Hey! Look at me I ran a 5k!
In the last 5 months I've worked at losing 45+ pounds and for the first time in my life was able to run more than a few yards without stopping. I ran the race in 34:45.
The GPS went a tad wonky during the run but here's the course and my time.
The GPS went a tad wonky during the run but here's the course and my time.
Comments
I just ran the first race of my life, the Warrior Dash in GA last weekend. A fun, muddy 3 mi obstacle course/race. I dressed up as the Martian Manhunter (our "team" was the JLA). The race was pretty clogged up for half the route, but I finished in 26:31, #48/358 in my age group (male 40-44). It was fun.
One of these days I'll run a proper race. I've been doing occasional fitness boot camps at 6 am (5 4-week ones in the last 11 months) - they're a great choice for people that lack discipline but thrive on authoritarian guidance and group commiseration. A cheaper and fun alternative to a personal trainer.
I've been doing the boot camp thing for the last year or so too. I've learned that a 20-year-old instructor is capable of inflicting significantly more pain on me than I am willing to inflict upon myself. I'm scared to stop going now because I don't want to repeat those early weeks/months of discovering new places to hurt. It's still hard work but now it actually feels good.
Way to go!
Co-workers of mine have tried to convince me to do the warrior dash. Of course I think they're all in their 20s... My wife wanted to do a 5K but didn't get to do any training, so hopefully she'll work towards another one.
Thom, hopefully, she can get out there. I only "trained" for 2 weeks for this one, granted I was mountain biking and attempting to run for the past several months but signed up for this 5k on a whim. The best advice I got a week before running it, which let me finish with no walking or breaks, was, "If you're struggling to choose between one stride or two take three." So I ran the race in a sort of shuffling jog and it felt great as opposed to all the other running I did which felt like I was being drawn and quartered at dawn.
That amt of weight loss in such a short time is amazing...I lost nearly that much, but took me close to a decade to do it. Congrats.
That can be very difficult, doing both at once.
Regarding exercise, I was amazed at how far off my estimation of calories burned was doing something like running. Prior to starting all this I operated under the assumption that a brisk walk would burn a pile of calories. Wrong. Basically, a 2 mile run at 12mph will burn just under 300 calories. For perspective, that's 2.5 bananas. So I adjusted my views on exercise to see it as a means to get a snack or reward but eventually I fell in love with the feeling of exertion. Right now my general routine is running 2-3 miles every other day (might start making it daily as I'm getting faster), squeezing in 16-20 miles on my mountain bike (2-3 rides), and weight training 3 times a week.
It was difficult for the first couple of months but my perception of self is less than nuanced so I've kind of viewed this as an exercise in stoicism. ;-)
I've started with a half-assed food journal and wiser food choices. You're right about portion control. It's my downfall, too.
Haven't gotten back into working out yet. Our family's plan is to make part of the basement a mini-gym.
There's a TV down there so I can get back into my workout DVDs. (I've had it with the gym at work)
Hubby has a boxing station and son likes the Iron Gym pull-up bar we have.
but less than 35 minutes f'n rawks! those are 7 minute miles you are spitting out behind you! gimme some of what you got!
clink.
just for s+g i went to the gym and ran a bunch on the treadmill.
dude! you are sick! do NOT EVER AGAIN trounce around and smile about it posting insane times...it only leads to us old dudes thinking we have lightning in a bottle energy reserves and can easily do whatever the young kids are doing.
wrong.
first. i hate running. really.
so i got it in my head to run the 5 mile run.
kkkkkkrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiist.
what is wrong with you!!!
i nearly died.
i had to test to see if i could even run a 7 minute mile. answer. no. not gonna happen. i figured i'd give it my best from mile 2 to 3...as the 2 mile mark approached i knew it was only in the cards to do an 8 minute mile.
believe it or not i made it to 5.
45.24
Craig
and, screw you, jellywood legs, if you think my goal is to run the chicago marathon!!!
Craig
came back to earth and ran 3 miles. 29.24 - with mile 1.5 - 2.5 at 9 minute pace.
It seems expensive at first, but when you eat more whole foods (i.e. not processed) like that you start feeling full faster, so you eat less. My wife started changing her diet more to deal with her chronic heartburn and her family's history of high cholesterol than losing weight, but without even getting into an exercise routine she's dropped over 10lbs since the start of May. My in-laws started eating a lot more fish and suddenly their cholesterol levels were lower than after years of focusing on low-fat alternatives and Lipitor. Imagine that!
Daily, one or the other of you lovelys.
Thanks