Since the beginning of the running course, I have noticed more definition in my calves and that my waistline seems to have decreased slightly. Aerobic and Cardiovascular Changes:

Initially, my endurance was limited by my aerobic capacity because I would get winded comparatively soon into my runs and I had to walk until my breathing allowed me to increase my pace again. I noticed that this improved very quickly and I attribute that to the fact that regular aerobic exercise increases aerobic fitness and endurance. Likewise, my resting pulse rate has decreased from approximately 62 beats per minute to approximately 56 and that my pulse rate also returns to normal faster than it did in the beginning. I attribute this to the fact that regular exercise also improves cardiovascular efficiency and circulation.

Performance Changes:

My running times have decreased in comparison...

Specifically, I have learned to conserve extraneous movement of my arms and to keep my feet closer to the ground instead of wasting energy lifting my whole body weight several more inches off the ground on each stride. My stride length has also shortened somewhat which also seems to have helped me reduce the impact of each individual stride. Finally, I attribute some of my improved performance to the fact that my stride has also improved in that my weight is now distributed more smoothly and transitions from my heels to my toes, whereas in the beginning, I tended to land more flat-footed on each step. I appreciate all of these beneficial changes and hope to continue running after this course is over.