Two Steps Forward, one step back.

Weight: 218

total Miles: 16.4

   Well, another week is beginning, and I am still running. It's definitely gotten harder to get up at 4:30, but the focus on the goal and the noticeable weight loss and just generally feeling better have all helped quite a bit.

    This morning, I was running on the track in the gym, and working on extending my stride to cover more ground with less effort. I usually run for speed (football, softball, baseball, etc), and I run in very quick, short strides. It was interesting to concentrate on a longer, gliding sort of stride. Learn something new every day!

   I've had a few problems on the last couple of runs. About 1.25 miles in, I get a muscle pull in my right leg. It goes away in a day. Then, I take an extra day between runs. I warm up, test it a bit, and everything feels good. I start running, and it still feels good. Then, as I said, about 1.25 miles in, it sort of "pops". Not in a big, painful way, but sudden and it keeps me from running. The first time, I was about 1 mile or so from home, so I walked the rest of the way. This time, I was on the track at the gym, so I just stopped and went home.

I may have to take a break from running for a while, I don't know. If I do, at least I can still work on my stamina. As I said before, my legs seem to be handling things pretty well so far, except for this. I am just not sure how long to wait, or how far to push. I don't have a lot of time to waste if I am going to be able to finish 26 miles.....

Another brick in the Wall

Total Miles: 12.3

Weight: 222

Favorite running songs:

Pump It (Black-Eyed Peas)

I Can't Drive 55 (Sammy Hagar)

    Today was my first run for week 2 of my beginner's program. instead of 8 60-second runs with 90-second walks in between, it's now 6 90-second runs with 2-minutes in between. My walking/running miles have come down to about a 14 minute average, which is a small but nice improvement. I have burned through all the songs currently on my phone, and my favorites so far for running have been "Pump It" by the Black-Eyed Peas", and "I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar. I would love to hear some of your suggestions!

     I am finding my legs can handle what I'm doing beautifully right now, but I'm definitely limited by my air supply (not the band, either, they're not even in my playlist). My walking/running miles have come down to about a 14 minute average, which is a small but nice improvement.

    I need to do more on my not running days to try to increase my stamina. I haven't done much yet in the way of cross-training, but it seems like the time.

    The weekend run was interesting. We stayed with my Mom in Barre, and I did 3 miles. But Barre is much more hilly than where I am in Essex, and I was surprised at how much more work it was to do some light-to-moderate hills. the good news, though, is that the hills were mostly up on the way out, so guess what that means for the way back?

    And although I lost about 1.5 pounds, I still have a lot of work to do on my eating habits. Yesterday, I had to entertain visiting customers, so lunch at Rozzi's and dinner at Windjammer certainly didn't help. In fact, I am happy I still lost some weight with how much I ate over the weekend and Monday.

My breakfasts have been going great, and usually at work is, too. The problem is between supper and bedtime, or the "noshing hours". It's really hard to ignore all the snacks around. The funny thing is, I usually want chocolate, which I don't keep around too often. So I get something else instead, which doesn't satisfy me (because it's not chocolate, duh!), so I go back again, still don't find chocolate, but end up with something else! It's a vicious circle leading to the other vicious circle - the one around my waist- but I am happy at the progress I have made so far and I don't want to change too much at once.

    The short version of all this is that I am happy with how things have gone, but I also am realizing how much farther I have to go. Thanks for tuning in, and see you next week on this same bat-time, same bat-channel.

One Small Step

Weight: 223

Total Miles: 2.2

Well, I'm off and running, pun somewhat intended.. I got up this morning at 4:30 and ran 2.2 miles (OK, walked about 60% of it, but I'm not splitting hairs). I was very excited to get this first run out of the way!

I am using a beginner's running program which tells me when to run and walk as I build up my stamina. It was pretty much perfect for me, making me work hard and push some, but not overboard. I am also using a GPS tracking program which logs my runs and uploads them onto a website. If this works, you can click here to see this particular workout:

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/kG-0zLZ25I4

I feel very proud to have finally started, and looking forward to the next one. The biggest problem I can see, is finding consistent time to run. I also wonder how hard it will be to get up when it isn't all new and exciting!

I do have some thoughts. I certainly have a variety of routes to run nearby, which is nice. Plus, if the weather's too bad, or I just want something different (or a hot tub after), I can always go to our club. They have an indoor track and lots of other exercise facilities.

I am also wondering about proper shoes and socks as I get more into this. Luckily, my brother Ray is a very experienced runner, so I have a great source for information.

See you next week!

So it Begins....

For anyone who doesn't already know, my oldest daughter, Ciera, is almost 6 and has a rare genetic disorder called Zellweger Syndrome (ZS). She is blind, deaf (though she can hear quite well with her Cochlear Implants in), and cannot walk or talk.

We are very lucky in that most kids with ZS do not live past their first year. We are also very lucky in that Ciera is a loving, happy child who does the absolute best she can with what she was given!

ZS is a very rare syndrome, and to our knowledge, we are the only family in Vermont to be dealing with this. Last July, we went to a conference in Nebraska with a group of other families that also have children with ZS or other Peroxisomal disorders (PBDs). It was an amazing experience, so great to meet other people that understand Ciera in a way no one else can.

There is another conference coming up July 2012 in Florida. Of course, getting there and staying there costs money, and I have been trying to come up with ways to raise some.

Which brings me to the 2nd part of this post. I am 42, and while I don't expect to be in the shape I was 20 years ago, I am very unhappy with where I am now. I have to get into shape!

My biggest problem is simply willpower. I don't smoke, virtually don't drink. My vice of choice is food,  and what a vice it is :-) I know how to diet, how to exercise, all that stuff. I have started over and over, with ok results. But then I get stressed, or tired, and just don't have the willpower to stay with it. And breaking your diet is like potato chips - I bet you can't do it just once.

So I came up with a plan that hopefully will help me in two ways - I am telling EVERYONE about what I am doing, so I will not want to back down so easily. Also, I am hoping to use this blog and the race to raise some money for our trip next year. I don't have all the details yet, but I am thinking about some sort of pledge per mile, or other methods. Don't worry, if you keep reading these posts, eventually you'll get panhandled :-)

My plan is to get into shape, with the goal of running in and completing the 2012 Vermont City Marathon, coming up next May. I have never run a marathon, in fact never run for distance instead of speed. I am DEFINITELY not in shape for it right now, and I don't know for sure I can make it. I am going to try my damndest, though! It is something way out of my comfort zone, but I think it's worth it.

I will update my miles run, weight, and other things in these posts. I am not setting a specific weight goal, but just want to get into shape again. 'Taint gonna happen, though, without losing some of this baby fat....