Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday magic

Random Musings: As I've mentioned here before, the fitness level you get from running is just different. It is problematic in many ways, but just feels like a more fit place than other cardio I've done and I've done lots of cardio.

I was reminded of this over the last 3 weeks when I've shifted to run centered program. Basically I just run on Tuesdays and Thursdays and then go for a "long" run on Saturdays. I cross train 2-3 other days and rest on Fridays, but the bulk of the work is the three running days. Much as it was when I trained for a 1/2 marathon in 2006, I am stunned at the gains you make in just a three day a week program. I ran my longest run in months yesterday and felt pretty great (with the exception of my foot, which I'll say more about later). I am pretty certain I'll make to to the Urbanathlon in October, but after that I think I'll need to get in the pool and to spin class for long enough to let this thing actually get better, if it can.

On a totally unrelated note, I was just visiting with my daughter as I was typing this and she was describing her anger at someone who uses a shock collar on their dog. We've talked about it lots of times, but today I was struck by the beauty of the certainty of a 10 year old. She just "knows" that it is wrong, period.

Although I am arguably wiser now that I am older, I really miss the certainty of youth. I used to know so many things that I just knew were true and now it seems there are no real truths out there, just continuums to fall upon somewhere. Maybe that's why people find religion or only watch the news channel from "their side"; it is just so much more comforting to be absolutely sure. Of course as a former history major, I know that people who were absolutely certain of their beliefs were usually the most dangerous historically. See what I mean, everything has multiple sides...

Exercise update: Yesterday I completed the four mile run on my schedule. It's the longest run I've been on since probably June or so. It felt pretty good. I've elected to use the Galloway method on my long runs, which means I just schedule walk breaks in from the beginning rather than running to exhaustion. In this case, I ran four minutes and them walked a minute and then repeated that for 4+ miles. I'm not tracking as scientifically as I usually would, but the whole run took less than 40 minutes, so I'm ok with the pace as well. I'd love to run 7 minute miles, but for now, under 10 will do.

Unfortunately, my foot hurts today (the day after), worse than it has for a couple of weeks. Lots of stiffness and some point specific pain returned. I'm going to bike for cross training today and rest tomorrow. If I can get in to the chiro tomorrow and stay off the foot til Tuesday, I'm hoping it will bounce back. As I've said, it's an on-going struggle.

I'm also glad to say that I'm re-connecting with my trainer on Friday. We were both very busy this summer, so it's been months, but it seems like a good way to keep momentum going into fall. I'll work harder with her than I would on my own.

One more thing, I did cross the monkey bars at Myrick Park this week, so I have hope for October:)

Nutrition update: Not much to say here, because all evidence would indicate I'm not a serious person about nutrition. I'm still trying to compensate with exercise and now a few vitamins. I am frustrated that with months of exercise and fitness goals, my weight loss has been minimal and this is the obvious culprit. The question as always is when will I actually do something about it? I'll update you if I ever do.

Urbanathlon dreaming

Random Musings: I've been a tad lax about posting lately and I apologize. Do not fear that it means I have fallen off the health wagon though. On the contrary, I've been doing pretty well. I'm following my running program for the Urbanathlon and even mixing in some strength training and pull-ups and stairs.

My foot continues to be a mystery. For the most part it seems to be improving, but just when I get too confident it gets sore and a little scary. I'm planning on just managing it and getting my butt to Chicago in October. Today feels pretty good.

Exercise update: It's been a good week. I ran 3 strong miles on Tuesday night and followed up with 37 minutes on an elliptical last night. Today is a shorter run with some strength training. I usually try to blend things by running to the park and doing a few monkey bars. It works well, but can un-nerve parents with kids when they see a solitary man getting in line for monkey bars:)

My long run scheduled for this weekend is 4 miles, which will be my longest run in weeks. Obviously I'll be a bit light on miles in October, but I'm just going there to finish. Even if it involves trailing my brother-in-law all day, I'm going to enjoy it:)

Nutrition update: My weight is stalled even as I exercise more. That should tell us what we need to know about the state of my nutritional behavior

Building momentum

Random Musing: I'm feeling a tad old today. I woke up at 5:40 a.m. and just stayed up. Not sure what woke me up (although my bladder was in on it), but going back to sleep just wasn't going to happen. Sadly, it didn't really bother me and I enjoyed the quiet of the house for 90 minutes or so. That's what I mean about being old:) Oh yeah and my daughter turns 10 tomorrow, which isn't helping my feelings of aging either. Love her bunches and can't believe it's been 10 years already.

On a totally random note, my stat tracking for this blog says I had 28 hits from teh Netherlands yesterday. I wonder what sort of keyword search brough them here

Exercise update: I woke up with a little foot stiffness today which was disconcerting. But I haven't been icing or taking any ibuprofen, so maybe I need to think a little bit prophylactically rather than waiting and reacting to owies.

Anyway it loosened up so I could complete the 30 minutes of cross training my schedule showed. Today I chose to do 30 minutes on a StairMaster, a machine I haven't used much for years. It seems like a good idea with those Soldier Field steps as part of the Urbanathlon. It was a pretty good workout although I didn't get my heart rate real high.

In addition to those 30 minutes, I spent some time working on upper body strength training. Today's new addition was the pull-up machine. I'd never used it before, but it is basically a set up that allows guys who can't do very many pull-ups of their body weight to do pull-ups with a selected amount of support to lighten the load. It was nice because even though I wasn't moving my whole weight, I was getting in 3 real sets of pull-ups. Hopefully, my strength and my weight will meet in the middle some day and I won't need an assist, but for now this is great.

My Fitbit tells me I wasn't very active the rest of my day. I'll live with that I guess. I'm sort of tired. I'm also a little bummed that I seem to have stopped swimming and biking since the triathlon. training for the Urbanathlon seems less balanced. It is getting me to do some strength training, so I can't complain too much. I'm hoping to hook back up with my trainer in September and I'm sure she'll get some strength work in too, usually more than I want:)

Nutrition update: I feel like I need to really focus on some weight loss with my diet, but today wasn't really a step in that direction. It's not that I pigged out or anything, I just gave in to one of my all-time favorite treats. Anne brought home frosted molasses cookies and somehow over the course of the day, 3 of them have entered my digestive track. One of the yummiest foods on the planet, but not really made for trimming down my frame. Room for growth I guess.

Just a stretch and strengthen day tomorrow, which is good because my whole day will be dominated with staff meetings as everyone comes back to campus. Enjoy the amazing weather everyone.

A Very Active Day

Exercise update: I was on my training schedule for a 3 mile run today. I'm proud to day I was up and done with that by 8:30 a.m. Oddly today was the first day in the last several that I woke up with stiffness and soreness in my foot. It's odd because yesterday I didn't do a darn thing exercise wise. Perhaps exercise helps it feel better? Anyway, I ran my 3 with a couple one minute walk breaks thrown in and felt pretty darn good frankly. I think I'll re-confirm my brother in law for Chicago in October and start thinking about places to stay. Hope that didn't jinx my health. This next week should see if I can get past that 5k barrier,which would feel like a big deal.

As my title implies, today was really active. We took a day trip to Whitewater St. Park near St Charles Minnesota and hiked for 90 minutes, hut the beach and just generally enjoyed the day with some friends. My fitbit says I'm over 21,000 steps today which is a high for the week. Just my kind of day really. My wife said that if I can run three miles and three hours later hike the bluffsides for 90 minutes, I should be able to do the Urbanathlon 8 weeks from today. She's right, I just won't do it fast, which is always frustrating but is reality at my age, weight and stage of fitness.

Here's an Urbanathlon video for those who are curious http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fFSQ40sgZA

Nutrition update: No major news on this front. I was proud of passing on Mr. D's donuts when my family stopped on the way out of town, but other than that it was a pretty typical day of good and not so good choices. The great caffeine project continues and I now hope to be soda free by September.

Random Musings: No real insights today other than I like active days with my family. It's fun to watch Hannah hike with three adults and not miss a step. I have no illusions that my kids will be athletes (I left them a little short on DNA for that), but I hope they are active and engaged. It's just so good for you on a number of levels.

Still trying to get my head screwed on abotu Urbanathlon in the sense that just finishing would be a win. It's advice I give to lots of people for lots of races, but my mind has trouble buying it for me. Kinda stupid really...

Building momentum

Exercise update: This is my third consecutive day with relatively little pain in my foot. I am guardedly optimistic as I was able to run 3 miles on Tuesday and 2+ miles tonight. I think the combo of chiropractic, some rest and new shoes just might work.

As I said I ran two miles tonight and I was supposed to do some strength work as well. I didn't really do much strength work but I made the run more fun by going to Myrick park and Emerson Elementary school and trying out the monkey bars that were so tough just a few days ago. I think I may have freaked out some families there by coming through and not having any kids with me, but I was able to do better on the monkey bars, which is to say I made it over 4-5 of them after just hanging in place last week. Two things were different, I was a little more determined and I wore bicycle gloves to protect my effeminate hands:) I also left quickly before the parents called the police...

Things felt better, but there is a long way to go.

Nutrition news: Today is probably a C+. I've backslid on caffeine, although today was alittle better. More concerining was an impromptu trip through Taco Bell for a mid-day burritoand 800 spare calories. It wasn't even that good, it's the type of choice I can't really explain. Diet is certainly my nemesis, but I'll just keep trying I guess.

Random Musings: The last few days have been close to prefection in terms fo weather. Cool nights, warm sunny days and moderate rain... Better enjoy because it will probably change.

Hope everyone is ready for back to school. I'm not really, but school starts anyway:)