day one again

Not sure why on why I prefer the colder weather to start my exercise programs, but I do.  Maybe because the hot summer days and running no longer work for me, and I can't stand to be indoors running on a treadmill when it is a great day to play golf.  Starting over is not a depressing event for me, it's an invitation to enjoy life and living. It is a chance to do better and to make a different significant change to my lifestyle.
The plan is simple, exercise and eat better to lose weight. The old midsection needs to diminish and I need to get some of this load off my feet and knees.  So it's back to the gym and following the "diet," though I prefer "eating," plan in order to get it done.  I know from the start I will fail on some days and I will excel on others, the overall result must be in the positive direction.  ... wait ... did I just see a guy on GMA who gained weight in order to go through the loss of weight experience of his clients? Really? Publicity stunt?

Yesterday I managed a 30 minute session on the elliptical trainer.  hmmm ... I didn't seem to mind it too much, my knee is alright and my foot did not hurt any more than usual.  I did an online search of elliptical training machine routines. Jillian Michaels is all over helping people through a web based automatic response, personal training program.  Amazingly all of the exercise activities selected for me were the ones I selected in pre-program survey.  First week is free, then it's four dollars a week (I think ... I immediately opted out) charged directly to your credit card.

Later today is shopping for the proper food to eat this week. Using the Belly Off diet to help keep me focused.  2 kilo calories a day with lots of mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). I will be making a batch of fire water later this afternoon.

Goals

I will be returning to the gym next week. I tried running a couple of days ago...oh boy! My focus will be to start weight training and core work with two outcomes in mind.

1. lose weight
2. improve my golf game.

My goals for improving my golf game are:

I am becoming a 10 or lower handicap golfer.
Not embarrassed of intimidated by anyone on my course.
I will practice with focus to  develop a foundation of skills that I can draw upon, such that each shot becomes a natural extention of  my athletic abilites..
My improvements start in play start today, I will reach this goal by July 1, 2011
Marker for achieving my goal will be three consecutive rounds played in the low 80's at trcc.

I continue to improve today.

Did it ... starting to working on it

Half marathon completed yesterday, ran the Great Bay Half Marathon 2011 in Newmarket NH. Got around the course in 2:15:29, averaging 10:29 a miles. It was a successful event in that I wsas able to run the entire distance. As I anticipated, I hit a wall and pushed through it at the 11.5 mile mark.

Taking pride in your accomplishments is vital to moving forward. It was great to accomplish something have never attempted before. I am not the fastest runner and had no dreams of a miraculous, kid from nowhere coming on to a first place finish. I finished and enjoyed the experience. I hope that along the I provided some comfort and support to those around me.

Smewhare about five miles out I find myself running next a lady, we had been close together for the past five minutes. Thirty or more runners pass us in that time, I ask her "do you thing anyone else is behind us?" She grins, shakes her head then picks up her pace leaving me behind. On I plod.

Coming to a hill, a big hill, a steep long hill with what appeared to be goats at the top hill. I swear I heard yodelling. I glanced to my left and spotted a woman bounding up the aforementioned hill. She looked like those astronauts skipping across the lunar surface as she floated past my lumbering.

I mentioned that "I wished I had lost those ten pounds I was planning to do last month."
She politely smiled, "There's always next year." she gleefully responded.
"I'll this day one."

As we crossed paths me heading north, them heading south I noticed a few runners looking like they were in distress, hell we had just run ten and a half miles we all were in disstress. "Hey! smile, remember you paid to do this!"
"Oh yeah this was a great way to spend my money wasn't it!"
"Can you believe I am doing this voluntarily?"
I spot someone walking, trying to regroup as they prepare for the final couple of miles "That's right! it's all about forward progress."
A limper, she has a blister and still two miles to go, "I wish I had your courage to continue!"

Oh oh! here's that wall they talk about. I'm not halfway through a full marathon and can only imagine if it's double, I'm not wanting any part of it. Mmmm, what to do. I distract myself cheering on those I am now passing as I head south, I know how much further they have to go to get here. I then spot him. I knew it would happen, and I still could not believe it. I pass a runner on his cell phone. I do a double take, and chuckle. Really, on the phone some two hours into a run?

Look the 12 mile mark, only one more to go. A cute coed is running with me, and we chat a little. "Inside a mile" reaffirming myself that I will finish. She informs me we are "seven tenths to the finish." I see she is wearing a gps on her wrist.  Having driven the course the day before I share my limited course knowledge with her, afterall we are both runner, "We have one more steep hill, it's short but it is steep about a quater mile ahead."

"Oh, this is a hilly course, I wish I knew that before I started out." She falls back slowly, as if preparing herself for the impending final obstacle.
Up the hill I continue, to the flat part, before a final slow rise, then down a gentle slope to the finish line. About a hundred yards from the end a little boy extends his arm to high five the soon to finish runner. I am only happy to accept his congratulations. Then I spot my wife with her camera, a video tape of me running to the finish line. The two best sights all day!

Now to create a plan to lose weight and to stick to the plan. I will also be looking to improve my golf game, both through swing improvement lessons and learning to control the mental part of the game.

I am tired and still need to recoup so I can focus for more than ten minutes on any topic.

Fear, from nowhere.

I started this running adventure waking up every morning with some times excruciating pain in my left heel. I learned that though it hurt I could run with relatively little to no pain, so I continued. My runs were a struggle at first. The day after would cause more discomfort and frustration. My mind brought me back to a time when running was freeing and pleasurable. An easy five mile cruise through the streets, past the mansions, along the beach transitioning off the pavement and onto the sand.

Sunny day and fresh air. The pounds melted away. It made dealing with the mental agony of my separation almost tolerable, and for that I am forever grateful. Time didn't matter, much like Forest Gump I just felt like running, so I did. A little longer every week, no goal, no mission, I just ran. Then the bomb dropped from an unlikely source and  from someone just wanting to provide support and encouragement for what I have been doing. "you should enter the road race."

I though about doing just that, I could compare how I had been doing against other runners I would pass long my various routes. Young, virile and heck I haven't been in a competitive situation for sometime. Imagine racing against the best the region has to offer, the Cinderella story of the kid from nowhere winning his first race.

My mind shifted from pleasure to work, I had better get working to see how fast I do or could or need to be to challenger. The fun of it all plummeted. It now became a matter of work and no longer just running.

Was it the fear of facing a challenge in a sport I didn't


2.25 to 8.04

Continuing to make progress

I am still at it, though I find myself less interested in noting how I an progressing.  Today for instance I ran 9.7 miles. This maybe the longest continuousos run I have ever completed.

My plans keep changing from weight loss to distance/endurance running for the time being, I am primarily a runner. With the weather changing I know I want to spend more time outdoors. Golf season is also just around the corner. Conflicted internally, but optomistic and ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.

That half marathon actually appears to be doable. If only the last of this annoying heel pain would subside. I run to run, not necessarly to race, but to run.

That's not a lost emu, it's me.

Today is one of those days that I truly haven't had in a long time, I didn't feel comfortatble at any point in today's run.  So what I tell myself as I completed my run anyway. Trudging along on ice and snow covered sidewalks. Proudly staying off teh roadway, out of traffic and thereby diminishing the possibility of becoming a hood ornament.

Then you see it, a large puddle of liquid water completely crossing you path.

You brain clicks into high gear as you begin trying to determine the depth of the puddle, temperature of the water and condition of the bottom. If it is smooth ice on the bottom and I've got three meters to cross at a depth of six centimeters while travelling at seven mile and hour my mass will slide for two meters before the upper body splashes down. Options: continue and hope for the best, or stop and walk around. The choices are ovbious to either a fifteen year old or a fifty year old.

I ain't no spring chicken so I give up the time over safety and compfort.  Continu on in a slow and deliberate manner throughout the remainder of the run.

Success is getting out the door and making it back, knowing I've done my best today.

I succeded today. I'm just glad I wasn't on Candid Camera.

I am a runner.

I am back to long runs on the weekend (for now) weather permitting, of five or more miles. Yeah! It feel great to be moving again and making progress. I have been focusing on staying on pace. I'm not sure what the pace truly is, but I do feel like I am steady all the way through the run. Yesterday I completed 7.22 miles in an hour and eighteen minutes. Four minutes and 7 tenths of mile longer than last week's run.  I just wish I didn't live on a hill, because I coming home invloves an uphill trudge at the end of the run. Good for training, bad on the brain.

One of the greatest joys I have experienced in my running is spending time away on my terms. If it weren't for dodging the taffic where I live it would be nirvana.  As it is right now I spend half of the time on sidewalks and half of it on the road.  I am looking forward to the snow melting so I can occassionally run the rail trail.

The most exciting thing this week was waking up and not feeling extreme pain in my foot. I don't yet believe that my plantar faciitis is subsiding, I need at least a week to start falling for that one.

Keeping the dream alive

I am tired. It's late, near my bedtime and I needed to make this entry before dozing off.

Treadmill this afternoon for four miles. Forty minutes and change.

Shuffling to bed.

Long and Slippery Road

Spent most of my last run on the side of the road. It was a little slick in spots and I was a tad uneasy on various parts. As a habit I will run on the sidewalk as often and for as long as possible, yesterday, not so much. Most, nay, all of the sidewalks were iced over and very slippery.

Being a guy who needed a three mile run, on a beautiful Sunday morning I went out for six and a half.

It was a struggle because I had not put in many mile during the week up to that point. It was exhilarating because I did it! Today is a rest day, as in recovering. My foot is sore and I am really fed up with this heel pain. My left knee thought it might join in on the fun. I will continue.

Shuffle on down the road.

a half marathoner in training

I can do it. I need to do it for me, I need the challenge and this is it.

Checking out the charts training charts I believe I can get this done in six to ten weeks. I need to commit to that distance knowing this will push me a little more than I am probably ready. I want to do this distance an I aim to complete this task. 5K success, 10K success,now to move on to a 13.1 mile run.

Yesterday was a HIIT training day on th3 treadmill. Tomorrow looks like I can get in that long run I like so much.!

Shuffling on!

One run, two storms, three days.

It's Groundhog Day, and long story short I am a Groundhog.

Several years ago I started playing basketball with a group of guys that claimed it would be a 35 and over age group playing recreationally once a week. Most of this proved to be true. the 35 was frequently overlooked for a player here and there, which makes a little difference when you hit 50.  As gentlemen would have it no other way with a recreation basketball gang of middle aged chaps, after playing we need to replenish the lost liquid and restore the nutrients sweated out during these extremely vigorous sessions.

We headed down to the local tavern and regaled in stories of our near dunks, near blocks, near steals and the actual baskets made. What was noted was that all of the people who were there whenever we visited the establishment were always the same people. Same clothes, haircuts and stories. OK the stories were ours, but you get my point. Out can the movie Groundhog Day with that actor from Meatballs. We realized we were living our own groundhog day experience,hence the nickname of our cohort group.

Are you still awake? So here it is day two of our snowfall.  I id get outside and run for 4.3 miles on Monday. It felt great to get out on the streets and making my way through snow covered sidewalks form the previous snow events. It helps keep the pace in check and me moving a at a steady clip.

Yesterday involved clearing out eh car and moving it to a secure location in preparation for this monstrosity, 12 inches in 2 days, looking the next snowfall in three days, and a potential storm next week, again.  I don;t care I am running again and loving it! Doing some lifting occasionally and looking to improve flexibility.

I have been holding off on the basketball, a game that got me out of the real life possibility that I would not be doing much with my life, and into college. Another story for another time. For today life is good.

Shuffling along.

Yeah! Running Outdoors!

1:12:13 That's the time it took to compete a 6.27 mile run through semi-now covered streets this morning.

I'm pretty proud of accomplishing that task. I was looking for a five mile run. I felt pretty good in terms of  breathing keeping the pace slow, looking towards time on my feet over speed.  With the weather we have had these past few weeks, and more snow on the way I'm ahead of where I was hoping to be. Initial realistic goal was to make five miles on the road by mid February.

Still very concerned about my foot; dealing with the heel pain and morning stiffness from the plantar faciitis. I am realizing that in order to run more efficiently/effectively I will have to drop several pounds, as this is my real objective I am not phased by this, it is more the how that concerns me.  In the past I needed only to be active to keep my weight under control. Active meant running.

I am not twenty something any longer and I find my little brain telling me that I deserve not to have to workout, rather you should be sitting around slugging beers and watch sports on TV. --- then I see what my father is doing. Sitting around watching TV and getting older every day. I won't do that. No I won't do that.

I'll continue to shuffle on down the road.

Milestone reached early

We had another snow day today. Best part is that the snow stopped early and the roads were cleared quickly.

I go tot the gym and ran 6 miles on the treadmill in under 63 minutes. I amazed myself a little and am looking forward to better weather in a few weeks so I can start training outdoors again,  We have signed up for a 5K in March but I think something earlier will be needed. Looking at 10K in April and could be on a good track to make that half marathon before my birthday.

First I need to lose the weight then I can focus more on the running. Distances and speed will improve over time with running and losing a few more pounds, I decided not to get on the scale until I drop down a couple of pants sizes.

In the meantime I will need to get that core training working and I will continue with weights in the days between the runs,

Shuffling forward.

Back in the saddle again

Yesterday was an anomally.  Less the the fever and chills I would have sworn I had the flu yesterday. Took some medicine and wound up resting around the house all morning. Got out to the gym after clearing off the vehicles and did a fair lifting session. I'm glad I made it otherwise I would have been looking a two consecutive days of little to no activity.Thursday evening I did play 18 holes of indoor golf on a simulator. Some activity though not very strenuous.

This morning I felt determined to run two miles in order to keep up with my 30 in 30 Challenge. Running outdoors is always a possibility, though with the temperature below freezing (and this being projected as the warmest day for a few) I decided to continue my acclimating to the treadmill. Set for 5.5 mph at an incline of 2 off I went, and hour later I still felt pretty good, tired but a good tired.

Now that I am three week into this again the habits are starting to solidify themselves and I am feeling like I am making progress.  We watched The Biggest Loser this week and still find it hard to come to grips with people letting themselves get that large.  I know in my own case it sort of creeps up on you a pound a month or so for a while. Two months later and ten pounds heavier, it jumps to a pound and a half a week, then two pound a week. No excuses, changes in habits.  Less physical activity and more junk foods.

Junk foods are not always chips, soda and cakes, they can be a box of mac and cheese, I mean a whole box!  Fried foods full of fats that taste so good. Fat is full of flavor. I need to review what I learned from the book Te End of Over Eating in America. My wife and I are lucky enough to be able to go out for a meal here and there.  I almost never eat all of what is presented. The portions are probably doable, but they are definitely more than necessary.

Changing habits takes a commitment. I need to get better at selecting the food I eat all day long. Get a few more healthy snacks stocked around the kitchen and remember that I am doing this.

Sick but not stopped

I don't feel well.  Actually I've had a cold for a few days now and today I hit the wall. So tired, slept or dozed most of the morning. Fortunately it coincided with a snow day. 

I am blessed to have a wonderful wife who takes care of me (though I have a hard time letting anyone take care or me).  Made it out to the gym for a warm up and a short weight lifting session today. So the streak goes on.

I am not full of witticisms today. Snow, cold with a cold and tired.

HIIT hits a little after the fact.

There those days when you fell like you are dragging yourself around. Today was not like that, today I was looking forward to the afternoon workout.  I sat out yesterday and never felt totally settled. This morning was a delayed start at work due to last yesterday's snow storm. That also equated to having to digging out the vehicle for work to start the day.

By the end of work my heel was hurting pretty good. I'm still sorting out what footwear works and which pairs shoes have to go. I have a candidate for going out.  When I got home I couldn't wait to get my shoes off and message my poor heel. As I started preparing to go to the gym She Who Must Be Obeyed came in from her walk outdoors with a friend of hers. She then inquired as to whether or not I had already been to the gym. I hadn't and was just getting ready. She asked if I minded if she joined me. Her walk was too short and she needed more.

Off we went. She climb on the elliptical and I headed to a treadmill. My work out had me travelling 2.5 miles in 28 minutes. A two minute walking session followed by five minutes at 5.5 mph pace my projected half marathon pace (today). A minute at 8 mph back to 5.5 then 7.5 (2xs) 7.0(3xs) 5.5 for a while and top 8 to finish out the at the 2 mile mark. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) low or normal effort alternating with high intensity intervals H-L-H-L etc. I generally run a minute intervals because it is easier to change the treadmill.  Outdoors I usually see thirty second intervals.

That is written in a confused manner, but then again this blog is more for me that you though I hope at point it proves useful or helpful.

Snow Day #2

Another snow day, this time not able to get out to the gym due to ice. Besides not being able to sit still for long periods of time, I have difficulty sleeping.

Sleep patterns have gotten disrupted over these past couple of days.  I find that when I exert significant energy as in yesterdays run, I fall asleep quickly and deeply, only to wake early feeling rested, two hours ahead of my alarm clock's ringing. On days like this when I am house bound I am not feeling tired at bedtime and have difficulty falling to sleep. Once out for the night it's a crap shoot when I'll rise.

So I will try to burn as much energy as possible between now and when I begin counting sheep. I shoot for a minimum 6 hours of sleep though find that 7 is good..

Ice and snow tomorrow - I will plan accordingly.

Monday of a long weekend

Woke up this morning and discovered this link on msn.com. Fortunately for me I have discovered that I have already incorporated many of these into my lifestyle. There is always room for improvement as I well know. Making plans to progress and a renewed commitment to excellence in fitness for myself.

15 Habits from msn.com

Breakfast, a workout, and weather watching. It looks like snow possible tomorrow at the time of day that could cause a snow day. We already have a shortened week with final exams on Thursday and Friday. Can't control the weather, but do control whether or not I get to the gym.

In fact I did get to the gym and stepped up onto the treadmill. I completed 3.75 miles.  A two minute walking warm up, 30 minutes at under 10 minute miles and four minutes of cool down. The start was a little challenging, but once I got going it felt good though a little harder than I was hoping.

It is strange that now I fear failing.  That for some reason unbeknownst to be I will not complete a 5K. There is not rationale for this, none that I can think of that makes any sort of sense.  I simply do not want to fail, and the logical reasoning of: not doing it at all means I can't fail because I never attempted it. Is somehow more powerful that the logic of: not trying is failing.  Know I see how and why I may have ceased in the first place in my previous running regiments. (Except for the heel spur/plantar faciitis.)

Devil on one shoulder, angel on the other. After completing my run I wonder if I should have attempted to get the full four miles in or am I slacking off by finishing as I did.  I do believe I did a little more than I had set out to do and should be content with my progress. Then I wonder if I am trying to make too much progress too quickly which may in turn reignite the tendinitis? 

Mondays on long weekends get you thinking of all sorts of things.

Divisional Playoff weekend

Start of a long weekend with MLK Day on Monday. It was also below freezing outside today so I decided it was time to move indoors this morning.  A good move on my part I am proud of my decision.  The only problem (if there is one at all) is getting adjusted to looking a the same scene for the duration of the run on the treadmill. 

To get over the tedium I play little games with the controls.  I am trying to teach myself to run longer distances by keeping the same pace for long periods of time.  So for now it's incline angles. Lateron another day it will include speed as well - those are both physically challenging as well as more interesting to my brain. 

Today the challenge was to run 5 continuous miles. I completed 5.5 in a tad less than an hour. Including a couple of minutes of walking for a warm up and again during a cool down the total came to 5.89 miles overall.

I felt pretty good during the run.  Breathing was great and my body handled it well. I was a little light headed at the end, just enough to feel it but not noticeable to others.  Wow, that was a good run for me. And I overcame the tedium in building time on my feet.

The time on my feet has led to new running shoes. The ones I was running in are two + years old so it was time for a change to protect my poor feet.

2.9 ok

After working I ran a couple of errands to fix some banking issues. Then a run of nearly 3 miles in 31 minutes at a fairly comfortably pace.

It's Thursday evening and I'm tired tonight.

Still made it out the door and am better for it.

Nagging heel injury continues, as do I.