Mile 400!

Monday, August 29 - Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles and Gaelic Football practice. Weight: 139.4

Tuesday, August 30 – Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles. Perfect day. In the evening Bridgette gchatted me and asked if I would be up for a run with her tonight. I said yes and then we coordinated plans. Then at 7:00 she came over and we went on my 3 mile loop with a slight addition of the track where she ran 1 mile and then I walked 1 lap then ran half a mile with her. 

It was a nice perfect, end of summer run together and it was a lot like the olden days where we shared an apartment and often went on walks and runs together. It was a nice paced run full of talking which was a great change of pace.


Total Workout: 3.75 in 41:00

New Miles: 1.0 + 1.0 + 3.75 = 5.75

Total Miles: 402.75

Miles Remaining: 1097.25

Weight: 139.4/140.0

Can't Stomach It

Enjoyed two large bowls of Kashi cereal and then my Mom's scrambled eggs. Then I went to Football practice. At first my stomach was a bit queasy but then it settled down. We did a full-field scrimmage for one hour. I ran some but nothing too crazy. My body was stiff and tight and not happy to be running. I forced myself to do extra sprints during the practice as I need practice at that.

I came home and napped and when I awoke I went on a run, around 2:45pm. The temperature was perfect in the shade, there was some gusty wind but nothing crazy, but then in the sun it was nearly unbearable. The clouds and sun kept toying with me as I ventured out the first mile. And then all of a sudden as I completed mile one my stomach had intense pains. I decided to cut off the one half mile nub and started walking. The pain got worse - just general digestive cramps along with some more female cramps. Instead of looping back to my trail to do 2.5 miles I instead went right back from where I came and hoped to (a) make it home and (b) make it home in time. It was unpleasant and I mixed in walking when necessary. I share this story not to gross you out, but rather to share that you should always listen to your body. There is a fine balance between when to listen to your body and when to push it to do more. Today I forced myself and got lopsided and my body revolted and let me know. Total Workout: 2.0 in 24:41

Most Motivating Song: Tegan and Sara - "Are you ten years ago" - Played three times at the beginning of the run.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 397.0 (New Goal: Make it to 400.0 miles before the end of August!)
Miles Remaining: 1103.0
Weight:  138.4 (but between yesterday morning and last night I went from 137.4 to 141.8 and then I guess I found a better equilibrium over night)

It's Instrumental

Thursday, August 25 - Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles

In the evening I went on my 3 mile loop but instead of returning home I veered to the track at mile 2.5. My run had started off slow - very tired, hard to will myself to run, and very thirsty. I wanted to push myself more and so despite the extreme want of water I swung up the track where I walked a lap and then ran 3 laps doing quick hard but not super hard sprints for the 100m straightaways. That was tiring but good. Then I jogged 100m and finished out the lap walking then I trotted on home. Total Workout: 4.5 miles in 46:48.

Most Motivating Song: The instrumental I can never remember the name of - played on loop for the sprints and most of the run. Pretty much the only thing that kept me running and blocked out the "You are thirty why don't you stop?" messages.

New Miles: 1.0 + 4.5 = 5.5
Total Miles: 395.0
Miles Remaining: 1105.0
Weight: 138.0

Lunch Walks

Tuesday, August 23 - Lunch Walk: 0.75 miles
Wednesday, August 24 - Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles

New Miles: 1.75
Total Miles: 389.5
Miles Remaining: 1110.5
Weight: 138ish

Adizero Inaugural Run

First soccer practice, so I missed Gaelic Football. When I got home I put on some bright colored clothes and my safety vest and donned my new pink and black adizeros. I wore a bright pink shirt and bright lime green shorts. I looked like a running watermelon.

My calves burned quite a bit which is to be expected trying to run with good form and running with lower profile shoes. The heel to toe drop of the adizeros is 10.9 - nice but not too much.

The night air was cool and provided a preview of Autumn. It was a nice, enjoyable chill rather than an uncomfortable chill.  I completed the 3 miles in 28:27.

100 crunches and 10 push-ups.

Most Motivating Songs: The Dixie Chicks got me started with "Ready to Run" and good ol' Dierks Bentley got me into mile 2-2.5 with "Every Mile a Memory"

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles:  387.75
Miles Remaining: 1112.75
Weight: 139.4

A Shake It Up Call

As I prepared for a quick trip to Dick's Sporting Goods for some new running shoes I was reflecting on this journey I am on and how my monthly resolutions are going. I am not doing so good on the beer end of things, way too many special occasions seem to be happening. But I am doing good on the daily walking and the 3 bad things per week bit. I started thinking about how I went from giving myself a Wake Up Call back in November 2010 and how these monthly resolutions are like a Shake It Up Call so I don't get complacent and so that I make sure to stay on track.

Reflection complete I headed over to Dick's where I looked for my new running shoes. I have decided I also want to shake up my running like Ryan has been doing and switching out my running shoes on some runs. He has his Nike LunarGlides along with New Balance Minimus and Somnio super-minimus and depending on his work out he picks a shoe. Now I don't plan on going full <=> and working down to the trendy barefoot running, but I do want some variation.

With that in mind I found a pair just like my current ones - LunarGlide +2 - but these ones were black with some gold and had "BURGH" on the tongue and some cool "Pittsburgh Marathon 2011" on the inside sole. They were too cool to pass by. Reasons I bought them: 1) They were super cool. 2) I know I like my current shoe and these ones also felt good. 3) Fear of Nike no longer making the shoe I like when I go to buy my next pair. 4) Anything with "Pittsburgh" usually gets me every time.

There was a shoe-down (show down between me and shoes and decision making) between these Burgh ones and Adidas adizero shoes -- the same ones I liked the last time. The Adidas ones felts better than I remember them feeling and I thought they would provide great variation to my running. The inner part of the shoe is solid black and the outer part is super bright pink with black Adidas stripes. Reasons I bought them: 1) They were super cool. 2) They were fun and funky. 3) They will a great Shake It Up shoe.

So I walked out of the store with 2 new pairs of shoes. Reasons I bought them: 1) Both were on sale and I had a $15 off coupon. 

In the evening I went to a Soccer Coach's Clinic put on by the soccer club I am assistant coaching for again; kicked a little and did a few small things. Then when I got home I went to run but my right ankle was not cooperating; it felt like it needed to crack a few times and reset itself. So between that and my knee I turned around and went home. Once inside I put on my new Adidas adizeros and hopped onto the treadmill - I walked a little and then wanted to test out the shoe so I ran a little. I did half a mile in 6 minutes. The shoes felt good, or as far as I could tell given the oddness of my ankle and knee. Did 50 straight reps of the 15lb kettlebells. Did 130 crunches.

New Miles: 0.5
Total Miles: 384.75
Miles Remaining: 1115.25
Weight: 137.6 (pre-dinner); 140.8 (after a few ounces of orange juice, small bowl of cereal, moderate portion of spaghetti, glass of chocolate milk, 2 glasses of water, chips and salsa).

Nights Who Say Knee

Lunch Walk - delightful sunny, low 80s. In the evening had Gaelic Football practice and ran in my cleats on very hard ground. It wasn't a good decision since during the last few runs my right knee has acted up and had some pain; after this workout I definitely had more pain.

New Miles: 0.75
Total Miles: 384.25
Miles Remaining: 1115.75
Weight: 138.6 (I think)

Two Walks

During my walk at lunch I encountered a co-worker who was also out on a walk and so I extended my walk and accompanied her. Gorgeous day in the low 80s. I walked 1.25 miles.

Then in the evening I mowed the grass, changed, and then drove over to the track and walked 1.0 miles.

Nice relaxing day and evening; enjoyed the weather.

New Miles: 2.25
Total Miles: 383.5
Miles Remaining: 1116.5
Weight: 137.6

27:27

.75 mile walk at lunch. Then in the evening out for a quick pace run, completing the 3 miles in a record 27:27 (actually 27:26:99)!  Then I came inside and hopped on the treadmill and ran at 6.3 for half a mile then walked for .25, I repeated that again and again , then at mile 2.25 I ran solid for 1.25 with one mile at 6.4 pace. Then I jogged at 5.5 for .5 then walked for .25. Total Workout: 4.0 miles 609 cals 43:40 0% incline.


Then I lifted the 15lb kettlebell straight 50 times without stopping then after water relaxed in the living room on my yoga mat and did 125 crunches.

New Miles: 0.75 + 7.0 = 7.75
Total Miles: 381.25
Miles Remaining: 1118.75
Weight: 138.8

Long Lunch Walk

There were zero clouds in the sky as I walked during lunch. It was weird. I took the longer route so did over .5 miles.  I mapped it on USATF and factoring in the stairs I did just about .75 miles. 

New Miles: 0.75
Total Miles: 373.5
Miles Remaining: 1126.5

Outdoors and Indoors

Out for a 3 mile run completed in 28:50; I tried to practice Good Form Running and after mile one my calves were burning. I walked for one minute to recover and then I ran again. Crossing back over the main road I lost some time due to traffic but somehow still finished under 29 minutes.

I chugged my 750ml of water in my purple CamelBak, water the plants, and then eased on inside where I powered on the treadmill and got on to continue running. Outside was gorgeous and had I not wanted to find out my 3 mile time I would have looped back to continue running at the track. But since I opted for indoors I opened the back door and two windows and turned on the fan. I ran 2 miles with the evening chilled air breezing on me. I did half a mile at 6.0 pace then walked then kicked it up to 6.3mph stopping after another half mile to walk at 4.1mph. Finally I was back into it and finished out by running solid at 6.3 and then for .25 miles at 7.0mph. I cooled down with a 4.1mph walk for half a mile. Total Treadmill: 2.5 miles in 26:46 382cals 1% incline.

I lifted the 15lb kettlebells - full throws 10 each arm and then 20 straight raises. No crunches.

New Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 372.75
Miles Remaining: 1127.25
Weight: 138.8

Less is More

Lunch Walk: On Monday, August 8 I did my .5 mile loop at lunch.

Today, I sat at my desk with a migraine all day. I got home and continued to have the migraine but it was less intense for a while. Then it started picking back up again. Since in recent times exercise has helped stem off a migraine I opted to go on a walk. I had been dressed in my running gear for a few hours, but never dd go - too scared it would hurt. And so close to 10pm I decided to do something to see if I could make myself feel better. I walked 2.0 miles - the first 1.5 at 4.1mph and the last .5 at 3.8mph. After the first 0.8 I picked up my 1 lb hand weights and carried those to get a little extra in.

I also focused on my form, since early in the evening Ryan had we watching a few New Balance Minimalist <=> (Less is More) running videos on "Making the Transition to Good Form Running" to better form running. The 4 tenets: Posture, Mid-Foot, Cadence, and Lean. So I tried to keep good posture and a few times practiced cadence. I have a feeling it is going to take me a while to make the transition. I have been trying to strike mid-foot more on this journey and I think I am doing that decently well but the posture, cadence, and lean components are going to be a challenge. Learn More: New Balance Good Form Running

New Miles:  0.5 + 2.0 = 2.5
Total Miles: 367.25
Miles Remaining: 1132.75
Weight: 138.6

Slow to start

Sunny day with a men's football game. Pre and post game I kicked around the soccer ball a little with my youngest brother and sister, so I got some running and jogging in.

I wanted to run all day but didn't get to it til 8:30pm. I got on the treadmill and started off slow, walking half a mile then jogging half a mile, then walking more then running more at 6.3mph. I started doing .25 or 1 minute walking then running half to three-quarter miles. Finally after mile 3.5 I got into it and really started running solid at 6.3mph. Ran thru 5.25 miles and walked a cool down. Total Workout: 5.5 miles in 60:19 838cals.

I did 10 straight raises of 15lb kettlebells, then 10 each arm full, then 10 two-handed squat raise. 100 crunches. 10 push-ups.

New Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 364.75
Miles Remaining: 1135.25
Weight: 139.8

Lunch Walk

Walk at lunch.

New Miles: 0.5
Total Miles: 359.25
Miles Remaining: 1140.75
Weight: 141.4

5 miler

Finally talked myself into a longer run after looking at my weekly planner and for once not ignoring the training plan. I realized if I needed to run far I needed to treadmill it. And so I got on the tready, warmed up for .25 then did 3.0 miles at 6.3mph and continued on to 4.75 at that pace. Then til 5.25 I ran at 5.5mph. And then walked it out to 5.75 in 60:02 879cals. I ended completely at 5.8miles 60:46 887cals. Finally a 5 miler.

During lunch I got out and did my half mile loop.

New Miles: 5.75 + 0.5 = 6.25
Total Miles: 358.75
Miles Remaining: 1141.25
Weight: 139.2

Monthly Resolutions

Over the weekend, as I binge ate and socially drank, I felt my workout ethic fade and definitely realized I have been letting my great plans of self control and improved physical fitness and health slipping away. And then a genius thought came to me - everyone always makes new year's resolutions and the statistics show people most people don't keep those for the whole year. So why not try something different and more manageable - like a monthly resolution?

I said, "Hey thanks brain!" and then I got to work thinking about what it is that I could resolve to do better in August. I'll let myself figure out the following months when I get there, for now I would focus on the month at hand. And so I thought "No eating any junk food/food that is bad for me" would be a good one. And then I thought "Man, August has 31 days this could be tough". And so after many hours of pondering I decided upon my very first Monthly Resolution: Eat only 3 bad things per week.

I like that it is something broken down into weekly increments - I can think ahead to what I have scheduled for my week and plan out my 3 things. For example, Tuesday I have a Pittsburgh Banshees Midwest Championship social at the bar that sponsors us -- I'll set aside one bad thing for that day.

My brain continued to think of other resolutions I could take up this month - and so I will see how the following go: (1) Get out and walk during lunch most days - do my Half Mile Loop and (2) Don't drink more than 5 beers per week.

And so on Monday, this first day of August, I got out into the midday sun and walked .5 miles. This resolution will be good because I can add miles to my journey while doing three things good for me - getting away from my work desk, getting some fresh air, and getting exercise.  The walk was fine, even though my foot was sore from the day before I ambled along my route.


New Miles: .5
Total Miles: 352.5
Miles Remaining: 1147.5
Weight: 141.2