Week 8: Is this what Eminem meant by 8 mile?

Stats:

Weight: 265 lbs

Miles Ran in 2012: 64.9   (129.5 after further review 3/19/12)

Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies devoured: 8 (ALL GREAT)

This morning I set another personal best (distance). Eight miles in 83:20. Not fast by anyone's standards but the distance was what was real important. I never thought I could run that long. I'm just so amazed at myself. Coolest thing about it was when Eminem's Lose Yourself came on at the very end. It was like some runner God inspirational moment. Sometimes that shuffle really knows how to pick songs! I have never felt this good about myself. I mean NEVER. The sense of accomplishment is honestly just overwhelming me. Next Sunday I'm supposed to step back to run a 10k but I really don't want to. I really want to just push myself further every day. Although I am proud to have reached the eight mile mark I am also kinda pissed off about my pace. I believe I could have run those eight miles in 80 minutes, but I was so scared of the distance that I ran a eleven minute mile pace for the first four miles. Live and learn.Now time for some pain management.

 I meant to bring this up last week. I took a ice bath for the first time. This chilly torture was very necessary. My "coach" Laurie suggested that I take the bath's occasionally to alleviate the pain. She referenced this great Runner's World article on inflammation response to explain why it works. Check it out here. My favorite runner Meb Keflezighi takes a modified ice bath after his runs. He steps into a cool stream on his property and stands there in waist high water for 15 minutes. My experience wasn't as beautiful as his probably is. First I had to squeeze my fat 6'2" frame into my tiny bathtub add cold water and a bag of ice. While sitting there listening to Dave Matthews Band I thought to myself "Is this really worth all this pain"  I did enjoy a beer though while I froze my marbles off. Like George Costanza said on Seinfeld  you have to be careful of shrinkage. 

Next weekend I will be in Las Vegas so I am debating running on the strip or even running at all.. It's so busy there and dirty for that matter. Who knows I might and I might not. It will definitely be a different experience if I do. While out there my wife and I will be renewing our vows and having a great time of debauchery and drunkeness. Culmination of a good ten years.So hopefully I will even be able to run. That's it for now stay tuned more adventures in fat running. 

THE SLOW FAT RUNNER

Week 6/7

Stats:
266 lbs
99.5 miles on the year

Well it's been awhile since I've blogged but I've done a lot over the last two weeks. I ran my fastest 5k time ever (28 minutes on a treadmill) and I ran my longest distance ever (7 miles 1:14:59 @10:43 pace OUTSIDE). Basically I've been kicking ass and taking names. I got new shoes also. Well not new shoes really I got a second pair of my Brooks Beasts because the other ones fell apart. I refuse to have injuries this time around so equipment is very very important. My shoes cost $130.00 but they are worth every penny. So if anyone out there at Brooks reads this please hook a brother up. Speaking of equipment, do you know how hard it is for a big man to find proper running apparel. I'm searching online for 2x running shorts and technical shirts that won't accentuate the man boobs and gut, but apparently no one makes those. I might just try some XL shorts and stick to the t-shirts with the technical shirts beneath them. I'm just not ready to unleash the gun show yet. On to the weight loss aspect of all this running. I'm down fourteen pounds in seven weeks,a healthy two pound per week average. I've lost big weight before but never in a sustainable way. If I can stay healthy and injury free I really believe I can run myself thin. Here's the coolest thing. Today I ate two terrible meals. One at Cracker Barrel  (home of Paula Deen's favorite bad food and one at Arby's. It doesn't matter though because my run burned enough calories that I am still well below my calorie goal. Running where the hell have you been my whole life? That's it for today folks.

 The Slow Fat Runner

My Superbowl Sunday/Week 5

Stats:

Weight: 272 lbs

Miles ran in 2012: 66.9 Miles

I had a so so week 5. I missed two miles of running on Wednesday and missed 40 minutes of cross training on Saturday. After Tuesday's run I felt horrible, my knees were on fire and my shins starting hurting. It seemed like the best course of action was to take Wednesday off, then the water in my house went out and I ended up changing that thing out on Thursday. This turned out to be a true workout but guess what...I went running afterward, it was nine at night but I did it anyway. I just felt like there was no way I could skip two days in a row. I honestly craved to be on that treadmill running, leaving all that stress behind. Saturday I substituted the cross training for painting and started painting my laundry room. I forgot how hard that could be on the knees. So hard in fact I had to ice my knees and take ibuprofen in the morning before I did my long run. I'm not sure if it's okay to ice before a run, but it seemed to really work out real good. No pain during the run and only minimal pain post run. Woo Hoo!

Sunday was Superbowl Sunday that time for gorging on food and beer while sitting on the couch for eight hours. Seriously when you think about it that whole day is like some grotesque Roman orgy of food and sloth. Not my Superbowl Sunday though. I made a concerted effort to not fall into the traps of the day. Woke up had a banana and a protein bar. Drank a cup of coffee and then iced iced baby. Went to the gym and with the intention of only running 10k, knocked that right out of the park! 6.2 miles in 66 minutes at a pace of 10:38 minutes per mile. Usually I stop then and walk slow for 5 minutes, but to prep myself  for the food Bacchanalia I walked for another mile at a incline of 5 at a 3 mph pace. This workout has made me feel even better about myself and what I can do.I did cheat a lot on the food side but hey one day won't kill me. It might actually help me. I cheated twice this week and somehow I actually lost a pound after being stuck at the same weight for like two weeks. A few months ago I could barely run a 5k now I can run twice that distance and still have the energy to continue walking. There is no way I can't do what I want in the future! Half Marathon your ass is mine. Bank of America Chicago Marathon  I see you and I'm coming for you too.

This little guy was in a commercial during the Superbowl. He is the epitome of the slow fat runner. I think I've found a mascot.Looks a lot like my pug  (although it is a french bulldog) but only a bit more fit. Everyone's running these days, why not you?

Snoochie Boochies,

The Slow Fat Runner (Slowly running the fat off)