Some people still think I'm crazy, some are amazed that I still have the dream, and others are challenging me, pushing me, and cheering me on..
It's been a while since I've posted on here, simply because LIFE happens. Several trips to different doctors, health concerns, busy work schedule, and a request from one doctor to lay off the exercising for awhile has basically put me off-track. I've gained approximately 6 pounds, my workout schedule is all over the map, and I sometimes wonder if I'm ever going to be able to get to a point of some consistency. I started running and doing some spinning and swimming again in September, and have maintained my weight, increased my fitness, but haven't really "pushed the limits". I've decided, even with the numb foot situation, that running affords me the best opportunity to build my "base" conditioning. It is also my worst of the 3 disciplines, so more focus now, will pay benefits later.
I ran the Trek or Treat 5k, am signed up for Louis Wechter 5k, and will probably be looking at some early 2012 5k's and target a couple 10k's by early May.. I'm not concerned with speed, but my next big goal is to be able to run 5 miles without walking by the end of February.. Speed will come later.
Keep following the progress, and I promise to blog more often.... :)
Dave
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Setbacks
To anyone that has attempted to do what I'm attempting...
is bound to encounter setbacks. These come in many shapes, and forms. Accidents, injuries, life.. These can not only be major, but even the minor items can be annoying, and discouraging.
Shortly after I started gaining some momentum in this, I ended up getting an umbilical hernia. Not major, but a 3 month setback overall. I didn't get discouraged, I just knew my timeline changed, and since I've set goals in the past I realize that sometimes, things happen to alter the plan, but never the dream.
Now, comes another setback, or is it. I took up running as part of the overall plan in mid-May, and ever since, I've struggled with numbness in my left foot. At first, I shrugged it off to not being in running shape, and that as I lost weight, the numbness would stop. I'm losing weight, getting in really good heart shape, but I'm still struggling with numbness. Well, some light has been shed on this recently, and I'm not discouraged, but concerned. A physical therapist, who happens to belong to the Y running club said he thought it might be compartment syndrome in my lower leg. I did the research. Unless the muscles in my lower leg start getting used to the pounding of running, the only correction is surgery.. Another 2-3 month setback. He said give it about 5-6 weeks of running 3 times a week (run/walk) and see if it's getting any better. If not, then see a specialist.
Now, while I'm still not discouraged from my overall goals, the goal of running a marathon before I'm 55 is evaporating.. Do I give up on the running and Ironman and just focus on cycling? I can ride 60 miles easily now... doens't seem like a lofty goal to be able to comfortably ride centuries. There aren't many aquabike (some refer to them as aquavelo events - swim/bike only) around this area of the country.
I'm not going to let it get me down and will deal with it, and keep on getting healthy which is the primary objective anyway, but I really want to compete in some triathlons.
Keep checking back.. :)
Dave
- Change my lifestyle and save my life
- Complete a Marathon
- Complete an Ironman
is bound to encounter setbacks. These come in many shapes, and forms. Accidents, injuries, life.. These can not only be major, but even the minor items can be annoying, and discouraging.
Shortly after I started gaining some momentum in this, I ended up getting an umbilical hernia. Not major, but a 3 month setback overall. I didn't get discouraged, I just knew my timeline changed, and since I've set goals in the past I realize that sometimes, things happen to alter the plan, but never the dream.
Now, comes another setback, or is it. I took up running as part of the overall plan in mid-May, and ever since, I've struggled with numbness in my left foot. At first, I shrugged it off to not being in running shape, and that as I lost weight, the numbness would stop. I'm losing weight, getting in really good heart shape, but I'm still struggling with numbness. Well, some light has been shed on this recently, and I'm not discouraged, but concerned. A physical therapist, who happens to belong to the Y running club said he thought it might be compartment syndrome in my lower leg. I did the research. Unless the muscles in my lower leg start getting used to the pounding of running, the only correction is surgery.. Another 2-3 month setback. He said give it about 5-6 weeks of running 3 times a week (run/walk) and see if it's getting any better. If not, then see a specialist.
Now, while I'm still not discouraged from my overall goals, the goal of running a marathon before I'm 55 is evaporating.. Do I give up on the running and Ironman and just focus on cycling? I can ride 60 miles easily now... doens't seem like a lofty goal to be able to comfortably ride centuries. There aren't many aquabike (some refer to them as aquavelo events - swim/bike only) around this area of the country.
I'm not going to let it get me down and will deal with it, and keep on getting healthy which is the primary objective anyway, but I really want to compete in some triathlons.
Keep checking back.. :)
Dave
Monday, June 20, 2011
Fighting the Demons
June 11, 2011: Tour De Cure Report
Along this journey I knew I'd encounter those "workouts" that would push me to my physical ability, and I knew that the only way to advance my fitness was to ignore the demon inside that kept telling me that I couldn't go any further. This demon had won so many battles in the past, and I would always seem to listen. What I didn't know, and was totally unprepared for was the persistent nature that this demon possessed. His vengeance knew no bounds on June 11th, as I rode the Tour De Cure.
The morning had started off rainy, and I didn't have rain gear so I was already dredding the ride. I had plenty of saddle time and I knew I could ride the 31 miles easily, but didn't have much time on hills or extreme heat. I was scheduled to ride out with the 30 milers at 10:30, and by 9:00am, after checking-in, the clouds gave way to sunshine and the temperature started creeping upwards. I triple-checked my bike, and hopped on for a little warm-up ride, and immediately started feeling a sharp pain in my right knee, the knee that NEVER hurts. The demon was starting early! I got off the bike and slowly worked my knee. I got back on the bike, rode around for awhile and did a little warm-up ride. The pain started to subside slowly and I figured that it would be fine - battle won.
I milled around for quite a while prior to the start, meeting people from many different walks of life. The Tour De Cure is a benefit (nationwide) ride for the American Diabetes Association. There were 100s of riders and several sponsor tents. I was getting anxious to start as I was starting to cool down. We lined up at 10:20 and the announcer/organizer made some announcements and then discusssed the rides and the rest stop. One of those announcements was a route change, which would add a couple miles to the ride. We were also told that course was flat to slightly rolling with one big dip going into Johnstown (and of course, going back out of Johnstown back to Westerville). Flat in Ohio is either constantly rising, usually with wind, or constantly dropping.
The first 3 miles was the constantly downhill grade and I was able to go out strong and put some distance from most of the pack. The next 12 miles was rolling to constantly rising, and while my speed slowed, I keep peddling. My heart rate was comfortable in the aerobic zone just a few beats from the anaerobic zone and it was steady. I was doing good. My knee had stopped hurting and I gained confidence as the ride went along.. I had slayed the dragon... or had I...
Mile 17/19 was the "dip". Going into Johnstown, the downhill is on a curve and since I'd never been on that road, I took it slow. what I didn't know was when it straightened out, it was only a few yards to an immediate steeply graded (step pattern) hill that was approximately 1 tenth of a mile. Not large, but I wasn't prepared and didn't gear correctly, and my speed immediately slowed and I desparately changed gears to get back to a solid 85-90 cadence. The dragon was back. I spun in my lowest gear until about 20 yards from the top when I finally had to stop. My other knee (the one that normally gives me problems) was screaming, and my foot on that leg was going numb. I stopped, walked the bike up the final 20 yards, meanwhile walking the numbness off, and proceeded to the rest stop.
At the rest stop, a banana, two waters, and a gatorade later, plus a refill on my bottles and I was off again, with a renewed determination to finish strong. On the way back, I attacked the downhill switching into the big gear and flying up the start of the hill, and quickly switching gears to try to maintain momentum and cadence. This hill, the dragons main weapon was long and continuously, no steps to regain some power, and I faded again with about 30 yards to go. I knew I still had 17 miles to go, in 90 degree heat, so I got off quickly before any massive pain and walked my bike up over the knoll. rested about 30 seconds, got on and took off.
The next few miles were basically recovery miles, but I then turned into a headwind and the continous slight grade downhill was acting like an uphill ride. I kept peddling and the miles slowly clicked off. The detour wasn't all that bad and some of it was actually downhill. I made the turn back on to the original out route, across the bridge and started the 3 mile constany uphill.
With a little less than 2 miles to go, the dragon reared with a vengeance. My heart rate was all over the map, spending most of it's time in the anearobic zone. My breathing was becoming difficult. The dragon kept whispering .. "The SAG van will be here shortly. No shame in sagging in". I wanted to listen, I really did, so I pulled over, got off the bike, bent over and looked to the sky. I knew I was either going to throw in the towel or dig a little deeper. My mind was mush, my body was aching, the dragon was softly telling me that I had done a good job, and shouldn't be ashamed. I started remembering the workouts, pushing the envelope and how proud I was to see my fitness get better, and my weight drop. I looked the dragon in the eye, and told him "NOT Today, not EVER". I got back on the bike, and pushed off, telling myself that each cycle on the pedals was that much closer to the finish line. A group slowly rode past me and I dropped right in behind them and pushed with them. My heart rate was approaching the anaerobic zone again, put I pushed on. 1 mile to go, 1/2 mile to go. It was getting so hard, but the dragon finally was replaced with "Just think how good you'll feel when you cross that finish line knowing that you finished what you started".
The Dragon was Slain!
Along this journey I knew I'd encounter those "workouts" that would push me to my physical ability, and I knew that the only way to advance my fitness was to ignore the demon inside that kept telling me that I couldn't go any further. This demon had won so many battles in the past, and I would always seem to listen. What I didn't know, and was totally unprepared for was the persistent nature that this demon possessed. His vengeance knew no bounds on June 11th, as I rode the Tour De Cure.
The morning had started off rainy, and I didn't have rain gear so I was already dredding the ride. I had plenty of saddle time and I knew I could ride the 31 miles easily, but didn't have much time on hills or extreme heat. I was scheduled to ride out with the 30 milers at 10:30, and by 9:00am, after checking-in, the clouds gave way to sunshine and the temperature started creeping upwards. I triple-checked my bike, and hopped on for a little warm-up ride, and immediately started feeling a sharp pain in my right knee, the knee that NEVER hurts. The demon was starting early! I got off the bike and slowly worked my knee. I got back on the bike, rode around for awhile and did a little warm-up ride. The pain started to subside slowly and I figured that it would be fine - battle won.
I milled around for quite a while prior to the start, meeting people from many different walks of life. The Tour De Cure is a benefit (nationwide) ride for the American Diabetes Association. There were 100s of riders and several sponsor tents. I was getting anxious to start as I was starting to cool down. We lined up at 10:20 and the announcer/organizer made some announcements and then discusssed the rides and the rest stop. One of those announcements was a route change, which would add a couple miles to the ride. We were also told that course was flat to slightly rolling with one big dip going into Johnstown (and of course, going back out of Johnstown back to Westerville). Flat in Ohio is either constantly rising, usually with wind, or constantly dropping.
The first 3 miles was the constantly downhill grade and I was able to go out strong and put some distance from most of the pack. The next 12 miles was rolling to constantly rising, and while my speed slowed, I keep peddling. My heart rate was comfortable in the aerobic zone just a few beats from the anaerobic zone and it was steady. I was doing good. My knee had stopped hurting and I gained confidence as the ride went along.. I had slayed the dragon... or had I...
Mile 17/19 was the "dip". Going into Johnstown, the downhill is on a curve and since I'd never been on that road, I took it slow. what I didn't know was when it straightened out, it was only a few yards to an immediate steeply graded (step pattern) hill that was approximately 1 tenth of a mile. Not large, but I wasn't prepared and didn't gear correctly, and my speed immediately slowed and I desparately changed gears to get back to a solid 85-90 cadence. The dragon was back. I spun in my lowest gear until about 20 yards from the top when I finally had to stop. My other knee (the one that normally gives me problems) was screaming, and my foot on that leg was going numb. I stopped, walked the bike up the final 20 yards, meanwhile walking the numbness off, and proceeded to the rest stop.
At the rest stop, a banana, two waters, and a gatorade later, plus a refill on my bottles and I was off again, with a renewed determination to finish strong. On the way back, I attacked the downhill switching into the big gear and flying up the start of the hill, and quickly switching gears to try to maintain momentum and cadence. This hill, the dragons main weapon was long and continuously, no steps to regain some power, and I faded again with about 30 yards to go. I knew I still had 17 miles to go, in 90 degree heat, so I got off quickly before any massive pain and walked my bike up over the knoll. rested about 30 seconds, got on and took off.
The next few miles were basically recovery miles, but I then turned into a headwind and the continous slight grade downhill was acting like an uphill ride. I kept peddling and the miles slowly clicked off. The detour wasn't all that bad and some of it was actually downhill. I made the turn back on to the original out route, across the bridge and started the 3 mile constany uphill.
With a little less than 2 miles to go, the dragon reared with a vengeance. My heart rate was all over the map, spending most of it's time in the anearobic zone. My breathing was becoming difficult. The dragon kept whispering .. "The SAG van will be here shortly. No shame in sagging in". I wanted to listen, I really did, so I pulled over, got off the bike, bent over and looked to the sky. I knew I was either going to throw in the towel or dig a little deeper. My mind was mush, my body was aching, the dragon was softly telling me that I had done a good job, and shouldn't be ashamed. I started remembering the workouts, pushing the envelope and how proud I was to see my fitness get better, and my weight drop. I looked the dragon in the eye, and told him "NOT Today, not EVER". I got back on the bike, and pushed off, telling myself that each cycle on the pedals was that much closer to the finish line. A group slowly rode past me and I dropped right in behind them and pushed with them. My heart rate was approaching the anaerobic zone again, put I pushed on. 1 mile to go, 1/2 mile to go. It was getting so hard, but the dragon finally was replaced with "Just think how good you'll feel when you cross that finish line knowing that you finished what you started".
The Dragon was Slain!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Running with the Club for the First time
Tuesday, May 31st - joined the YMCA Running club for the first time.. Here's a few pics..
Saturday, May 28, 2011
I Must Be Crazy - Part II
Now I know why people should plan their training and stick to it.
As part of my tri training and overall training plan, I wasn't scheduled to run my very first 5k until August 6th. My focus has been on the bike, with the ultimate goal of riding Cycle North Carolina the first week of October (7 days - 70 miles per day). A few weeks ago, a missions team heading to Haiti in June, decided to have a 5k to raise funds. Well, today is the day...
After a meager amount of training runs (mostly on a treadmill), I gave it a go. I didn't start off very well, having a restless night of sleep, and running late. It took me a little while to pick up the registration packet, get everything together (HR monitor, ipod armband, running socks and shoes, and running shirt). I only had a few minutes to warm-up and didn't do a good job. I had 3 minutes to warm-up, so basically did some running in place, some jumping jacks, and some stretching, and about the time I got toward the end of the mass of runners lined up at the gate, I had 10 seconds before the gun went off. No time to worry about how stupid this is, just GO FOR IT!! ..
I started off pretty well, kept pace around a 12 min mile for about the first 1/4 mile and then I checked my HR monitor watch. I immediately started walking. My heart rate was 157 (my max is 167), and it had never gotten this high, this fast. I knew it was going to be a long day, so I finished walking to the bottom of hill, turned the corner, and my heart sank. The first "real" hill, and I started thinking that this is going to kill me. I made a decision that I would run for 1 minute, and walk for 1 minute and try to save enough for the last 1/2 mile to try and run the 1/2 mile continuously. 5 big hills later, a numbing feeling in my left foot, and a heart rate that finally settled comfortably in my zone, I passed the two mile mark. I stopped, slid down the knee brace, loosened my shoe string on my numbing foot, did some stretching and jumping to get some feeling back, and started again. Around the 1/2 mile to go mark, I decided I was just going for it, and started jogging, and eventually picked up speed for the last small hill just before the finish. When I hit the finish line, my HR was again at 157, but the pain in my legs were gone and I had finished strong. I looked at my time, and realized that I had missed my target by 28 seconds, which was the amount of time I took to get the feeling back in my foot at the 2 mile mark. All in all, not bad for a guy's first 5k, having never been a runner, and having lost 42 pounds from last year, where I couldn't even walk a mile without almost passing out
As part of my tri training and overall training plan, I wasn't scheduled to run my very first 5k until August 6th. My focus has been on the bike, with the ultimate goal of riding Cycle North Carolina the first week of October (7 days - 70 miles per day). A few weeks ago, a missions team heading to Haiti in June, decided to have a 5k to raise funds. Well, today is the day...
After a meager amount of training runs (mostly on a treadmill), I gave it a go. I didn't start off very well, having a restless night of sleep, and running late. It took me a little while to pick up the registration packet, get everything together (HR monitor, ipod armband, running socks and shoes, and running shirt). I only had a few minutes to warm-up and didn't do a good job. I had 3 minutes to warm-up, so basically did some running in place, some jumping jacks, and some stretching, and about the time I got toward the end of the mass of runners lined up at the gate, I had 10 seconds before the gun went off. No time to worry about how stupid this is, just GO FOR IT!! ..
I started off pretty well, kept pace around a 12 min mile for about the first 1/4 mile and then I checked my HR monitor watch. I immediately started walking. My heart rate was 157 (my max is 167), and it had never gotten this high, this fast. I knew it was going to be a long day, so I finished walking to the bottom of hill, turned the corner, and my heart sank. The first "real" hill, and I started thinking that this is going to kill me. I made a decision that I would run for 1 minute, and walk for 1 minute and try to save enough for the last 1/2 mile to try and run the 1/2 mile continuously. 5 big hills later, a numbing feeling in my left foot, and a heart rate that finally settled comfortably in my zone, I passed the two mile mark. I stopped, slid down the knee brace, loosened my shoe string on my numbing foot, did some stretching and jumping to get some feeling back, and started again. Around the 1/2 mile to go mark, I decided I was just going for it, and started jogging, and eventually picked up speed for the last small hill just before the finish. When I hit the finish line, my HR was again at 157, but the pain in my legs were gone and I had finished strong. I looked at my time, and realized that I had missed my target by 28 seconds, which was the amount of time I took to get the feeling back in my foot at the 2 mile mark. All in all, not bad for a guy's first 5k, having never been a runner, and having lost 42 pounds from last year, where I couldn't even walk a mile without almost passing out
Friday, May 6, 2011
I Must Be Crazy
It was early May 2010, and I woke up with pain in my chest, and a pounding headache. I sat up, took a swig of water, stood up slowly and ambled off to the restroom. I looked into the mirror and what I saw there absolutely scared me to death. I knew I was in bad shape, but I was white as a ghost, eyes were bloodshot, and I looked a very sick Pillsbury Dough Boy. Later that evening I was channel surfing and decided to watch the Biggest Loser. Somewhere in that show I saw a guy, older than I was, much heavier than I was working his butt off. It inspired me and at that point I decided I needed to make a change.
The next day I headed over to Wal-Mart and purchased the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout DVD. I started that evening. Man, was it tough. I figured if they could do it, then so could I, but 12 minutes into the DVD I had to turn it off. But... I was NOT discouraged and kept at it, and started working on my eating habits. I found http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and started logging my food. Sometime during the first two weeks I saw the P90X infomercial and I knew my daugther had it. I borrowed it and attempted some workouts, and could do some but not all of what they were doing. I decided to jump in and purchased my own copy. I struggled at first but started making some great headway. Toward the end of the first 30-day phase I noticed a lump on my stomach and went to the doctor, who sent me to a surgeon. It was an umbilical hernia that needed to be immediately repaired. Up to this point I had lost 22 pounds and was starting to feel alive again. I was extremely disappointed, but decided that if all I could do was walk I was going to walk my butt off.
Somewhere along this timeline, in talking to my triathlete brother, the subject of Cycle North Carolina came up. He and my other brother had done the CNC ride in 2009. This is an amazing adventure. 7 days of riding averaging about 65 miles per day. It sounded fun. I had cycled years ago, and in fact, my brother borrowed my bike to use in his first 3 triathlons. Only problem.. I currently didn't own a bicycle. My other brother had a Trek 2.3 frame that he gave me, but that meant I had to get all the other components together. Due to financial restraints that took me until February 2011 to get it all together. I started working out again just before this, because I knew October was just around the corner and I knew I definately needed the work.
We took a trip to Alabama to my triathlete brother's (my mom lives behind him) home. My other brother came down and we went for a ride. It was a blast! It was only 12 miles but I felt good. While there and looking at some of my brother's finisher medals and other items for doing triathlons I kind of got the itch.
So, enter April, and the journey is taking off. Prior to my bicycle ride with my brothers I had lost 30 pounds total, and am now down 42 pounds total. I have 43 or so to go, but I'm not overly concerned with weight loss, but more focused on being able to ride Cycle North Carolina, and also in completing my first triathlon.
Come along for the journey.
The next day I headed over to Wal-Mart and purchased the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout DVD. I started that evening. Man, was it tough. I figured if they could do it, then so could I, but 12 minutes into the DVD I had to turn it off. But... I was NOT discouraged and kept at it, and started working on my eating habits. I found http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and started logging my food. Sometime during the first two weeks I saw the P90X infomercial and I knew my daugther had it. I borrowed it and attempted some workouts, and could do some but not all of what they were doing. I decided to jump in and purchased my own copy. I struggled at first but started making some great headway. Toward the end of the first 30-day phase I noticed a lump on my stomach and went to the doctor, who sent me to a surgeon. It was an umbilical hernia that needed to be immediately repaired. Up to this point I had lost 22 pounds and was starting to feel alive again. I was extremely disappointed, but decided that if all I could do was walk I was going to walk my butt off.
Somewhere along this timeline, in talking to my triathlete brother, the subject of Cycle North Carolina came up. He and my other brother had done the CNC ride in 2009. This is an amazing adventure. 7 days of riding averaging about 65 miles per day. It sounded fun. I had cycled years ago, and in fact, my brother borrowed my bike to use in his first 3 triathlons. Only problem.. I currently didn't own a bicycle. My other brother had a Trek 2.3 frame that he gave me, but that meant I had to get all the other components together. Due to financial restraints that took me until February 2011 to get it all together. I started working out again just before this, because I knew October was just around the corner and I knew I definately needed the work.
We took a trip to Alabama to my triathlete brother's (my mom lives behind him) home. My other brother came down and we went for a ride. It was a blast! It was only 12 miles but I felt good. While there and looking at some of my brother's finisher medals and other items for doing triathlons I kind of got the itch.
So, enter April, and the journey is taking off. Prior to my bicycle ride with my brothers I had lost 30 pounds total, and am now down 42 pounds total. I have 43 or so to go, but I'm not overly concerned with weight loss, but more focused on being able to ride Cycle North Carolina, and also in completing my first triathlon.
Come along for the journey.
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