This post was written by Heather Rae.  Follow me on Twitter or StumbleUpon.

I recently read the memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami.  Murakami claimed that being a writer, a novelist in particular, is of the least healthy professions a person can undertake.

At first, I didn’t quite get how that could be.  I mean, really, I could think of a few professions that seem way less healthy.

But now I get it.

Since leaving my job, I do most of my work at home.  I write.  And then I surf the web.  And then I write some more.  All this reading and writing does exercise my brain but it does little to exercise my actual muscles. I’ve been pretty sedentary lately.

Here’s the thing about being a novelist — you sit all day.  You don’t move.  You don’t even get up to talk to your coworker.  Because you don’t have one. You work alone.  And while you sit at your desk, you live in your mind, giving life to stories that aren’t real.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this:  we writers, well, we need to get out once in a while. And it wouldn’t hurt to move a little more either.

Without a set schedule (the kind that evolves from a 9 to 5 job), I’m finding it difficult to stick to a workout routine. I used to exercise every morning like clockwork.  I would fit it in after I ate breakfast and before I took a shower.  Somehow, letting go of my work schedule has also caused me to let go of my workout schedule.

So here’s my solution:  I need a goal to reach for.

Looking at my list of 20 Things in 2010, I realize that I already have a the perfect built-in goal for this year — to train for and complete a half marathon.

I know, I know.  After the last marathon, I swore I would never do that again.  But this is different.  That was a full marathon.  This is a half.  Totally doable.  At least, I hope so.

So that’s what I plan to focus on to keep my self from turning into a lump on a log.

Take a look at my very first video.  I talk about next steps and offer some questions to you, my readers.  (Also, I’d love your feedback on the video.  I’m thinking of posting videos more often.  Ideas encouraged and greatly appreciated!)