New Year's Eve Wishes

Here is what I wish for 2012......

May the world take further steps back from the insanity of war and terror.

May we as a country take more steps to understanding that the marriage of two men or two women does not destroy marriage or family, but only enhances it.

As our nation decides our future, let us do it clearly, and not with negative rhetoric which will only lead to worse times.

May those who want a job find one.

For my sweet Mark, who I love with all my heart, may he find where he is in his journey, and be successful.

For me, I am wishing for a healthy new year.

For all of you, I wish nothing but good things in the coming year.

Charlie

One More Look Back Before Moving Ahead

While I am working on the reboot of my life(as it were), I want to look back over 2011 for a moment or two. 2011 was not a stellar year running wise. I had two highlights this year. One was running the Geist Half Marathon. The other was my fundraising campaign for NDSS.

It's always exciting when someone challenges themselves with a race. I have known my friend Kris since our days at Indiana University. She took up running in the last couple years, and wanted to tackle her first half marathon. She asked me to run the Geist Half Marathon with her. I did, and was happy to do it.

Supporting a friend with their running is the equivalent of giving back to the community. We had a good day. Well it was good other than Kris stepping on a nail at mile 2. That was a scary moment. Still she pushed through and no serious injury. She ran ahead once we got closer to the hill portion of the race, but I was very proud of her when I saw her after I crossed the finish line.

The campaign to raise money in honor of my niece Sabrina was one of my biggest challenges, at many levels. I had never done a large fund raising campaign. I know there are people who put on parties, sell food, have garage sales, etc. I did all my fundraising online. In the end I raised just over $2000 for the National Down Syndrome Society.

Anytime you do take on an endeavor like this you learn a lot. Here some of what I learned: I was reminded how strong parents of kids with Down Syndrome are. My sister Anne is amazing to me as she raises Sabrina; I learned about the generosity of friends, even those I have not had contact with in over 20 years, as they came forward to help me with my cause; again I was reminded what we can do when we push ourselves. While I would rather have not taken 8 hours to complete the Portland Marathon, I know I can do what I need to do when the time comes. When I feel I can't do something, my marathon memory should remind me....yes I can.

So now I look ahead to 2012. The goals are "simple." I am planning on running at least 4 half marathon during the year. I will work on getting fit again. I will also work towards a PR. I imagine the latter will come as the year goes on, and not my first race.

Reminder, the first half will be in Washington, D.C. on March 17 - Rock n' Roll USA.

TRX class starts January 16. TRX looks like this:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TRXtraining?v=6uNSEHIQw34&feature=pyv&ad=13000890574&kw=TRX

So on to 2012. Thanks 2011, you taught me some good lessons.

Charlie

Energized and Off

This morning I got my butt to the gym, and off I ran for 30 minutes. It's interesting to see who comes to the gym at various times. Early in the morning is the over 50 crowd. Since I am approaching 50, I guess these are my soon to be peeps.

As I ran I noticed I am lift my shoulders and be tight in the upper body. About midway into the run I was able to loosen up a bit and let my arms go. I found the running to be much easier for me when I did this.

Thoughts as I went round and round...I don't know how I feel about turning 50. I have never been one to worry about age, but as I get closer to it, I am finding I'm not liking it as much. Maybe I'm having that overdue mid-life crisis? I feel like there is much I still want to do in this world....and it isn't getting done. Has anyone gone through that feeling?

Overall though, today was a good day. Glad I hit the gym. Mark and I are now signed up for the TRX class in mid-January. This is going to be, not only motivation, but much needed cross training for me.

The reboot goes on.

Charlie

Running With Coffee 2.0 - Reboot!

When we see ourselves in the mirror, how often so we really examine what we are seeing. Typically I hate looking at myself in the mirror. I don’t like my body; I dare say I hate it. I came to be ok with it when I lost my initial weight. Now that I have gained weight, I am back to hating looking in the mirror.

Today though I forced myself to take a good look in the mirror. No, I didn’t like what I saw, but I made a deal with myself; if I can work at losing the weight again, I will learn to be ok looking at myself in the mirror.

Today was a reboot of sorts. I have not run in 3 weeks. So I didn’t jump back into running. I did a 1.2 mile challenging walk on the treadmill, and then a furious 1.8 bike ride at the gym. I sweated pretty hard, which was the goal. I felt good. Then I looked in the mirror.

“Ugh” was my initial thought. No, I didn’t weigh myself, but I don’t need the scale to tell me that I am wearing size 42 jeans, and am carrying more weight. Still I looked hard in the mirror and made my promise to lose the weight.

I told Mark we are making a change. Since we moved to Indianapolis we haven’t had a routine. This is something Mark has said from time to time. 2012 will be the year we work on a routine.

Our first step will be a class. I am signing us up for a TRX class. What is TRX you ask? It is suspension training, using your own body weight and gravity to build strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, core and joint stability, all while preventing injuries.

The road back is not going to be easy. No doubt you will hear me complain. I need to be focused, and I need support. If you haven’t given up on me, and are still reading, I hope you will encourage me, scold me if I need scolding, or just plain support me in this endeavor.

My eating is changing too. I have gone out too much, time to be a cook at home. Tonight, a simple beef stew and blackberries for dessert. It takes more than exercise my friend. It takes watching what I am doing with food.

So this is my official reboot. It starts here...and now. And sometime in 2012, we’ll see how that mirror is looking.

Charlie

Cross Country Locker Room Talk

I was never on a team in school. So I never got to experience locker room talk. Today at NIFS I listened to guys on the IUPUI Cross Country Team talk to each other. I had to chuckle as I listened.

Guy #1: Dude what are you up to tonight?

Guy #2: Dude I gotta run and get my miles up to 70 this week.

Guy #1: I got tickets to the Butler game want to go?

Guy #2: Don't know, man is it cold out, I don't want to run if it's cold out.

Guy #1: Dude it's cold. Hey....what are you doing tonight?

Guy #3: Why?

Guy #1: Wanna go to the Butler game?

Guy #3: Dude let me get back I gotta run 75 miles this week.

Guy #2: Coach won't like that.

Guy #3: Screw coach I gotta workout.

So all in all I feel like I missed little in school.

My run today was fantastic. I felt a bit like my old self.

Mile 1 - 13:05

Mile 2 - 12:59

Mile 3 - 11:39

Yup, you read that last one correctly. I ZOOMED around the track. I felt like I gave it my all out there, and felt good.

Charlie

Cross Run/Ride

Yesterday at NIFS I did a different workout. I did a bike and run combination. First I ran for two miles on the track. Then I biked for one mile. Then I did a half mile on the track.

I have to say that was an intense workout. Because this was my first time doing this as a workout, I thought 3.5 miles was a good start. The first two miles I did in a little over 26 minutes. The mile on the bike was done in 6:40. That last half mile on the track was slower. Then again I was feeling tired from the bike. I swear I don't know how tri-athletes do this stuff.

Still I enjoyed the workout. It broke things up for me, and it made me sweat!

Will try this again.

Charlie