Dear James, Daniel and Emily
Yep it is about that time, time to step up and pay the proverbial piper. Pay for all the apple fritters, pop tarts, cookies etc. And begin the payment plan that will carry me to another Grand Prix finish and Half marathon.
Tuesday I forced myself out of bed and out on the road. And I'm not gonna lie, 4 days off and generally letting myself go as far as eating habits and not running as much is making things hurt a little more. So that first half to a full mile hurts a wee bit more these days. But that is the price I have to pay. As always I am honest about it, I have been on a little too much of a 'see food' diet these past couple of months (I see food I eat it.)
So now I have to pay that price, I have to suffer a little bit as I get back into the ideal active habits. Running 4-5 times a week. Get out on walk on my lunch hour more. Even get up and walk the dog after dinner a few times. And I know that as I ramp up to the point where I am doing that comfortably, logging 20+ miles a week again, it will take some effort, and yes some pain and soreness.
But that is the bad price, the good price is the benefit of all that (pending) work. Finishing another Grand Prix. Finishing another Half Marathon (maybe even pain free for once.) And fitting more comfortably in my clothes again. I just have to think of it like layaway, every day, week month I complete of that renewed focus will pay off in the end with something cool.
To help me along in all this I got some new running gear for Xmas. New hat, gloves, sweatshirt, long sleeve shirts. I tried them out today and felt good, right up until I ran into the water. The creek apparently rose a few feet in the last couple of days (no idea why, no rain or snow, must have been some melt) and I didn't realize it wasn't ice until I got both feet thoroughly drenched. I made my way home, still getting in 2+ miles, but may have to alter my route for a few days, which isn't a bad thing, forcing a change to my route might even be a good thing long term.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
The Holidays: destroyer of routine and good habits
Dear James, Daniel and Emily
I'm not running up the white flag or anything, but it has been damn near impossible to settle into an exercise and/or diet routine this month. First there was Thanksgiving week with it's own issues as far as time to run, and of course bad eating habits. Second was the cold snap, the week of sub zero temps made it pretty much impossible to run. And now we have so many things going on, what with end of quarter, prepping for holidays, running around, that it has been impossible to settle into a decent routine.
About all I can do is drag my butt out of bed each morning and get out for a run. Which I have been doing at least 3 days a week. But I know I could be doing more, if I could just get back into a better sleeping routine and not be up late every weekend night etc.
Of course all of the above are just excuses, poor excuses really, for not exhibiting proper will power. But a huge part of this time of year is mental, thinking about everything to get done, and then there is a surplus of good yummy treats. And not as much time devoted to cooking regular meals with all of the other activities. And it becomes very hard to maintain the focus on good habits.
All that said, I am doing what I can, and looking forward to the time when I can resume a more 'normal' routine.
I'm not running up the white flag or anything, but it has been damn near impossible to settle into an exercise and/or diet routine this month. First there was Thanksgiving week with it's own issues as far as time to run, and of course bad eating habits. Second was the cold snap, the week of sub zero temps made it pretty much impossible to run. And now we have so many things going on, what with end of quarter, prepping for holidays, running around, that it has been impossible to settle into a decent routine.
About all I can do is drag my butt out of bed each morning and get out for a run. Which I have been doing at least 3 days a week. But I know I could be doing more, if I could just get back into a better sleeping routine and not be up late every weekend night etc.
Of course all of the above are just excuses, poor excuses really, for not exhibiting proper will power. But a huge part of this time of year is mental, thinking about everything to get done, and then there is a surplus of good yummy treats. And not as much time devoted to cooking regular meals with all of the other activities. And it becomes very hard to maintain the focus on good habits.
All that said, I am doing what I can, and looking forward to the time when I can resume a more 'normal' routine.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
So that's what a workout feels like, plus some recognition #running
Dear James, Daniel and Emily,
There are many things I wish were different in this world. I wish I didn't have as much a sweet tooth. I wish I actually liked the taste of certain food items that are better for me to eat. I wish I enjoyed and could drink coffee without it tearing up my insides. But there is one thing I don't wish, I don't wish I was tough enough to have run all my normal running days over the weekend. Because running in sub zero temperatures just isn't good for you, and trying to prove your toughness by doing so is just plain foolishness.
As a result of that serious arctic blast (which I thought was going to have some effect just din't realize how much) the only workout I got for most of last week was shoveling snow. Which was actually a very good work out by the way, but still not the same for me as my regular 3 miles.
So it was with great joy that I got wrapped up and ventured out yesterday and repeated the trip today. I can handle single digit temperatures, with the one concession being I cut short my warm up walk (walking isn't fast enough to warm me up when it is that cold.) I wasn't fast, but then again I am not that fast to begin with. And running on snow is a decent workout, almost like a good hard packed beach. But the important thing is I got out there and ran, getting back in my routine.
Last night I was reminded of one of the perks of all this running. I went to the season ending banquet/awards ceremony for the Grand Prix series. Which was the series of long races I ran this year. And this was the first year I was able to complete the series (no vacation or illnesses caused me to miss one.) So I went and stood around watching football and occasionally chatting with a couple of the guys about the game. And when the time came I got this:
Note the second place finish in the age group! I'll be honest that isn't hugely impressive when you consider that only something like 28 men finished the long series. But I'll take it, the key thing is that I did it, have something to show for it, plus a neat pair of fingerless gloves. Because, while I don't run for first place or prizes (good thing considering how slow I am), it is nice to get that recognition for all the work.
And now I can focus on getting back into the routine, and hopefully the weather will not deter me for so many days in a row.
There are many things I wish were different in this world. I wish I didn't have as much a sweet tooth. I wish I actually liked the taste of certain food items that are better for me to eat. I wish I enjoyed and could drink coffee without it tearing up my insides. But there is one thing I don't wish, I don't wish I was tough enough to have run all my normal running days over the weekend. Because running in sub zero temperatures just isn't good for you, and trying to prove your toughness by doing so is just plain foolishness.
As a result of that serious arctic blast (which I thought was going to have some effect just din't realize how much) the only workout I got for most of last week was shoveling snow. Which was actually a very good work out by the way, but still not the same for me as my regular 3 miles.
So it was with great joy that I got wrapped up and ventured out yesterday and repeated the trip today. I can handle single digit temperatures, with the one concession being I cut short my warm up walk (walking isn't fast enough to warm me up when it is that cold.) I wasn't fast, but then again I am not that fast to begin with. And running on snow is a decent workout, almost like a good hard packed beach. But the important thing is I got out there and ran, getting back in my routine.
Last night I was reminded of one of the perks of all this running. I went to the season ending banquet/awards ceremony for the Grand Prix series. Which was the series of long races I ran this year. And this was the first year I was able to complete the series (no vacation or illnesses caused me to miss one.) So I went and stood around watching football and occasionally chatting with a couple of the guys about the game. And when the time came I got this:
Note the second place finish in the age group! I'll be honest that isn't hugely impressive when you consider that only something like 28 men finished the long series. But I'll take it, the key thing is that I did it, have something to show for it, plus a neat pair of fingerless gloves. Because, while I don't run for first place or prizes (good thing considering how slow I am), it is nice to get that recognition for all the work.
And now I can focus on getting back into the routine, and hopefully the weather will not deter me for so many days in a row.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Recognizing the bad habits, then deciding to break them.
Dear James, Daniel and Emily
It's that time of year again, time to make some decisions on what I can do to improve my health next year. Because I have to be honest, the belt is getting a little tight around the middle. And while it easy to make excuses the real reason is I have fallen into a few bad habits, which I have to break.
I didn't run as much last week, but the runs I did do were good quality. Including starting Thanksgiving day with my own personal 10K Turkey trot. And this week I am back into my customary 5 day running cycle (barring the arctic blast we are expecting laying a sheet of ice over everything, I mean I can run in cold, or snow, but I do need to be sure of my footing, especially since I run in the dark.)
I have identified 2 bad habits to focus on. First, running to eat. Far too often I find myself using the excuse of 'hey I ran today, I deserve that extra waffle, slice of pizza etc.'. I need to get myself back into the mindset of separating my eating from my running, save for watching what I eat the night before a long run. And I actually was pretty good about that on Thanksgiving, I ate the normal huge meal, but that meal was it, I didn't dive back into the kitchen for a late snack or anything like that. So that is the first habit to focus on.
Second, for background last year I resolved to stop eating fast food hamburgers. Kim gave me a hard time about my definition of fast food since I still would eat Five Guys or Cy's, but there is a difference in quality there. And it was as much what came with the hamburger that I avoided. Because as a result certain places either got dropped altogether or cut back to almost nothing, places where it just isn't good to eat: McDonalds, Carls Jr, Wendys. And I was pretty good, I can count the number of fast food hamburgers on 1 hand.
And my resolution this year is to cut off fast food and snack sweets. That means shakes, malts, frosties etc. from fast food restaurants. And no more donuts, pastries, pop tarts etc. that I pick up with my morning soda or from the vending machine. I will leave myself the wiggle room of home made deserts (birthday cakes etc.) and breakfasts. I figure I have to leave some wiggle room for sanity sake. But I feel that even cutting that much from my diet will make a difference. I know it won't be easy, probably harder than the fast food burgers, but I think it is the biggest target area in my diet where I can make a big difference.
I think that if I just focus on those 2 things, plus keep running, I can loosen that belt back up, which needs doing.
It's that time of year again, time to make some decisions on what I can do to improve my health next year. Because I have to be honest, the belt is getting a little tight around the middle. And while it easy to make excuses the real reason is I have fallen into a few bad habits, which I have to break.
I didn't run as much last week, but the runs I did do were good quality. Including starting Thanksgiving day with my own personal 10K Turkey trot. And this week I am back into my customary 5 day running cycle (barring the arctic blast we are expecting laying a sheet of ice over everything, I mean I can run in cold, or snow, but I do need to be sure of my footing, especially since I run in the dark.)
I have identified 2 bad habits to focus on. First, running to eat. Far too often I find myself using the excuse of 'hey I ran today, I deserve that extra waffle, slice of pizza etc.'. I need to get myself back into the mindset of separating my eating from my running, save for watching what I eat the night before a long run. And I actually was pretty good about that on Thanksgiving, I ate the normal huge meal, but that meal was it, I didn't dive back into the kitchen for a late snack or anything like that. So that is the first habit to focus on.
Second, for background last year I resolved to stop eating fast food hamburgers. Kim gave me a hard time about my definition of fast food since I still would eat Five Guys or Cy's, but there is a difference in quality there. And it was as much what came with the hamburger that I avoided. Because as a result certain places either got dropped altogether or cut back to almost nothing, places where it just isn't good to eat: McDonalds, Carls Jr, Wendys. And I was pretty good, I can count the number of fast food hamburgers on 1 hand.
And my resolution this year is to cut off fast food and snack sweets. That means shakes, malts, frosties etc. from fast food restaurants. And no more donuts, pastries, pop tarts etc. that I pick up with my morning soda or from the vending machine. I will leave myself the wiggle room of home made deserts (birthday cakes etc.) and breakfasts. I figure I have to leave some wiggle room for sanity sake. But I feel that even cutting that much from my diet will make a difference. I know it won't be easy, probably harder than the fast food burgers, but I think it is the biggest target area in my diet where I can make a big difference.
I think that if I just focus on those 2 things, plus keep running, I can loosen that belt back up, which needs doing.
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