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New Look, New Goal
by Ray Russell

Latest Update: January 29, 2010

The earlier posts about health and fitness can be found from the installment archive link above.

Dozens of people have asked that I publish a photo contrast of the old Ray (almost 230 lbs) and the new Ray (about 150 lbs) on the site. Okay... here it is (with my wonderful wife, Rhonda, a kindergarten teacher at Parkway School).

In a previous post, I said that it was important to set goals for fitness and nutrition (even if that goal is to maintain). Well, I have a new goal... To run the Boston Marathon, April 19, in about 3 hours 20 minutes. Thanks to the fine folks at Zap Fitness, I have a spot reserved in Boston. I have been training since the beginning of the year (after a few weeks rest from the Charlotte Marathon).

I'm longing for some milder weather. In marathon training, one has to make one long run each week (in addition to shorter runs 5 days each week). Those 1.5 to 2 hour runs are really tough in this cold. "You can't fake a marathon"; so I running in the cold and at the Wellness Center on treadmills these days. In fact, you'll find many runners around town every day in all conditions.

For good health, you don't have to run and you certainly don't have to run marathons. The key is to do something to get your heart pumping for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. Whether its running, walking, swimming, cycling, etc. Get out there! You'll be amazed at what a difference it will make over time.