2 Miles....

Yes, I reached the 2 mile mark. Not fast at all but I did reach it. I figure speed will come in time. For now I am just enjoying the ride.

I went to the doctors and he took me off one of my Blood Pressure medications with the stipulation that I have to check it a couple times a day, under stress and what not. So I know where it really is. So far we are still in the normal range so keep your hopes up!

Running is getting easier and days off are starting to bother me. It's hard to NOT run now. I even take walk breaks at work and walk about 1/4 mile 2 or 3 times a day. (can't be gone too long). The other day it rained so hard it turned into a 1/4 mile run :) I didn't even break a sweat and I wasn't breathing hard at all when I got back in the office.

I love my garmin, I love being able to see what I did and why I slowed down/sped up. I am keeping a pretty steady pace now as well. But I would like it to be faster but again, that will come in time. It's only been 7 weeks, I am running 2 miles, what more can I ask for. Yeah I know i could be going further but I don't want to risk another 3 years for it. I like not hurting all day :)

Just wanted to check in, will post more soon.....

Week 6 ..... DUN!

Wow week 6 is done. Wasn't as bad as I thought to be honest. My pace was a little slower but the heat is coming back and I over did it on the hills this week so my legs are sore.

I need to work on pacing and resting. I really hate taking a day off. I want to run all the time but I know I am not ready for that. Today though there will be no running cause we are visiting a college for my daughter. She is looking at a school in Columbus. She is looking at the school I am looking at how flat the campus is and how good it would be to run on. Am I sick or what?

Also, I bought my garmin finally! I just got it yesterday so I can't wait to try it out. Tomorrow starts week 7 no more walking all running all week. I would worry normally but I haven't had a day I couldn't do yet. So while I am getting faster, I am gaining distance again. That 5K can't come fast enough :)

The Dreaded Mile.

So I am doing the Couch to 5k plan with my daughter. I did this before alone but I never totally finished it the program.

We just finished week 5 this morning. :)

When we started the program, I think it was about 90 on day one, with about 80% humidity. We also ran in a field that is across the street from my house instead of on the road. Today was only 60 and there was a nice cool breeze. It was absolutely incredible.

Now, I live 5 miles from anything. I mean if you Google map me there is nothing around except for farms. I love it out here, but the roads are narrow country roads and some of the cars tend to not pay attention. My thought was run the field, but it's a training ring for horses so the ground is really rutted from them.

We have been going out to a track as well that is near us ( nothing is near us but it's as near as you can get ). I like running a track sometimes, but it can get boring. The roads however, well they are awesome, but really hilly. But to be honest I think when I am at the track I miss the hills more than anything. To give you and idea of how cool it is to run here, the other night I was running out the road alone ( my daughter had a prior commitment ) and while I was running I looked over and there were deer running in the field next to me. I was really peaceful to see that.

But that isn't what this post is about. This post is about the MILE. I have read that once you run a mile it's easier. There is a barrier that you break through, perhaps more mental than physical, but it's there. I run slow, I am getting faster, but I am running slow so no more shin splints.. no more injuries at all. I just want to run, time is nothing to me right now. But I run like a turtle, but I am running!!!

So today, we had to run for 20 minutes straight. Normally, I would go to the track the first time for this distance, but today, I just didn't want to. I don't know why, I wanted the hills. So we started from our front door up the hill with our 5 min warm up walk and then when we hit the flat part of our route we were still walking. The program never told me to run.. I looked and when I locked the phone I also paused the program. We walked most of the flat part where we could have been running. :/ So we resumed it and kept moving forward, (the route we chose to do today was a little over 3 miles we figured we could walk the end of it so we didn't' have to do an out and back ) we started running on the longest hill, it's not that steep, just very long. Now we have run this before, but not with 20 mins of running, usually 5 minutes then we walk. We ran up it and kept going... out and out. My calves were telling me, HEY DUMMY we could have done the track today. But I didn't, I chose the hills.

The top of that hill is a little downgrade, my daughter was cheering the downhill and I was snickering cause I knew what was next.. A huge fairly steep hill, (she didn't know it was coming :) ). We didn't give up, mostly i didn't give up, she made it look easy, and in the end we did the 20 mins with NO stopping NO walking and although it was slow 14min/per mile. We did it!!

The mile has been conquered again... the barrier has been shattered!!! It's so good to be running again :) Bring on the Marathon!!! ok yeah 5k :)

Wow 3 Years!!!!

I can't believe it has been 3 years since I posted on here. :(

I am sorry I have been away. Life had been getting the better of me and well, I got lazy.....

So lazy that I stopped running, I gained weight...

I was pushing back into the 270s again, and I was not proud of it. My body decided that it needed me to start paying attention to it again and kicked me by destroying my Gall Bladder. I had to have it removed and while I was in there, in recovery, waiting to go home one of my doctors came in and told me, you know you are going down the same path I was on. High Blood Pressure, gall bladder failed, next your are going to start getting chest pains. Then you'll have a stroke.

Yeah, it was that bad. I was a mess, but he suggested I read a book called "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman http://www.drfuhrman.com/. I read it, I loved it, the facts that he provided were enough for me.

So I became a Vegetarian (more Vegan). My primary care physician told me I was nuts. I already knew that though. :)

I started to not only loose weight but I noticed that my clothes were starting to get too big, then they got too big and started falling off. I went from a 42 inch waist to a 33 (at this point) and I am still dropping.

I started to run again...and it was so much easier I guess loosing 51 lbs will have that effect on ya huh?

My resting heart rate is below 60, my max heart rate when I run is only 160 and I mean run hard.

I love running again and my daughter is running with me. We started the couch to 5k plan and we are killing it. Every run gets easier, I don't dread going to the next week. I look forward to the challenge of it.

So I am back, I thought about abandoning this blog, starting over fresh with a new one but this is me, my history!

I'll be here more, it won't all be about running, I'll tell you about food adventures too. :)

It's really good to be back...

My New Running Partner

I found a running partner. Someone I can run with every time I run.

Over the past week, My daughter has expressed interest in running with me. I have been trying to get her to run with me since I started this. But, she really wanted to run this time. So, on Saturday, we headed out to a running store and had her fitted up for shoes. She is very anti-pink which made me laugh because the first pair of shoes they suggested were pink with a flower pattern on them.

We bought her a pair of shoes and some socks at the running store, then we went to Target to get her some running clothes. She bought wicking everything, and I mean everything. Then we headed home, it was late, we all had a long day so we decided that we would start her running on Sunday.

Sunday morning was cold, rainy and downright miserable, so we waited, hoping the rain would stop at least. It finally did around 6 pm so we went out for a run.

I did not want to push her to hard her first day out. So we decided on a mile, trying a 30 second run 30 second walk method. We did really well and had a great time. Tomorrow we are going to try and go to the track at her high school and run there. I also got her excited on trying a 5K. That will be really fun :)

I'm Back

Don't worry, I didn't die. I took some time off to allow my dang shins to heal up properly. 15 weeks, no running. It was tough, I missed it. I groaned at the loss, but now I am running again... did I mention pain free.

I decided to start over from the begining. To take it slow and easy and not push myself to far. So I am doing just that. Slow, easy, every other day. Not pushing it. If I don't feel right I back off and redo the day. If I think there is any chance of injury, I wait.

So far, I haven't missed or had to redo a day yet. There was one bad day, I couldn't make it the last run. I stopped 20 seconds short. But I trucked on the next time out and it felt like I could go on forever. I didn't though. I am still waiting.

Yesterday, was my first day of week 3. 5 mins of warmup followed by 90 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, 3 mins running, 3 mins walking then repeat the 90s and 3's again. It was hot, like 80 and humid so it was tough, but I did it. Then I walked for 10 mins to cool down and relax.

It was a good day, there are a lot of good days ahead.

As for racing, not yet, to much too soon. There are plenty of races in the future and besides I have other things planned as well for the summer. But that my friends is another post.

Till then :)

So....

So I came home Friday to a huge surprise. I have been wanting a dog to run and hike with cause the vast majority of my workouts are just me out there and to be honest, I get bored with it. It's not that I don't want to do it, it's the scenery being the same all the time has gotten old. So I have been looking for a dog, and to my surprise my wife found one, picked her up and had her at the house when I got home. Her name is Lucy and she is a sweetheart. She loves everyone and other than some pulling issues on the leash, she is awesome.

Tonight, her and I are going to go out on a long walk, with a few little jogs mixed in to see how she does. I don't want to push it with her and she is too young yet to go very far running.

As for me, I am sure you all are wondering what is going on. Well, I am still nipping away at this running thing. the time I took off did wonders for my shins and they don't hurt at all anymore. Also I have been doing Pilates at work once a week and those sessions are really strengthing my Core and legs.

I have commited myself to do the Rachel Carson Hike next year. All 35 miles of it. So I have been training for that a lot as well. it's also helped my endurance out a ton. Pushing those hills even walking makes you get stronger I tell ya.

Speaking of hills, well it's getting colder, and I am itching to try the steps again. I set a goal pf 12 times up by the end of winter, that would be one vertical mile up. So keep checking in for my progess on that.

For all of you who's blogs I follow, I am in catch up mode. I am sorry I haven't been there. Life gets in the way of everything. But things are slowing down, it's that time of the year again.

My next 5K I believe will be a turkey trot of some kind. Just not sure which one I am going to do.

Also, I have been doing a lot of reading lately, my last book which I finished yesterday was Into Thin Air, by John Krakauer. Highly suggest reading it, and while you are at it try Into the Wild by John as well. Both are on the tops of my all time best reads.... but that is for another day...

Till then.....

Still Here and A Race Report

Let me open this by saying that I know I haven’t been posting because life has been exceptionally busy these past few months. But I haven’t given up, haven’t quit, I am still going strong (well kinda).

About 8 weeks ago I noticed the pain in my shins was getting to be a bit well um painful so I decided that I would let them rest. Give them the time they needed to heal before I ended up in a cast or something. So I hiked a lot. But no running other than the occasional run to the car when it was raining. No pounding on my legs so to speak. I wasn’t sure I was going to do this Race. I wasn’t ready for it in my mind, I hadn’t been running. But a week before the race I snuck out while my daughter was on her horse at the barn and took a nice little run in the country. Just 2 miles total counting warm up and cool down, nothing all that long. I just wanted to see how my shins where, if there was any pain I committed myself to go see a doctor.

Well there was no pain, other than my lungs screaming I thought you quit doing this! It was wonderful; I was running on country roads through corn fields. So I decided that even though I wasn’t ready for the race I would do it and see what I had lost and start the rebuilding process from there.

I registered and the day after that I got an email that was sent to a running club I joined that they were looking for 15 people to run the race in all Adidas gear, with a foe blindfold on to advertise the Adidas tent at the end of the race. For this I got a shirt shorts and a pair of Adidas running shoes, to keep! Plus they are going to cover my race entry. So I emailed them back and was like HELL YES! Well I really didn’t do it that way, but that was my initial response.

Pittsburgh hosted the G-20 Summit 3 days before the race and on the last day of that I could pick up my race packet. I didn’t let the stinking protesters stop me from getting my race packet. I left work and drove right down on Friday to pick it up. Walked around, talked to a few people I know and then headed out to drive past soldiers and check points to get home. Went for a small run Friday night, to double check my legs and try for distance. I didn’t go to set any records on this run, just wanted to warm up some for the race on Sunday plus I wanted to see how I was going to fair on hills. Still no pain and the hills sucked like always but I got up them with a little walking. On Saturday I had to go get all my new FREE gear, I have to admit I was a little worried about running a race in brand new un tested shoes. But since it’s only 3 miles and I wasn’t going to push it to hard I figured I would be fine. When I got there the girl told me that she didn’t have the blindfolds yet but would send one up with someone else on Sunday morning to the starting point.

Race day:

I woke up at 5:45 am to it pouring down rain, it was cold and miserable. I had to repress the thoughts about backing out down, so I really wouldn’t do it. I had to show up at the starting line 45 mins early to meet the other Adidas runners and get my foe blind fold. When they were all there, none of them had a blind fold for me. So I went without it.

There were over 5,000 people entered in the race and it looked like all of them showed up. I ended up in about the middle of the pack because there were walkers and I didn’t want to have to get around them at the beginning. It still was raining but it slowed to a drizzle and while I was wet, the excitement of the race start kept me warm. I talked to friends and waited for the gun to go off. Once it did, all bets were off, you ran or you got run over till it thinned out a little. When it did I set a nice comfortable pace and just ran. I had forgotten to bring my heart monitor, so I didn’t have a way to watch my HR, which should have bothered me, but I was enjoying the race too much to notice.

At the end of the first mile they had a water station for us. I grabbed a cup and kept going, by this point I was still in the pack but at the back of it, but I was still running, which was my goal. I didn’t care about the time, although I did think about it. The water at the first station almost made me throw up. It was warmish and tasted a like a swimming pool. Tons of chlorine, I tell you. But it did the trick to keep me going, we were about ½ ways up the first and only hill in the race, the rest was all down. Once we started down I had to walk for a min to stretch my leg muscles they weren’t hurting but I was really tight. I ran beside an older gentleman who told me that he runs this race every year for the view. He comes in from Boston to run it. The view of the river and the city is awesome on the roads we were on. Normally, I drive these roads at 50 mph. I suggest to anyone, even walk the 5k if you really want to see Pittsburgh’s beauty.

Coming into downtown was awesome too, to see the buildings and the noise of the crowd at the finish line was echoing up through the city. We ran down through town, turned to outskirt a little of it then right into Point State Park. Coming in with 10,000 or more people cheering you on was great, I sprinted the last 500 yards, I was tired, spent and I really could feel the effects of the weeks I didn’t run pulling on me, but with the crowd there, that many people, I wasn’t going to give up until I hit that damn line.

I crossed it, looked at the time and was like really? I knew I PR’d but I didn’t know by how much. I didn’t have my HR monitor so no timer there and my phones GPS system was too hard to run because I wasn’t allowed to show anything but Adidas stuff. So I went and ate a Banana (god they are still my favorite fruit) drank ice cold water and then had some pasta and ½ of an orange. I still wasn’t sure of my time though, but the rain started to really come down and I had to get a shuttle back to my car. I went home, knowing I did well but not how well.

Finally after I got home, I got my time (40:17) beat my PR by a full minute even with the weeks off. Today I am a little sore, but there is no shin pain to speak of. But it is a good sore, a well fought sore that I will remember for awhile.

Tonight, well I hear the road calling me, saying hey 17 seconds and you would have beat 40 mins. By spring my friend you are going to beat 30.

Major Slacking

Life is really getting busy as of late. I tell ya it's hard enough to find time to do anything outside of work and exercise. I am sorry I haven't been here for so long.

I do have a ton of updates for you all though!

Let me start by saying other than running I have been hiking a lot and riding my bike as well. That being said 2 weeks ago I had a fight with some gravel on the road and well it won. My bike stopped and well to be honest I didn't :P I have a major rip out of my knee and it's all scabby and gross. But it's a battle wound!!!

So for the past 2 weeks I have been babying my knee, well except for last Saturday, I had a 5k planned. On the Thursday before I got out and tried to run but the pain that was shooting up through my leg didn't let me go far. I barley made it a 1/2 mile before I turned around and walked back. I had ice in the car so I iced my knee down and grumbled the whole time. I had this 5k that was planned and paid for, not by me by a friends company and I promised I would be there.

So I intended on running a little of it and walking the rest. But on Saturday morning when I woke up at um 4 am for a 8:30 start. BTW the race was 90 minutes away from my house. We packed up the car and headed out and my knee felt better, not 100% but better none the less. So I said well I won't try for a PR I will just try and see how I do. And if I have to walk most of it so be it.

We got there and I met my friend Betsy and her Hubby and got group photos done of our team. Then we stretched and got to the back of the pack for the start of the race. There was a 10k, 5k run and both in a walk program too. So the walkers waited until all us runners left.
The race started out on a 1/4 mile track then we hit the roads of Somerset PA. For those of you who that don't remember this is where the plane went down on 9-11. After we hit the road the first mile and about a 1/4 was basically flat. It was humid and foggy and I was sweating like a pig but my knee wasn't hurting all that much. More of the scab crunching than anything else. Then I hit the HILL, it was a long one, not very steep but long and drawn out. On this hill I chose my target of who I had to beat. I didn't intend on running most of this so I hadn't picked anyone out. But there was this lady who was pretty far ahead of me and I choose her to pass. She was my target, but after another 1/4 mile I noticed she was pulling away, damn this hill is long. So I forgot about passing her and just ran with some walking of course up the hill. On the hill I heard a huffing and puffing and looked back to see a power walker coming to pass me. Man he was moving for walking. He ended up coming in with 10 min miles. Where was I... well read on :P

At the top of the hill it kinda leveled out and then we hit another little hill. My knee was holding up pretty well and I looked up and still didn't see my target. I kept thinking oh well, I picked someone that was to far ahead to catch. But I kept trucking on. I wasn't walking as much, I am slowly learning pacing. It's very hard to run slow :P

When I started to hear the announcer at the finish line I really felt like I should just keep running harder but I held back because I really wasn't sure how long I had left. I just held my pace and then I saw the fence and the grandstands of the track and knew I was close now. I was really tired and my knee was starting to ache a little and I really wanted water (they didn't have a good water stop on the course) I came through the fence and Betsy was already done and there cheering me on. Just 1/4 mile to go and I looked out and about 1/16 of a mile ahead was my target. I could catch her if I just pick it up a little. So I did, and she did too.... B***h :P I was spent to be honest, even the little I picked it up killed me but I really wanted to pass her. 1/2 way around the track now, she was just ahead but I wasn't gaining I was pacing her. What to do, Oh hell, I went all out at a sprint as fast as I could. I felt great the knee pain melted away, or was hidden by the pain of running this fast. I have been doing speed work but not after 3 miles of hills. She was right there, Right in front of me. I am not sure if she knew I was trying to pass her but I did, I flew by her and across the finish line. 42:31... slow, not a PR but my knee didn't kill me. Then I got my water and I was ready to run more. I was pumped that I passed her.

2 days later Betsy emailed me the link to our photos that we can purchase, and told me something interesting. The start was shotgun, so being at the back of the pack of about 600 people I lost a minute maybe more before I actually hit the starting line. So I more than likely did PR. Just not sure of the time.

This weekend coming up I have an 8 mile hike planned. It is a sweep hike of the Rachel Carson Trail challenge 34 miles. We are sweeping check points 3 -4 then on Sunday I have a 5k trail race. That should be interesting. I'll let you all know if I am still alive after that :)

Ok,,, Sarah tagged me so.....

Sarah tagged me awhile back so I figured I would be nice and actually do this....

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. Driving my Jeep off the lot in September.
2. Getting thinner and more in shape than I have ever been in my life.
3. Taking all my large clothes to the Goodwill.
   
4. Learning to ride a horse.
5. Warm Weather.
6. Going to New York this summer.
7. Whitewater Rafting in July.
8. Finishing these lists.
   

8 Things I did Yesterday:

1. Found a cheap healthy lunch near work. YAY!
2. Sprinted up a very steep hill, just because I could :)
3. Worked. UGH
4. Went with my daughter to her 4H meeting and almost fell asleep at it.
5. Talked to an old friend from college.
6. Played with my new phone.
7. Treated myself to an ice cream cone.
8. Learned to hate the words "You Know"
   

8 Things I would like to do:

1. Run a marathon.
2. Go visit my sister in Arizona.
3. Go see the ocean again, it's been way to long.
4. Hit the lottery so I can run races all the time :)
5. Move to the country.
6. Go back to college and finish it.
7. Learn to sail.
8. Get a good nights sleep for 2 days in a row.

8 Shows I watch:

I hardly watch TV anymore but...

1. House
2. NCIS
3. Terminator Sarah Conner Chronicles (RIP)
4. Battlestar Galactica (RIP)
5. FireFly (Yeah it's been canceled for years but I still watch it)
6. IT Crowd (great British comedy)
7. Hockey (GO PENS!)
8. Really can't think of one here... :P

8 People I tag:

You all have been tagged already... so get to it.

Mars Band on the Run 5K

This was the first annual running of the race that supports the Mars High School Band. I showed up early like I always do and picked up my packet. I was hydrating myself all morning because it was really hot/humid and to be honest sticky. I met up with some of the people I know from Meetup.com and we BS'd while we warmed up and stretched. I had no intention of pushing myself for this race, I wanted to work on pacing and just being able to run the race with as little walking as possible.

The band played the national anthem which was really cool because I have never seen this done at a race before and they had the honor guard from the Marines there as well. After that we started out. This was a nice rolling race through the country side on paved roads. We ran through a housing project and at about every mile there was a group from the band playing music for us.

Right as we started the rain let loose and it was really refreshing. It really cooled things off at least for a bit. I ran the first mile at about a 14 min pace. I kept up with a couple that was running and you could tell she was less experienced than I was and at about 3/4 of a mile she told the guy with her she needed to walk some. I ran right past them. Then came the first of the smaller hills.

I ran about 1/2 way up it and had to cut back to a walk, but as soon as I hit the crest I started running again. At the half way point they had a water station and now that it stopped raining it got even hotter and stickier. Then came the LONG hill that everyone was worried about. I walked it but after last weekends Murder mountain this seemed like a piece of cake. When I got to the top there was a volunteer there that said so soon as I hit that little bump ahead it's all flat to the finish. So off on a run again, I did have to walk a little of the last mile, the heat was really getting to me, but then I saw the school and could hear the band playing the pink panther song, so I kicked it back in gear and started to run again. When I came around the turn into the parking lot where the finish was I hit into a little sprint and ran through the finish for a 41:17. This wasn't a chip time, and by my timer I was at 40:50. So To be honest with myself I am calling it an even 41. Which beats my previous PR by 43 seconds. Not that great but still a new time to beat. My friends both got medals which was really cool and I won and ice cream cone as a door prize (just what I need huh?) but I am giving that to my daughter.

I paced myself pretty good and came away from the race pain free which is a win for me. Last night my shin did get a little achy, not painful just enough that I iced it but I ended up sitting a lot yesterday and I was getting stiff by the end of the night. Today I feel great and am ready to go do it all again. This race is definitely on my radar for next year as well.

Crazy Horse Trail Run 2 Miles

I had originally signed up to do 4.5 miles but I wasn't feeling the 4.5 mile distance when I showed up for the race so I down graded myself to the 2 mile race, which in turn was the smartest thing I did all weekend.

The race was held by the Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners group, of which I am a member. This means it is a small race, about 40 people showed up for the race. Most of them were doing the 4.5 mile. We all started at the same time and ran the same course, but then the 2 milers turned back.

I started with my new friend Brad, he was doing the 4.5 and had just come from the race for the cure. We started doing a 1/2 mile loop on a gravel track, Brad and I went the opposite way from the rest of the pack so we could cheer them on. After the half mile loop we hit the trail, they call the first 1/2 mile of the trail murder hill. I am renaming it to murder mountain, That was not a hill, it's a 1/2 mile up of pure pain. We walked it and by the time we hit the turn around where I left Brad my legs felt like rubber sticks underneath me. But I pressed on and headed back down. I think I'd rather go back up it to be honest. Down was hard and i wanted to make up some time so I ran most of it back down. Some parts you didn't have a choice but to run. Once I hit the level part of the hill I did walk some, my legs were hurting a little and I was worried about pushing to hard. Then out of the woods all I had left to do was the 1/2 mile loop on the gravel track again. My legs were tired i walked the first 1/3 of the track but I knew by my time that some of the 4.5 mile runners would be headed out soon. I was determined to not get passed by anyone running a longer race than I did. So I pressed on and ran the last 1/4 mile. I finished at 33 and change. I can't remember my exact time, once it is posted I will post a comment.

I waited and watch everyone else come in. Rooted them on and even filled up some water glasses for people. Afterwards Brad and I hit up Panera bread and had a little lunch and BS'd about running, dieting and what races we are going to hit up this summer.

Today, I feel like I had a great workout yesterday. My legs are even a little sore, but it's a happy sore.

Saturday I am doing a 5k that I promised I'd do back in March. Really looking forward to it. I can feel myself getting stronger with each run. Racing is just a bonus!!

Things Are Slowly Coming Together.

It has been 7 months since I started this journey. I'll admit 7 of the hardest months of my life. I have had more set backs and breakthroughs than I can mention. Some are small, some are major but in the end they all end up making me a better person physically and mentally.

When I was a kid at 16 I used to work in a chain donut shop. We used to get 50 lbs bags of sugar in and I hated unloading them. Now I look back at that and think that I have lost more than that bag in weight. I hardly have any clothes that really fit me anymore. I have gone to the closet and pulled out the pants that I should have gotten rid of years ago but I held on to for when I loose weight. Well now they are too big too. Even the belt I bought a few months ago I have had to put new holes in to make it so my pants aren't falling down. It's the greatest feeling you can ever have. I am very happy about where I am and I know I can get to where I want to be.

When I started this, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without getting a little tired. Cardiac hill near work would wind me so bad that i had to stop at the top. Now I walk that once a week just because I can. Soon I will run it. Very soon.

I have found new friends, reconnected with old ones, and have more self esteem that I ever have. Some of these friends I haven't met yet but I talk to a lot on line, but most I will meet someday. I have found new a new passion that I will never give up. It is leading me to newer passions. Newer things that I can do that I couldn't this time last year cause well i was just too fat, too out of shape.

I have broken goals, made new ones and broken them. Only to find newer ones after those. Dreams become reality leading to more dreams.

Life has changed for the better, and I am taking steps to make sure I am going to be here for a long time to enjoy it.

Since my last post I have run trails, roads and fields. I have found myself in those places. Especially the trails. If you haven't run one yet, go do it. leave the Ipods and mp3 players at home and just listen. Listen to what is around you. As you feet hit the ground they echo ever so slightly. Last Thursday, I ran a trail that was made in dedication of a 7 year old boy that passed away. On that trail, with the sun sqeaking through the trees, the birds chirping and the deer, yes the deer that decided I was ok to be there and stood there while I ran past. Not that I was close but wow, I was close enough.

On Sunday, before it got to hot. I went to North Park and ran walked the lake. 5 miles, I was a little slower than I wanted to be. But the heat was a little warmer and I didn't wanna pass out :)

On Monday, I had the day off from work because my wifes Aunt passed away. While everyone got ready for the funeral. I went for a little run the sun was just coming up. The birds sang to me as I ran.

Amby Burfoot suggested that you run without music. I don't do it all the time, but the past 2 weeks I have been on call so I have had to carry a blackberry with me and I need to hear it if it goes off. I will never feel it vibrating when I run. Like Amby, I suggest you try it, preferably in the early morning, right as the sun comes up. The world can be a beautiful place if you let it.

This weekend is the Pittsburgh Marathon. Over 10500 people will be running the streets of my city. I will meet some of them the days before the race at the expo and on race day I will hand some of them medals for finishing the race. (Better not be any biggest looser people there GRRRRR) I signed up for motivation, it is funny though, when all I think about is when I can run next how much more motivation do I need? Not much, but I will enjoy it and maybe next year I'll pick one of those packets up with my name on it. :)

Boyce Park 5K Trail Race

Yet another race report....

I got there really early cause I wanted to get breakfast on the way over and I wanted to eat 2 hours before the race. So I had a bagel at Panera with peanut butter of course. Then hit starting line and still had 90 + minutes to kill. I talked to the race organizer for awhile. But this was the first race my wife made it to so this time I had a cheering section. Plus we brought the dog with us, so she was cheering for me as well. This race was being held by a running group that I joined last week called the Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners. Their fee is extremely cheap and their races well 3 dollars for non members and a whole buck for members and they have one a month!

I finally met Brad AKA Sumorunner and we started the race off together. This was a true trail race, with very little paved or gravel trails and TONS of hills. I finally got my trail shoes dirty!

The start was not at the same place as the finish but very close and the trail was very well marked so there was little chance of getting lost. We started out at a nice pace and Brad and I ran close to a mile before I needed to back off and walk a bit. Then I kept telling Brad to go on and not wait up for me, which he did at about a mile and a 1/4. On the trails there were some trees laying over and there were a few small streams that we needed to jump over. But for the most part it was dirt and mud. At about the 1/2 way point there was a hill that was a gravel path then you ran through a little asphalt parking lot, then back to the trail which was the hilliest part of the course. I had to walk most of the second mile. I was tired my legs were working well and running on the soft dirt I had almost no shin pain. But I held back a little as well back there because I didn't want to hurt them agian. They are getting better and I am getting better, but there is still the fear of really hurting them again. So I walked ran the rest of the race. I was feeling really good until I hit the last hill up to the finish line. WOW that was a long hill, It really wasn't that long but it felt like It was going to kill me. But I kept pushing up it and after I got past the steepest part I could see the finish line so I started to run and I finished in 45 mins.

I feel pretty good about that time because I am hitting 43 on nice paved roads, I had to cross a few trees and streams and acutally let a couple runners past me. The trail was pretty narrow. But I do feel that this type of running could over take the road running for me. At least I will be training a lot more on trails in the future!

Sleep...who needs it....

So this morning I couldn't sleep. I woke up at 3 am and stared at the ceiling. Pondering on my day I decided well, no sense in just laying here. I'll go for a run.

So at 3:45 I got out of bed, grabbed my running stuff and clothes for work and headed out the door. I drove past work, dropped off my clothes and then went to where I park. Oh, in case you hadn't figured it out, I got my car back on the road!!!

Where I park is down in this place called Panther Hollow in Oakland. It's down a really nice long hill that I walk up every morning. Today though, I went up another hill that leads away from my office building. i walked up it, intending for this to be my warm up. I had no clue on distance (still need that garmin) but I was feeling the lack of sleep at the top of it. But I still ran, down forbes past the library, across the bridge into the park and then back out, down past the library around the fountain and then back on forbes to the office. I did have to stop and walk here and there. Mostly due to lack of sleep and then lack of nourishment. Up the steps, streached in my cube then hit the showers down the hall. I did over dress, there was a ligth misty rain this morning that made it seem colder than it was. Once I got moving I was more soaked from sweat. Next time I will know better.

All in all it was a great run. I think this may become the norm for me. It's so nice to run in town when it's quiet like that. Just me and the birds. Oh, I haven't used my ipod for about 2 weeks now when I am running. I am finding it easier to control my pace when I can hear my feet hitting the ground.

Well, time to work...after today I am off until Monday :) Tomorrow morning I am going to hit a trail near here and run it. Then rest friday and saturday for the trail race on sunday.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

What a weekend...

This was another great weekend. The weather was wonderful.

On Saturday I spent the morning buying a pair of trail running shoes. I ended up going to REI to get them. I went by bus to the store, so that dropped me off about a mile away from the store. I hiked over to the store and got my shoes. After trying a few pairs on I decided on Salamon trail running shoes. They are very light and feel great on my feet. So in the spirit of buying them I put them on when I left and well I had intentions on getting a bus back downtown right outside of REI. Well there is this Gyro place there and well they are the best so I decided to cheat a little and have one. After that I was really full and walked out to get the bus, but something sparked, not sure what but I started walking towards town. Next thing I know 2.3 miles later I am in town waiting for the bus to come home.

Today, my wife and daughter wanted me to go to the boarn with them to see our horse. But there was a catch, we had to go to 2 other barns first to do a few things for friends. So after we got home I felt the calling to go run. I ran into the house changed and ran out. I decided to take one of our dogs with me. He is my little buddy and I wasn't going to run that much. Just a little jog to burn off some energy before bed.

Well after the warm up I looked down at him and said hey you ready. We started our nice slow jog. With him leading me we went a little further than where I usually burn out and need to walk. But I was watching him and not really paying attention to where I was on the route. I was worried I'd kill him. He isn't used to getting out and running like that. But we kept going and when I looked up I almost fell over. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked around. I picked him up and screamed we did it buddy.

I broke the mile! Finally after all this time I ran 1 mile without stopping to walk. I felt like I could go further but he was panting pretty good so we walked back home. All this time in my head I knew what the problem was. I wasn't trying to go to far, I was trying to go to fast. My shins didn't hurt either, but I came home, streched them out really good then massaged and iced them like I knew I better.

I finally feel like a runner!!!!!!

Not so random thoughts

Yesterday, I decided to run/walk the lake at a local park near me. It's a 5 mile loop and well marked and basically flat. I ran a lot of it but not all of it. Someday I will run it all but not yet, slow and easy. It was a beautiful day, 65ish sunny and a light breeze. What a day... there were a ton of people there, the walkers, runners, and bike riders. We all shared that hour. There was even a woman that was clearly not there to run walk or ride, well not a bike anyway. Oh did I say that..... :)

I have figured out that I am running to fast and need to slow down, working on that now, just slow running and enjoying it. I have decided the next 2 weeks are for me to just enjoy running and not concentrate on any race. Although I will probably do a 5k trail race here in the next couple weeks.

So, back to the unrandomness of this....

While I was going horribly slow for the 5 miles, I just started to let my mind wonder and see where it would end up. At first I thought about someday running with all my online friends. What a blast that would be. Then I thought about my life and why I didn't start this sooner. But lastly what kicked in there was my friends and family that don't run and what they thought of me running.

So I thought I would put it down yet again on WHY I run, so here it is.

Mostly I run to loose weight, get in shape and feel better about myself. At least that is why it started. Well that and the promise of a Jeep :) But then something happened, something kicked in that was really unexpected. I started to feel better not just physically, but mentally.

But that still doesn't say why... does it?

I run because it's one thing that no one can take away from me. I control it. It doesn't cost me money, it doesn't depend on anyone but me to be there doing it. I run to be me cause that is what I am a runner. I always have been, I just never let that part of me come out. I think back to all the times I thought, hey I am gonna get in shape and start running and never did.

So to the naysayers the doubters and the people that think I am plain insane, give it a shot, see how you feel. Yes there have been days when I haven't been able to take a step without pain. There have been days when I got out there, ran less than a 1/10th of a mile and said F this, I quit. But in the end, I go back the next day, I never quit. Cause in my heart I am where I want to be.

I know it was fiction but Forest Gump had it right. I could just go someday like that and not turn around. Just run and run and never stop.

Wanna come with me? ...............

Just A Short Run Race Report

Today was a good day...

First off there were 4 races starting at the exact same time and there were 2000 people running. The 5K, HM and the HM relay were all starting from the same starting line at the same time. The 30k people were further back.

All week they had been calling for thunder storms and that concerned me. But yesterday they changed it to just rain and then the rain hit early and we had a beautiful sunny day to run in. And of course I forgot my sunglasses (grrrrrrr!)

So for the race. When the gun went off a massive wall of people started moving. I had to wait about 2 mins for the crowd to thin out so we could start running. My sister-in-law was doing this race with me but she was walking, so I knew I was going to have to leave her. Once I started running I ran the first 1/2 mile then I hit the hill... 1/2 mile hill that was really steep. But I walked it as fast as I could and once we hit the top I ran down the other side. At 1 1/4 miles they had water for us. It's amazing how I won't walk when I hit a water station. I want to be running when people like that see me. LOL But I did have to walk some today. But not as much as the last 5K. Once we hit the bottom of the hill the rest of the run was fairly level. I picked my I will pass target and keep him in my sights until just about 2 3/4 miles then I passed him. He passed me once, then I saw that magical starting line up ahead and kicked it into higher gear and passed him to beat him by 59 seconds.

Now, so you know I was content going slowr on this race because of the hill. The last one was flat, but I was going to try and beat my time. I just didn't think I would be able to. That hill was a killer I tell ya. When I came in I was so excited about finishing and the fact that I did run almost 2/3s of the race that I forgot to look at my time at the finish line. Then, they posted the 5k times but I was looking for my sister in law and when I went to look someone had taken them down. So I knew about what my time was, but I didn't know my offical time until about 8pm (20 mins ago). My offical chip time is 41:43... I beat my 43:20 even with a hill in it !!!!!!!!!!

For this race I got a very nice pair of shorts (hence the name just a short run) and I ended up buying a long sleve tech shirt with the races logo on it. I am going to get a picture of me in them but my daughter stole our camera for her stuff today (it's acutally her camera, but we use it to) So I will get a pic of me in them and post it ASAP.

After the race I got a massage and I tell you what, if you have never done that DO IT!! OMG it was awesome and I felt so great after it. I ended up talking to my target and we exchanged numbers and are going to get together for some runs. He has lost over 100 lbs since last summer and runs at pretty much the same pace I do. Talked to a few of the 30kers that I know from meetup.com as well. All in all it was a great day and I am very happy right now!

Yeah I know....

I have been slacking really bad. For that I am sorry.

Life has been getting in the way of blog time. But rest assured I am still alive (got an email about that) and still going strong.

Tomorrow is the big day, race number 2. There are 2000 people running the 3 various races tomorrow. 5k, 30k, and HM. I am doing the 5k. Looking forward to it but the nervousness of ti all is there. This 5k has a killer hill on it. But after that it's all downhill or flat. So I just have to get over the top :) I will post either tomorrow or Sunday on the results.

The past 3 weeks have been extremily hectic for me. I went to the Docs and he is puzzled at why I am loosing weight but my blood pressure isn't dropping. Personally, I think the meds never did squat for me and it is dropping but he won't listen to that. So, I had to go get a echo cardiogram done yesterday. Will let you know the results but the tech looked unworried. One thing I did notice is that my resting heart rate is down, even with the nervousness of the test I was sitting at 72 bpm.

After the race 3 weeks ago, I took some time to let my shins recoup and heal up. And then when they felt good, I ran again and the pain came back. So I did a lot of research on the internet and stumbled on a site that they suggested consistant shin pain could be related to a vitamin b definceny in your system. So I went out and bought a B complex to try it out. The first day I took one my shin pain seemed better but it was an off day and since the race is coming up I didn't want to push it so I waited. Yesterday I ran without any pain in my shins so maybe that is the reason. At this point I will try anything. I don't think it is to overdoing it because I haven't increased anything for a long time.

I will post the results for the race as soon as I can.

Race Day

Well, the race is over and I am home. WOW, I am so pumped about today....

I got there about 15 mins before warm ups offically started, signed in, got my packet and my chip. Then went back out to the car to drop that all off. Went to where warm ups were being held. Well, I was running on the Pittsburgh Steelers indoor practice field. Man, If I could run on that all the time, it's so cushioned and nice. My legs were saying hey, this is more like it. After I warmed up streached, ran around a little on the fake turf. I relaxed and just streached my legs out some more. My shins were still a little sore from the other day. I have been worried about this. But this morning they didn't seem all that sore. Mind you the new shoes are doing wonders. But I need to let them heal up now. I talked to a few people. No one came with me today. I was alone.

At the start of the race I decided to stay in the back of the pack. I knew there was no way I was running the whole thing, But I was sure as heck gonna run as much as I could. Once we started I faded back but not to the very last spot. I paced myself as best as I could and rand until about 3/4 of a mile in. Then my shin started to ache a little so I backed off to a brisk walk. I ran walked a few more times before the turn to come back, then I ran through the turn. There was at least one guy behind me at about 100 yards. When he would get closer I would run and bring it back to 100 yards. My shins weren't screaming pain, but I didn't want them to be so I held back. Then I saw 2 people in front of me. An older man and woman walk running as well. My goal was to at least catch them before the end. I caught up to them at about the 2 mile maker and we all stuck together until the end and in fact crossed the finish line together.

So I guess you all wanna know my time. Before I tell you, I would like to point out that in November I did a fun run and couldn't get 5k done in under an hour. So I set my goal at 45 mins. If I beat it great. If I didn't well that is my goal.

I crossed the finish line at 43:20. Yep I beat it... Wasn't great, wasn't the winning time at 17:10. But for a guy who is just starting, well, I'll take it.

In 3 weeks I have another 5k, I am gonna beat that time then. And each race I am going to get better... :) Oh btw I was hooked before this race. The grip got a little tighter now.