#9 idiots and the people that love them

I pushed my idiocy to the limit today, running in 34 degree rain.... We really need a solution for winter running, and any sane solution would be welcome...

I overslept today, which is understandable considering I did not set an alarm - oops - since I had to leave on a trip to NoVa at 8 am, we ran at 530 am instead of our usual 7...

But I managed to catch Marlin before he went running without me, but just barely!

It was raining pretty hard, so I got to break in my new running jacket, that I discovered did not have a hood, so my head still got soaked, but it helped a lot with keeping me dry...

I managed to keep up on the first two runs fairly well, but that second three minute run still gets me, but instead of just quitting, every time I felt like giving up, I just pushed a little harder, ran a little faster, and didn't give up.... Until the 2 minute mark and I just ran out of air... And had to drop to a walk... It really hurt, but I was glad I pushed myself... I am pretty sure we are going to need to repeat this week until we can handle it a little better - I know if we go on to the more challenging run it will really discourage me to not be able to keep up. So i believe knowing my limits and what I can handle is just as important as not giving up...

And I just want to add that I'm glad I can submit this from my phone and not have to skip an entry while riding up the road... I enjoying sharing my runs via this blog as much as I enjoy finishing a run. So thanks for reading! I hope this blog encourages you to live a healthier lifestyle and let's someone who wants to workout more but thinks they can't do it understand that all it takes is a little motivation and it REALLY helps when you have someone to workout with on a regular basis. I would be lost without my friend - no seriously - I'm terrible with directions. Haha!

Anyway,

Until next time...

#8 feel the burn

Today was the hardest so far... First the negative... Let get that out that way...

Couldn't finish the 2nd 3 minute run, my leg hurt before we got started, but didn't manage to slow me down much.
My side started really hurting during the second big run and I had to stop and wait for the pain to die down a little


Now the good

We beat our pace for the mile! Fastest mile yet so far!
And I still went, even when I would have paid good money to stay in bed.
Now to move on past the run this morning and hit the ground running! (pun intended)

I'm tired after the run, but my day has barely begun!

Until next time

#7 pushing limits...

I woke up sick today... Just felt nauseated - told marlin I needed an extra ten minutes.. This was the first day I REALLY thought about not going running... And I am so proud of myself that I didn't give up. We ran for a challenging 3 minutes today, which I managed to run all the way through.... The first time... The second 3 minute run I pushed until I "hit the wall" and just couldn't keep even the slowest jogging pace. Had to fall back and walk the last minute of the run. I have to say I'm disappointed that I couldn't finish - but I know I can turn that disappointment into the biggest triumph of my life... When I make it to the finish line in the ten miler, it will be the end Of the hardest journey of my life.
A goal I would have said I couldn't conquer a year ago...
I have a mission, a goal, that motivates me everyday... I'm running to get away. I'm running from diabetes. I have changed my diet, my habits, and now my outlook... When I run the ten miler I have no doubt my sugar will not only be under control, but that I will no longer fight daily with pin pricks in my fingers, or with that crappy feeling that comes from my sugar being too high or too low - even when I eat right...
I'm also going to look into raising money with my run for a diabetes charity. I know so many people who fight with diabetes - from family to friends - from people I have known all my life - to people I really only know on Facebook. It's time to find a cure. I'm one of the lucky ones, I have type 2, and they say that with the right diet and exercise it can go away... And my goal is to win that fight, and hopefully motivate others to lead a healthier lifestyle...

Well, I rambled a bit today, but hey, it's my blog, I'll ramble if I want to...

So to finish up, I pushed today and didn't meet my goal, but I didn't fail... I will finish the run Thursday morning, and I will push myself farther than I have before and I will get faster, run farther, and feel better afterwards


DISCLAIMER:
I feel as if this blog may not be completely same this morning, but honestly, runners are crazy- and while I may not be a good runner, I'm getting there... And what do you expect at 7 am after running almost 2 miles?


So until next time...

#6.2 COOOOOLLLLLDDDDD

well, we made it!   Marlin has decided it's time to get serious about finding his gloves and some warmer clothes!
What amazed me most today were the other runners we saw while jogging today...   while wearing shorts! Crazy! These people are Crazy!!!! I was in sweat pants and my legs were cold.... Well, let me switch to a positive outlook - I feel good, although tired, after our run today, and look forward to a long day followed by some really good quality time with my pillow! 

until next time...

#6. I must be crazy!

Woke up today for our 7 am run and checker the temp outside. 36 degrees!!! We must be crazy! And marlin is going to be hurting double today as he struggles to find layers and he sent me an email at 330 since he was up checking on the smoker anyway! I may not be the only tired one after our run today.....

# 5 mobile blog

So today I'm trying the blogger app for iPhone for the first time... So excuse any missed letters...

Marlin and I ran 1.77 miles today which isn't bad, but I'm not 100% pleased with it because my shins hurt!

Had to walk the 2 nd to last run they hurt so bad.... But considering we were only .2 of a mile off from what we ran last time I am happy with how far we went....

I'll be honest, this is hard, but not as hard as I thought.... And I feel better ( even if I could go to sleep right now. I know I will be tired today but can't wait until sat! But our run ends at the community market downtown where we eat breakfast after out run is over......

So until next time....

#4 a new week begins

Well, Run #4

5:30 AM ! Still not really sure if that is the best time to run, but it nice to get it out of the way, and I am really awake when I get to work.... which is always good, as sleeping is frowned upon...
The runs were a little longer today, but really wasn't as hard as I thought and I managed to finish all the runs +/- 5 seconds. It was still hard but I look forward to the next run!

Dylan and I walked to GBC today to get the car that we had left there Sunday night, he had fun and it felt good to get the walking time without having to ruin the calm brisk walk with running! ha!

I can definitely feel a change in my attitude and I don't get as tired when I get home from work!

I feel great and I hope that this project will turn into a lifestyle change that continues for a long time!

It's great that we have apps to help us organize our runs and track distances, and even better that our friends and family cheer us on when we do a run. That really makes it easier to keep going!

Until next time....

#3 The relaxing run

Just want to take a minute and share an insight, if you have a great running partner, this is so much easier!
Marlin is patient with me when I run out of steam and motivates with a positive attitude!
We are getting ready for Run number 3 and I think this will be a lot easier than the last run... For one thing we have basically had 2 days off since we ran so early on Tuesday! The soreness in my legs actually had a chance to fade... so I guess today will bring that back :)  We are going to run on the downtown section of the BWCT and I know that is almost perfectly flat! today should be a breeze! (Well, relatively speaking, that is...) well, I think I will walk down to Marlin's and start my warmup a little early...
Until next time...

Run #2: A Bigger challenge

Well, went on Run #2 today at 5:30AM!
Skipped the unlit bike trail for the comfort of the street lights. That made it great for seeing the much steeper hills we were tackling on this session. I made it through (only walking on one run session) but it was tough... but the running times seemed easier than the first time even though the terrain was more difficult.
It was, however, a little strange to realize that we had run from the beginning of the bike trail to just past my parents house... I mean, I always thought that was a long way to go on foot... and it made me see one of my goals in the following year. I want to run the VA Ten miler and run past my parents house both ways! While this will be a difficult goal to achieve I know that if we continue this pace all throughout the year we will be able to meet this goal! I have a lot more soreness this time, and learned an important lesson, don't eat a banana and then run straight away!

A Man On The Run....

Welcome to my first Blog post EVER!
Today I started a program call couch to 5K with my friend Marlin, and decided I had so many thoughts about the start of this unusual chapter in my life, that I would find a way to share them.
I don't expect anyone to really read this (while thinking in the back of my mind that I will post this link to Facebook... so I'm sure I have some expectation that SOMEONE will read it...)so I'm just typing whatever comes to mind without really editing much of it after the fact... I am only going to correct spelling mistakes to remove the red line OF DEATH!


I always comment to my wife that I don't understand the runners who are constantly jogging up the streets in the town where we live.  First of all, runners are stupid, and people who run in the rain are idiots... wellllll, Today I not became stupid (by running) I became an idiot who runs in the rain, and I really enjoyed it!
I really am not an active person, getting off the couch to get Ice cream is all the exercise I needed... or so I thought... Here I am, 250 pounds, 5 foot 4 inches (according to the DMV), Type 2 Diabetic, and tired ALL the time. Something has got to change! I made the new years resolution in 2010 to run the VA Ten Miler, which runs right past the house I grew up in, but never seemed to get farther than wanting to do it... and honestly, that want wasn't very strong (remember, Runners are stupid) so it kind of just became a memory...
Until at a Garlic Festival with my friend Marlin and he mentioned he would like to run The Ten Miler next year (2012)   I was shocked, didn't picture Marlin as a runner, but thought "if he can do it, I can too!"

So we decided that, since neither of us were in "running shape", we would start with the Couch to 5 K program. My 8 year old son, Dylan, decided this would be a good time for him to be part of a "guys night out" and asked to come along. Now, D is NOT an active child when it comes to being outside. give him a book and some nice soft grass and he is in Heaven! unless of course a bug comes near, or God forbid a Grand daddy long legs. So when he said he wanted to go I explained that we would be running the whole time, and he could go, but would need to keep up. He said he would try, grabbed his iPod and was ready to go! Marlin picked us up, we drove over the hill to the bike/running trail near our house and we were off!
Dylan stayed true to form by having to go to the bathroom as soon as Marlin and I hit the "go" button on our apps... so Marlin and I did our warm up by pacing in front of the bathroom...
and when Dylan came out we continued down the path and to my amazement Dylan kept up with us the whole way! Actually he did better than me!

I was really struggling on the way back, everything I had hurt! But I managed to make it through and finished the first week! HOORAY!