YardCrap Running

September Was Tough

September was supposed to be just like the months before.               It did not work out that way.
First was the back strain - which led to the ham string pull - which led to the fractured metatarsal bone.  The body is like that, when one part fails, others receive too much stress from being out of balance and follow suit.

I took a couple days off to feel sorry for myself, and then finished out the month with 10 mile rides on a stationary bike.  I hate bike riding and it does little to aid in my foot race goal other than to slow my cardio deterioration a little.

I have a boot brace and should stay away from running for 6 weeks.  The pain has seen to that, but last night it hurt less as I tried to sleep, so maybe soon I can jog a little on the treadmill if I lace up tight.

As you can see below, September was a better month and on a couple of days, I actually felt like I was running.

DIST    TIME    PACE    AHR     ELEV  DATE

3:13    34:49      11:09   132      249   01/09/15
3:14    36:43      11:41   124      227   02/09/15
3:00    41:29      13:57   103     1TM   03/09/15
3:15    34:55      11:06   136      259   04/09/15
6.15    77:37      12:37   135      481   05/09/15
3.11     35:29     11:24     135     243   08/09/15
3.18     38:36     12:08     115     240   09/09/15
3.18     35:46     11:15     138     109   10/09/15
3.14     32:54     10:28     136     238   11/09/15
1.69     20:56     12:23     113     123   12/09/15
3:00     37:41     12:34     124     1TM   15/09/15
3.14     33:45     10:45     140      243   16/09/15
3.13     35:00     11:12     136      248   18/09/15
6.21     70:11     11:18    144       484   19/09/15
1.68     28:00     16:40   101      1TM   20/09/15
3.00     36:26     12:15     127    1TM   21/09/15
3.00     33:58     11:19     119     1TM   22/09/15
10.00     38:37     15.5      99      2B     25/09/15
10.00     42:29     14.1     102     3B    26/09/15
10.00     40:59     14.6     107     3B    27/09/15
10.00     43:42     13.7     105     4B    28/09/15
10.00     42:42     14.1     112     4B    29/09/15
10.00     43:50     13.7     108     4B    30/09/15

October was to be a month for increasing mileage some.  Maybe that can still occur?  That is also what November and December are for, so I am not yet dead in the water.
I'll get there.

Weight Loss

Weight Loss

Originally Posted by Waldo

You've got to lose weight, we both know that's the key...So how do you plan on doing that?

Originally Posted by me

... eat less ~?

 

I was not being flippant. The only way to loose weight is to have a calorie deficit in your diet.



I started in April with a broke eye and a goal of giving honest effort in a foot race by May 2016.
Of course part of that "honest effort" meant I needed to slim down from my 210 pounds. Actually, I look pretty good at 210, but I can't give "honest effort" at that weight or it would not be "honest" effort.
Honest effort comes from training.

I gave myself 9 months until the New Year to shed about 40 pounds and get to 170. Then I would have 4 months to trim off 5 more pounds for race weight. I have preformed well in races at 170 and above, but like Waldo said, weight is a key.

I have gotten to 170 a little early.

How did that happen?

First off, I don't believe in all these diets people come up with. Diet books have been top ten sellers for decades. If any of them worked, so many new ones would not be climbing the charts. Loosing 10 pounds in 10 days is a fool's game. You gain weight slowly, and for real, actual slimming - you must loose it slowly. I am not talking about shedding some water weight, but actual meat.
The only "secret" is patience and logic. Patience also makes it nearly painless.

What you eat is not important. What you don't eat is. Stuffing your face with health foods or Twinkies is the same as to weight loss. The only way to loose real weight is too take in less calories. There is no other way. What those calories consist of is completely unimportant as to weight loss. To loose weight you must make your body consume itself for daily energy needs. Just eat a little less each day, it is that simple. Eat anything you want.

I bought an accurate balance beam scale (doctor's scale) and weigh as soon as I get up each day. I round up to the next pound (even if it is one oz). I write it down. It is important to write it down. Over the course of a week, I whittle at one pound. If I don't get there, no problem as long as I am not going up. My loss has been about 1 pound a week which is my weekly goal. Since my plan is long range, I got time to burn. 30 pounds in 30 days is a fool's game.

The foot racing club is open to all, but few make the cut.
To get in you have to work hard and have talent of some sort.  You don't have to be fast, but you must be dedicated to improvement.  Most lack the mental talent to join.  Showing up on race day means nothing if you did not show up on training days.

These days, I may lack the physical talent.  My mind is still strong as is my desire to train.  Time will decide if I get back in.  My body complains. Maybe sitting on my ass drinking beer for a decade is too much to overcome.  My old mind is willing and motivation is there for one last stand before I am no more.   My body is not as confident.

I finish my 3 mile slog and ice what ever hurts the most.  Some mornings I wake up and know I can't go out again, but I do.  Just took 3 weeks off from real runs with a broken foot bone.   I got on the bike and walked on flat treadmill.  Now I am strapping the foot tight and hoping for the best.  That is not ideal.

So far my efforts have not not been enough.  As you can see by past posts, not much improvement.   I run a 3 miles at a 12 minute pace, and see on Garmin that my peers are doing many times that distance each day below an 8 pace.  What really hurts is that their heart beat loafs at 7 while mine rockets at a slow 12.

Am I discouraged?
I am not happy about it, and that is why I will strap up the broke foot and go out again when tomorrow's Sun rises.  I gave myself a year, and I will need every day of it.
I can compete with these guys ~  I have, I can, and I will.