Exactly one year ago today, I stood at the starting line of the Storm the Bastille 5K run, sweating profusely, wondering what I got myself into.

Last night, I was also sweating bullets at the starting line, but not because I wasn't sure if I could finish. This time, my perspiration came from heat and humidity. Unlike last year, in which I began running eight days before the race, this time I came with a year of preparation under my belt.

And, while I didn't break 30 minutes for the 3.1-mile run like I hoped, I still set a personal record of 31 minutes, 37 seconds. That's five minutes and 41 seconds faster than last year, which still isn't particularly fast -- averaging out to a pace a of 10:10 -- but at least is a little more respectable than my 2009 showing.

In one year and nine days, I have apparently run 315.33 miles, burning 42,519 calories. To put that into perspective, that's the distance from my house to the outskirts of Minneapolis -- which seems pretty far. Oddly, I've only lost about eight pounds, though maybe it's not so odd since I haven't changed my eating habits at all.

But I'm sure I'm healthier than I was a year ago today. Even though my shin splints are hurting badly right now, 5K is no longer a scary distance (I did Al's Run, an 8K, last October) and I'm wondering if I could eventually try a half marathon. I even cajoled my wife into running with me (she just started and ran a respectable 32:45 or so), which makes running a fun family activity, even pushing a jogging stroller.

And other runners tell me the Storm the Bastille is one of their favorite events, a hot and sweaty nighttime jaunt through Downtown that ends at Bastille Days. I agree -- as sore as I feel this morning, I'm also full of personal and Milwaukee pride right now.

They say you can't teach speed, either you're born fast or you're not. I'm pretty sure I was born slow, so I'm not terribly concerned that I'll never run a 5K in 20 minutes, or maybe even 25. But 30 minutes is now within my grasp, and I think by the end of the summer I can be there.

It's a great feeling for a slow, fat guy like myself to not only improve, but to stick with an exercise regime for a year and counting. I might take the weekend to rest, but then it's time to get back outside keep my momentum moving forward.