A superhero’s origin story is often one of the most fascinating parts of the character. There’s a reason Marvel keeps rebooting Spider-Man every few years, or why the Rocky franchise somehow made it to nine (maybe ten?) films.
For me, 2025 has felt like the latest reboot in my own fitness saga. The pattern is familiar: I let my body slip into disrepair, eventually find the spark to get back in shape, struggle for months, then—slowly—motivation turns into obsession. That’s when the “superpower” unlocks.
This year, I can feel it happening again. Runs that once left me gasping now feel effortless. I’m holding hard paces for multiple miles without breaking down, even finishing long runs in an all-out sprint. Some of it is measurable, but some of it is just… a feeling. Like energy pulsing through my veins—lighter joints, more stamina, a spring in my step.
Of course, it’s not just a vibe. The numbers back me up. My VO₂ max climbed from 42 at the start of the year to nearly 52 today. My estimated 5K pace has dropped by almost four minutes. My monthly step count has jumped by 40–50K steps compared to last year, and not just from running. I’ve noticed I’m more likely to take an extra walk, even after a morning run, simply because I want to. More energy, better mood—it all adds up.
The toughest piece of the puzzle has been weight. I’ve lost around 8–10 pounds this year, but the trend hasn’t been smooth. It feels like I plateau at a number for months, then—overnight—the scale drops a couple pounds, and I hover again. Day-to-day fluctuations make sense with water and digestion, but the “step-down pattern” over weeks still puzzles me.
I don’t track calories obsessively, but I eat reasonably well and exercise a lot. By all logic, that should translate into steady, predictable weight loss. Yet my body seems calibrated to a set point, only occasionally hitting the “reset” button and shifting down. Cutting out alcohol a few years ago hardly budged the scale either. Age and metabolism definitely factor in, but one thing’s clear: the more miles I put in—and the more I harness those exercise endorphins to keep food cravings in check—the more progress I see.
Right now, I’m chasing the 170s. My lowest weigh-ins so far have been 181 and 182, both within the last week. That’s close enough to know I’m knocking on the door. Dropping another 10–12 pounds will get me where I should be. Another 20? That’s where I want to be.
This may not be the final chapter in the saga, but it definitely feels like the beginning of a powerful new arc.
As I’ve mentioned before, Garmin is far more likely to
schedule me a recovery run than a hard effort. So when it finally throws a
workout my way, I try to take full advantage. Today I ran the warm-up,
intervals, recoveries, and cooldown all faster than prescribed, finishing with 7.02
miles at 7:38 pace.
For perspective: almost exactly a year ago (September 7,
2024), I was just starting to rebuild fitness. I decided to “hammer” a 7-miler,
went out too hot, pushed into fatigue, and ended with 7 miles at 7:47 pace.
At the time, I was proud of it—it felt
like a milestone.
Today, I covered the same distance a full minute faster—and it felt way easier. Progress like this feels like another chapter in my superhero reboot. During this build phase, I’m steadily unlocking new levels of fitness—each week revealing a fresh achievement that fuels the fire of my motivation. For now, the momentum feels endless, and I know it will carry me forward for quite a while.
But at some point, the story shifts. I’ll peak, or maybe plateau. The milestones won’t come as quickly or as often. That’s when the real challenge begins—not in chasing new highs, but in learning to hold steady. That’s where balance matters most. To stay satisfied with maintaining a strong, sustainable level of fitness, instead of flying too close to the sun like Icarus.
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