Thinking about starting over with C25K

I'm thinking about starting over. I'm on W4D2, but am struggling a LOT! I think I might just start back at W1D3 and run with the wife on her journey. I love running with her and she needs me with her to push her. I ran with her on her last two runs and felt great.

I'm just wondering if it would do me some good to start over and run as well as work on my core and walking on my off days. I feel like if I do start over, that I will be doing so with the benefit of knowing what I am doing a lot more than before and up to this point. I have the shoes that I need as well as the things that I need to make my runs better for me.

I'm just thinking that this may be the best thing for me and the smart thing to do. I am having problems with my form. HAVE had problems since day one. This will give me the time to build up my body more with the knees and back before I start doing this for long term running.

I'm not sure yet...but I'm thinking.

More later, guys!

Hills and trails and knees, OH MY!

Hey guys...attempted week 4 day 3 today, but I attempted it on a trail instead of my usual flat, paved paths. Did NOT go well.

As soon as I came off of the asphalt onto the dirt, my knee popped. I thought I tore something, but after flexing and stretching it, it felt ok so I pressed on. Got about halfway through the first 5 minute run and there was a hill. A LARGE hill. Hills are my enemy, but I decided to tackle it.

As I started up, I kept saying to myself "pick your feet up...pick your feet up...". Well, I didn't pick my feet up enough. I hit a root and face planted! To make it worse, I face planted in front of someone walking down the hill. Embarrassment set in big time.

i made it up to my feet and trudged on until my lower back started giving me fits. I just locked up. Couldn't run, couldn't walk, couldn't sit...all I could do was hold on to the fence beside me until the spasm eased off. Downhearted and broken, I turned off my c25k app, turned off nike+, then limped back to the car. The wife finished her W1D3 while I limped back.

Today was NOT fun! I need to figure out what I can do to strengthen my back to keep it from tightening up on me. I know I need to lose this gut and that will help, but Im trying to do that as well. It's not coming off real fast and I need it gone like yesterday!

I think I need to walk on my off days and maybe strength train again. I used to power lift in another life and was really strong until I traded the weights for the fork. It has been 25 years since I have been in any kind of shape and this is hard trying to get BACK into shape.

Injured...

The knee pain came back! It was there after my run on Thursday. I ran with the wife on her w2d2 and then did my own w4d2. I have never ran on a trail before and we decided to do a trail run. I say it was a trail, it was gravel and dirt and uneven so I would consider it a trail.  Anyway, I felt fine during the runs except for my lower back started hurting a bit.

After the runs, my knee started hurting but I didn't think much about it until the next morning...that is when the pain set in. I iced it, elevated it, and rested it. Haven't done a run since then. I think I will go out today and get it in, though. It is feeling pretty good right now.

Will post later...just wanted to update here for now.

Feeling STRONGER...PR for me today!

Hey guys...Today I set a personal record for me. Let me tell you about it.

My wife decided that she wanted to start C25K today and start running with me. If you follow this blog, you know that I am on week 4 day 1 of the program. She started at week one day one today. I decided to run her part of the program to give her some moral support. I ran with her on her entire run today and felt really strong! Wasn't even winded.

Once we finished with hers, I decided to just run mine since hers was a little more than a long warm up walk for me. So I went ahead and ran my program run today as well. It felt really good. NO WAY I thought I was going to finish without even running her run, much less after...but I did!

I ran W4D1 and only had a little trouble at the end of it, but I pushed right on through. Ready for the PR? 3.2 miles! Read it again...3.2 miles! I have never even WALKED 3.2 miles in my life at one time. I was strong...I was not in any pain...I just felt awesome!

I simply felt stronger today...MUCH stronger! My lungs weren't on fire, my legs felt good, the run itself was very enjoyable and I had a great time, just me and nature.

Speaking of nature, I ran in a whole different place than normal. We went to the Silver Comet Trail today. This place is simply awesome! VERY beautiful trail with a paved runner/bike/walking roadway where no cars can even ride down. There were a lot of people on the trail running, walking, and biking. The scenery was breathtaking. The thing is, this trail runs from Smyrna, Ga. to the Alabama state line. Sixty one (61) miles long. The part that I ran today was mile marker 0...the beginning. I would LOVE to see this whole thing. When I say breathtaking, I really mean it!

It was such a pleasure to run here today. MUCH better than the track that I run around in circles on most of my runs. I hope I never see that track again. I have found me a running home, I think. There are a few other trails i want to experience as well. People tell me that they are as pretty as the Silver Comet Trail. I can't wait to see and experience those as well.

Today was awesome...I loved it!

More later, guys!

To Weight Watch or not to weight watch...

That is the question?

I'm on a quest and my head is spinning. I have changed my way of life drastically since I have started running. I have come to the conclusion that I need to do more. I want to lose about 70 pounds. Yep, I am now on a quest to get rid of some extra baggage.

Right now, I'm about 281 pounds and I am looking for a long term goal to get under 200 pounds. I thought that just by running and eating better...making better choices in what I put in my body, that I would lose weight. Well, I will, but not as much as I need to lose. I have to make a real drastic change to get rid of this weight. I am thinking about joining Weight Watchers to help with that portion of changing me.

I have spoken to a lot of people and have read a lot of stuff and weight watchers seems to be a good choice. I hope so. I really want to be HEALTHY! So, I am going to look into getting into the WW plan and see if that will help me.

With losing the weight, I also have set a few goals for myself as far as running and health. I want to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) by October of 2012. My ULTIMATE running goal is to run a full Marathon with the coup De gras being the Boston Marathon. If that will ever happen, I have no clue, but that is a long term goal for me.

Call me stupid, or call me crazy or call me what you will, but I know that I can do anything that I put my mind to do. A marathon, much less the BOSTON MARATHON, is something that seems impossible for me, but it is also something that I can work towards doing. It is a long term goal, and it is a REACHABLE goal as long as I train for it and do the right things.

So, I have changed my way of thinking about my health, I am changing the way I think about food, and I am changing the way I feel about running. I NEVER thought I would run a mile never mind running 13.1 or 26.2. I have my head on straight and I have my priorities in line...

More later, guys!

W3D3 DONE!!

Today, I went out and ran week three, day three of c25k and it was the best run that I have had since I started this whole running thing. The new shoes were perfect and helped with my knee pain. In fact, I haven't felt ANY pain since I have put them on today.

I was having problems with the three minute runs in men first two runs this week. Breathing was off, pain in my knee, couldn't even finish the three minutes. Today, I finished the three minute runs and felt strong. My calves did tighten up because I found myself trying to run in a different form than I am used to. But that tightness went away.

Not feeling real good at the moment. Ill post more later.

I LOVE my wife! NEW SHOES!!

I posted earlier today about the perils of the clodhoppers that I was running in and the pain that it was causing me with my left knee. I told you how the Dr. today told me to never even WALK in those shoes again. Well, I also told my wife what the doctor said today.

Now, normally, we watch our pennies because we are both unemployed at the moment. As soon as I told her what my Dr. said, she looked at me and said, "Well, we can't have you quitting the running after all you have already done, and Im not going to see you hurt yourself". She then put me in the car and drove me to the Big Peach Running Co. in Kennesaw, Ga. since she knew I had already been analyzed as far as my gait there.

Once there, she bought me these! The Brooks Ghost 4 running shoe as well as three pair of Asics running socks. As you may well know, Im diabetic and I dont need to get blisters from my socks moving around and holding water in my shoes. The girl that was waiting on me asked if the socks I had on were the one's I ran in and I told her yes and more just like them. I told her I needed some tech socks because of the diabetes and she said the magic word - blisters. My wife jumped all over that and bought the socks as well. She is also a diabetic and knows the perils of getting blisters on your feet.

So, we get the shoes and head straight to the track so I could get my run in before it got dark. I am on W3D2 of C25K and as soon as I hit the track, I could tell a major difference in these shoes from the ones I WAS wearing. These Brooks shoes had some SPRING in them! It was like as soon as my foot hit the ground it felt like it was catapulted up and forward with very little effort on my part.

As I ran, I did feel a little bit of knee pain, but nothing like what it was. The pain just was there for a bit and then it was gone. I feel it a little bit now that Im sitting, but again, not like it was. I sincerely hope that the pain goes away and that the shoes was my problem.

Finished my c25k run and now Im sitting here after a hot shower and feeling good about my day!

Knee PAIN! But Good News

Just got back from my Doctor. Good news on two fronts...

First and most important is that I have my diabetes under control. It is still a little on the high side, but she is impressed with my numbers. So, that is awesome news for ME! I was being threatened with insulin if I didn’t rein it in.

Second...my Dr is also a runner. I old her that I was having some ferocious pain in my knee. it has been hurting since I started c25k but I pushed through the pain. I tried to run today and couldn't. I was actually limping on my warm-up.

Her first question was,  "Does it normally go away after warm-up?" Yes was the answer to that. Her second question was, was I wearing the shoes that I normally run in to her office. Yes was the answer to THAT question. 

She looked me in my eyes and told me she wouldn’t even recommend WALKING in the shoes that I have. They are OLD (about 2yrs) NB sneakers. She said my problem was my shoes and that until I get some, not to run in these again or the pain WILL get worse. She said, "get some running shoes. Get fitted at a real running store...not Dicks or Foot Locker. Have them analyze your gait and buy the shoes. The pain will go away." I didn't bother to tell her that I already had a fitting done and that I just need to go buy the shoes.

So, I’m going to have to spend some money and get some shoes. Won’t be running again until I do. She was REAL impressed with me starting C25K and the fact that I’m getting off my ass and moving instead of sitting around and letting my health go. I am super pumped now about this visit with her and am more anxious than ever to get moving even more!

Supposed to do W3D2 today, but if I don’t get some shoes today, I wont be doing it. We will see.

Those damned hills...again!

W3D1 is done, but I am going to repeat it on Thursday. I didn't finish either of the 3 minute runs. I tried the hills that I had so much trouble on the other day and it seemed like the hills were dragging me down. I couldn't make it up AGAIN. I took my dog, Stanley, with me this time as well and he was just wild. Pulling on the leash and making me do things that threw my pace and timing off. It wasn't fun with him, so he wont come out with me again. 

This whole thing started out OK during my 5 minute warm up. Back felt fine, but I DID have a little pain in my knee. Kept walking and that pain eventually went away. Started my first run of 1.5 minutes and felt decent...breathing was good, pace was so-so, but I was moving forward. After my walk break, i started my first of two 3 minute runs. It just happened to be that the first three minute run STARTED at the base of the hill that is my nemesis. I made it about two thirds of the way up, at a very slow pace, and had to stop. I thought my heart was coming out of my chest.

Started on my three minute walk and was breathing really heavy. I haven't had this much trouble since W1D1. My legs gave out, my back started really hurting, my breathing was erratic. I didn't think i was going to make it back home. It took ALL of that three minutes to catch my breath. Made it through the next 1.5 minute run and then came the big three minute last run.

Oh boy...I think I talked myself out of finishing the last three minute run before I ever started it. I was SURE I wouldn't finish it. Needless to say, I didn't. Had thirty seconds left on the run and just couldn't go. I stopped and limped my beaten ass on back to the house. 

Even though I didn't finish the run, I still got a great workout and I ran for over 2.5 minutes on both of the 3 minute runs. My heart rate was way up and my lungs and legs were on fire! I hate that I didn't finish the runs, but I love that feeling after a hard workout!

I think I can get it done on Thursday without the hills and without Stanley. We will see.

W2D2 and 3...pain and a wall...

Well, I didn't post about W2D2 because frankly, I was in too much pain. When I started my five minute warm up walk, my back tightened up. I figured once I got going good, it would stop hurting. I thought wrong. I sent the next twenty minutes after my warm up walking and running in excruciating pain. I DID finish, but it was a struggle to do so. I thought about stopping several times, but kept pushing it.

Now, today, I woke up at 6am thinking I was going to go run this morning and get it done early. My back had other plans, though. It started hurting again as soon as I got out of bed. I resigned myself to just staying at home and watching the Hurricane coverage on TWC. I took my dog out to do his business and it just felt wonderful outside. I came back in and decided that I wasn't going to let my back stop me from doing this.

I went out and did W2D3 this morning and dang it felt awesome! My back tried to argue with me, but I refused to listen and pushed through it. I also set a PR for a mile.

I honestly feel like I smashed through a wall this morning. Once I got started, everything felt great. My running felt good, my breathing wasn't labored like it normally would be, even with this bronchitis that I have. I felt like I could keep running even after my time was up and the lady on my c25k app told me to stop and enjoy the rest of my day.

Overall, I did 1.5 miles today and really felt like I could have done the 5K distance with walking/running. I can't wait to get to W3D1 on Tuesday!

W2D1 and HILLS HILLS HILLS!!

O M G!!!! Hills. Were. Too. Steep! 


Started w2d1 today and figured I would run on the road instead of the track. That was mistake number one. Mistake number two was looking ahead of me, seeing a hill, thinking "I got this" and trudging onward without LOOKING at the hill.


About a quarter of the way up, my legs were wobbly and I was breathing fire. Halfway up and I had to stop running with 15 seconds left on my run segment. I actually stopped running AND walking. My breathing wasn't good. Still have this coughing crud and I was feeling it. 


Decided to turn around and head back. Ran it downhill and got to my road and there is another hill. I forgot about the hill that I went DOWN when leaving my house. That hill is even steeper than the one I was having trouble on. Didn't finish last run segment and just walked up the hill and came home. 


I'm disgusted with myself to say the least. I kept replaying the Rocky scene where he couldn't make it up the steps. That was me. 


Beaten, I tucked my tail between my legs and limped home.

Funny thing about running stores...

I went to the Big Peach Running Company today to have them analyze my gait to get fitted with a pair of good shoes. The shoes i have are just regular New Balance sneakers and are terrible for running in. After they put me on the treadmill and had me run in a pair of shoes, they found that my right foot over pronated but my left foot was really strong. The guy, after analyzing all of the data that they took, brought out three different pair of shoes. One each of Mizuno, Brooks, and Saucony. Of the three, I felt really good in the Brooks Ghost 4's so those are the one's that I chose. I will be getting those in the next few weeks, I hope.

Anyway, what is funny about running stores, is that they do not stock shirts or shorts for people of the "bigger" variety. I need at least a XXL in shirts and wear a size 44 waist (for now, at least). The largest shirt in the store was a XL and it LOOKED like a medium. LOL. There is no way that I will ever be able to buy any technical clothes in a running store if that is all that they have. The only thing that they had in the store that fit me was shoes and socks.

I wonder if there is a big and tall running store?

Im running for OTHER lives, too...

Today is my rest day, but I wanted to let you in on a little secret of mine...I have decided to run in my first 5K on October, 22, 2011. I will be running in the "Help Mend Broken Hearts 5K" in Kennesaw, Ga. According to the official website, this race will benefit children with congenital heart defects.

Not only am I running for the kids, but I am running for a very special child that is a friend of our family. She was born with a congenital heart defect and I thought, "What better reason to run in my first 5K". She is such a sweet little girl and it is going to be my honor to run this for her.

Now, I am just starting my c25k program and I will peaking on it at just the right time to run this thing at the end of my program. I am hoping that this will be my graduation run!

That's it for now...just wanted to post this.

what a long strange week it's been...

This week started out last Sunday with my last post about how tough that run was. It ends up, that was the last run I would do this past week. It all had to do with the job situation.

If you remember, I was flown to Dallas, Texas last Sunday to start a new job. Well, Tuesday, I was on a bus headed back to Atlanta. It seems that even though a doctor said that I was medically cleared to drive, the company doctor wouldn't give me a medical card because of my A1C (I'm a diabetic). Now, mind you, my sugar was normal with a finger stick and there was NOT A TRACE of glucose in my urine, but this doctor was playing hardball. But I digress.

Anyway, fast forward to Thursday after I get off of the bus that I had been on for the past 32 hours and I apparently contracted a virus of some sort from the degenerates on the bus. Depressed, pissed off, and sick so I didn't run Thursday or Friday. My breathing wasn't that good so I didn't attempt to run at all.

Today I woke up really early (6:30) and decided that I was still sick and wasn't going to run today, either...that would have been more than four days with no run this week. Around 12:00 this afternoon, I got the urge to just run, so I grabbed the iPhone, put on my shoes, and headed out the door.

I did 1.75 miles today on essentially W1D3 of the c25k program that I am doing. Never thought I would be able to walk/run that far, but apparently I did, according to my Nike+ app. The run itself was uneventful except for a little pain in my left knee during the first run section. I couldn't figure out why it was hurting, but it was. The pain went away after the second run section and I settled in to a nice stride. I actually felt comfortable with my own running after that second section and the runs were smooth, not clunky like the past two days of running.

I did have a little lower back pain near the end of the run, but I always expect that. One thing that I didn't anticipate was when the lady on my c25k app said to stop running on my last leg and begin my cool down walk, I was headed down the trail back to my house and just as I started to walk, I hit a downhill. That didn't go over to well with my legs. I almost took a spill, but held it together.

My cool down walk was UPHILL...and it was the hardest thing I had to do today. I almost sat down and refused to even try it, but I kept walking until I got home...just as my five minute cool down was ending.

In all, today was a good day...and hey, I don't even feel sick any longer. It's amazing what a decent run will do for you.

Week 1 Day 2 of c25k or...MY GOD this was tough!

Today was TOUGH!

I started out the day on an airplane headed to my new job in Wilmer, Texas from Atlanta. My alarm clock went off at 5:30 this morning because I was going to get up and do my run before I left. I hit the snooze...or so I thought. I actually turned OFF my alarm and woke up way late with just enough time to get to the airport for my flight. Needless to say, I didn't get my run in this morning.

Fast forward six hours and the scene has now changed from the hot, humid climate of Atlanta, Ga to the hot...make that SCORCHING hot, humid climate of Dallas, Tx. I land and get to the terminal where I am supposed to do a sleep study tonight and get a truck tomorrow to head out. I think to myself while I am waiting, may as well get my run in now. That was dumb!

I set out on the yard and did my warm up 5 minutes and thought, "man it is a little warm here". Warm was replaced by 105 degrees.

"Start running...now" says the lady in my earphones. Here we go...one foot in front of the other..."man, my legs are sore"...pick em up and put em down..."it's only been THIRTY SECONDS???"..."you may walk now" said the lady.

"Thank GOD I can walk", I think. Im already winded and my lungs are on FIRE.

"Start running in 10 seconds"

"WAIT!...it hasnt been a minute and a half"!

"Start running...now"

This went on for the next twenty minutes...the British lady in my earphones telling me to walk and I thank her and then she tells me to run and Im cursing her out. By the time I get to run number six, I am DONE. Im spent...Im out of breath, legs sore and wobbly, lungs wont work, sweat pouring from my pores like a hose. I think that there is no way I can make two more of these runs in these conditions...

"Start running...NOW"!

Without thinking, I picked one foot up and moved it forward and the other one followed. I tried to breath and found that I COULD bring air into my lungs, even if it DID feel like i was breathing in volcano ash. My legs were heavy, barely was I able to pick them up, but I did. My mind said stop, im gonna die, but my body didn't agree.

I finished that run. I finished it because I would not let myself stop. I refused to quit. I found something inside of me to push through it. I found something inside of me that I didn't think that I had.

Im proud of myself...but boy it was ROUGH!

O-M-G! I am SORE!

After running last night, for the first time in 25 years, I woke up this morning and felt like someone broke into my house last night and beat me senseless! I am as sore as I have ever remembered being...and that includes college football and years of powerlifting. It is a GOOD feeling, though, even if I CAN'T move so well this morning.

Of course, I knew it was going to happen. After my first three run blocks in last night's session, my legs were on fire and felt like I was running on cooked spaghetti. I knew right THEN that I was going to be in traction today. LOL.

Know what, though? If there were no pain and no soreness, then there was no progress made last night. It is a sweet kind of sore. Lets me know that I am alive and that I actually accomplished something. Im SUCH a noob at this. LOL

I think Im going to like this running thing!

I DID it...Im a runner now!

I actually DID it! I started my running journey today. I never once thought that I would ever run again on purpose but after the push that I got from the great guys at Runner's World forums, I am sitting in my chair, drenched in sweat. My lungs are on fire, my legs feel like there is lava running through them and my endorphins are kicking in STRONG! What an exhilarating feeling to have.


I started actually RUNNING! I was just going to walk, but I had downloaded the c25k app for my phone and opened it up. I just did what the man told me to do. After the the 2nd run part, I felt like I was going to die but kept doing what he said. I put one foot in front of the other when he said walk and did the same when he said run...except at a much faster rate. LOL.


I am just SO excited right now! I seriously never thought I would run. Was it fun for me? Hell no. But I FINISHED it. I did W1D1 and didn't stop! I seriously cant believe I am sitting here after doing that...5-7 276 pounds, but not for LONG! Today was the first day of the rest of my life!


I cant wait for W1D2!