My last post was over a year ago. WOW! Time does fly by, and sometimes, Life doesn't fly by the way you envisioned it would. I am not sure why I am writing in this blog now, especially after so much time since I last wrote, but I suppose it is to reflect on better times and times that I wish I had back. Maybe I am trying to put the past year's events and even events further than just a year ago, behind me.
Lately, I seem to generate more excuses for myself than solutions. I am starting to realize how important it is to leave the past exactly where it is, in the past, and stop making excuses for myself and just start LIVING the way I know I should.
I could go into detail after detail of the issues that I have went through with my fitness levels and how busy my life has become, but I guarantee there are people that have had to deal with my exact (and even worse) situation(s) and don't make excuses AND keep their fitness levels where they need. Knowing that fact makes this past year that much more pathetic and even more the reason to move on and focus on the future.
So if anyone is wondering (which I doubt anyone is even reading anymore); I have gained some of my weight back because I have been making excuses and genuinely just feeling sorry for myself. I guess I have been throwing myself a "pity party" and enjoying the cake and ice cream way too much. I originally lost about 170 lbs. and since that time, I have gained back at least 60 lbs. (and that is on a really good day!)
It's not that I am eating fast food and sitting on the couch all day long, I still eat rather healthy (whole grains, vegetables, not a lot of enriched or processed foods, only water and coffee). I also work on my house after being at work all day, so I am fairly active all day long. The main thing I have stopped doing is exercising. Other than walking the dog around the block, I have ran very little, biked even less and a big FAT zero for lifting weights or attending exercise classes over the past four to five months. So when you hear the experts say that you have to exercise AND eat right in order to consistently maintain a healthy lifestyle, they aren't making that stuff up.
So, with all that "boohooing" and "pity partying" hopefully out of my system, I am excited to try something new for a change - looking forward instead of behind me; focusing on a healthier future and not getting frustrated and pissed on how far I have regressed.
It's time for me to quit making excuses and just do what I KNOW I am capable of doing!
Hopefully, the next time I post, it will be less than year and I will be chipping away at that 60 lbs. I gained. That way I won't have to change the name of my blog to "Jason's Weight Gain Journey."
Until then, let's focus on getting leaner and healthier and let the rest fall where they may...
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Lessons Learned ~ 2013 Edition
WOW! Has it really been two months since my last post? I am slacking – BIG TIME! Well, there is one
thing I know for certain, no one is sitting on the edge of their seat waiting to
read my blog posts (which is good, because then I would have to question your
sanity).
Anyway, just to update everyone on my 2013 progress – there IS no progress. Yes, I am maintaining my weight but my racing
calendar has once again changed. I am no
longer planning to do the Southern Indiana Triathlon as I intended but still
plan to do the Buckhead Border Challenge Triathlon on July 22nd. As far as any other summer races; I am hoping
to register soon for the Great Buckeye Challenge Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
this week. Yesterday, I paid and
registered for the 2013 US Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH on September 21st!
I am really excited about the Air Force Marathon for a number of reasons which
I will discuss in more detail in the following paragraphs.
So, overall, it appears that my race season will start a
little later in the year than initially planned but a race season is still a
race season regardless of the time of year it is done. Last year, the race season started early for
me and I ended up fizzling out too soon.
This year, I am starting my training and the bulk of my races to avoid
what happened last year. I am still very
new to these sports and since I do not have a coach (or the money to get one);
I am just trying to learn from my mistakes year to year. After all, if we don’t learn from most of our
mistakes, then how can we ever expect to get better?
Ok, now on to what I have already learned this year:
Lesson No. 1 –
Never expect that your training will go exactly as planned.
Lesson No. 2 – Never assume that tapering for a race is just for elite or “really” fast runners.
Lesson No. 3 – Listen to your body and do the “smart” thing which is not to be confused with the “what we want to do” thing.
Lesson No. 4 – Never assume that you are immune to sicknesses, regardless of how long it has been since your last sniffle or cough. If you assume that, you WILL get sick!
Lesson No. 5 – If you are sick, and you can’t breathe without hacking up alien life forms, DON’T RACE! Save it for the next one, because there will be other races.
Lesson No. 2 – Never assume that tapering for a race is just for elite or “really” fast runners.
Lesson No. 3 – Listen to your body and do the “smart” thing which is not to be confused with the “what we want to do” thing.
Lesson No. 4 – Never assume that you are immune to sicknesses, regardless of how long it has been since your last sniffle or cough. If you assume that, you WILL get sick!
Lesson No. 5 – If you are sick, and you can’t breathe without hacking up alien life forms, DON’T RACE! Save it for the next one, because there will be other races.
So, with only one race under my belt this year (Derby Day
Stakes 10K), I have already learned quite a bit. Unfortunately, some of those lessons, I had
to learn the hard way. This leads me
to address my main topic; getting sick right before race day, and not just any race
day, one of the big races on my schedule for the 2013 season. I am talking about the Kentucky Derby
Marathon that I was supposed to run on April 27th.
Let me explain the series of events that led up to one of
the hardest decisions I have had to make:
It was about a week and a half before the marathon; I had
run a 23 mile long run that previous Sunday and was still feeling a little
sluggish two days later. I never felt
still sluggish two days after my long runs so I attributed it to the new idea I
had, not really tapering for the marathon.
I have tapered before and had no success so I figured tapering for a
race was just intended for the faster runners (Lesson No. 2). I was willing to try something new so I just
kept pushing myself even though something told me that I should take it easy. I was getting short on breath and staring to
develop a cough. Surely, I thought,
there was no way I could be getting sick; I haven’t been sick in over two
years, I can’t get sick a week before the race, NO WAY (Lesson No. 4). Well, I kept pushing the training thinking
that I would just train right through the sickness and I would be fine and
everything would be better after the weekend.
I came to find out that it just got worse, my cough was getting deeper
and I started having real issues breathing, but I kept running little by
little even though my body was telling me to stop (Lesson No. 3). Well, the Monday came before the marathon and
I was really having a hard time so I went to the doctor and was told I had
bronchitis. What? There was no way I had bronchitis much less this close before
the marathon. I was prescribed an
antibiotic and told if I felt better, then, I could race in the marathon, but
it all depended on how I felt. Believe it or not, I already had my mind made up
that I WAS going to race no
matter how I felt (A little of Lesson 3 & 5 here). Well, it got down to
Thursday and I ran about 2 miles and had to stop almost every 0.5 mile mark to
cough and hack my brains out, but yet I was still telling myself “I was going
to run this marathon.” So how could someone
think, just two days before a 26 mile race, that they would still be able to
run when they couldn't even make it 0.5 mile without coughing like a 40- year
old chain smoker. But yet, that was my
thought process.
The next day, after much hesitation and deliberation, I
listened to my body, and cancelled my hotel reservations; I wasn't going to run
this one. I was going to try and be
smart and sit this race out and get healthy (Lesson No. 5 finally learned). I
wanted to run so bad but knew I wouldn't be able to finish and wasn't helping myself
by being stubborn. So, I didn't race,
but since, I have gotten back on my feet, ran a 10K, not a very good time, but
completed and with both lungs intact.
So that is how I learned some very valuable lessons without before
really running a single race. They say
training is where you learn how to run your races and that is exactly what
happened, I learned lessons by the problems faced during my training. I learned that I need to taper, listen to my
body, do the smart thing and not necessarily what I “want” and most of all,
take care of myself and allow my body the time to get better.
These sound like such simple things, but when
you train for months for something and a week before, you have to admit that
you aren't able to do it; trust me, it isn't such a simple decision at all.
This experience and the fact that I missed the official
start of my 2013 race season is what has fueled a fire to run the Air Force
Marathon and hopefully, do it a little smarter this time around.
The start of 2013 has been a bit of struggle, hopefully that
means that I will be stronger and “smarter” towards the rest of 2013. One can
only hope. So for those of you who are
training for your own races, best of luck!
Until next time…
I am training for races, getting stronger, and most of all, hopefully getting smarter…just keep running.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Spring Is Here! Time to Sweat Again!
If you read my blogs from last summer, you will find out just how much I love the heat during training. Well, not so much the heat, but the thick humidity that keeps your sweat stuck to you as you train. Well, to save you some time, the answer is "notsomuch." I love to sweat during runs, bike rides, and, well...swimming you don't really... OK never mind on that one. But anyway, I love to sweat and work hard, but to sweat when it is so humid that the sweat doesn't evaporate and sticks to your clothes and it looks like you just went swimming with all your clothes on?
Well, Fall marks the beginning of no water bottles needed on the runs and Spring marks the beginning of sweating buckets of water. Either way, living in Kentucky, I at least get a chance to enjoy the change in seasons, yes I even get to enjoy the humidity (haha). Although, I do enjoy running in the cold weather, I knew it wouldn't last forever so I welcome Spring and my second full racing season!
This year will hopefully start off with the same race as last year, the Heart and Sole Sprint Triathlon in Versailles, KY on April 20th. Last year, it was my very first triathlon and I learned so much from that race alone. I learned about how to seed my swim time properly, perform transitions faster, and so much more. Well, if I can, I will be doing that race and then, a week later, I will be revisiting the spot of my first marathon, the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville, KY on April 27th. I cramped up on mile 24 of this race last year and lost my chance of finishing under 4 hours. Unfortunately, this year, marathon training has been rather sluggish so I am not sure if this is the marathon that I will be able to get under that 4 hour mark. Either way, I will give it my best and that is all I can do. I may have a great day or I may be walking after mile 20. What matters is that I finish the race, no matter if it's crawling, walking, rolling, running, limping, or hobbling across, just as long as I cross that finish line.
I have also registered for the Buckhead Border Challenge Olympic Distance Triathlon and will probably do the Southern Indiana Olympic Triathlon too. After that, sometime in September, assuming I am still healthy, I will do one of the Half Iron-Distance races in Ohio. Then in October, I am doing the Bourbon Chase 200-mile Team Relay Race. I have never done a relay race before so I am really looking forward to that.
Well, my training is still ramping up, like I said, rather slowly this year. Not really sure why, but it has taken longer for me to find my motivation to start the season, but I am in my second week of full build training. I have been running, but when I say full build, I mean training for triathlons. Each week, I try to get in my marathon training runs along with workouts involving swimming, biking/spinning and strength (body weight exercises and weights, stretching, yoga, etc.). I am still no too keen on getting in the pool, but not nearly as bad as last year. I have been in the pool about 7 times over the past two weeks and have felt more confident each day; my endurance still sucks, but I will build up to that.
I don't know exactly what is in store for me this year, but I do know that I still enjoy it and not one second do I miss the Jason of old. Hopefully, I have put the unhealthy, larger and lazy Jason behind me for good. I have always heard that people with large amounts of weight loss end up gaining quite a lot, if not all of the weight back within two years of losing it. Well, I am still in that two year period, but I cannot imagine going back to that lifestyle. I enjoy who I have become and the challenges I have pushed myself through. I have also met new people, people that are focused, determined and very willing to lend advice or even a motivating message. The people I have met over the past two years are people that sacrifice their own lives for the chance to race for charities, hospitals, medical research, animals, lost loved ones, and those who cannot get out and race.
So I will end this blog post welcoming the upcoming season similar to the way I did last year, putting the old Jason behind me, welcoming the new race season, and remaining humbled by the people that make up these sports.
Good luck to everyone this year! I hope everyone gets a chance to race and maybe even set a personal record! If anyone wants to share your race events this season, please comment. I would love to hear what everyone is planning!!
Looking forward to the race season, the training, and yes, maybe even the swimming...but always, looking forward to the running!
Unit next time...
Well, Fall marks the beginning of no water bottles needed on the runs and Spring marks the beginning of sweating buckets of water. Either way, living in Kentucky, I at least get a chance to enjoy the change in seasons, yes I even get to enjoy the humidity (haha). Although, I do enjoy running in the cold weather, I knew it wouldn't last forever so I welcome Spring and my second full racing season!
This year will hopefully start off with the same race as last year, the Heart and Sole Sprint Triathlon in Versailles, KY on April 20th. Last year, it was my very first triathlon and I learned so much from that race alone. I learned about how to seed my swim time properly, perform transitions faster, and so much more. Well, if I can, I will be doing that race and then, a week later, I will be revisiting the spot of my first marathon, the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville, KY on April 27th. I cramped up on mile 24 of this race last year and lost my chance of finishing under 4 hours. Unfortunately, this year, marathon training has been rather sluggish so I am not sure if this is the marathon that I will be able to get under that 4 hour mark. Either way, I will give it my best and that is all I can do. I may have a great day or I may be walking after mile 20. What matters is that I finish the race, no matter if it's crawling, walking, rolling, running, limping, or hobbling across, just as long as I cross that finish line.
I have also registered for the Buckhead Border Challenge Olympic Distance Triathlon and will probably do the Southern Indiana Olympic Triathlon too. After that, sometime in September, assuming I am still healthy, I will do one of the Half Iron-Distance races in Ohio. Then in October, I am doing the Bourbon Chase 200-mile Team Relay Race. I have never done a relay race before so I am really looking forward to that.
Well, my training is still ramping up, like I said, rather slowly this year. Not really sure why, but it has taken longer for me to find my motivation to start the season, but I am in my second week of full build training. I have been running, but when I say full build, I mean training for triathlons. Each week, I try to get in my marathon training runs along with workouts involving swimming, biking/spinning and strength (body weight exercises and weights, stretching, yoga, etc.). I am still no too keen on getting in the pool, but not nearly as bad as last year. I have been in the pool about 7 times over the past two weeks and have felt more confident each day; my endurance still sucks, but I will build up to that.
I don't know exactly what is in store for me this year, but I do know that I still enjoy it and not one second do I miss the Jason of old. Hopefully, I have put the unhealthy, larger and lazy Jason behind me for good. I have always heard that people with large amounts of weight loss end up gaining quite a lot, if not all of the weight back within two years of losing it. Well, I am still in that two year period, but I cannot imagine going back to that lifestyle. I enjoy who I have become and the challenges I have pushed myself through. I have also met new people, people that are focused, determined and very willing to lend advice or even a motivating message. The people I have met over the past two years are people that sacrifice their own lives for the chance to race for charities, hospitals, medical research, animals, lost loved ones, and those who cannot get out and race.
So I will end this blog post welcoming the upcoming season similar to the way I did last year, putting the old Jason behind me, welcoming the new race season, and remaining humbled by the people that make up these sports.
Good luck to everyone this year! I hope everyone gets a chance to race and maybe even set a personal record! If anyone wants to share your race events this season, please comment. I would love to hear what everyone is planning!!
Looking forward to the race season, the training, and yes, maybe even the swimming...but always, looking forward to the running!
Unit next time...
Monday, 18 February 2013
Struggling, No Easier Way to Put it, Just Struggling. But Why?
As I get prepared for essentially my second full race/triathlon season, I am overcome with different feelings. First, I am nervous about new challenges that I know I will be faced with during the season. I am also worried about my motivation - Will it ever be the same as it was last year or even the year before when I first started this journey? I am into a little more than 2 years since my weight loss and I am starting to understand why a lot of people that lose a large amount of weight have a hard maintaining the weight loss. It seems once you have done a lot and worked so hard for things, you would hope that if you keep doing exercising and even back off just a little, then because of all your hard work, your body will just maintain. NOT! WRONG! NO WAY! and what ever else you want to add to those.
Either way, it's the wrong mentality. Just because someone loses a lot of weight and they work hard, doesn't mean that once the weight is off, the party is over, because it's not. Actually, it really has just begun. Regardless, losing weight and KEEPING it off is one of the hardest things I have done. What is even harder is to look in the mirror and see the weight gain. Even though the scale says that added weight is there, looking in the mirror and seeing it is very hard for someone who had just got over being used to seeing a 400 lb. man in the mirror. It's harder to really see those extra pounds especially when so much weight has been lost from the beginning.
Just to give you an example. Let's say I show you 170 lbs of bricks; that would be a lot of bricks! But let's say I have you turn around and then I take 15 lbs. of bricks away from that 170 lbs. worth of bricks. When you turn around, assuming that original pile of bricks was pretty substantial, you hardly notice any difference. Maybe a little difference, but certainly not something so dramatic as taking 50 or 60 lbs. away. Well, that is why I think it is hard for some people (including myself) to see any changes in just 15 lbs. of weight gain. Sure, I can make excuses like "I am in the off-season" or "work is really busy" or "family life is really hectic right now" or "I really am trying to recover my body." Now, those can be valid excuses, but not if it's the excuse as to why I gained weight, that should be the reason why I don't have the endurance to go run a marathon right this second or compete in a Half-Ironman, but not why I gained 15 lbs.
Assuming I did what normal, experienced (and smarter) triathletes, duathletes, and other endurance athletes do during the off-season I would have only decreased my workout and exercise regimen by a maximum of 40% not the 60 or 70% that I have done. And I also shouldn't be taking off more than 6-8 weeks to re-energize for the upcoming season. It's simple, I am not getting any younger and I need to be smarter about how to exercise and develop an off-season regimen to keep my "fitness level" where it needs to be so that when I start training, I am not starting back at square one. That's kind of where I put myself now. Sure, I may not be starting exactly where I started two years ago, but I damn sure haven't done myself any favors.
Anyway, I am not putting all my errors and nonsensical (got that word form my boss) decisions into this blog post to show everyone how stupid I am, but I am doing it to hold myself accountable and ensure responsibility with this weight loss journey that I decided to put myself though. Yes, I am the one who said weight loss was one of my keys to a better life and so I must take credit for ALL of my misguided decisions. I am also putting this info on here in the hopes that someone reading this and possibly going or have gone through the same struggles can gain insight or understanding that there are others out there who, after weight loss, still struggle with maintaining weight. I know it is something that I am going to have to watch every day, week month, year and decade of my life, but I have to understand that is normal and should be expected. I have said it before, just cause i may not look exactly like the fat man that I was a couple of years ago doesn't mean that he isn't still inside of me telling me to sit down and watch TV instead of going for that run or telling me it doesn't matter how much you eat as long as it is pretty healthy. Yes, that man still lives inside of me and not listening to him can be harder than it seems, especially when it is 15 degrees outside and the gym is on the other side of town. Sounds like another good excuse huh? Well, apparently this winter, I have come up with my fair share of excuses and I need to stop.
So I end this blog post specifically speaking to those that may be struggling with weight gain or lack of motivation to get started again. All I have to say is, I am right there with you and I am slowly getting motivated. My recommendation for trying to get motivated again would be to try as many different motivational techniques as possible, just do something to get yourself back out there. Try joining a aerobic class, spinning class, go to the gym when it is slow so you have your pick of anything in the gym to use; have a friend join you for a workout or run; keep a motivational quote book or have a daily motivational quote sent to your email and read them each day; sign up or volunteer for a race or active fundraising activity, join a swim, running, or cycling club; treat yourself to a new piece of workout gear; run with music if you normally don't, or just get out there and start walking. The whole thought is to just get back out there and start a pattern for yourself. You may not find your motivation instantly, but as you start, your motivation will slowly start to come back and you will hopefully remember why doing this stuff was so much fun in the first place. It's amazing how easily we are led astray by our very own minds.
Well, that is enough of my belly-aching and it is time for me to get out there and do something. At this point, I don't care if it's a swim, bike, run, basketball game or whatever, just as long as I get out there! I hope everyone is doing well trying to meet their own goals this year/season. If you have any interest in sharing any of your motivational techniques or even your goals, I would, and surely some of the readers would really enjoy hearing them.
So yes, right now, I am still struggling, but as in life, anything worth having should be hard to achieve and a struggle to maintain. In the end, we are all better for the struggles throughout our life - it's what may end up defining us.
Next time, I will hopefully be, struggling less, more motivated and ready for what lies ahead; but for now, I will just try to keep my head up.
Either way, it's the wrong mentality. Just because someone loses a lot of weight and they work hard, doesn't mean that once the weight is off, the party is over, because it's not. Actually, it really has just begun. Regardless, losing weight and KEEPING it off is one of the hardest things I have done. What is even harder is to look in the mirror and see the weight gain. Even though the scale says that added weight is there, looking in the mirror and seeing it is very hard for someone who had just got over being used to seeing a 400 lb. man in the mirror. It's harder to really see those extra pounds especially when so much weight has been lost from the beginning.
Just to give you an example. Let's say I show you 170 lbs of bricks; that would be a lot of bricks! But let's say I have you turn around and then I take 15 lbs. of bricks away from that 170 lbs. worth of bricks. When you turn around, assuming that original pile of bricks was pretty substantial, you hardly notice any difference. Maybe a little difference, but certainly not something so dramatic as taking 50 or 60 lbs. away. Well, that is why I think it is hard for some people (including myself) to see any changes in just 15 lbs. of weight gain. Sure, I can make excuses like "I am in the off-season" or "work is really busy" or "family life is really hectic right now" or "I really am trying to recover my body." Now, those can be valid excuses, but not if it's the excuse as to why I gained weight, that should be the reason why I don't have the endurance to go run a marathon right this second or compete in a Half-Ironman, but not why I gained 15 lbs.
Assuming I did what normal, experienced (and smarter) triathletes, duathletes, and other endurance athletes do during the off-season I would have only decreased my workout and exercise regimen by a maximum of 40% not the 60 or 70% that I have done. And I also shouldn't be taking off more than 6-8 weeks to re-energize for the upcoming season. It's simple, I am not getting any younger and I need to be smarter about how to exercise and develop an off-season regimen to keep my "fitness level" where it needs to be so that when I start training, I am not starting back at square one. That's kind of where I put myself now. Sure, I may not be starting exactly where I started two years ago, but I damn sure haven't done myself any favors.
Anyway, I am not putting all my errors and nonsensical (got that word form my boss) decisions into this blog post to show everyone how stupid I am, but I am doing it to hold myself accountable and ensure responsibility with this weight loss journey that I decided to put myself though. Yes, I am the one who said weight loss was one of my keys to a better life and so I must take credit for ALL of my misguided decisions. I am also putting this info on here in the hopes that someone reading this and possibly going or have gone through the same struggles can gain insight or understanding that there are others out there who, after weight loss, still struggle with maintaining weight. I know it is something that I am going to have to watch every day, week month, year and decade of my life, but I have to understand that is normal and should be expected. I have said it before, just cause i may not look exactly like the fat man that I was a couple of years ago doesn't mean that he isn't still inside of me telling me to sit down and watch TV instead of going for that run or telling me it doesn't matter how much you eat as long as it is pretty healthy. Yes, that man still lives inside of me and not listening to him can be harder than it seems, especially when it is 15 degrees outside and the gym is on the other side of town. Sounds like another good excuse huh? Well, apparently this winter, I have come up with my fair share of excuses and I need to stop.
So I end this blog post specifically speaking to those that may be struggling with weight gain or lack of motivation to get started again. All I have to say is, I am right there with you and I am slowly getting motivated. My recommendation for trying to get motivated again would be to try as many different motivational techniques as possible, just do something to get yourself back out there. Try joining a aerobic class, spinning class, go to the gym when it is slow so you have your pick of anything in the gym to use; have a friend join you for a workout or run; keep a motivational quote book or have a daily motivational quote sent to your email and read them each day; sign up or volunteer for a race or active fundraising activity, join a swim, running, or cycling club; treat yourself to a new piece of workout gear; run with music if you normally don't, or just get out there and start walking. The whole thought is to just get back out there and start a pattern for yourself. You may not find your motivation instantly, but as you start, your motivation will slowly start to come back and you will hopefully remember why doing this stuff was so much fun in the first place. It's amazing how easily we are led astray by our very own minds.
Well, that is enough of my belly-aching and it is time for me to get out there and do something. At this point, I don't care if it's a swim, bike, run, basketball game or whatever, just as long as I get out there! I hope everyone is doing well trying to meet their own goals this year/season. If you have any interest in sharing any of your motivational techniques or even your goals, I would, and surely some of the readers would really enjoy hearing them.
So yes, right now, I am still struggling, but as in life, anything worth having should be hard to achieve and a struggle to maintain. In the end, we are all better for the struggles throughout our life - it's what may end up defining us.
Next time, I will hopefully be, struggling less, more motivated and ready for what lies ahead; but for now, I will just try to keep my head up.
Thursday, 24 January 2013
A New Year, New Racing Schedule and New Challenges
So who is tired of hearing about the fad diets, the newest weight loss pill, the newest workout craze or even how you can get off the couch and run a 5K in just 30 days? Well, I must admit, this time of year is to the health industry as red meat is too a pack of hungry, rabid wolves. I watch television and see all the ads and infomercials about these weight loss pills and the newest piece of equipment that "takes inches off your waste in just two weeks." Well, I am 100% percent sure that for a lot of overweight people in this world, those things are just window dressing for the real truth. The real truth is what everyone already knows. It takes hard work, guts, sweat, humility, sacrifice and even sometimes, a little pain to get to a certain weight loss or nutrition goal. Sure these other things may help your body in some way, but other than surgery, nothing has shown to have a more lasting effect than exercising and eating right. I am not just talking from my own experiences, but this also comes from people that I meet that had their own weight loss issues and there is usually one constant among them all - HARD WORK!
People get so frustrated when the weight doesn't just fall off like it seems on other people, but we have got to remember that our weight gains did not just happen in two weeks, it took time to add the weight on and it will more than likely take at least TWICE as long to get off. I also talk to people who are so frustrated that they haven't lost one single pound after two or three weeks of eating well and starting to incorporate exercise. Well, I state and ask, so you haven't lost weight YET, but besides that, "how do you FEEL?" After three weeks, we may be so focused on the weight loss that we forget that we may not have that indigestion anymore or we sleep more sound and wake up more refreshed. We may not notice that we have a little more "pep in our step" and more energy throughout the day. Those changes are the ones that we need to focus on rather than the weight.
Also, one thing we focus on is the exercise or the eating right part, but we forget that to get completely healthy, we must incorporate both. I will admit it, I have spent the last two months gaining some weight. Why? Was it because I stopped exercising? Nope, I slowed down a little, but didn't stop. Was it because I started eating chocolates, ice cream, pizza and fast food? Nope, I stayed with a fairly clean diet. Well, how did I gain that weight? I gained it because I forgot one BIG rule. I forgot that when I am not in full training mode, I don't need to eat like I am in full training mode. But that is exactly what I did, even though my training didn't stop, but decreased, I still kept eating like I was in full training. I didn't realize that even though the food was pretty healthy, I didn't need to eat that much to stay nourished. I know reading this you probably say that I should know that and it is common sense. But then I also ask that if it is common sense that exercise and healthy eating is the quickest way to a better "you," then why did I weigh so much two years ago? It's because I became numb, lazy and stopped noticing the signs of my problems. That may not be the reason or case for anyone reading this, but for me, I admit, that is and was the reason for my weight gain and my original morbidly obese weight. I became so HUGE because I chose NOT to "see" it. I was also shown these past couple of months that I am still not immune to weight gain or the problem of "not seeing it." It's apparently something I have to learn and work on in the future or else it wont be 15 pounds of weight that I add, but more like 50, 60 or even a 100 lbs.
Fortunately, I have very limited time to stay in a "minimal" lethargic state as I have to get ready to train for a marathon at the end of April 2013. This leads me to my other point of keeping the weight off, it's about keeping yourself accountable. Scheduling a race or some sort of event months in advance will help you maintain your weight better. Especially if you are as "cheap" as I am, you will not want to waste money on a race because you didn't "train" for it. It's as simple as that. Schedule a race that is manageable within a time frame after a certain "break" period and that will get you back in the gym, pushing away form the brownies and striving to do your best.
So anyway, I stated that I would put up my tentative race calendar in this post so here it is in all its glory:
April 20th - Heart and Sole Triathlon - Sprint Distance
April 28th - Kentucky Derby Full Marathon
June 2nd - Southern Indiana Triathlon - Olympic Distance
July 4th - Bluegrass 10K
August 11th - REV 3 Triathlon Wisconsin Dells - Half Iron Distance
October 18-19th - Bourbon Chase 200-mile Team Relay
December 7th - Tecumseh Trail Full Marathon
I am starting to try to focus on longer distance, endurance races to prepare myself for a Full Ironman in 2014.
Anyway, that's my schedule as it stands for now. If anyone has any suggestions on other good races, please feel free to let me know. I would love to hear about any other experiences in weight loss, races, injuries, etc. Again, I am by no means an expert at anything, just one person trying to share my experiences, both good and bad, with whoever takes the time to read these silly little blog posts If it helps anyone, then I am extremely happy. If anyone would care to share any of their experiences or stories, let me know so I can listen and learn.
It may sound like this post has a little frustrating tone to it, but that is because I am somewhat frustrated with myself. I worked VERY hard for two years and then I stop paying attention? Well, it doesn't and didn't sit well with me, so I want to explain my missteps and/or mistakes in this blog to hopefully help someone else not make the same error.
So now, I am off to lose the weight that I put on and guess how I am going to start doing it? Yep you guessed it ~ by running...
Friday, 4 January 2013
A New Year and a New You ~ Right?
It has been over a month since my last posting. I doubt anyone follows my blog close enough for that to even matter but I thought I would post something related to, yep you guessed it, the New Year!!! Why do we wait until the end of the previous year or the very beginning to look at how we need to change our lives or the way we go about each day? Why don't we do that on March 8th, or May 15th, or October 5th or some other random date? What is so special about waiting until the end of the year to figure out what we need to change in and about our lives and then try to apply it to the beginning of the next? Is it because we eat a lot during the holidays, feel bad about it and decide to lose weight? Is it because we have had some time off and a chance to reflect on the past year and determine the things that need to be changed? Why do we do it? I admit, I do it just like the rest of the world does it; I was just curious as to why?
At the end of this year, I actually took some time off from training and exercising and decided that I needed to spend some time with my family and shore up a lot of things at work rather than off somewhere doing some off-season trail run, swimming endless laps, or biking endless hours in spinning class. I must admit that it was nice and I enjoyed the time off, but guess what? I told my family that I would be starting to up my training again as the New Year approached. Well, here it is the New Year and I have kept to my word; I have started increasing the running and swimming, not so much with the biking just yet, but that will be ramping up soon too. I actually gained some weight which was expected, but because I didn't gorge myself this Holiday and stayed smart and really focused on trying to eat good foods, I actually maintained quite well. To me, losing ten pounds or so is so much easier after losing the large amount from before. Ten pounds is manageable and even justifiable with my eating habits (clean eating or not). The thing that doesn't let me worry is that I still love exercising, and I know that ten pounds is not the most overwhelming weight loss challenge I have ever attempted and as long as I don't let it get anything more than that.
Now to get back to the New Year's Resolution thing. Yes, I put together a list of races and other goals that I want to accomplish in 2013 (I will add that list to the next posting this month). I even cleaned up my office (only a little), did some organizing of old papers at the house, donated some old stuff to Goodwill and even bought a new 8-pack of underwear (really going all out in 2013!)
So, in a sense, we always try to find a way to start fresh, to start new, and the New Year always seems like a perfect time to do this. We even do it during the week. For example, we usually organize our schedules from Monday-Sunday or maybe Sunday-Saturday, but almost never Wednesday-Tuesday. Why is that? I think we have to have a designated beginning and end for something to feel absolutely complete. If we start back to work on a Monday, maybe that is the right start of the week, just like when we start a New Year, that is the time to start fresh.
Heck, I even started my weight loss journey as a New Year's Resolution so, two years later, I am still doing the same thing, starting off fresh at the New Year, trying to figure out what I need to do to become a better husband, dad, son, friend and colleague. I am simply doing what a lot of people do at the beginning of each year, trying to figure out how in the world to become a better person for those around us and ourselves. So, to close out 2012, I will say goodbye to last year, I've learned a lot, both good and bad (like when swimming in the nasty, disease and bacteria laden Ohio River, try to keep your mouth closed when turning your head upstream ~ ya think?)
Anyway, here is to a great 2013! I hope everyone reaches their goals, challenges and dreams this year! You have to start somewhere right?
Starting 2013 off right, by running, just running...
At the end of this year, I actually took some time off from training and exercising and decided that I needed to spend some time with my family and shore up a lot of things at work rather than off somewhere doing some off-season trail run, swimming endless laps, or biking endless hours in spinning class. I must admit that it was nice and I enjoyed the time off, but guess what? I told my family that I would be starting to up my training again as the New Year approached. Well, here it is the New Year and I have kept to my word; I have started increasing the running and swimming, not so much with the biking just yet, but that will be ramping up soon too. I actually gained some weight which was expected, but because I didn't gorge myself this Holiday and stayed smart and really focused on trying to eat good foods, I actually maintained quite well. To me, losing ten pounds or so is so much easier after losing the large amount from before. Ten pounds is manageable and even justifiable with my eating habits (clean eating or not). The thing that doesn't let me worry is that I still love exercising, and I know that ten pounds is not the most overwhelming weight loss challenge I have ever attempted and as long as I don't let it get anything more than that.
Now to get back to the New Year's Resolution thing. Yes, I put together a list of races and other goals that I want to accomplish in 2013 (I will add that list to the next posting this month). I even cleaned up my office (only a little), did some organizing of old papers at the house, donated some old stuff to Goodwill and even bought a new 8-pack of underwear (really going all out in 2013!)
So, in a sense, we always try to find a way to start fresh, to start new, and the New Year always seems like a perfect time to do this. We even do it during the week. For example, we usually organize our schedules from Monday-Sunday or maybe Sunday-Saturday, but almost never Wednesday-Tuesday. Why is that? I think we have to have a designated beginning and end for something to feel absolutely complete. If we start back to work on a Monday, maybe that is the right start of the week, just like when we start a New Year, that is the time to start fresh.
Heck, I even started my weight loss journey as a New Year's Resolution so, two years later, I am still doing the same thing, starting off fresh at the New Year, trying to figure out what I need to do to become a better husband, dad, son, friend and colleague. I am simply doing what a lot of people do at the beginning of each year, trying to figure out how in the world to become a better person for those around us and ourselves. So, to close out 2012, I will say goodbye to last year, I've learned a lot, both good and bad (like when swimming in the nasty, disease and bacteria laden Ohio River, try to keep your mouth closed when turning your head upstream ~ ya think?)
Anyway, here is to a great 2013! I hope everyone reaches their goals, challenges and dreams this year! You have to start somewhere right?
Starting 2013 off right, by running, just running...
Sunday, 18 November 2012
The Holidays are Here!! Somebody Help Me!!
Well, it's official, this is the first week of the start of the Holiday season. I am extremely excited about this (not really, not so much).
With the Holidays just around the corner, I start to think about the big turkey dinners with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie, green bean and broccoli casserole, rolls so small and light that you can make little dough balls and pop ten of them in your mouth like they were Tic-tacs.
However, those memories are from at least two years ago when I indulged in food like that. Now, I have to adjust, adapt and change the entire way I eat, especially during the Holidays. It can be difficult because even though I have certain foods that I stay away from, that doesn't mean my family does. Since I am the cook in the house, I have to cook different things for the Holidays. I try new things like roasted brussel sprouts and vegetables galore. I limit the amount of boxed items I use and try to make things from scratch. Mashed potatoes are not russet, they are now redskin new potatoes. Little changes like that in big meals can make a big difference in the quality and healthy nature of the meal.
Just because the Holidays are here doesn't mean I have to overindulge but on the other hand, it doesn't mean that I have to miss out on awesome food either. I just (try) to use some sense and hold myself accountable when going for that second (and uh...maybe third) helping of food.
So what is everyone doing this Thanksgiving? Spending time with Family? Friends? Travelling?
Also, what is your favorite Holiday staple, healthy or not? I know my family would probably not speak to me if I didn't fix my Oreo crumb /pudding pie. It sounds (and tastes) like something that would be so fattening, but I use sugar free pudding, low-fat oreos, fat free cool whip and dark chocolate chips, so it's not all that bad.
Anyway, I would like to hear something that you MUST have every Holiday no matter what. Is it Grandma's Famous mashed potatoes? Buttermilk biscuits or green bean casserole? I would like to hear!!
With the Holidays just around the corner, I start to think about the big turkey dinners with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie, green bean and broccoli casserole, rolls so small and light that you can make little dough balls and pop ten of them in your mouth like they were Tic-tacs.
However, those memories are from at least two years ago when I indulged in food like that. Now, I have to adjust, adapt and change the entire way I eat, especially during the Holidays. It can be difficult because even though I have certain foods that I stay away from, that doesn't mean my family does. Since I am the cook in the house, I have to cook different things for the Holidays. I try new things like roasted brussel sprouts and vegetables galore. I limit the amount of boxed items I use and try to make things from scratch. Mashed potatoes are not russet, they are now redskin new potatoes. Little changes like that in big meals can make a big difference in the quality and healthy nature of the meal.
Just because the Holidays are here doesn't mean I have to overindulge but on the other hand, it doesn't mean that I have to miss out on awesome food either. I just (try) to use some sense and hold myself accountable when going for that second (and uh...maybe third) helping of food.
So what is everyone doing this Thanksgiving? Spending time with Family? Friends? Travelling?
Also, what is your favorite Holiday staple, healthy or not? I know my family would probably not speak to me if I didn't fix my Oreo crumb /pudding pie. It sounds (and tastes) like something that would be so fattening, but I use sugar free pudding, low-fat oreos, fat free cool whip and dark chocolate chips, so it's not all that bad.
Anyway, I would like to hear something that you MUST have every Holiday no matter what. Is it Grandma's Famous mashed potatoes? Buttermilk biscuits or green bean casserole? I would like to hear!!
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
The Marathon - A VERY humbling and painful experience
Well, my marathon is complete, finished, and done. This one was a definite learning experience for me. I had more issues in this race than my first marathon in April. I could go on and on with excuse after excuse of what went wrong, but the main point is that I finished and finished without injuring myself and for that I am happy. I felt I trained enough to do the race, but it all goes to show that on any given day, something unexpected can go wrong. That's just what happened, something unexpected happened.
For those of you who are interested in the details, I will be brief. I have a problem during long runs where about mile 17-19, I have some kind pain pulling on or near my groin muscle that feels like I am repeatedly getting hit in the family jewels. Well, I can usually stand the pain long enough to finish the remaining mileage, but on Sunday, I started to feel the pulling about mile 9. Anyway, I pushed through it, slowed down a little to decrease the pain, and carried on until cramping hit me at mile 25 (yes better than mile 24 last time!). I stretched until the cramping had left enough to run, and then ran the rest of the way into the finish. Anyway, it's just something I need to figure out how to get past, but I ended up finishing about 15 minutes slower than my last marathon at around 4 hours and 32 minutes. Although I was not happy with my time, I was certainly glad that I could to push through and finish strong.
When things go a little weird during a race, I have always been told to look back at my training. What were my long runs like, how fast were my tempo runs, did I do enough speedwork? Those are questions that I immediately started asking myself after I finished the race. During this training, due to time conflicts, I tended to break up a lot of my long runs into two seprate runs in the same day. Yes, I did a couple of long runs straight through, but obviously not enough. Also, maybe I needed to run longer tempo runs than what I did during training. Lastly, I could have probably done more speedwork during my training. There is always something to learn from any race, especially the ones that don't go so well.
So now, other than the Thanksgiving 5K race, I am officially done for the year 2012. I am excited that the fall/winter season is here so I can get more into the gym, the pool, and on my bike trainer so I can get stronger, faster, and most of all, just a little wiser than this year.
Like I always have said, I started doing this exercise thing because I had hoped to lose some weight, but I really found something I truly enjoy doing. I enjoy pushing and testing myself to see what else I can do. I am not an expert at weight loss, exercise, triathlons, running, biking or really anything, I just like doing it all.
With that said, if anyone has any advice they wish to share, please feel free. I am also looking to fill my racing schedule for next year, so if anyone has suggestions or would care to share their racing, weight loss, or exercise experiences, I would really enjoy hearing them!!
Starting to finish up 2012, getting ready for the off-season, but always, painfully or not, still running...
For those of you who are interested in the details, I will be brief. I have a problem during long runs where about mile 17-19, I have some kind pain pulling on or near my groin muscle that feels like I am repeatedly getting hit in the family jewels. Well, I can usually stand the pain long enough to finish the remaining mileage, but on Sunday, I started to feel the pulling about mile 9. Anyway, I pushed through it, slowed down a little to decrease the pain, and carried on until cramping hit me at mile 25 (yes better than mile 24 last time!). I stretched until the cramping had left enough to run, and then ran the rest of the way into the finish. Anyway, it's just something I need to figure out how to get past, but I ended up finishing about 15 minutes slower than my last marathon at around 4 hours and 32 minutes. Although I was not happy with my time, I was certainly glad that I could to push through and finish strong.
When things go a little weird during a race, I have always been told to look back at my training. What were my long runs like, how fast were my tempo runs, did I do enough speedwork? Those are questions that I immediately started asking myself after I finished the race. During this training, due to time conflicts, I tended to break up a lot of my long runs into two seprate runs in the same day. Yes, I did a couple of long runs straight through, but obviously not enough. Also, maybe I needed to run longer tempo runs than what I did during training. Lastly, I could have probably done more speedwork during my training. There is always something to learn from any race, especially the ones that don't go so well.
So now, other than the Thanksgiving 5K race, I am officially done for the year 2012. I am excited that the fall/winter season is here so I can get more into the gym, the pool, and on my bike trainer so I can get stronger, faster, and most of all, just a little wiser than this year.
Like I always have said, I started doing this exercise thing because I had hoped to lose some weight, but I really found something I truly enjoy doing. I enjoy pushing and testing myself to see what else I can do. I am not an expert at weight loss, exercise, triathlons, running, biking or really anything, I just like doing it all.
With that said, if anyone has any advice they wish to share, please feel free. I am also looking to fill my racing schedule for next year, so if anyone has suggestions or would care to share their racing, weight loss, or exercise experiences, I would really enjoy hearing them!!
Starting to finish up 2012, getting ready for the off-season, but always, painfully or not, still running...
Monday, 15 October 2012
What is your Reason for Running?
For the first time ever, I got a chance to see the Rocky Mountains. I went to Boulder Colorado for work last week. Yeah, I know poor Jason, had to go to Boulder, Colorado at the end of September. Haha, but trust me, I am not complaining one single bit. I had a chance to go to the Triathlon/Cycling/Running/Endurance Training capitol of the US. I mean, i got to run in places that Craig Alexander, Greg Bennet, and hundreds of other professional athletes have probably run before. Sorry, I was "geeking" there for a minute, but its true, Boulder Colorado is definitely a special place.
Well, I will tell you, it was everything I imagined. There were cyclists and runners everywhere. I will
say it was hard to stay focused on work while there. It seemed as though every time I turned around, there was a running trail, bike lane, or something that was calling my name. But, I stayed true to my work and focused in and got the job done (with plenty of time to spare for running!!). I got a chance to run an evening run with Boulder Running Company. I ended up getting lost with some other runners and turned a simple 7 miles run into an almost 14 mile run. I got to run through the University of Colorado Campus, so no regrets on getting lost at all. I ran to the Newton Running store with the hopes to meet Danny Abshire (founder) again. I met him once at the Bluegrass Half Marathon that I volunteered for. I didn't get to meet him, but I went to the store just to say I had been there.
I also ran a couple of trails in the base of the foothills. It was awesome, but what I didn't expect was a warning sign for mountain lions and bears in the area. This Kentucky/Georgia transplant is not really used to going to parks and seeing warning signs for Mountain Lions. Sure made me look at the area I was running in. haha. Also, made me nervous a couple of times when people were running the opposite way on the trails and a very fast pace. I had hoped they were just doing a training run. The thing that really made me chuckle was the last tip for what to do when a mountain lion attacks you. The sign said to "fight back." Are you serious? No, I think a better idea would be to just let him chew on my leg a little and not do a thing about it. He a example of the sign I saw. One word - Awesome!!
Well, after I got back from Colorado, I had about three weeks to finish up my training to get ready for this Sunday. Yes, this Sunday, October 21st, is my second marathon, the Columbus, Ohio Marathon! I am nervous about the marathon, maybe even more than my first one. I think the nerves come from knowing what may happen in the last few miles of it.
Just to bring everyone up to speed, my first marathon was great and I was so close to getting in under that 4 hour time, but at mile 24, my leg seized up and I had to walk and stretch for almost a mile which pushed me over the 4 hour time. I was excited to say I finished a marathon, but on the other hand, I really wanted to finish under 4 hours. It's just one of my many goals. Hopefully I have done enough training to get under 4 hours and achieve another one of my goals. Either way, I will still be happy to say that I finished two marathons in year!
Well, like I said, the marathon is less than a week away. I am getting nervous and very antsy because i am tapering my running volume in prep for this weekend. It's hard and I am definitely not used to having to taper for more than a week, but I have been told that it WILL help.
A couple of weeks ago, I sat down at my computer and watched the Chicago Marathon. It was the marathon that I originally wanted to do, but because it was just too expensive to swing this year, I had to move to something closer to home. Well, it was amazing seeing the elites, age groupers, and charity runners run the race. I knew of a few people who ran the race and I hope they had a great time. I am sure they did. There is really no way to run a marathon, finish it, and feel badly about it. Sure, you may not finish in the time you wanted, but when you run a marathon, you are doing it for more than just a time on a clock. Elite runners do it to support their families, age groupers may do it to stay in shape or to check off a "bucket list" item. Charity runners may do it for a passed away friend or family member, a sick child, to raise money to fight a disease, or something else. Either way, time is not the entire reason a person runs a marathon, there just is too much training, dedication, and commitment to let that alone be the reason for doing it.
As I said before, I am not just looking for a time under 4 hours, I am looking for more. I am looking to see what I am made of; if I can do it one more time. I am also doing it for my family. When I was in high school, my father had cancer in one of his vocal chords and had to have it removed, he has been cancer free for years!! Recently though, my mother was diagnosed this year with Breast Cancer (her Fourth Cancer) and she had to have a complete double mastectomy. Also, during the surgery, the doctor's found the cancer had spread to one side of her lymph nodes. They ended up removing the lymph system on her right side. Since then, she has been going through chemotherapy and even had two more rounds of chemo added on to her initial chemo plan. She has been the sickest I have every seen her and she even lost her hair and voice for a period of time. There were times she wanted to give up and I asked her not to. She has never given up and still hasn't. So she has finished the chemo treatment and has her scan this Wednesday, October 17th to see if the treatment took care of the cancer this time. Regardless of the outcome, she has been diagnosed with cancer four times and never given up. To me that is strength, absolute strength. If my parents can fight cancer and essentially fight for their lives, surely I can run a 26.2 mile race in their Honor. So that is another reason I run and why I run a marathon, for my parents, from which I know what true STRENGTH is. And at this marathon, I will be wearing the pink ribbon for my mother and also my dad and the millions before them that have fought cancer.
Another reason I run the marathon is pretty simple. I want my kids to say that their dad has run not one marathon, but two, and next year, maybe they will be able to say three and four. I remember the look on my kid's eyes when I couldn't even fit in an amusement park ride two years ago. It was not a sight that I ever want to see again. It was the look of surprise and disappointment that I was asked to step off the ride. It wasn't the embarrassment from others looking at me that helped fuel my weight loss, it was the embarrassment that I felt that I put on my kids. They didn't have a choice of who their Dad was, only I did. I knew I had to change, not just for myself, but for my kids. So, running a marathon, and pushing myself to finish at whatever time I finish, doesn't concern me as much as seeing the reaction of my family when they know that their Dad just did something that not everyone can or will do.
So there, those are the reasons for my motivation for getting up everyday and training and losing weight and just trying to become a better person. I know I am not the best Dad in the world, or the most in shape, or even the best person in the world, but I am trying to take it one day at a time. I guess being a better "me" is kind of like a marathon; you just take it one step at a time, you put just one foot in front of the other.
This journey I am am on seems to be focused around me realizing that I have a life and want to make it the best that I possibly can.
It took weight loss to realize that I have a great family and great friends, and it makes me happy that I now am starting to realize how important those are in my life.
Thanks to all who have supported me thus far and those who continue to support me everyday.
Just humbled, not running, just humbled...
Well, I will tell you, it was everything I imagined. There were cyclists and runners everywhere. I will
say it was hard to stay focused on work while there. It seemed as though every time I turned around, there was a running trail, bike lane, or something that was calling my name. But, I stayed true to my work and focused in and got the job done (with plenty of time to spare for running!!). I got a chance to run an evening run with Boulder Running Company. I ended up getting lost with some other runners and turned a simple 7 miles run into an almost 14 mile run. I got to run through the University of Colorado Campus, so no regrets on getting lost at all. I ran to the Newton Running store with the hopes to meet Danny Abshire (founder) again. I met him once at the Bluegrass Half Marathon that I volunteered for. I didn't get to meet him, but I went to the store just to say I had been there.
I also ran a couple of trails in the base of the foothills. It was awesome, but what I didn't expect was a warning sign for mountain lions and bears in the area. This Kentucky/Georgia transplant is not really used to going to parks and seeing warning signs for Mountain Lions. Sure made me look at the area I was running in. haha. Also, made me nervous a couple of times when people were running the opposite way on the trails and a very fast pace. I had hoped they were just doing a training run. The thing that really made me chuckle was the last tip for what to do when a mountain lion attacks you. The sign said to "fight back." Are you serious? No, I think a better idea would be to just let him chew on my leg a little and not do a thing about it. He a example of the sign I saw. One word - Awesome!!
It was a great experience, but I did have to do work, so it wasn't all about fun and games. Great place and would love to go again and see more and of course, run more. Here are a few photos I took while out there. Apparently, one of the first snowfalls occured at higher elevations while I was there. Really cool seeing this kind of stuff for the first time!
Well, after I got back from Colorado, I had about three weeks to finish up my training to get ready for this Sunday. Yes, this Sunday, October 21st, is my second marathon, the Columbus, Ohio Marathon! I am nervous about the marathon, maybe even more than my first one. I think the nerves come from knowing what may happen in the last few miles of it.
Just to bring everyone up to speed, my first marathon was great and I was so close to getting in under that 4 hour time, but at mile 24, my leg seized up and I had to walk and stretch for almost a mile which pushed me over the 4 hour time. I was excited to say I finished a marathon, but on the other hand, I really wanted to finish under 4 hours. It's just one of my many goals. Hopefully I have done enough training to get under 4 hours and achieve another one of my goals. Either way, I will still be happy to say that I finished two marathons in year!
Well, like I said, the marathon is less than a week away. I am getting nervous and very antsy because i am tapering my running volume in prep for this weekend. It's hard and I am definitely not used to having to taper for more than a week, but I have been told that it WILL help.
A couple of weeks ago, I sat down at my computer and watched the Chicago Marathon. It was the marathon that I originally wanted to do, but because it was just too expensive to swing this year, I had to move to something closer to home. Well, it was amazing seeing the elites, age groupers, and charity runners run the race. I knew of a few people who ran the race and I hope they had a great time. I am sure they did. There is really no way to run a marathon, finish it, and feel badly about it. Sure, you may not finish in the time you wanted, but when you run a marathon, you are doing it for more than just a time on a clock. Elite runners do it to support their families, age groupers may do it to stay in shape or to check off a "bucket list" item. Charity runners may do it for a passed away friend or family member, a sick child, to raise money to fight a disease, or something else. Either way, time is not the entire reason a person runs a marathon, there just is too much training, dedication, and commitment to let that alone be the reason for doing it.
As I said before, I am not just looking for a time under 4 hours, I am looking for more. I am looking to see what I am made of; if I can do it one more time. I am also doing it for my family. When I was in high school, my father had cancer in one of his vocal chords and had to have it removed, he has been cancer free for years!! Recently though, my mother was diagnosed this year with Breast Cancer (her Fourth Cancer) and she had to have a complete double mastectomy. Also, during the surgery, the doctor's found the cancer had spread to one side of her lymph nodes. They ended up removing the lymph system on her right side. Since then, she has been going through chemotherapy and even had two more rounds of chemo added on to her initial chemo plan. She has been the sickest I have every seen her and she even lost her hair and voice for a period of time. There were times she wanted to give up and I asked her not to. She has never given up and still hasn't. So she has finished the chemo treatment and has her scan this Wednesday, October 17th to see if the treatment took care of the cancer this time. Regardless of the outcome, she has been diagnosed with cancer four times and never given up. To me that is strength, absolute strength. If my parents can fight cancer and essentially fight for their lives, surely I can run a 26.2 mile race in their Honor. So that is another reason I run and why I run a marathon, for my parents, from which I know what true STRENGTH is. And at this marathon, I will be wearing the pink ribbon for my mother and also my dad and the millions before them that have fought cancer.
Another reason I run the marathon is pretty simple. I want my kids to say that their dad has run not one marathon, but two, and next year, maybe they will be able to say three and four. I remember the look on my kid's eyes when I couldn't even fit in an amusement park ride two years ago. It was not a sight that I ever want to see again. It was the look of surprise and disappointment that I was asked to step off the ride. It wasn't the embarrassment from others looking at me that helped fuel my weight loss, it was the embarrassment that I felt that I put on my kids. They didn't have a choice of who their Dad was, only I did. I knew I had to change, not just for myself, but for my kids. So, running a marathon, and pushing myself to finish at whatever time I finish, doesn't concern me as much as seeing the reaction of my family when they know that their Dad just did something that not everyone can or will do.
So there, those are the reasons for my motivation for getting up everyday and training and losing weight and just trying to become a better person. I know I am not the best Dad in the world, or the most in shape, or even the best person in the world, but I am trying to take it one day at a time. I guess being a better "me" is kind of like a marathon; you just take it one step at a time, you put just one foot in front of the other.
This journey I am am on seems to be focused around me realizing that I have a life and want to make it the best that I possibly can.
It took weight loss to realize that I have a great family and great friends, and it makes me happy that I now am starting to realize how important those are in my life.
Thanks to all who have supported me thus far and those who continue to support me everyday.
Just humbled, not running, just humbled...
Monday, 3 September 2012
What is with this Training?
Yep, you guessed it. Still training for the Columbus Marathon! It seems harder this time to get into a groove and it has me asking myself "what is with this training?" It seems like the days I run, I have to be more concerned with hydration and humidity readings than how long or fast my runs are. When training for the Louisville Derby Marathon, I didn't really have to worry hydration or humidity because I trained during the mild winter of 2011-2012. All I really had to focus on was getting stronger and gaining endurance. Now, all I can think of is c'mon Fall 2012, because I am tired of finishing runs where I sweat so much it looks like I just got finished swimming with all my clothes on. Anyone know any tips for dealing with humidity and not letting it affect your running during long endurance runs? If so, I would greatly appreciate any advice or information.
Yes, as you guessed, I sweat a lot and it doesn't matter what time of day, as long as the humidity is high, I am always sweating my butt off (literally). Anyway, I know towards the end of the Winter, I will be glad to see Spring and Summer 2013. That s what is so mice about living in Kentucky, you actually do get to see all four seasons each year. It seems this year though, Fall cannot get here fast enough.
It has been an extremely busy August and Spetember doesn't look like it will slow down much either. Between training for Columbus, Work, and all my husbandly and fatherly duties, it looks like I have a full monthload of fun...and just think, it is only just a few more months until Christmas. Awesome! (sarcasm, of course). Other than the training, I did run a new 5K PR during the Midsummer's Night Run in Downtown Lexington, Ky. I ran a 24:10 which was 2:16 better than the 5K I ran last November and about 12 minutes faster than the same race in 2011. I wanted to break 24 minutes but I will just have to wait until later this year to try that.
I also volunteered for the Louisville Ironman. I will tell you, I had a blast! I was there about 16 hours and it seemed to fly by. I met all kinds of people (even a pretty well known ultra marathoner!) that volunteered and the athletes were just amazing! It really made me want to do an Ironman next year, but I know I will have to keep myself in check and just take it all in and decide with my head rather than the "fly by the seat of my pants" methodology. I really enjoy triathlons, and I know I will do more, but I have come to realization that I really LOVE running and I may still do an Ironman next year or the year after that, I want to focus on trying to get the most out of my running. After all, running is what really helped me to lose the weight and that is important to me to keep doing it to maintain my goals.
Another big moment for me this August was getting my braces off. I have had my braces (for the 2nd time in my life) since I started this weight loss and it seemed like the turning of another chapter in my life of making myself a better "ME." I have attached before and after photos below so everyone could see the difference. I was really blown away at the difference, especially when looking at the photos side by side.
Even one photo (bottom left), I cannot even fit my head all the way in the picture because it was so big. Either way you look at it, neither of the photos are the prettiest pictures, but there is definitely a difference between the left and the right photos (besides the shirt - haha). One thing I noticed is that I don't always look like I am squinting as much (must have been the fat rolls weighing on my eyelids.)
Anyone have any races or events coming up? If so, I would really like to know what kind of training you are doing.
Also, for any readers out there that don't mind sharing some helpful hints or recipes on fruit smoothies. As I have stated before, I really am not a fruit person, so the only real way I can eat fruit is by making a smoothie. I have been using blueberries, strawberries, and bananas with orange juce since last year and I haven't tried anything else, so any ideas or recipes would be awesome!
Thanks everyone!
So anyway, I am still running, still training, and right now, sweating like crazy...
Yes, as you guessed, I sweat a lot and it doesn't matter what time of day, as long as the humidity is high, I am always sweating my butt off (literally). Anyway, I know towards the end of the Winter, I will be glad to see Spring and Summer 2013. That s what is so mice about living in Kentucky, you actually do get to see all four seasons each year. It seems this year though, Fall cannot get here fast enough.
It has been an extremely busy August and Spetember doesn't look like it will slow down much either. Between training for Columbus, Work, and all my husbandly and fatherly duties, it looks like I have a full monthload of fun...and just think, it is only just a few more months until Christmas. Awesome! (sarcasm, of course). Other than the training, I did run a new 5K PR during the Midsummer's Night Run in Downtown Lexington, Ky. I ran a 24:10 which was 2:16 better than the 5K I ran last November and about 12 minutes faster than the same race in 2011. I wanted to break 24 minutes but I will just have to wait until later this year to try that.
I also volunteered for the Louisville Ironman. I will tell you, I had a blast! I was there about 16 hours and it seemed to fly by. I met all kinds of people (even a pretty well known ultra marathoner!) that volunteered and the athletes were just amazing! It really made me want to do an Ironman next year, but I know I will have to keep myself in check and just take it all in and decide with my head rather than the "fly by the seat of my pants" methodology. I really enjoy triathlons, and I know I will do more, but I have come to realization that I really LOVE running and I may still do an Ironman next year or the year after that, I want to focus on trying to get the most out of my running. After all, running is what really helped me to lose the weight and that is important to me to keep doing it to maintain my goals.
Another big moment for me this August was getting my braces off. I have had my braces (for the 2nd time in my life) since I started this weight loss and it seemed like the turning of another chapter in my life of making myself a better "ME." I have attached before and after photos below so everyone could see the difference. I was really blown away at the difference, especially when looking at the photos side by side.
Even one photo (bottom left), I cannot even fit my head all the way in the picture because it was so big. Either way you look at it, neither of the photos are the prettiest pictures, but there is definitely a difference between the left and the right photos (besides the shirt - haha). One thing I noticed is that I don't always look like I am squinting as much (must have been the fat rolls weighing on my eyelids.)
Anyone have any races or events coming up? If so, I would really like to know what kind of training you are doing.
Also, for any readers out there that don't mind sharing some helpful hints or recipes on fruit smoothies. As I have stated before, I really am not a fruit person, so the only real way I can eat fruit is by making a smoothie. I have been using blueberries, strawberries, and bananas with orange juce since last year and I haven't tried anything else, so any ideas or recipes would be awesome!
Thanks everyone!
So anyway, I am still running, still training, and right now, sweating like crazy...
Sunday, 29 July 2012
A Year in Retrospect
Well, it definitely has been a while since my last posting. Hopefully everyone that reads my blog has enjoyed the heart of summer 2012. The pools are open, roads are hot, and bike routes are endless in Kentucky right now. Well, since my last posting I have been VERY busy with training, work, and just life in general. Not to bore anyone with the work or general life part of things, I will elaborate on the past few races.
First was the Warrior Dash held in Lebanon, Kentucky. Considering it was my first Mud/Obstacle Course run, I had no idea what to expect. Man, I was surprised! First of all, the run was a nice up and down cross-country type of trail and every 1/2 to 1/4 mile there was some sort of obstacle that included either running through tires, crawling through ditches, swimming in muddy creeks, jumping over logs, climbing cargo net ropes or walls, or just running down a zigzagging wooded trail, it was great! I never really intended to do the race, but a woman at work told me she always wanted to do a race like that and didn’t know if she wanted to do it because she had no one to run with her. I quickly volunteered and the next thing I knew, I was registered for a Warrior Dash! Well, anyway, it was her very first race and what a way to start. I stuck by her and we finished at the same time (well, actually she beat me by 0.01 sec). I must say, had it not been for her wanting to do the race, I never would have done it. Thanks Sharon!! A lot of times, I hear people ask if you really do get muddy, and the answer is simply "Yes, Yes, and Yes Again!" Just to show you how muddy you can get, I have included a few pictures from that race.
Ok, my next race was o the Fourth of July and this race had a special meaning to me. The race is called the Bluegrass 10,000 and it is the very first race that I ever participated. It was, in some sense, the stepping stone for me last year, and I haven’t stopped since. Anyway, it is a 10km (approx. 6.2 miles) and my main goal was to stomp, no crush, my time from last year. It's amazing because last year my goal was to run the entire race and not stop running. It's amazing how much difference one year can make.
On July 4th, 2011, I toed the starting line of the Bluegrass 10,000 alongside the walkers and little kids. I weighed approximately 295-300lbs and was really starting to feel good about running and even myself. I was scared that I bit off more than I could do for my first race and nervous about running the entire thing. I finished the race that day in 1:12:18, with one thing in my mind, "Do not stop running!!" I had just run something that just six months before that, I wouldn’t have even watched on TV. I was proud of myself, and I really think that day gave me the ability and motivation to believe in myself.
Now, one year later on July 4th, 2012, I toed the starting line of the Bluegrass 10,000 near the front of the pack, alongside the runners. I weighed in roughly at 211 lbs. and felt nervous and once again, a little scared. However, this time, I had one thing in mind, last year’s time - 1:12:18. I had to beat it, I knew I could, but didn’t just want to beat, I wanted to CRUSH IT! Within one year, I ran a couple 5Ks, a half marathon, a marathon, two triathlons, and an obstacle run. I knew I had it in me, but still was nervous. This race meant a lot to me and it helped start everything I had become over the past year, so I had to give it a hell of a shot. Well, as you might have guessed, I didn't cross the finish line at 1:11:00 or 1:10:00; I crossed it at 51:30. I felt that I hadn't pushed enough but I still felt good about where I stood. I cut about 21 minutes from the same race one year ago! Again, I was happy, but mostly I was proud. Of course, I didn't go home with an age group or overall award, and I doubt I ever will, but I went home with so much more, motivation and accomplishment.
The next event brings us to full circle and up-to-date with my last triathlon for the 2012 season. It was named the Buckhead Border Challenge. It was an Olympic distance triathlon and was essentially the same route (a couple little tweaks) as I raced the month before in the Southern Indiana Triathlon. The biggest difference in the route was that before, on my first open water swim, I swam in the Ohio River along the shoreline, but in this event, I had to swim across the damn river!! Ok, so needless to say, with how I feel about swimming (see multiple, multiple previous posts), I wasn't looking forward to that. Well, I will make this short or else this post will turn into a book, and no one needs that.
First of all, the morning of the race, I woke up at 4am to a text from the race stating that the bacteria in the water of the Ohio River was higher than normal and that triathletes were welcome to switch to a duathlon rather than have to swim in the river. Of course, as you guessed, I took a deep breath and packed my swim cap and goggles to take with me that morning because I am crazy and was going to swim anyway. Well, apparently I wasn't the only crazy person, because there were many more that decided to swim that day.
Well, if you read my previous post, my first open water swim wasn't the best it could have been, I got kicked in the chest and hit in the shoulder and swam from boat dock to boat dock just to stop from snapping due to anxiety in the water. Well, I will tell you, it's amazing what you learn in just one event. My swim wave was directed to get into the water which I nervously did, but this time, instead of treading water and staying close to the back of the pack, I hung on to the boat dock until the horn sounded and even then I counted to ten to let everyone go ahead, and then I went. I got out of the water without having to stop, without really freaking out, and without much more than some extra bacteria that day. I would later find out, I was out of the water a full 12 minutes faster than the month before!
Next, came the bike; I hopped on proceeded down essentially the same route as before, but they changed the route to a slightly flatter and faster route than in the Southern Indiana Triathlon. I got off the bike later to find out that I had averaged approximately 24.5 mph compared to last month's 20.5 mph average. Now came the run, I was especially nervous about the run because the previous month, I actually had to walk a little just to try to get my legs back from being on the bike. Not this time though. I finished strong and although not at a blistering pace of around 9 min per mile.
After all was said and done, I finished the same distance, understanding the bike route wasn't as hilly; I finished approximately 22 minutes faster than the triathlon just one month before. I was pleased and it was a good way to finish off my first triathlon season.
Now, you may ask why I decided to end my triathlon season right in the heart of the summer. Well, that is because I am starting to gear up for my final event of the season. I had originally hoped to run the Chicago Marathon in the first week of October but finances and poor planning on my part didn't allow things to work out that way. Well, I still wanted to run (or should I say attempt) one more marathon this year and through the recommendation of a couple of friends, I decided to run the Columbus Ohio Marathon on October 21st, 2012! I have already registered and have signed up for a pace group (hopefully this time I can keep up past mile 18). Anyway, I am in full training mode and need to have more focus on endurance running rather than just endurance training for triathlons. I will still get workouts on the bike and spinning classes and yes, I will even still do swimming because all are GREAT exercises to build endurance in any sport, but I need to focus on speed work, tempo running, and long distance running.
I don't know how I will feel after this marathon, but I know I LOVE running. It's what started me believing in myself and it’s the only place that I can be by myself and even within myself. I get more satisfaction from a difficult, hot run, than any mile long swim, or 30, 40, or 50 mile bike ride. We all have something that we enjoy doing more than others, and for me, it is running. I have done three triathlons to one marathon, and I can say while triathlons are mentally and physically challenging, the marathon was the most physically challenging. Now, don't get me wrong, I haven't competed in a half or full ironman and I am sure that those are even more physically challenging, but for me, the marathon gave me the best feeling of accomplishment so far. Now I plan to do an Ironman and a half-Ironman next year, so my tune may change a little, but I also plan to do two more marathons and maybe even an ultra next year too. Anyway, there is more to come, much, much more!!
Writing in this blog and thinking about how this all began for me with just a simple New Year’s Resolution, I have found that sometimes the event that you are training for sometimes gets to be the only reason why you go and run, bike, swim, or exercise, but running the Bluegrass 10,000 for a second time and seeing how things have changed for me over the past year; it helped me remember what it is really all about. It's not about how many miles you can run or how far fast you can pedal a bike, what the pace that your GPS watch says, or even how fast your 400 meter swim time is; it’s about being "able" to do it. Over a year ago, I wasn’t "able" to do it, and now I am. That's really why I started on this crazy journey; I started on this journey because I wanted to lose weight and get healthy, well, I think I can say I am accomplishing that, but now I need to remember that I never want to go back, never...
So while I sit here writing in this blog, I think about how much my life has changed. I think about where I would be if I had never decided to do this, if I never lost a pound. Would I be happy, would I be over 400 lbs.? The answer is I really don’t care anymore. I am where I am because I made a decision for myself and in the end, that’s all we have, that’s what makes up our lives, the decisions we make throughout, and for me, this is one of mine…
Living and loving life, no longer dictated by the size of my waistline, but by the motivation that lies within, but of course… Always running
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Right in the Middle of Things!!
Well, here I am, right where I said I wanted to be. I am in the middle of my training season!! Yahoo!! For 2012, I have participated in my first marathon, first sprint triathlon, first Olympic triathlon, and in just a couple of days, my first Mud Run (aka. Warrior Dash). Since I am in the middle of my training, I guess that puts me in the middle of my race season too! I have one more Olympic distance triathlon left and then I will be training for a marathon sometime in October.
I will be either running the Chicago Marathon or the Columbus, OH Marathon. I have been contacted by a non-profit group located in Chicago to run in the Chicago Marathon. They are called Chicago Run and they promote health and wellness in communities throughout Chicago through running programs. They offer free running programs in the "high-need" communities throughout Chicago. Check out their website: http://chicagorun.org/home
I was contacted by one of their staff after they read my interest in running the Chicago Marathon. Well, there are a few logistics to work out, but it looks like I may have a chance to run in the marathon!!
Also, two Sunday's ago, I attempted my second official triathlon and first Olympic distance triathlon. An Olympic distance triathlon consists of a 1.5km (~.9 miles), a 40km (~24 mile) bike, and a 10km (6.2 mile) run. Well, I will tell you one thing, I think I was physically prepared for the race, but I had no idea how unprepared I was for the mental aspect of the race.
It started off with a nice refreshing (sarcasm) swim in the Ohio River. I had practiced and trained for the swim in both 25 and 50 meter distance pools, but never in the open water. In the pool , the water is nice and clear and you lane lines and wave dampeners for each lane. In the Ohio River, you can't see anything in the water and it is probably for the best because after an empty sour cream container and bucket lid hit me while in the water and sink into muck up to my knees, I didn't want to know what was around me. I just knew I wasn't even close to prepared for what was about to happen. We started in different waves, Sprint Distance Women, Sprint Distance Men, Olympic Distance Women, and finally, my group, Olympic Distance Men.
As we treaded water waiting to be signaled to start I looked around at the people I was in the water with. I was surrounded by all types of athletes, younger and older men. It was amazing to see and wonder what kind of stories these people had. Why did they chose doing triathlons? Where they doing this for a charity, or other purpose. One thing I have learned in the sport is that everyone has a reason for doing it. Whether it be for overcoming cancer, weight loss, in memory of a friend, or something else, there is something that is driving these people.
Well, they started us off and I proceeded to experience my first open water swim. By this I mean I got kicked in the chest, and hit in my shoulder as soon as we were allowed to go. I had heard that the start is very unique and new people should try to stay toward the back just to avoid the "washing machine" effect. Well, I must admit, I wasn't ready for what happened. I tried to keep my composure, but had to instantly swim to a nearby boat dock just to regain my breath. I was freaking out. I was swimming upstream and trying to do a freestyle stroke, but every time I lifted my head to get a breath, water would splash in my face and not allow me to get a full breath. The water was choppy and definitely not something I had practiced in my training. The turn around buoy seemed to be miles away, but somehow, I made it there. I had to swim the breast stroke to get there, but I made it and that signified I was only a third of the way done. I thought about that and said to myself, "OK, you have two choices, swim to nearest boat and tell them you quit and are too much of a wimp to finish a swim, or just suck it up, grow-up, and push yourself just as you did everyday you trained."
I chose to just suck it up and give it everything I had. I pushed myself to do freestyle and I figured out how to breath between the waves splashing up in my face. I finished the swim feeling relieved but also a little disappointed that I even thought "quitting" was an option that day. I hopped on the bike and proceeded to push myself even harder because I knew I had been in the water so long. I rode very hard and made my $300.00 craigslist road bike go as fast as it could. I finished the bike in 1 hour and 12 minutes just six minutes from the top ten in bike times. I felt good about the bike but the run stopped me dead in my tracks. The run has always been a strong part of the triathlon for me (at least I thought). After pushing that hard on the bike to try to make up some time from my swim, I pushed so hard, that my legs took over four miles of running until I quit feeling "dead legged." And on a six mile run, four miles into it is just too late. Anyway, I finished strong but mentally fatigued in 3 hours and 4 minutes. But I will tell you, it was an absolutely great feeling to finish knowing that just two hours earlier, the thought of quitting briefly passed through my mind. I am so glad that I didn't quit and knew deep down, that I had it in me the whole time, I just had to "dig deep" to find it - and I'm glad I did find it!
I knew triathlons were both mental and physically demanding, but I had no idea just how mentally unprepared I would be. Fortunately, you can't get mentally prepared unless you experience it so I felt I took a lot of knowledge and maybe a little experience with me that day. My next triathlon is on July 15th, and it happens to be the same location of the first Olympic triathlon. I will do better and hopefully, will be a little more prepared physically and mentally.
So, I learned a great lesson that day. You can train as much as you want and as long as you can handle, but like most things, experience and first hand knowledge may just be the best preparation. So I am hungry to do better, and am excited to see just what I have in me to finish it again.
So, I am in the middle of my training, humbled by my experiences in this sport, but getting stronger and of course, running...
I will be either running the Chicago Marathon or the Columbus, OH Marathon. I have been contacted by a non-profit group located in Chicago to run in the Chicago Marathon. They are called Chicago Run and they promote health and wellness in communities throughout Chicago through running programs. They offer free running programs in the "high-need" communities throughout Chicago. Check out their website: http://chicagorun.org/home
I was contacted by one of their staff after they read my interest in running the Chicago Marathon. Well, there are a few logistics to work out, but it looks like I may have a chance to run in the marathon!!
Also, two Sunday's ago, I attempted my second official triathlon and first Olympic distance triathlon. An Olympic distance triathlon consists of a 1.5km (~.9 miles), a 40km (~24 mile) bike, and a 10km (6.2 mile) run. Well, I will tell you one thing, I think I was physically prepared for the race, but I had no idea how unprepared I was for the mental aspect of the race.
It started off with a nice refreshing (sarcasm) swim in the Ohio River. I had practiced and trained for the swim in both 25 and 50 meter distance pools, but never in the open water. In the pool , the water is nice and clear and you lane lines and wave dampeners for each lane. In the Ohio River, you can't see anything in the water and it is probably for the best because after an empty sour cream container and bucket lid hit me while in the water and sink into muck up to my knees, I didn't want to know what was around me. I just knew I wasn't even close to prepared for what was about to happen. We started in different waves, Sprint Distance Women, Sprint Distance Men, Olympic Distance Women, and finally, my group, Olympic Distance Men.
As we treaded water waiting to be signaled to start I looked around at the people I was in the water with. I was surrounded by all types of athletes, younger and older men. It was amazing to see and wonder what kind of stories these people had. Why did they chose doing triathlons? Where they doing this for a charity, or other purpose. One thing I have learned in the sport is that everyone has a reason for doing it. Whether it be for overcoming cancer, weight loss, in memory of a friend, or something else, there is something that is driving these people.
Well, they started us off and I proceeded to experience my first open water swim. By this I mean I got kicked in the chest, and hit in my shoulder as soon as we were allowed to go. I had heard that the start is very unique and new people should try to stay toward the back just to avoid the "washing machine" effect. Well, I must admit, I wasn't ready for what happened. I tried to keep my composure, but had to instantly swim to a nearby boat dock just to regain my breath. I was freaking out. I was swimming upstream and trying to do a freestyle stroke, but every time I lifted my head to get a breath, water would splash in my face and not allow me to get a full breath. The water was choppy and definitely not something I had practiced in my training. The turn around buoy seemed to be miles away, but somehow, I made it there. I had to swim the breast stroke to get there, but I made it and that signified I was only a third of the way done. I thought about that and said to myself, "OK, you have two choices, swim to nearest boat and tell them you quit and are too much of a wimp to finish a swim, or just suck it up, grow-up, and push yourself just as you did everyday you trained."
I chose to just suck it up and give it everything I had. I pushed myself to do freestyle and I figured out how to breath between the waves splashing up in my face. I finished the swim feeling relieved but also a little disappointed that I even thought "quitting" was an option that day. I hopped on the bike and proceeded to push myself even harder because I knew I had been in the water so long. I rode very hard and made my $300.00 craigslist road bike go as fast as it could. I finished the bike in 1 hour and 12 minutes just six minutes from the top ten in bike times. I felt good about the bike but the run stopped me dead in my tracks. The run has always been a strong part of the triathlon for me (at least I thought). After pushing that hard on the bike to try to make up some time from my swim, I pushed so hard, that my legs took over four miles of running until I quit feeling "dead legged." And on a six mile run, four miles into it is just too late. Anyway, I finished strong but mentally fatigued in 3 hours and 4 minutes. But I will tell you, it was an absolutely great feeling to finish knowing that just two hours earlier, the thought of quitting briefly passed through my mind. I am so glad that I didn't quit and knew deep down, that I had it in me the whole time, I just had to "dig deep" to find it - and I'm glad I did find it!
I knew triathlons were both mental and physically demanding, but I had no idea just how mentally unprepared I would be. Fortunately, you can't get mentally prepared unless you experience it so I felt I took a lot of knowledge and maybe a little experience with me that day. My next triathlon is on July 15th, and it happens to be the same location of the first Olympic triathlon. I will do better and hopefully, will be a little more prepared physically and mentally.
So, I learned a great lesson that day. You can train as much as you want and as long as you can handle, but like most things, experience and first hand knowledge may just be the best preparation. So I am hungry to do better, and am excited to see just what I have in me to finish it again.
So, I am in the middle of my training, humbled by my experiences in this sport, but getting stronger and of course, running...
Friday, 8 June 2012
My ADHD and the Power of People...What???
Just in case you didn't know, I was diagnosed in high school as a kid with ADHD. And diagnosed again 10 years ago, and once again less than a year ago. So basically, there is no way around it, I am one of those ADHD kids. Haha, and that's exaclty it, I am a kid and just about anyone that knows me can tell you that too.
The woman I train with regularly even has an ongoing joke that while she is focused on training and getting properly prepared for races and events, I am off running and chasing bunnies and squirrels on a moments notice. All I have to say is if I see a squirrel or rabbit while I am running or biking, I may break my neck trying to chase one down.
In other words, I get excited about things very easily, lose focus constantly, and am basically all over the place. I believe excercise and training has allowed me to learn how to gain focus and maybe even "let out" all the excitement! However, sometimes, it just increases my excitement and energy! My family says that I act like I am twelve years old. If thats the case, I am fine with acting twelve because I really feel much younger since this weight loss.
I am happy I get a chance to do and experience the things that I have this past year and a half, but most of all, I am happy that I have changed my life to become healthier and most of all, probably increased my life so I can drive my family and friends crazy even longer!! Haha
Seriously though, I am so fortunate to be able to have lost the weight and also have family and friends that care about me. I am also very fortunate to have parents that are strong enough to fight and beat cancer multiple times. I can't imagine how tough it is to fight something like that, but I know it can be done because I have seen it with my own eyes.
We all know that life is busy and never stops for anyone to wait and catch up. I guess the trick is to just keep running and get the most that we can while we are on this planet. I am very fortunate to have been able to lose this weight and even learn a thing or two about the power of the human spirit and whether they show it on the outside, just how strong people can be!!
So as I get back to my busy life and my training, I look back and realize how fortunate I am.
I have also posted this video/slideshow because people have said that I need to post it, so for those of you hecklers, give me your best shot, because I can take it, but for those of you who are interested, check out the video below.
My First Weight Loss Video!! Tell Me What You Think!!
Back to training, humbled by the power of people, and happy to be alive...
The woman I train with regularly even has an ongoing joke that while she is focused on training and getting properly prepared for races and events, I am off running and chasing bunnies and squirrels on a moments notice. All I have to say is if I see a squirrel or rabbit while I am running or biking, I may break my neck trying to chase one down.
In other words, I get excited about things very easily, lose focus constantly, and am basically all over the place. I believe excercise and training has allowed me to learn how to gain focus and maybe even "let out" all the excitement! However, sometimes, it just increases my excitement and energy! My family says that I act like I am twelve years old. If thats the case, I am fine with acting twelve because I really feel much younger since this weight loss.
I am happy I get a chance to do and experience the things that I have this past year and a half, but most of all, I am happy that I have changed my life to become healthier and most of all, probably increased my life so I can drive my family and friends crazy even longer!! Haha
Seriously though, I am so fortunate to be able to have lost the weight and also have family and friends that care about me. I am also very fortunate to have parents that are strong enough to fight and beat cancer multiple times. I can't imagine how tough it is to fight something like that, but I know it can be done because I have seen it with my own eyes.
We all know that life is busy and never stops for anyone to wait and catch up. I guess the trick is to just keep running and get the most that we can while we are on this planet. I am very fortunate to have been able to lose this weight and even learn a thing or two about the power of the human spirit and whether they show it on the outside, just how strong people can be!!
So as I get back to my busy life and my training, I look back and realize how fortunate I am.
I have also posted this video/slideshow because people have said that I need to post it, so for those of you hecklers, give me your best shot, because I can take it, but for those of you who are interested, check out the video below.
My First Weight Loss Video!! Tell Me What You Think!!
Back to training, humbled by the power of people, and happy to be alive...
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Have I Trained Enough? Am I Ready for This? Let's Find out!!
These last 2-3 weeks have been difficult to say the least. I have, once again, had my share of ups and downs during my training. I have had good training days and also some bad, actually very bad. However, things always seem to look up as I get closer to an event. For some reason, the closer I get to the event, the better the training gets. Maybe it’s because I am more focused and realize that time is a valuable asset as the event date nears. Not too sure, but maybe that’s it.
I have been trying to run during daylight hours so I can try to get accustomed to the type of heat that I will probably face during my events this summer. I have been putting in more time on the bike/spinning to give myself more endurance during my ride. And lastly, I have been trying to get into the pool more often to get more endurance during my swim. All of these methodologies have seemed to pay off in some way. I feel strong and confident when I run; I feel more comfortable on the bike, and as far as the swim is concerned, I am just trying not to drown during the open water swim.
Not only has my training been tough, so has the non-training part of my life. My mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and went into surgery to remove the cancer, but while in surgery, the doctors found more cancer in her lymph nodes near the breast cancer and had to remove that too. Basically, it was pretty tough to have to tell my mother what happened later that day. But this is my mother’s fourth bout with cancer and she has gotten pretty tough since her first diagnoses many years ago. She has beaten cancer three times and I am sure this time will be number four. She was out of the hospital in two days and was at the YMCA five days after her surgery riding three miles on a stationary bike. Like I have said, she is a tough woman all the way through. Shewill be going through some aggressive chemotherapy and I hope that she gets rid of the cancer once and for all!
Anyway, so while I train, I think about my mother and other people who everyday, have bigger struggles to deal with than just bad day of triathlon training and it makes me "shut up" and just work as hard as I can.
Also, I attended a 10K run that my daughter participated in two weeks ago and cheered her on to the finish. She ended up placing second in her age group! She has done two races and the first 10K, she placed first in her age group, and in the second 10K, she placed second. That is just amazing. It was nice to sit on the sidelines and cheer for another person to succeed. I really liked that.
I also volunteered for an Kid’s Triathlon on Sunday June 3rd. It’s the first time a Kid’s Triathlon has been coordinated this early in the season in Lexington and it SOLD OUT at 150 kids with ages ranging from 8-14! It was a blast and I had a great time! There was just something to seeing these kids cross the finish line as they heard their names called out. They were competitive, but more than anything, they were filled with "pure and innocent" joy! Its great to watch these kids have fun because they have no worries about training, work stresses or schedules, car payments, house payments, or anything. They are just kids having fun and that, I think was awesome to watch.
Anyway, the nerves are starting to set in. I only have 3 days until my first open water swim and my first Olympic distance triathlon. Shouldn’t I be used to these nervous feelings right? Well, I don’t know about that, but I think part of the excitement is the nervousness and anxiety that comes building up to an event. Because during the event, it seems like a whirlwind and there is not really any nervousness once the event starts. At that point, I will find out if I did enough training or not. Hopefully I have, because I am starting to taper and at this point there is nothing more I can do about my training.
Just three more days to push myself and do a little tapering before toeing the starting line, but a lifetime to remember the outcome - time to train, time to endure, time to be ALIVE…I also volunteered for an Kid’s Triathlon on Sunday June 3rd. It’s the first time a Kid’s Triathlon has been coordinated this early in the season in Lexington and it SOLD OUT at 150 kids with ages ranging from 8-14! It was a blast and I had a great time! There was just something to seeing these kids cross the finish line as they heard their names called out. They were competitive, but more than anything, they were filled with "pure and innocent" joy! Its great to watch these kids have fun because they have no worries about training, work stresses or schedules, car payments, house payments, or anything. They are just kids having fun and that, I think was awesome to watch.
Anyway, the nerves are starting to set in. I only have 3 days until my first open water swim and my first Olympic distance triathlon. Shouldn’t I be used to these nervous feelings right? Well, I don’t know about that, but I think part of the excitement is the nervousness and anxiety that comes building up to an event. Because during the event, it seems like a whirlwind and there is not really any nervousness once the event starts. At that point, I will find out if I did enough training or not. Hopefully I have, because I am starting to taper and at this point there is nothing more I can do about my training.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Where Do I Go From Here?
So I have finished my first triathlon, my first marathon, and my first full year of weight loss. So where do I go from here? What do I do now? Of course we all know the answer. The answer is to "Keep on Truckin'..."
I have spent much of my life starting things but never really finishing or following through. I was always good at starting things, but always seem to fall flat when it was time to continue. Well, not this time! The stakes are far too important. This is my life we are talking about and I am not about to let my past dictate my future! I will continue on with my plans to complete a half ironman, ironman, and ultramarathon. And after that, then I will find something else, something to keep me looking forward in life rather than behind me.
I am sure many of you are probably saying "why is he making such a big deal about this?" Well, it's because I have to keep realizing that I have a new life to live and sometimes, I feel that if I dont make a big deal out of how my life has changed, maybe I will get lazy and fall back into a the "old me" way of thinking.
Therefore, I am getting focused and prepared for my next four events that are in June and July. They are the Southern Indiana Triathlon, Warrior Dash, Bluegrass 10K, and the Buckhead Border Triathlon. I have also updated my Google Calendar to reflect my upcoming races and events for the remainder of the year. Its time to get motivated and start pushing myself again! I also signed up to be a volunteer for the Louisville Ironman at the end of August. I can't wait and will defintely be motivated for that event!
Anyway, I have not only found something that I hope, once and for all, that I can stick with, but also something that I can push myself to get better at. I am loving the new life that I have and loving the chance to do things that I never even thought possible. You have heard the saying, "Dream the impossible dream." Well, that is really what the last year has been for me... An impossible dream. But I now am starting to realize that maybe it wasn't so impossble after all. This new life has been here waiting for me all along, just counting the time it would take for me to step up and find it.
The great thing about losing this weight and trying to stay healthly, is the people you meet along the way. I don't mean the triathletes, endurance runners, cyclists, fitness instructors, coaches or anything like that. Those people are absolutely great too, but I am talking about the people who have also stood in the same shoes, and have done the same things I have. I am talking about the other people that have changed their lives by weight loss. I have met people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and even 60's, that have lost over 100 lbs. and changed their life. Even though there may be a large age difference between these people, there is always one thing we have in common and it's the way we look at life now. Everyone I have met looks at life as if, for the first time, they just started living. Their value of life is so much diffferent; you get to do things that you have never been able to do before. It's not like saying that you used to run only a couple miles, and now you can run a marathon. It's completely different, it's like saying I used not even be able to walk, and now I run until I say to stop. It's amazing to meet people that have overcome such obstacles to get where they are now.
So for those of you who think that a new, healthier way of living is beyond you, or if you think your "prime" years are behind you...think again.
So, today, I am officially taking one of my first breaks of the Spring 2012 season! I am getting organized, motivated and prepared for what is in front of me.
It's also Mother's Day and for all of you mothers out there. I wish you a very happy, healthy, and relaxing Mother's Day!
I am here looking forward, staying true to myself and my goals, and tomorrow, I will be running again...
I have spent much of my life starting things but never really finishing or following through. I was always good at starting things, but always seem to fall flat when it was time to continue. Well, not this time! The stakes are far too important. This is my life we are talking about and I am not about to let my past dictate my future! I will continue on with my plans to complete a half ironman, ironman, and ultramarathon. And after that, then I will find something else, something to keep me looking forward in life rather than behind me.
I am sure many of you are probably saying "why is he making such a big deal about this?" Well, it's because I have to keep realizing that I have a new life to live and sometimes, I feel that if I dont make a big deal out of how my life has changed, maybe I will get lazy and fall back into a the "old me" way of thinking.
Therefore, I am getting focused and prepared for my next four events that are in June and July. They are the Southern Indiana Triathlon, Warrior Dash, Bluegrass 10K, and the Buckhead Border Triathlon. I have also updated my Google Calendar to reflect my upcoming races and events for the remainder of the year. Its time to get motivated and start pushing myself again! I also signed up to be a volunteer for the Louisville Ironman at the end of August. I can't wait and will defintely be motivated for that event!
Anyway, I have not only found something that I hope, once and for all, that I can stick with, but also something that I can push myself to get better at. I am loving the new life that I have and loving the chance to do things that I never even thought possible. You have heard the saying, "Dream the impossible dream." Well, that is really what the last year has been for me... An impossible dream. But I now am starting to realize that maybe it wasn't so impossble after all. This new life has been here waiting for me all along, just counting the time it would take for me to step up and find it.
The great thing about losing this weight and trying to stay healthly, is the people you meet along the way. I don't mean the triathletes, endurance runners, cyclists, fitness instructors, coaches or anything like that. Those people are absolutely great too, but I am talking about the people who have also stood in the same shoes, and have done the same things I have. I am talking about the other people that have changed their lives by weight loss. I have met people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and even 60's, that have lost over 100 lbs. and changed their life. Even though there may be a large age difference between these people, there is always one thing we have in common and it's the way we look at life now. Everyone I have met looks at life as if, for the first time, they just started living. Their value of life is so much diffferent; you get to do things that you have never been able to do before. It's not like saying that you used to run only a couple miles, and now you can run a marathon. It's completely different, it's like saying I used not even be able to walk, and now I run until I say to stop. It's amazing to meet people that have overcome such obstacles to get where they are now.
So for those of you who think that a new, healthier way of living is beyond you, or if you think your "prime" years are behind you...think again.
So, today, I am officially taking one of my first breaks of the Spring 2012 season! I am getting organized, motivated and prepared for what is in front of me.
It's also Mother's Day and for all of you mothers out there. I wish you a very happy, healthy, and relaxing Mother's Day!
I am here looking forward, staying true to myself and my goals, and tomorrow, I will be running again...
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
WHEW!! What a Month April Has Been!!
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| The NEW Me at the Heart and Sole Tritahlon |
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| The OLD Me. Lucky to get off the couch... |
It all started January 10th, 2011. A very, very large man was looking through his Christmas 2010 photos. While he was looking through them, he saw someone he really didn’t recognize anymore. He saw someone who was headed for a probable “abbreviated” life. During the previous year in 2010, this guy was asked to exit an amusement park ride because the “extend-a-belt” (aka. fat boy belt) wouldn’t even fit over his stomach. He even got winded after walking two flights of stairs. He had to get a belt with a small belt buckle because the belts that had a big belt buckle would leave a painful mark on his overlapping stomach. His idea of shopping for clothes consisted of elastic waistlines, and stretchy materials to hide his huge stomach and enormous love handles. He didn’t want to go to water parks because the site of him without a shirt was too horrific for even him to fathom. Does this sound ridiculous, sad, gross, or even pitiful? Well, it was all of those until he (me) decided I needed a change; a new life, a better life, an “un-abbreviated” life.
Sure we can’t determine exactly when or how we will go, but we can certainly do something to try to make our life healthier, more enjoyable, and more rewarding. That’s what I think I have done; I have made my life have more than just a beginning and an end. My life feels like it has meaning again, like I have a fresh slate at life. At 171 lbs. total weight lost, I feel amazing! I have been taken off all medication (high blood pressure and cholesterol medications) because I have lost the weight and am eating right.
I just finished two weeks of some of the most challenging and rewarding times in my life. I finished my first triathlon and my first marathon in back-to-back weekends. I am sure some of you say “big deal,” but for me it has been an eye opening experience of how much fun my life has become. I like to do these races not just because they are fun, but mostly, because I now know that I can.
I finished my triathlon 27th out of a little over 100 people, and also finished my marathon in half the pack of over 2000 people. While I am not burning up any speed records, I have been having the time of my life. I go to spinning and bike classes and I smile, because the endorphins kick in and I know I can push through any pain if needed. I run hard for miles because I know I have some endurance. I swim laps upon laps in the pool because I know I can take it. I do pushups till it burns, and then I do more, because I know it is possible. I have learned self-discipline because that is what it takes to change your life. I am by no means saying that I can do anything at will, but I know I can do a lot more than I did last year at this time, and next year, I want to say the same thing, and so on and so on.
I know I will never stand on a podium and finish as a top triathlete, runner, swimmer, or cyclist, but I know I will have fun chasing those who do. So, for those of you who are podium finishers and top athletes, be aware, I am behind you, probably miles and miles behind you, but don’t stop, because I will always be there, pushing as hard as I can.
Chasing new goals, new dreams, but always pushing and running...
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