Clydesdale Runner

I have been away from running for almost 2 years now - I have been bodybuilding and built myself up to 250lbs of muscle of which I am probably 19% body fat. So, now it's time to get back into running and not just running, but competitive clydes running. I will drop myself down to 220 within the next 6 months in order to get the speeds that I used to have.

I am only doing eliptical, treadmill and indoor running for the next few weeks - then I will hit the roads. I did 15 minutes on the eliptical today followed by 1 mile running on the indoor track. I was able to do that run in 9:41 -- so you see, I have a long way to come back - but it's the challenge of it that I enjoy.

20 min on eliptical and 1 mile running. Had a great machine run, used the #4 program and kept the strides between 155-160 min. Went to 20 mins then did 1 mile on track. Got it down to 9:14 today and it felt really good. As I was running around (it takes 10 laps to equal a mile - this is at the summit) I honestly felt "free" - I'd missed that feeling, and it is a feeling that you can only get by running. I was thinking about my goals for the upcoming year and into 2009 and was getting motivated big time. My weight this morning was 240.6, which was strange because last week I had myself at 249.8 - so somehow I lost 10lbs last week. I think my creatine may have finally left my system - when you use it to strength train, it keeps you muscles more full with water in them and I figure it must be that.

Anyway, all-in-all, it was a good morning and everything is looking up.

Later today....abt 1:00pm -- just got back from the running center and met Steve! He helped me discover that this shoe (Saucony Progrid Triumph 4) would work great for me. I used to purchase 11.5, but was shown that a 13 is actually best for me - and it does fit much better. I ran a little on it to test it and can't wait to try it!! If you can, I hope you purchase your running stuff from Steve - he's awesome!

No run today...but I did take up reading a really great book:

Well...it was on the road this morning for the first time since July 2006! It's always different when you leave the gym and machines. For my first I didn't do too bad. I ran 2 miles in 19:44 which gave me a 9:52 avg (10:09, 9:36). It's going to be awhile for sure, this 240lb body is a little harder to pull along than a 215 or 220 one, so until I get the weight down to that level it'll be a fun adventure for sure.   

The shoes were awesome (thanks Steve!) amazing what the right size can do for your feet! go figure huh!