3min Run, 1min Walk X 9 reps. 4.8Km
Playlist: WTFPod - Anthony Jeselnik
I went into this run with a whole lot of dread. I'm on vacation, so I'm feeling a bit lazy. But I did it. Very invigorating. I hit a new distance record. I'm right on the cusp of 5K and running most of the way... at least 3/4 of it. I'm just glad Monday's out of the way. The rest of the week is easy peasy.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Fifth Weigh-in
19/11/11 - 279.0 lbs
26/11/11 - 274.8 lbs
03/12/11 - 274.6 lbs
10/12/11 - 276.4 lbs
17/12/11 - 274.2 lbs
Ah well. Can't complain about progress.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Week 4, Session 3
2min Run, 3min Walk X 6 reps.
Playlist: Comedy Bang Bang - Paul F. Tompkins, Erinn Hayes, Dan Telfer
Well, that was pleasant. Three minutes of walking. I guess they're buttering me up for the switch to 1 minute from here on. It was nice while it lasted.
If you don't live in the Pacific Northwest, you may have heard that it rains a lot here, especially in the fall, the winter, and the spring. That's not strictly true. While it does tend to stay constantly wet, you couldn't really call it "rain" most of the time. No, most of the time, the clouds come down and touch the ground. In most places, you'd call that "fog." We don't get a lot of fog here. Here we get "wet air," that is, air that you can walk through, get wet, and not feel like you've been rained on. And, oh boy, if you stay out in that stuff, say for 37 minutes or so, you will get wet. I got pretty wet today. You can tell which people on the street have lived in Vancouver a while, because they don't usually carry umbrellas - at least not until you can actually see the rain. When the air is wet, an umbrella does no good at all. The microscopic droplets don't fall in a way that an umbrella will protect you from. In fact, sometimes they don't fall at all. They just coalesce onto your clothes as you move... or stand still. The newbies and transplants crowd the sidewalks with their gigantic umbrellas, oblivious to the fact that they aren't really helping and that you can avoid getting wet by just not staying outside for too long.
This wet air gets pretty cold though. It doesn't cool your body down in the way that you would like it to - the way regular rainfall would. It just makes your extremities cold. That's fine for the legs, as they get pretty hot when you're running. But your hands and forearms just sit there, swaying back and forth, getting wetter and colder as the run progresses. I'm now beginning to understand why so many runners around here wear long sleeves and gloves. I'm going to have to start doing that.
p.s.- that's a good podcast up there (Cake Boss). It feels good to laugh hard when you're running. It clears the lungs and makes you forget for a few seconds that you want to stop.
Playlist: Comedy Bang Bang - Paul F. Tompkins, Erinn Hayes, Dan Telfer
Well, that was pleasant. Three minutes of walking. I guess they're buttering me up for the switch to 1 minute from here on. It was nice while it lasted.
If you don't live in the Pacific Northwest, you may have heard that it rains a lot here, especially in the fall, the winter, and the spring. That's not strictly true. While it does tend to stay constantly wet, you couldn't really call it "rain" most of the time. No, most of the time, the clouds come down and touch the ground. In most places, you'd call that "fog." We don't get a lot of fog here. Here we get "wet air," that is, air that you can walk through, get wet, and not feel like you've been rained on. And, oh boy, if you stay out in that stuff, say for 37 minutes or so, you will get wet. I got pretty wet today. You can tell which people on the street have lived in Vancouver a while, because they don't usually carry umbrellas - at least not until you can actually see the rain. When the air is wet, an umbrella does no good at all. The microscopic droplets don't fall in a way that an umbrella will protect you from. In fact, sometimes they don't fall at all. They just coalesce onto your clothes as you move... or stand still. The newbies and transplants crowd the sidewalks with their gigantic umbrellas, oblivious to the fact that they aren't really helping and that you can avoid getting wet by just not staying outside for too long.
This wet air gets pretty cold though. It doesn't cool your body down in the way that you would like it to - the way regular rainfall would. It just makes your extremities cold. That's fine for the legs, as they get pretty hot when you're running. But your hands and forearms just sit there, swaying back and forth, getting wetter and colder as the run progresses. I'm now beginning to understand why so many runners around here wear long sleeves and gloves. I'm going to have to start doing that.
p.s.- that's a good podcast up there (Cake Boss). It feels good to laugh hard when you're running. It clears the lungs and makes you forget for a few seconds that you want to stop.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Week 4, Session 2
2min Run, 2min Walk X 5 reps.
Playlist: WTFPod - Carol Leifer
This was the recovery day of the first recovery week. It will be, I'm afraid, the shortest run I will ever do from here on... that is if I don't stop running altogether after the Sun Run and subsequently try to redo it and have to go through this whole rigmarole again. It was nice to have a little bit of spare lunch hour left over to git some 'ers done. The 10k system talks about driving the arms backward to regulate your rhythm. I tried that and, surprisingly, it helped. It made me feel a bit looser and relaxed.
Speaking of loose and relaxed, just when I was concentrating on being that way myself, I passed a guy who appeared almost too loose and relaxed. He had this wide, flailing gait that made it look like he had a pant-load or a crotch rash. He didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. I might have complained if I tried to pass him when the seawall was a bit more crowded, (we're talking wide gait) but that wasn't the case. He was a hell of a lot more fit than I am, so who am I to judge. It was just an Interesting Observation. I'm sorry I bothered now. Carry on.
Playlist: WTFPod - Carol Leifer
This was the recovery day of the first recovery week. It will be, I'm afraid, the shortest run I will ever do from here on... that is if I don't stop running altogether after the Sun Run and subsequently try to redo it and have to go through this whole rigmarole again. It was nice to have a little bit of spare lunch hour left over to git some 'ers done. The 10k system talks about driving the arms backward to regulate your rhythm. I tried that and, surprisingly, it helped. It made me feel a bit looser and relaxed.
Speaking of loose and relaxed, just when I was concentrating on being that way myself, I passed a guy who appeared almost too loose and relaxed. He had this wide, flailing gait that made it look like he had a pant-load or a crotch rash. He didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. I might have complained if I tried to pass him when the seawall was a bit more crowded, (we're talking wide gait) but that wasn't the case. He was a hell of a lot more fit than I am, so who am I to judge. It was just an Interesting Observation. I'm sorry I bothered now. Carry on.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Week 4, Session 1
3min Run, 2min Walk X 6 reps.
Playlist: Doug Loves Movies - T.J. Miller, Dan Telfer and Pat Francis
Let's talk about nipple chafe. Let's not? Sorry, Nancy-boy. The truth hurts like my nipples. I'm experimenting with Zinc Oxide ointment to cure it quick. Here's hoping it doesn't inhibit the formation of rugged, manly nipple calluses. I'm going to need them for the long haul. I'd forgotten the exquisite pain of that particular malady. I think it has a lot to do with the weather - the Wiccan bosom variety. I have to be careful not to put an eye out on the way down to the seawall. Man-boobs and diamonds. I just put that in your brain. You're welcome.
So I took my own advice and didn't quit before the 3 minutes was up. There's that problem out of the way. Now I have to figure out how to not want to stop. I tell ya, that would make the not actually stopping part a hell of a lot easier. If I could conquer that, I might even be able to conquer the dreading-the-next-rep problem. Then I could deal with the dreading-the-next-run, the dreading-the-next-week, and the popular dreading-not-walking-at-all problem. It's an attitude thing. My brass ring isn't satisfyingly close and reassuring. The metrics of my performance are not that inspiring. Like many things in life, you just have to keep on going, regardless of how you feel about it.
Playlist: Doug Loves Movies - T.J. Miller, Dan Telfer and Pat Francis
Let's talk about nipple chafe. Let's not? Sorry, Nancy-boy. The truth hurts like my nipples. I'm experimenting with Zinc Oxide ointment to cure it quick. Here's hoping it doesn't inhibit the formation of rugged, manly nipple calluses. I'm going to need them for the long haul. I'd forgotten the exquisite pain of that particular malady. I think it has a lot to do with the weather - the Wiccan bosom variety. I have to be careful not to put an eye out on the way down to the seawall. Man-boobs and diamonds. I just put that in your brain. You're welcome.
So I took my own advice and didn't quit before the 3 minutes was up. There's that problem out of the way. Now I have to figure out how to not want to stop. I tell ya, that would make the not actually stopping part a hell of a lot easier. If I could conquer that, I might even be able to conquer the dreading-the-next-rep problem. Then I could deal with the dreading-the-next-run, the dreading-the-next-week, and the popular dreading-not-walking-at-all problem. It's an attitude thing. My brass ring isn't satisfyingly close and reassuring. The metrics of my performance are not that inspiring. Like many things in life, you just have to keep on going, regardless of how you feel about it.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Fourth Weigh-in
19/11/11 - 279.0 lbs
26/11/11 - 274.8 lbs
03/12/11 - 274.6 lbs
10/12/11 - 276.4 lbs
Goat balls.
Friday, December 09, 2011
Week 3, Session 3
3min Run, 2min Walk X 6 reps.
Playlist: The Todd Glass Show - Norm MacDonald
Well, that was better than Wednesday... marginally. I was able to push the pace a little bit more, but I ended up spending myself earlier than I'd have liked to. On the last two intervals I knocked 10 or so seconds off of the run. I've got to stop doing that.
I feel like I've spend this week trying to get back in the groove of things but not quite getting there. The No-S diet has been a bit of a bust. I've tried to stick to healthy meals. But the week started with loads of leftover pizza from the party. We were preparing for more parents to stick around - not that we needed them to, but that if they did they would have felt welcome. That didn't happen. Then there was the leftover cake. For some twisted reason, I can't bear wasting food. Maybe I've inherited some Blitz-induced thriftiness from my parents. Maybe it's from my own years of poverty. It's a fucked up combo where you always think you need more food than you really do, and you can't bear to toss the inevitable surplus. It's no mystery why I'm fat.
December is not a good time to be doing this. I suppose there is no bad time to get fit. It's just harder in December. With Christmas coming up, it will take a herculean effort to maintain a healthy balance. I'm not worried about getting runs in. As long as I have my shoes and someone to watch the kids, I'll get out there and slog out a few kilometres. It's the snacks that cause the problems. I think I've been pretty good at avoiding snacks when it's just me an the boys. But once I get back together with family, there's an air of celebration that demands nommage. And then there's the booze. Happy hour? Much obliged.
I think what I'm trying to say is that I'm not looking forward to Saturday Morning.
Playlist: The Todd Glass Show - Norm MacDonald
Well, that was better than Wednesday... marginally. I was able to push the pace a little bit more, but I ended up spending myself earlier than I'd have liked to. On the last two intervals I knocked 10 or so seconds off of the run. I've got to stop doing that.
I feel like I've spend this week trying to get back in the groove of things but not quite getting there. The No-S diet has been a bit of a bust. I've tried to stick to healthy meals. But the week started with loads of leftover pizza from the party. We were preparing for more parents to stick around - not that we needed them to, but that if they did they would have felt welcome. That didn't happen. Then there was the leftover cake. For some twisted reason, I can't bear wasting food. Maybe I've inherited some Blitz-induced thriftiness from my parents. Maybe it's from my own years of poverty. It's a fucked up combo where you always think you need more food than you really do, and you can't bear to toss the inevitable surplus. It's no mystery why I'm fat.
December is not a good time to be doing this. I suppose there is no bad time to get fit. It's just harder in December. With Christmas coming up, it will take a herculean effort to maintain a healthy balance. I'm not worried about getting runs in. As long as I have my shoes and someone to watch the kids, I'll get out there and slog out a few kilometres. It's the snacks that cause the problems. I think I've been pretty good at avoiding snacks when it's just me an the boys. But once I get back together with family, there's an air of celebration that demands nommage. And then there's the booze. Happy hour? Much obliged.
I think what I'm trying to say is that I'm not looking forward to Saturday Morning.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Week 3, Session 2
2min Run, 2min Walk X 6 reps.
Playlist: Comedy Bang Bang - Patton Oswalt
Recovery day. Not sure what's going on, but it seems like this doesn't get any easier. It might have been a weekend of hedonism with a birthday celebration for a 7-year-old. It might be that I'm still recovering from the illness. I finished it. It felt good to do that. I tried to push it a bit and extend my stride. That may have contributed to the fatigue. I could only do that for a few reps before I descended back into the fat-guy-shuffle.
I'm going to try start up the weight training tonight. There's no reason I couldn't do it every day. Hopefully, that will chisel away at some more of the fat and give me more endurance.
I was hoping ... well I was hoping two things really. I was hoping that I could run a 5k or something over the Christmas holidays. Of course, before that, I was hoping that I'd have the ability to run one all the way through by that time. I was hoping to do it for the holidays so that I would have some child care (family) while I was off jocking it up for fun and prizes. Late December is pretty thin for races in BC. There are a few dashes around New Year's in Seattle. Maybe I could swing one of those. I'll revisit this little scheme in week 5 to see how I'm doing. This holiday season, I'm thankful for 11th hour registration deadlines.
Playlist: Comedy Bang Bang - Patton Oswalt
Recovery day. Not sure what's going on, but it seems like this doesn't get any easier. It might have been a weekend of hedonism with a birthday celebration for a 7-year-old. It might be that I'm still recovering from the illness. I finished it. It felt good to do that. I tried to push it a bit and extend my stride. That may have contributed to the fatigue. I could only do that for a few reps before I descended back into the fat-guy-shuffle.
I'm going to try start up the weight training tonight. There's no reason I couldn't do it every day. Hopefully, that will chisel away at some more of the fat and give me more endurance.
I was hoping ... well I was hoping two things really. I was hoping that I could run a 5k or something over the Christmas holidays. Of course, before that, I was hoping that I'd have the ability to run one all the way through by that time. I was hoping to do it for the holidays so that I would have some child care (family) while I was off jocking it up for fun and prizes. Late December is pretty thin for races in BC. There are a few dashes around New Year's in Seattle. Maybe I could swing one of those. I'll revisit this little scheme in week 5 to see how I'm doing. This holiday season, I'm thankful for 11th hour registration deadlines.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Week 3, Session 1
3min Run, 2min Walk X 7 reps. - 4.3K
Playlist: WTFPod - Live w/ Bob Ducca, Joe Lo Truglio, et. al.
Cough's nearly gone. The bump to 3 minutes was hard, but I managed it. I still feel really slow, but I don't want to push it. Maybe my Friday runs I can work on my pace. I did make it past the rowing club, which was nice. The next bump will take me to the yacht club, I'm sure. I'm on the brink of 5K. Who would have thunk it so soon?
Now that I'm well again. I think I have to augment my training and lift some weights on my off days and work my abs. It's no fun when flab flaps while you're jogging. You can feel your meat pulling with every step and imagine your tissues ripping from the strain. I bet you get stretch marks on the way back down the weight ladder just from that. Also, I need to get back on the weight loss pace. I was disappointed on Saturday... Not too much, mind you. I had been sick. I had a valid excuse.
Playlist: WTFPod - Live w/ Bob Ducca, Joe Lo Truglio, et. al.
Cough's nearly gone. The bump to 3 minutes was hard, but I managed it. I still feel really slow, but I don't want to push it. Maybe my Friday runs I can work on my pace. I did make it past the rowing club, which was nice. The next bump will take me to the yacht club, I'm sure. I'm on the brink of 5K. Who would have thunk it so soon?
Now that I'm well again. I think I have to augment my training and lift some weights on my off days and work my abs. It's no fun when flab flaps while you're jogging. You can feel your meat pulling with every step and imagine your tissues ripping from the strain. I bet you get stretch marks on the way back down the weight ladder just from that. Also, I need to get back on the weight loss pace. I was disappointed on Saturday... Not too much, mind you. I had been sick. I had a valid excuse.
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