Usually if the locals say the mayor is running again,
they’re talking about politics. But if you’ve heard people use the phrase lately
about Livingston Mayor Jason Medley, they really are talking about running,
literally.
At age 35, Medley has decided it’s time he got himself physically fit, and he’s challenging residents of Livingston and all of Rockcastle County to do the same. He’ll participate in the 4th annual Livingston Leap Aug. 31, and he has issued the town’s first-ever Mayor’s Fitness Challenge. The names of those who finish ahead of him in the race will be put in a drawing for a cash prize of $50.
So how fast will you have to go to get a chance at the money? His goal is to complete the 5K, or 3.1 miles, in 30 minutes, which is a 9:41-per-mile pace. For those you treadmill fans, that’s 6.2 miles per hour.
Medley, who until recently hadn’t run a mile without stopping since high school, has been training for a few weeks. He’s now up to running one mile three days a week while walking a half mile each evening, and he has lost five pounds.
He says his workouts are physically difficult for him, but
mentally he feels great. “I can’t wait for the Leap. I feel like this event
will be fun for the community, and we’ve got a lot of people talking about it.”
If you’re thinking about participating in a 5K, a good resource is http://www.coolrunning.com. And always consult your physician before any new training program. We are not kidding about this. I’ve observed, over and over again, how easily it is to get injured doing something such as running that your body isn’t used to. Take it slow, and monitor your body for any strange pains or sensations.
For information on how to register for the Leap, go to http://www.rockcastleregional.org/race
and click on Livingston Leap. If you miss the leap, Rockcastle Regional
sponsors a race every month, so we hope to see you sooner or later!
Also, for great insight into why one man runs long
distances, check out the link below. It’s the best I’ve read in a long while.
