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.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, January 21, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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.
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, January 17, 2011
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.
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.
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