Resting and running

I went to go see the smoking nurse yesterday to get more nicotine patches (one day soon I will be completely nicotine free). Each time I go she takes three readings: carbon monoxide, blood pressure and heart rate. My carbon monoxide still hasn't dropped to zero, which it should be for a non-smoker. Apparently, the fact that I'm asthmatic has an impact on this as well. My blood pressure is always in the normal range, which is lucky considering that I've been an on and off smoker for over half of my life.

My resting heart rate is usually normal as well, but it usually in the upper ranges -- between 85 and 95. This has been the case for a while now. This time, however, my heart rate was 65. The nurse didn't comment on it, but I was pretty pleased. Apparently, there really is something to this regular exercise thing. I'm sure not smoking for the past four and a half months has helped, as well.

In other news, Joanne and I ran for 18 minutes yesterday. We're very close to being able to run all the way around Clapham Common, as well. My personal goal is to be able to run for 30 minutes, which should translate into running twice around the Common. This, in turn, will mean that the next time we run a 5k, we will run the whole thing. No walking.