Runner's Aversion

7:00 AM came and went. It was 25° when I woke up to go running. Being new to running and as out of shape as I am, my lungs are already plotting a coup against me for starting this running business. They would not let me out in the cold weather. So that left me with 2 options: 1) Lunch Run 2) Evening in the dark run. Each option has advantages and disadvantages. I had my MWF workout with Jerome Biggers at Couture Bodies  which I have prioritized. The thought of a workout with Mr. Biggs and then a 4+ mile run seemed daunting. But a night run has its own issues. I opted for the lunch run with some Beastie Boys Solid Gold Hits accompaniment which I randomly picked but later I believe saved my run. After Mr. Biggs ripped my arms and core, I set out on a course I'd created in PlotARoute . It would take me on some hills but after yesterday's run, I thought I could handle them. (Note to self - Coach put in a recovery day for a reason.) For me the first 1/2 mile is the most...

So my official running plan starts tomorrow. I was determined to get another run in this weekend. I've learned when you make up your mind to do something, it gets done. I missed my chance to run on Saturday but I couldn't put it off anymore. But it was cold. And I'm fighting a cold, sniffles and aches and pains. Determined to run, I knew at 3:00 P.M. that it was probably at the warmest part of the day. The temp was only going to drop from the current 40°. I decided run on the street outside my house. No time to go anywhere. My kids wanted to join me and I run about their speed so everyone suited up and off we went. It's different running and talking vs running with music. Being Sunday, our discussion turned to God and Heaven. "Will we be able to see God with our own eyes? Hear Him with our ears? How old will we be in Heaven? Is there really going to be a banquet? What about the vegetarians? Why will the streets be gold?" Man the questions! The l...

Total Distance 3.12 Miles Total Duration 38:57 Avg 12:29 Mile 1: 11:01 Mile 2: 12:31 Mile 3: 13:27 Start Time: 6:15 P.M.  Weather: 55 °  Raining All I could think about today was my run. I had decided to leave work around 5, drive to the Y, change and run on their outdoor paved trail, and then pickup my daughter from dance across the street at 6:30. I also picked up some more gear. I got an iWatch so I would not have to run with my phone but still have all the modern conveniences and distractions that a smart phone affords. Calculating my time, I realized I was not going to run for an hour so I delayed at the office. Then I got caught up with an impromptu co-worker drop in meeting. Desperate to get out the door, I pretty much walked out and shut my office door while they were still talking. Now I'm running late. No problem. Straight to dance and run the sidewalks. But I have to change cloths. I duck into the local coffee shop, order a coffee and quick chang...

I love to gear up! Every hobby has its own set of gear. And I believe if you are going to do something, do it. Now I don't condone spending a ton of money on something that you never use. I'm not wasteful. I usually absolutely loath spending more than $35 on a pair of sneakers. I am not a sneakerhead by any stretch of the imagination. I keep one everyday pair of sneakers and one old pair for dirty work. My current Filas are blown out by the right pinky toe but the soles don't have enough wear to justify a new pair. Heck, I just bought these 6 months ago. These are my "new" shoes. My wife gets a new pair of $100+ running shoes every 500 miles? Wait, what? Don't think I'm put out by the $100. It's the 500 miles that get me. Every time she shows up with a new pair of kicks, I think, "She just ran another 500 miles!" I'm lucky to run 1/2 a mile around the neighborhood on a really ambitious day. My step count hovers around 7000...

My wife is a runner. She runs 4x per week, 6:30 in the morning in the sub-freezing weather. She's fit. She loves it. She's run 5Ks, 10Ks, 1/2 Marathons, 200 mile relays. She has a collection of medals hanging in our bedroom. She talks about the runner's highs and the runners trots. (I've learned there are things unspoken in the runner's world) Year after year. I love her for it. I admire her every time she gets out of bed early to go running. I've learned in life that you can be just about anything you want to be. It only takes the gumption to do it. Most people are content just to watch the world go by. I'm not one of those people.  One year I stood in a crowd watching some hot air balloonists get their balloons ready for launch. It was a beautiful spectacle. There was quite a crowd watching the event. When the balloons lifted off, the onlookers stood watching. The balloons disappeared into the sky and the chase cars took off. Their adventure w...

Stats: 230lbs 5'10" Activity Level: 30min workout 3x per week Runs: 0 Walks 1x per week 30 min on treadmill With 2017 in the rear-view, I start 2018 with renewed conviction to do something this year about my health and weight. Currently on 2 drugs for hypertension, 1 for cholesterol. AC1 creeping up to pre-diabetic levels. I've tried swimming, dieting, vegetarianism, veganism, boot camps, martial arts, personal training - usually with some moderate level of success. In 2016 I got down to 200lbs and had to purchase 36" waist pants. Now I'm glad I didn't donate those 38" pants. It's not so much a New Year's resolution as it is turning 50 years old. Half a century. The only two activities left to try are running and boxing. I'll try running. Trying to be a positive person, I'll only say this once for the record and you won't see me write it again: I hate running! That being said, I want to like running. I like the ...