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Running and Piano

I started running again about three weeks ago. I used to run a lot, but I haven't run regularly in years. Every time I start to increase my distance, I end up with an injury. Every time--no matter how careful I am.

Still, I'm trying again. I found a doable Couch-to-5K program online and started with an easy run-1-minute-walk-1-minute workout. Now I'm up to running 5 minutes and walking three minutes. For my next run (tomorrow night), I'll run 5 minutes and walk two minutes, four times.

My latest run: Run 5 min, walk 3 min, X 4 (plus warmup and cooldown)

It feels so good to feel like an athlete again. I'm definitely not an athlete, but I feel like one when I'm running. It feels good to break a sweat and to get short of breath and then recover and then run again.

Piano isn't a sport, but the feelings are similar. It feels good to know I'm in shape, pianistically. I can't tell you the amazing feeling of looking at a difficult passage in Liszt, and then being able to play it a day or two or three later. I love the focus that both piano and running demand. I love that working on each, a little at a time, results in better performance over time.

I'm excited about running and music. I am failing at most things in life, but these are two areas where I can succeed, as long as I take injuries seriously and don't try to push through the pain.

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