Success

Final update on my 2015 New Years Resolution...

I did it!

A dreamy image of 2015

365.3 miles logged in 363 days!  I actually had to play catch up in December and ended up running over 65 miles this month alone.

Considering I was not a runner at all before I began the year, I think that I have learned quite a bit while going  through this task.  Here's what I've learned:

-  Running is fun.  Seriously.  I've had some great times running around the countryside, taking photos of sunsets and a whole lot of selfies.  I've mooed at cows as they cautiously move away from the sound of my approaching footsteps and the strange sounding noises coming from iPhone's play list.  My playlist this year included a steady diet of Purity Ring, Ryan Adams, Duplekita, Avett Brothers, Dave Bazan, and Death Cab.  Kind of a mellow runner.

-  Running isn't that hard.  The hard part is starting.  Literally 2 minutes after starting, it's easy to push on for a few miles.  The difficulty lies completely in the motivation and preparation.  If you are not motivated or prepared (running clothes tucked away instead of hanging where you can see them, GPS watch fully charged) then you will not succeed.

- Kind of assumed, but I feel better.  I had neck pain before I started running (I also have had a standing desk since the Spring) and that pain is gone.  I am never short of breath.  Also, I made it through the whole year without getting sick once.  Not even a sniffle!

-  This time last year, after a good month of eating holiday treats, I weighed 240 pounds.  This last week, on the same scale, I weighed in at 216.  Carrying 24 less pounds around is nice and is a huge factor in me feeling healthier.

-  I slacked off a few weeks here and there, but that was okay as long as I paid for it later.  Totally okay to slow down here and there and then work hard towards getting back on track.  Of course, this is not ideal and I will work to avoid playing catch up in the future.

-  I ate super healthy until September.  No fried food, no burgers for about 3 months there, tons of kale & fruit smoothies.  In this area, I slacked off again.  However... I no longer crave soda pop or things like that.  I hope that this will continue and will apply to other kinds of junk food that I still like to delve into a little too often.  Bottom line is that abstaining from certain things can be a lasting thing that feels good.  Not a punishment because, in the end, you lose the craving for it.

-  I can set a goal and actually complete it.  This is probably the most important thing about this accomplishment for me.  I set out to do a lot of things, and most of the time I don't follow through.  A year ago I said that people laugh at New Years Resolutions because nobody ever follows through with them.

Well, I did!

I set a reasonable goal and I did it.  You can, too!  Whatever it may be.  I challenge you to set a goal this new year and to chip away at it all the way through the year until you complete it!  Go for it!

For this coming year I have set a new goal.  Because I like running, and it makes me feel good, I will continue.

At the Run For Life 13.1 mile finish.  Time of 2 hrs. 8 minutes

My goal is to run 50 miles a month for the year 2016.  I set a monthly goal because weekly goals are really hard to make happen certain weeks for me and I have the flexibility to work toward the end of each month with this goal in mind.

This goal is not a huge jump from 30 a month, but it's just enough to challenge me to not slack off at any point this year.

Along with my 50 miles a month, I want to add 50 push ups a day, 5 days a week.  This will help me in all around strength and give my core strength to continue running further and faster.

I will run the Run for Life in Stony Plain again in the Fall, with a goal time of 1 hour 50 minutes for the half marathon.  I might sign up for another run in the Spring as well.

So, that's about it.  I will keep you posted as I go along.  Wish me luck in 2016 and good luck to you!

94 to go: Running through too 2016

Just a little more self-encouragement for my running goal.  If you plan a goal and are proud that you're still working towards it then feel free to tell people about it, right?

The Facts:

- I am 94 miles away from a mile a day in 2015.  

That'll be 365 miles in 2015.  I've got to pick up the pace here, but I think I can do it.

- Since January I have lost between 25-30 pounds.

Some of my clothes have lasted for over a decade, so it's nice to have them fit comfortably again after a handful of generous years.  I've burned off over 55 000 calories while running so far.

- My aches and pains are minimal.  

Something I learned from the old folks in China.  They'd be outside every morning stretching their legs, slapping at the blood in their arms, and dancing around in circles.  I think I've kept things loose and that's kept me mobile.

- My mind is clearer

I have to admit that running really helps me mentally and emotionally.  The constant rhythm of the steps, the arms swinging to the tunes.  It all melts off me and away.  When I miss a week of running I find myself lethargic, and in many ways short with Barbara and the boys.

I have dealt with mild depression issues (who hasn't?  Geez!) for a long time now.  I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that, as an introvert, I spend most of my time in my own mind.  It can get stale and stuffy in there.  Running is like throwing the ol' mind back on the hamster wheel.  Or maybe it's more like a water slide.  If I do it more often the dang thing won't get so sluggish all of the time.


In all, I recommend exercise.  It's tough at first, but it really does get easier.  Set goals.  Reach them and then set more goals.  Read books about runners.  Rich Roll.  Scott Jurek.  Christopher McDougall.  Be you, don't compare.  Give yourself grace, then build discipline and get out there again.

Running

Hello again.

I've tried to shy away from writing too much.  Though I have a lot of thoughts, and some of them I'd like to share, I know that we're all flooded with blog posts, and commercials, and all of that kind of stuff.  Thus, I will only periodically write on here.  Maybe once or twice a month?

Today I want to tell you about the event I have decided to participate in next weekend.  It is the Rotary Run for Life.  It is a 1/2 marathon that will take place in my hometown of Stony Plain.

Here is the info on the event.

Basically, the day is to help raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention and awareness.  This is the first year I've participated, so it could be more than that.

This summer, 4 different instances of suicide has affected people and families I am directly connected to.  I don't have the words to say to these people.  I don't think anyone does.

My conclusion is that the best thing we can do is stand together with these friends and family.  Or sit together with them.  Or sit and listen to them.  Or hold them.  Or, in this case, run with them.

As far as my running goals, I have been working on them since January.  My original goal was to run 300 miles this year.  I upped the goal to 365 a few months into it.  As of now, I am at 213.7 miles.  I'm somewhere in between my two goals, and that's something I am happy about.

The best thing about running has been the healthy feelings.  I've lost weight, so it's nice to feel healthier that way.  I've had less headaches than I used to.  I've enjoyed the time on the road to think and process things as my muscles flex and bend on themselves for an hour or so.  It's a very nice thing.  It's hard work, but work worth doing.

So, my final comment is that I hope to raise a modest amount of money for the cause.  $500.  I think that's a doable number.  Even though we all have obligations and bills to pay, I think that there could possibly be room for many of you to toss $10 or $20 bucks this way for the cause.

If that's something you think you'd like to do, please click here.  I am running in support of the Simon Poultney Foundation but to donate just leave it as "pledge an athlete" and it will go under my totals.

Anyways, thanks for reading and wish me luck for next weekend!

Continuing

Hey,

I just passed 72 miles of jogging this year so far.  That is officially double what I did all of last year.

I'm feeling good.

I've also been limiting my diet in a few ways.  I've cut out pasta, which is a complex maze of confusion for my digestion system.  I've limited bread, which would weigh me down and drain me of energy.  I've given my stomach a bit of a break.

I've limited my meat intake significantly.  I haven't had beef since last month.

I've cut out a bunch of sugar.  Even though I'm still drinking 2 cups of coffee a day, my headaches are few and far between.  Maybe I can get that down to one cup.  Maybe no cups?  I don't know.

I feel light after meals.  I feel full quicker, almost shockingly quicker.  I couldn't finish a 9 inch Quiznos sub the other day.

What have I been eating?  Lots of veggies.  I eat them raw, I blend them with fruit.  I've been eating spinach and kale, peppers, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers.  I've been throwing some of the amazingly magical chia seeds into the blender along with everything else.  Super good stuff.

Barbara made strawberry jam with just strawberries and chia seeds.  Amazing.

I've been eating almonds, and beans, and chickpeas.  Barbara made humus the other day and it was tasty, filling and energizing.

I feel good.  My jogging has been easier to tackle each time.  I've been pushing myself more, not in speed, but in endurance.  The other day I jogged for well over an hour.  That's a big deal for me.

I am usually not the most energetic person.  These changes have helped me big time.  I even have more patience with my kids.  It's been a nice thing.  I want to continue to feel good and I want to continue to run and play with my boys.

I will continue to write here so that I am challenged to continue on with this thing.

Until next time!