Turkey Day 5K

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you're a runner, you must do a turkey trot.  It's apparently a rule.  Thanksgiving day races are some of the most popular races in any area for runners and non-runners alike.  In fact, the Turkey Trot in Buffalo, NY is the longest running continuous road race in the country, first welcoming galloping gobblers in 1896.

To kick of my Gobblefest, I chose to do the Highlands Ranch Turkey Day 5K.  I knew a couple people doing it, who I ended up not seeing due to the crowds of people, and it was on the end of town I would be spending my day.

I got there later than I had hoped, so there was a little scramble to get my chip and bib in time for the start.  Because of this, I got stuck behind a lot of the people with strollers, people with kids, and people with dogs.  That's all I need to explain for people who run races frequently.

The first quarter mile was spend weaving through people on the flat path, but then the course turned into the surrounding neighborhood streets.  And went up.  And up.  The first two miles of the race were uphill winding though the suburban neighborhood.  It was tough.

Then, once we hit the 2 mile mark, we went onto a paved trail that went down through a ravine to the finish line.

Nothing overly special or impressive about this run.  I learned to never eat BDubs the night before a race (I thought I was going to throw up for a little bit after the race).

But no matter what, there's not a whole lot of things I would rather be doing on a Thanksgiving morning.

Chip Time:  30:43

Run for Remembrance

Since I ran my half marathon in May, I haven't been running that consistently.  Or that far.  So I've been trying to find opportunities to gain consistency and keep pushing myself until the end of the year.  About a month ago, my coworker Renee told me about a 10K that she wanted to do, which would be her first.  I signed up and spent the next month trying to get to a point where I could run 6 miles again.

When the morning came, I was excited.  And nervous.  I had no idea how it was going to go.  Normally, I go into races with a time goal in mind.  Not this time.  I was just concerned about running the whole thing.

The race was the Run for Remembrance 10K, which benefits Remembering the Brave - an organization that honors the memory of our fallen soldiers.  The morning was cold - temperature dropping by the minute and wind gusts piercing everybody at the starting line.  It began with the organizer saying a few heartfelt words, a moment of silence, and the countdown.

Mile 1 was considerably easy - nothing special.  I usually start races too fast, so I made sure I kept a pace that I could maintain for a while.  We looped around a building through a park.

Mile 2 was the same.  Except I was already starting to get tired.  Not a good sign not even 1/3 of the way into the race.  But this part was flat, so I just focused on trudging along.  I looked up to this ridge in the distance on my left and saw the lead runner on top.

Mile 3 was a little ridiculous.  We rounded through the starting area where a few soldiers made a human gate for us to run through.  The course took us across a grassy field that felt like running through sand.  Then we had to climb a tough hill for about .2 miles that took us to the top of the ridge.  Once on top of the ridge, the view was great.  Swampy wetlands to my right, the Denver skyline in the distance to the left.  Once I caught my breath, I could start to enjoy it.

Mile 4 was pretty good.  Flat.  Gravel.  Just focused on going.  Not stopping.  By the end of this mile, I started feeling really good.  I caught a second wind that felt great.  We ran down a hill off the ridge, passed a dog park, and back onto a sidewalk.

Mile 5 was the hardest of the race, but since I caught my second wind, I could make it without dying.  Instead of the big hill earlier, this was a slight uphill that lasted about .75 mile.  As I was going up, people were passing me on the way back of a small out-and-back portion of the course.  All I could think about was getting to the turnaround so I could go downhill.  Finally got there, and started the home stretch.

Mile 6 was starting to get a little painful.  I still felt ok, but my legs and feet started to hurt.  My body is not used to running this far, so I was paying for it a little in the end.  The distance between runners was expanding, so this was the only stretch of the race that I was really alone.

The Finish was across that grassy field again, but this time it felt easier.  Perhaps that was because in just a few hundred yards, I could stop running.  I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face, caught my breath, then grabbed a water.  A few minutes later, I got to watch Renee cross the finish line and her excitement was priceless.  She completed her first 10K and hit the goals she set for herself.

It was my slowest 10K, but I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of this one.  I just wanted to use it as a challenge to keep getting back on track.  I just wanted to see if I could make it the whole way.  I just wanted to enjoy a fun race.

I just wanted to run.

No Quit November

Thinking back to the beginning of the year, I wanted this to be the year of no excuses.

I will reflect more on that as the year comes to a close, but I think I have done a pretty good job of not making excuses for my shortfalls.

However, I have let myself quit this year.  I have let things get in the way.  I do a good job of owning up to where I feel I need to improve, but I'm not seeing the follow through.

So this month, as everyone grows out disgusting beards, I will make this month

NO QUIT NOVEMBER

Specifically as it relates to running and fitness.

Specifically as it relates to weight loss.

November, it's on!

Oct 1:   234
Nov 1:  230

Goal:  210 by 2013

Just Keep Swimming

Pretty good week!  Had a successful 5K last weekend, and had a great 4.5 miler in the snow the other day, with a few things in between.  Time to put it into high gear this weekend for one final push to close out October.  

Oct 1:     234.0
Oct 5:     229.8
Oct 12:   231.8
Oct 19:   231.4
Oct 26:   229.8

Goal: 210 by Dec 31

I'm realizing how difficult this is going to be, but I need to step it up.  

Back on Track 5K

Yesterday, I ran a race with my friend Emily which I deemed the "Get Back on Track 5K."

The actual race title was Juvenile Justice 5K.

My running has been of and on over the past several months.  I am making a final push for 2012 to hit some of my goals and set myself up to start 2013 on a strong note.

This race was at a familiar place for me - Cheesman Park.  I've done a few races there, and it is beautiful.  However, I always forget how subtle the hills are.  This course featured 2 laps around the outer gravel path, so the hills were wearing.  Twice.

The first time around, I felt good.  The second - pooped.  But I kept trudging.

My goal was under 30.  I didn't quite hit it.

Official Time:  30:24 - 9:47 pace - 23rd overall out of 104.

I feel ok about it.  I knew it wasn't going to be that great, but it was a good race considering the last several months.  It's just a little disheartening knowing I've lost 3 minutes off my 5K time since my half marathon training this spring.

Oh well, I know that I have to work at getting consistent again, so this is a great step for that.

More

I realize that I have to do more.

I can't live my normal life and expect things to change drastically.

After a reflective week, I realize that my default is lazy.  My default is not exercising.  My default is food.  So I have to fight against what's normal for me in order to see any changes.

After a bad first part of the week, I rallied and had a great second part of the week.

Oct 1:     234.0
Oct 5:     229.8
Oct 12:   231.8
Oct 19:   231.4

Goal: 210 by Dec 31

Hoping for a little more progress at this point, but changing and adapting as I go.  In order to stay on track, I will hopefully be around 226 by Halloween.  

This is going to be a good week.  I can feel it!

100

This marks my 100th post on this blog!

Just a couple fun facts to capture the journey that it's been:

-My first post was November 18, 2010.
-There have been 6,438 page views.  That seems like a lot to me.
-April 2012 was the most visited month.
-After the US, the most viewers by country are:  Russia, Germany, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Latvia...
-For all the nerds in the audience, 33% of visitors to my site use Firefox, 21% Safari, 19% Internet Explorer, 17% Google Chrome.  55% have used Windows, 30% Mac.  55% are incorrect.
-My top 5 posts (by # of views):  Fat Kid Chronicles, Tough Mudder, Lessons from Tangled, Dear Jeff, Police Appreciation Run

This was never really meant to be anything big.  Just a way for me to chronicle my life- a sort of digital personal scrapbook to keep me motivated and strive for new things in my life.

But as it turns out, a lot of people have read it.  Surprised.  Flattered.  Humbled.  Honored.

A word that keeps coming up when people talk to me about it is inspiring.  For some reason, people read some of my posts, stay connected to my life, and feel a new sense of inspiration and motivation.  I'm not sure if I will ever understand it, but it amazes me.  I've shared some ups and downs that I have experienced in my life.  I have shared successes and failures.  I have shared once in a lifetime moments and the mundane.  For some, a few of my stories have struck something in them, made an impact, and inspired some sort of action.

Through this journey, I have spent a lot of time thinking, reflecting, challenging, dreaming, hoping, learning, and living.  And through this journey, I have found so much hope and joy in in the people and world around me.  So I want to say a quick thank you to everyone who has read my blog, commented, talked, and shared this journey with me.  Whether you realize it or not, you are the ones who inspire me.

And for that, I am forever grateful.

Hard Work

Losing weight and being healthy is hard work.

Especially given the busy schedules and commitments that so many of us have.

Especially when someone's natural tendency is to not exercise.  And eat A LOT.

I know the final push to my goal weight is going to be tough.  Challenging.  Troubling.  Wearing.

But in the end, it will be worth it.

Oct 1:     234.0
Oct 5:     229.8
Oct 12:   231.8

Goal: 210 by Dec 31

Put a couple back on this past week, but not discouraged.  It just means I have to step it up this next week.  As long as I'm at around 226 by Halloween, I'll be right on pace :)

The Ball is Rolling

Ok, so a lot of people have been talking to me about my recommitment to healthy living in these last couple months of 2012.

Since the end of September, it has been a good start.  The eating has gotten more on track, the exercise is coming back into a routine, and things are on the upswing.

I am hoping to get into a consistent running schedule again so I can springboard into 2013 and accomplish the goals I have.  The last two days I have done a couple of 2 milers, feeling the weight of the last few months of apathy.

No more.  The ball is rolling.

Weekly weigh-ins.  (I usually do them on Fridays, so this first week isn't a week...)
Oct 1: 234.0
Oct 5: 229.8
Goal:  210.0

The easy weight is falling off... that's a good start, but I won't be too satisfied until I start hitting the low 220's/high 210's.

Recommitment

October 1st - Time to look in the mirror.

This summer, I have let things slip -

-I have gained 18 pounds since May
-I have basically stopped running
-I have not been exercising
-I have gone back to my old ways of eating.

Basically, things have gotten out of hand.

I've been having a couple wake-up calls recently.  In September, I bailed on my first race ever, and it's the favorite one I have ever done.  I had to switch from a half marathon to a relay since my training was nonexistent.  I have gone back to feeling sick after a lot of meals due to overeating on a regular basis.

The worst part - I have been making lots of excuses.

So now the time has come to step up.  Now is the time to reevaluate and make some changes.

So here's my commitment to myself and my goal for the remainder of the year:

I will get down to 210 lbs by Christmas.  I stepped on the scale this morning and it read 234.  24 lbs.  almost 3 full months.

Game on.




What are your end of 2012 goals?  How can I help you accomplish them?  Here's my deal to you:  if you have goals for the end of the year, let me know - we'll be accountabili-buddies!