Monday Update - 30 April 2007

321.0

This week: 1.5lbs
April: 8lbs
Total: 19.5lbs

Well, 1.5 for the week. I'm not going to complain, especially with how this last week went! Then on top of that add the trip to Nashville to cheer on the Tag Team in the Country Music Marathon, which, of course, involved eating!!

I would like to add a big thank you to all the CMM Taginators for encouraging me to continue what I’m doing!!! THANKS!!!!

Last week I learned a serious lesson!! When I figure out just what that lesson is, I’ll let you know. But, seriously, I had to shut things down for several days last week after I did a lower body strength workout. The thing that did me in was the 3 sets of 10 squats I did last Sunday. I wasn’t able to do my run/walk till Thursday. Up though mid-day Wednesday my quads were sore to the touch. So, what lesson did I learn…either be prepared for pain and days off afterward or don’t go so long between workouts (so it won’t hurt so much). So, the only workout I did last week was one 30 walk/run on Thursday. But, tonight I kick it up a notch and get the ball rolling again!!

I’m kind of at a loss for what to say next. With everything that went on this weekend, there’s so much to talk about. As I said I would do, in my Saturday post, I did learn a lot from just watching the race. I’m still processing everything and will take some time to sort things out and figure out how to apply what I learned to what I do.

One interesting and somewhat unexpected side note to this weekend…the DW informed me last night that the weekend’s events has caused her to VERY SERIOUSLY consider doing to 6.5K ToT race in October. The scariest part was that she actually said she might need my help!!!

I have so many ideas for blog posts and I hope to get to some of them soon. Now that April is pretty much over I hope to have a little more time to get some of the ideas done.

Until Next Time…Take Care!!!

My First Race.......Watching & Cheering

OK, Folks. It's 5:05am!!! What? I never knew there was a 5:05am. Who knew????

We made the 2 hour drive up to Nashville last night so my DW and I could cheer on the Tag Team of Taginators from Tagrel. (Insert superhero sounds here.) The Country Music Marathon (and 1/2 marathon) is in a couple hours. This will be my first race to see in person. I'm looking forward to learning a lot and hopefully use that to make my transition into running these races easier.

There are about 24 people (plus a number of children) from Tagrel here in Nashville for the marathon; 13 of those are running!!!! One of the runners(AliciaG) posted on Tagrel that our group represents 13 states!!! That's pretty cool!!

And before I end this post..... For those that know my DW, she was up till midngiht (with a 4:30 alarm) making sign for the race. And she loved every minute of it. I never thought a two hour drive, so she could stay up to midnight, in a hotel making signs, would be so much fun...or such good therapy!!?!?!?

Till Next Time.....Take Care!!!!

Monday Update - 23 April 2007

322.5

This week: 0, zilch, nada, nothing
Total: 18lbs

Well, I'm still within 7.5 of my end of April goal. SIGH!!!!! Oh well, it had to happen sooner or later. And, I can look back over the last week and see why. But, on the other hand I am starting to make some progress in my 30 min walk/run workout. So, all is not lost. Did a lower body strength workout yesterday and now my quads are reminding me!! But it's the good "pain". Even though it's not really pain at all. Just that "I've been used and abused" feeling.

Well, not much else to report right now. I do have several ideas for post topics....just need to take the time to write them.

Till Next Time....Take Care!!!

My First Race.......Registration!!!!

May we all now pause for a moment of silence...............Thank You!!

My life as I knew it has just come to an end. I just did something that I never thought I would ever WANT to do.

I just registered for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 6.5K race!!!!!!!

This is my first race registration. Now I just need to find some local 5Ks to do before then.

Yikes, what have I done with myself!! Is it possible to get a runner's high just from registering for a race?????

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Monday Update - 16 April 2007

322.5

This Week: 4lbs
Total: 18lbs

I'm within 7.5 of my end of April goal!!!! Now that I've got the snowball rolling, it's actually getting "easier" day-by-day to do the right things.

Jonathan Dichter posted some good numbers this week as well! Keep it going, Jonathan!!

I'm starting to get excited about the sponsorship program that's in the works. If you sponsor Jonathan, then you have a good idea of what to expect. I'm sure there will be some differences, but in conecept, it should be very similar. I'm waiting on some final "approvals" from a partner organization for the go ahead.

The shift from 30/30 to 30/60 has gone well. I have had a lot less pain and discomfort this last week. I did the cross-training on the in-between days except Friday. I'm really having to fight the urges to do too much. So, cardio wise, I'm making myself take at least one day off per week. I didn't get any strength traingin in last week. But, I hope to change that this week.

Oh, before I forget... I went to Home Depot this morning to get me a "Revolving Punch" (a.k.a. Leather Hole Punch). When I went to fasten my belt this morning I was able to easily reach the belt further, without pulling, than where the belt rests on the last hole. I'm currently wearing a 46in belt. I was debating getting a smaller belt, but I found a brand new 42 in belt in my closet this morning. So, instead of getting a 44 in belt I decided to just get the Leather Punch and poke holes in the 46 until I can "comfortably" wear the 42. That'll put a skip in your step!!!!

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!!

Monday Update - 09 April 2007

326.5 pounds!

Down another 2.5 this week, 14 total!!!

After how last week went (knee and eating), I didn't realistically think that I would lose 1 pound, much less 2.5.

The knee is a little sore this morning but nothing like last week. Like I said in last night’s post, I am shifting to the 30/60 plan to lessen the stress on my knee. With the cross-training on the in between days I’ll still get some good cardio. I just want to take it easy on the knee and gradually work on increasing the running as the weight comes off.

Till Next Time…Take Care!!!

What an early birthday present!!!

WOW!!!!

That’s all I could say after my 30/30 workout this evening. And no, it’s not because my knee was killing me. Wow, maybe more so, because it wasn’t. Not even uncomfortable. You see, I got a Garmin Forerunner 305 last week for as early birthday present. Not that big of a deal, but I’m a big, to the core, techie gadget geek. But that’s not what made me say WOW. It’s because I got to play with it tonight. It’s because this was the first time I had done my 30/30 workout outside. And the results still have me shaking my head.

Before I hurt my knee, I was averaging 6-8 running segments and about 1.4 miles during my workouts. Since I hurt my knee, I dropped to 1-3 running segments and about 1.3 miles. Tonight I did just 3 running segments but went 1.6 miles averaging 3.2mph. HUH!!!! And I “COULD” have done better. My last 30/30 workout was last Wednesday but I did a lot of moving and walking on Friday as I stayed home from work and worked in the yard. I decided to give my knee a break and take a few days off. So, going into tonight, I was going to take it easy and not do too many running segments and shut it down if I felt much pain. I felt a little discomfort just below my knee. I believe most would consider it just shin splints. Other than that I felt great!! I was outside!! I went further than I had gone before doing the 30/30 workout!! I guess what I found was that it was so much easier to do the workout outside. Inside, 3mph is pushing it for a walk. Outside, it was almost hard to stay below 3mph. Then there’s the running. It felt great!!

Now for the hard part. As good as I felt tonight, I might have to cut back just a little. I think I’m going to change from 30/30 to 30/60, which is nothing more than doing the same workout every other day versus every day. On the in between days I plan to “cross-train” on our recumbent bike. I’ll still get some cardio but overall it should be easier on my knees. As the weight continues to drop I’ll gradually shift to more running. I just don’t want to hurt myself!!

Tomorrow, the Monday update. It's going to be interesting. I feel like I've eaten like a pig. Plus, I've not been able to do the cardio like I want since I hurt my knee. I guess we'll see.

Oh, and the Forerunner 305? It’s just too cool!!! I'm sure I’ll share more about it later.

Oh, Oh, one last thing. Keep checking back for details about an upcoming sponsorship program to raise money to send terminally ill kids to Walt Disney World. Sound familiar? ;-)

Till Next Time…..Take Care!!!!

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 13K & 6.5K

Even though the "rumors" had been pretty much confirmed, now there's no boubt. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 13K & 6.5K races are official and posted on Disney's Wide World of Sports web site.

The above link has all the detail about the races. Including the glow in the dark race shirts!

The race is a part of the celebration for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror's 13th aniversary. 13th aniversary....13K...get it? Got it! Both the 13K & 6.5K races will start at 9pm on Sat. Oct 27th with post-race party until 1am.

So long as the knee holds up, I'll be there!!!!

Till Next Time....Take Care!!!!!

Monday Update - 02 April 2007

329 pounds!

Down another 3.5!! 11.5 total!! Believe it or not, I'm somewhat disapointed. I sneaked a midweek peek at the scale last week and had no change from that point on. However, given how Friday night till Sunday night went, I'll take it.

As I said Saturday, I did 9 straight days for 30/30 before I tweeked my knee. I took Friday and Saturday off before getting back on the treadmill yesterday. I only did 3 running segments. I probably could have done more, but I said to myself going in that if I felt any discomfort or pain in my knee that I would just walk. At the end of the third segment I started to feel a little discomfort and walked from that point on.

Goal for April!!!! I haven't mentioned much about goals. But, I thought that since April is my birthday, I'd come up with a goal for the end of April. And, here it is.... On the Monday Update for April 30th I will weigh no more than 315!!! That's about 3-4 pounds per week. If I can keep up the good work from the last couple of weeks, I completely believe that 315 is very possible.

Speaking of goals!! You know about the 2009 WDW 1/2 marathon. But, in the last week there has been news of a WDW 13K night race just before Halloween....this year. And, YES, as of now, I am setting this as a goal...to run in the WDW 13K (8.08 Miles) night race on Oct 27th, 2007. Do I have a long way to go to get there? OH YES!!! But, it's still 7 months away!

Oh, another note about goals. I'll post in the coming week about some "goals" that I do have. They might not be considered goals as much as they are "things I look forward to". I have been asked by several people what my goal weight is. My honest answer is...I don't know!! I don't know yet what weight my body needs to be at. Yes, there are all kinds of recommend weights (check out my March 21st post), but I just won't know how much muscle I will have until I get closer to my "recommended" weight range. Right now I can't even see the muscle I do have!!!! Much less what muscle I will add as time goes on. But, if I were to guess at a target range....185-215.

For those of you that have posted comments, THANKS, and keep them coming. They provide me with one more source of encouragement to make this happen!!!

Till Next Time....Take Care!!