Two Days of Work

Yesterday I ran 3 miles of a planned 5 mile run. I ran out of time. A late start doomed me, and I had to get to work. Still it was a good run, and I was happy with it. Work has been stressful of late, so I really wanted to get out of my head. I think I succeeded. I felt very good after the run, almost refreshed.

Today was a cross train day. I did 30 hard minutes on the eliptical and then did weight training for about another 30 minutes. My arms are killing me, but it was worth it to get the workout in. My thoughts here were that mixing more things into the workout would be cool.

I wouldn't mind doing pilates again. I like the challenge of pilates. I also wonder about a spinning class. Mark told me he is interested in a spinning class. I also think we could benefit from personal training. I think I may look into this.

2007, the year of my two marathons, I felt good, because I was physically strong from the cross training. I hate I have gotten away from that, so I am happy to get back into cross training.

Charlie

Cross Train - Feel Like I Know How to Get Back

Today was a cross training day. I spent 30 minutes on the Eliptical. I went at it pretty hard. I followed that up with 100 crunches, then on to the weights. I worked primarily on my back and arms. My arms are a bit sore, but they were still sore from the weight training a did a few days ago. I lessened the weights I was using. I had done too much too soon.

The cross train day made me feel like I knew how to get back into shape. I have to take it one day at a time. This is always a hard lesson. I have to remember on the first go round of weight loss, that it took me 40 years to get to over 300 lbs, losing any of it takes time. This was a good step.

Tomorrow the plan is to run 4-5 miles.

Charlie

Feeling Good

I like the fact that I am feeling better about my running this week. I have been focusing on what I can do mechanically to improve on things. So what did I do today in my 4 mile run? My focus was on keeping my upper body relaxed.

Earlier in the week I felt tight. I caught myself raising my shoulders. That's not good. So today my mantra was "Keep the shoulders down." I wanted to be sure I let go, and just let my arms hang a bit more relaxed. It worked. I found with a more relaxed body I could run easier and faster. I also found my breathing was a lot easier. My faster time I owe to the relaxing.

Charlie

Felt a Bit Better

Today I felt a bit better after the last couple of days. I think getting into a routine helped a bit. I also think putting my thoughts from yesterday on the blog freed my mind a bit. So I hit the gym to run 4 miles. I wanted to crank it up a bit on the treadmill, and I did. I finished in under 48 minutes. For me that is a quick pace. I wanted to run hard today. As a result I felt exhausted at the end, but I liked the fact that I did it all on the treadmill, and felt I could run no more.

I will confess I was still not 100% happy with myself. I was though 100% happy for Mark. He weighed in at 214 lbs today. He is doing a great job losing weight. I am so incredibly proud of him. He was all smiles as he stepped off the scale. I didn't weigh myself. I won't until next week. I am not a fan of weighing every day.

Tomorrow will be an off day. The key for me is to remember not to eat wildly. By that I mean, I can't go nuts eating. I have to mindful of everything that enters my body. Thursday - another 4 mile run.

Charlie

Hitting Rock Bottom

Really there is no other term for what I am feeling. Yesterday was Valentine's Day. I wanted to wear something nice for dinner with Mark. We were going to an Italian restaurant. I got home from work, and tried to get dressed. I succeeded, but it was depressing.

What was the problem? I couldn't fit into 3 pairs of slacks. To be honest, I was devastated. I felt like all the work I went through to lose the weight was lost. In reality I know it is not lost, but I am not on a good path. I almost cried. I had a long talk with Mark about it before we headed to dinner. He asked me what was wrong? Why did this happen.

Part of it is how miserable our home situation has been for 1 1/2 years. We lived in terrible conditions, which I don't want to get into. I will say that every time I went home, I got sadder as I got closer to home. Mark was miserable as well. When we had to opportunity to move we jumped on it.

I have dealt with some difficult things at work., as some things are not going well. I have dealt with unhappy co-workers. I think things can be salvaged, but it is going to take time. But is not good when home and work are not going well. It took an emotional toll on me, and I ate. Plus I was not working out as I should.

When we came home from dinner, Mark went into the kitchen and got our calendar. He sat me down, and we talked about a workout/running schedule. Mark plotted the days we would hit the gym for cross training, and when we would run. He told me later, "Take it one day at a time."

Today was day number one. I ate simply, but with the mindset that this was fuel for our workout. After work we did a 1:10 workout. I rode the bike for 9.25 miles and Mark was on the Eliptical. After that we headed to the weights and worked on upper body strength. It was a tough workout, but I began to feel so much better. I will be up front, I weighed myself - 213 lbs. Not happy about it, but I want you all to know where I am at the start, because I have a ways to go.

None of this takes the emotional stuff away, but at least I feel a plan is forming, and I am going to get better. Tomorrow I am running 4 miles.

Charlie

The Body Said Stop

Today the goal was to run 4 miles. I ran 2.5 miles. So what happened? Today I tried a pair of Asics Nimbus. Normally I wear the Brooks Dyad. The Nimbus is a comfortable shoe. It is Asics most cushioned neutral shoe. I could walk all day in it. I can't really run in it as I found out.

Most cushion usually means a softer feel. My feet and legs don't know what to do with a lot of cushion. For the start of the run I felt good. After a mile though I felt a bit wobbly. So what did this do to me? I felt a twinge of pain in my left knee at mile 2. I gave it another 1/2 mile, but I felt it twinge even more. I didn't want to push anything, so I stopped. I thought it was the right thing to do. I can always do 4 miles another day.

Charlie

Breathing Helps

A good many runners like to run without music. I go either way. Some days I want music/podcasts. Some days I want nothing. Today was a nothing day. I didn't run with iPod, and I was glad I did.

I think there are times I just want to hear my breathing and my foot steps. This really gives me a handle on how comfortable I feel with the pace. I think there are times when I am plugged in, that I am not really aware of how my body is doing on a run. So for today - breathing helped.

So how was my body? I felt I was running fairly evenly. My breathing was not hard by any means, and my legs and feet felt comfortable. All in all I was happy with this quiet run.

I did 4 miles in 48:13, which I thought was a decent time.

On another front - Mark is coming along well with his training. He has run 11 miles this week, and has another 4 mile run ahead of him. He was so happy when he weighed himself - 217 lbs. He tells me when he met me he was around 260-270 lbs. That is wonderful!

Charlie

4 Miles - Reflecting on the Spiritual

Last night I ran 4 miles at the gym, and I listened to Steve Runner on the iPod. Steve was discussing George Sheehan who talked about running as a religion. Steve pointed out that Sheehan did not mean it like a cult or religion, but it is a place which allows you to be closer to God, or whatever spiritual place works for you.

I have long felt my running was a way for me to meditate, and this reminder helped me a great deal through my run. I felt peace as I ran, and focused on talking to God. Generally I don't get religious on people here. I will say I was able to have a focused discussion with God as I ran, and it made for a better run for me.

Prayer or discussions with God does not have to happen in a church. Those can happen anywhere. While I would prefer these happen on a run surrounded by nature, I will take a good meditation in a gym, over not feeling at peace.

Charlie

Training Begins

Yesterday I hopped on the treadmill for the first time in two weeks. A combination of nasty cold, which I am getting over, and moving kept me from running. So while I felt out of shape and rusty, I was glad to get running again.

Indy Mini Marathon is coming up in May, and I want to get out there and run. Mark and I ran 3 miles, and we both agree it was good to be running. During my run, I thought about what I have missed by not running. I think I just need to get outside. Of course now I need to convince Mark that our training needs to move to the outdoors. I bet I can.

On another note....Usain Bolt is going to run in the U.S. I would LOVE to see him run in person. He will run in NYC in June at the Adidas Grand Prix. Man that would be something.

Another note....the Olympics are a week from today. Nothing gets me going running wise like watching the Olympics. Never mind there is no running in this Olympics....I get inspired.

Charlie

New Digs

Tonight I am writing from our new apartment. We moved in this weekend, and are still unpacking. Nice place, which is located between the Andersonville and Lincoln Square areas of town. I am much closer to work, and I will have all new neighborhoods to explore on runs.

The move meant I have not run in over a week, and 1/2 marathon training starts this week. I need to get Mark up and going so we can finish the Indy Mini Marathon strong.

I will share more about the new neighborhood soon. All I can tell you is I am a lot less stressed, and much happier.

Charlie