Shamrocking

Tomorrow I run the Shamrock. The first 5K of the year. I say first because I estimate I will run one a month. My fried Petty inspired me from her feats last year. Tomorrow the Shamrock, next month the Roses with Paige.

I ran a 5K on Wednesday without issues. Granted, my running has been done in a controlled environment on a tread mill. Tomorrow we see petre dish running converted to wild environmental movement.

Last year's Shamrock Run was perfect for me. Cold Rain & Wind. And a STRONG wind. I like adverse weather. It was a fun run, albeit cold and wet. This year is supposed to be cool and sunny. I couldn't ask for better weather.

Well wishes to all the Runners. I get to run with Kim, which will be awesome. Looking forward to a few laughs and strides. Yunker and Jalal will be busting out a 15K. Good talk with Jalal today, you can tell he has the runner's mindset. Hoping to catch up with them after their race.


Wildflower seed on the sand and stone
May the four winds blow you safely home

Triple Doubles & Doubled Over

It's been a while since we've talked my friends. Here's the big news, I've downed 11 lbs since beginning this journey. I just realized that is a quarter of the way to goal. Go me.

From the beginning one of my goals was to start running 20 minutes straight, no walking, no breaks, just straight on through. Well two weeks ago I did it, three workouts in a row. I was pounding out my new fangled version of the iron man I call the Triple Double: 5 min stretch > 5 min walk > 20 min run > 20 min elliptical > 20 min bike > 5 min stretch reprise. Anyways, I was rocking the gym like Samson in the Temple of Dagon, as you might've already perceived.

Then it hit me. I was laid out starting last Sunday night with the classic FLU. I haven't had a good flu in years. We'd watched Miles go through it, damn that's tough. Maddie only had a very minor case of it, thank God. And the beast reared it's ugly head on me with full vengence. No involuntary explosions, just a 3 comforter on ya and still shivering your tootsies off 5 alarm flu. I've slowly been getting my appetite back and plan to be in the gym on Monday morning. Doubtless I'll be up to Triple Double snuff, but I'll give it my all.

I wanna squeeze her but I'm way too low
I would be runnin' but my feets too slow
Young man rhythm's got a hold of me too
I got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu

The Biggest Winner

Since the last entry I've been in the gym and gradually changing my eating habits... until Monday, January 11th. I joined Mentor's Biggest Loser challenge. $25 buy in and the top three winners take home cash. Now I wouldn't say I'm a gambling man, but when there is a competition I have a "I gotta win this thing" click in my brain.

We are measured on % of weight lost. So here's the come to Jesus moment where I bare all. I weighted in at 280lbs. That means I need to be at 240 by August 25th. This Biggest Loser challenge is the beginning of my Biggest Winner 40x40 campaign.

So far so good. Angie, the Mentor gym director & personal trainer AND friend, has me on a plan. I'm food journaling everything that goes in my mouth and what I exert for exercise. The exercise is surprisingly easier than the journaling. I see I am making good choices for food, proportins is my downfall. I'll be working on that. Each week we meet up and review the journal. I'm not sure if she's going to be amused at the six pack of microbrews I consumed last night. The upside is that I am not having that nightly glass or three of wine while cooking dinner. Does that count for something?

As for the exercise, right now I've been assigned to put in 40 minutes of hard aerobic exercise 4 times per week. After two weeks we will be adding a strength conditioning circuit training into the mix. Next week I want to add in the pilates class on Monday & Thursday and Abs Conditioning on Friday.

In other news... I signed up for the Shamrock Run 5K. Last year I ran the Shamrock Run and the Yunker Chunker 5K. This year I have a goal to run four 5Ks. When setting these goals with Angie she told me in no uncertain terms that I was not to eat the four hot dogs at this years Yunker Chunker. Yeah, right. Although if I do follow her guidance I will note that she said nothing about the four glasses of beer. Hey, it may be a loophole, but I'm taking full advantage of that!

And a shout out to my good friend Paige. She signed on for a 39x39 after hearing of my 40x40. Paige is also an August baby so we'll be tracking our progress together. It's always good to have a partner in undertakings such as this.

Eat well and run long my friends.

Brian

The Challenge Begins

So what's this 40x40 challenge I speak of? Well, I've given myself 8 months to lose 40 lbs by the time I turn 40 years old. Can I do it? Yes, theoretically it is entirely possible. Will I do it? Well that is something that only time will tell. Right now I am committed, but that is what I said when I first dreamt this up at age 29 for the 30 x 30 challenge. How did that go? Not so well. And over the course of my 30s I ended up packing on more pounds. I pose the question to myself again: Will I do it? Yes, yes I will. Now all I need is a game plan and for someone else to finish off that half eaten carton of Umpqua Beaver Tracks ice cream. More on the game plan later.