Thursday, January 31, 2008
Busy, busy, but not bad
Well I have been out of town a couple of weekends and have not lost any weight the last two weeks, I have not gained, but at this point staying the same is not really the goal. I have been working out in the weight room two days a week and actually ran once last week. I am currently just trying to get everything I have to get done taken care of and running or biking or swimming is a luxery. My main goal is to weigh Monday with some weight lost and to have done a good job with dicipline over the weekend. That has been a key phrase lately when I want to eat something I should not, I ask myslef if I really have no dicipline and usually I can answer myslef (which they say is a sign of mental illness) with an affrmitive and make a good eating choice. I am going to have to start running on a consistant basis again soon, but I am taking a class a Spanish class everyday at 8 in the monring and my afternoons are always busy, so in order to run I may start trying to get at it around 5:30 or so in the monrings a couple of days a week. I feel that I am on track and the journey is still very much on the right road, I am just afraid that I am going to have to buy Debbie a CD very soon becasue she is kicking my butt at the race to lose 30 pounds.
Friday, January 11, 2008
DOWN 6
It has been a great week and I have eaten well and worked out and I am seeing it pay off in the weight loss for the week. It is amazing how eating less and exercising causes one to lose weight. Now the challenge is to string two weeks together of doing the right things. The weekend are always a challenge and sometimes after a big week like this I feel like I deserve to indulge a little on the weekend and end up gaining back a majority of my loss during the week. But I am going to do my best to actually lose weight over the weekend, I will let you know how it goes Monday.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Finally, Good News to Report
I had a really good week last week and this week (all one day of it) is going well on the eating and working out. I am just trying to make it one day at a time and let one good day build on the next. After the marathon I got out of the habit of eating well and excercising and it is harder than one would think to just jump back in.
Thanks for the all the support. I am hoping to get back down to my lowest before we go sking in March.
Thanks for the all the support. I am hoping to get back down to my lowest before we go sking in March.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Journey
I guess in all good exciting movies when a journey is involved there is a time of trial and trouble and wandering in the wilderness. I have described my weight loss and commitment to physical fitness as a journey from the beginning and it continues to be one. But as Moses and the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness, as Dorthy and the crew had a few dark moments on the way to Oz, and my personal favorite, Luke,Leia, and Han, whet through some pretty bad days,(Empire Strikes Back) on their way to providing freedom for the whole Galaxy from the Dark Side. I need to get back on the yellow brick road to health. As I have taken an account of all the stuff I have eaten over the last week which I am too lazy to type all of here I will give you a quick synopsis.
I eat well for breakfast cereal, oatmeal, health bar something like that.
I do pretty well for lunch Tropical Smoothie wrap of 500 calories or something in that calorie range.
I go home I eat all the chocolate I can find till I am sick and then have a party or think I am having a party and eat anything I want for dinner and then have some more candy or cake or whatever we have around the house to help us celebrate Robyn's Birthday or one of the 10 Christmas parties we are having or going to.
Then I go to bed feeling bloated sick and miserable and tell myself I will not do that again. Then I wake-up and do the same basic thing.
This lifestyle has led me to gain back about 30 pounds of what I lost and now my pants are tight and I the shirts that fit fine last week are a little snug this week.
Christmas and New Year and Bowl Games are coming, all really really good reasons to eat, and my thought process has been that I was not able to really "enjoy" this time last year because I was not eating so this year I am going to make up for it, and so the death cycle continues.
I was laying in bed last night and thought of my good friends Debbie and Jason, who are eating the way I was last year at this time. I have gone to a couple of parties with both of them and they seem to be having as much fun as me and they are not eating like it is their last meal. Perhaps I have a misconception that food and fun are related, that even though I have lost over 150 pounds, I still never got it through my thick stupid skull. So what to do what to do,how do I get back on the right track.
I have a couple of friends in my life that are currently recovering from addictions. They realize they are not at a point that they can do some of the things that "normal" people do without falling back into a lifestyle that will kill them, and they have decided it is worth the price. One even told me yesterday of a person who he was in rehab with that when the guy was allowed to leave he did not want to because he new he could not handle the outside world yet alone. I don't think I am ready for the freedom of anything I want to eat and trusting myself not to go way overboard.
So here is what I have decided to do. I am letting Debbie know, probably right now by typing this as she is one of my thousands of readers, er uh one of at least 5 or 6 maybe, and I will tell Jason also. I am going back into the program that allowed me to lose this weight. It makes keeping up with what I eat pretty simple, it is either a shake or a prepackaged meal or it is a fruit or vegetable. We call it staying in the box.
My biggest problem is that I believed what everyone who was trying to be nice was telling me... you look so good.. you have accomplished so much, you deserve to enjoy yourself...you can work on it after the first of the year... In reality I have accomplished nothing, I have walked down a road toward a life of health and physical fitness, and I have gotten pretty far, father than some, and not as far as others, but I might as well never started walking down that road, if I am content to wander in the wilderness instead of walking with purpose and a clear understanding of exactly why I am on a journey.
I eat well for breakfast cereal, oatmeal, health bar something like that.
I do pretty well for lunch Tropical Smoothie wrap of 500 calories or something in that calorie range.
I go home I eat all the chocolate I can find till I am sick and then have a party or think I am having a party and eat anything I want for dinner and then have some more candy or cake or whatever we have around the house to help us celebrate Robyn's Birthday or one of the 10 Christmas parties we are having or going to.
Then I go to bed feeling bloated sick and miserable and tell myself I will not do that again. Then I wake-up and do the same basic thing.
This lifestyle has led me to gain back about 30 pounds of what I lost and now my pants are tight and I the shirts that fit fine last week are a little snug this week.
Christmas and New Year and Bowl Games are coming, all really really good reasons to eat, and my thought process has been that I was not able to really "enjoy" this time last year because I was not eating so this year I am going to make up for it, and so the death cycle continues.
I was laying in bed last night and thought of my good friends Debbie and Jason, who are eating the way I was last year at this time. I have gone to a couple of parties with both of them and they seem to be having as much fun as me and they are not eating like it is their last meal. Perhaps I have a misconception that food and fun are related, that even though I have lost over 150 pounds, I still never got it through my thick stupid skull. So what to do what to do,how do I get back on the right track.
I have a couple of friends in my life that are currently recovering from addictions. They realize they are not at a point that they can do some of the things that "normal" people do without falling back into a lifestyle that will kill them, and they have decided it is worth the price. One even told me yesterday of a person who he was in rehab with that when the guy was allowed to leave he did not want to because he new he could not handle the outside world yet alone. I don't think I am ready for the freedom of anything I want to eat and trusting myself not to go way overboard.
So here is what I have decided to do. I am letting Debbie know, probably right now by typing this as she is one of my thousands of readers, er uh one of at least 5 or 6 maybe, and I will tell Jason also. I am going back into the program that allowed me to lose this weight. It makes keeping up with what I eat pretty simple, it is either a shake or a prepackaged meal or it is a fruit or vegetable. We call it staying in the box.
My biggest problem is that I believed what everyone who was trying to be nice was telling me... you look so good.. you have accomplished so much, you deserve to enjoy yourself...you can work on it after the first of the year... In reality I have accomplished nothing, I have walked down a road toward a life of health and physical fitness, and I have gotten pretty far, father than some, and not as far as others, but I might as well never started walking down that road, if I am content to wander in the wilderness instead of walking with purpose and a clear understanding of exactly why I am on a journey.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Accountability
I have decided to not just use my blog as a way to update you on my workouts and weight loss and races, but I have now decided that I need some accountability in what I eat especially with the holidays coming up. So I have decided to start posting my food journal on the blog also. That way if I know everyone will know I ate it, it might make me think before I decide it is worth it. I may not post everyday, but I will keep it everyday and post it all when I post.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Marathon...check
I can now say I have finished a marathon. It was not easy, it was not pretty, and it was not fast, but it is finished. It was really a wonderful experience, not just because I have lost over 100 pounds in the last year and I finished the marathon at the same place I ran my first 5k, but because of the the overwhelming support from my friends and family. We went out to eat in Memphis Friday night with 22 people! My friends Greg and Carolyn, Chris and Polly, Damon and Stephanie, Russ and Jenny, Von and Melissa, and Kevin and Debbie, and those are just the ones that did the 5k or the half-marathon and then many stuck around just to watch me finish my race. Not to mention the great support from my cousin David via my blog and my parents for watching our kids for the weekend and all their support. It was just a weekend that helped me realize just how blessed with relationships we are. Thanks again.
Now for the Race Report: I had big hopes of 5 hours or less and was making great time with the 5 hour pace group through about 15 miles. I have never in my life, in 4 years of football and all the training for running and biking and swimming had a problem with a cramp. At mile 16 I started having a cramp in my right quad, when I stopped to try and stretch I got a horrible cramp in my left hamstring, then in my right hamstring. I was frozen unable to move, people were asking me if I needed assistance, I thought I was going to have to just stop and have someone come get me. But some really nice guy came up from behind me and had a plastic bag of crystals that he said was salt, it could have been crack for all I cared, I took some and he told me to keep walking and not let the cramps tighten up. I took his advice and walked and ran the last 10 miles to finish in 5 hours 37 minutes. I was a little disappointed in the finish time, but quickly got over it and am just happy to have finished. I will have another chance to better my time someday, maybe sooner than later.
For now I am going to work on losing some more weight and lifting weights and tyring to improve my swim and and keep a base or running that can finish a half-marathon pretty easily. I hope to run another half soon.
Now for the Race Report: I had big hopes of 5 hours or less and was making great time with the 5 hour pace group through about 15 miles. I have never in my life, in 4 years of football and all the training for running and biking and swimming had a problem with a cramp. At mile 16 I started having a cramp in my right quad, when I stopped to try and stretch I got a horrible cramp in my left hamstring, then in my right hamstring. I was frozen unable to move, people were asking me if I needed assistance, I thought I was going to have to just stop and have someone come get me. But some really nice guy came up from behind me and had a plastic bag of crystals that he said was salt, it could have been crack for all I cared, I took some and he told me to keep walking and not let the cramps tighten up. I took his advice and walked and ran the last 10 miles to finish in 5 hours 37 minutes. I was a little disappointed in the finish time, but quickly got over it and am just happy to have finished. I will have another chance to better my time someday, maybe sooner than later.
For now I am going to work on losing some more weight and lifting weights and tyring to improve my swim and and keep a base or running that can finish a half-marathon pretty easily. I hope to run another half soon.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Here we go AGAIN
Tomorrow I will run the St.Jude Marathon in Memphis. As you all know what was supposed to my first marathon in October in Chicago turned out to be disaster for race officials and Kim and I only made it to mile 17 before they shut down the race. So I went home and signed up for the marahon in Memphis wanting to make sure I FINISHED a marathon this year. A lot has happened since then and my training has not been what I would have wanted it to be. I have gained some weight and we have lost Kim's dad in his battle with cancer. But tomorrow I will be there and this time many of my friend's are comiing to run the 5K and say they will stick around for me to finish the marathon (they will have time to go eat and do some shopping, get their nails done and read a book by the time I finish) I have to tell you that I am thrilled that they will be there, but at the same time very nervous about this race. Anyone who knows me, knows that when it comes to some things I am not my normal happy go luck let the chips fall where they may self. Traveling, and athletic events. I like to be prepard, I am even a little on the freaky side when it comes to this kind of stuff, I used to get to the locker room over an hour before football practice and over 3 hours before games just to make sure I had it all together. I have to admit I don't feel prepared for the race tomorrow. But a couple of things have happened in the last couple of days to remind me that I can do this.
Tuesday night we did a little 2 mile run with our kids called the "Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis" and wathching little Kiley run beside Kim and I with all she had for the better part of a mile and just loving it brought tears to my eyes, running with her was something I could not do and would not have encouraged her to do 2 years ago, but this week we were all running together (Robyn was in the stroller) and it was one of the neatest feelings I have had. I went to Starbucks at Barns and Noble today to get some coffee and a couple that were in my weight loss class came in and then two more people who had done the same program came in and then another guy that I have run with came in, and we all there taking about running and weight and they all talked about how good I looked and that they could not tell I have gained a pound, much less the 20 or so I gained over the last month in Chattanooga. They were very encouraging and reminded me again that I run for health not just the numbers and that I can lose this weight I have gained and it should not affect my feeling toward this athletic goal that I am about to accomplish, so it won't. And finally my dad emailed me th picture of me crossing the finish line of my first triathlon today and reminded me of my miles I dedicated before Chicago. For those of you who don't remember, here they are
Mile One and mile 26 is dedicated to my life partner, supporter, running partner and mother of my childern.. Kim, I love you and appreciate your encouragment on this journey.
Miles 5 and 15 are dedicated to my sister Shelena, she likes the number 5 a lot and she is the best sister I have so it was only natural
Miles 13 and 20 are dedicated to my parents for putting up with me, I love and apprecaite their support so much, and they continue to be great examples for Kim and I, our marriage and our parenting.
Miles 24 and 25 are dedicated to Kiley and Robyn because I might want to quit then, but can't imagine coming home and not showing them my medal.
Mile 7 and 12 are dedicated to my father-in-law who is struggling with cancer, Larry and Susan were going to be in Chicago to see Kim and I, but they are in a hospital in Chattanooga.
Mile 15 is dedicated to our house church, thanks so much to Debbie, Chris, Polly, Dan, Scarlett, Greg, Carolyn, Jason, Julie, and past members Philip and Brooks who have moved to Hot Springs.
Finally Mile 16 is dedicated to all you people who read and comment on my blog and have been supportive and cotinue to motivate me on in my weight loss and physical endevors. This includes you Kevin, thanks for using ass or damn in every comment you have ever posted.
As I look over this I realize how precious life is, Larry is not with us anymore and that really makes me sad, and I realize how quickly life can slip away from us. If you have read this far, you have too much time on you hands, but you have probalby been a big support to me in my journey and I appreciate it. I know tomorrow will be a great marker on this journey, one that I know will continue to bless my health and overall outlook on life.
Tuesday night we did a little 2 mile run with our kids called the "Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis" and wathching little Kiley run beside Kim and I with all she had for the better part of a mile and just loving it brought tears to my eyes, running with her was something I could not do and would not have encouraged her to do 2 years ago, but this week we were all running together (Robyn was in the stroller) and it was one of the neatest feelings I have had. I went to Starbucks at Barns and Noble today to get some coffee and a couple that were in my weight loss class came in and then two more people who had done the same program came in and then another guy that I have run with came in, and we all there taking about running and weight and they all talked about how good I looked and that they could not tell I have gained a pound, much less the 20 or so I gained over the last month in Chattanooga. They were very encouraging and reminded me again that I run for health not just the numbers and that I can lose this weight I have gained and it should not affect my feeling toward this athletic goal that I am about to accomplish, so it won't. And finally my dad emailed me th picture of me crossing the finish line of my first triathlon today and reminded me of my miles I dedicated before Chicago. For those of you who don't remember, here they are
Mile One and mile 26 is dedicated to my life partner, supporter, running partner and mother of my childern.. Kim, I love you and appreciate your encouragment on this journey.
Miles 5 and 15 are dedicated to my sister Shelena, she likes the number 5 a lot and she is the best sister I have so it was only natural
Miles 13 and 20 are dedicated to my parents for putting up with me, I love and apprecaite their support so much, and they continue to be great examples for Kim and I, our marriage and our parenting.
Miles 24 and 25 are dedicated to Kiley and Robyn because I might want to quit then, but can't imagine coming home and not showing them my medal.
Mile 7 and 12 are dedicated to my father-in-law who is struggling with cancer, Larry and Susan were going to be in Chicago to see Kim and I, but they are in a hospital in Chattanooga.
Mile 15 is dedicated to our house church, thanks so much to Debbie, Chris, Polly, Dan, Scarlett, Greg, Carolyn, Jason, Julie, and past members Philip and Brooks who have moved to Hot Springs.
Finally Mile 16 is dedicated to all you people who read and comment on my blog and have been supportive and cotinue to motivate me on in my weight loss and physical endevors. This includes you Kevin, thanks for using ass or damn in every comment you have ever posted.
As I look over this I realize how precious life is, Larry is not with us anymore and that really makes me sad, and I realize how quickly life can slip away from us. If you have read this far, you have too much time on you hands, but you have probalby been a big support to me in my journey and I appreciate it. I know tomorrow will be a great marker on this journey, one that I know will continue to bless my health and overall outlook on life.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
I have so much to be thankful for, but the ability to go out and run this morning 100 pounds lighter than last year at this time is just part of it. I get a little extreme with my weight loss and running sometimes and it can monopolize my time. Last night I realized how I wanted to run as far as I could this morning so I could know I was back on track for the marathon, but my priorities changed when I remembered how much Kiley likes for us to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade together. So I left the house a little after 8:00 with my goal for today to run 3 miles with my only time goal to be home in time for the parade...I have to go, it's about to start.
So much to be thankful for.
So much to be thankful for.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Back On Track
Well I am a few hours back into weight loss mode today and all is going well. It seems like it takes one good day to get my system back on track. I did a really poor job of eating in Chattanooga. I ate poorly on the road, I ate poorly at the house and I ate poorly at the restaurants. I have had more pizza, burgers, steaks, and chocolate in the last 3 weeks than I had all this year. My weight went up, but the most disappointing things are that my clothes are much tighter, my gout arthritis is hurting my foot, and I will not be able to eat and feel like I deserve to enjoy the food at Thanksgiving this year. Also I have no idea if I could go out and run 10 miles much less a marathon by Dec 1.
OK now I have vented about it, so what am I doing about it? I have done very well today back on weight loss mentality. I am not sure my foot feels good enough to run today, but I will lift tomorrow and try to run a little. Not eating a lot for Thanksgiving should not be that big a deal considering it was a year ago this week that I started this weight loss journey and had nothing but my protein shake for Thanksgiving last year.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support during these last few days with Larry's illness and death. We are very blessed.
OK now I have vented about it, so what am I doing about it? I have done very well today back on weight loss mentality. I am not sure my foot feels good enough to run today, but I will lift tomorrow and try to run a little. Not eating a lot for Thanksgiving should not be that big a deal considering it was a year ago this week that I started this weight loss journey and had nothing but my protein shake for Thanksgiving last year.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support during these last few days with Larry's illness and death. We are very blessed.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Life is HECTIC!!
I have gained about 16 pounds over the last two based on my scales this morning. I have been in Chattanooga with my wife and her family waiting for the death of her Dad. He died last night, so we will be going back for the funeral this weekend. We have put our lives on hold for the last few weeks and I have not run or even tried to eat well. As a matter of fact I have used the situation as an excuse to eat very poorly. I am not saying that the situtation is not much more important than my weight loss, but I have an obligation to protect my weight loss and to continue on my health journey. In our house church last night we talked about getting back up from mistakes quickly and not dwelling on our failures and that is what I intend to do. I have packed my scale for this trip and I plan on sticking to at least eathing healthy throught the rest of the week and weekend. I know based on my past that after a binge like I have been on and a big gain that if I just try a little I can lose 8-10 pounds in a week or so. SO here I go BACK ON TRACK,
By the way I still plan on beating Debbie to 30 pounds as soon as I get this extra 16 off. I am going to kick it in and lose 46 faster then it takes Debbie to lose 30!!! Yeah I know bold statement, but what do I have to lose??
By the way I still plan on beating Debbie to 30 pounds as soon as I get this extra 16 off. I am going to kick it in and lose 46 faster then it takes Debbie to lose 30!!! Yeah I know bold statement, but what do I have to lose??
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Long Time No Post
It has been busy. First let me update you on the situation with Kim's Dad. He is in the last stages of cancer, but his body continues to work somewhat. The hospice people are convinced he will not be with us much longer, but they said 5 days last Tuesday, so what do they know. We will continue to tralvel to Chattanooga on the weekends until he passes.
That brings me to how poorly I eat on the road. I am holding my weight, probably becasue of the 18 miles I ran Saturday and the weight lifting program I am know on, and the other running during the week, but it is not because I am eating well. I am really trying to lose weight not stay the same, especially with Debbie www.debbiecook.blogspot.com beating me in the race to lose 30 pounds. But I feel a loss coming on this week and I am thinking I will close the gap a little bit.
The marathon is coming up on DEC 1 and I am getting more and more excited about that.
Happy Halloween!
That brings me to how poorly I eat on the road. I am holding my weight, probably becasue of the 18 miles I ran Saturday and the weight lifting program I am know on, and the other running during the week, but it is not because I am eating well. I am really trying to lose weight not stay the same, especially with Debbie www.debbiecook.blogspot.com beating me in the race to lose 30 pounds. But I feel a loss coming on this week and I am thinking I will close the gap a little bit.
The marathon is coming up on DEC 1 and I am getting more and more excited about that.
Happy Halloween!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Prayers Needed
Kim is on a plane to Chattanooga to be with her dad, and I am about to get in the car and head that way. The doctors have told the family that there is nothing more they can do for him. They said it could me a matter of hours or days. Please pray for our family for Larry that God will give him peace and comfort him. Pray for Kim and her family that they will be comforted and find some peace in all of this.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Running Always Helps
This weekend, I think I have finally put Chicago behind me. I ran the local 1/2 marathon, the Fergus Snoddy, www.fergussnoddy.com. It was a great experience. I had a PR with 2:16:53 on a really hilly course. My friend's Greg and Chris ran the 5k and it was just a really good day. I am getting more excited about the Memphis Marathon on Dec 1.
Tomorrow starts my first training session with my trainer and our friend Karen, who has completed a couple of Ironmans and is a pretty darn good triathlete. She is going to help me lift weights for better endurance. As an ex-football player who has only known how to lift weights to get bigger and stronger I need some help in learning how to lift for endurance and sculpting and strengthening my core. We will lift together on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As some of you may know Debbie is a good friend of mine www.debbiecook.blogspot.com She has lost over 80 pounds and has now challenged me to see who can get the next 30 off the quickest. We have big money on the line, and as much as I like Deb, I hate losing, so I have no choice other than to BEAT HER INTO THE GROUND, AND TALK TRASH WHILE I AM DOING IT. With the love of Christ, of course.
Tomorrow starts my first training session with my trainer and our friend Karen, who has completed a couple of Ironmans and is a pretty darn good triathlete. She is going to help me lift weights for better endurance. As an ex-football player who has only known how to lift weights to get bigger and stronger I need some help in learning how to lift for endurance and sculpting and strengthening my core. We will lift together on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As some of you may know Debbie is a good friend of mine www.debbiecook.blogspot.com She has lost over 80 pounds and has now challenged me to see who can get the next 30 off the quickest. We have big money on the line, and as much as I like Deb, I hate losing, so I have no choice other than to BEAT HER INTO THE GROUND, AND TALK TRASH WHILE I AM DOING IT. With the love of Christ, of course.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
VERY DISSAPOINTED
I kind of thought I would be over the anger and frustration by today, but as you will be able to tell I am not. Let's cut to the chase, me and about 24,000 other race participants did not get to finish the Chicago Marathon this weekend. I think what makes me most angry is the reports on the news with the race director saying they had plenty of fluids on the course, that is bull crap.
Here is how is went down for us. Kim and I started between the 5:15 and the 5:30 pace group thinking that since it was a little hotter than we anticipated that we might not want to push it as hard at first, but if things were going well we would kick it in toward the later miles. That means we lined up with people who were supposed to be able to run between 10 and 11 minute miles, this is what we have run on training runs in Arkansas through one of the hottest summers on record. It took us over 20 minutes to get to the start line, which was no big deal considering the mass of humanity. Our first mile time was just over 10 minutes, right were we needed to be despite having to weave in and out of lines of people who lined up with us that had no intention of running! They started in the 5:15 pace group and knew they were going to walk?? I did not understand that, but hey we were moving right along and got to the first water stop around the 1.83 miles mark. Everything I have read says to take on water early and often in a marathon, especially a hot one, so even though were not in desperate need of water we knew we needed to drink. THERE WAS NO WATER OR GATORADE! We were in the middle of pack and they had already run out and folded the tables and put them on the side of the road! We were a little mad, but knew there would be another stop in just over a mile around mile 3. Again NO WATER and NO GATOR AIDE! At this point I think we were both a little freaked out but tried not to show it, Kim was more mad that we were running in the 30th running of the Chicago Marathon and something as simple as aide stations were not being run properly. Between mile 3 and the next water stop a church that was a cheering station had heard that they were running out of water and started giving out water in little dixie cups like you wash your mouth out with with mouthwash in your bathroom. We thought this was like getting manna from heaven we were so worried about water at this point. Just a couple miles up there was a band playing and one of the runners went over during the song and yelled in the mic, WE WANT WATER ON THE COURSE!! and everyone cheered. There were 3 water stops that I remember between there and mile 16 that had water, only one with Gatorade,and none that just had people handing you water like a normal race, every time someone saw some it was like throwing one bag of dog food out to 10,000 starving dogs, everyone pushing and shoving to get in line for a little cup of water. Around mile 15 a little girl must have seen the look on our faces and offered us her bottle of water and we shared it. We had been turned from runners to scavengers, I told Kim I signed up for a marathon not an adventure race. But we got mad at the course and said we are not going to let this beat us, we trained too hard and too long and if we have to walk, which we did some of, but were really beginning to get in a good groove after the halfway point, we would do what ever it took to finish. That is when people started yelling to STOP RUNNING, you are being diverted to Grant Park, the race is over!?? What?? No WAY! was our response, then a helicopter started flying over and giving the same instructions on the loud speaker. Our dream of finishing the marathon together was over, not because of anything we could have prevented, trust me we have gone back and forth, but us and everyone else were diverted to Grant Park. We had a couple of friends that started in pace groups ahead of us, and they said that even though they got past mile 17 before they closed in they were still told to stop running. We later heard that all the ambulances in Chicago and surrounding areas were being used and that the race could not support us any longer and that someone had died.
As Kim and I walked down that street towards Grant Park, I have to tell you I teared up a little, I realized how much closer Kim and I have grown together through this experience and was happy for all our long runs together and the weight I am losing and all the good things that have come from this experience, but at the same time I was so disappointed not to get to cross the finish line together holding hands and really getting to celebrate. I just don't understand how they could have called the whole thing off because of heat? They run marathons in Arizona and Arkansas and Tennessee, and I have never heard of an Ironman being called off because its hot outside. The bot tome line is this was poor preparation for the conditions from the race organizers and they need to step up and take responsibility.
If you have read this long I am sorry that you have had to read all my frustrations, but hope you realize that we are getting to be a peace with the fact we did everything we could, and there is no reason to second guess ourselves.
My plan is to run the local half marathon on Saturday here in Jonesboro, and then there is 5K and 10K I plan to run over the next month and keep my training up and then run the Memphis Marathon on Dec 1 in Memphis TN. Even though we got the medal and the t-shirt and all that crap in Chicago, I have not finished a marathon and I will on Dec 1.
Here is how is went down for us. Kim and I started between the 5:15 and the 5:30 pace group thinking that since it was a little hotter than we anticipated that we might not want to push it as hard at first, but if things were going well we would kick it in toward the later miles. That means we lined up with people who were supposed to be able to run between 10 and 11 minute miles, this is what we have run on training runs in Arkansas through one of the hottest summers on record. It took us over 20 minutes to get to the start line, which was no big deal considering the mass of humanity. Our first mile time was just over 10 minutes, right were we needed to be despite having to weave in and out of lines of people who lined up with us that had no intention of running! They started in the 5:15 pace group and knew they were going to walk?? I did not understand that, but hey we were moving right along and got to the first water stop around the 1.83 miles mark. Everything I have read says to take on water early and often in a marathon, especially a hot one, so even though were not in desperate need of water we knew we needed to drink. THERE WAS NO WATER OR GATORADE! We were in the middle of pack and they had already run out and folded the tables and put them on the side of the road! We were a little mad, but knew there would be another stop in just over a mile around mile 3. Again NO WATER and NO GATOR AIDE! At this point I think we were both a little freaked out but tried not to show it, Kim was more mad that we were running in the 30th running of the Chicago Marathon and something as simple as aide stations were not being run properly. Between mile 3 and the next water stop a church that was a cheering station had heard that they were running out of water and started giving out water in little dixie cups like you wash your mouth out with with mouthwash in your bathroom. We thought this was like getting manna from heaven we were so worried about water at this point. Just a couple miles up there was a band playing and one of the runners went over during the song and yelled in the mic, WE WANT WATER ON THE COURSE!! and everyone cheered. There were 3 water stops that I remember between there and mile 16 that had water, only one with Gatorade,and none that just had people handing you water like a normal race, every time someone saw some it was like throwing one bag of dog food out to 10,000 starving dogs, everyone pushing and shoving to get in line for a little cup of water. Around mile 15 a little girl must have seen the look on our faces and offered us her bottle of water and we shared it. We had been turned from runners to scavengers, I told Kim I signed up for a marathon not an adventure race. But we got mad at the course and said we are not going to let this beat us, we trained too hard and too long and if we have to walk, which we did some of, but were really beginning to get in a good groove after the halfway point, we would do what ever it took to finish. That is when people started yelling to STOP RUNNING, you are being diverted to Grant Park, the race is over!?? What?? No WAY! was our response, then a helicopter started flying over and giving the same instructions on the loud speaker. Our dream of finishing the marathon together was over, not because of anything we could have prevented, trust me we have gone back and forth, but us and everyone else were diverted to Grant Park. We had a couple of friends that started in pace groups ahead of us, and they said that even though they got past mile 17 before they closed in they were still told to stop running. We later heard that all the ambulances in Chicago and surrounding areas were being used and that the race could not support us any longer and that someone had died.
As Kim and I walked down that street towards Grant Park, I have to tell you I teared up a little, I realized how much closer Kim and I have grown together through this experience and was happy for all our long runs together and the weight I am losing and all the good things that have come from this experience, but at the same time I was so disappointed not to get to cross the finish line together holding hands and really getting to celebrate. I just don't understand how they could have called the whole thing off because of heat? They run marathons in Arizona and Arkansas and Tennessee, and I have never heard of an Ironman being called off because its hot outside. The bot tome line is this was poor preparation for the conditions from the race organizers and they need to step up and take responsibility.
If you have read this long I am sorry that you have had to read all my frustrations, but hope you realize that we are getting to be a peace with the fact we did everything we could, and there is no reason to second guess ourselves.
My plan is to run the local half marathon on Saturday here in Jonesboro, and then there is 5K and 10K I plan to run over the next month and keep my training up and then run the Memphis Marathon on Dec 1 in Memphis TN. Even though we got the medal and the t-shirt and all that crap in Chicago, I have not finished a marathon and I will on Dec 1.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Mile Dedication
I have decided to dedicate some miles in the marathon to my friends and family. Especially the hard miles, some would say this cheeesy, but it is a big deal to me.
Mile One and mile 26 is dedicated to my life partner, supporter, running partner and mother of my childern.. Kim, I love you and appreciate your encouragment on this journey.
Miles 5 and 15 are dedicated to my sister Shelena, she likes the number 5 a lot and she is the best sister I have so it was only natural
Miles 13 and 20 are dedicated to my parents for putting up with me, I love and apprecaite their support so much, and they continue to be great examples for Kim and I, our marriage and our parenting.
Miles 24 and 25 are dedicated to Kiley and Robyn because I might want to quit then, but can't imagine coming home and not showing them my medal.
Mile 7 and 12 are dedicated to my father-in-law who is struggling with cancer, Larry and Susan were going to be in Chicago to see Kim and I, but they are in a hospital in Chattanooga.
Mile 15 is dedicated to our house church, thanks so much to Debbie, Chris, Polly, Dan, Scarlett, Greg, Carolyn, Jason, Julie, and past members Philip and Brooks who have moved to Hot Springs.
Finally Mile 16 is dedicated to all you people who read and comment on my blog and have been supportive and cotinue to motivate me on in my weight loss and physical endevors. This includes you Kevin, thanks for using ass or damn in every comment you have ever posted.
Mile One and mile 26 is dedicated to my life partner, supporter, running partner and mother of my childern.. Kim, I love you and appreciate your encouragment on this journey.
Miles 5 and 15 are dedicated to my sister Shelena, she likes the number 5 a lot and she is the best sister I have so it was only natural
Miles 13 and 20 are dedicated to my parents for putting up with me, I love and apprecaite their support so much, and they continue to be great examples for Kim and I, our marriage and our parenting.
Miles 24 and 25 are dedicated to Kiley and Robyn because I might want to quit then, but can't imagine coming home and not showing them my medal.
Mile 7 and 12 are dedicated to my father-in-law who is struggling with cancer, Larry and Susan were going to be in Chicago to see Kim and I, but they are in a hospital in Chattanooga.
Mile 15 is dedicated to our house church, thanks so much to Debbie, Chris, Polly, Dan, Scarlett, Greg, Carolyn, Jason, Julie, and past members Philip and Brooks who have moved to Hot Springs.
Finally Mile 16 is dedicated to all you people who read and comment on my blog and have been supportive and cotinue to motivate me on in my weight loss and physical endevors. This includes you Kevin, thanks for using ass or damn in every comment you have ever posted.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Last Training Run Down
I just got in from my last training run, we leave in the morning for Chicago!!!
Thanks to all of you for your support and good wishes.
I will give a full race report when I return on late Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Thanks to all of you for your support and good wishes.
I will give a full race report when I return on late Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Monday, October 01, 2007
GAME WEEK!!
This is the week, the CHICAGO MARATHON is just 6 days away!! After a week of physical therapy and really good drugs, my back is feeling close to 100% Kim and I ran 9 miles Saturday and it went great. I appreciate all the prayers and concern for me, it was a very depressing couple of days last week for me, but all seems to being going well now.
The plan is to leave Friday morning and get about 2 hours outside if the windy city and then head in Saturday morning. We will go get checked in and go to the expo and hope to eat with some friends on Saturday night. Then the big race on Sunday. After my back problems and not getting as many training miles in as I wanted I am not going in with any finish time expectations other than to to finish. I am excited and look forward to reporting on the race and the trip.
The plan is to leave Friday morning and get about 2 hours outside if the windy city and then head in Saturday morning. We will go get checked in and go to the expo and hope to eat with some friends on Saturday night. Then the big race on Sunday. After my back problems and not getting as many training miles in as I wanted I am not going in with any finish time expectations other than to to finish. I am excited and look forward to reporting on the race and the trip.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Houston We Have A Problem!!
This weekend we took the motor home to Knoxville to tailgate and watch the Vols play the Arkansas State Indians. It was a great trip, but on the way home I jumped out of the RV at a gas station and missed a step, I landed upright, but had a really bad pain in my lower back. When we got home three hours later, I could hardly move. I could not bend over at all and I looked like I was a 98 year getting in and out of my car. I had ruptured disc surgery in high school because of a football injury, and I have not had pain this severe since then and two weeks before the marathon. I am taking drugs and going to therapy and if it does not get better by Friday I am supposed to have an MRI. My doctor really thinks it is just ligament damage because there is no pain going down my legs like the last time, but he says if it does not get better, then that he could be wrong. Of course I asked him about the marathon and he said if I can run without pain,and we rule out the disc problem then I can go for it, but I am not supposed to do any running till Friday, I will miss a whole week and a half of training, but at this point I really feel like you would have to take my leg off not to try and do the marathon. I don't really have any pain standing or walking, so I am thinking I won't have pain running. I am going to give it a try tomorrow, I will let you know how it goes.
Monday, September 17, 2007
20 MILES
Saturday was the best and longest training run of my program. Now I will be running less and less till the race on Oct 7. It was a beautiful day and the temp was lower than any of the previous runs, my legs and lungs felt great and Kim and I were pumped 4 hours after we started to be finished with it. I can't explain how great it feels to be done with that run. I really did feel like I could make it another 6.2 when we finished Saturday. Now I am concerned with what I am going to do about all this nervous energy that I will have now that the runs will be shorter for the next 3 weeks. I guess I will have time to read and actually have energy to do other stuff.
I hope to curtail my eating as much as the running, so that I won't have a weight gain over the next 3 weeks. As matter of fact I hopw to lose a little more weight before the race. Now that I will not have to fuel for more than 3-8 miles on most days between now and then I think I will have more confindence that I can get those run in and eat a lot less.
I have been thinking a lot about what my athletic goals will be after the marathon and I am not sure that this is the time in my life to train for an Ironman. As much as I still want to accomplish that goal, the time commitment I have had to make to the marathon has caused me to miss out on family things and rush through other stuff. I think I might need to wait till Robyn gets a little older. I may not sign up for the Ironman for next year, but start lifting weights again after the marathon and stay in shape for 5 and 10ks and think about a half ironman sometime next year. With all the things going on in my life it will be very difficult to make the kind of training comittment that an Ironman would take right now. I think I may re-focus my goals to getting my weight to the 200 pounds mark and working towards running a few 5 and 10ks this fall and winter. I am currently planning on running the Grizzly House 5K again this year with my friend's Von and Melissa, it will be their first race ever and I am excited to be there and experiance it with them, and go back to where I ran my first race 3 years ago, but this time over 150 pounds lighter and with a couple of 1/2 marathons and a marathon under my belt.
I hope to curtail my eating as much as the running, so that I won't have a weight gain over the next 3 weeks. As matter of fact I hopw to lose a little more weight before the race. Now that I will not have to fuel for more than 3-8 miles on most days between now and then I think I will have more confindence that I can get those run in and eat a lot less.
I have been thinking a lot about what my athletic goals will be after the marathon and I am not sure that this is the time in my life to train for an Ironman. As much as I still want to accomplish that goal, the time commitment I have had to make to the marathon has caused me to miss out on family things and rush through other stuff. I think I might need to wait till Robyn gets a little older. I may not sign up for the Ironman for next year, but start lifting weights again after the marathon and stay in shape for 5 and 10ks and think about a half ironman sometime next year. With all the things going on in my life it will be very difficult to make the kind of training comittment that an Ironman would take right now. I think I may re-focus my goals to getting my weight to the 200 pounds mark and working towards running a few 5 and 10ks this fall and winter. I am currently planning on running the Grizzly House 5K again this year with my friend's Von and Melissa, it will be their first race ever and I am excited to be there and experiance it with them, and go back to where I ran my first race 3 years ago, but this time over 150 pounds lighter and with a couple of 1/2 marathons and a marathon under my belt.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Better Blogger
I need to be a better blogger, but if I don't have time to run, I really don't have time to blog. I only got in two of my runs for last week, but this is the big week. This is the week that gives you the mental edge to run the marathon. Everyone has told be if I make it through this week the marathon is a done deal as long as I don't get injured. So yesterday was 5 today is 10 and tomorrow is 5 rest on Friday and the big 20 mile training run is Saturday. I have done 18, so I am not sure that 20 will be that much harder, but on the heals of this week and the challenges to my schedule and all the other stuff that has been going on, I think just having the time to prepare for it and lay out the water and feel good about it will be the hardest challenge.
The weather is great and it will be a blessing to out and running in it. I am really excited about the marathon, it is less that a month away. After this week the runs get shorter and shorter till the OCT 7.
The weather is great and it will be a blessing to out and running in it. I am really excited about the marathon, it is less that a month away. After this week the runs get shorter and shorter till the OCT 7.
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