The Big 5-0

This past Saturday I officially finished my first 50 miles.  I can't believe I accomplished that I am just amazed at my progress from starting to now and my journey has been tiring, sweaty, sore, and emotional.  As I started the run I decided to not go to my usual run around the neighborhood but rather to the first place where I recorded a run.  You see when I started I was only going to go out in an area where nobody could see me after all what would people think a 300+ pound guy running?  Really who are we kidding.  When I started I could hardly run for a minute without slowing way down to a slow walking pace when done.  Crazy to think how not too long ago that was.  Now this morning I completed my fastest paced two mile workout 13:38 pace for two miles I was proud and I can't wait to get out tomorrow morning to see if I can beat that time. 

I also have to report (since I've snuck it in a couple of times) that I have an injury that is going to result in surgery.  I just hope that it doesn't sideline me for more than 2 or 3 days.  I have a TFCC tear in my left wrist that is the result of my ulna bone being too long.  The doctor is going to go in and shorten my ulna and then fix the TFCC.  This is just an arm issue so it shouldn't slow me too much I to anticipate that the added weight from the cast to be an initial hurdle that I am will just have to jump over or...if I can't make the jump run through. 

Today 2.02 miles  27:38 517 calories
Total 52.79 miles 12:54:36

Saturday Success and the 3 Minute Zone

This past weekend I ventured back home to visit the family in central Wisconsin.  I was able to get up on Saturday morning and complete my furthest run yet which was a great success.  Overall I went 4.21 miles in 55:33.  I was proud of the distance and a little disappointed in the time.  I realized that when you are running on a gravel road in the country at times the footing isn't all that desired, it is much harder to climb hills, but afterwords it is less painful.  Since we were back home with my wife and her mom I also went on a couple of 2-3 mile walks one later in the day on Saturday and one on Sunday before coming back to Sheboygan.  I failed to get up and go out on Sunday morning and as I sit here on Wednesday I really regret it, I'm not going to sit here and list the excuses as they really aren't all that good I just should have went out. 

Monday was a walking day 1.74 miles in 25:15.
Tuesday I was really stiff and sore so I didn't go out.

Today (Wednesday) is supposed to be an off day, but I went out, after all I did slack yesterday.  Even after I didn't get to bed until almost 1 a.m. I got to see a great baseball game then drive home in heavy rain which delayed the bedtime. 

I think I've had a mental block getting past the 2 minute running zone.  Its been tough at times just getting a good two minutes in but I eventually got there.  Today was the first round of three minute running zones.  I did good overall the third zone was a little tough but I made it most of the way through on the third run.  If I had to guess I would say I was 90% in the correct zone during the runs which I think was a great start to the three minute zone.  Not sore yet, but that ususally takes a little bit to set in.  Busy day at work today and back at it in the morning!

Stats: 2.04 Miles 28:11 522 calories
All time 44.77 miles 11:01:22

Am I up for the test this weekend???

As I sit on Friday after a nice morning workout I sit and wonder about the weekend to come.  If you recall I am heading to the in laws this weekend so it will be my first weekend away from the comfort and friendliness of my home running routes.  I hope I can keep up the motivation and the courage to get up and going in a different area.  It will also be the first time that I'll be running on gravel roads rather than sidewalks or cement.  I hope to post a successful weekend on combined Saturday and Sunday runs of 6.5 miles plus I hope to bump up my morning runs to more distance.  (Next week I should break the 50 mile mark any ideas on how to celebrate?)

Today was a nice run I was a little stiff so I hope tomorrow is ok.  I've been really stressed at work and with my arm problem but I was able to gain a small distance today.  Stats below hope to post some success on Monday!!!  I was able to achieve a better percentage on my workout compared to yesterday I really focused on completing the 4 two minute zones and not drop off too much after each zone in the one minute run.  After looking at the charts I have been running at a higher green level and almost in the yellow.  My stamina has been improving and I can't wait to get this going and being able to run further, faster, longer.

Today 24:48 1.77 miles 455 Calories
Total 9:12:23 36.78 Miles 9104 Calories

Rain Makes it Wet...

This morning was my first run post rain...it was interesting to say the least. 

I started out dodging the puddles, I was unsure if I wanted to have wet feet and I was a little cold to start, but that wore off.  After coming up on an area where the sidewalk was covered for a good 5 feet it was either go around, through, or jump...I went through.  The splash was a little refreshing and I didn't think it was as bad as I thought it would be.  A couple of blocks later I ran past a dog so I needed to splash down again.  Who knew running was so much fun.  I even saw a person I saw a couple of weeks ago on my cool down who stopped me and said I've seen you out quite a few times and I just want to say if you ever need any motivation I'll be around stop me on my run and we can go together. 

However I really didn't want to get up and get going this morning.  I needed a little extra motivation and I've found a great way to keep that going I just sit back and remember some of the people in my life.  I really don't know why I've started running other than I have an issue with my arm, (more later I have an MRI on Tuesday next week with a follow up on the next Monday) and every time I start working out with weights and everything I have a set back and need to stop I guess I figure I can always just go out and run. 

Since I'm not the smallest guy I've always got to hear some of the comments I bet all the rounder people get to hear.  One guy at my old workplace always sticks out.  I'm always up for a little ribbing here and there, but as my superior I think he had pushed it a little far quite often.  So often as a matter of fact that other people asked if it bothered me which was nice.  I can't wait to see the look on his face when I send him a picture of me completing my half marathon, that might take a little work to get to but I'll get there and show him.  I used some of the comments he said to get my shoes on and hit the sidewalks of Sheboygan.

Today 24:31 - 1.70 Miles - 439 Calories

New Shoes...and a little run

Went out today and decided to mix up the route a bit.  The results were ok I am thinking my shin pain issue is resulting from landing flat footed when I ran so I focused a lot on landing heel to toe and I am almost pain free.  It was a good run but I was a little disappointed on my pace however it is getting there.

I've included a picture of my new shoes I do love them and I can't believe how super light they are. 

This running has gotten a lot of thoughts running through my head as to why I let myself get this big, why do I eat the way I do, why, why, why.......  The answers seem to be coming just slowly.  I find myself enjoying this journey more and more every day and I have also decided that I'm going out daily now rather than 4 times a week.

Today 23:24 1.70 miles 436 calories 13:46 Pace
Thus far 8:23:04 33.31 miles 8210 calories

The Unofficial 5k

I was out an running on Sunday morning…the sun was shining and it was warm…well no it wasn’t but I was after about 5 minutes in  (that is what happens when you are a big guy.)  Anyhow I did manage to get my new shoes I found a pair of used Nike Lunarlites and I love them.  The first day I got blisters on my little toes, but that was my mistake not the shoes, I had tied the laces too tight, no problems since then. 

Anyhow I’ve been becoming more comfortable in my just going and running but Sunday I only saw a couple of people I was up and going at 6 a.m.  I was determined to make it a nice long workout, I had in my mind an Unofficial 5k Challenge. 

I ended up with 51:52, 3.72 miles and 955 calories.  My pace was 13:57 not bad considering the distance….Not only did I set bests on my miles, time, and calories, the only reason I turned to head home was the pollen level was getting to me and I needed to get some water.  Well that and I had a couple of things that needed to get done at home before I headed to Milwaukee to see the Brewers. 

The schedule continued this morning, I was planning a longer route but when I woke up I was STIFF and my shins were very sore.  Luckily enough for me the schedule was a blue only route with no green zones.  Tomorrow will be a tough one but hopefully I can make it through I’m still battling through the green areas for a length of time but I am getting stronger and better at it.  Hoping to find a way to keep up the “running” as it is still fun and heck it is going on about a month or so.  I’ve decided I’m going to get out every day as long as my legs let me.  My first hurdle lies ahead this weekend.  I am visiting the in-laws in central WI and I’m intrigued at how they will respond as I wake up and just get going real early.  My weekend routes have been the longest and with going home to gravel roads I have a feeling that I can up the distance and time this weekend as well I hope to give good results when I get back. 

The side result of this unofficial challenge is now I have a benchmark to compete against each week.  I hope to beat that time and distance in two weekends on the same route so it is a fair comparison of my progress. I do know one thing I will need to get a water bottle that will be easy to carry if I am going to go further I got pretty thirsty on the way...

Until next time Happy Running!

Final catch up...I promise

So as a part of this new trial and error of running and blogging about it I started out about two weeks behind and I did a marathon blogging prewriting session.  The only problem was that I never really got caught up.  So instead of trying to get everything all caught up day by day and just mass blogging I'll start fresh..well tomorrow...for real I'm not even kidding. 

So as of today (after my morning workout).  I've been running for 6:52:24 covered 26.90 miles, and burned 6560 calories.  I think it has been a great start and I am even looking forward to waking up and hitting the road it has been fun, enjoyable and all in all refreshing. 

So for today that is all I'll see you later!
Danny

New Shoes Needed...and soon.

I need new shoes…and I’ve looked around Sheboygan, (Kohls, Dunhams, ShopKo, and Rogans) I didn’t really see anything that was a cheap shoe that I liked so I have opted to bid on a pair from eBay I am excited that I won them and even more excited that I spent under $30 for them, I didn’t want to go nuts and spend a boatload on new shoes if I only do this for a short period of time I love it now, but will I in say two or three weeks?

I missed Monday again…I totally forgot what day it was I think it hurt that it was a holiday but I did get out for a walk with Casie and a friend on Sunday went to the beach and back around with Bella, our dog.  Still haven’t measured that route, but it should be at least 2-2.25 miles…

Tuesday May 31^st back on track.  This is the official back on track week, well I hope it is also new shoe week I’ll be awaiting shoe delivery this week.  I was up and started at 6:24 this morning.  Beautiful today I remember thinking so I didn’t head straight for the beach.  Rather down the sidewalk.  I was a little intimidated by the schedule today the intervals are 3 minutes with a one minute resting zone all in all it was tough but I came out with a score of 86% 33:07 2.33 miles 601 calories and a pace of 14:12.  I have begun to think of what lies ahead should I register for a race?  Which one a 5k, a 10k or should I dream big a half marathon???...I would love to see myself ready for a challenge of getting through a half and then who knows eventually a full but lets just get things started right I’ll run a race this year, I just have to find one that I like I’m working on it as of Tuesday hopefully I can have one picked by Friday we will see.  I also would like to report that I am down in weight which is an added plus for this, I expect drop some weight, but it isn’t the overall goal I can live life being heavier but I want to be mobile too.  I am down to 303 which is six pounds down from day one.  Exciting days on this adventure lie ahead I hope to breakout and hit a pace of under 14 minutes before the week is out I thought that would be harder than it has been.  The obstacles will be harder as time passes on but it is so very encouraging to see the time go down and a feeling that my endurance has gone up. 

End of May Stretch...

Break in Action – I was off and running on a new program I was going to work out on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  So what did I do on Saturday…I had to catch up on yard work because the weather was finally cooperating with me (very, very, very poor excuse on my part so I didn’t work out and I totally forgot on Monday so I was off an extra day.)  This already put me behind the eight ball…

Tuesday May 24^th – Today was a wake up very early day…as I mentioned I am a big sports nut and I love the Milwaukee Brewers.  So naturally I was sucked into the Where’s Bernie promo the team did and I spent Tuesday Morning looking for Bernie which wasn’t to be had I was in West Bend and I had thought I would get one…I failed.  I did however get in Day 3 of the Learn to Run program.  I know what you’re thinking what happened too day two, well since this was going to be a more public workout I figured I’d use day 3 which is a blue only workout so it is easier and since the park was crawling with people I didn’t want to run yet.  The result was a score of 90% (18:06 1.18 miles 308 calories and a 15:20 pace).  Turns out I’m getting faster… 

May 26^th turned into May 27^th but I had another great day and time  32:09 2.14 miles 556 Calories and a pace of 15:02.  I didn’t go all the way to the beach because for some reason I think I am feeling better about just hitting the pavement, I do need new shoes but I’m working on picking those out.  I did tell a couple friends about the running nobody seems to give it a second thought, not to say they don’t think I’ll stick to it, but just were indifferent.  But just only after a couple of days I feel like I’m in this for the long haul…I might actually enjoy this running thing.

I felt great on May 28^th for a couple of reasons I think, but I started this run at 6:55 AM which on a Saturday seems crazy, but it was going to be a busy day and I needed to get my workout in.  I did just that I also had a walk with the wife and a friend later on in the day that accounted for around a mile or so based on my best guess from other routes I have measured.  Back to this workout this is Day 4 of the Learn to Run program.  Two minute intervals now which was a step.  I did well in fact I got a workout score of 92% 43:17 2.96 Miles 766 Calories and a pace of 14:39.  Things I noted to myself I could have gone further, the hill by Vollrath Park is steeper and longer than it appears while driving in a car and it slowed me down quite a bit, and I cut a lot of time off of my pacing already which was fantastic.  I also stopped and snapped a picture on my route the shoreline was beautiful this morning with the waves crashing and the birds (I’m a sucker for nature).

Day 2 and Day 3

Day 2 – I knew I would be sore.  I was in track in high school I would consider it more of a I was in field in high school I didn’t do a lot of running in fact in four years I think I officially ran in only 2 races and they were 4 x 100 relays, I also did high jump but when we were seniors we took one meet and were told we could do any event we wanted to try, it was fun and I can still remember the look on the judges face when I went to report and subsequently as how low can I start the bar, he didn’t look all too impressed.  I was a little sore, but still energized and ready to keep this up after all it was only day 1.  Off day today spent today playing around with the MiCoach website and discovered that they have a “Learn to Run” plan and I decided that I was going to start this plan in the morning.

Day 3 – Day one of the Learn to Run program.  Since I was new to the world of running and as I said before I was a tad intimidated by the fact that other people may see me running or rather just see a 300+ person struggling along I decided it would be best if I walk to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan and run on the sand.  As an added bonus I thought it would be easier on my body.  So I did a Free Walking program down to the beach (15:02, .88 miles, 135 calories) and start my first official work out there.  I felt pretty good knowing that I would have a warm-up on the beach for 5 minutes followed by (1R and 1W series of intervals with 3 running sessions then I would head back home.  Turns out the zones were harder than I thought for me and I only finished with a 65%.  After you finish the workouts stated time it will keep going until you let it stop so I turned this 15 min workout into another 25:59, 1.65 miles 434 calories and 15:45 pace, not too shabby if you ask me giving me a total of 40:01, 2.53 miles, 569 calories for the day, I was impressed with myself and I really enjoyed the fresh air and the exciting feel of a young day.  I wasn’t really sore after this workout, well maybe a little so the sand may be my friend. 

"Running" Day 1

My first question is can I actually call what I am starting out doing “running”?  Since that is my ultimate goal I’ve decided that yes I can, but for awhile you may see some quotes around running after all I am just starting. 

My first workout getting up was easy after all I was pretty excited to start I hadn’t yet fully explored MiCoach, but hey it has got to have something on there for me to work with right.  I decide to start with the “Green Workout Sample”.  That should work right it doesn’t look too bad.  I get started and get going jogging at first getting to the beloved blue zone only to hear speed up to green zone.  I don’t recall the minutes, but I do remember this isn’t really what I wanted to hear I do my best and “run”, more of a jog after all this is my first day…I get an overall score of 58% on my first workout.  My reaction to that was well that sucks, but I think I need to see more. 

I see that I had a total time of 38:41 covered 2.42 miles, burned 640 calories.  This gets me to 15:57 per mile.  Not bad for just starting. 

I decide I need to explore this MiCoach program as I think there has to be more in it than this workout I have to find a plan…

Welcome to My Blog Run Big Man Run

So turns out I really enjoy going out in the morning for an early workout…I started be telling myself I need to do better at keeping a schedule of activity and actually going out and finding something I can do that is enjoyable, and rewarding.  You see I am a big guy 309 lbs at the time of starting this new adventure.  I wasn’t sure what it would bring so I set out and decided that I would try to pick up running.  There has to be a reason why you can see the same people day after day, month after month, on the trails just enjoying it all in the morning and taking it all in…how did they get started why did they get started and what kept them going are all things I wanted to know.  So on May 16^th I decided I would try to find out, and to keep myself honest I would blog about my adventure.

A little background about myself…I’m a married 28 year old guy who has always been big, well I think since third grade at least.  I remember that on the 5^th grade basketball team we did measurements and I was 183lbs which for a 5^th grader is pretty large.  I don’t know where all my bad habits came from they are there I do enjoy relaxing, a little PS3, and the occasional nap, but I tend to wonder how much of my extra weight was genetic.  I have bigger than average grandparents on my dad’s side I would guess that grandpa is 6’3” and 315 and on my mom’s side I would wager that grandpa is 5’5” and 425, it is hard to say.  My parents aren’t that big but are above average if I can just say that. 

Back to myself I married my high school sweetheart which everyone seems to point out after meeting us.  This journey isn’t about her really just that she is my rock and there to support me in anything I really ever would want to do and accomplish.  My high weight was around six months before we got married I know at one point I was physically on a scale and it said 328, but I do also know that I had thought I had just lost some weight which was scary.  We went to college together then she went on to grad school while stayed in the area and worked in a job I didn’t like I didn’t feel respected and I turned to a hobby I love…baking…a great hobby, only if you live alone one that can cause you to gain weight.  I’d be willing to bet I can make chocolate chip cookies in many varieties but I don’t need a recipe anymore I made them that many times.  After the wedding I know I lost weight and was down as far as 289 on a couple of occasions but over the last year I’ve been bouncing around the 305-310 range. 

Now I live in Sheboygan, Wisconsin so May is as good as a time as any to begin an outside workout activity and if I get hooked I figure I can find someplace to go when the weather starts to turn if it is too cold to go outside.  I’m an accountant by day and a sports junkie by night.  I love to golf, watch the Brewers and 49ers play along with my alma mater the UWGB Phoenix.  Also I like to tinker outside doing yard work or building things overall just messing around.  I started gardening last summer the second of being an adult and having a house.  I live with my wife and a dog so along with my running I would say on average three or four times a week we also go for walks down to the Lake Michigan shoreline and back about 2.25 miles if I would be forced to guess, although I’ll make that a route for one of the next runs to see the true distance. 

Way back on May 16^th I downloaded a new app for my android phone…Adidas MiCoach.  I wanted something that had all of the following, some sort of mileage and pace tracking, something to tell me if I need to go faster, something that had a program for beginner runners that would interrupt my music, and of course something that was free.  MiCoach fit all those and that is now what I am using to track all my stats if you will.  As you recall I am both an accountant and sports junkie so if I was going to get hooked I need some sort of comparison system to use to get me there.  Two weeks in I love it, I don’t know how accurate the calorie number is but since it maps my route via a GPS and has a clock for time I assume it can track my pace and mileage accurately.  You give them your weight for sure I don’t remember if height but I think that since I have given them both calorie burn may be in the ballpark, again I’m an accountant so I’ll take the numbers it gives me for granted.  Now I just have to get started…and over the fear of running in front of other people. 

You see I am a little embarrassed at the pace I run especially when combined with the distance.  So at the start I’ve decided to go about this as a morning only thing until I get over that.  Good thing Casie has to commute to work and gets up way before I did so she can get me started on my day.  I just hope I don’t see too many people early on, that has been my plan.  Lets get this thing started.