1/31/2011 - Tired

Stayed up too later last night watching "Eastbound and Down" with the wife so getting up was not fun! I was dragging pretty bad when I got in the gym this morning. I walked for 3 minutes and then ran for 22 minutes for a total of 2.45 miles. After the run I walked for another 5 minutes. The elliptical was not much better so I just worked out for 16 minutes for about 1 mile. I'm a little distracted right now. With the Super bowl coming up and my Pittsburgh Steelers playing it is about the only thing that I can think of. Well off to bed. 206 days till the big race! Join me in August at http://www.warriordash.com/register2011_carolinas.php

1/29/2011 The first real run. 208 days to go!

Saturday morning started off great with family and I going to my nephews basketball game. After the game I stepped outside and felt something very strange... It was actually warm out! Somehow did not get the memo that it was going to be such a beautiful day and was wearing long sleeves and had a jacket. Now possessing the knowledge that is was pretty much the nicest that it has been in months I decided to try my luck at running outside on real earth instead of the treadmill at work. I picked Lake Lynn for my inaugural outdoor run because it used to be my favorite place to run about 6 years ago. I started off slow but became pretty comfortable running in the first 1/2 mile. A couple of the hills were challenging but soon enough I hit my stride and before I knew it I had made it the 2.2 miles around the lake. I decide to walk for a few minutes to cool down but I still felt great so I started to run again. To my amazement and delight I ran around the lake again for a total of 4.4 miles. I figure that I walked about .4 to .5 miles after my first time around. I don't know my official time because my iPhone app crapped out after the first .6 miles. So next time around I will bring a watch to something more reliable than my wonderful iPhone. I guess that things are going pretty well since I am able to run 4+ miles after just 2 weeks of working out. Oh, the beard is coming along nicely as well. I'll add some pictures this week for sure.

The Motor City Madman circa 1977! Rock on Uncle Ted!

The morning after a Jeffery...

I woke up Thursday morning and felt like Aldous Snow the night after a Jeffery.  So I hit the snooze bar about 3 times and then said screw it I need to sleep today! (A little “Get Him to the Greek” reference there.  Which you all should see if you are under 40 and remember 80’s rock and metal stars)  It turns out that it was a really good idea to take the day off.  When I got to the gym this morning I felt great and really wanted to be there.  I cranked up the iPod to none other than the Motor City Madman, Mr. Ted Nugent!  Nothing quite like the intro to “Stranglehold” and Ted’s blistering solo to get the blood flowing through your veins.   After a 3 minute warm up on the stationary bike I jumped on the treadmill for 27 minutes of running.  Today was the first day that I actually ran for 3 miles without stopping!  I finished up with 20 minutes on the elliptical adding another 1.25 miles to my workout.  Since I got a little confidence up from my run this morning I am going to go for a real jog on real Earth tomorrow around Lake Lynn.  Hopefully I can make it around the lake once without stopping.  So for today’s dietary treats I started off with 32 ozs of water, 14 ozs of coffee and a Carnation instant breakfast shake with 1 cup of 1% milk.  For my 10am snack I had a turkey sandwich with 1 tbsp. olive oil mayo and no cheese today.  At 11:30am I had an apple and a package of StarKist tuna.  An amazing fact I found on the livestrong.com website is 1 large tuna package is only 210 calories and has 75% of your daily requirement of protein.  Finally, I finished off my daytime eating with a bowl of Campbell’s Healthy Request chicken tortilla soup.  I think that I might be addicted to that soup.  I have destroyed 96 ozs of water not including the coffee and shake so I’m feeling very hydrated right now.  So what should I have for dinner, sushi, fish tacos, or more likely another bowl of Campbell’s soup?  \m/

1/26/2011 TERRIBLE

Todays workout sucked!  I was really tired and sore.  I managed 2.84 miles in 25 minutes but it was a struggle the entire time.  After that I tried to do the elliptical machine and only made it 10 minutes in and had to quit.  I need to get more sleep!  I don't guess that is going to start tonight since I got home from work about 9pm.  Oh well.  All I can do is try again tomorrow.

1/25/2011 Are you ready?

"ARE YOU READY????"  The first words that Jonathan Davis growled out of my iPod this morning.  Yes, the answer is yes, I 'm ready to take on another day and another workout!  So Korn's song Blind started me on my way today, which you can hear on the post below.  It got me pumped to try and duplicate yesterdays run.  I wish I could say I did it but I was a little short on energy this morning and was 1 tenth of mile short of reaching my goal.  2.75 miles in 24 minutes, not to bad but I really want to see an 8 minute mile within 2 weeks from now.   I know that I can do it I just need to keep focused and stick to my plan.  As for the rest of the workout it consisted of 20 minute on the elliptical machine right at 1.25 miles.  I followed my daily eating routine of 64 ozs. of water, 14 ozs. of coffee, 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 Carnation instant breakfast and then the train went off the track!  I had to leave the office and was really hungry so I stopped at a local restaurant and  had Steak Picado with salsa verde no beans and a little rice.  I have no idea if it is good for you but damn it tasted good!  For dinner I got things back on track with grilled chicken, black beans, and lettuce with hot sauce.   On to the next day, maybe tomorrow will be the day I hit 8 minute miles!

The first song I heard this morning! Great way to start a workout! Korn - Blind

Korn - Blind (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Korn

214 days to go!

Great workout this morning!  Started off on the treadmill and actually ran for 24 minutes straight!  started at 5.5 miles per hour and inched it up to 7.0 miles per hour.  I was pretty happy with myself.  I figured that I would have a little trouble this morning because I couldn't sleep worth crap last night.  I think that I was a little too pumped up from the Steelers win to sleep well.  Any way I think that sometime this week I will add my first music review.  I might as well let you all know what I am listening to so you can run right out and get some new tunes.  Oh, finished the workout with 20 minutes on the elliptical machine.  I'm really starting to like using it!  Off to bed.  Maybe some sleep tonight.

Weekend Update 1/23/2011

Well the weekend was a complete bust for working out!  I had planned on hiking or at least walking on Saturday but that never happened.  Although I did chase my kids around Monkey Joe's so I did get a little exercise.  I wish adults could rent that place out and have a band and a keg.  I guess they probably don't do that because of the vomit factor with beer and bouncing.  Anyway, my Steelers are headed to the Superbowl and I am headed to bed so I can get back to it on Monday morning.  Big update I forgot to share on Friday.  I weighed in at 246 lbs!  7 lbs down 33 more to go!  Again if you want to join me in the Warrior Dash goto:  http://www.warriordash.com/

3 days down 217 days to go!

I have come to the conclusion that the "Hills" setting on the treadmill and I don't get along.  I think that Friday's workout might be the last time that I use it.  Maybe I just can't work the machine but it changes speed to a way to low speed at random times.  Anyway, I still managed to get 2.75 miles in just under 30 minutes.  After that I hit the elliptical machine for 20 minutes.  I was right on course for calories till the wife wanted sushi for dinner!  I can't blame her for my glutinous behavior but who can resist all you can eat sushi!  I stuck to the sashimi but I still know that I exceeded my 1500 to 2000 calories per day.  Well, I guess that I will need to put in a little extra work on Saturday to make up for my evil ways.  By the way, if you want to join me on August 27, 2011 for the Warrior Dash checkout their website http://www.warriordash.com

218 days to go.

The run did not go as well today but I expected a little let down.  30 minutes and only 2.45 miles.  Since the run didn't go great I decided to try the elliptical.  I used it for 15 minutes and knocked out 1.5 miles.  I started to keep a journal of what I'm eating and counting the calories much more closely.  Today I had a grand total of 1555 calories.  That should really help with the old weight loss!  OK, off to bed so I can start this all over again tomorrow!

January 19, First official day! 219 days till race day!

I started off early today with 3 miles running right at 30 minutes.  Got to be honest I thought I would do better but you got to start somewhere.  After my run I used the stationary bike for an additional 15 minutes which turned out to be around 4 miles.  A pretty successful first day of training.  As I get better at this blogging thing I'll add what my diet is and some of the nutritional facts for those of you who are interested in how and what I'm eating to hopefully be losing weight.   I'm up for any suggestions for training and dieting as well!

And so it begins!

All I wanted to do was run in the Warrior Dash in Huntersville, NC on August 27 for fun.  Only one problem with this plan is I am terribly out of shape.  After talking with some friends about running with me and a horrible nights sleep I decided that not only was I going to run the race but I going to get myself in shape with the goal of dropping 40 lbs. by the race day!  Here is what I have to work with.  I have frequent day trips for work, 2 kids needing my attention and  219 days to achieve my goal.  So I jumped on the scale and... Wow, 261 lbs!  Now that you all know my weight I will share with everyone that cares to read my daily workouts, diet and hopefully some fun times too.  Oh and the best part!  In the Warrior Dash there is a prize for Best Warrior Beard!  Since I won't be winning for best time might as well go for some I can do, grow a big old beard!  Pictures to follow weekly of the beards progress!  Thanks for reading!