2 Miles and 5lbs.

Knocked off some weight quickly and did a short run on Monday.  The inside of my knee is hurting though so even though there virtually no mileage, I think the 4 day run week to start my running probably irritated it a little.  I've had this specific pain before and it's indicative of something around my meniscus in the knee.  It's internal pain, almost towards the back, and not in the kneecap. I've also had this pain when I tried to do too many bike miles before getting the body used to that movement in the legs.  It's fine for now.  Maybe there's something in there that's cut up, like a meniscal tear, but I'm not going to worry about that now.

Going for a flight today and will run or do something tomorrow.  Maybe a swim this eve if I have the time.

197 lbs!!!... and today starts my official training

I write only to boast about this magnificent weight gain.  I typically hover in the mid to upper 180's and only when I surpass 190 do I really make an effort to knock it back down a bit.  But I must say, I've never sustained anything close to this.

This weekend however, I took it to a whole new level.  Wine, pizza, more wine and some more pizza.  The weigh in is real- I checked it a few times, tested the scale by holding something heavy enough to change the read out...It's legit.  I look fine and feel sort of fine, but am proud to say that "I won't take this lightly", no pun intended.

I set my alarm for very early as usual and snoozed for an hour, wasting away that precious time needed for an early morning workout.  I always feel adventurous about the next day when I'm setting my alarm but it never pans out.  But alas, I packed a gym bag capable of supplying three different types of workouts so we'll see what happens.  I hit traffic on the way to work and got here too late to feel like I've earned a lunchtime workout.  Maybe I'll pull something off.  

Regardless, watch over the next week as the pounds shed off of me like pulled pork.

I predict I'll be back at 189.9 lbs by this time next week.  A combo of a modified South Beach diet, aka North Beach, with some running and it'll all be fixed.

Week Total: 7 miles running

Big week on the new Garmin GPS watch- 5 miles! (plus 2 before I got the watch)...this week's goal, 10 miles total....taking it slow.

1.95 mile run, wow!

That was last night and I'm actually not sore today.  Amazing.  The run was fine, the heart rate was high as expected, 148 beats/min.  It's 75 degrees today in SF so I might just head out for another run even though I was planning to wait till tomorrow. 

4 sore days from a 2 mile run

And I finally feel human again.  The only action my new Garmin GPS watch got was to record how "fast" I moved while driving a car.  Being sore was almost satisfying, because I knew it wouldn't get any worse than that.  So I enjoyed the pain and feeling pathetic.  It was amusing.  I know that this kind of pain wouldn't last for long once I get past the ugly, nasty "this sucks" phase.

So tonight before eating dinner with my girlfriend I went for a quick run.  I know, 5 days after the 2 mile run that put me down and out.  So how far did I run?

1.65 miles!!!  Wow, awesome.  I averaged 8:52 min/mile and 158 beats/min heart rate!!!!  That's called OUT OF SHAPE!  Love it.  That average heart rate by the way, includes walking for 30 seconds at the halfway mark and starting out with a lower heart rate.  I'll post the chart when I figure out how to do that.  It's a keeper, and motivation for progress to come.

This phase is the best and worst.  It hurts the most, is the hardest time to motivate to workout, but if I consistently keep at it, see the quickest progress and feel 20% better with each successive workout.

But the Garmin is Great and I am excited to post more runs to log all of that data.  It even maps your run onto Google Earth, which is sick.

Maybe tomorrow I'll manage 2 miles...if I can walk.

Very sore after running 2 miles, pathetic

I ran 2 miles two days ago and I am very, very sore! I'm not surprised because I haven't run in months, nor have I biked or done much of anything.  Lot of traveling in recent weeks and I just haven't been motivated to stay on top of things.  But now is the time to get back in shape.  I always think, 'Ok, the bulk of the travel is over, now I can focus on being consistent with my workouts', but that's never the case.  Work or personal travel will always come up and I just have to plan around, or through it.

So yesterday I did what I always do when I am trying to get back into shape.  I bought new sporting goods as motivation and something to get me excited to get back out there.  There's nothing like trying to start running when the weather is cold and the dark comes early.  All that on top of being out of shape just makes you want to give up.  

But I've been here before- many times.  I don't know where the training will take me- maybe to another Ironman next year, but I'm just going to put my head down and go.  I'm not concerned that I'm so pathetic that a 2 mile run renders me barely able to walk.  That's typical and in 2 weeks I know from experience I'll be running 4-5 miles no problem.

Purchases:  A Garmin 405 GPS running watch.  It will track my exact distances, altitude, pace, heart rate, you name it.  I also bought a new pair of running shoes.  The old are getting flat and at my current weight of 195 lbs (holy cow), I need cushy shoes to prevent shin splints.  As I get fit I'll be able to run longer distances, but the weight will take time to come off.  For that matter, I need to do everything to prevent shin splints, or worse- stress fractures.   

So, I'm sore and that's ok.  It's all good, not to worry or get down on myself.  In 2-3 weeks I'll be in a much different situation and I'll feel a lot better on a daily basis from running and getting work outs in.

IM Australia Finish, 2003

My first Ironman finish, G'Day Mate!!!

It's my first day as IronZoom!  How am I doing so far?!  

-IZ