Dang commenters

Some pesky folks have been commenting on this pathetic blog and have one again shamed me into actually writing something. I have no idea why you have been reading this crap, but if you really want to read about my boring ass life, I guess I can oblige.

First off, training. Last Monday, I started a new training program. The program is from the New Balance website and I found it when I got one of their emails. It is the beginner 10K plan. So far, I really like it. I tend to fail on most training plans because one rest day becomes two becomes three, etc. This plan has running or walking everyday of the week and keeps me going.

If your body can handle 5 days of running per week with 3 of them back to back, then I would recommend these training plans.

Wildlife:

On two of my runs this week I have seen a skunk. I believe it is the same one since I saw it in about the same place both times. Needless to say, I am very cautious when I am running through there.

There is also a family of rabbits that I see on the road most morning. Generally, when I come running they scatter into the fields.

Nothing much else going on, however I will put up a post tomorrow on a potential change.

A lot going on

I apologize for being such a slack-ass blogger lately. Life has been super busy and I suck at blogging.

Right now, I am sitting in my sweltering office because they are replacing the AC unit…oh, and it is about 90 outside. Fun, fun.

Just a quick update and I hope to blog more later.

I spent Wednesday through Friday of last week as a chaperone for the 4-H camp teh Daughter was attending. The Wife and I had a blast and I plan on telling everyone more about it later. When we got back on Friday, we took a quick nap and then headed out for the start of a soccer tournament. This took up almost the entire weekend. The girls played really well on Friday and Saturday, but I think they were tired yesterday. I am still very proud of them. We ended the weekend 1-3, but we are definitely getting better.

I have been running regularly lately. The 4-H camp thing killed my mileage last week, but I plan on hitting it hard this week.

Last I weighed myself, I was down 5 pounds from where I started and I know that I can do better than what I have been.

Also want to give a shout out to Brian Flash for finishing the Comrades 56 mile run. That is just freakin awesome. By some freak of nature, I won a prize from his site. Cool.

Later.

Jorts

Last night was the monthly soccer board meeting, which is held at the park. At the park, there are some running paths that are usually pretty busy. I don't run there because it is a 15 minute drive from my house, but I have run there a couple of times before.

As I was entering the park, I saw a lady who appeared to be in her early 30's. She was running the paths. I immediately noticed that she was not wearing normal running shorts…she was wearing jorts…with a belt.

All I could think was WTF?? It is 85 degrees outside and she is running in jorts.

Took a rest day today after running both Monday and Tuesday.

Total Miles: 88

Workouts: 42

Quick Post – Think the Mojo is back

I know that it has been quite a while since my last blog post and I apologize. Life and work have been very busy and I have been negligent in posting. I have been reading all of your blogs and I have tried to comment occasionally.

First of all, I think that my running mojo is back. It left me and it has taken me a long time to find it. I think I found it by just getting out there and running. I am planning to continue ramping up my running and see what happens. I have increased by pace by almost 2 minutes per mile on average. The first mile on most of my runs lately have been in the 11-11:30 range, which is great for me.

The scale is showing a 5 pound loss so far. I want to keep this momentum up and keep the pounds coming off.

I will try to post more often, I promise.

Gotta get back to work now.

Miles logged: 86

Workouts: 41

Pounds lost: 5

Dang, when was the last time I posted?

I realize that it has been quite awhile since I posted last. I think that I have started this blog entry a couple hundred times in my head. First off, a little running info: I have been running. Not a lot, but I have been out there. I have only been getting 8-10 miles per week (sometimes less….okay, normally less).

Last week, my wife and I accompanied my son's class to their field trip. Actually, we didn't get to go along for the whole trip. The class first went to the Golden Flake factory to watch them make chips, but parents were not allowed to go. We were kind of sad about that. We met up with them at Chuck E Cheese. Anyway, the point of this story is that before we met up with them we went to Target. Since there is not a Target in our pathetic, crap ass town, we try to stop by this one whenever we are in the area. As we were wandering through the store, we found a clearance rack near the sports gear. On the rack was Barry's Bootcamp workout kit. Came with two DVD's, stretchy bands and big inflatable pill shaped ball. All for $25. Since both of us really need to get in better shape, we got it.

I started Barry's Bootcamp on Sunday. Damn I am soo freaking out of shape (more on that in a minute). The workout routine is lower body one day, upper body the next, repeat. You take one off day per week. Since I don't want to stop running, I have started doing double workouts. Running 2 miles, then coming in the house and doing the bootcamp. I have done the double twice this week (Tuesday and this morning). I really think I like doing this. The bootcamp part is only 21 minutes… 21 minutes of hell. This means I can run and do the bootcamp before I have to get ready for work. I just get up about 5 minutes earlier.

A brief history of Needle:

Growing up, I was the fat kid. Until I was 14 or so, I was always big. Never grossly big, but definitely fat. The end of my freshman year of high school I was 5 ft tall and weighed 190-200. During the summer before my sophomore year, I discovered a love for playing basketball. By the start of my sophomore year, I was 5 ft 9 in and weighed 145 pounds. Not only had I grown taller, I had lost 50 pounds. I stayed at this weight or right around it all through college and for a few years after. I swore to myself that I would never allow myself to be the fat man again. Whenever I started to see the pounds come, I would play some basketball (college days) or start running (after college, married life). 10 years ago, when my daughter was born, I weighed about 190. This was actually a good weight for me. I looked too thin at the 140-170 range for my bone structure.

Before she was born, I ran pretty regularly. Soon after, I stopped running altogether. I was more concerned with being a new dad and all the other stuff that it just dropped from the radar. I started running again 4 years ago and it has been very off and on. Usually more off than on.

Yes, I have completed numerous 5K's, 2 half marathons and 1 failed marathon attempt. My last serious training was done for the 1^st half marathon 3 ½ years ago. In the last couple of years, I have continued to pack on the pounds because I don't eat right (very bad diet) and I don't exercise enough. Those of you that have read this blog know that I have only logged 70 or so miles this year. Not going to get back in shape with that kind of effort.

Right now, I am the fat kid again.

Right now, I am taking back charge of my weight.

Right now, I am no longer accepting any of my excuses for not exercising.

Right now.

So far this week, I have completed 5 workouts including 2 doubles (run plus bootcamp). Yesterday morning, I had a kid sleeping in the living room and didn't get my bootcamp workout in (pathetic excuse, should have gone for a run).

This blog is now going to also include my weight loss. I wish I knew how to pull the info directly from daily mile, but here is what I will do until then.

Miles logged: 73

Total workouts: 34

Pounds lost: I will only do this once a week or so when I weigh myself.

Right now I feel like this:

Strange Weather

This week has been really strange on the weather front. Monday morning was a mix of rain and snow. Temps were in the mid 30's most of the day. Obviously I skipped my run on Monday. Tuesday the high was 67. Wednesday had a high of 72. I got a good run in on Tuesday morning. However, when I got up Wednesday I was just not feeling it. Just had that "rest day" feel to it.

I should have gone out for a slow run or something. Regretted it all day long.

Wednesday night I went on weather.com to see what the forecast was for Thursday morning. Supposed to be nice with little chance of rain. Liars. It was pouring down rain when I got up. The rain continued most of the day and last night there were severe storms with some nice little tornados mixed in.

Temps this morning were great, right about 50. Problem was the wind. Stiff 15-20 mph winds. I still went out for my run and I am glad I did.

I have a long run planned tomorrow. Not sure yet of the distance, but I am thinking in the 7-8 mile range. Really planning on running a better pace than last weekend and I am planning on having Teh Daughter run part of it with me.

Another busy weekend coming up, but I am used to it now.

Total miles: 56

Math Runtarded

Well, I did get out for my long run this weekend. My plan was for 6 miles and when I mapped it, the total was 5.75. Teh Daughter wanted to run with me, so the plan was for me to run the 3 mile loop around the house. Then I was going to go in and wake her, get some hydration and the two of us would run another 3. Brilliant.

So, I am out of the house at 5:30 am to run the first loop. I was taking it really slow since I have no idea how fast I can run 6 miles and I really wanted to run 6. At the end of 3 miles, I knew that I have run it way, way too slow.

I head in the house and teh Daughter is awake. While she gets dressed, I get me some hydration and out the house we go. At the end of the driveway, I ask her which way she wants to go. We normally run counter-clockwise around the 'hood. She wants to try going the other direction.

Biggest problem going that way, is that you start off with a pretty decent sized hill. We attack that sucker, but by the time we hit the top she is ready to walk. We walk for few and then continue running. For the rest of the run, we run the flats and downhills and walk the uphills.

Since I run this route allot, when we get to 1 mile I ask her if she wants to just run 2 or run 3. She is struggling since this is only her 3^rd run recently. She makes the decision to run only 2. Now, normally logic would tell you that since you have run 1 mile from home, you should turn around and go back to complete two total miles. Not is this brain.

According to my runtarded math skillz, we need to run another ½ mile and then turn around and come back. Two miles. Easy.

It was not until we were at the turnaround point that it dawns on me that after we run the ½ mile out and back, that we still have another mile to go. D'oh!

Running + Math = FAIL

After cleaning up and doing some errands in town, I spent from 12-4 on my feet outside helping with Upward soccer evaluations. In a way, I think that it helped keep some of the soreness at bay from the long run. However, I crashed pretty early on Saturday night. I am pretty sure I feel asleep on the couch by 9:30 watching basketball.

Total miles: 52