Solitude on a Run

Winter running can have a certain loneliness to it. The air is quiet. The sound you hear most is the crunch of the snow and ice. I actually love that sound. I also like the quiet of a winter run.

Today I ran 3 miles on the Monon Trail. The trail had patches of snow and ice that I would hear crunch softly under my feet. I actually found I didn't like running on the bare path. I think what bothered my most of about the non-snowy part of the trail, was the chance of black ice. So I tread very carefully.

Winter runs are not always fast, but with the slowness comes for an appreciation of the quiet around.

Charlie

3 Miles - Zippy People All Around

Yesterday Mark and I headed to NIFS to workout. While Mark worked the Eliptical into a frenzy, I was on the track running 3 miles. While my run wasn't zippy, I had the pleasure of running with the IUPUI Track Team.

For those who don't know IUPUI is Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis. Two schools combined into one. NIFS is located on campus, so all of the schools athletic teams practice and workout there. The track team was doing speed work. They would zip through 100 and 200 meter sprints, and then walk a lap around the track.

While I was impressed to watch these folks and their speed, I had to laugh to myself that they may not be able to keep up with me over the course of 13.1 or 26.2 miles. At least that was what I told myself.

The run itself was good. I felt good getting the 3 miles in. Another run down!

Charlie

Pushing It Oh So Slightly

dd Friday I ran a 3 mile run at the gym, and I pushed the pace a bit. In fact I ended up going a bit a minute and a half faster than the previous 3 miler. That felt good. I felt like I was accomplishing something. In my head though I knew I had some work to do in regards to my stamina, which is lacking these days.

Yesterday I headed out on the Monon Trail. I ran a total of 4 miles, which I have not done in a long time. The day was sunny and chilly, but there I was in a long sleeve shirt and shorts heading down the trail. This run I pushed the pace a bit, and got the run in under 51 minutes. Again I felt great.

Pushing it oh so slightly is going to be the way I go on this. I weighed myself on Friday, and I have crossed the 250lbs mark. It would have been easy for me to get very depressed about this, but instead I felt more emboldened to work on this. That was the reason I went for 4 miles yesterday, and I am glad I did.

Today I am feeling stiff(I also went bowling last night). So today is a rest day.

Charlie

New Day - Feeling Good

The new year is still treating me well. I am eating better for one thing, and I can already tell I feel better for that. Today I logged another 3 mile run. I was much faster today than Monday. Monday's run was 40:59, today's was 39:35. Clearly the speed was with me. I think it helped that I was feeling healthier.

So what haven't I been doing? I have made better choices. I am making sure my portions are better. I'm doing the things which have been successful for me in the past.

Because I am an emotional eater, I am also making sure I am doing things to ward off that emotional strife which leads to poor eating. I am speaking my mind a bit more when I need to. I am getting what is inside me out. That has to be better.

So today is a feeling good day.

One more run this week, and I will have 3 runs done.

Charlie

2012+3=Great Start

Yesterday Mark and I headed to the gym for our first workout of the new year. While the winds and snow were blowing outside, we were comfy inside working out with everyone who made a resolution to get fit. Gotta love January. The gym are packed for about three weeks, then it all goes back to normal.

Mark went on the Elliptical. That is is apparatus of choice. I ran on the track. I bobbed and weaved through the various walkers, and was determined to get 3 miles in. The good news is I did it! I had not run 3 miles in a month, so I wanted this one.

No one will accuse me of setting a world record, but that wasn't the point. The run was simply to accomplish the 3 miles. I felt good the entire run. I didn't feel tired as I thought I might. It just felt good.

Mark was happy with his workout. He also did 100 crunches. That was a challenge for him, but he did it too.

2012 is off to a good start.

Charlie

2012 Goals

A new year means new goals.....

Overall I am working on my half marathon this year. To do this though I have to be in better shape. That is the more important goal for me. I need to be in better shape and healthier.

Going to the gym to train will be one step, running more and better is another step, but the most important part to better health will be changing my relationship with food. In the last couple years a new job, a new home, and the difficulties with adjusting, food became a coping mechanism. It can't be. So I will work hard to overcome those bad habits, and change my relationship with it.

Tomorrow Mark and I go to the gym. I go in with a fresh attitude and mind set.

Races to plan for.....

At this time the only race I am registered for is the Rock n' Roll USA in March - half marathon. This will be just to get one under my belt. PRs will come later. This will be my benchmark. The goal will be to improve with each race.

As for my blog, I plan on writing more, and making it a bit more interesting. I think a new attitude here will help as well.

Come along for the ride....it's going to be an interesting year.

Charlie

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

Where Have I Been?

So if anyone is still reading my blog, I apologize for not writing lately. Much has been going on, some good, some not so good - mixed bag.

My running has not gone well. Part of it has been the aches I feel in my feet. Mostly I have been upset at my weight gain, and have been feeling sorry for myself. This is not a new feeling for me, and I am not proud about writing it. I have always been honest here, so I continue to be honest. I have to understand that I am not the weight I was, and have to look at running a bit differently for now. I have to understand it is a slow process to get back where I was. I am figuring how to do that....one step at a time for now.

The good news in my life, is a blessed piece of news. Mark and I are engaged. We had a series if talks thus last week, and are making plans to get married. The challenge as you can imagine is where. Few places allow us to get married, and the marriage would not be legal in most of the states.

I believe with all my heat the law of the land will change, but I don't want to be 80 when that happens. Mark and I love each other, and have made a commitment to each other, now we want that commitment to be legal in some aspect, and we want to make it known in front of people who love us.

I can take care of my weight....that is temporary. Loving Mark is a lifetime and I want a long and happy life with him.

As for my running, I have run twice this week. Today's was the better of the two. A sunny and chilly November day on the Monon. I ran 3.1 miles, and it felt good as I ran easy. Thoughts? That's easy.....wedding thoughts.

Charlie

The Problem with Arthritis

A few months ago the doctor gave me some reasonable advice as far as my running. On the days I feel good - run, on the days I don't - don't. It frustrates me that I have arthritis in my feet and hips. It frustrates me a great deal. I would love to run every day, but each day I find myself assessing how I feel, and if I can run.

This morning I wanted to go for a run, but my right foot had that annoying ache between my big and second toes. Not a pleasant feeling. So no run this morning, and a LONG day at work ahead.

So on those days I don't run, what should I do? I don't want to do nothing? What might work? That's what I need to figure out.

Charlie

Recruiting to Move

First Steps is a program my store offers designed to get people out the door and walking. From time to time we offer this, and I think it is truly a great first step towards a more active lifestyle. Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak to a Weight Watchers group about joining our program.

If you haven't been to a Weight Watchers meeting, they can be very inspiring. Members of the group will talk about what they have done, the successes and the failures. Each person learns from the other. Guest speakers are rare at these meetings, so I felt honored to speak to the group.

This is my second time speaking to a Weight Watchers group, and I have to say, it was a great thing to do. I spoke about what my store does, and how we help people at all levels of fitness. Then I spoke about my journey to fitness, and how a program like First Steps can really start you on your way.

Prior to my talk, people came up to my table and politely looked over the information. After the talk, 6 women signed up. One gentleman spoke to me about recovering from a stroke, and how this could help him. I told him if he signed up, we could make the program work for him.

I met people who struggle with weight, and some who have lost a couple hundred pounds. Each person has a story, and I was moved by each one. First Steps is going to be great, and I think I will learn a thing or two from it.

Charlie

Birthday Run

I went for my birthday run a day early. It was a crisp, Fall day, which is the kind of day that begs to have a run taken. I headed to the Monon Trail, and headed north into Carmel. The run was nice. Most of the leaves are down, but now and then you still see some color on the leaves.

Thoughts on the run turned to what I want to do next in life. Next year I will be 50, so the future is weighing heavy on my mind. I thought my work, and what I want to accomplish there. Were any solid plans formed? No, but this is what a run does for me, it clears my mind of the clutter, and provides an outlet for me to think, plan and dream.

I will share one of the dreams....it involves Paris and running. Paris is my most favorite place in the world. I have visited 5 times, and would love to visit 5 more times. It is old world, cosmopolitan, beauty, charming, and just such a wonder to get lost in. I have never spent more than a few days there, but would love to spend a week or two, or heck even a good month.

I am interested in running the Paris Half Marathon. Mark suggests waiting until I am a bit faster. Since there is a 2:50 course limit, I agree. Still I wish I could do this race next year.

Ah Paris!

See the power of a good run? It can transport you to places beyond the trail.

Charlie

The 2012 Plan

As I think about my next year in running, I wanted to examine how I run the half marathon. 2012 is not a marathon year for me, but it is a half marathon and shorter distance focused year. I would like to do at least 4 half marathons. I have two in mind, and one I have registered for.

First up us the Rock n Roll USA Half Marathon in Washington, D.C. on March 17. Looking forward to running in one of my former cities. I have run the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Race, but this will be a half through all the cool parts of the city. Looking forward to it.

The other one I am looking at is the Mo'Cowbell Half Marathon in Missouri. Obviously the race is named after the great SNL skit about "Don't Fear the Reaper." Looks like a fun one.

One race I am planning is the Pride Run in New York City in June. The chance to run 5 miles around Central Park really appeals to me.

There will be other races to be sure. I just want to begin focus on faster times. My PR is 2:45. Can I do that? Not at first. It will take time, but that will be the plan for the year.

Charlie

Hard Lessons

Running teaches us many lessons. Some are amazing and insightful. Others are painful and difficult. Yesterday was one of the hard ones. Yesterday was the annual Monumental Marathon and Half Marathon. Mark wanted to run it, and I was going along to help him on.

Mark did not train like he wanted to, and we came to an understanding that he would walk this. We felt walking strong would carry the day. Speaking of the day, it was ideal. The morning was cold at the start - in the 30s, but would warm up once the sun came up.

We, started with a jog, not a run. I could tell almost immediately it wasn't going to go well. Mark was not looking comfortable at the start. Quickly we started walking, and got in with the last pack of the race. There was a pace leader, and she was a surly woman. She made it clear we had to keep pace, or the truck would come by, and we would have to leave the race.

I think this panicked Mark. He started to panic. He would run a little and walk a little. I felt badly for him, but there was little I could do. He complained he wasn't feeling well. He didn't look good. He also was right in front of the truck, and the pressure of the truck was getting to him.

Mile 2 the truck passed us, and Mark in frustration and sadness told me he couldn't go on. He was almost in tears. He was so upset and sad. All I could do was walk along side him, and gently rub his back and assured him I love him.

I talked to him about how most people never make it to the start line, and that making it to that point is an accomplishment. It was tough for him to hear that, because all he thought was he was a "quitter." Mark is no quitter. He knew that yesterday was not his race, and he just did not have it.

Sometimes we get too stubborn when things aren't working, in trying to make them work. While I am sad for him, the lessons he took were, that sometimes it isn't our day, and he knows what he needs to do the next time, and he will nail it. Tough lessons, but sometimes those are the best.

In the end, I am proud of him, and I love him very much.

Charlie

Approaching Mid Life

Next week I turn 49 years old. Anyone who knows me knows I am not one to let age get to me. I have never stressed about age. This year though was a tough one for me, and for the last couple of weeks, I have started to really think about what getting older means for me.

Arthritis and all that comes with that is one thing. Having to wear a hearing aid was another. All of a sudden I felt old. With that feeling of getting old has come a feeling that my time is limited.

No...I'm not dying. I just have a feeling that time is running out to do the things I want to do in life, and that I need to change some of the goals I wanted to do. For instance, I have come to the conclusion that Boston is out. The hills I encountered in Portland made that clear. Also, an ultramarathon is out. 8 hours on the road in Portland, again lesson learned.

So what can I do running wise? I think the 1/2 marathon distance is a better distance for me. I will still do the occasional marathon, but those days feel like they coming to an end. I just have to adjust.

Think I will like my 50s any better?

Charlie

Dedication

A long time ago, in a time far far away, I was in high school. It was the late 1970s/early 1980s. Running was not on the top of any of my to do lists. I dare say it wasn't on Heidi Moser's list. If it was, I never knew about it.

I was the Swing Choir guy. I always thought of Heidi as the writer/drama gal. We had some mutual classes and friends, but we weren't in the same social circle. As usual, once you leave high school, you go separate ways. We had differing lives. She became dedicated wife and mother. She home schooled her kids, active in her community(if she reads this...I am briefly summing up), and is Team Mom for her kids baseball and football teams.

Me, I became a gay activist, customer service whiz, and then runner(brief summation). Did I mention Heidi ran too? She does.

As we met up years later at a high school reunion, we kept in touch. She started following my running, and I started following her running.

To get to the point, and lots of running later.....Heidi is running the Marine Corps Marathon tomorrow- her first. In order to get herself through the 26.2 miles she dedicating a different mile to someone or someone's who have meant something to her. I am very touched that she is dedicating mile 12 to me. 12 is my favorite number.

I will be thinking of her, and how far she has come in her running. I am glad to have been a small portion of whatever has led her to this point. Run strong Heidi!

Charlie