Week 13, Day 1

Today was a good run. I didn't really feel like going today, either, but not as bad. Strangely, I really wanted to run last night. Anyway, I got to the gym and got on the treadmill for my warm-up. I actually think I was little scared I wouldn't make it, like Friday, which is why I was wanting to avoid the run. The warm-up went fine and I quickly put the speed up to 2.8 (wanted to go faster but wasn't going to chance it). I was nervous, but ran at 4.5MPH anyway. The first 1/4 mile was a snap; I didn't even feel it. By the 1/2 mile mark, I was a little tired, but not bad. The one mile mark came easily enough and I knew I was going to make it to 2 miles. I walked for 1/10th of a mile at the one mile mark. For the last few weeks my left ankle has been hurting off and on... A LOT less now that I've stopped wearing flip flops. But for the last mile my ankle and knee were starting to complain. It wasn't an unbearable pain, but at one point it felt like my knee was going to buckle. That didn't happen even though I started having visions of falling off the treadmill and making a scene. And the best part of the entire experience is that I actually RAN 2 MILES. Yes, I did my 5 minute warm up, ran 1 mile, walked 1/10th, ran another mile, did a cool down. Oh yeah!

Week 12, Day 5

Today was a bad run day, but I'm already getting over it. I didn't want to run at all and the negativity in my head started before I even hit the gym. I ran my first mile, walked my 1/10th, barely recovered and ran until 1.75 miles. I just couldn't do it today, and walked the rest of the way to the 2 mile mark.

Week 12, Day 4

Took an unscheduled day off. I woke up feeling crappy with a sinus headache. Additionally, I ache from running harder yesterday. I'll drink lots of water and give the body a day to rest.

Week 12, Day 3

Today was a good run. I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill. I increased my speed to 4.5MPH which equates to a 13:20 pace (mins per mile). I did my new routine... ran 1 mile, walked for 1/10th, and ran the rest with a 1/10th mile cool down after the 2 mile mark.

With this speed increase, I could feel like lungs not being happy (as they are every time I increase speed or distance). I don't have shin splints but I sure could feel my shins towards the end. I'll have to make sure I do some extra stretches today and tomorrow.

Week 12, Day 2

Today was a pretty easy one. Went to the gym and worked out on the Cybex machines. My arms felt like rubber when I was done... Hard to believe it could be difficult to steer a car one handed.

Week 12, Day 1

Today was going to be the coolest day of the week so I decided to run outside. My running partner decided that he wanted to go too. The new route we run is just shy of two miles and I think he forgot that. The temperature was in the low to mid 80s when we started out. We made it about a mile with a limited amount of walking (hills, 'ya know). Then he started doing his "I can't go on" thing, which is difficult to explain, but I will try. Instead of walking normally, his back legs turn outwards from his body and he gets into a 1/2 sitting position and continues to walk slowly. When I come to a stop, he will do this "walk" while slowing squatting into a sitting position.

So, we stopped, he drank water from my hand, and I rubbed him down with water. We must have been there for 5 minutes. We slowly started walking again and ran maybe a block. When we reached the 1/2 mile remaining mark, he really was done. I carried him home. I'd take about 10 steps and he'd look back at me and I'd try to console him and tell him that he was OK/good/etc. A couple of times he wanted to try to walk but couldn't. I picked him up and carried him some more. When we were a house away from being home, he insisted that he finish walking to the house himself. He did the weird squatty walk to the house where he promptly stayed in bed for most of the day. He's walking fine now but I'm not sure how often I should take him with me when I run outside.

Week 11, Day 5

Today I ran on the treadmill at the gym. I didn't want to run at home due to it being garbage day and I didn't want to smell that and garbage truck fumes. I always feel like I'm not running fast enough at the gym. I ran my first mile, walked for 1/10, and ran the last 9/10. During that last mile, I turned the speed up a couple tenths and it felt fine. After my workout, I had to meet my wife at Staples, so I walk/ran from the gym to the store. Gee... maybe 3 miles isn't too far away after all. :D

ALSO:
Just needed to vent, and a general "WTH?"

Been at this nearly 3 months now. Pants are too big... more room in the shirts... and weight is the same. What is up with that? I know about the whole fat->muscle change, but come on. Not a pound? That's just going to make me work harder, you know.

Week 11, Day 4

Went to the gym and worked on the Cybex machines. Same old same old. :)

Bonus Post

I haven't been complaining about it, but my ankle has been hurting. I think it is due to the el-cheapo flip flops I've been wearing as my daily shoes. When I'm wearing sneakers it stops hurting. I'll feel it a little bit when I run, but it goes away quickly.

Another message from the complaint department: I ran outside today and my knee hurt a little bit when going downhill. That dang treadmill has made me weaker. :D

And... yesterday when I went to the gym I was told that I looked like I had lost weight, and was told it was visible in my face. That is great news to me! The scale hasn't said that was losing weight and it has been a few weeks since I last checked. Even though my clothes are loose, and my wife says I look thinner, it's always nice to hear it from another source.

Well there you have it... my first "bonus post".

Week 11, Day 3

Instead of running on the treadmill, I decided to run outside again since it was only in the 70s this morning. I took my running partner with me and that made him very happy. Instead of my normal route, I took a new route that is just shy of 2 miles... It's about 1.95 according to Google Earth. There were lots of hills and we took plenty of walk breaks. It took us about 37 minutes to get back home after starting. It wasn't that bad, but sure made me appreciate the flatness of the treadmill. :D

Week 11, Day 2

Went to the gym and worked out on the Cybex machines. On the machines I could, I did 3 reps instead of 2. My legs feel weak probably from the 1.9 mile runs I've started doing. My arms feel like rubber from the extra reps. Whew, I'm beat.

Week 11, Day 1

Wow, what a day! Last week I had increased my running to run 1 mile, walk .25 miles, and run .75 miles. I knew last week that I didn't need to walk that entire .25 miles to recover, so today, I walked until I had recovered and then finished my run. That means that today I ran 1 mile, walk .1 mile, and ran .9 miles. Woo hoo! I'm now almost running 2 miles straight. I'm now finally entertaining the idea of running a 5K. I still run slow, but I'm OK with that.

Week 10, Day 5

Awesome! I really didn't feel like going to the gym, but I feel so good after a run, I got dressed and went anyway. I decided to see if I could run farther-at-a-time than I did on Wednesday, and I did!

I ran for an entire mile, walked for 1/4 mile, and then ran 3/4 mile. Woo hoo! Time to do the Snoopy-Dance!

Week 10, Day 4

Instead of going to the gym, I mowed the lawn. It counts as a work out because it's a push mower, right? The air is very smokey from the wild fires in the north-east part of the state. Local officials are telling people to stay inside with the a/c on and their windows & doors closed. They also told joggers and runners to not run outside tomorrow. Looks like I'm back at the gym for another day.

Week 10, Day 3

Went to the gym today to run on the treadmill. While it is cooler today than it has been, it was already over 80 degrees. Also, I wanted to run on the treadmill to see if I could run longer... which I did! I ran 3/4 mile, walked 1/4, and repeat. Awesome! I'm "this close" to running a full two miles!

Week 10, Day 2

Today was an unscheduled day off. I played chauffeur for many family members and spent the rest of the time running errands and going to the ER.

I just wanted to give this report: McDonald's makes me feel like crap. I've tried about three times since I've started running and eating better. Either I feel "blah" afterwards or my stomach is upset. I think Micky D's is now off the edible list. Man, I used to love those burgers but now they just gross me out.

Week 10, Day 1

Well I felt like a slug. I didn't run Friday which means I hadn't run since last Wednesday. Over the weekend it was my birthday and I pigged out on cake. So again, I felt really bad when I woke up today.

It has been over 100 degrees the past few days and will be again today, so I got ready to run and headed to the gym. I was a little uneasy about running in public, but it was good. In fact, running on the treadmill is a lot easier that running outside. I think I was running at a 14:36 pace which I know is slow, but I'm going. :D I was running at 4.1 MPH. When I was done running and got off the treadmill, I felt great! It was amazing how much better I felt. I think I'm hooked, y'all.

Week 9, Day 5

Too hot today.. over 100 degrees. Taking Fri-Sun off.

Week 9, Day 4

Today was another scorcher. I headed off to the gym around 11am and the outside temperature was 98. I'm seriously considering going to the gym tomorrow and work out on the elliptical machine instead of running outside.

Anyway, today I went to the gym and worked out on the Cybex machines. On the way home I stopped for gas and picked up some Japanese food for lunch.

Week 9, Day 3

Wow, today I got up late and it was near 80 before I was even able to get out and run. I didn't bring any dogs today, and had to stop and walk a little before the 1.5 mile mark, but I did it. The temp today was in the 90s.

Week 9, Day 2

Went to the gym today and worked on the Cybex machines. I think they finally fixed/greased the arm curl machine. The workout was a good one.

Week 9, Day 1

It was hot, muggy, and hot today. I took the dog for my run with me, but dropped him off after the first mile as he was looking tired. I did the second mile and then took my other dog for a walk around the block.