Sun June 20th: Treadmill Time

Ran pretty strong, but backed off at the end because I had run the day before too.

5 mins 3.6
15 mins 6.5
2.5 mins 7.0
2.5 mins 6.5
5. mins 3.6

June 19th: First Run at Umstead Park

My wife and I go hiking a Umstead park often. Every time we go their we see people running the trails, and I almost always comment on how crazy they are because I would be afraid that I would trip on root and fall. But secretly, I was envious of those people because I have always wanted to do just what they were doing; however, I was too out of shape to even consider it. I would see people running the trails and it would set off this deep feeling of regret because I've always wanted to be fit enough to run. I remember that as far back as Jr. High School I thought that it would be really fun to run cross country, and growing up in West Virginia and going to college in mountains of North Carolina, you couldn't ask for a better places to run trails (except during hunting season in W.V.). But, despite the strength of my desire, I used my weight as an excuse for not trying. I would go hiking sometimes and spent a lot of time in the woods camping when I was young, but I never tried to run. However, as I have lost weight and gotten stronger over the last few months, I began to think that I could actually run the trails in Umstead. And after running the 5k on the 12th, I couldn't get Umstead's trails out of my mind.

My wife and I usually hike the Company Mill Trail, which is a 5.8 mile trail. The first part of the trail leads from the parking lot to a small creek. Once you cross a small foot bridge the trail goes into a loop and you can go either left or right and you will eventually end up back at the bridge. This loop is 4.5 miles and consider to be a moderately difficult trail. At the top portion of the trail there is a small gravel road that cuts across the trail, and you can run the road to cut down the distance and difficulty of the run if you want. So, Saturday morning I got the idea that I would run the loop and cut down the road, catch the backside of the trail when it crosses over the road again, and then run to the bridge. I wasn't sure just how far this would be, but I figured that it would be near enough to 3 miles and when combined with walking the first part of the trail back and forth to the parking lot, I would have a good warm up, run, and cool down.

I left my apartment at 7:30am, which was much later than I had planned, but I was nervous and kept thinking of silly things that I need to do to prepare like takings unnecessary keys off of my key ring. It was around 8am by the time I started down the trail, but I was really excited. I had to stop myself from running before I got to the bridge, but I was able to wait. Once I crossed the bridge, I didn't hesitate at all, but I didn't bust out into a sprint either, just a normal pace. I was listening to The Black Keys new CD on my I-pod and running along the trail, and it felt incredible. Bring something that you've only dreamed about to reality is an amazing feeling. At first I was worried about tripping, but as I ran I got more comfortable and worried about it less and less. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to to run the whole route that I had selected but was determined to give it my best effort. The first part of the trail was the uphill portion, so I felt that if I could get to the road that I would have a chance. About a quarter of the way a round a group of five runners just blew right past me, but I still felt great because I was running just like they were. I made to the road with no real difficulty, but the road was a bit of a problem because I could see to far ahead and thoughts of walking started to creep into my mind a bit, but I was able to fight those thoughts off . I knew that walking would only make it more difficult to start running again, so I pushed myself to keep going. By the time I picked the trail again, the excitement started to take hold, and the thoughts of stopping were gone for go. In fact the problem now was that I didn't want to stop at the bridge like I planned and walk back to the car. I started thinking that I might just run back, but I knew that I need to stick to my plan, so when I reached the bridge I stopped running. I felt great, but I was so sweaty and it wasn't long before The Horse Flies found me. I HATE HORSE FLIES! They a evil, so despite my best efforts, I found myself doing a crazy looking half run back to my car trying not to be bitten by those bastards!!! So much for a peaceful relaxing end to my run. But, I didn't matter because I was able to do something that last year would have been the death of me. Stretching at my car, I remembered the first time that my wife and I hiked that trail, how much I huffed and puffed, and the many times that she had to stop and wait for me. And now I running it, I can't tell you how proud I felt

Thurs June 17: Plycore -- Reaching for Something New

This morning while I was working out, something happened, and the world seemed to only consist of me, the little stretch of road that I was running on, and the patch of blue sky above. I have heard that some people find there to a spiritual side of running and other people speak of a runners high. I am not sure that I know enough about what I am feeling yet to say that it is either of these, but something is happen. Each time that I run and really start to push myself, my mind just begins to relax, but my focus becomes more intense. I just get this amazing feeling of clarity and all of my thoughts seem so clear. And when I am running outside, I begin to notice things in a greater detail: the colors of the sky standout and I notice the sounds and smells around me much more than I have. I can explain the feeling of peace that comes to me as I am pushing myself farther and harder than I ever have in my life. I am sure that a skeptical person would say that this is just a chemical reaction caused by the release of adrenaline into my system, and that may be true, but that doesn't really matter. What matters is that I am beginning to feel a power, strength, and peace within myself that I have never experienced. Honestly, I feel like I am starting to unshackle the person within me that I always dreamt of being.

The workout:

Two short laps around the building (warm up)

6 flights of stairs up and down
10 Push ups
15 dips
10 kettlebell squat thrusts
5 Chin-ups
10 lunges each leg with 10lbs weights
Sprints: High knees, Butt kicks, wind print up the driveway
1 long lap
X3

26 flights of stairs up & down.

I finished this workout, but those stairs and sprints crushed me.

Weds June 16th: Treadmill Time

This was a good run.  I am beginning to see that I am stronger than I thought.  I have been holding myself back because I didn't think that I could push myself through when my runs got tough.  But after my 5k, I  have more confidence in my ability.  I know that I must keep myself in check and not do over tax myself  too quickly, but I also need to challenge myself as well.  It is a fine line.  However, I know that I can make the right choices.

Treadmill:

5 mins @ 3.6

25 mins @ 6.5

Monday June 14th: Plycore -- Listening to the Voice in my Head

Ok . . . I didn't finish Monday's Plycore class. But, I am happy that I stopped because I listened to the little voice in my head, which tells when no good can come from what you are about to do. Now, I have had this feeling before, and over the course of my life, I've learned to trust this voice. And, it has taken a fair amount of blood, swelling, and pain to teach me the value of this voice. You may have guessed that there is a back-story so hear it you go. When I was in college, I loved racquetball and played three days a week for two hours (one hour of class and one hour of fun).


Well, On this one day, I was finishing up my second hour and the guy that I was playing with was screwing around more and more and I decided that I had had enough, so I started to leave. I was packing up when he and our coach asked if I would stay and play one game of cut throat (a three player game). And I remember it clearly, it was like one of those moments in a film when the actions stops and the main character address the viewers and tells them that he know that he is about to make a horrible choice and that he should do the exact opposite of what he thinking, and then when the action starts back up he does exactly what he know is going to lead him to no good. I remember thinking: "Man, just go home. You have some much stuff to do and this guy has been pissing you off for the last hour. Nothing good can come out of this." Did I listen? Well you can guess. We play a few points, and then the Jackass I had been playing against tries to make this crazy shot that had no hope of turning out well, traps me up against the back wall, and hits me right in the face with his racquet, braking my nose, and giving me a nice concussion, which would take me six months to recover from.

So now when that little voice even whisper, "hey dude, what you are about to do might not be the best idea." I try to give it all the credence they deserve. I treat these words like they came for out a discussion between Plato, Aristotle, Einstein, Newton, and Lance Armstrong. And during Mondays Plycore class this little voice decided that it had a lot to say. The workout stared just fine two long laps, but after that we started jumping up the stairs, which I did but wasn't happy about it because my Achilles and knees we already sore from the run. As I did the stair, I just kept thinking the risk to reward ratio on this was out of whack. After we finished the stairs we went back to the gym where there were some benches and risers set up from highest to lowest, and the class member were lining up. We were going to jump on the highest bench then step down, do some squats, and then jump on the next lowest bench or riser. I looked at this for a few seconds, and that was when that voice just said to me "you know best case, you fall off and break an arm or worst case, you rupture your Achilles, but you know, it up to you." I just thought about for half second, looked at the clock, and saw that we only had 15 mins left, therefore I just thought that I could use some extra stretching time. I don't know if the voice was right or wrong, and I never will for sure, but I don't care because it isn't worth the risk.

The Workout:

Two Long Laps (warm up)

Junp up the stairs as many stairs at one time as you can (two flights)
Run a lap on the track (1/15 of a mile)
Jump up the stairs diagonal each step (two flights)
Run a lap on the track (1/15 of a mile)
Run up and down the stairs (four flights)
Run a lap on the track (1/15 of a mile)
Sprint up the stairs two at a time
Run a lap on the track (1/15 of a mile)

X3

June 13th: Post 5k Maintenance and a Jump Rope Session.

Good news . . . Good News! I felt much better following my 5k than I thought that I would. I was tired but not nearly as sore as I expected to be. I put a lot of work into post race maintenance, and it really paid off. I didn't stop after the race. My wife and I walked around for a good 30 mins following the run, I the stretched, and iced my knees. That night I took some some anti-inflammatory and used some Flexall on the portions of my legs that were still sore. Then on Sunday, I went to the gym and skipped rope for 30 mins. Don't get me wrong, I am sore but not as bad as I had feared.

Saturday, June 12th: My First 5k -- The Race for the Cure

Recently, I posted that I wanted to run a 5k, but that I wanted to lose 25 lbs. more before I did that. Well, plans change. Thursday evening when my wife and I were leaving gym (I had stopped by to run on the track), one of my friends from the morning workout class asked us if we were going to do the Race for the Cure, and encouraged us to do it. My wife has been interested in participating for a while, but she was more interested in just walking the course. I really wanted to run, but I wasn't sure how my knees would respond to the strain. As I have said on here before I have a history of trying to do too much too soon and suffering a setbacks. But, I have felt really good about my progress over the last few months and thought that I was up to the challenge. After a short discussion, I convinced my wife to try to run the 5k with me, and that we could enter the non-competitive section, so that if she wanted to that when could just walk the course. I know that my wife is in a lot better shape than I am, and she runs stronger on the treadmill than I do. My only concerns about her ability were more focused upon getting her to see that she could do it. But, I was pretty sure that once she started running that she would want to push herself to do it.

The Race for the Cure really means a lot to me on another level because my grandmother was a breast cancer survivor. He had a double mastectomy. At the time I was a small child and didn't really understand the gravity of the situation. I just remember how much she hated losing her hair and her wigs. I didn't understand the amount of personal strength it took for her to fight the disease, and now that I understand, I am proud that I could take part in The Race for the Cure. My grandmother fought and survived her battle with cancer, but tragically passed away shortly afterward in traffic accident. She was unable to take part in any events and tributes for survivors, but it doesn't matter because the point is that she survived, and her family will be there to honor her with our memory and presence.

So yesterday I ran my first 5k. I ran it with my wife, who I love beyond measure, and it was one of my best days. I am proud that I was able to run this race without any problems or setbacks. I am proud of the time that I ran, but I am more proud that I did with my heart full of love for my wife, and the memory of my grandmother.

The Race: 5k time -- 28:36 --

Thusday June 10th: Plycore -- Bacon and Eggs Run

Plycore continues to be my favorite at the Y because it is where my progress is most apparent to me. It was the first morning class that I attended, and the class always conjures up the memory of just how out of shape I was on that first morning. Today's class was not the killer that I thought I would be when I saw it on the board before class, but it did present its own unique challenge. Yesterday morning was humid but breezy, so running outside was too bad at first, until we passed by the hotel that sit a top the little hill we have to run up when we do our long lap. We passed by the hotel just as they were cooking up the morning breakfast. The air was thick with the smell of bacon and grease during the first lap. And on the second, it was worse because I was more tired from having just run up the hill for the second time, so I was sucking in big Hoover breaths just as the wind died down leaving that thick grease cardiac arrest incusing air to just fill my lungs. After about the big breaths I thought that I was going to spew! I felt like I was running through the kitchen of the Waffle House. Luckily, I was able to keep the contents of my stomach where they belong and continue with the workout. The rest of which was fine except trying to do Pull-ups with a sprained an d swollen finger is not fun in the slightest . . . Damn You Bosu (see my last post)!!!!!!!!!

The Workout:

2 Long Laps with a Sprints, Butt Kicks, and High Knees of the smaller driveway hillside beside the Y between the laps.

200 Crunches
100 Squats
100 Arm Extensions
50 Push ups
50 Dips
30 Chin-ups (damn you Bosu)
30 step ups (each leg)
10 Box Jumps
24 flights of stairs up and down
60 sit ups

Weds. June 9th: Triple Threat -- Jump Rope, Bosu, and Toning Express Classes

Well, here is the good news, I came away from all of this with only a sprained middle finger. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to do all of this, but I enjoyed . . . some of it . . . The Jump Rope Class was fun. 30 min. class 3 jump sections and 3 ab & push up sections. It was pretty fun, and I am getting much better at the push ups.

Next up was the Bosu . . . I hate the Bosu! I only took this class because my wife wanted to do it, so we can file this under the the heading of "Stupid Crap that I have done because of a Woman!" This was a lot of aerobics, tons of step ups, and squats on the Bosu. By the way, Bosu's are not ment to be used by a man my size (of by a man for that matter) because every time that I jumped on the damn trhing I thought that I was going to impale my self into the ceiling. This was 30 mins of pure terror, and I never want to do this again.

Last, I took a Toning Express Class 15 mins of Toning . . . On the terror ball bosu!! We did more squats, lunges, push-ups, dips, hopping. It was during this part of class that I sprained my finger. We went from doing push ups to dips on our bosu and mine was really sweaty from chest hitting it, and my hand slipped while I was in the midst of a dip causing all of my finger to slide in different directions (none of which were intended to go!). The only thing that I liked about my 45 mins with the devil device bosu was the portion of class when we had to pick it up and hold it over our heads.

Tuesday June 8th: PM Toning Class -- Bicycles . . . lots of Bicycles.

Last week Bryan hit us hard with the push ups, but this week it was the bicycles.  In fact, he did a lot of ab work, but I wouldn't go so far as to call this a Hell Day!  Hell Days must make you feel it for days to come, and this one wasn't in that range.  I was able to get a body bar because the class had a few less people than last week, so I went with the 18 pounder and used 8 pound dumbells.  Much of the class was like last week, but there were just enough changes to keep it fresh.  This was a good light workout, and I think that this class will be one that I go to more often over the next few weeks.