Monthly Numbers

The picture is from, Caitlyn, one of my twin daughters. She drew it when she was 3 years and 9 months and we told the kids we would be going to "Mickey's House" in the Summer of 2006. Nothing to do with todays Blog but I like to add a picture everyday.


Here are my numbers for the Month of May. All these weights are my morning wake up weights.

May 1st. 226.60 pounds
May 31st 224.00 pounds

Lost 2.6 pounds this month and a total of 106 since 10/2005.

Highest for the Month was on May 13th 228.80
Lowest for the Month was on May 16th 223.40

In case you are wondering, yes I weigh myself a lot. I have a pretty extensive spreadsheet with my weight from when I started Oct 2005. I used to record my weight 3 times a day but now I only record my morning weight on the spreadsheet. That is not to say that I don't weigh myself 3 -5 times a day I just do not track the other times. Unless it is after a long run then I might put it on the spreadsheet. Like on May 20th after my run I did hit 221.8 but I don't take water on my runs so I am sure that after I got weighed and took my shower I probably drank 1/2 gallon of water and quickly gained back a few pounds.

The subject of how often you should weigh yourself comes up often on the Calorie King message board and I think the general feeling is what ever works for you is what is best for you. I know I am the kind of person that if I didn't weigh myself for a whole week I could do plenty of damage. Basically weighing myself as often as I do keeps me in check. That and tracking my calories in vs. calories out on a daily basis is what has helped get me to lose over 100 pounds. It gets boring at times but the alternative is just not worth it.

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Sites that I like to visit.

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I thought I would list a handful of sites that I go to more than a few times a day. There are others but these are my current must go to sites.

http://www.calorieking.com/

This is where I log my food and exercise. They also have a good forum to discuss weight loss issues and noon weight loss issues. I have cyber met a lot of great people there. This site requires a low yearly subscription or you can pay monthly as well.

http://www.runningahead.com/

This is a site that I log all my runs on. Does a great jog of keeping track of your miles and allows you to put a lot of other info about your runs. This is a free site but I might add.

http://www.runnersworld.com/

I usually only use the message board or smart coach. On the message board I stick to the beginners forum. A bunch of knowledgeable people that are very helpful to beginners. This is also a free site.

http://www.athlinks.com/

I just got introduced to this site by a member at runner’s world and I find it to be a great site. If you have ever signed up for an organized race you have to check out this site and find yourself. Send me a note when you set up your profile. A free site as well.


http://www.steverunner.com

Almost forgot to add this one. OK I did forget but I remembered when I got to work. This is by far the best PODCAST I have found. He talks to you while he is running about different running subjects. I love it now but not sure if real experienced runners will like it as much. But he is well worth a try. And yes it is a free podcast. This is not DJ Steve boy (who I also listen to and download).

On all these sites I am OBRATS so if you are on there feel free to say hello.


Maybe this is a good time to explain what OBRATS is. Well not much behind it other than I am from Old Bridge NJ so that is where the OB comes from. And when I was there I was the head coach of a youth wrestling team called the Old Bridge Mat Rats. So about 12 years ago when I first signed up for AOL (version 2.1 I think). I logged on with the user name OBRATS. It stuck and my friends now call me that more than they call me by my name. They like to say it like this O – BRATS. Call me anything just don’t call me late for Dinner.

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Shirt from the Duathlon

 

The results are in.

I will cut to the chase and then give the details. I finished 44 out of 55 in the duathlon this past Saturday. I really thought I would be last when I decided to do the race, and would have been fine with that. My chip time was 1:39:05, which oddly enough was almost the same as my 1:39:50 I got at the Broad Street 10 mile run a few weeks ago.

So here are the particulars.

First run was to be a 2 mile run. Well the results say I ran 15:27 for a 7:44 pace. Trust me when I tell you I can't run a 7:44 mile if my life depended on it. Bottom line is we all ran the same course so no harm no foul, but for a USAT sanctioned event I was surprised. I was 46 out of 55 after the first leg of the race.

Then the 12 mile bike time was 49:08 which comes out to 14.7 mph. I was very happy with that result. That was good for 45 out of 55.

The last leg was a 3 mile run and my time was 32:54 or 10:58 pace. That I believe as I know I was very tired at this point. That was good for 43 out of 55. Add in the transition times and you get to my total.

So there you go I now have a PR to try and beat next race. Oh yeah there will be another one of these.

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Doing the DU

So I was kicking around trying a local Sprint Triathlon that was scheduled for this morning. The distances were ¼ mile swim (open water), 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run. All by them self doable distances for me. Well to be honest I haven’t swam in years so I don’t know if I could have done the swim or not. So kicked it around for a few weeks and as mentioned in previous post’s I started riding the bike again after the 10 mile Broad Street Run.

So after talking to a few people one friend in particular, Ron, who has a Ironman under his belt. It was decided that I probably should not attempt this until I get some laps in a pool. This decision was made Wednesday, so I decided to still go for the Sprint Duathlon. So I did some research online and gathered as much info as I could about doing a Duathlon and off I went this morning to the event. Here is where it is good that I have a sense of humor. I pull up in my mini van and pull out my Raleigh Hybrid (beat up I might add) with the fat tires and all. People next to me with what I would image were a couple thousand dollar bikes. But you know I could care less, 18 months ago I was 330 pounds and could barely walk ½ mile without being out of breath. But yes I did get many looks my direction.

I went and signed up for the race and proceeded to go to the “Transition” area. I looked at the other bikes and tried to put mine on the racks like the other people did. It appeared to be steady and in place. It’s funny because they call it a transition area but they might as well have called it a place for my bike to wait for me since I did not transition. I biked with the same shoes I ran in and didn’t use the area for anything other than to get my bike and drop it off for the last run. Now I just stretch a little and get ready for the race.

It appeared there were about 200 people doing the Tri and about 55 doing the Du. Gun sounded and the swimmers hit the water and I started running with the runners. I started in the back of the pack like I always do, but felt really good about my first 2 mile run. If I knew my time I would tell you but I don’t have the official results and if I looked at my watch I don’t remember what it said. It may be a good time to mention that even though I have ran the past year and biked the last few weeks I have yet to do them one after the other (which my friend Ron told me I should do before entering the Du). Who am I to listen to a guy that completed an Ironman. So I get to the transition area and I see my bike on the ground and the guy next to me looking annoyed at me. I said sorry if my bike hit yours and he gave me a look. So I looked back and nothing happened from that. I might be 20 years removed from my High School wrestling days but I know a move or two still. So off I go on the bike.

Bike was going good but I am getting past by everyone with their big money bikes (that knowing me I will have in a month). But I am moving along steady, I hit a few hills and got through them. At the turn around at mile 6 I feel really good so I turn it up and believe it or not start passing some people, yeah I know these are not the lead racers but hey I feel good. Back up and down the hills until I get to the end of the bike ride. Back to the transition area to drop off the bike and start running. Wow I guess this is where training would have helped. Yeah the mind is telling the legs to go but the legs don’t want to listen.

So I have 3 miles of running (jogging) to go. I know I will not quit but I am not going to kill myself either. So off for some slow miles. By the way stupid thing number 4, 5, 6 who is counting? I am on the course about 1:08:00 and I have not had any water. I run races where they give you water every time you turn around but know you see Dan the two cup holders attached to your bike they are for water bottles. So I am thirsty and tired but lets get it done. I start jogging and now most people are passing me on this part of the run but I am cool with that I just want to finish this. About mile 1.5 of the last 3 mile run was a water stop that I walked through. I mention that I walked through because in all my “5” previous running races I had not stopped at the water stops just took the cup and drank as I ran. Not today. Go up about 50 yards to the turn around and come back and grab some more water (walking again). Now just jogging slow and getting through this thing. See the finish line and run through it. My Polar HR watch said 1:40:10 but their official clock said 1:41:??. Usually the other way around but not sure how that worked since I hit my watch at the gun. Oh well.

Plenty of good drinks and eats after the race. Very happy I challenged myself to do this and glad it is over.

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Answering that question from Monday

Someday shortly I will answer that question of how I got to lose over 107 pounds. But as stupid as this sounds I really don't like to think back at myself at that weight. Yeah I know I got issues, that's why I run. Running is cheaper than a Therapist.

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How do you get from this to this??? Sorry I posted this earlier today and had hoped to answer that question. Well if I don't get to it tonight I will try tomorrow.

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Melmo and Tubby

Yesterday I took the night off from running and took the Bike out for a ride. I went for my first ride in over a year on Saturday and want to start adding some rides into my cross training. On Saturday I went about 10 miles and last night I went for 12 miles in 50 minutes. I didn't think that was that bad for a 2nd ride in a year. I know very little about biking at this point but hope to learn as I go. I bought the bike from a friend who had it laying around. He had moved on to bigger and better bikes. It is a Raleigh Hybrid (so I am told). It has "fat" tires and I brought it to the local biking shop and they said it was in great shape and should last a while. I asked if it could be rode in small Tri's and they said as long as the Tri allowed fat tires it could. She said that I probably wont win any races with it but I can use it. I let her know that I wasn't planning on winning any races so I am fine with that. It is all about competing and pushing myself to limits I didn't know I could get to. Heck, a year and a half ago I got tired walking from the living room to the kitchen. So at this point it is all good. She did say that I could put better tires on if I want to go faster and I may do that down the road.

Just wanted to throw some pictures of my dogs in today. Melmo is a Black Lab and Tubby is a St. Bernard. Melmo is 2 ½ years old and Tubby is 4 mo. Old. It will not be long before Tubby is bigger than Melmo.

Tubby

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Goals

Another picture from after the BSR 10 miler.

I need to really prioritize my goals. I get all set to tackle the world when I get a goal, only to either get bored of it or find a new goal. So I think listing them first and then trying to prioritize them might help.

Obviously these are personal fitness goals and the number one goal in life is to be a great Husband and Father to my wife and kids. But here they are anyway.

1. Run 1000 miles this year. (I am currently on target barely I might add.)

2. Get under 200 pounds. I actually hate to even put a number on my weight but feel I need to work towards something. And I am not sure I want to leave the Clydesdale division.

3. Do a Sprint Triathlon this year. Problem is no pool to work out in. I am sure I can find one if I really try (or should I say "TRI").

4. Run the Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR) in September. This is a 1/2 Marathon and there is no reason why I shouldn't be ready for it.

5. OK this is the crazy one. POSSIBLY RUN THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON. More on this in a future blogs.

OK so those are the goals and I would have to say that so far the one I have been concentrating on the most has been the 1000 miles this year. However the dilemma is that, that one goal I feel is getting in the way of the other goals. Of course it can only help in goal #4 and #5 in the long run but for goal #2 and #3 I think it is hurting. Yes running does help with weight loss but I have not been weight training with my running and I think that adding cross training of weights a few nights a week will greatly benefit my weight loss goals. And obviously only running has taken away from me biking and finding a place to swim.

So what am I going to do about this you ask? Well actually I started doing something about this two weeks ago. Right after the BSR in Philly I started lifting again. I lifted 3 days last week and so far this week I have lifted 2 days. Also I had my bike tuned up a few weeks ago and got out for an easy 11 mile ride this past Saturday.

So as crazy as this may sound I am thinking of entering a Sprint Tri in two weeks. The swim is the part that worries me in that I have not trained at all for that portion and will probably not have time to in the next two weeks. It is an open water swim and is 1/4 mile long. I have no idea if I can do it or not. I think I can but I don't know. And there is so much I need to learn about a Tri in two weeks. Transitional stages, what to bring, do you ride with your bathing suit? I have no idea the answers to these questions.

Oh what to do?

Well I need to go surf the web for Tri 101 now.

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Me minutes after my first 10 miler

This was copied and pasted from a post I made on Runners World Beginners Forum. This is my Race Report from doing the Broad Street Run in Philly on May 6th 2007. A very long distance for this guy.

The chances of me adding anything that have not been said are probably slim to none but here goes.

The day before the race I was e-mailing with Daleen and she was able to have me added to her car pool into Philly. This was great since we were going in with a local guy that has done the race before. Also my wife was planning to go to the race with the kids (later of course) so this meant I could ride home with them and not have two cars in Philly. So still day before the race – I ate great all day. I spread out “good” carbs through out the day and was drinking plenty of water. So diet wise I felt great.

I was nervous all day since this was the longest race by 5 miles that I was ever in (this was also only my 5th race). I had also only run this distance once the week before in training. And not to mention at the time I am thinking there would be 15,000 runners in the race – turns out the total was closer to 18,000. So I go to bed at a decent hour that night but knew I would not sleep that great. And I was right I was up every hour looking at the clock thinking I was over sleeping, also getting up to pee a lot. Finally woke about 5:45 and got ready to go. Jerry and Daleen picked me up right when they said they would and off we went.

Ride over was great got to talk to Jerry and Daleen and pick their brains a little about running. We may actually try to organize a running club or something in the town. As Daleen mentioned in the parking lot we met up with another guy she met the day before and we all rode the train up to the start. Train was packed of course with all runners, and I passed the time talking to Tom (I think) about running. From there pretty much what others said we meet Matt and Marianne, and then we saw Lauren and her friend Amy at another location when me and Daleen were walking with the sign. Took some pictures and talked a little. Then I went to get Matt, Marianne, Tom, and Jerry (that’s funny Tom and Jerry) and bring them to the other spot. But Matt was in one of those loooooong port-a-pottie lines and it just was not moving. So took the others over and told Marianne where we would be. I figured we might not see them again with the large crowd and all.

National Anthem played and we were on our own to find our place in line. I took one of my GU’s and carried another for later in the race. I lined up around the 9 – 10 minute milers and soon there after the race started. Like others said it was about 6 minutes into the race before I got to the start. But when I did we were moving pretty good.

Weather could not be better, wind at our backs and a down hill course. I hit mile one and it said 15:45 ish and I was like WHAT. And then I looked at my watch and it was about 9: something and was ok. Really was going great the whole race I felt like I was keeping with everyone in my 9-10 minute group. Passing some people and others passed me. Basically I couldn't feel better. The course had plenty of water stops and the volunteers were awesome. About 45 minutes into the race I took my other GU and still felt great. Then around mile 6.5 or so I got to give PA Governor Ed Rendell a high five and plenty of kids along the race as well.

Then Mile nine came.

Oh my god was I tired. Wasn’t sure if I was mentally tired or physically tired. I am sure it was a little of both. But at this point it felt like everyone was passing me. I kept going however and just started looking for my family in the thousands of people that were lining the course the last mile. I read other RR and people mentioned Rocky Music, I got to tell you I don’t remember hearing it, and yes I wear a IPOD but it is so low that I hear all the spectators but I did not hear the Rocky Music and I would have welcomed it. About a ¼ mile to go and I have never been so happy to see my Mother-in-law that meant that my wife and kids were there. And they were holding up signs for me that was the push I needed to get me to the end. And as I approach the finish line I look at my watch and I see that I will meet my goal of under 1:40:00. My chip time was 1:39:50. Got it by 10 seconds.

So as we are walking to the car my wife tells me about people who were on the course that I obviously didn’t see from where I was (in the back). Guy wearing a Spiderman outfit, guys with crazy wigs, guy that was juggling (made me made that a guy juggling beat me but she told me I actually finish before him but she saw him waiting for me to get to her). And she told me about a guy that stopped right in front of her and the kids and threw-up. She said then she saw an ambulance take him away. At the time we didn’t know this but we now know it was the guy that died. That is the only bad thing about the day.

Wow I was not expecting to right this much.

Dan

I guess this is day 1

At this point this is very much under construction. But I have been motivated by reading so many other blogger's that I hope to do the same. There is so much I need to learn about blogging but it will be a fun experience along the way. The main theme of my blogs will be centered around my weight loss and my new found love of exercise.