From Slow to Stop

I haven't run since Sunday. I was feeling great on Sunday and did 6 plus miles running and walking. While enjoying the implosion of the Patriots empire on Superbowl Sunday, I re-injured my back. I can tell you its not fun when you can't get out of your car because you can't move your leg. After driving in to work on Monday morning in the hellish Washington traffic, I couldn't get out of my car for a good 5 minutes. I couldn't move my leg and my back would have nothing to do with bending. I sat in the parking and made sure no one was around when I picked my left leg out of the car with my hands and crawled/slid out of the car while saying things that I normally reserve for when my golf shots go into the woods or when the Skins hire another idiot head coach. It was awful...

Thank God for Advil and ice packs. I think I got the same amount of calories from Advil the last few days as food. I'm sure having a handful of Advil is okay on your liver and stomach - at least I haven't seen any studies saying you shouldn't. Whoever wrote the directions on the bottle of "1 pill every 4 to 6 hours" should be beaten and get water boarded!

The good thing about all the pain I'm enduring..(there is always something good when you endure this kind of pain), I'm enjoying driving my wife's nice SUV with heated seats since it helps my "driving posture" - I think my back is going to hurt for at least 2 weeks. I hope I can start running (without Mini knowing) in a week or so.

Slow Running

I've been faithful in running but not posting lately. I've started to run and walk at least 4 miles about 4 times a week. Having a Nike + definitely helps in keeping track of the miles and speed. Sad to say, I'm averaging about 12:30 per minute for 4 miles. The guy in me is embarrassed to admit the lackluster time, but I realize that I have to start slow. I'm hoping I can do 4 miles in 40 minutes in couple of months. Until then, I'll have to live with the slow time.

I am doing a 60 miles in 30 days challenge with my Nike plus. The idea is that I will log 60 miles in a span of 30 days. I'm 4 miles behind schedule. I've been wiped out since Sunday with a cold that has put me significantly behind. I hope to catch up soon

Worst week so far

I started the week by investing almost $200 towards my running. I bought an iPod Nano and the Nike + to help me keep track of the workouts. However, I only ran twice the whole week. The usual excuse of very busy work and family schedule works here. But, I'm proud that I ran on Friday morning while it was foggy, cold and wet.

Nike+ is very cool (i just need to figure out a way to keep my iPod headphones in my ear!). I still haven't calibrated the Nike. I ran the same route that I do for my 4 mile run both the days. The first day Nike calculated the distance as 3.77 miles and second day as 3.97 miles.

I'm going to calibrate it today so that I can have more confidence in the distance given by Nike. Just the fact that it will chart your distance and speed graphically makes the purchase worth it. Although I enjoy being out there without any music so that I can think, having the Nano play some songs makes the time go a whole lot quicker.

Crazy Weather

It was 32 degrees at 12 pm on Friday. There was ice on the trail that I go jogging. I just returned from my 4 mile route and it feels like it is 60 degrees. By Sunday, it felt like 60 degrees. Amazing how much difference 48 hours can make!

Friday was a good day despite the cold. I must have walked/jogged about 5 miles. I took a slightly different route than usual. So, I don't know how far I went. I also must have jogged for 20-25 minutes total out of the hour that I was out there. It felt good.

I did the 4 mile loop in about 55 minutes today. I jogged a mile and half at least. I'm convinced that I need an iPod Nano with the Nike + system to keep track of my mileage. I don't know if I need it - but it sure feels like I can't live without it! So, I must need it! This hobby is becoming more expensive every day!

Obama and Huckabee - Let the fight begin!

I did get off the couch and went off walking on January 1st after writing my last post. However, the last two days have been very busy and void of any exercise. But I did get to watch the Wizards lose to Detroit and the historic Obama victory - and speech.

Obama looks like he could go all the way. I'm still not a believer. If Clinton or Edwards can pull off NH, either of them can stop Obama. Obama's first few minutes on stage last night looked like he was really the "Junior" senator. Oh, btw - did anyone catch the guy standing behind Huckabee (looked like a relative of Huckabee) yawning a couple of times during the speech. I think that guy should be flogged. What an idiot? standing right behind your candidate and yawning on the biggest night of his candidate's political life! That loser subliminally distracted a lot of viewers who were connecting with Huckabee - yours truly included. My bet is on McCain winning the Republican nomination. The next couple of weeks will see some serious mud being thrown around.. can't wait!

Only 4 months to register for the Marathon. I'm going to start running a mile during my walks starting Sunday. I've already done 1/2 to 3/4 mile couple of times this week. The hard thing is going to be stopping from running before getting totally warmed and loosened up. I plan to stretch at least 5 minutes before I start walking today. I'll let you know if I get in trouble by trying to run more than a mile. I feel like I can run (slowly) a mile at a time without killing myself. I just don't trust myself to run slowly or run only a mile at a time.

New Year...Same Me

2008 is here! We had a great new year's eve hanging out with friends. I have to admit Dick Clark needs to hang it up and move on! Watching him (even for only 30 seconds) was painful. No new new year's resolution for me. Same old one - run a Marathon this year. It's going to take a lot of work to pull it off.

I finished 07 strong. Walked on the elliptical machine on the rainy, windy Sunday while getting ready for the Skins to beat the Boyz. That was by far the best game for Skins this season. I will take back all the Gibbs trash talk if the Skins can manage to beat the Seahawks this weekend. I ended up walking 2 miles on Sunday and 4 miles on Monday. Not bad way to finish off 07.

After sleeping in till 9 and eating a heavy breakfast at Mom's, I'm not sure I want to go walking today. It will take all the will power in the world to make me walk today. Even with the new year, it's sad to say, it's same old lazy me that's still around

Christmas is over, but I'm still walking

Christmas week flew by! The week started with the Skins beating the Vikings. I guess all is well when the Skins win. I put in 16 miles on four days including 4 on the Elliptical machine at home at 9 pm. I'm feeling pretty good about walking.

I went shopping today for some new shoes. Was able to get a new pair of the same Nike I've been wearing for the last 6 months. It felt so good that I even jogged about a mile today during the walk. I had to stop myself before I hurt myself trying too hard. I realize that's my number one problem - getting ahead of myself. I have one more week of walking before I start jogging a mile or two during each "walks".

I actually lost a couple of pounds over the last two weeks! Amazing how a little bit of exercise can make a difference!

8 more miles

This week is going by very fast. I was able to walk 4 miles each on Tuesday and Thursday. Walking in 35 degree weather with the sun out is actually very very comfortable and enjoyable. Never knew! Not too much fun if it's windy.

I think I need new shoes. I've been using the same shoes for almost 9 months or so. At least, that's my excuse as I prepare to spend a Benjamin for a pair of shoes. Can't believe how much they cost! I think buying new stuff is probably the best part of any new hobby.

Awesome Weekend!

Awesome weekend! My wife - Mini, graduated from Georgetown with a Masters Degree, Redskins beat the Giants, had a great party at our house to celebrate Min's graduation (many thanks to all who came and celebrated with us). Life is good! I even made time to go the movies with Niloo to catch I am Legend (pretty good movie but I got nauseous with all the camera work). Didn't get much time to walk/run or do any exercise until 8:30 on Sunday night. I didn't want to break my commitment to walk 3-4 times a week the first week itself. So, at 8:30 at night, i got on the Elliptical machine and walked for an hour. It was much easier to do since the Skins were beating the Giants. I even caught the New Hope praise team sing on a local station while I was flipping channels during commerical breaks. I was very happy when I saw the workout summary on the machine - 757 calories. I don't believe I burned that much calories, but I feel great!

Conquering the rain

Another cold morning. I got up early enough to work an hour or so before starting out on my 4 mile walk. I really didn't want to walk since the weather outside looked dreadful. It was overcast and a bit drizzling. I layered on clothes till I looked like a blue round ball. As I was walking out of the house, my wife tells me that my blue pants, hooded sweatshirt, blue jacket, black gloves and black hat made me look like a trash collector. I take that as a compliment and step out of the house.

I feel snug and warm..albiet a little constricted with all the clothes. I care more about being warm than looking cool. I can feel the small rain drops on my face and now another worry creeps in. What if it starts pouring a mile or two away from home. I don't see the sun anywhere and not a single soul is walking. I'm thinking I should turn around and go home and get on my Eliptical Machine. I know there is a reason my $400 Eliptical hasn't seen me more than 10 times in the last 2 years. It's boring. There's no drama in walking (is it ellipting?), while flipping channels constantly. I know if I head back, I will be back to work rather than working out.

So, I keep walking. The steady drizzle keeps me company. I take comfort in the fact that the pace of the drizzle isn't picking up. So, I keep walking. My body is warming up, my mind is getting focused on walking and all the work I have to do when I get home. Before I knew it, I was at my half-way point. I see two people walking the same trail. They've been walking for more than an hour and ask me why I'm not jogging. They give me more motivation as I keep going and finish my third day of walking with out any injury...at least for now.

In the beginning...

It's cold..really cold..at least for a guy who grew up where 70 degree weather was considered cold. It's 37 degrees and slightly windy in the DC suburbs on this December morning. I decide Sunday morning is as good as any to start my quest to be fit. So, i put on 3 layers of clothing and tell my wife I'm going for a walk. She's supportive of my latest attempt to get healthy. She doesn't laugh out loud - but I can sense her mind screaming "here we go again!"

So, I grab a bottle of water and head out of the house. I decide to go back and grab some gloves just in case my hands get cold. In 2 minutes, i'm ready to turn back and head home. My face...especially my nose and neck feel frozen. I keep going only because I didn't want to quit this early on my latest quest for fitness. It usually takes me a week or two before I "get hurt" or "run out of time" to stop my getting fit routine.

I'm a guy in my late 30s with at least 25 extra pounds on my body. People don't call me fat or plump or chunky to my face. I'm sure they don't think of me as fat either..but they certainly don't see me as a fit guy. I'm the kind of guy that nobody thinks of when they think of healthy people or unhealthy people. I'm the guy who doctor's will say - "lose some weight" to if they ever see him. I'm also the guy who in 5 to 10 years will end up with a heart attack and people will say "Never expected that for him". So, I'm out to make a change.

My plan, my latest quest for fitness, is that I will prepare and run a marathon in October 08. The marine Corps marathon. It gives me a goal. I've never been a runner - my only attempt at running was running a half marathon this year in VA beach. That was a struggle. Full marathon is going to be hell. So, I figured I'll start by walking.

My plan is to walk 3-4 times a week for 3-4 miles the next month before I start to run. Based on my extensive research (NOT!), that shouldn't shock my body into another injury.

So, despite the cold and wind. I keep walking. Within the first 5 minutes I realize my foolishness in not wearing a hat that could also cover my ears. After the first 15 minutes I feel my body warming up and not feeling too cold. The overcast cold morning is no longer dull and boring to me as I begin to retreat in my thoughts as I keep walking. My plan was to walk a 4 mile loop with a small pond as the furthest point. I keep checking my watch to see if I'm walking a 15 minute mile every 5 minutes or so. The middle 30 minutes went by very quickly as I retreated into my thoughts and got into a rhythm of walking. I was no longer cold or uncomfortable. I enjoyed the last 15 minutes of my walk as I was day dreaming of being able to keep up my commitment of walking for the next month. Only time will tell if I can pull this off