Thanks!

I don't think I'll be able to do that mile relay with my 11-yr-old as he has another committment that is more important. Oh, well. I might just see how fast I can do a half mile on my own after a nice warm up.

I've been slacking this week. I ran 7.4 miles Saturday and rode my bike a few miles Monday but nothing since. The weahter here has been cold, rainy and dark and I've had a difficult week at work which just drained the energy right out of me. I do realize that exercise would've helped get me some of that energy back but I realize that at noon or 3 pm not at 5 in the morning when it is so dark and cold. This week I have some days off and I am right back on track even if I end up on treadmill.

I have a 5K scheduled for 11/1 that I'm looking forward to.

I am down 31 lbs since 8/16/08. I want to lose at least 4 more pounds and but possibly up to 14 more pounds. I'm playing it pound by pound.

E

 Hi E,

Don't woory about not being able to do the mile relay, but timing yourself on your own is a great idea! 

Weeks like this are going to happen, the important thing is that you get right back in the swing of things.  Take advantage of the days off and get those sessions in. 

Use your 5K on 11/1 as your next motivational tool.  Strive to work as hard as you can to prepare for that race.  Visualize yourself running it and how great it's going to feel to run a great time.  It will make you have productive, intense training sessions leading up to the race. 

Wow, losing 31 pounds is amazing!  Keep up the great work!  If you ever want to read a success story, read your posts!

Good Luck,

Paul

 Paul,

The Fitness Goals.  Is this some type of program that you are putting on?  I see everyone's comments but I wasn't sure how it worked.

Sue

Hi, Sue.

This is just a thread I started to keep myself accountable fitness-wise. So far it's just been me and a couple moderators! I say what's going on (what I'm training for, what event I did, how/if I improved, etc.) and they give me encouragement and advice and keep me going. It's no special program.

You are welcome to share your own fitness goals though. I never meant it to be exclusive. It just turned out that way for a while.

Take care.

E

Paul, I'm not sure if I'm going to actually RACE the 11/1 5K or not. I signed up with a friend who started running just this year. She did the Couch to 5K program and can run over 5.5 miles. She's quite slow though (be lucky to break 40 min). I may just run it for FUN and stick with her. I can't decide. She told me to go ahead and race it (and save her some hot chocolate for her at the end - lol) but I don't know. Hmmm... what to do what to do?

E

I think that is a great idea.  Might keep me hitting the gym more often by making time for myself.  Working full-time and taking 3 night classes is killing me but forcing myself to find time to fit in exercising at the gym might just help me feel more alive.

Thanks for replying.

Sue

 Hi E,

I say, train for it like you're out to run your best time, but run wiuh your friend and encourage her.  You are a role model! 

I paced my wife in a 5K this summer and she ran her best time ever and took over 2 minutes off her best time.  The reward I felt was better than any I have ever felt.  Better than when I had lowered my own best time.

Good Luck,

Paul

PaulLauer:

I say, train for it like you're out to run your best time, but run wiuh your friend and encourage her.  You are a role model! 

That sounds like great advice! Thanks!

I am so excited! I found a half marathon Thanksgiving weekend right here in my own town! It is majorly underpromoted. The only reason I found it was by talking to another runner this morning at the running store. Yeah! I get to run one more half marathon this year after all! I was seriously considering an overnight stay and even a plane flight to get me to one but couldn't quite justify the time and expense. Now, I just go 5 minutes and I'm there!

And guess why I was at the running store? Okay, I'll tell you. I was there for a special event which was to meet and run with Beardsley, famous long distance runner of 1982 Boston Marathon fame. I was so nervous to go and almost didn't but I had actually taken the morning off work to do so. I did drag myself there and he turned out to be so personable and the half dozen of us that were there went on a 4 mile run (very slow for him but a nice 10 min/mile pace for me) and at one point I was ahead of him which is probably the only time in my life I will be ahead of an elite runner LOL. So glad I went because not only was it an awesome experience to run with him and hear his story, I also got an autographed copy of one of his books and found out about this half marathon I could do so close to home!

Phew, I'm long-winded today! Enough of that. Talk to you later!

E

 Hi E,

What an awesome encounter.  Not many people can say they've done that.  Just another major check on your list of things you've accomplished just by trying.  I truly beleive that when we push ourselves to a limit we didn't know we had, and do it anyway, that is when we see results.  You are living proof! Keep up the great work and I hope your training is going well.

Good Luck,

Paul

I am laughing that Mr. Beardsley's first name was apparently "bleeped" out by the censoring software or something. His full first name is Richard. You can guess his nickname which is the name he is best known by. Geez! LOL.

E

 Hi E,

That's funny!  Yes, we do have censoring software on the site and I guess his nickname raised a red flag.

Good Luck,

Paul

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5K with my friend. I ran at her pace as she is a new to running this year. She PR'd! I was more excited than she was. LOL. She's not too competitve I guess :-). It was a ton of fun with a beautiful course on the lakeshore (Montrose Harbor) in Chicago and the hot chocolate and chocolate fondue at the finish didn't hurt any either!

I ran 5 miles this morning and then off to the indoor pool to train for my upcoming indoor tri. I meant to get earplugs but hadn't done it yet. I got so dizzy swimming and when I did the back stroke my ears actually hurt. It got to the point I thought I might be sick but once I was on the deck I was fine. So I went off to Target and picked up some earplugs! I figure that should help. I am not one for sea-sickness usually so I think it was just getting water in my ears that did it. I'll try again with the plugs and see what happens.

I am at a plateau with weight loss...6 weeks in the same 2 lb range. Still I've lost 30-31 lbs over the last 14 months and I know I'll get those last 5-15 pounds off eventually. I am going to add a yoga class to my routine as well as three times a week weight training.

E

I tried a new fitness class yesterday. I was able to join in one time for free but usually it meets 3 x a week for an hour for 12 weeks. It was a lot of strength and resistance training. I was so sore a few hours later! And the exhaustion hit me like a brick! I fell asleep very early worried I wouldn't be able to do my 8 mile run this morning. Although I was still sore I did go out for my run in the beautiful sunny 60 degrees that we probably won't see again until March. I actually ran it faster (without trying) than I thought I would so maybe all those core strengthening exercises helped afterall.

E

 Hi E,

You'd be surprised to find out how much of it is also mind-over-matter.  Your mental conviction can actually do more than you think to help your body achieve it's goals.  Good for you that you were able to still do what you set out to, despite the soreness.  However, I do want you to remeber that if you're doing so much milage, it's important to not double-up on training legs (even though it's not actual weight lifting, you're putting them through a similar workout and fatiguing the muscles, which need recovery).  I say this to help you avoid over-training and injury.  Keep challenging yourseld with great resistance training workouts; just time them and play it smart.

Keep me posted!

Good Luck,

Paul