I’m running nearly every day at this point, but not very far. During the week, I’ll run in the afternoons (around 4:30pm), going just over two miles. On Saturday, I get together with a group at my apartment complex and we do a 3/4 mile run then some sprints and other running/cardio exercises.

The daily runs haven’t been getting easier lately. But then, I feel like I’ve been sick for a couple months now. For a few weeks it was a cold, but now I’ve got an allergy cough that’s really annoying. I want to run three miles, or more, but making that distance without stopping is beyond me at this point.

I hope some of you can commiserate. Half the people in the Saturday running group have no trouble busting out that 3/4 mile. Anyone that’s a serious runner would scoff at that. But I’m at 250 pounds right now, and 5′10″. I’m carrying a lot of mass, and I’m not very fit. Running 3/4 mi would have been a crazy idea a year ago, so at least I’ve improved, but I still find it difficult.

Walking is cake. I can walk for miles. I can also sprint … for very short distances. At a slow jog, I can probably make it through a 5k without stopping to walk at any point, but I haven’t come close to trying. The 2.2 mile “run” I normally do is usually half jogging and half walking, skewed a little towards jogging. But I don’t run very fast.

What’s the difference between running and jogging? It’s useful to describe different concepts; I’d probably guess a run requires a faster pace. So: I’m jogging. Sprints are sprints, but normally when I go out for a “run” it’s just at a jogging pace.

I think I’m going to try doing sprints tonight. Haven’t done them in a long while (except during Saturday runs), and I think it’s a good way to improve fitness.