Running Most

Training Report

2008-01-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, was a pretty good day, though i didn't do as much as i had hoped to. I did have a great game of Ultimate Frisbee in the morning, followed up by a 20 bike ride, i was actually quite disappointed in my ride, though i rode pretty strong, i just didn't see to have it in me to be out there too long on the bike. I don't know what is up with that. I did have to fight a pretty good head wind most of the ride. Flatwoods seems to be pretty good about having to fight the wind pretty much any way you go. I did end of passing pretty much everyone i had set out to. Also there was one rider who seemed to be riding pretty strong that took me awhile to catch him, when i did i sat on his wheel for about 30 seconds, then pulled up to take my turn pulling, to show that i wasn't just going to sit back on his wheel. After i took a pretty long pull at a good pace 22-23mph, i signaled that i was pulling off and going to let him pull. But he didn't pull up, so i had to continue to pull did this for a while more then tired to let him pull again, this time he did pull. He did pretty well, when it was my turn to pull again, i eased up and made sure that he had a chance to get under wheel before i really cranked up the speed. When i was ready for a break i signelled and pulled back only to find that i had uninvertently dropped him, i was pretty tired at this point, i rode hard expecting to have some help, but was never really helped by the guy so i decided to head in to listen to the rest of the bucs game.

I also had planned to throw in another run last night but that never did happen. Even though Monday's are suppose to be my day off i think i am going to go for a run this evening. i have to start bumping up my running mileage if i am going to be ready to run the 1/2 Marathon in February.

2007 In Review 2008 Goals

2008-01-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

Over the past 12 months my life has changed in many ways, most of them i would say are for the better. This year i have for one become much more goal oriented, and with that, i would like to take a quick step back, and look what all happened in my life in 2007, and take a look forward to 2008.

This past year, i have gone from a overweight, sedidentry guy, to someone who dreads not being able to work out and abhors being fat. I believe that i have had more change in my life in 2007 then pretty much any other year, at least that i can remember. I can only hope that i will see more change happen in 2008, and as long as i am able to stay healthy, then that should be acomplished.

In June of 2007 a good friend from college of mine, Neil put a photo of me on his facebook account. He did not put it up there to be mean or to poke fun at me, he did it b/c it was a picture of us from another of our friends weeding. But that photo has had more impact on me concerning my health than i believe any other thing. In photos we can truly see who we are, and what we look like. I find that many times in life, we can look at ourselves in a mirror and lie to ourselves, we look but we only see who we think we are not, what everyone else sees. But in pictures, we actually get to see who we really are. This photo did that for me, it let me see who i really was, a pathiticly overweight guy who was doing nothing but killing himself, as long as i kept up the lifestyle i was living. Looking at that photo i was discusted with myself, and that night i decided to make a change, and make one that would last the rest of my life. I decided that i was no longer going to be a fat ass. sorry for the crudeness, but that is what i was. From that day i was going to make a change, it is one that has taken me quite far already, but i still have a long way to go.

I didn't go to a surgeon and get some procedure done, i didn't go see a hpynotis to have them change my thinking, no i just decided that i was going get into shape, and that i was going to focus my attention on that goal. It was going to mean that i was going to have to change many aspects of my life. I was going to have to change my friends, change where, and what i ate, i was going to have to change all my priorities. Though i had some great friends that i would miss their company, i knew that if i continued down the same path that i was walking, yet expected to see a different result, then i would be a fool. I would have to change everything. And that is precisly what i did. I change everything.

I started July weighing 343.3 lbs. I knew that i would never weigh that much ever again. Thankfully i ended 2007 weighing 238lbs. For those of you not great at math, that is 105.3lbs lighter. I actually know adults who weigh that much. So over the course of 6 months i lost the equivelnt to a petit women, that is incrediable to me.

I also learned to love running, and working out. All my life growing up i don't believe that i every loved running, heck when i played football in highschool i hated running, but during this period of life change i came to love and look forward to a good run. and to anyone out there who is acutlly reading this blog who says i can't run, or i hate running, i encourage you to give it a fair try, and i bet that you might truly come to love it. There is just something about it, it will make you feel truly alive. After a good hard workout, the air that flows through your lungs, giving you right life giving oxyegon. all i can say is wow.

If it wasn't for my good dog buster who i had to have put down this year i don't think that i would have found out that i do in fact love running. You see my folks were out of town for a month in July, and i needed to go over and take buster out for a walk each day. Well after we were walking for about a week, i decided that i would try a little jog. I would say to buster who was 15years old how about we try jogging for a block, and that is how far we would go, then it would be two blocks, by the end of july i was dropping buster off after we had walk/jogged for about 30 min, and i would go out for another cirlce around the block, i was now able to jogged 3/4 of the block without stopping. Well august came and my folks got back in town, so i didn't need to keep walking buster, so i talked to a good friend of mine, and asked if i could walk their dog, a 2 year old black lab, who loved running. and with her, i truly started a love affair with running. Soon i was going out for 3-4 miles each day of jogging, I ended up competing in several 5k races over the next couple of months with my fastest time being 30:00. for those who don't know a 5k race is 3.1 miels long.

While doing one of these 5k races, i was introduced to another sport, or should i say three sports, it was called a Triathlon. I signed up to compete in a sprint Triathlon which i raced in and did quite well at the start of November. Well competeing in one of those was a blast and it opened up a whole new can of worms. for those of you who know me know that when i do something i have to do it to the absolute fullest. so now my sights are set on becomming an Iron Man. The Iron man length races are a 2.6mile swim, followed by a 112mile bike ride, then followed with a 26.2 mile run. In 2008 i plan on competeing in what they call a half iron man, which is a total of 70.3 miles. a 1.2mile swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 run. Then i would like to compete in a full ironman in 2009, so my goals are all associated with that. Getting into what they call ironfit. being able to compete in one of those events take tremendous training in a multitude of sports, i feel i am up for the challenge and i look forward to the races to come. For those who know me encourage me, and cheer me on, i know that i might not be spending much time with you anymore, but i feel that it is for my best, otherwise, i feel my life was going to be shortened and then there would be no way i could spend time with you.

To all i wish a great year, i know that it is going to be a great one for me. I am looking forward to 2008, i actually can't wait to be setting here in another year looking back, saying wow my life has changed so me over the past 12 months. join with me and make 2008 great.

Running most

New Tires

2007-12-26T08:11:00.000-08:00

So on Christmas eve i was on a 42 mile bike ride, with a couple of friends, when at about mile 25 while riding at about 21-22 mph my rear tire blew out. I was able to pull over safely and pulled took the rear tire off. I wondered what the cause was, the trail we were on was well taken care of, and there was no broken glass or anything on it. as i looked all around the tire it quickly came apparent as to why i had just gotten a flat, my tires were worn out. there was an area about 3 inches long that you could see that the tire had gone thread bear, and you actually see daylight through some of the tire. So the resourceful people that we are took some of the old tube, and glued it to the bottom to the tire, to make a barrier between the tire with a hole in it, and the new good tube. We put the new tube in, air it up using those neat CO2 cartridges that i have never used, and got back on the bike. we have about 16 more miles to go till we were back at our vehicles.

I had gotten pretty confident with our repair, and really started to crank on it again, when about 11 more miles into the ride, the tire blew again, at first i just tried to ride on the flat, but that was no good the tire was starting to come off the rim. So we decided to try to fix it again, this time we put a patch on the tire then three sections of tube, before we put the new tube it. Filled the tire up and got going again. this time i could feel the spot where all the patches were each time my tire rolled over that spot. but we where able to make it home safely, it kept me from cranking out a real good sprint at the end though, i was scared that it might blow on me again while riding at almost 30mph, i thought that could be pretty dangerous.

That afternoon after the ride, i picked up some new tires for the bike. and all is better.

Moral of the story take a look at your bike before you head out on a ride, make sure everything is in good working order. including checking your tires, b/c you can wear them out.

Running Most

Being Sick Sucks

2007-12-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

I have got to say that being sick has never been fun, but as someone who is now very concerned with working out, and getting into shape it really sucks, being sick in the past never really effected me that much, sure i didn't have my normal strength, and sure maybe i skipped going out, but it never really impacted so much of my life as being sick right now has to me. Being sick has made it pretty much impossible for me to get a good workout in. I went out for a ride on Friday it was going to be a real easy ride, but one that would hopefully let me get my legs back so i could feel strong for a great ride on Saturday. I was so weak on the ride, i had no ability to sprint at any decent pace, i didn't have any endurance either. Saturday morning came and the alarm clock rung to wake me up to get ready for the Gather ride, and man i felt like crap, there was no way i was going to keep up on that ride, so i ended up skipping it, and basically everything else that was to go on that day. I did end up leaving my house for about 30 min. but that wiped me out even more. Sunday i started to feel better but not well enough to go for a ride, or play ultimate, or do anything else outdoors that i wanted to. Another day of inactivity.

Monday i had my offices closed and this was going to be my first day back on the bike that i didn't feel awful. Though i by no means felt strong, it was a good day we did 42 miles, and averaged about 19mph. while i pulled i tried to keep us around 21, there was a pretty good head wind, that seemed to keep the speed down a bit. but it was a pretty good day back.

Tuesday, Christmas, For Christmas i cleaned my bike up and gave her some much needed new tires. Then i convinced lee and Doug to go out for a ride. Today we were heading to Flatwoods, and 8 mile loop that is well flat. Still not feeling 100% by any means, but i really seemed to be getting my strength back. which i am very happy about, ended up pretty much doing all the pulling that ride, while Doug and lee sat on my back wheel. I am glad though i know that, that only make me a stronger rider, i will not get much stronger if i am always sitting on someone's back wheel. I also kept the speed up pretty good that ride, usually averaged 22-23mph. there at the end lee and Doug tried to sprint on me, but i would not let them beat me, i took the pace up to 29mph, and they were just not able to hang.

Man it felt great to get back out there, and boy i really can't wait till i have my strength back 100%. Hopefully it will be coming soon.

Running Most

update

2007-12-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been so long since i have posted, things have been really crazy and busy in my life. between training, and work, i don't seem to have much time for anything else. Well i just got back from Tallahassee, where i got to surprise a great friend of mine. She was graduating from FSU's Nursing Program, she knew i was coming but that great surprise was how much weight i have lost, she had not see me since i was at my heaviest, so to be able to show up over 100 lbs lighter was great. The only unfortunate thing was, i picked up her cold. Which has really impacted my work out schedule this week, actually i have not been able to do one thing yet, which is killing me, i am feeling much better, and planning on riding the Gather ride tomorrow morning, which is a pretty quick ride of about 30 miles. The rest of the weekend should be filled with many more workouts. We will see how things pan out though.

Running Most

Hill Training Sucks

2007-11-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you that i live in the beautiful state of Florida which has many benefits for the Triathlete.

1. Florida's wonderful weather is ideal for year long training. Most of the time, it is not cold, it never seems to snow down here, so the worst it is going to be cool, and raining.

2. Florida is predominately flat. Need i say more.

I really had a lot more to say in the post, but just didn't have time, it has taken me more than 3 hours to just type this much, so i will try to pick this up later.

back story to "can"

2007-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

So i did some checking and here is the back story about "can" Please feel free to check out their website www.teamhoyt.com they are a very inspirational team.

Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.

It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk.

For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.

At Rick’s birth in 1962 the umbilical cord coiled around his neck and cut off oxygen to his brain. Dick and his wife, Judy, were told that there would be no hope for their child’s development.

"It’s been a story of exclusion ever since he was born," Dick told me. "When he was eight months old the doctors told us we should just put him away — he’d be a vegetable all his life, that sort of thing. Well those doctors are not alive any more, but I would like them to be able to see Rick now."

The couple brought their son home determined to raise him as "normally" as possible. Within five years, Rick had two younger brothers, and the Hoyts were convinced Rick was just as intelligent as his siblings. Dick remembers the struggle to get the local school authorities to agree: "Because he couldn’t talk they thought he wouldn’t be able to understand, but that wasn’t true." The dedicated parents taught Rick the alphabet. "We always wanted Rick included in everything," Dick said. "That’s why we wanted to get him into public school."

A group of Tufts University engineers came to the rescue, once they had seen some clear, empirical evidence of Rick’s comprehension skills. "They told him a joke," said Dick. "Rick just cracked up. They knew then that he could communicate!" The engineers went on to build — using $5,000 the family managed to raise in 1972 - an interactive computer that would allow Rick to write out his thoughts using the slight head-movements that he could manage. Rick came to call it "my communicator." A cursor would move across a screen filled with rows of letters, and when the cursor highlighted a letter that Rick wanted, he would click a switch with the side of his head.

When the computer was originally brought home, Rick surprised his family with his first "spoken" words. They had expected perhaps "Hi, Mom" or "Hi, Dad." But on the screen Rick wrote "Go Bruins." The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season, and his family realized he had been following the hockey games along with everyone else. "So we learned then that Rick loved sports," said Dick.

In 1975, Rick was finally admitted into a public school. Two years later, he told his father he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Dick, far from being a long-distance runner, agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. They finished next to last, but they felt they had achieved a triumph. That night, Dick remembers, "Rick told us he just didn’t feel handicapped when we were competing."

Rick’s realization turned into a whole new set of horizons that opened up for him and his family, as "Team Hoyt" began to compete in more and more events. Rick reflected on the transformation process for me, using his now-familiar but ever-painstaking technique of picking out letters of the alphabet:

" What I mean when I say I feel like I am not handicapped when competing is that I am just like the other athletes, and I think most of the athletes feel the same way. In the beginning nobody would come up to me. However, after a few races some athletes came around and they began to talk to me. During the early days one runner, Pete Wisnewski had a bet with me at every race on who would beat who. The loser had to hang the winner’s number in his bedroom until the next race. Now many athletes will come up to me before the race or triathlon to wish me luck."
It is hard to imagine now the resistance which the Hoyts encountered early on, but attitudes did begin to change when they entered the Boston Marathon in 1981, and finished in the top quarter of the field. Dick recalls the earlier, less tolerant days with more sadness than anger:

"Nobody wanted Rick in a road race. Everybody looked at us, nobody talked to us, nobody wanted to have anything to do with us. But you can’t really blame them - people often are not educated, and they’d never seen anyone like us. As time went on, though, they could see he was a person — he has a great sense of humor, for instance. That made a big difference."

After 4 years of marathons, Team Hoyt attempted their first triathlon — and for this Dick had to learn to swim. "I sank like a stone at first" Dick recalled with a laugh "and I hadn’t been on a bike since I was six years old."

With a newly-built bike (adapted to carry Rick in front) and a boat tied to Dick’s waist as he swam, the Hoyts came in second-to-last in the competition held on Father’s Day 1985.

"We chuckle to think about that as my Father’s Day present from Rick, " said Dick.

They have been competing ever since, at home and increasingly abroad. Generally they manage to improve their finishing times. "Rick is the one who inspires and motivates me, the way he just loves sports and competing," Dick said.

And the business of inspiring evidently works as a two-way street. Rick typed out this testimony:

"Dad is one of my role models. Once he sets out to do something, Dad sticks to it whatever it is, until it is done. For example once we decided to really get into triathlons, dad worked out, up to five hours a day, five times a week, even when he was working."
The Hoyts’ mutual inspiration for each other seems to embrace others too — many spectators and fellow-competitors have adopted Team Hoyt as a powerful example of determination. "It’s been funny," said Dick "Some people have turned out, some in good shape, some really out of shape, and they say ‘we want to thank you, because we’re here because of you’."

Rick too has taken full note of their effect on fellow-competitors while racing:

"Whenever we are passed (usually on the bike) the athlete will say "Go for it!" or "Rick, help your Dad!" When we pass people (usually on the run) they’ll say "Go Team Hoyt!" or "If not for you, we would not be out here doing this."
Most of all, perhaps, the Hoyts can see an impact from their efforts in the area of the handicapped, and on public attitudes toward the physically and mentally challenged.

"That’s the big thing," said Dick. "People just need to be educated. Rick is helping many other families coping with disabilities in their struggle to be included."

That is not to say that all obstacles are now overcome for the Hoyts. Dick is "still bothered," he says, by people who are discomforted because Rick cannot fully control his tongue while eating. "In restaurants - and it’s only older people mostly - they’ll see Rick’s food being pushed out of his mouth and they’ll leave, or change their table. But I have to say that kind of intolerance is gradually being defeated."

Rick’s own accomplishments, quite apart from the duo’s continuing athletic success, have included his moving on from high school to Boston University, where he graduated in 1993 with a degree in special education. That was followed a few weeks later by another entry in the Boston Marathon. As he fondly pictured it: "On the day of the marathon from Hopkinton to Boston people all over the course were wishing me luck, and they had signs up which read `congratulations on your graduation!’"

Rick now works at Boston College’s computer laboratory helping to develop a system codenamed "Eagle Eyes," through which mechanical aids (like for instance a powered wheelchair) could be controlled by a paralyzed person’s eye-movements, when linked-up to a computer.

Together the Hoyts don’t only compete athletically; they also go on motivational speaking tours, spreading the Hoyt brand of inspiration to all kinds of audiences, sporting and non-sporting, across the country.

Rick himself is confident that his visibility — and his father’s dedication — perform a forceful, valuable purpose in a world that is too often divisive and exclusionary. He typed a simple parting thought:

"The message of Team Hoyt is that everybody should be included in everyday life."

Can

2007-11-16T06:51:00.000-08:00

I took this from another blogger but it was very touching, i am looking into the back story of this.

Been Busy This Week

2007-11-13T04:54:00.000-08:00

I have had no time to update my blog this last week, for those who come by i'm sorry, i will try to keep up with it. Have had some great workouts this last week, sunday was an especially good day.

I try to play Ultimate Frisbee every sunday, it is a wonderful speed workout, as it is played a lot like soccor but instead of a ball you use a frisbee, you are not allowed to run with the frisbee as soon as you catach it you have 10 seconds to throw the disk to someone else on yout team. This make a wonderful workout, that is a lot of fun too.

We had an injury this weekend during the game though, one guy broke his nose while trying to defend a touchdown try. They did actually stop the touchdown from happening, but he was in a lot of pain. You could hear the impact from 50yards away, it honestly sounded like a good hard football hit, but these guys where not wearing any pads nor head protection. he seemed to be good when we left.

Later on that day i went for a 32mile bike ride with Lee. I am going to try to go on another group ride tonight with him, there is a 26 mile ride up in North Tampa, i believe it is a small group, but it will be fun.

Last night i went to Burns Steak House for a business meeting and had a great medium rare steak. Man it was great, i have not been there in several months, so it was quite enjoyable, especially b/c i didn't have to pay for anything, which makes it even nicer.

Alright Folks Here is A little of Me and My Office

2007-11-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

So i know that i have not posted any photos of me yet in my transition period, one, b/c i am trying to keep it secret from a couple people until they see me, but i don't think they have found my blog yet, so to give you a little before and after of my transformation that i have been going through over the last 5 months. Here Goes. Me as a Pirate in Gasparilla, Which is a Tampa Fl. thing this past year probably February 2007.

Now Me as of Today November 6, 2007 100 lbs lighter

NO I have not become blurry with my weight loss, just didn't have someone who could seem to take a good photo. So i went with the best one i could.

While i was taking photos in my office i thought i would share some of the things that are on my walls here.

These first four paintings are done by a guy named Monkey Tom, he is a local homeless guy down in Key West, that i have always loved his work.

This is a Ruth Radice, a 92 year old lady who started painting 20 years ago, she is a delight, and an inspiration that you can do anything if you set your mind to it, no matter at what point in your life.

A really cool Buy, it is even healthy

2007-11-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

My roommate was introduced to a great kitchen appliance that many people have but few use on a regular basis.

A Jack La Lanne Juicer

This thing is awesome, granted the first concoction we made up doesn't sound overly appetizing, but that is no consequence to us, b/c it does actually taste great, and you are getting an incredible amount of vitamins, and minerals that it would take a lot of eating to be able to ingest.

Our first drink.

4 Carrots
1 thumb sized amount of Ginger Root
1 Garlic Clove
1 Large Stalk of Broccoli
2 Apples (red)

After you have blended all the ingredients make sure you stir it up and down the hatch with it. You will find that a good drink like this can really boost your energy, and improve your concentration.

Other ingredients that i have now tried

Grannie Smith Apples, b/c i like the tartness of them.
Tomatoes
Celery
Collard Greens

I will continue to try new recipes until i find what i feel is the best drink both for the sake of optimum nutrition and also for optimum taste. I would encourage you going out and getting one of these or hit me up, and i will be happy to make one up for you. This is a great way for you to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of all the fruits and veggies that a healthy diet entails.

My First Triathlon

2007-11-05T06:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Sunday November 4th. I competed in my first Triathlon, and it went well. The venue was the Temple Terrace, Top Cop Triathlon. The course was a slightly undulating sprint course with a 1/4 mile pool swim, 8 mile bike leg, with a pretty nasty hill for us florida folks that you had to do twice, and finished off with a 5km run, which is 3.1miles.

You really couldn't asked for a pretty day for this race, the weather was wonderful, clear blue skies, no wind to speak of and it was cool, mid to high 70's, perfect. I showed up to the race to find out that i am in the first heat, so i don't get the benefit of watching anyone else, being that this was my first Tri, i didn't necessarily know all the rules. I thought i did but it would have been nice to see some people before me, but at the same time i was glad that i got done in the first group.

The race started with a 1/4 pool swim. Two people where assigned to each lane, i got hooked up with this guy who last year finished the race in 56min. that was a pretty good time. The race director announced, Swimmers on your Mark, then the horn blew and we got started and i was pulling pretty strong, i have to tell myself to slow down, but i just couldn't seem to do that, i was way to focused on getting to the next portion, and i didn't want to be the last person out of the water. as i make it to the other end of the pool for the first time, i did a flip turn, then over the next two laps i did flipturns at the end of each of them. That is where i started freaking out, lap four. I couldn't see anyone else doing flipturns, i was starting to think man, maybe your a not allowed to do flipturns in triathlons, i decided that i might have all ready DQed from my first Triathlon with in the first 30 seconds of the race. I decided to just keep going, and keep doing flipturns, i would finish the race no matter what even if they say that i DQed. I was still swimming quite hard and now i had another dilemma, while i have been thinking about this flipturn conundrum, i have not been keeping count of my laps, so the next three laps instead of concentrating on my stroke i was trying to figure out how far i have gone. I think i am getting close to getting done, and the lady in my lane counting for me tells me i have two laps left. so i really start to move, by this point i have already lapped the guy in my lane and my heart is really going, i get out, and run to T1.

Transition one, time to get on the bike i throw on my socks, heart rate monitor, shades helmet and shoes, grab my bike and head to the line where i am told i can get on the bike, and i am off. My heart racing, still trying to put my gloves on realizing that i am sitting on my GU gel, hoping that it is still on my bike b/c i was going to need it soon. luckily it was still in the hole of my seat. i take that out put it in my riding shorts and get going. My time coming out of the pool was right at about 7 min. i think i am about the 7th person out of the pool not to bad.

On the bike i was ready to be passed by a bunch of people who where in a lot better shape than me, but that never happened, sure a couple of people passed me, one of them my swimming partner, but i was really able to hold my own. There was a hill climb about 2 miles into the ride that really got my heart racing, the course was a 4 mile double loop so i knew i would see that hill again, hopefully it was not going to kill me. On my second lap around the course as i was getting close to the end i saw a couple of riders out in front of me who i thought i might be able to catch, and sure enough i was, passed this one 23 year old right on the last turn. I pulled into the transition area, and there where a bunch of people cheering me and us on, people saying i was doing great. got off the bike took my shoes off and got my running shoes on. T2 now complete i was heading to pound some pavement.

Within only a couple of yards that guy i passed on the bike ran past me. but that was okay, my heart was cranking, and i was already nearly running anaerobic. i needed to slow it down, and get into my pace, for the next 3 miles. At about 1/2 mile into the run, i see that same guy who i will find out later that his name is Jim, a recent college grad, who swam competitively for his college, walking. That told me that he just didn't have the mental ability to beat me, that was all i wanted to do the rest of the race. 1. Survive 2. Beat that kid who is walking/running ahead of me.

At about 3/4 of a mile i caught up to Jim, he was walking again, as i ran by him, i told him to keep going, dig deep and keep going. He started to run again, and said that he was going to run with me. He was a road smacker, that is what i call it at least where he really slaps his feet hard on the pavement. we were both breathing pretty hard, but i was really able to get into my zone. I knew i had the mental ability to not stop and just keep going.

The problem with this run course is they didn't have and mile markers, so you didn't know how far we had left. Jim told me at one point we have less than a mile, and i felt that was probably correct, i was really feeling quite good. While running with jim, i found out that he was the second guy out of the water, so that tells me that i made up a good bit of time on him during the rest of the race, that helped me want to beat him even more. He said when we get to the last turn that he is really going to go. Kind of in a way that was to say sorry i am going to have to leave you, i had to laugh inside, b/c i knew there was no way i was losing to this guy. What he did not realize was, that over the course of the last 1/2 mile i had increased our speed to a point that he was breathing very heavy and would not be able to muster up a good sprint to the end.

We made the last turn and he goes to make his move, with about .2 of a mile left, i am just right behind him, two steps at the most, i can see that he is hurting, with about .15 to go, i open up my gate, and really start moving, i pass him, there is nothing he can do and i finish, beating him by about 15-20 seconds. It was a awesome feeling. I had just finished my first Triathlon.

During the race i thought, Who does these things, people who do this must be nuts, then my next thought was i love doings these, and can't wait to do my next one.

I couldn't believe it i ended up finishing 3rd in my age group and about 11th overall. It was an amazing experience and i do look forward to the next one.

Call me Forest Gump!

2007-10-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Last night i went for a 4 mile run, that turned into a 9.3mile run. I actually felt great. Today i feel fine, i am not really hurting at all, the knees are a little sore, but i feel good enough to go for a bike ride or a run or something. Not much more to say about it other than, the fact that i guess i am going to have to start training for a half Marathon in February. Instead of doing a 15k, i think i will just bump it up a bit and do the 13.1 miles. It should be fun.

Running Most

Let it rain Let it rain

2007-10-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

This morning around 5:30 i thought I heard a sound on the skylight of my house. Was it rain? Or was it my roommate showering? Then i listened some more, and realized that it was not my roommate showering and that it was indeed a good hard rain.

If you don't know me this might not have too much meaning to you yet, if you do know me, you might very well be asking if i had the top to my jeep on, and my doors on, or at least i had my cab cover on. But the answer to those questions are no. I didn't have the doors, top, or cab cover on my jeep. When i went out there there was probably 4 inches of water on the floor boards of my jeep. You see the weather has been so nice for the last two weeks, it has be quite enjoyable to drive around topless, without my doors. I had no idea that we were going to have a weather front come through and sit on top of us. So i drove to work this morning wearing my running shorts and a running shirt, and skull cap, and a jacket. My gym bag with all my work clothes was safely placed in a garbage bag, with a couple of towels. I needed windshield wipers on both sides of my windshield. If i could have seen better through my windshield i am sure that i would have seen people looking at me in the nice and dry BMW's grinning, trying to hold back a slight laugh, actually i could not blame them i actually was laughing at myself, these are the joys of owning a jeep.

So to my workout, i was suppose to run 4 miles last night, but decided to go for a 5.5 miler. Did it in one hour and five min. and felt really good the whole run. I took Zoi with me, my friends black Lab, she was not the best running partner last night, needing to stop twice to poop, and was running slow, plus i had to find her some water, so she really seemed to slow me down, but we had a good run none-the-less.

Weight this morning 248.9, that means i weigh what i did in highschool when i played football, 10 years ago. I still have a long way to go, but it is still coming off and i am getting fitter by the day. Depending on this weather, it looks like i might have another recovery day today, but that will be okay, b/c yesterdays run was a really good one.

3rd 5k and the best on yet!

2007-10-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend, i finished my third 5k in a row. This one was by far my best one, i finished it in 30:41. which means i ran a 9:52min./miles. As with my first one i found i got started a little fast, so i slowed my pace down, brought my heart rate to where it needs to be and just kept trucking along. A bunch of folks passed me at first, but i kept to my pace. After the second mile i was starting to pass some people, on my last half mile, there was a group of people a good bit ahead of me that i wanted to pass. I thought that passing them would be a good goal, well i was able to do that. i just kept my feet moving, and really pushed for a good time, i would really have liked to completed the run under 30min. but i really don't think i can complain with the improvements i have made in the last three weeks. Hell i couldn't even run more than 2 blocks back in June.

Next up on the schedule, is my first Triathlon, it is a sprint distance, which means .25mile swim/8mile bike/5k run. this one is awfully short especially on the bike, but for me who is just getting started back in the pool and bike i think it will be the perfect length. I am planning on running a pre tri, tri this weekend. i have already mapped out the course and as long as the pool is open i should be good to go. Going to start the swim around 6:30 in the morning, then immediately go for a 8 mile ride, and finish off with a 5k run. I hope to make good transitions, i think i will be slowed up just a little bit, b/c i will be leaving my stuff at my jeep, but will see how it goes.

Training update, swam this morning did 1000yrds. or a little over a half mile. felt pretty good but man my arms get tired pulling me around, it will be great weighing another 50 pounds lighter. I am down 93lbs, so far and still going, i have had to change my diet around a little bit, to allow more carbs and fats for my training, i was finding that i was at the point of hitting the wall and that is no good. The weight is still coming off just not quite as fast. I am okay with that even though i was really hopping to be down to my goal by December 15th weekend. But i will just have to do the best i can, and be as close as i can. It is more important to lose it safely than it is to lose it quickly.

I hope every one has a good one.

Running Most

Loving the training for Triathlons

A gem cannot be polished without friction nor a man perfected without trials.

Little update, Second 5k done...

2007-10-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday i finished my second 5k race, as soon as it was over they had an fun 1 mile walk/run, so i decided to do that as well. Over all it was a great run. I meet a newbie, and helped her out, she did great. I have the Spartan 5k this Saturday, then i have decided that i am going to do the Top Cop Challenge which is a sprint Triathlon on November 3rd. I am really getting excited about it.

This past weekend after my run, i headed out for a drive in the jeep. The weather was wonderful, and i had the top off the jeep. I went to a running shoe store down in Sarasota, where the video taped my running, and used another machine to measure how i stand and things like that. We found out that on my left foot i have a slight overpronation, so we looked at a bunch of different shoes that would help with that, found a pair of brooks, and re-videoed my run, and found that yes indeed it did fix the issue. With my new pair of running shoes in hand i headed back to tampa, I decided to stop in Brandon at a bike shop, and pick up some things i am missing for my bike.

I needed new pedals, shoes, helmet, tire repair kit, and some other odds and ends. I went to AJ's Bike shop they do a great job there, and the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Sunday i played a 2.5 hour game of Ultimate Frisby, and then rode the bike in the evening for 18 miles.

This week i have been swimming, biking, and running. I will say that i really love working out, and am so happy with all the changes in my life.

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First 5K

2007-10-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday October 6th, 2007 I ran my first 5k race, it was being held for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. I was number 10659. I saw numbers going as high as 13400. It was a good day for the run. When we got there it was overcast, and just lightly spitting some rain. It was more like a thick fog then a rain. It was actually quite refreshing, as I started off, i found that i was starting off a little fast, thanks to my trusty heart rate monitor. So i back it off a little bit, so that i would be able to finish strong. I was able to pass many people b/c they could not sustain their speed they started of with. I felt a lot like the tortoise and the hare, But we all remember that the tortoise ended up winning. I won b/c i was their. To think back to June when i started walking buster, we would go out for a little less than two miles. After about a week or two, we started jogging a block or two at a time, by the end of june, i was dropping buster off and going out for another 3 blocks worth of jogging. That was all i could do. Well know i have completed my first 5k race, I run more than that most every morning of the week. I am planning on running a 15k in February, then a sprint Tri in May, and finishing off the year with a half Iron Man in September. I have dropped almost 90lbs, during this period as well. I am so happy that i have made these changes in my life, and i look forward to what new challenges i will face in the future.

Frist Race Saturday

2007-10-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Well i have my first race this saturday it, is a 5k proceeds are going to the Susan G Komen Society. I went on a short run this morning, to make sure my legs would be fresh for the run, i am really looking forward to this. There are supposed to be about 12000 people there tomorrow, so i am thinking with those numbers i should at least not come in last.

Weight Loss, well i am still on target, and i am down 85lbs! I got started on this kick at the very end of June, so i am ecstatic about my progress. I really hope i am going to keep it up over the next two months. I would love to be weighing in at 205, by the 14th of December. I would be down more than 135lbs. it is quite remarkable what you can do when you set your mind to it, and work to achieve. I really think the key is setting goals, and those goals you must recall each day so you don't lose site of them.

See you out there.

Running Most

Running in the Wind

2007-10-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning i had a great run, but boy was it windy. Went out for a 5.75mile run from my house down to bayshore and out to the end of Ballast Point Pier. Then headed back, and that is when the wind started kicking my butt. But it was a great run, i was really starting to feel tired, fighting the wind, but at the same time it was just another challenge to overcome.

I heard a quote the other day that really epitomizes what i am doing i feel.

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials. "

There is a lot of truth to that. Those days that it starts to hurt a bit on the run, i just think of that and know that without some trials i will not be able to achieve all that i want to.

So a couple of training and weight loss notes.

So far this week i have already run 9.25 miles
I have my first 5k this Saturday
I am currently down 80lbs
And have lost 44 inches of fat.
I ran 80miles for the month of September

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Monday Running

2007-09-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Well headed out this morning, still not feeling 100% from my little head cold that i developed last week, and not knowing how far i was going to run this morning. At first i felt that maybe i would do a quick 2.5 -3 miles. but as my feet carried me, i kept going, and soon decided to make it my longest day yet. Did about 5 miles this morning. my pace is picking up as well, b/c i did it at a speed a little more than 5mile/hour. Boy my hamstrings where talking to me as i was ending the run, they quickly realized that this was the farthest that i have been so far. You know it is a good feeling, a lot better than sleeping in or sitting on the couch that is for sure. A good friend of mine, Cerrelle, told me that she was going for a 10 mile run on saturday morning, i thought about it, that is quite a distance, 10 miles. then i was wondering how long it will be till i am running 10 miles. I do think that i just might run the 15 k at the gasparilla distant Classic. you know, i have enough time to train for it. I have three 5k's coming up next month. I am running 4.5-5 miles already several times a week. I bet that come February i will be up to it, in-fact that is going to be my goal. to be ready for the 15 k. as long as i am feeling well, that is what i am going to run. Then i think i will work on my sprint Tri, so i will be adding in a lot more biking and swimming.

So far i am down 75lbs. i have a solid 45 more pounds that i want to lose before December 15. According to my progress that should be able to happen, i just need to keep focused, I have 82 days and almost 12 weeks. At my average of 5lbs/week that will take me down 60lbs. Which will take me to my goal easily, in-fact that will take me down to lower than i weighed before heading to high-school. The key is staying focused. I appreciate all the help from my friends and ask that you keep me motivated, and keep me going.

I really can't wait to see the face of my dear friend Cerrelle, on December 15, when she sees me after i have lost 120 lbs. I have not let on to my weight loss yet at all, so neither her nor her friends have any idea, it is going to be great, seeing her face. Last time i saw her i was at my heaviest, i saw a photo of us and while looking at me, i am really disappointed in myself, that i let myself get to that point. I will not go back, i can't, i will not let myself.

See you all out there.

Running Most

4.25 mile day!

2007-09-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone, Well over this weekend i did some training in Texas. I didn't go on a long run, but many short runs, with some hills included. I was at the World Extreme Rock Crawling Grand Nationals. I had a great time, there where a bunch of folks who had not seen me in quite since i have lost 70lbs. Also i didn't mind running to the trailer to go get things, actually i really enjoyed it.

Today i went on my longest continuous run. Did a 4.25 mile loop, It was a beautiful run down Bayshore, The sun is coming up later, so i got to see the sun rise, it was a much cooler morning as well. There was a nice breeze to back on the way down Bayshore, and i did have a head wind for the run back.

I will not be able to go tomorrow, b/c of an early morning meeting, but i am planning for another good long run on Thursday.

It is great seeing all my friends get into shape as well. Many of them are panning on running the Gasparilla Distant Classic with me, in February. And a couple are talking about doing the Sprint Triathlon as well. For those of you who are working on it, keep it up and i look forward to seeing you at the finish line.

Eric

Oh yeah down 71lbs now.

Good run after a hard rain

2007-09-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well had another good run today, I had my best time thus far, took my pace up to 11 min. miles. A good friend of mine kinda put me in place about my pace the other day though, said that in the army they are expected to run 9 min. miles all the time. so that shows me that i really still have some more work to do, i knew that i was not the fastest guy on the block, but that is okay, to me it is more important to be out there, then to be winning any races. At least yet. That will be in down the road.

Today it was a nice day out there, there is just something about running after a hard rain. It is so refreshing when you run into some brush and the cold water drips on you. I love seeing all the live that springs up with each new rain. It is like the new life that is springing up inside of me with all the wonderful changes that are happen. Okay enough sissy talk.

I am going to have to run in Texas this weekend, since i will be flying out there in the morning to go compete in a WEROCK Event. Actually i am looking forward to a little change for my course.

I am really excited that so many of my friends are also working on getting into shape right now, several people from the 4wd club are also going to be running the Gasparilla Distant Classic.

You know for a guy who loves to get off the road in his Jeep, i really love hitting the road each morning. I know i think i am crazy, i really never thought people were sane who loved to run, but it is so enjoyable. I actually look forward to it each day.

See you guys out there.

New Blog, New Me, New Goals

2007-09-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

Well for those who know me, i hope to post on here a bit more often, but this blog is more dedicated to my working out achivements, and goals. I have been a guy who has struggled with his weight for many years, when i say struggle, i mean i was fat. I have always been pretty active, but it had gotten to the point that i didn't really feel like going to the Doctor, b/c i knew that he was just going to tell me i was over weight. About three months ago, i was looking at some photos on facebook, of my friends wedding last year. There was a picture of all my old friends and me sitting on a couch, and they were all slender and fit. I looked like a blimp. At that point I saved the photo with the tag, "Don't be a fat ass anymore." And that has been my mission ever since.

I have now lost a total of 68 pounds as of this morning, and i ran a 5k before coming to the office, today i had my best time i believe 37:24. That is no where near what i would like it to be, but it is a good start.

My initial goal weight i would like to be down to by the middle of December is 120 pounds down which would take me to about 225lbs, i would actually like to be somewhere between 215-225. Today i weighed in at 275.2lbs. when i started i weighed 343.3lbs. So i am well on my way.

Other goals i have, is i was wanting to run in the Gasparilla Distant Classic, which is a 5k in february.

Since my working out project is working so well, i am actually going to be running three of them next month. I plan on running the.

Breast Cancer 5k in St. Petersburg
Tampa PD 5k in South tampa/ Down town tampa
Spartan 5k, which is at UT.

After i get down with the gasparilla, i am planning on competting in my first Tri, and it will be the sprint length. the date planned for that is May 20ish. that consists of the following:
1/2 open water swim
15 mile bike ride
5k run down the beach

i've got my sister coming into town for that one, so it will keep me motivated, she and a couple other friends said they were going to take part.

Other goals i am planning.

2009 my first Centruy with Lee Smith, that is a 100 mile bike race.
2010 my first Marathon Yes that is 26.2 miles
2011 my First Ironman Yes that is a 2.5 mile swim 125 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run.

We will see if this all happens, i feel that all to often people don't have goals to shoot for, and so they just keep going every day doing the same old thing. I encourage my readers to set goals, and do things to achieve them.

My plan is to update this blog quite often, even if it is just a quick note, about how training is going. Please feel free to comment, any encouragement is great, and if i can help you out please feel free to let me know what i can do.

Eric
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