Running - Catch Up Posts

Wow, I am really behind on updating the old blog with my running data... So, here goes a whole list of 'em!

Day 12 - 3.0 (4/22/09)
Day 13 - 2.0 (4/23/09)
Day 14 - 4.5 (4/26/09)
Day 15 - 2.5 (4/28/09)
Day 16 - 3.0 (4/29/09)
Day 17 - 5.0 (5/03/09)
Day 18 - 2.5 (5/05/09)

So, there are the updated numbers.... So far, 53.5 miles total. I'll be putting together some graphs as I go along, but for now, I just want to have the record of what I have done.

Running - Day 11

Today I was scheduled for a short run, which this week means 2 miles. I knew ahead of time that my schedule would only permit the run if I got up early and hit the treadmill, which I don't really enjoy. Plus, I have been sleeping like total shit for the past few weeks, so I know it would be rough. Sure enough, I barely slept last night, so I was seriously dragging when I crawled out of bed at 5:00 this morning. But, I did it! I managed to get my 2 miles in with no walking. Now, I did fall asleep on the couch for 45 minutes after that, but at least I got my mileage in.

Day 11 - 2 Miles

Running - Day 10

Yesterday the weather was perfect for a run. Not too hot, not too cold, really sunny and no clouds. My training schedule actually called for yesterday to be a cross-training day, but I knew that today would probably be rainy, so Terri and I opted to swap the days around and take advantage of the weather. She ran 7 miles, and I met up with her at mile 3 and we did the last 4 miles together. It was good.

Day 10 - 4 Miles

Running - Day 9

Last night I went out and put in a 3-miler through Johnny Appleseed Park and onto the River Greenway. It's a great place to go for a run, as there are mile markers on the ground. Makes it super-easy to keep track of distance. The weather was pretty nice, but just a tad chilly. I had my ipod and some great tunes, but I think I was pacing myself to the music, and as such I was pushing myself a little harder than I meant to. My left knee was bothering me a bit by the end. I'll have to concentrate on not over-doing it. I certainly don't want to invite any injuries...

Day 9 - 3 Miles

Running - Day 8

This morning I got up early and put in a short 1.5 mile run. My schedule doesn't allow for me to run tonight, so I had to get it in this morning. I still don't like the treadmill, but it was cold, dark, and raining outside, so the treadmill was a necessary evil...

Day 8 - 1.5 Miles

Running - Day 7

This morning I went for a run with Terri, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Well, at least the fact that we were doing it together. The run was hard, but one of the main reasons I decided to start running was so that I would cultivate a hobby that would give us more in common; something that we could do and enjoy together.

Day 7 - 4 Miles

Running - Day 6

I missed yesterday due to parent-teacher conferences, so I went a little further today than my training schedule calls for. My calves hate me right now, but it's a good pain.

Day 6 - 4 Miles (ish)

Running - Day 5

It was just a short mile and a half this time, but it seemed a little easier than the first couple of days. But, I'm not sure I'll ever like running on the treadmill.

Day 5 - 1.5 Miles

Running - Days 3 and 4

So, the running is still happening. No giving up. I'm told that once you get past the first couple of weeks, it starts to get easier. I really want to do it, so maybe that helps.

Day 3 - 1.5 Miles
Day 4 - 3.5 Miles (on the treadmill, ugh)

Running - Days 1 and 2

So, I have started running. There were several motivating factors here that led me to this decision. First, I am tired of feeling, well, tired all the time. I believe firmly that not getting any real regular exercise is making me tired. Second, I am trying to cultivate interests that Terri and I can share (she runs). In fact, she has signed up for the Chicago marathon and the idea came up that I should do it also. A daunting thought for someone who has never really been a runner, but I think I am going to give it a shot!

Anyway, the stats (I am going to post my distances, mostly for my own reference).

Day 1 - 1.5 Miles
Day 2 - 3 Miles (approximately, might be a little less)

I'll start posting my times, once I start tracking them. For now, I am more concerned with actually getting through the distances.

Diet, Exercise, and Motorcycles

So, I have this longstanding agreement with my wife. If I "get buff", I can buy a motorcycle. Seems simple enough, and also seems like it should be adequate motivation. However, I have just never been able to stick with it long enough to really make a difference. As such, I have never been able to cash in on the wager. The enticement of the motorcycle, it seems, has not been sufficient.

More recently, I have been unhappy with my overall fitness level. Maybe it's because the years of office jobs are catching up with me. Maybe it's because I'm in some sort of pre-pre-mid-life crisis. I don't know. I do know, however, that I simply cannot stick to an exercise program if I have to figure it out on my own.

A month or so ago, my wife stumbled onto a book entitled "Buff Dad" by Mike Levinson. The title is corny enough, but the summary on the jacket got my curiosity up. His program is all about balanced nutrition with an emphasis on foods that assist the body's natural mechanisms for testosterone production, which is necessary for effective muscle building. The workout routine is designed to achieve results quickly without having to spend hours in the gym. I know I sound like a commercial here, but bear with me...

Yesterday marked exactly one week on the Buff Dad program, and I have to say that I feel so much better than I have in as long as I can remember. It sounds like a cliche, but I honestly feel different. I have more energy and I just plain feel better. The nutritional side of the program is designed such that I don't really feel deprived in any way, and the fact that I feel good makes it easier to make healthy choices.

As for the workouts... Wow, when I read through the book, I truly thought it looked like it wouldn't be that hard. I was wrong. The first day kicked my ass, and I didn't even finish the whole thing. If I hadn't already been motivated to change things, that would have been the final straw. Clearly I was even more out of shape than I was ready to admit. The good news is that a week later when it was time to go back to the 'day 1' workout, I was able to finish it and I could tell that the preceding week had made a difference.

So, back to the motorcycle. The past has shown that the lure of the open road has not been enough to keep me working out. But, this time, all the right pieces are in place and I am confident that I am making changes that will not only fulfill my end of the motorcycle agreement, but will change my life for the better.