So Out Of Shape

Every day I take the metro to work. Once I get to the stop closest to State, I walk about 6 blocks to get to the building. Its a long walk, but still, its good exercise. And there is no way I would take the bus those few blocks. I mean, really, how lazy can you be? In fact, there are many people who do this...take the metro and then the bus. I have mentioned them before and will never stoop to their level.

In any case, after work, I walk the 6 blocks again, hop on the metro, and make my way home. At my metro stop however, the escalator is not working. This means that every morning I run down the escalator "stairs," and every evening, I climb up them. This is where the out of shapeness comes in. The first day I had to climb those stairs, I was so out of breath it was embarrassing. I could not believe it. I mean, I knew I was out of shape, but really? So, after that horrendous trek up the stairs, I debated going up the escalators that do work but put you out on the opposite of the street. Then I realized that the only way I will get back into shape is to walk up those stairs every day. So, that's what I'm doing. And its getting easier every day. At first, after the first 20 steps, I was feeling out of breath. Then it was after 25, then 30, etc. This past weekend, I even ran all the way up when I in a rush and had to get back to my apartment really fast. the only annoying thing now is that there are people who are super slow getting up the stairs, and that's more painful than going up quickly. Regardless, while I may still be a bit out of breath when I get to the top, it is not nearly as bad as it was, and I think it will get better and better as I do it.

Now, I am considering taking the stairs instead of the elevators at work. This is a big step though, as my office is on the 8th floor. Still, it would be even more exercise, which can only be a good thing.

I have also decided that once I finish school (for real this time) and am actually getting paid (yet another saga; fingers crossed I get money within the week), that I want to start going to the gym. I mean, I live right across the street from a Washington Sports Club, so why not? There a very few excuses when you can walk across the street and be at the gym, lol.

Anyway, I now feel a bit better about myself, but I know I still have a looooong way to go to get back in shape. My goal is to get back into the shape I was in in high school. That was when I was dancing (tap, jazz, ballet) almost every night of the week and marching for band (at least in the fall). I had muscles, I could run less than an 8 minute mile, I could do a million crunches, and I felt better about myself. One of these days soon I will get there. For now though, each step I take up those stairs is another step in the right direction. :-)