Let the Tri-athalon Training Begin!!!

Foots / Ankle better.  Nuff said.

1/2 Mile Swim,   14 Mile Bike Ride.  5K run.    Roughly 9 months from now in September at Clough State Park.

The 5K run I have covered.  I figured no matter how tired I am, I can still run (or walk)  it under an hour.

14 Miles Bike Ride, well, I have no bike.   So thats an issue.   I figure around my birthday I can find a used bike to use, and I can drive myself over to lake and do the bike route.  Until then the gym is full of bikes I can pedal until my stubby legs fall off.

Then there is the swim.  This is what excites me most about the triathalon.  Swimming is something I've never done.  The concept of swimming a 1/2 mile in a lake is so foreign to me.    I'm starting from scratch, very much  the way I did with running.    Every day I swim, which is usually twice a week, I learn something new or see some improvment.

The other day I did almost 5 miles on a stationary bike, then immediately ran a 5K after on a tread mill.    My last swim workout, Friday Dec 10th,  I completed around 20 laps total.  18 is 1/2 mile.  So I can swim a bunch now compared to how I was 3 weeks ago when I started, but I can't do those laps consecutively.  There is a lot of rest between the laps or even the lengths.  And when I get tired, I get super sloppy.

Should be interesting on what happens in the next 9 months.  I still have at least one half marathon to worry about before then.

Don't call it a comeback (yet)

After the half marathon, I felt great. The race was on a Sunday, come Monday I was a little tight but wasn't too sore. I expected to be incapacitated but I wasn't (probably an indication I could have pushed myself harder). I had no pain, just felt like I did an extra long run. I thought I got away with doing a half-marathon I physically wasn't quite prepared to do. I believe it was Tues when I noticed my right ankle I was a little sore when I dorsiflexed and plantarflexed my foot (basically pointing my toes up and down). The next day it was even worse, with pain that spread a bit to my shin area. This was my biggest fear of doing the half marathon, an injury.

Over the next few days the tendons in my foot became extremely tight, to the point of when I pointed my foot up, the tendons would actually squeek. At first I thought I was imagining the squeek because of how bad it felt, but Erika heard it too. I knew I would never run again. (although I know this seems stupid, when you are injured all sorts of wacky thoughts go through your head).

I stopped all activity (let the weight gain begin), and proceeded to R.I.C.E for the entire week. No improvement, but I did start cross training. Stationary bike, elliptical and SWIMMING ( I love the swimming). Even though the swimming hurt my ankle, all the cross training kept my spirits up.

After two weeks of rest and a lot of ice (while still cross training), I went to see my jack-ass of a Dr. The entire appointment lasted about 37 seconds, and he diagnosed extensor tendinitus. Although not all the symptoms fit, it seemed reasonable enough. I left with a steroid pack to help with the inflammation. A week passed with little relief. Now I have an appointment with a specialist (it was a week away when set up, but I haven't gone yet, it happens tomorrow).

This passed weekend, I worked out Friday, pool and cardio. Over the weekend I didn't do anything, other than play with the kids. Monday came and.... Poof. No Pain. No discomfort. No tightness. Nothing. I didn't think much of this because of the past three weeks, there would be moments when things got loosened up and felt good, but then would get all tight and janky all over again. I went to the gym Monday night, did a solid 35 minutes on the elliptical. Everything felt great, so I walked over to the treadmill.

1 mile. 11 minutes, 9 seconds. No issues. No pain. The following night, did 15 bike, 15 elliptical, and did a half mile on the treadmill. Still no issues. So far so good.

Manchester City Half Marathon 2010

Time to change my my blog to 13.1 Fuzz.

On a freezing Sunday morning in November, around 7:50am, I took my first step towards completing my first half marathon. It was truly a
fantastic experience. The running one was thing, but what I found most enjoyable about the running was the people. And not being much of a people person, that says a lot.

I met up with my cousin Denise and her friend Nancy a few minutes before the race. It was very nice to see someone I knew before a race. Once the race started, I was going a nice easy pace, well aware that the distance before me is not one that I've tackled before. While running down Commercial St. I said good morning to a fellow runner. After chatting with her, I found out her name was Dianna and she's a special ed teacher from NJ, who was running her 20th marathon of the year. She had to drive back to NJ that night because of a teachers conference the next day. Then I met Andrew, from San Fransisco, who wasn't enjoying the cool weather too much. Next was Marla from Pompey, NY. Her husband was running the full Marathon and she didn't want to wait around 5 hours for him, so she was doing the half. We talked about how we just wanted to hit the 6 mile mark before getting passed by the fast runners (non-early starters). For the record, made it past the 7 mile mark before getting passed. Yay!

The last person I met was a VERY nice older gentleman from Texas, Larry as he introduced himself. He could have introduced himself as Larry Macon, Guiness World Record holder for the most marathons in a year. He was the nicest guy to chat with, and he personally thanked every volunteer on every corner he came across, talked with every person cheering the runners on. It wasn't till after the race I when I was looking up finish times for Larry and the others I met, did I figure out who he was.

All in all, a great bunch of people with fascinating stories. After the mile 8 marker, I was pretty much on my own.

As for the run, Manchester City Half Marathon is very hilly course. I believe I did the first couple of miles non stop at pretty casual pace (as if all my paces aren't casual). The first two or three miles were almost, dare I say, easy. Soon I started hitting some of the major hills on River Road and took to walking any of the significant hills. I knew the course well enough to know where the downhill parts were going to be so I could make up for this walking. And I've learned from the experienced runners (like Mr. Macon), there is no shame in walking when it comes to a big hill.


The first 6 miles went really well, very little difficulty. I was tired because after all, it was 6 miles. But no issues. Although, I did turn my ankle twice right before the 6 mile mark (more on this in another post). My big concern was my lower and upper back, and it held up just fine, not only the first 6 miles, but the entire race.

Mile 10 I started walking more and more. I just didn't have much left in the tank. I ate most of a bag of Sharkies between miles 8 and 9, and drank Gatorade at every station so I think my nutrition was holding up as well as could be expected. Before this race I never did more than 8 miles, so at mile 10, I was on borrowed time/miles. From mile 10 to 13, the mid-packers who started at the normal time had caught up with me. 100's and 100's of runners were passing me as I struggled to keep up any consistent running down Hanover street (the last 3 miles was a straight shot down Hanover street). Although I knew this was going to happen, it was still a bit disheartening. Occasionally a passing runner would offer encouragement, but at that point I didn't want any acknowledgement of my existence. Most of my issues, I believe, were mental. I was tired as heck, but I probably could have pushed harder.


I sucked it up the last 1/4 mile and managed to run my way on to Elm St and across the finish line. Erika was there waiting for me, camera in hand. The pics she took were way better than the pictures from the event photographers. Thanks Sweetie!

With a time of 2:48:17, which is a pace of 12:51 I was content with the race. Over all, it was an accomplishment, but I can't help but think I could do better. Time wise, preparedness wise ect.

My Dogs are Barking because the race was TOO long.

October 16th, 2010 was a cold and WINDY day. But there was no snow or rain, so I won't complain too much. The animal rescue league of Bedford was holding their first annual 5K race. This is the place we got Dixie, my sleeping compadre so I have a special fondness for them.

I was feeling good, no issues that I could point to. Hoping for a new PR, as always. Roughly 200 runners, so it was cozy, and it was fundraiser so I knew there were a bunch of walkers so I knew there were some people I would beat.

The race started off at a good pace, hit the first turn and WHAM! Into a wall of wind. Bye-Bye PR. It wasn't just breezy, it was holding me back. I picked a girl as my rabbit, but after a mile either her pace picked up or mine dropped (probably mine dropped) and she pulled ahead. At that point I was pretty much running alone, which was fine by me. For the most part, if I don't stop, I'm happy with my race.

The race was really uneventful. At two miles I was feeling ok, the wind still taking its toll on me. As we completed the half mile, someone asked how much further. I said ".6 miles" (thanks iPhone GPS). Then there was this little girl, probably 8, who doing great running, but then stopped to walk, as I passed her I tried to give an encouraging "less than half a mile to go". I think thats the most I've ever said to other racers. We're down to .3 miles left, I tell another woman who asks how much further. What a nice guy. At .2 miles, I start to kick it into high gear. On my death bed, I'll still have enough energy to push through .2 miles. Its nothing. So I pumping my stubby little legs like my life depended on it, pulling away from the ladies that I just told the distance. Still holding out hopes for that PR! Funny thing though. I hit the 3.1 mile mark, and I was no where near the school that we started at. 3.2 miles. Still no school. 3.3 miles. WTF! 3.4 miles. Someone needs to die. At this point, all the extra energy I had was out the window and I'm beyond winded. Finally cross the finish line at 3.46 miles.

The extra distance wasn't a big deal, it was the extra push toward the finish that wasn't where it was suppose to be that killed me. My finish line photo makes me look like a monster that ran .36 miles more than he expected to run.

It was a fun race and I look forward to next years.

3.46 Miles 36:10. A 10:27 pace, not bad for me.

8 Miles and Half Marathon

I've increased my mileage to 8 miles. And oh yeah, signed up for a half marathon. Manchester Marathon /Half Marathon. My cousin Denise suggested it, because she's walking it, and suggested I do it as well. After thinking about it for 10 min, I was in.

8 miles. 13 miles. Close enough. I feel like I'm cramming for a test I didn't prepare for. Going to get at least a 10 mile session in this Saturday and see how my body handles that. I will have a week to take it easy before the big day.

I am VERY excited.

Biggest concern. My lower back and nutrition during the race.

Time prediction.....3:20. <-- lots of walking after the 10K mark.

7 Miles

On October 12, 2010 I ran 7.0 miles. I ran very slow, because thats how I run, but I did it non stop. When I started running in April, I never thought I would be able to run a couple miles continuously, never mind 7! Still stuck at my weight (due to my own poor eating decisions), but I'm really excited about the possibilities. Now as I look in the future for races, I'm not restricted just to 5k races. Now I'm looking for 10Ks! 6.2 miles. Easy-peasy!

Erica's Run To Strikeback Against Cancer 5K

My 5th race of the year was pretty uneventful. It was in Merrimack NH on a beautiful September morning. It was a race of about 250 people, a good majority of them were just walkers as this was a charity event. I love walkers. Anyways. The course was a flat loop. 3 times around. It was my first loop course and I didn't think I would like it, but it really didn't matter. Although being lapped wasn't a highlight. But I showed some of those walkers who the boss was by lapping them.

Race Results

Good Things: I didn't stop, but the weird thing is I was about 100 yrds from the finish line and I almost stopped. It was like a little battle was going on between my head and my legs. Head won, but legs were pissed.

Personal record. Only by about 30 seconds.

Bad things: Only knocked 30 seconds off my personal best. I run better than that now a days. At least I should.

I was tired! I think my big mistake was not taking a rest day before the race. The day before I did a 5.1 mile run (at a blistering 10:19 pace I might add) that really wore me out. I didn't think it would matter, but it was clear it did.

Still 215, but 5 miles instead of 4.

So I'm really stuck at this 215 weight. I've seen it dip down, but 215 is just where my body wants to sit for a while. Hopefully I'll break through the barrier at some point. I've added weight lifting to my routine two days a week so maybe that will help.

The more exciting thing is that Sunday I hit the 5 mile mark running. 5.07 miles in 1 hour and 2 minutes of continuous running. I was running and felt pretty good, so decided to go for 4.5. Then at 4.5, decided to go for the big FIVE-O.

I feel pretty good, took the next day for total rest just so I wouldn't push it (did 12 miles total this weekend (Fri, Sat and Sun).

A 5K in Merrimack on Saturday. Hopefully I can improve my times a little bit. Excited to try.

Wild Rover 1/2 Way to St Patricks Day 5K

I didn't stop. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I wanted to stop. At one point I couldn't even take a deep breath because I tweaked a muscle in my back/shoulders that was cramping or something. I remember running down Chestnut St not being able to take a breath, an issue that would have been debilitating even if I was walking. I kept pushing one step at a time (cliche, I know). The weird thing is I don't remember when it stopped, but as my legs kept going, my issue simply went away.

So as I mentioned my goal was not to stop, and didn't really care about time as long as I kept moving. The race took us up Elm St, which is a pretty big hill. I was mildly proud of myself as I ran up the hill, and people all around me had to stop and walk. This is what I've been doing in my runs around the house, hills (not a fan). It was nice to see work I've been doing paying off.

Once I crossed Webster St., which I guess was about a mile away from the finsh, I was very confident I was going to go the distance. I was looking for a 'rabbit', someone I could follow to pace myself. The problem was everyone I started following, either slowed their pace or ended up walking. I wasn't used to the situation of passing people. I was always the pass-ee. So that was another plus.

I finished up the race with a 33:52. More than 4 minutes better than my last race roughly two weeks prior, so that was another positive of the race. Then, after I was huffing and puffing from just coming across the finish line, a lady came up to me and thanked me for pacing her the entire race. ME! I paced someone!

Anyways, a very fun race. Its fun to see that I'm improving as a runner.

The pictures are pretty random, just me taking them of the crowd (finish line and the starting line). I didn't know anyone and no one knew me.

215 and 4 Miles

I have another 5K coming up on Sunday. I'm not sure I'll do any better at the 5K, but my running has got a little stronger. Over the long weekend I managed 3.88 (fri) 4.08 (sun) and 4.01 (mon) mile runs. First runs ever over 4 miles. On Monday my run was extra enjoyable because I went to the dam / state park by our house and did my first trail run (3 miles of it was trail). It was cold, peaceful and relaxing. I want to make a habit of doing that run when I don't have a race on a particular weekend. I turned around at the 2 mile mark because I didn't want to push past the 4 mile mark round trip, so I still have a little more trail to explore.

Here is the exercise activity summary for the run (with pics embedded, pretty neat):

Mondays run through Clough State Park

Also the weight is slowly going down again. I weighed this morning (not after a hard sweaty workout like I like to do, hey it makes me feel good) and I was exactly 215. 40lbs down. 15 to go before the New Year. Not sure why I'm picking 200lbs by Jan 1st, but it seems like a good round number (no pun intended), and I have 3 months to lose 15 lbs. Very doable.

4 more races for the rest of the year. Would have more but Oct is a busy month for us. Hopefully I can find some in November.