great happy and healthy week! Maybe some pictures from the forest will accompany the next log...
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