Confession and some confidence

Confession.

It has been difficult to get where I was in my running program. I guess I can't say that I had a program begin with. I am more of an amateur runner and would just run to run - in fact us amateurs pay to run in a race just to finish it. Anyways, it's been difficult. This week I have struggled with the commitment I've made to run a half-marathon in just five weeks. Granted, if I was a brand new runner and not conditioned for long distances in the least bit - I wouldn't have chosen such a date so close. This race though is not going to be crowded, it's cheap (only $30), and it sounds like good race swag.

Tonight was a confidence booster though. I'm a youth minister and sometimes part of my job consists of youth events, like lock-ins. We had one Friday night up until this morning. I was beat. I tried to sleep but of course when you need the best sleep - everything prevents it. That was true today. I kept falling asleep all day just to be awakened by something else. With all that said, I still found it in me to go get my long run in tonight at 9:30pm in the dark. I didn't run all of it but ran 4/5 of it at an okay pace. I did it though - I followed through again and that definitely built my confidence up.

That's what I needed

Gettin it back.

I'm gonna go run on the track tonight again. Today is suppose to be a rest/cross train day, but yesterday I went out of town and on my way back had lots of car trouble. Not fun. An hour trip took nearly 2 1/2 hours. This really isn't the best timing for that car to go out, but we've always been taking care of when things seem out of control so I'm going to stay focused on things I can control... like running.

I actually set my alarm to a time before 6 am this morning so that I could get the missed run in before work today - but I didn't get up until 6:45am. Bummer. Oh well. I think a lot of people stress out when they miss a run, but missing a run is not the end of the world. Yes, you might feel bad, lazy, and/or bummed that you didn't get to go out - but that rest also may be the thing that you needed.

I'm glad I am back in the swing of running, eating right, and blogging - I think I might have missed this.

Run. Rest. Basketball. Evaluate. Run. Pleasure. Pumpkin Spice.

Yesterday was day two of my training and it was a 3 mile easy run. I decided to do the run at the track in the evening - 7:30pm when it's cooler [80 degrees]. I haven't run on a track very much at all. While I found the running not to be that bad, it was completely monotonous. I found it hard to keep track of lap count. Anyhow, I completed my run and could see a storm coming in the distance, it was pretty cool to see the lightening just in the clouds.

I came home and ate a wonderful Berry Banana Smoothie - so good. Bananas are good for muscles and cramps right?!

I woke myself, and my wife, up in pain due to a killer calf cramp. It was a painful one. Luckily, today is a Rest/XT day in the half-marathon training program. It has felt better as the day continues.

With a sore leg and a busy mind due to an evaluation tonight from my employers - I needed something to get my mind focused and my leg stretched out.

Our local community center has a gym and it is cost-free so I went down and played some basketball for about an 1 1/2 hours or more to give my leg some stretching. Tomorrow is another 3 miler and I think my leg will be fine. I will do plenty of stretching before and after the run. I find it so much easier to do what needs to get done, in terms of working out and such, when there is a goal that you're shooting for.

I like runs that have the sole purpose of pleasure, but having something that you are aiming for really kicks you in gear.

After my evaluation - I'm gonna come home and my wife is going to make me a Pumpkin Spice latte - I'm so ready for it now!

Take care!

Sept 24. 2011. Half Marathon is Happenin

So, I've committed to doing a Half Marathon which is on September 24th, 2011 in Fort Scott, Kansas.

This will be my first half-marathon and it's kind of crazy to think about because I haven't really been training. I have increased my activity by a great amount, except for vacation last week :/

I've gone on a few runs and have been playing ball at the local community center. It's good to be back in it - the physical activity of everything anyways.

That Half-marathon is just 5 weeks away. That means in 5 weeks I will be running 13.1 miles. To be honest, I don't know if I'll run all 13.1 miles of it, probably not, but I will be able to check that off of my list of things that I wanted to accomplish this year.

It is the 1st half marathon that this place will be putting on so I am unsure of what to expect. It is a gradual downhill run except for the hill at the finish. So, we'll run downhill for quite some time, probably won't even realize we are, and then climb back up it at the finish. I have modified a Runner's World half training program to make it work during this short training period. I have been running for some time now that I think this will work for me. I'm not running for time, especially since I have not been training for a long time for it, but to finish. I have 3 hours to finish the 13.1 miles - so my goal is to finish.

If you think about it - how many people can really say that they have ocmpleted a Half-Marathon?

I can't yet, but hope to be able to soon.

Here's my plan:

Running Playlist

Two days in a row of blogging?!! 28 more and it's a habit right!

I went out and tackled the Missouri 95 degree weather (heat index 103), of course with my Imitation camelback. It was hot and I walked probably half of it, but it was nice not worrying about distance! I just went to get healthier. Besides that, I wanted to include my running playlist today below.

The Almost - 'Monster Monster'
Lyricist - 'Money' (this guy has sold out on his new stuff)
For Today - 'Never Lose Sight'
The Almost - 'Stop It'
LeCrae - ''Walking on Water'
Group 1crew - 'Lean on Me'
LeCrae - 'Transfomers'
TFK - 'Rawkfist'
Group1Crew - 'love is a beautiful thing'
Switchfoot - 'Mess of Me'
Flame - 'Move'
Trip Lee - 'The Invasion'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7piEIaJvIo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Check these out if you have time!

It isn't as easy as the first time.

It isn't as easy as the first time for me.

It seems that I hadn't been able to get back into the groove of things whenever I tried to get.. Well - back into the groove of things. I put about ten lbs on and just felt sloppy. Clothes didn't feel right, stomach felt bloated, and I haven't been able to run very much. That part especially stinks because I so want to run.

I've found that it isn't as easy as the first time that I tried to lose all of the weight - and the reason I think is because I am at such a lower weight than before that I have to do things a lot differently than then. I will be doing a lot of the same things with portions that I eat and such, but I definately have to be more aware of my health decisions. Another big thing is that I have to make time to work out. Eating right is most of it, but I have probably lost my edge if I were to go run a 5k race.

That's just the truth.

Well, as of this morning I have weighed in at 205.8 lbs. Much better than 255+ lbs, but not where I need to be. It'll probably be a little bit before I get back into blogging moreoften, but I might surprise you and just rock it out again!

I am finished with the multiple week long traveling for work this Summer. Don't get me wrong, I had a blast while going to the different camps and then especially to Colorado, but I am glad to be home.

Another thing- our baby BOY is due in just 14 weeks!

Weigh In Picture

I'm in a new weight loss challenge. I decided not to continue hosting the challenges for a while, but there have been many to branch off and keep helping others. I have joined one as I have gained back about 10 lbs this last 7 months (since moving for a new job).

I've been running - just not as often, but am back at it. I'm finding time to put things back in order and it's going well. I missed running!

here's the weigh-in picture for the start of the 6 week challenge!

Morning time: I'm loving it!

I bet you thought the post was about McD's. It's not.

I'm trying to form a new habit and McD's is not it.

On Saturday, my wife woke up at 4 am not feeling well (probably didn't help that she ate a 6" sub at 10:00pm) and woke me up too. I already struggled to get to sleep (probably b/c I ate a 6" sub at 10:00pm), but I was up for the day! Saturday was a big day and I had a lot to do - (I'm a youth minister and had put together a HUGE Easter egg hunt (3000 eggs huge) and my mind wouldn't let me go back to sleep thinking about it. I did not fill all of hose eggs though -- everyone chipped in and it was mostly the youth group.

Anyways, I was up that morning at 4 and out of bed at 5. I have to admit it - I liked it! I liked having had a bunch of stuff done by 8am.

I've decided that I'm gonna try to get up between 5 & 6am daily. I'm on day 3! The is BIG b/c I am typically not a morning person. I'm gonna finish up this blog post and get on the treadmill a little bit, shower, eat breakfast, and have time tIme to rest before going into the church! This.is.crazy.

I do have to admit - I feel like an old person being up-and-attem this early.

Enjoy your day!