5k (Semi) Challenge

So I never planned on running fast again. I mean, sure I'd hoped to run my next marathon quicker. I'd hoped to bring in a more respectable time during the next Run for the Roses (5k). But I'd never thought I'd be contemplating running 7 minute miles or even trying to get back to times I ran in high school.

All it took was some friendly goading from my best friend to put me back into the mood for speed.

So last night, after a small tweet back-and-forth, I decided to try a 5k at 7:30 minute miles. I was actually able to complete it. On a treadmill, but that was the best way to ensure I maintained pace. Also, there was a huge thunder and lightning storm all evening yesterday. No way to run outside.

As cool is it is to have done a 5k in 23:15, I think I'm going to wait awhile - get in a bit better shape (a month of working out and 30 pounds overweight is still not quite prime condition) - before I try the speed thing again.

I do have hope that I can bring my marathon pace down to 9:00 minute miles...that would get me done in just under 4 hours. I'd really like that.

It Happened Again

I did it again, just what I worried I might do. I fell off the weight loss train. Got mangled in the tracks, my plan all torn to shreds.

However, I am not going to let that stop me this time. Sure, I've spent the last two weeks eating like a pig and doing nothing for a workout other than shoveling heavier and heavier plates of snacks into my mouth. The guilt was ENORMOUS. And the pounds packed themselves back on. On the 2nd I was 204.4 pounds. Today I'm up one more at 205.4. I was all the way down at 193! That's 12.4 pounds in 2 weeks. That's an even worse gain than the last time I fell from the train.

*sigh*

There, that's out of my system. I'm done with the failure. The guilt is gone (or going). Today, I'm back. It's going to be difficult. I mean, I was standing in my kitchen this morning staring at all the tempting snacks sitting on the counter, some I purchased just yesterday. I was asking myself: "What's the worst that could happen if it's just one more day of snacking?" I knew the answer before asking the question. The worst is what has happened the past two times I went one day, then another, and another until I was back to the overweight wreck I've all too frequently become.

Breakfast today was 180 calories (Fiber One cereal and milk with a glass of V8). I drank 2 glasses of water. I faced my shame and updated my weight and restarted my tracking on The Daily Plate. I'm back.

This time until the end.

I'm going all Spartan on the calories again for a few weeks, just until I get under 200 pounds - 5.5 pounds to lose to reach that goal. I'll then start building the calories back up to a normal person's level, shooting to consume a net of 1,800 - 2,000 calories a day while maintaining my new healthy weight of approximately 165 pounds.

The exercise will have to decrease in hours because I simply don't have the time to workout as much as I did during November and December. I want to do more (write, draw, read, start to date...yeah, I need to get on that - that's what she said - if I want to have a family anytime soon). So the weight loss will be slow going. Once under 200 pounds I'll shoot for an average of 1.5 - 2 pounds loss a week. I'm hoping to be at my 165 pounds by the end of June. Just in time for RAGBRAI and the start of training for the Walt Disney World "Goofy" (half-marathon AND full marathon, back-to-back) next January.

Onward, Pirate! You've got some work to do.

Back to the Gym

I went yesterday and renewed my membership (at a significant rate increase and 12 month contract) at the local Anytime Fitness facility.

And it couldn't have been more worth it.

I went late last night for my run and some weights and everything was just as I remembered it. It took some fumbling and an almost dropped iPod before I had everything set just right on the treadmill, but the run itself was great. I was able to push it a bit harder than I probably was doing outside because of the ability to adjust the pace, and stay on pace. I added a little sprint to the end of the workout, the last .25 miles. Overall: fantastic.

In fact, I could have stayed at the gym much longer than I did, getting reacquainted with all the different weight lifting opportunities. Knowing I'd be back in the morning was the only thing (okay, and it was already 11PM) that sent me home.

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I didn't quite make it back to the gym at the time I wanted (5AM) this morning, so as to beat the crowd, but I was there at a little after 8, back on the treadmill for a couple miles of walking. I did some ab work and stretching after that. I love it. It's freezing cold outside and I'm able to still put in a fantastic workout.

Sure, it's expensive at about $1.37 a day, but there was no way I was going to be able to stay motivated as the layers of clothing needed to battle the cold outside kept adding up.

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Chances are I'll be back tonight. I think I've got another hour in me. I might as well put in two-a-day workouts while I can on vacation because the time I'll have available when I go back to work Monday will be just as limited as before. If not more as things wind down toward winter break.

Run #2

Tonight was my second night of running this week. And it was not as easy as the first.

That's not to say that it was overly difficult. In fact, after the first mile, I actually started to find my rhythm - my pace - and was able to finish strong. I went into the run a bit sore, even after a 2 mile walk last night to loosen the stiff muscles. My bad knee (left) ached some throughout the day and was sore after the run. Not so sore that I'm concerned any more than normal. I stretched like I've been doing for the past month, and then iced the knee. That's about the best I can do.

As for "killing it," I'm not doing too bad. The extra two miles last night should push my weekly total to 20 miles, unless I'm willing to add another 2 miles tomorrow or something more on my rest day, Saturday. Shouldn't push it too much though. I don't want to burn myself out.

Inspiration...and the Right Attitude

A tweet I read linked to this article, and I have to say, that while written probably for women...it's quite awesome. It's motivating. It has a great message. And, well...just read it. "A Call to Arms (And Abs, Quads, Calves, and Shoulders)"

Here's a sample:

"Lose 12 pounds by tomorrow by doing these three exercises! Hungry? Eat seven almonds! Fuck that."

"My attitude toward my body changed as well. I stopped really thinking about how it looked and instead focused on getting shit done, realized that any physical changes I was seeing were happening because my body knew best how to shape itself to complete the task at hand."

But seriously...READ. IT.

Killing It

I'm going to kill it this week with my workouts.

I started running tonight. I'm easing myself back into the routine. After three weeks of building up to this point by walking, I figured I'd start easy with a mile warmup walk, then two miles running, finishing with a mile walk to cool down.

It went very well. In fact, I felt like I was flying. What a difference 20 lbs. and a month can make. The running was not this easy when I did the same at Run for the Roses back in October. That's not to say it was all peaches. I was still a bit mentally fatigued at the end of my two mile run. It wasn't bad, but there was that creeping voice in the far back of my mind urging me to stop, walk it in. I ran through the voice, but it was there.

I also added 5 more pushups to my set, a set of 12 squats with weight, and a set of 12 lat presses. Needed to do more than just curls.

It has crossed my mind that the weather will not hold out forever. Tonight it was a brisk 40 with minimal wind - tolerable. But the rain and snow and ice will be coming soon enough, and I'll be left without the outdoors to workout in. It's $35 a month to join back up with the 24 hour fitness place near home. Expensive, but necessary. Especially if I plan to continue this weight loss journey through the winter.

I will have to look into rejoining. Can't keep killing it if I have nowhere to run.

Week of Working Out - Nov. 1

Here is a list of the exercise I completed during the past week,
October 26th – November 1st.
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Monday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:00 PM; 4 mile out-and-back course with 2 loops around the complex for 4.62 miles; 1:03:38.00 hours; temp of 48 with winds from SSW at 5 mph; beautiful walk, if not a bit chilly; 867 calories burned.

Tuesday: RUNNING – outdoors at 5:45 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 4 miles with splits of 9:52.00, 9:31.66, 9:42.53 and 9:30.45, for a total of 38:36.64 minutes running, followed by a 3.62 mile WALK to cool down/additional workout for a total of 1:05:04.52 hours walking; course was 2 loops of the 4 mile route, with 2 loops around the complex to end; temp around 50, winds from SE at 7 mph; both knees hurt terribly bad – grinding pain on the inside bottom part of knees – during the entire first mile (hence the slow first mile split); the slow first mile running set the slower pace for the rest of the run; once the knees warmed up? the rest of the run went better; there was no mental block keeping me from completing the fourth mile; the walk felt chilly from the temp drop with the setting sun and sweat from running, but it was still a great workout; 895 calories burned walking and 627 calories burned running.

Wednesday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:30 PM; 4 mile out-and-back course with 1 loop around complex, then 2 mile out-and-back course with 2 loops around the complex for 6.93 miles; 1:35:40.00 hours; temps from 58 down to 53 with winds from SE at 14 to 21 mph – chilly in that direction; legs felt tired and knees still a little sore – I may be pushing the exercise a bit too far; lot of traffic at every intersection I crossed – it was beginning to piss me off; 1,315 calories burned.

Thursday: Rest – rainy weather all day and not motivated enough to set up the bike trainer in the garage; felt terribly guilty about not netting a low number of calories – those 1,350 calories for the day felt like a massive (but tasty) weight on my consciousness.

Friday: Rest – still rainy (even though the weather man said it wouldn’t be); when it did clear off it was already late and I decided to use the day for another break.

Saturday: RUNNING – outdoors at 1:30 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then an amazingrun of 4 miles with splits of 8:55.54, 8:48.60, 8:48.35, and 8:26.92, for a total of 34:59.41 minutes running, followed by a 5.62 mile WALK to cool down/additional workout for a total of 1:30:01.68 hours walking; course was 2 loops of the 4 mile route and the middle two miles repeated a 3rd time, with 2 loops around the complex to end; temp of 53, winds from W at 10+ mph; the entire workout was fantastic, but the run was especially impressive: each split was quicker than the last, and that includes waiting for traffic and stopping to tie a shoe during the 3rd mile – fastest, best run since the training I did for the marathon a few years ago; everything was perfect; 2 hours later and my legs were tired; 1,238 calories burned walking and 625 calories burned running.

Sunday: WALKING – outdoors at 7:30 AM; 4 mile out-and-back course, and the middle two miles were repeated a 2nd time, with 2 loops around the complex for 6.62 miles; 1:28:08.00 hours; temps of 49 with winds from S at 9 mph; the entire walk was nice and uneventful; 1,191 calories burned.

Week of Working Out - Oct. 25

Here is a list of the exercise I completed during the past week,
October 19th – October 25th.
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Monday: Rest – physically exhausted; could not bring myself to workout (a mistake because of the rainy weather later in the week).

Tuesday: RUNNING – outdoors at 5:45 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 3 miles with splits of 9:08.35, 9:21.17, and 9:17.35, for a total of 27.46.87 minutes running, followed by a .62 mile WALK to cool down, and then a 2.62 mile WALK out-and-back- course with 2 loops around the complex for a total of 1:00:23.33 hours walking; 58 degrees, and perfect until the last mile or the run and the 2nd workout when a rainy mist arrived, but never got too bad.

Wednesday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:00 PM; 4 mile out-and-back course; 55:52.53 minutes; temp of 62, but with huge drop during the last quarter mile as a rain storm blew in, cutting out my normal 2 loops around the complex; left knee felt a bit sore.

Thursday: Rest – rainy weather all day and not motivated enough to set up the bike trainer in the garage; felt terribly guilty about not working out for the second time this week.

Friday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:15 AM; .31 mile loop around complex; 4:29.08 minutes; too rainy to continue; low 40’s and windy; a bust of a workout, but at least I tried.

RUNNING – outdoors at 7:30 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 3 miles with splits of 9:05.54, 9:22.91, and 9:09.25, for a total of 27:37.53 minutes running, followed by a .62 mile WALK to cool down, and then a 2.62 mile WALK out-and-back- course with 2 loops around the complex for a total of 59:42.47 minutes walking; temp of 41, winds from WNW at 8 mph; could really feel the chill from the west, but had a nice view of the stars above and a shiny crescent moon; leg stiff the first mile of the run, but loosened up after.

Saturday: WALKING – outdoors at 7:15 AM; 7.24 mile out-and-back courses (4 mile loop and 2 mile loop) with 4 loops around complex; 1:42:14.00 hours; temp of 31 with winds from WSW at 5 mph making it a chilly start, but it seemed warmer when the sun came out.

WALKING – outdoors at 4:00 PM; 2.93 mile out-and-back course with 3 loops around complex; 41:28.44 minutes; 54 degrees with light rain sprinkles.

Sunday: RUNNING – outdoors at 3:00 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 4 miles with splits of 8:53.04, 9:11.55, 9:06.32, and 9:23.96, for a total of 36:33.93 minutes running, followed by a 3.62 mile WALK to cool down/additional workout for a total of 1:04:12.07 hours walking; course was 2 loops of the 4 mile route, with 2 loops around the complex to end; temp of 53, winds from N at 10 mph; could really feel the chill and strength from the north; blasted through a longer workout because I felt great coming off my weight loss for the week; later in the night my legs are exhausted after three big days of working out.

Week of Working Out - Oct. 18

Here is a list of the exercise I completed during the past week,
October 12th – October 18th.
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Monday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:00 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 27:08.69 minutes; temp of 42; sore left leg: outside of knee, Achilles tendon, and blister on heel.

Tuesday: RUNNING – outdoors at 5:30 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 3 miles with splits of 9:26.07, 9:59.41, and 10:05.92, for a total of 29:31.40 minutes running, followed by a .62 mile WALK to cool down for a total of 23:24.09 minutes walking.

Wednesday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:00 PM; 2.62 mile out-and-back course with 2 loops around complex; 36:33.97 minutes.

Thursday: RUNNING – outdoors at 5:30 PM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 3 miles with splits of 9:33.04, 9:47.32, and 9:35.99, for a total of 28:56.35 minutes running, followed by a .62 mile WALK to cool down for a total of 22:59.13 minutes walking; temp of 48, calm but cloudy; run felt quick, but great.

Friday: WALKING – outdoors at 11:00 PM; 2.62 mile out-and-back course with 2 loops around complex; 35:52.19 minutes; temp of 43 with light drizzle, but it was calm; used the stress of the day to power through the walk, and felt amazing afterward.

Saturday: RUNNING – outdoors at 7:00 AM; 1 mile WALK to warm up, then run of 3 miles with splits of 9:33.64, 9:32.93, and 9:30.38, for a total of 28:36.95 minutes running, followed by a .62 mile WALK to cool down for a total of 23:19.89 minutes walking; temp of 39, calm and still dark to start; no leg troubles except for sore blister during the mile warm up.

WALKING – outdoors at 8:00 PM; 2.62 mile out-and-back course with 2 loops around complex; 36:34.38 minutes; nice walk with no leg problems at all – the lanced blister was much improved.

Sunday: WALKING – outdoors at 8:15 PM; 2.62 mile out-and-back course with 2 loops around complex; 36:00.21 minutes; temp of 56 with 11 mph winds from the south; blood blister on left side of waist is sore, but didn’t bother me during the walk; was jumpy in the dark because of scary movie this afternoon – the heart rate was definitely up.

Week of Working Out - Oct. 11

Here is a list of the exercise I completed during the past week,
October 5th – October 11th.
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Monday: WALKING – outdoors at 8:30 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 26:53.21 minutes; temp of 60; felt quick, but was probably due to the fact that I haven’t exercised since the end of July.

Tuesday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:30 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 27:27.37 minutes; temp of 52 with winds of 21 mph; out trying to beat the rain – and I succeeded, barely.

Wednesday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:00 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 27:42.01 minutes; temp of 66 with winds of 14 mph; legs a little stiff and sore heels where I’ve had blisters from walking in the past.

Thursday: WALKING – outdoors at 4:30 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 27:41.81 minutes; temp of 49; just the right amount of chill in the air for a short walk; feeling less stiff, but there’s some new-to-exercise chafing that’s annoying.

Friday: WALKING – outdoors at 4:15 PM; 4 mile out-and-back course; 55:21.57 minutes; temp of 53; perfect, beautiful walk; feet sore from rubbing in shoe on inside of both heels.

Saturday: WALKING – outdoors at 5:30 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 27:08.48 minutes; temp of 39; blister on left inside heel is a pain, but not while walking.

Sunday: RUNNING – Run for the Roses XXIII – 5K; 9:00 AM; 30:44.79 minutes – 1st mile split: 9:55; 2nd mile split: 19:35; temp of 30 degrees, but bundled up I was warm by the 2nd mile; very fun run; felt great even hours after the race; no problems at all with blister on left heel; ran with Jeff.

WALKING – outdoors at 12:00 PM; 2 mile out-and-back course; 27:48.70 minutes; temp of 40; nice recovery walk after the run earlier in the day.

Week of Working Out - June 28

Here is a list of the exercise I completed during the past week,
June 22nd – June 28th.
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Monday: rest

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: Bike – 25.11 miles in 1:31:38 hours, at an average of 16.4 mph; rode the loop from home, north through Grimes, over by Saylorville Lake, south by Camp Dodge to 70th Street and then back west to home, with a loop over by Ry’s along my walking course; HOT – high 80’s – and overcast and humid, with only minimal winds.

Thursday: Bike – 29.19 miles in 2:02:42 hours, at an average of 14.2 mph; rode from home to the Saylorville trails between Johnston and Ankeny and went north to the Mile Long Bridge, then west to Beaver Avenue and back through Grimes on my way home; HOT – high 80’s (feels like 98 – according to the Weather Channel, and ME) – and sunny and humid, with only winds from the west at 15+ mph.

Friday: rest

Saturday: Run – 3.1 miles (5k) in 30:15 minutes; ran with Jeff an out and back course on the south side of the main drag east-west through Prairie City; mile 1 at 9:08, mile 2 at 18:51; hot – low 80’s – and sunny and humid, with winds from the south at 15+ mph.

Bike – 3.88 miles in 25:34 minutes; rode with Jeff from his house to the start of the Prairie City Days 5k at the ball fields on the south side of town and then back afterwards; hot – high 80’s – and sunny and humid, with winds from the south at 15+ mph.

Bike – 19.07 miles in 1:22:11 hours, at an average of 13.8 mph; rode with Scott and Steve from grandma’s in Altoona on the trail to Pleasant Hill and around Copper Creek Lake 2 laps before returning; hot – high 80’s – and sunny and humid, with winds from the south at 15+ mph.

Sunday: rest

Progress Report XXVI - June 28

Weight: 224.4 lbs.
Loss/Gain: - 0.8 lbs.

56.8 lbs. to Goal (170 lbs.)

Exercise Hours: 5:52:20 hours (biking: 5:22:05 hours; running: 30:15 minutes)

Exercise Distance: 80.35 miles (biking: 77.25 miles; running: 3.1 miles)

I did a much better job this week getting out there and exercising. It was only 3 days, but each day was a long, tough workout. I’m hoping – that is, if I can walk (sore body from the unexpected 5k run) – that I’ll get out more this week. The weather is supposed to be a bit cooler and not as humid. Maybe I won’t feel as close to dead after a workout if that’s the case.

What I need to watch is the eating. Still doing a poor job of eating the right foods in the right amounts. Too easy to be gluttonous when you just sit around home all day.

Not Quite a Triathlon

I have a feeling my uncles are out to kill me. Yesterday Jeff called me and asked, out of the blue, if I’d like to run a 5k in Prairie City today. Run a 5k? Sure, I haven’t run in over 2 months – why not!

Not an hour later, Steve asked about doing a bike ride in Altoona. Sure, why not. I’d already be in the neighborhood and sweaty.

That meant a tough morning for me.

Prairie City Days 5k – The run went about as well as I could have expected. Actually, it went better – quicker – that I expected. I was able to finish the race at quicker than 10-minute per mile pace (my “normal” speed). I didn’t need to stop and walk. I finished. Overall, it was a success. Near the end I had a shoe come untied and needed to take off the hat so my bald head could breathe, but I did not stop. We even rode our bikes from his place to the start of the race and then back afterwards. It was a great, early start to the morning. Wish I would have remembered to stop my watch at the end, but I’m sure my finishing time was right around 30 minutes – one of my better 5k’s in the past 6 or 7 years. [UPDATED - race results have Jeff and I clocked at 30:15]

Bike Ride – It didn’t take long, only about 12 miles, before I began to notice that the run had eaten away a lot of my power and motivation to be outside in the hot, muggy weather. I also had some stomach cramping (probably should have had more than a granola bar for breakfast) that made the last 8 or so miles uncomfortable. I was just happy for the ride to be over.

And that no birds attacked me.
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Run Summary: 3.1 miles (5k) in 30:15 minutes; ran with Jeff an out and back course on the south side of the main drag east-west through Prairie City; mile 1 at 9:08, mile 2 at 18:51; hot – low 80’s – and sunny and humid, with winds from the south at 15+ mph.

Bike Summary: 3.88 miles in 25:34 minutes; rode with Jeff from his house to the start of the Prairie City Days 5k at the ball fields on the south side of town and then back afterwards; hot – high 80’s – and sunny and humid, with winds from the south at 15+ mph.

19.07 miles in 1:22:11 hours, at an average of 13.8 mph; rode with Scott and Steve from grandma’s in Altoona on the trail to Pleasant Hill and around Copper Creek Lake 2 laps before returning; hot – high 80’s – and sunny and humid, with winds from the south at 15+ mph.

What's My Deal?!

The whole idea of training for this half-marathon has completely killed my once healthy - mostly healthy - obsession with going to the gym. Last week I suffered unplanned bouts of rest, and tonight isn't looking like a promising start to this week.

It would be a simple run tonight. 3 miles at an easy pace (they suggest a pace of 5 mph - which is about 1.5 mph slower than the paces I've been running). Why am I dragging my feet?

And not helping matters: I ate a huge - for me, recently - snack after supper. I had two single-serve bags of popcorn and half a Hershey's bar. 485 calories of snack I didn't need, but ate simply because I was sitting in front of the television.

It is not too late to go to the gym. The short story review can be done afterward, and bed can still be found in the 11's.

Go boy. GO!

Week of Working Out - Mar. 8

A new feature I've decided to add - my fitness work, broken down by day and activity.

Here is a list of the exercise I completed during the past week,
March 2nd - March 8th.
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Monday: rest

Tuesday: WEIGHTS - on machines at Anytime Fitness for 22:59.89 minutes; focus upper body w/minimal ab work (hanging crunches, 3 sets of 15 reps); low weight (20-40 lbs.) at 3 sets of 15 reps each machine; focused on breathing and fluidity while lifting…RUNNING - 50 minutes total run/walk; 4.42 miles, 640.8 cal; walk .75 mile warm up, then 2.5 mile run at 6.5 mph: mile 1 was 9:11.88, mile 2 was 9:13.04, and .5 mile was 4:32.10 (last .25 was at 6.7 mph), cool down walk with 1.17 miles to end, all walk was at 4.4 mph, except last 5 min cool at 3.7 mph

Wednesday: WEIGHTS - on machines at Anytime Fitness for 22:59.89 minutes; focus upper body w/minimal ab work (hanging crunches, 3 sets of 15 reps); low weight (20-40 lbs.) at 3 sets of 15 reps each machine; focused on breathing and fluidity while lifting… BIKING - (recumbent) 25 minutes (5 was cool down, but pace was unchanged), 5.64 mi, 210.5 cal, entire ride at a relaxed and easy pace of 80's rpm

Thursday: rest

Friday: rest

Saturday: WEIGHTS - on machines at Anytime Fitness for 21:15.22 minutes; focus upper body w/minimal ab work (hanging crunches, 3 sets of 15 reps); low weight (20-40 lbs.) at 3 sets of 15 reps each machine; focused on breathing and fluidity while lifting…RUNNING - 65 minutes total run/walk; 5.55 miles, 785.9 cal; walk 1 mile warm up, then 2.5 mile run at 6.6 mph: mile 1 was 9:07.06, mile 2 was 9:06.04, and .5 mile was 4:29.00 (last .25 was at 6.8 mph), cool down walk with 2.05 miles to end, all walk was at 4.4 mph, except last 5 min cool at 3.8 mph…BIKING - (recumbent) 65 minutes (5 was cool down, but pace was unchanged), 15.77 mi, 586.4 cal, entire ride at a relaxed and easy pace of 70's rpm…ELLIPTICAL - 15 min total at pace in 6 mph (3 min cool down at pace 4-5.5 mph); 1.54 mi, 154 cal

Sunday: rest

Hang My Head In Shame (But Only For A Moment)

I did not make it to the gym today. Not because I was too busy, or injured, or even too tired. I just didn't go because I chose not to.

Today I did decide - only somewhat pressured - to enter a half-marathon in April. Am I anywhere near ready? No. But I was told I have seven weeks to get there. I can do it, but it means no more of this apathetic attitude I displayed today. It calls for focus and planning. I have a goal now, an event to train for.

I'll post more on this development as I create my training plan.

The Streak Begins Again

I couldn't pass up another day without a workout (although it was tempting), and thus I put in a good 65 minute run and walk tonight.

It was great and quick and fun, and all is right again in my world.

I've had a streak of 12 days on, 1 day rest. Then 11 days on, 1 day rest. We'll see where this new streak of 1 day - so far - leads me.

Running and Dreaming

While I was running tonight I came to the realization that running and dreaming aren't all that different for me. During both activities my mind wanders. It bounces from one idea or line of thought to another - all thoughts fleeting and lost once I've stopped.

It is relaxing, and a relief from the worry of the day.

Run (Indoors) - Feb. 16

I'll be posting my thoughts about the run here soon. (For you impatient folks with limited attention spans: it was another fantastic run.)

First Run of the Year - Feb. 12

I'll be posting my thoughts about the first run of the year here soon. (For you impatient folks with limited attention spans: it was fantastic.)