Maybe I’m overtired. (That’s a given.) But I’m finding this hilarious.
Like nearly anyone with upcoming races (of any distance) on the calendar, this time of year spells active training. OK, for most of us, that’s pretty much the case all year round, but we tend to pour it on in the spring months, as we prep for warm-weather races.
Enter my physician here.
Having postponed several checkups and procedures during the peak of the recent pandemic, I finally decided to book and show up for a routine physical. The doctor nagged me about some age-appropriate testing, which I did. He also ordered some lab-work, primarily as benchmarks.
The short version is simple: Everything came back OK.
Then I received a very brief letter (via snail mail) from my
doc.
“Labs are normal. Try to get some exercise, if possible.”
Um, what? More exercise?
This week, as the month of May comes to a close, I’m passing 900 miles for the year (so far).
More exercise?
In the very expensive 12 1/2 minutes that my physician actually spent with me in his office exam room, he did ask me if I’m doing any more marathons this year. I told him I have a few half marathons on the books and might add a full one for the fall. (So many races were canceled in the past couple of years that I am taking a bit of a wait-and-see attitude on the pricier ones.)
We also talked about the four cardio classes I do each week, along with my equestrian pursuits, cani-cross endeavors (with two large, happy, high-energy beasts), and other fitness activities.
I might not have mentioned that every one of the fitness professionals with whom I interact each week frequently reminds me of the importance of scheduling down-time and actually taking rest days now and them. (I’m not so good at that. My idea of a rest day usually ends up with me trying to keep up with a busy two year old grandkid or spending several hours digging in the garden.)
Geez. I hope that was a form letter.
And I guess the doc didn’t notice that my BMI is well within the best range, and my weight was actually down from the last time it was clocked in my file.
Still, I’m lacing up my sneaks and dashing out for more exercise – but not because the doctor said so.
Seriously, telling a runner to get more exercise is like telling a chocoholic to go eat another hunk of chocolate. Let’s call my physician an enabler…
Related Items:
- Do I really need a running rest day?
- Marathons: Maybe I lied about one-and-done
- Power Play: 15 reasons runners often run faster in races than training runs
- Summer goal: Finding my abs
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