Well, it did take me a little while to really get started but I have been making progress. Since my post in January, I didn’t really get serious until the end of March. But since then I have dutifully tracked every calorie and increased my activity. I am going to the gym about 5 days a week to do free weights and cardio on the elliptical machine. I’m also gearing up my running and have been able to manage long runs over 10 miles for each of the last 3 weekends.
Making Progress
First run of 2010
Today is almost 40 degrees warmer than yesterday. Yes, it’s true. Above zero feels like a heat wave after the last couple weeks. Anyway, I did it. I got my feet into my shoes and got out the door for a very nice 3.4 miles in the sunshine. It’s been more than a month and the body can feel it. The joints are stiff and the muscles are complaining but it feels so good to be back in the saddle.
Time to be accountable
It’s a new year and here I am at a place I never thought I would see myself at again. Even with two marathons and several other half marathons in 2009 I seem to have used every excuse in the book to slack off. And look where it has gotten me! I’ve gained 40 pounds over the last couple of years! That is half the weight I lost in 2002/2003. I have no one to blame but myself. I realize that I gained weight during training for every one of the 5 marathons I have run in the last couple years. Running gave me an excuse to overeat. I stopped tracking my calories and keeping the carbs in check. Well, it’s time to face the mirror. That’s why I have my pictures below. I need to see what everyone else is seeing.
It isn’t pretty and I feel terrible. Time to change things. Even though it is below zero outside I have to get my feet back into my running shoes and my fat ass back out on the streets. I haven’t run in more than a month. Today starts a new day and a new attitude. I started back on fitday to track my calories and I will be out the door first thing tomorrow morning.
Running Helps your joints – even as you age
A new study shows that healthy runners do not harm their joints as they age. One can keep running into their 70’s and 80’s.
Of course, as with anything, moderation is key. You don’t want to run with pain or when injured.
From CNN:
That includes not running through pain, and resting if you have an injury, something Tuttle takes seriously. “I try to rest maybe if I’m having some specific pain that seems to be over a couple of days,” she says.
Spring running update
Hello poor neglected blog. The slacker is back. After a nice 5.4 miles yesterday I was so energized for an 8+ mile run today. It felt great! Of course spring has sprung and that helps. It was the first time I’ve been able to wear shorts as it was a balmy 45 degrees. I ran close to the rising Red River and was amazed at all the dike building going on. We’re just waiting for the flood waters to flow. After my run I had one of my favorite post run smoothies – blueberry, peanut butter, ovaltine and protein.