To get into the academy I’m aiming for, I need to pass a physical test. Push-ups, sit-ups, vertical jump—most of the test is just a measure of basic muscle strength, which isn’t exactly something I’m worried about developing. What’s got me is the cardio.

Based on my age and sex, I have to be able to run a mile and a half in 12 minutes, 53 seconds. Generally, this should not be a hard feat. Now, I’ve got my speed up to 6mph, which gives me a ten minute mile I can sustain for twenty minutes. It puts me 2:07 over the target time, so I have to go faster. If I want to barely pass the time, I need to be able to sustain 7mph throughout. If I don’t want to be cutting it so close, I should get my speed up to 7.5mph.

Prior to starting my training a few months ago, it had been nearly seven years since I’d attempted to jog so far as a mile, and my freshman high school record was somewhere around the 12 minute mark. Pathetic, I know, but when would I ever need to run a mile outside high school?

So I’ve got a long way to go, but I’ve made some progress. Yay.