Getting in the routine

Since the first of the year I have been very diligent in following my training and eating schedule, with the exception of 3 days I spent in Las Vegas for work. It was very difficult to eat at regular intervals when I was going from location to location and having meeting on top of meeting in Vegas. I did not drink near enough water but did not drink any soda pop of any kind while I was there. I did okay exercising but certainly not what it should have been. My exercising consisted of running on a treadmill as I was not familiar with the area and it was predominately concrete. I hate running on a treadmill, I hate to run on concrete even more because of the harsh impact. Bottom line is that I had lost 6 pounds before I went to Vegas, but put 3 of it back on while there. I am now back in sync with my program and currently weigh in at 208.


I felt really good about my training this week. I ran all of the days I wanted to and got in the mileage I was hoping for, plus a little. I put in a couple of extra miles in the first part of the week and was about two miles short on my long run. My goal for my long run on Saturday was to stay on my feet for 3 hours. I started out with very heavy legs and was forced to both walk a half mile out of my neighborhood and a half mile back in as it was extremely slick where no salt has been applied since the snow storms of last week. After about 45 minutes into the outing I started to feel really good. I was in a good rhythm and felt great. Then at 2 hours and 10 minutes in I started to get a knot in my right calf. I have had a knot in each calf in the last 6 weeks. If they knot up all the way it takes almost a week to get them worked out, even with intense massage and using the "stick". I slowed down and stretched my calf every time I felt it tightening at all. As a result I covered about 16 miles total. I really should have been able to cover about 18 miles in 3 hours but the calf and fatigue got the best of me. If you do the math you can tell that I am very slow, I stopped twice for water and walked for a few minutes each time I ate some "Chomps". I figure that as I lose more weight and do more speed work my time will get better.


Bottom line for the week. I ran 29 miles. I was shooting for 28. My weight is at 208, down from 215. I feel good about where I am currently at especially as stressful as my work is right now. I think I have about 1 more month of extreme stress at work and then it should lighten up enough that it does not consume me 24/7. I look forward to that day!

The New Year

Here it is 2011. It is amazing how fast the last year went by. As I look back I definitely realize the need to change some things in my life for 2011 if I am ever going to run a 50 mile race this year and a 100 mile race in 2012. So here are some of the "New Years Resolutions" that I have made going into 2011.

As I stated in my previous post, I am looking to drop some serious weight over the next few months. I believe that getting my weight in line, more than anything else, will help me to achieve my running goals over the next two years. As part of that goal I have gone into 2011 with the decision to quit drinking Diet Coke. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but most people haven't drank Diet Coke for more than 20 years and haven't been drinking about a gallon of the stuff a day. That's right, I have been drinking about a gallon of Diet Coke a day. My wife thinks that's why my hair is falling out and some people can't believe I'm still alive! So its off with the new year and now having water as my drink of choice. I have not had any DC since December 31st and so far I have not had any serious headaches (a couple of small ones). Hopefully my lack of headaches will continue and I can move forward with my new program.

I am also going to eat more healthy. Those of you who know me well know that I eat way to much junk food. I love sugar and sweets. I managed to get through the holidays this year without gaining any weight which is huge for me. Now its on to eating smaller, healthier servings 6 times a day. This along with my exercise program and no Diet Coke or carbonated drinks, will hopefully catapult me along in my weight loss quest.

My last goal is not necessarily running related. 2010 was the most chaotic, hectic, out of control year I have ever had. Things that are important to me took a back seat to work. In 2011 this will not happen again. I will definitely take the time this year to do some archery hunting and have more personal time to spend with my wife and family.

So there it is, my goals for 2011. I definitely have my work cut out for me this year.