Archive for the ‘running’ Category

Fitness Tools

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Last night, I did my first abdominal workout in six years.  It kicked my ass.  I have a long way to go.  I assembled almost all the tools I need to get a fit and healthy body.  I have no more excuses.  It is all up to me now.

I finally signed up for a gym membership for days that are too cold or messy to run in. My neighborhood is simply not suited for running.  It gives me access to training space and free weights I lack at home.  It’s not a huge gym with a pool or an indoor track.  The equipment is new.  The staff is friendly.  That’s all I need.

Working in retail provides a lot of time to train.  It gives an opportunity to schedule two workouts a day.  With all this free time, I need to stay on top of my schedule.  It’s a great opportunity that shouldn’t be squandered.  I need to build a consistent routine and habits.

Tracking my nutrition (or lack thereof) and my training in my journal helps me stay on top of things.  I monitor everything I’m doing.  It reminds me to stay the schedule and plan I created.  It tells me what I have to work on and where I cheated. I noticed that my diet improves when I keep a journal.  Less junk food is inhaled.  My caloric intake is evened out. Writing down what I did in training helps me figure me out.  I write down when I went to bed and woke up, the time of the workout, how I felt, and what I did.  Reading previous entries spurs me to get out and workout on days I don’t feel like it.

The last two tools I want to acquire but can live without is a heart rate monitor and training buddies.  Both provides data points to measure my training.  Both will tell me to push my body beyond what my mind is telling it to do.  Training buddies would keep me accountable they are a nice social boost.  I don’t want to rely on them because it takes a special training partner to stick with you throughout the training season.  I’m really the only one in my circle that has specific goals set.  To keep me accountable, I have this web journal and my training journal.  The heart rate monitor is a great tool to have.  I don’t have to rely on how I feel to do intervals.  The mind plays tricks on me when I push myself out of my comfort zone.  Self doubt, fear, and negative talk creep in.  The body is ready and capable.  The mind holds the body back.

I have all the tools I need to be successful.  It’s time to use them.  The abs workouts will be easier.  I will eventually run faster.  No more excuses.

Mark’s 2010 Running Calendar

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

I finally put together my running calendar for 2010.  Something about it makes me quite happy.  I think it’s because it will get me motivated to go running in not so pleasant conditions and help me reach my goals for this year! :)

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Action Plan for 2010 Running

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Qualifying for Boston by running under three hours will take time and baby steps.  This year I want to lose much of my unhealthy weight by creating a healthy foundation and start learning how to run faster.

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Year 2010 Goals

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

After editing my goals and tightening their focus, three major goals and a few minor goals remained.  I want to run a sub four hour marathon by the end of the year, rid myself of credit card debt burden, and help my cousin get her business idea into a functioning business.  Smaller goals I pursue are quick and simple.  They are the small things that bring balance and harmony in my life such as improving the quality of sleep, keeping my personal space clear of clutter, and sketching blueprints for my future endeavors.

Getting under four hours involves a whole new set of changes from me.  I need to be more dedicated to my chosen sport.  I have to learn a new way of training to get faster.  The unhealthy weight needs to be stripped away slowly.  Shedding the unhealthy weight requires to shift into a healthy diet and spend more time creating a healthy calorie deficit. I believe losing weight will be my biggest challenge while I live with my parents.  Taking small baby steps will get me there.

After the treatment some credit card companies treated me and after reviewing my credit card statements, I decided to become more active eliminating my debt.  Some banks treated me well by keeping my interest rate low.  Others decided to raise the interest rates and cut my credit limit.  I do not want to carry that burden of debt anymore.  My goal is to eliminate at least $10,000.00 in debt this year.

JR approached me with an idea she had last fall.  I thought it had potential and told her to start exploring it.  I asked coworkers what they thought of the idea and they loved it.  As friends of dog owners, I can see her idea thrive as a profitable business.  I want to turn her dream into a reality.

How do you eat an entire elephant?  One bite at a time.   This is how I will be approaching my goals.

Frozen Turkey 5k

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

frozenturkeylogo-2009-255x150I don’t know what makes me so excited about running the Frozen Turkey 5k.  I know I won’t be running a PR  because it’s four days after Philly Marathon.  The brown blue and white logo is pretty rockin’.  The race is like most Turkey Day races where proceeds go to a food bank and us runners can donate non-perishable foods.

I’m excited to run this because it’s hard to resist Turkey Day food.  Keeping a food journal doesn’t work for me with all the temptation. To keep accountable on Thanksgiving, I registered for this  short Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day morning and doing an easy jog before heading to my family party. It’s going to give me a little leeway at the Thanksgiving Day feast I’ll be attending.

I look forward to running a race the organizers hope to turn into a Thanksgiving tradition in Buffalo Grove, IL.  It’s a chip timed race running through the neighborhood I lived in as a child for two years.   I’ll have an opportunity to visit my old house, the playground I used to play in, and the church my brother was baptized in.

Is running a Turkey Trot a yearly tradition for you?  What are you doing to be accountable for you health and training?

Halloween Weekend

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Mark Dancing the chocolate gods at the Hot Chocolate 5k next to DianeMy weekend turned out pretty good. I had a great chat with woman that has her heart set on qualifying for Boston. I attended Mari’s Halloween party. I capped it off with a good day of running.

Before going to Mari’s Halloween party, I had a great chat with a woman buying an assortment of energy gels. She finished a marathon two weeks ago and missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon by 54 seconds. She was at the REI in Schaumburg stocking up on energy gels to train for another marathon in two months. She thought she was crazy but I stayed silent while she talked. I enjoy listening to people’s stories and goals especially if the person is a cute runner. I told her that I understood how she feels about not making your goal because of my experience in at the Chicago Marathon. The Philly Marathon is around the corner and hoped to meet my goals for that race. She thought she was crazy after I told her my intentions. Before she left, I realized we were both running in the Hot Chocolate 15/5k on Sunday.  I meet strangers common interests when I’m out and about. I haven’t been able to transition small talk about common interests into something more. I’m not talking about meeting my future bride. I’d like a circle of friends acquaintances to go do and share experiences with.  I would have loved to know about her and maybe even go on a fun run.

I hope GOD has a sense of humor. If GOD doesn’t I’ll be in a world of hurt in the next few days. It’s been raining in the Chicago area for the past couple of weeks. I didn’t make my original costume idea as rain might have ruined it. Plus, I’ve been pretty lethargic due to school, work, and the rain. I decided to go as GOD to Mari’s party. How does one dress up at GOD for Halloween? Dress up as a regular guy in jeans, wear a green Chicago White Sox cap, and walk around wearing a name badge label. “Hello, my name is GOD.”

Mark_Playing_GODIs GOD is a White Sox fan? Yup. It’s one of the reasons the Cubs haven’t won the World Series in over 100 years. GOD wears jeans? Jesus was a guy who came from humble beginnings. Someone asked me what made me GOD. Her husband shot back, “Do not question GOD!” Awesome. TP harassed me all night about being GOD and to do things since GOD was omnipotent. I simply told her that GOD has faith in GOD’s servants. I asked TP how to play Cranium and said I should know because GOD is all knowing. Well, my team beat her team soundly. Need I say more. :) I think GOD has a sense of humor.

I slept a few hours before Matthew and Aimee gave me a ride to the Hot Chocolate 5k. We picked Art up at his place. I met up with Diane and her family at gear check. I took a couple of photo before lining up the race. It was slightly chilly and I was well prepared for it. I wore a long sleeve hoodie, shorts, and pants. It’s refreshing to wait with a friend that I can chat with, dance with, and be silly.

The Hot Chocolate was much larger than I thought it would be. Runners and walkers of all abilities attended the race. The race announcer asked all the walkers and those with strollers to head towards the back. Unfortunately, very few listened. Many of them did not line up in the right spot so most of the time, I ran in the grass and dodged walkers and strollers. I paced with Di and her family for the first mile. I left to run my race. I enjoyed running by parents running with their children. A parent with a CARA shirt challenged his son and daughter to sprint to a garbage can. A kid weaved in and out of the crowd to reach his mom.

I shot straight to the fondue line after crossing the finish line. I can smell the warm chocolate being poured and served. I picked up my plate and walked slowly to the Illinois Bone and Joint post run stretching tent. There were a lot of cute women stretching runners out especially a short haired brunette wearing these quirky glasses. I ended up getting stretched out by the only guy working in the tent at the time. Getting stretched out by a big burly man felt pretty good.

I’m all chocolate out. I ate chocolate, pizza, and these fried ball thingies at Mari’s party. I consumed fondue and hot chocolate after the race. They passed out chocolate while I waited to get a post run stretch, after my stretch, when I ate fondue, while I talked to Art, and as I waited for everyone else.  Mmmm…chocolate.

Di’s parents were kind enough to drive me home. I fell asleep asleep as soon as I started watching the Chicago Bears game. I woke up about 4p and needed to complete my long day. I ended the day with a great 14 mile run and three mile walk. I didn’t want to risk injury so I slowed to a walk. It’s one thing to get injured while attempting your best race and another to injure oneself for not being smart. In Park Ridge, I found a home decked out in Halloween decor. This smartly decorated house even had a fog machine and sound effects. A family stood there taking it in. I ran by breathing heavily. I moaned a bit and startled the kids. What a wonderful night to end the weekend! How was your Halloween weekend?

Four Weeks Until the Philadelphia Marathon

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Philadelphia Marathon Logo

Four more weeks remain until the Philadelphia Marathon. There’s a lot of training and planning to be done.  I booked my plan tickets and my room. I determined that caused my plan’s meltdown during my last marathon. I’m already scheduling races for Spring.

I hesitated buying plane tickets to Philadelphia and a round trip flight cost me fifty extra dollars. My lesson is learned. If I know it’s a good deal, don’t hesitate. I decided to stay three nights and leave immediately after the race. I want to watch the Chicago Bears play the Philadelphia Eagles at home.

I’m staying at the Apple Hostel to save cash. It’s $35 a night at the hostel. One night in Philly would have cost me $165 a night for one of the hotels close to the starting line. The hostel route leaves me plenty of beer money and cash to enjoy Philly. I hope I will find quality sleep the night before the race. My cash flow is constrained and financial debt weighs down on me. I have to take that risk.

I figured out why my legs cramped up during this year’s Chicago marathon while I ran my long day today. I burned most of my fuel in my body and didn’t breathe properly. Last year, I carried about 500 more calories in a race that burns roughly 4000 calories. I guess my body doesn’t store glycogen as well as other people’s bodies. I also didn’t warm up properly before Chicago. The hostel is two miles away so I’ll do a nice slow jog to the starting line, stretch, then jump into my corral with the Clif Bar Pace Team. I’m crossing my fingers and hope to finish in less than 4:29:59.  I want to remind my body what 26.2 miles feels like so it can remember it for future races.

There’s a drive within me that that has remained dormant for so many years and it’s finally waking up. After Philly, I’ll be resting my body and begin training for the Illinois Marathon in May.  I plan on training with a CARA group and attempt to set another PR under four hour.  An epic ride is scheduled this spring as well. I need to take care of myself, stay injury free, and avoid getting sick. Setting these goals and achieving them is another part of the foundation I am building for myself.