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!

Didn't really mean to do anything today - but wanted to do something -- huh? -- anyway, I went to the gym and did 15 min on the elipitical (1.05 mi) and 15 min on the treadmill (1.50 mi) - same time, same pace, yet different distance - funny huh?

It was raining from noon yesterday until 6:00am this morning - I wished I hadn't ran on the road yesterday because I really wanted to get out there and run in it! Soon - I will get to enjoy my love of running in the rain again!

Stay Strong everyone!

I need to get off my lazy butt and get moving - this cartoon is so me!

pm - okay, I got out after work and did 1.5 on the track. It felt good and I was especially shocked by the time -  I know it's because it was warmer than at 5:00 am and all flat, and I did feel it a little - but it sure felt good!

Was under the weather today - too much so to head into work, but I did get 30mins done on my eliptical here at home. The distance said 4.04 miles, but I doubt seriously that is was more than 3. But it got me burning calories and sweating up a storm and so that helps - now back to bed!

This morning went well. I hit the road for 1.5m. I thought on Tuesday that I had that time because it was on a track - well...today I was only 36seconds slower than that day and if you see the elevation chart - it was up and down - so perhaps (for this distance anyway) I am coming along! (click on picture for a larger/clearer image)

No run today - and it's raining! I love running in the rain, cold or warm - but when Hal Higdon tells you to take a day off - you listen to him!! Anyway, I have a big 3.0 tomorrow on the road and I need the rest for it!

Did great on this 3 miler - it felt really good being out there. The time was 27:17 for a 9:04 avg pace. The splits were: 9:26, 9:06 and 8:42 - I know I was supposed to take it easy on long runs, but this honestly felt easy and I enjoyed it. Only other thing that would had made this a greater run was if it was raining liked the weatherman promised us! oh well!

Had a good 2M run this morning. It was the coldest yet, but also the fastest for me - so maybe because it was cold I wanted to get back into the house faster!

Ran 17:44 for an 8:51avg (8:53, 8:48) so back in the upper 8's already. I actually felt good throughout - I was feeling like I was taxing myself a little, but also it was under control - I mean I wasn't dying - but I wasn't that comfortable either. My body is slowly remembering, but it is starting to remember and adapt and get my much "larger" self moving again! (oh btw, I am down to 237.8lbs now, so I dropped 7.2lbs so far). Now if I could just learn that "fancy dance" that dave and james holt enjoy! :)

RunStrong friends!

Had a really good run this morning. I wore a pair of leg tights (or whatever you call them) and man they kept my legs so warm, and yet still felt like I didn't have anything covering them - these things are awesome! Total time for the 3M was 26:34 (8:50,8:35,9:02). It was cold, but really great to be on this 3M course again, the uphill coming home pretty much killed me as the time did drop and I was sucking wind big time - but pushed through it and came home and whiner (oh, wait, that should be winner!) :-)

RunStrong everyone!

No run today - I can't run everyday yet - that would be too much for starting out. Plus I don't want to go too much over the 10% rule for adding weekly mileage. It's going well...of course the mind wants to jump full throttle into it - it's just a matter of staying calm and convincing oneself that it will come - just don't push it.

Have a great run today everyone and RunStrong!

It was nice and cool this morning at 5:15, it doesn't bother me so much anymore and actually feels good (crazy, I know!). My watch stopped a few minutes before my 1st mile, can't figure out why, I was able to restart it and it worked fine, so I must had accidentally stopped it myself - anyway, I just ran what felt good.

An enjoyable run along the river trail. I started at the Bloomington head (Man-o-war) and just went out 2M on the trail and then back for a 4M total. Time was 36:14 for a 9:02avg. This was really good for me. It was cold, but I was warm, except the face was a little cool - it was 27degs, not extremely cold, but for a St Georgeite - cold!

A very nice and fun run! This 3M stuff is starting to become easier each time. Time was 26:21, 8:48avg (8:44, 8:38, 8:59) - weather was an refreshing 34degs, so not bad at all. Just having a great time here returning to my true love! (give me a break chris!)

(triumph4 - 25.55)

I had only a 2M scheduled for today and I didn't want to get up at 5:15a just for that - so I postponed until this afternoon at lunch time. It was a little better, just different running when I can actually SEE everything - but good. I ran against my virtual runner and beat him silly (sorry James!) - but it wasn't fair because I put him at a 9:00 pace and I know that I would beat that on this course because of the downhill at mile 1 to about 1.5. Well...I must had been loosened up more that I am at 5:15a because my first mile was 8:34, and I knew it was only going to go quicker from there...and it did. The second mile was 7:49 for an 8:11 avg and 16:23 total time. My heart rate was only at 162 at the end, which is well within my "comfort" zone, so I wasn't pushing it - and it just felt good. But again, it is only 2 miles!

RunStrong everyone!

Nice and easy does it. Just a 3M nice and relaxed. Finished in 27:01 for a 9:00avg (9:27,8:34,8:57). I just had a good time out there, temp was only 37degs so it was comfortable.

It wasn't as easy - but it was fun. I just went to the college track and did my 2. When I ran before I would love to run a lap and do the stadium stairs - so I had to try it again today. I did the first mile just on the track - then went up (which is 4 ups and 4 downs) and that took awhile - but it was fun (an exhausting fun) - then just finished up on the track. The trick is ones you hit the track to get right back onto pace no matter how tired you are - well....I kinda did - but since it was my first attempt again, and I am still getting the body going - I allowed myself a little slack (just a little - I promise!)

RunStrong everyone!

Cool (26.6degs) morning. Ran 4M in 35:32 (8:52avg). It was tough because it seemed like the lungs did not want that cold air in them and as soon as I tried to breath it in, they threw it back out - so my muscles felt like they weren't getting the full amount of oxygen needed. But other than that it really was a good run - my pulse was still only at 162, very good and it was under a 9:00 pace. It's so good to be running again!

Was scheduled for a 2M today - but wanted to try this trail I hadn't been on yet so I made it a 3M run. I didn't get to the end of it as I came back at 1.5M, so I can't wait to see where it ends up. Ran 25:53 (8:38avg) 8:40, 8:36, 8:35 - good consistency there. My average heart rate was only 149, so it was a good run. Cold still - 28degs and chilly to the lungs - but today I bought a treadmill to keep me out of the really cold days!

2M on treadmill @9:00 pace - felt good to get out.

(3D Grid 2.0)

Wow - what an awesome run for me. I did the 3M that I did on Monday and just crushed that time - I really wasn't trying, but felt good so I went. Time was 24:13 (8:07, 8:05, 8:01) for an 8:05avg. It was only 39.2degs, so a nice short and long sleeve shirt day. My heart rate stayed well within zone 3 (out of 5) which means I was not stressing at all, but having a good run. Only a month of running and I'm in the lower 8:00s already, so yeah - I'm happy.

Oh, and I enjoyed the "stick" afterwards James - thanks!!!

Just a nice easy 2M on the treadmill today. Started at 6.7 speed for first mile (9:02) and then went to 7.0 (8:36) for a total time of 17:38 and 8:49avg. Pulse ended at 152, which is very comfortable.

Nice and chilly - was going to do 6M, but body said no at 5M. Anyway, just wanted to run at a 9:00 pace and so I finished in 44:57 for a 9:00 avg. It was just really cold again, my body was warm, but just didn't feel like my muscles or lungs were ever able to really relax as they seemed to have kept themselves tight to try and stay warm - anyway, 5M is now under my belt!

Nice treadmill run - kept it between 8:47-8:35 the entire way. 

Started my weight training today. Just a 3 day a week full body light routine to strengthen me up and for muscle maintanence. Felt good to be hitting them again after a month off.

(3D Grid 6.5M)