Eight Days out from First 10K

I look forward to running in Colorado in about a week for the annual BolderBoulder which takes place every year on Memorial Day. While I have been running and training for this event, I do not feel as though I am ready. I did have one of my best runs so far this year this past Thursday, but the others have not been great. Feeling lousy with breathing or following a run have all been part of the process. I am very excited to be running in Boulder, CO and to run in my first 10K.

The training and motivation has not been very strong at all this year. While I am putting in the effort to run at least three times a week, I have often times found myself having to talk myself into running. Tonight, we are having storms and so I would need to run inside, well, I made the excuse that I do not want to run as the power might go out. A new workout I have been doing is spin class. That is helping me to build endurance and push myself on days where I would normally not be doing anything at all. Still, I find that I am struggling as I go for runs.

We will arrive in Boulder on Saturday which will give us Saturday to get use to the altitude. I plan to do a light run on Sunday and then Monday is the big day for the race. I have not checked the weather yet, but I am hoping for nice weather for our run too.

My goal for this first 10K is to run the whole thing and not walk. I want to go at a moderate pace with it being somewhere in the neighborhood of 10:30 - 12:00 minute miles. I know that I often times am sucked into the start of a race and go very fast, but I know that I will not be able to maintain a 9 - 10 minute pace if I do that type of pace... especially in the altitude. So, I am hoping to target about a 11:30 minute pace and stick to it. If I can stick to that pace, I will finish the 10K in about one hour and eleven minutes. While this is a much slower pace than what I normally run for 5K's or even when I am out running in the neighborhood, I do not think I can maintain anything faster for this race.

The other part of the running is my diet. I have been very steady with my weight for the past year. This year, unlike last year, I have not cut out alcohol from my diet. This helped me lose weight the fastest and kept it off. I love the cold beer in the evening or following the mowing of the lawn, so I made the decision I would not cut out drinks. They taste good and gives me a reward following a workout or working in the yard.

I continue to use MyFitnessPal to track my calories and also my workouts. I have been using the site for the past three years. Great site! This site allows me to record my weight daily, weekly, or whenever you like. I was tracking it daily, but now it is randomly throughout the month. My weight stays right around 220. Yes, sometimes I dip down to 215 or go up as high as 225, but I usually fall right back down again to the 220 mark. That seems to be my constant.

I hope that following the race in Colorado, I will have another post. A post with additional pictures and of me smiling at the finish line with a respectable time. Until then, I hope you have a great spring and I do plan to post more over the summer.

 

Working Out and Planning for Trolly Run

I cannot wait for Spring... To Run Outside!

Once again, it has been a while since I have posted anything. I had plans of posting about various things regarding my workouts, board meetings, and other random thoughts. Yes, the last time I posted anything, it was in January.

My workout has not been going all that well. While I have been running regularly, I do not feel as though I have the endurance or motivation that I had last year at this time. I am doing the Couch to 10K and I love the process, but I feel like I am struggling. I get tired and have aches when only running for three minute blocks for thirteen times mixed with walking for two minutes thirty second. Some of the workouts are 78 minutes and others are 58 minutes. I am mid-way through the program and still have a long way to go. Soon, I will be "required" to run for the entire time and I am not sure at this point if I will be able to do the whole route running.

I do still enjoy the process. I enjoy the act of running which is something I never thought I would say. I am looking forward to being able to run outside. I know, I could have been running outside at least a few times the past few weeks, but when it was nice and when I could run were on two different schedules. So, I have been left to run inside on a treadmill.

No, I really do not mind running on a treadmill. Do I enjoy it? No! I do not enjoy the process of running on the treadmill in one stationary location. What I do love is being able to watch Netflix while I run. That might be for another posting where I talk about the shows I like to watch while I run on the treadmill. I will miss being able to watch shows while I am running. If I am not watching shows, then I am watching basketball or listening to Washburn on the radio.

I am training for the Trolly Run which is at the end of April. I ran in this race last year for the first time and I loved it! Done very well and the route is very nice. The route is downhill for the most part, but not bad at all. Goes through the neighborhoods of the Plaza in Kansas City. Last year it was raining and it was cold! I am hoping for nice weather this year. I am taking donations, so please take a moement to donate to over 300 children in the Kansas City area that need assistance with their vision. I hope that those of you that are runners that read my page will consider taking part in the Trolly Run too as it is a lot of fun and goes to a good cause.

Memorial Day weekend is a perfect time to take place in a 10K race in Boulder, Colorado. I cannot wait! My first 10K is set to be May 27, 2013 in Colorado. The BolderBoulder will be my first race and that's what I am training for with the Couch to 10K. I have a few months until I run in this race, but I think I will be ready. By that time, I should be able to run outside here in Topeka a few times and hopefully I will be ready for Memorial Day in Boulder, Colorado.

The last week of March will be my first attempt at doing a regular class at the rec center at Washburn University. I joined the gym back in 2012 and I have only been one time. I am going to start my first spinning class and I am excited for it to start. The class is at 6:30 in the morning Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but I think I will be able to do it and I love to cycle. I will keep you posted on my status and ability to attend the classes.

Until the next time... which I hope is not as long as this post... Happy trails and running!

 

First 10K in May, Other Races, and Motivation

Signed up for my first 10K in May. I will be running in Boulder, Colorado for the BolderBoulder. I cannot wait! I am having a difficult time getting motivated to start this year with running. I miss running outside and cannot wait for it to get warmer so I can be outside running.

I signed up for the gym at Washburn and have only managed to get there once since I signed up. I know that is sad! We have a treadmill in our basement, so I use that when I do workout. Last summer I was managing to workout (run) 3 - 4 times a week. Since about November, I have only been managing to do 1 - 2 times a week and sometimes taking a week or two off before running again. Since the start of the year, I have been running 1 - 2 times a week, but intend to increase that rate.

I know that I will run in at least three 5K's this spring/summer. The Trolley Run in Kansas City was one I did last year and had a great time. The Washburn Alumni Fun run which is in the Fall is another one that I will do towards the end of the running season. Sometimes in July, you can count on seeing me at the Fiesta 5K. So, I have my targets lined up and the motivation is starting to build.... in my head. Now to put the motivation to work and get me running on a regular basis.

Over the next few months, I do plan on getting to the SWRC at Washburn at least once a month. I plan to limit my calorie (beer) in take with the goal of dropping weight. Finally, I plan on running at least three times a week with a big mile push each Sunday as I get back into shape and use to running.

I hope your running and exercise is going as expected. Until next time... Happy running!

 

Running Update for November... Updated in December

We are flying high over the United States on our way to Florida where we will spend one and half days before departing on our cruise. The plan for the cruise is to work out everyday. Treadmill, track, or running on the beach... Keep the running alive even while being on vacation.

My running the past month has been probably once or twice a week on average. With the days getting darker earlier and the cold starting to set in has led me back to running on our treadmill. I joined the gym at work, but have only been there once... That was only to check it out and see if I would like it. I need to get a new lock and figure out a routine for using the work gym. In the meantime, I have been running regularly on the old treadmill in the basement.

I really do not mind running on the treadmill. However, since I got my Garmin watch and like tracking miles and where I run, I miss not being outside to run. A few times when it has been nice, I have run outside. It is so easy to get cold running outside even when the temperatures have not been bad at all. Not having the right running clothes for winter has a lot to do about that problem.

The above three paragraphs were written while on our way to our cruise...  I never got back into finish up this draft blog posting and just came across it today.  So much for keeping the blogging going as I mentioned in my last post.  Instead of clearing this post, I decided I would go ahead and post it.

I did keep the exercise going during our vacation back in November.  I ran a couple times during our time in Florida and then while on the cruise ship.  Even though I ran, I gained a lot of weight.  With the vacation and holidays which includes a lot of eating, the battle of getting to my target weight is not working too well.

The running continued into December, but so did the eating.  I am basically back up to where I was a year ago when I started all of my exercise.  It still amazes me that when I take off a week or two from running that the next time I run I feel horrible.  It should be a lesson to myself not to take off because it is just like starting out new when I start running after a week or two off.

Until next time... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Already into October and My Update

It is hard to believe that we are already into the month of October.  In fact, we are fast approaching the end of the month.  The end of football season and the beginning of basketball season.  Where did the Fall go?

I have been running on a regular basis.  This past week, I decided to join on our gym at work.  I figured it would help motivate me to lift weights because I am definitely not doing so with my home weight set.  I also joined the gym so that as it gets colder out, I have a place to run inside.  They have a track that is indoors, but it is only 1/8 of mile around.  Yeah, so that is a lot of laps to make one mile.  Still, better than running outside and I have treadmills if I need them.

My races are over for this year.  I thought about possibly doing another 5K in November, but at this point I do not think I will be doing so.  Some friends are going to be running in the Thanksgiving races, but I will be headed to Florida at that time or on a boat enjoying cold drinks.  So, I do not think I will be running in any more races this year.

Next year I am looking forward to my first ever attempt at running a 10K.  Right now, that first time appears that it will take place in Denver, Colorado.  I am looking to sustain my 5K running through the winter months running at the gym or possibly outside if there are nice days.  Then, starting in February or March, I plan to start training for the 10K.  I have only run the mileage for what is a 10K once or twice while out running in my neighborhood.... never in a race.  I am excited!

Happy running!  Until next time!

Time Flies Once Again...

Well, here we are early into September and I have not posted anything since July. I am going to try and pick up my posts again and fill in some of the blanks from the past few months. I trust everyone had a fun and safe summer. I know my summer was crazy! July was so busy with traveling and I turned 40 that it kept me away from writing anything at all. Yes, I thought about posting updates, but I just simply did not take the time to do so.

I intend to start regular updates once again. I know, this is a common theme in my updates over the course of the past few years, but I do intend to get regular updates posted at least once a month. I should have a few more updates before the end of the month to catch up on some of the things that have taken place since July.

 

Month Seven Update and Third Race of the Year Results

Front View Month 7 Update

July brought me to month seven of my life style change. Eating differently and working out at least three times a week. All of this since January 2, 2012. I mentioned in my last update that I would post picture updates of my weight loss status. After seven months, I really cannot see a difference from month two, three, or seven. Even though when I look down I think I can see a flatter stomach, but still when I stand in front of a mirror or look at my pictures, I can still see my gut. Ah, the love of beer and not eating right for so long makes it fun to try and lose the belly. I have mentioned it a number of times, but last year when I did this same thing the weight seemed to drop off much easier and I could see major differences when looking in the mirror or viewing pictures. Maybe it is because I am nearing in on the big 40, but this time I do not see the difference.

Month Seven Side View

I feel better and can run farther. I do not ache when I run and I cannot wait until I run again. When I do not run, I try to figure out when I will be able to get another run in as soon as possible. Still, I do not see any differences in how I look. While only a little frustrating, it is by no means going to deter me from continuing to eat well and run.

So, there you have it... A front and side view of my seventh month in my new life style change. I do not see much difference, but I continue to work at it.

Now, on to my big news for the month of July. I ran in my third race of the year and my second 5K of the year. I had my personal record (PR) in this race. I did not start out intending to run as fast as I did, but I felt great and just started running. I started off with a good pace. Even though my Blackberry Endomondo app said it was still searching for a signal when the race started, it seemed to catch up and register correctly. It clocked my first mile at 9:28 and it only got better from there.

The official results of the race were posted this evening and I was thrilled with my time:

145 JOHN HAVERTY Topeka KS 20 40 M 12 40-44 29:06 9:23/M

The results are from Sunflower Striders web site who record the official results of most races in the area. This was the Fiesta 5K race which helped to kick off the week long Fiesta Festival in Topeka. My official time was 29 minutes and six seconds. I blew my previous 5K PR finish out of the water with this race. My previous PR was a little over 31 minutes. I shaved off about two minutes of time and had a average pace of 9:23 a mile.

Oh, I forgot to mention that yes the "40 M" that you see in the race results above was a mistake on my part. When I filled out the form for the Fiesta 5K back in early June, I made the mistake of putting down that I would be 40 on the date of the race. Well, I do not turn 40 for another 18 days from the race date. Opps! Well, I do not think that it caused any major problems other than my friends teasing me about not know how old I was for the race.

Other news involves a new purchase I made for my running and biking. I just purchased a Garmin FR210 with heart monitor. It should be here in about a week and I cannot wait. I am hoping with this new Garmin watch that it will be easier to track my miles and of course it will be much more accurate than that of my Blackberry. I am sure it will also help to motivate me to run and bike.

My next race is scheduled for the end of August in another 5K race in Kansas City. It will have a lot of hills (I ran it last year) and I doubt my time will come anywhere close to the 29:06 of the Fiesta.

Happy running....