when a man loves to run

1,2,3, ..... 23, 24

2007-08-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well looks like I am racing the Across the years multiday race. I am racing in the 24 hour division. Its about as far as I can go at the moment. I am excited, nervous, and scared about this. Its a long time. I would ideally like to get in 62 miles but that is a long long ways to go. I never even been that far on a bike. I would be happy to get in 50 miles. More than happy. ITs my first goal. I figure though with swimming, biking, running, water running and weight lifting I will be able to get somewhere. now I just need to drop about 40 lbs in the next 5 months or so.

speaking of swimming I have my first 5k open water swim coming up soon also. That should be exciting.

Same half the man I used to be

2007-07-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

Well Spirit of Racine has come and gone. With spirit of Racine being done I also get my bike trainer room again. what does this mean? it means I get to get back onto the computrainer and bike all I want. Thought with Spirit of Racine being over I really do not have to by too much. I still have 3 tris left for the year but consideing I biked 56 miles the 24 and 12 mile courses should not be a problem. Now I need to really work on the swim for my 5k race in September. It will be the day before the alpine races.

My finish time for Spirit of Racine was 8:29:32. I took about 15 minutes off my half ironman PR.

It was a better race and actually tampering for it was very useful. I came accross the line last but not be alot and because of chip timing and wave starts I beat 3 people (one by 15 minutes). I was able to drink thanks to my camelbak.

I might attempt my first 24 hour race at the end of the year so I can not sit back and rest. I need to train harder now but its not not having a hard race until Chicago marathon.

I am Half IronMan

2007-06-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

As of Sunday I am some sort of Iron alloy man. Just completing the Rockman Half Ironman triathon on sunday. I am excited about this. Sunday I did my first 1.2 mile open water swim. 56 miles is the farthest I ever biked at one time, and well jsut another half marathon. I even bet about 20 people in the swim. Man I am good.

I was poorly hydrated and had poor nurittion which is something I have to work on for next time. It was in the low 80s in the run and I had no water for the last 6 miles so it was a struggle but I did it.

What's wrong with me.

2007-02-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

"Fing Grossman" - Todd after the superbowl.

Its more the bears offensive. They did nothing at all. they had a chance but they got so outplayed so badly on offense its not even funny. It was a sad sad day in Chicago. Chicago finally got to the world stage all they needed to do was win and everyone would been like hey they were not such a sad team after all. Atleast the score was pretty close but the stats were no wear near close.

needless to say I am falling behind in my goals. I might not do one of the HIMs I was looking to do this year since well I am way behind in my training. 2 weeks into it and I have done 1/2 the training. I move the computrainer into the other room but I yet to finish setting it up. I have to do it today and ride it. I need to reallt bike alot more than I am. Swimming is proving nicely though but without the bike my weight is creeping up again. I need it to go down.

Good news though. If you read runner's world this month you will see exactly what is wrong with me. I have a tight IT band. IT band is tight since I have weak hip anductor muscles. Jen from Athelico in naperville proved that to me. what does that mean for me? Means in 3 weeks I think I get to run again. I will be slow and sad but I will be out there. why 3 weeks? Well this weekend it will be way too cold and next weekend I am skiing with Stephanie and Ron and some other people. Needless to say soon I will be back. I just have to massage the it band and build up the hip anductor. Ironicly I thought it was the other part of the quad that was weak up I was wrong.

Advantage Lora

2007-02-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

I am seeing Athelico today about my knee and my back. Back is just a painful but its just weird problem that really does not bother me ever but when I feel it, it really hurts. That is why its weird.

I been using the form roller for the last 2 days which is good for a do it yourself deep tissue massage. Guess what. My feet are in better position and I think that might be the key. my knee problem could be a result of an tight IT band. IT band has been tight and usually is very tight when I do a LSD. I found out that causes your feet to come out of alignment which it is. The misalignment does cause alot more pressure on your knees and bam. tenditious. I go on the foam roller and bingo my feet are lined correctly I do not even have to force it. I thought it was a muscle imbalance but its more like a tight it band. It feels like a muscle imbalnce since it took alot of msucle to try to force the knee into the right posistion.

why do I say advantage Lora? since she gets massage she never tightens up so much and she can stay healthy. We can all learn from that. Not saying you need to spend as much as she does on a massage but it shows the importance of flexibity and streching.

Married

2007-01-29T05:34:00.000-08:00

That is right I got married. I got married to my long time sweetheart. It was so sweet.

ok now I have you all laughing I am sad. The girl I been working to date is married. That is right married. Why are all the good ones married?

Curling and the computrainer

2007-01-22T06:51:00.000-08:00

"Do not worry the rocks are very smart. They know what to do." -Liz the Intro to Curling lady.

Well today I am hurting. My knee hurts bad and Elbow hurts. Knee hurts from dragging it on the ground at curling and my elbow hurts from my computrainer crash. I am on the new trainer and sure enough I fall and hurt myself on my first 15 mins on it. I was able to get the swellowing down on my arm and I got back on and won my first race against the metal man. I really should not bike on central park since its so short but I figure I fell once and its a good way to test it out and it was getting late. I also do not have the candense monitor set up yet. Better than biking on the spirit of Racine course which is 56 miles for the test. I need to start do the Chicago Triathlon course.

Curling was fun and I was so about to sign up when it hit me. I can not swim at 5:30 am if I am curling the night before. I decided I better let my dream of curling go for now. Maybe after I done my IM and I was out or to take a break from tris. You can not do everything and and curling is not cheap either. If I get into on my 4th year its more than my gym membership would be for the year.

I was up too late last nigt and I over slept. I might been able to go to swimming but considering the road were probably not all that great and because of last week I get a little gun shy. oh well. atleast I have the trainer to play with :).

Computrainers and Curling

2007-01-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

"It's forty-two pounds of polished granite, bevelled on the belly and a handle a human being can hold. And it may have no practical purpose in itself but it is a repository of human possibility and if it's handled just right, it will exact the kind of poetry... " - Paul Gross as Chris Cutter in Men with Brooms.

Well I have exciting news.

I took yesterday off and my knee is feeling great. I think I needed a day or 2 off. only taken 2 days off from working all since Jan 1st. We will see how it feels in a week without any walking or running.

Second. Computrainer will be here either Tomorrow or Monday. I am so excited about this. I can not wait. This means I need to get my computrainer lab set up so its ready to go with it comes.

Thrid. I finally get to try out curling. I got into the learn2curl class at the Chicago Curling Club. Unforunately it will be during the beginning of the bears game but I wanted to try it for a long long long time and I will be able to watch the end of the game. I might have to watch USA in the bronze medal game to remind myself of the beauty of the game. The game will be on during the learn2curl so I will know what is happening. I will have to get a picture of me curling if I can.

Tonight I have a triathlon training meeting. Kinda like the Cara intro marathon meeting. not sure if I will join but I figure I will go and see you never know. Its not like I have anything else to do really except perpare my room for the coming of the trainer :).

Angels, Demons, and Bears oh my

2007-01-16T07:48:00.000-08:00

"This is the Wicked Witch of the West. And she's worse than the other one was." - Glinda, the Good Witch of the North from the Wizard of Oz.

Well Last night I dreamt of Angels, Demons and Bears. In my dream I met a demon and an Angel came to help me get rid of him. Then the Angel and I had a nice chat. Dream after that though I dreamt I was working at the superbowl and I got to be there when Gould kicks a game winning field goal. It was so exciting. It was a great feeling.

Well yesterday I tried to bike on my trainer but the trainer tire is kinda screwy so I put my old tire back on. Sure its louder but it works. Since traffic sucked this morning so I got here latter than I would have liked. I saw 6 accidents this morning on my way to work. I am never going to get home tonight since I have to stay late so maybe I should get a new tire that would work better since now I know how the sizing works, but I have little over 2 weeks before I get paid again and I need to save my money until next payday. I cut out alot of needless expenses so I will pay off my bills faster now. I no longer than that open pit where money seems to fall out of. Even so I think I will be ok money wise. I will just feel better once the month is over.

Da Bears

2007-01-15T05:45:00.000-08:00

"Da Bears" -Superfans

Well Sunday I also wanted to hit someone I run with who was watching the game with me. He wanted a close game even if the bears lose and Michael and Myself wanted the bears to win 42 - 0. Nothing worse than sitting with someone in the playoffs who want the other team to get ahead. He wanted the bears to win but his lack of pure dominance scares me. Stephanie and Ron came out and had a few drinks after halftime. They had Yoga earlier that day and showed up after yoga. Stephanie was looking as beautiful as ever and got me to sign up for a ski trip she is running. It would not be too bad they told me they would find me a roommate. I am thinking how can I not pay people for 2 weeks and she wants me to ski. What can I say the girl is cute and mostly single. I have been working on saving money though and that is helping alot. Anything that is not needed is out. turns out I am saving $200 a month now.

I tried pool running but got a blood blister so that us out for awhile. did it for 32 minutes. Maybe I should have not pushed that so hard. oh well. I am trying to give myself a break from walking but still go through the motions.

Today had a slight acciddent. I was trying to pass a guy who was going too slow and unforunately for me I had to go to the left lane and I hit some black ice and spun around, crossed 3 lanes, and hit the side wall. I only got to swim practice a little late. I was either going into a mild shock or was getting high from all the nicotine in the water and I was getting pretty dizzy. I feel kinda high now so I am thinking it was the nicotine. We found some plasic squares in the water and I realised it was from nicotine patches. When you are hitting it in the water you know it very well could be the the drug.

Swim if you got them

2007-01-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

I swim I mean I swim alot.

So far my totals for January
Bike: 45 min 12.8 miles
Run: 2:55 for 12 miles (really jsut walking)
Swimming 6:55 for 15587 yards or 8+ miles that includes drills that can take a long time per meter.

yep there is me and my crappy form I can see like 100 things wrong with it. I will not list them all though.

I am trying to find a good sports dr but no one who runs at work has never gone to a doc about anything sports related. They just rest and recover. oh well. Maybe I should do that. been told I should just not run or walk for next 6 weeks and I should be ok. They are probably right. I been bad on the bike because of that attitude also, but I have been running instead. god I need to stop running but I am an addict. If I do go for a walk keep in short and keep it flat. I tend to walk on the hill course on tuesday and that is not right.

I started lifting to elimate some muscle weaknesses I know I have so maybe in a few weeks that will clear up also and help my knee issue.

House of Pain

2007-01-10T05:55:00.000-08:00

"You can think I'm wrong, but that's no reason to quit thinking." - Dr. Gregory House
from the TV Show House.

Coming Soon. Me swimming. That is right soon I will post via Youtube me swimming so you can all see how bad I am. Actually the video was very useful and I want to do it again and again. I am so glad I did not let myself over sleep. Just think I thought about hanging out all night with Crazy Juli A but after an extra 45 I should been asleep for I decided to leave and go to bed. When I woke up and it was 4:45 aka time to leave I laid in bed for 3 minute and was like crap I need to go. I had a little bit of cake and I was off to class. I did not have time to make my side meals or lunch so its eating out today but it was all worth it. The show me why I am getting my swimming injury and what I can do to stop having the problem. I thought it was a car or yoga thing. I can get back to the Yoga hopely soon then.

I was talking to Shannon last night on our walk and she mentioned how she had the exact same thing as me and better yet exactly what she did to correct it. She mentioned how she has a muscle imbalance problem and I agree that is what I have also. She describe to a T exactly what I had which really impressed me. Her solution go to the gym and work on the hip flexors which are weak which I know are weak on me. that should help with my muscle imbalance and get me back to running in no time. She also told me up hill = my friend and avoid downhills at all cost. Also sounds quit smart. not sure how to get down hill after going up hill but still she is very wise and beautiful.

Turns out there is a guy from chicago like me who I am going to race against at the chicago tri. Its nice to know someone you are going to race with because it really helps you to push youself more since you know exaclt what they are doing in training.

Coach and Off to the Races

2007-01-08T06:24:00.000-08:00

"Mr. Brown: Will you talk to him, coach? He looks up to you.
Stan: No, I think you oughta.
Mr. Brown: Nah, I'm just his father. But you're his coach! You're like a father to him." - South Park season 10 episode 14

"I'm Fergalicious (so delicious)
My body stay vicious
I be up in the gym just working on my fitness
He's my witness (oooh wee)
I put yo' boy on rock rock
And he be lining down the block just to watch what I got (four, tres, two, uno)"
- Fergie from the song Fergalicious

ok bad news I missed Coach today but turns out she is either a runner or atleast like to party and she can dance. She made the Semi Finals of the Sausage dance. I also never realised how tall she is. This year they had the first annual Hunk Dance. I dragged 3 men onto the floor and 1 made it to the finals. I am proud of that fact. He was the choice of the Suasage Queen. I was out there and I was hoping for atleast a "pitty" cheese but I got nothing. 3 Alpine runners men and 1 woman made it to the dance finals.

My Sno Fun run time was 56:33 which is about an 11:19 pace for 5 miles which is not bad for me considering how little I have been running. I did beat Bonnie which I feel good about but I could not hang on to beat Lisa. She passed me at about mile 3 to 3.5 Oh well. You can not beat them all. It is a fun race though.

Well I am adding another race to my Race Calender. I need to start writing this stuff down. I am going to do a race I missed last year do to injury and I am upset since I would have won the race easily. I could have done it but I was just coming off injury or was almost there. It was probably smart idea but still I would gotten first place even after the comeback. Its the Steamboat Classic 15K in Peoria. I go with the 15K over the 4 miler because it will be alot easier for me to win then a 4 miler. Heavier people opt for the shorter races for some reason and well they are used to running faster than I am. The winner last year for the 250+ Division had a time of 2:00 and I was training for a time of 1:40. I decided to go back and try my luck. I am probably in the best overall shape of my life and I am going to win, win, win, this year. I also also planning on winning at the Chicago Triathlon this year also in the 250+ under 39 division. My goal is to weigh less than that after Chicago Tri so these races are kinda of a 1 shot deal ideally for me. I think my new weight lose goal is a more realistic than I been trying to do and I will reach it
Basicly I hope to lose 1 lbs a week even though I tend to to into spurts.

My mom says when I get down to 220 which is 65 lbs away she will throw me a party. So that is something positive to shoot for. I bought all the pics from the LV marathon since I weight 325 and I thought they all look good as before pics. Maybe I can reach Chicago mary at 220 and I get get those pics for my after pics or better yet maybe I can reach 220 by LV marathon and then it would look nice to have before and after photos from the same race.

He is not losing but winning

2007-01-05T06:55:00.000-08:00

"Now, when we fought, you had that eye of the tiger, man; the edge! And now you gotta get it back, and the way to get it back is to go back to the beginning. You know what I mean?" - Apollo Creed from Rocky III

Well Yesterday I learnt something. At my rate of weight lose last year if I did the same this year I will be down to 253 by August 26. Now that does not sound very big deal but its huge. Not only would I be smaller but I would have a chance at an A/G award at the chicago Triathlon. If I work my butt off and get down to a 3 hour oly time I would win it all for the under 30 250+ division. Last there was 25 people in it. Best time was 3:01 second best was 3:15. so Instead of killing myself trying to do an Ironman this year maybe I should relax sign up for an IM race for next year and train for that. This year go for more weight lose and speed. All I need to do is about 2:00 - 2:10 per 100 meter in the swim about 19 - 20 mph for 25 miles on the bike and run 6.2 miles at around 9:30 and do this in 7 1/2 months. Plenty of time to get there. Come Monday or Tuesday when I get the computrainer I should be able to start racing the escape from Alactraz race. Same distance but I think its a tougher course. Yesterday I did a swim time trial and I was at 2:45 per 100 meters for the 1500 meter distance not too bad but the guy who one was at 2:15 per 100 meters. I was 8 mins slower than him coming out of the water yesterday. Now pool swimming is easier but I not kicking hard off the wall and I can not do flip turns so I get slowed down alot in the pool also.

Question is do I let go of my IM dreams for this year and go and compete at the Chicago Tri? Do I make sure by august 26th my weight is above 250 but not by much? How do I handle my HIM I have 1 month before? Do I skip that so I can focus on my speed or will the HIM training help my speed out? so many questions.

laziness and running

2007-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well tuesday in my new shoes I did a little run/walk. It was fun. I walked the hills and I ran the straight aways. I did not feel my knee was any worse. I found out it could be my calf muscles causing the knee issue which sounds about right since the shoes I been using are bad for my calves. Needless to say my new shoes are working out pretty well. Then again UI only did like 3.5 miles but it might be good for now.

Yesterday all I did was swim. no evening bike ride. I am getting to be such a lazy bum. only working out for 1 hour a day. what has happened to me? oh well this weekend is the big race. One of the most important of the year. I am so excited. It was at this race I decided to really work on losing weight, it was this race I learnt that reen broke her hip, and it was at this race I learnt Lora didn't hate me.

Also I am all signed up for march madness as of this morning. I am excited. I got an email that 600 out of 1000 are signed up so I am like oh crap I better sign up today and I have. I have done that race last 2 years and the streak will continue. Question though what will be my finishing time. I think 2:30 will be out of the question but even 2:45 right now would be nice considering how little I have ran last year.

No news on Juli A is she is out of the Hostipal or not. She is not in good condition last I heard. Something about fluid in her lungs and some heart trouble.

Year of the Tri

2007-01-01T05:28:00.000-08:00

Well I am declaring this the Year of the Tri. I am still going to run alots do not get me wrong. I am already signed up for the chicago marathon.

I been sending Juli A messages all day. I hope she likes them. As 7:33 am here she still has 2:30 longer to go. Currently in 6th place. She was in 5th when I went to sleep, but not in 6th by much like 1 lap behind 5th place guy. Though the girl who is in 7th place is only 3 miles behind but honestly I think once it gets to 1 hour left there is no way she will catch Juli.

Not sure what tris I am going to do this year though. All I know is Coach is think I am going to do really well this year. He told me if I get into Kona that I will find a way to get there and finish in the time. Coach is right. I am not sure if I will sign up for an Iron distance race this year or not. Time will tell. Now he does not think I should do 2 half iron man's in 3 weeks and I agree.

As for Resolutions I have none. I do have goals for this year though
1) lose atleast 50 more lbs
2) complete a half Iron man.
3) finish a spirit triathlon in sub 2 hours.
4) find a GF.
5) beat Lora in a race.
6) complete 2 ultras in 1 year.
7) sub 5:30 marathon
8) sub 2:30 half marathon

I think that is all.

I'm back

2006-12-27T06:17:00.000-08:00

Well it been a long and trying time for me. I am back. I am back to work. I am off the pain meds. I am still swolen but it should hopely get better soon. I am no longer sick. I been sick for so longer I do not know what its like to be healthy anymore. I will have to go back and get more work done in maybe 6 months but that is purely for cosmedic reasons.

I am getting a computrainer. Some people laugh they ask if I even have a bike and I am like yeah its a piece of junk but I have one. Its not too bad I just need to more training and hense the computrainer. I think I will spend hours on my bike on it so it will be well worth it. it is also alot cheapier than a trendmill, and alot more useful. Sorry for all you trendmill lovers out there.

I am looking for a road bike but it would not really help too much right now so I am going to wait and see what happens. Hopely I can find one used that fits me. You can get some good deals and 63cm bikes are not too popular in size. harder to find and but you may get them for alot less when you do find them.

Yesterday I did .5 miles swimming in about 25 minutes and walked 4.5 miles in about 1:10. I am not pushing myself on the walking to hard. I am just letting things heal.

I am a little hung over since I partied at yogis with everyone. It was fun. In many ways I will be sad when master swim is over but I do not know if 1 I need it anymore or 2 if I will get more out of it. I have gotten pretty good as pushing myself.

No new years plans at the moment. Sounds like the people I party with will not be there this year. Maybe I will just need to have a party at my house.

I am doing fine

2006-12-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

Well I did my 1 hour on the bike trainer last night I got up went swimming for a mile but was not able to swim for 1 hour like I noramlly did. I was so sore and tired from yesterday though. I just did my mile in about 45 mins and left. Figuring I would not be able to work out for a few days after my surgery I wanted to make sure I got my excerise in today.

My surgery today went well and I am now sitting at home resting. The doctor gave me some vidodian so I can be very happy for awhile. :). I got my chicago marathon dvd in the mail today it was cool. I even got to see Lora in it.

Just my day

2006-12-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Much like a cookie, I predict that the Yankee dynasty will crumble and the results will be delicious for Red Sox's fans everywhere." - Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino

Today at Master swim class it was the a hard day. 4 people in a lane and turns out I may be the slowest of the slowest swimmers out there I am the fastest off the wall. What does that mean? It means if a person is 1/3 the distance off the wall I may catch them by they reach the halfway mark. I had a guy who came close to the turn around so I took off because well I been on heals the whole way down on most if the other laps. Since he is faster overall he got slowed down by me at the end. So I got yelled at for pool ediucate. Ironicly one girl was coming close to the way she stood up early and was like let me go and I was like ok. I ended up standing up half way through becuase she was kicking me in the face and when I to swim again I had to break into kicking drills to slow myself down since I was all over her yet again.

still 2200 meters in 60 mins is not bad for me. it almost 1.3 miles in 1 hour.

Last night I walked the 5 mile course for the Alpine Tuesday night run. My knee does not seem any worse because of it. I did take forever to do it but it was nice being out there and I was doing alot of good thinking so even though my time was crap it was not a bad thing either.

I also put in a bid for a computrainer on ebay and I lost. :(. not sure if I wanted to win or lose. saving couple hundred dollars would be nice but it was 3 year old model and who knows how well it worked either. You take a chance on ebay.

The Why

2006-12-18T06:19:00.000-08:00

"Ours not to reason why Ours but to do and die." - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Saturday was fun. I went to the new bagel place and talked to a few people. Julie B was like hi Todd bye Todd when I walked in. Atleast she said hi. One of the few people who did. You think going away for a month would cause people to be a little more friendly. Do not get me wrong my regular fans were not there or were like hey at the trotter party.

I did not walk. ok I overselt. I still hit the gym to swim 2.4 miles. Here are my splits. I did stop to pee at 1.2 miles and 2 miles. I thought maybe I could pushed it at 2 but I really so not want to stop once I start that last .4 miles.
That is the pace from start to that time. my last .4 miles I really kicked it in as you can see. Much better than my first 2.4 miles which I avg 3.50 min / 100m

23:06 800m 2.89 / 100m
46:43 1600m 2.92 / 100m
55:43 1900m 2.93 / 100m
1:31:00 3200m 2.99 / 100m
1:54:24 3850m 2.97 / 100m

Satuday night I bikes for 35 mins on the trainer but stopped because my crotch went numb. Decided I better get a new saddle. Hoping to get it on sunday but bears game was too long and exciting.

So since I wass not able to get my saddle I decided to take my chances on the current seat and stopped after 1:35 on the bike. I stopped since I had to sleep for swim class. Wish I could have done more. The movie Breaking Away was so good.

Today I know why I do not swim ever on Sundays atleast if I swim 2.4 miles. Man MAster swim class was brutal. No only some of my swimming muscles are sore but it was a speed day and I am completely exhausted. Oh well enw saddle and hopely 1 hour bike tonight.

Happy Hanukkah

2006-12-15T06:11:00.000-08:00

"Put on your yalmulka, here comes Hanukkah
Its so much fun-akkah to celebrate Hanukkah" - Adam Sandler Hanukkah song

Well I was a lazy bum yesterday. I had the day off from work and I had to see the dentist. Being in the middle of the day it was hard for me to get anything in. I was so nervous about seeing the Dentist. The Dentist was like how long has it been and I told her 6 years. She was what and I am like 6 years. Man has it been that long. Last time I saw the dentist it was the day Bush got elected into presidency for the first time.

Wednesday I only swam 45 mins and in the evening I biked 45 minutes but I stopped since my knee was hurting. I may walk on saturday but no running except for drills. I look at my time though for the first 3 miles tuesday night and it was good. We walked the hills but ran 10:30s when we were not on the hills. I am getting faster just do not have the running endurance I used too. Come MArch I will be running again and kicking some major butt.

Well I was at WalMart yesterday and they are like Todd we have your PS3 you want. I was there and there it was the high level PS3 just looking at me telling me I need to buy it. Maybe I could have sold it on Ebay for $1000. man I did think of it at the time but I should have bought it and then hoped for the best. IT could been an extra $400 towards computrainer. Ok just checked ebay they are only going for slightly over store cost so glad I did not get it. Computrainer does seem like a waste of money but also seems like a good investment. The bike does not make one fast its the engine. The better you train that engine the faster you get.

My IM dreams are starting to disappear. As I think about all the things I would need like wet suit, Bike, and the money for the race itself. The dreams of doing an IM is going away for this year. Does not mean I stop training. As my friend Tom says "You can do the training even if you can not do the race that is the best part" I have faith though if it was ment to be the money will come. ITs not a physical issue but a monetrial one. My swimming I am there. Biking I am getting closer there I know the computrainer would get me there sooner than later. Running been there done that :).

Sometimes friends are not a good thing to have

2006-12-13T06:07:00.000-08:00

Well last night I went out for a run. First of all that was a mistake. Well running was not a bad idea but I got running with Lawson and that was a mistake. Instead of being able to be lazy I got stuck running about first 3 miles of it at 10:30 pace. Lawson been struggling with pain also since his knee surgery. needless to say my running form was probably off for alot of it. instead of an outside moving drill it became a run. I probably should have walked with Pat and Shannon instead. My knee hurts more now then it did but maybe I ran down the hills too fast also so maybe I can run but I need to avoid hills for now. I did find out some sad news. One of the girls I wanted to date out has a terminal cancer is going to die in 3 to 6 months. I heard 6 months would be really risky also. I knew a relationship would not work out between us but I thought maybe it would been good for us anyways and well that idea is gone now. It seems so weird since she seems so healthy. Maybe its just a nasty rumor that is not true. I can only hope it is. I hope it never comes up in a conversation because what do you say to a woman who is going to die? Somehow the standard I am sorry for your lose just does not work.

Well after the run they were like hey you going to get a beer. I am like its only 7:30 I can stop by for a beer. I left at 7:55 and ended up not sleeping until after 9 pm. I should not have had the beer. Oh well My alarm went off at 4:15 I shut it off closed my eyes and opened it and it was 5:22. OMG I had 8 mins to drive 38 miles to master swim class. I was not going to make it. So I was like maybe I will go back to bed and decided that was a mistake and I got up and went to the gym. I did not want to show up at 6:30 as the master class was getting out because it seemed weird I should been there with my swimming friends and not afterwards. I got there too late though at 7:00 I wanted to be there about 6:45. I swam to 7:45 so I could idealy beat the recepitionist before she got there so I can leave at my time and not have her go hmm maybe he is leaving early everyday. I jsut take a 30 min lunch is all.

I have found oil/ Skinny for a day

2006-12-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

Saturday I got to try out the computrainer. Wow. I loved it. It was most wonderful thing I ever did. It combined my love of biking inside, with the fun of racing a friend, and of course not dying. The race was great I totally kicked Lora's butt. Sure it was stopped half way through but still I would have won easy. I was good 600 ft ahead on a 3 mile course. Sure I was losing ground fast going up hill but if we were tied at the top I would have won since it was all down hill from there. It felt like I was outside and made it biking instead of just pedalling. Only problem is I have to start selling drugs in order to afford iot.

Before the race my bike was set for a 165 lbs person let me tell you being 165 made my life so easy. I was amased how much faster I could be if I weight alot less. Its real good motivation to lose weight since I have felt what it was like to be skinny for a day.

Drills, Drills, Drills. I been drilling alot. Satuday and today I been drilling for 30 mins. Running drills that is. I found myself doing alot of bad habits and I am trying to break them. No wonder I got injuried I was running all wrong. So its back to the drills. Swimming its better by drillling since I gone down to :59 for 50 meters. I jsut need to be able to keep that up for 100 meters next.

Another Day Another Lbs

2006-12-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

My view that you can gain weight while the scale goes down and you can lose weight while the scale goes up seems to be true. Today I am down to 287.6. 1 lbs from yesterday. Unless the holidays are bad for me I will have conquered the 90s. Right after I got out of the pool though the gym scale said I was 304 but that scale always tells me higher than the regular scale I use and I also had all my clothes on and swim gear on my back. :).

Traffic has been so bad I decided to swim last night after work and I am thinking tonight will be no different. besides I did not do anything tuesday after all either so tuesday will have been my rest day for the week. As for tommorrow not sure if I should walk or run. knee been great and I been doing some running drills but I do not want to push it since well frankly in 2 weeks I will be pushing it again. Its nice to be on a training plan again. I missed it. like I said I think I will run 3 days a week, swim 4 days and bike like 3 days. I need to figure it all out. I am going to train alot harder this year for the marathon than any marathon I have done before. I am going to be smart though and put in less miles on the pavement. The marathon is a nice soft trail anyways so it will be fine. Frankly I do not want to DNF this race. I DNF twice this year and never again. Plus we all know what is going to happen in March. Lora wants revenage for the fact that she has never beaten me at that race. EVen if she beats me she will never get another shot at it again.

Jesus IS magic

2006-12-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well last night I finally saw Jesus is Magic. It was great. Sarah Silverman is funny and beautiful and sexy and white. ok if you seen the movie you will understand what I am talking about. A bonus clip on the dvd I just had to share. Its perfect for this holiday season.

Well my room is almost back to normal and that means the bike can come out again. ok I have not been biking because of the room so much but the knee. I realised that I have not been steretching enough. I looked at the stretching chart I have in my cube at work and it says 3 reps 2 times a day for 30 secs. omg I only been doing 10 secs. Yesterday evening I did some running drills. It occured to me if I have good form I should not be using my quads so how can they be tight and hurt me. I use them for swimming and biking though. My quads burn on the kick board really bad. So with all the stretching my knee is alot better and I know what Iw as doing wrong. I may only walk on satuday but I will be out there.

Maybe I should walk some tonight just to be sure. If my gym had an indoor track I would be all over it. I am going to hit the pool tonight since I did not get up this morning since I could not sleep last night.

Good news scale says I am down to 288.2 lowest of the year. I am pushing forward and I may very well be able to get to 50 lbs lost for the year.

The other big difference from last year no injury to this year is last year I stretched alot. Simple fact of life. you may stretch 15 mins after an hour run but its something we all need to do.

Its on !!!!!

2006-12-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

"Y'all just mad. Because today, you suckers got served. Served. Served. Served! Served!" - David from the Movie You got Served
from South Park Season 8
"
Sharon Marsh: Well, Randy, that was some great advice you gave our son yesterday.
Randy Marsh: What?
Sharon: Those kids showed up to serve Stan again, and he danced back.
Randy: Well, what happened?
Sharon: It's on."

You bet its on. Lora things she can beat me on March 18th, 2007 at March Madness. Well one thing led to another and its on. Now she is not injuried and I am. how can I beat her since even healthy I could not beat her. Simple I am me and she is not me. Todd > Lora anyday of the week.

Ok game plan.
1) Work on form. Form will prevent injury.
2) Lose more weight. She is skinny she can not drop weight. I can I can drop lots of it. if I can get down to 250 by then she is in big trouble. thing about it. I was like 310 for my last half and did a 2:40:00. If I get down to 250 it will be like 60 lbs lost and in theory a 30 min gain in time. That brings me right to 2:10:00.
3) More cross training. I am also a tri athlete which bring that number to 2:00:00.

Can she beat a 2:00 half marathon time? I think not. I am not even counting in speed I can gain from proper form. Man I am good.

Today I did my swimming about 1:15 did a over a mile
I did 9 reps of the tibeatean 5 rites and alot of streching. good news is my knee feels like there is less pull. when the pain stopped before it still felt tight and now tightness feels pretty gone. I need to stretch more and more.

Two weeks

2006-12-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

I have only 2 weeks off until well its marathon training season again. Man Time flies when your having so much fun. I will probably use alot of biking for mid week runs until it gets nicer out or snow melts. I will do my best to do my long runs on saturdays. Cool thing about living right off the course when I start doing my 14+ mile runs and I need more water but the water stops are not out that far I can stop at home and get my water belt.

Well my knee is getting better again after it started hurting. It occurs to me my quads take a real beating during my swims and they are getting tight again so I been stretching and the knee been recovering. Its easy to get lazy with flexiblity since I know I do not see the direct value in it but when we get hurt all we can think about is how we should have streched. I am going to start biking again tonight I think.

This morning I was a good boy. I swam for 1:15:00 and then lifted for :30.

I have learnt from my Tanita scale I have the metabolism of a 50+ year old and I need to build more muscle if I want that to lower that score. No wonder I have such a hard time trying to drop weight.

Since 2.4 miles was hard but not too hard I am thinking about doing 2.4 miles every weekend now. One of the best ways to get better at a distance is to do it alot. Plus it going to make my 1.2 mile swims seem more. I love my master swim program.

Saturday

2006-12-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

"I dropped out of college my junior year to do Saturday Night Live, and I didn't even consult my parents. They were very supportive because they had no choice." - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Satuday was a good day for me. I swam 2.4 miles. I felt I could go even farther. I did get really tired though once I got out of the pool for awhile and eat something real for lunch. Still the 2.4 miles was alot easier for me than I figured. I thought for sure I would be more than exhausted and not get close to making it. The key for me was really form, form, and more form. I would not be surprised once my HIM comes that I do the 1.2 miles in 30 - 45 mins. I need to work more on the bike again. Enough trainer time I should be able to do 56 miles on the bike easily for the HIM. I am thinking more and more that signing up for Kona was not a mistake. having now complete 2 of out the 3 events in an IM really makes me feel an IM is in reach.

Now for Saturday night. I got 2 awards at the Arlington Trotter end of the year party. I got an acheivement award for my 8 hour race. Anyone who does an Ultra gets one. The trophy I got for the "Slow but Deadly" award. No one really sure what that means since the main person who's job was to come up with the awards was not there. I think it means basicly I am big and slow but does not mean I am not an amasing runner.

How far can he go.

2006-11-29T06:06:00.000-08:00

"You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get." - Michael Phelps

Well size I shot a few hoops for like 20 minutes today and my knee hurts some I am defintely swimming on saturday and probably will not run until next weekend. So I figured what would be something cool to do. another Time trial would be nice but I am thinking of more beating my old best distance. Farest I ever swam is 1.2 miles. I wonder on satuday if I only take breaks to eat some cliff shots, drink some gatorade, and of course move my penny over, and pee how far can I go?

So I offer up to you a guess. Lets see who can get it right. how far can I go before I just have no more in me. Pee breaks will be about 1 every hour and last about 3 minute or so. Other than that how far can I go with stopping? closest too without going on as they fo on the price as right. I figure I should put a 2:20:00 time limit on it. Bathroom breaks do not count as part of this time either since well if I was OWS during a race I would just go as I swam but in a pool that seems kinda gross.

I am putting down 2.4 since if I can reach that well I am stopping. Its my max I will admit. REally I have no desire to go beyound that point but I like to see just how far I can go.

dropping 10 yards and putting

2006-11-26T17:28:00.000-08:00

Well the bears lost. Saturday Lake Zurich Bears lost there first bid at the state finals and Chicago Bears lost.

Well I been training hard the last couple of weeks. Like always I have big goals and I want to succeed at them. I am backed off the bike this weekend and frankly decided only to swim this week. No I am not burnt out. My knee feels great today. No pain at all. I figure I will be good this week and not sure if I will run on saturday, walk or just swim. Either way things are looking up. I can not wait to get out there happy and healthy. Because before I know it will be time to train for the ice age 50k.

Good news is today I am quite sore but happy. Yesterday I did my first Time trial for 1 mile since I started my master's class. Frankly I did so well I bumped it to 1.2 miles or the HIM swim distance.

old best 1/2 mile 27 mins
new best 1/2 mile 24 miles

old best 1 mile 57 mins but not sure if it should be 59 mins
new best 1 mile 49 mins

old best 1.2 miles 1:20 I beleive
new best 1.2 miles 58 mins.

I am getting much faster but I want to go and run afterwards. I was not completely exhausted like I normally am. My swim was almost out of gas but my overall endurance was not. That is what I need to be able to do if I get picked for Kona.

Frankly I am more excited about my knee than anything else. Oh well its 8 pm means its sleep time for master swim class.

That '80s show

2006-11-22T06:07:00.000-08:00

"I do have a test today, that wasn't bullsh**. It's on European Socialism. I mean, really, what's the point? I'm not European. I don't plan on being European. So, who gives a crap if they're Socialists? They could be fascist anarchists, it still wouldn't change the fact that I don't own a car." Ferris Buellers in Ferris Buellers Day Off

Welcome to the 80s again. This morning weight 288.8. Go me. Tuesday morning weight was 290.0 so I suspect that will change. ONly real problem I had last time I got into the 80s was a think called Chicago marathon. I gained so much weight before, during, and after. Tomorrow being thanks giving I am going to be smart. only eat things that taste good. yep no more eating the food that tastes bad this year. I still feel great I can get down to 275 by january and maybe even 225 by Oct 7th. I am working hard at it.

My swimming is coming alot great I gone from 1:45 min per 50 meters to 1:10 per 50 meters. 1:45 was beginning and 1:10 was after swim practice. my form is 100x better so far and it will get better and better. I am so going to rock my HIM. Going to rock it all night long. I would like to do the HIM in sub 7 hours but we shall see.

My knee is getting better./ lifting with it was a mistake and getting alot better now. Since I stoped running and lifting with my legs.

Lora forgive me

2006-11-21T06:16:00.000-08:00

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." - Paul Boese

Ok no idea who that is really all the forgiveness quotes suck. So this is my best attempt at a quote. So please for give me for that.

Today I missed my swim workout, but that is not why I am such a bad person. I did do my bike work out so 3 hours of working out yesterday. not too bad. Only probably an hour tonight though unless I swim on the way home and then hit the bike and skip the group run on tuesday which I never run with a group anyways. I got 9 hours of sleep last night so chances are I needed it.

First time in my life I am looking forward to April 15th. Why? I love paying taxes. ok it will be the first time since 2000 I will have to pay taxes. That of course is always exciting. Some call me lucky but I just called myself poor. That means I barely made any money in the last 6 years, but that is not why.

I put my name in the lottery for Ironman Kona. $35 for the chance to maybe go to Hawaii to do a marathon with a 112 mile bike ride before it and a 2.4 mile swim before that. It takes about 30 minutes to jsut enter the lottery.

I know Lora would not like it if I got in but chance are I will not make it anyways and may never make it but I felt I had to alteast try. Kinda like trying for New York when you do not think you will get in but hope you will get in later. Still if I got into Kona I will attempt Kona. A recent IM folorida finisher truly beleives most anyone if they put in the long training can train for the IM in 20 weeks, and thinks I am stupid if I do not go for it. Chances are I will not get in so really I do none issue but if I have to I will do the training. I plan on do IM training regardless if I do one or not.

I do it for the bagels.

2006-11-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

I did not run on saturday. Why not? no bagels. bagel shop is closed. I not unsure until when but yep no bagels for Todd. So means no running for Todd since he does it for the bagels. My knee been getting better and I not been running. I did realise though I should not lift either sicne well it hurts after lifting and frankly it needs to get healed first. First comes the healing then comes the love.

My swimming is becoming better but I do alot of things wrong still. My swim coaches are working hard with me. OK I am their "special" project but that is what they get paid for. You know its always the bad student who gets to work with the hot teacher more than anyone else. Now you know why I always did well in school alot of male/ugly teachers.

my weight is back down to 291. Its been a fight but my range is going down which is good. Instead of my weight drifting back up to 297 it drifts to 293 now. I am getting there.

Work outs.

Saturday: lazy bum. did nothing. was going to walk to see my former high school when state semi finals but did do it. Wasing going to go swim at the gym and lift but did not do it. Did go to the party instead though. It was fun, but my dream woman was not there. Juli A said Julie B was asking about me. what a sweetheart. She misses me and is concerned for me. Julie B is probably the sweetest girl to me in Alpine. Lora is sweet but also kick my butt all the time since I need it.

Sunday: Lazy Bum. Only 1 hour swim drills, 1 hour weight lifting, :20 mins in the treadmill. I missed my 1 hour on the bike. I am so screwed for my HIM.

Monday: so far so good. 1 hour swim. :45 on the weights. Just need 1 hour the the bike and I am set.

This Just In

2006-11-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

On July 22, 2007 Todd become 1/2 of a man, An Ironman.

July 22, 2007, Todd will embark on this first Half Ironman Triathlon. Thanks to his running partner Lora, Todd realised he needs to settle down and focus on a great goal even if its not thee ulimate goal. Despite several people's encouraging comments Todd was able to not listen to them and could focus long enough to register for the half IM and not give into temptation to try to do a complete IM. Todd feels that by BCLC ramble he will be up to doing the century also and feel if he is able to complete each section of the race at that time that maybe he will reconsider but for now he will train for an IM but only do a half IM.

I am sick and I need help

2006-11-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

"Mark Twain once said, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." Iron Man lives!" - Iron man from the movie Iron man.

I do not know why I want to sign up for an IM so bad. I am not where in shape to do it. Yet I push myself and apart of me not only feels I can do it but that I need to do it. Telling myself not yet. ITs like running a 100k or 62 miles both have the same cutoff. Probably harder though.

Well yesterday I had a decent day

1 hour of swimming mostly drills.

45 mins of weights

1:15 mines on big trainer

Swimming I did alot of drills and frankly I think I know why my form is off. Weak shoulder muscles. I never bring my arms out as much as I should. maybe I am over reaching now but halfway through I wanted to see how fast I could do 1 lap. Normally first lap test is 1:30 and this time it was 1:15 after mins of drills. I am getting faster.

Weights was simple I tried to do every muscle group and I would ask myself what would Lora do. yep I had my very own personal virtual trainer it was great. I run with virtual Tom alot it does help to imgaine your best friend running next to you. I also added much needed reistance.

Biking. keep up between 80 - 90 candense. I was just so exhausted when I was done. I tried to do 1:30 hours but I just could not keep it up. The movie was Kundun.

Today is a rest day but with Lora gone tomorrow apart of me is thinking abouit just walking so maybe I will bike for 1:30 tonight and walk about 10 miles tomorrow. I figure it would be better for my knee which is greatly improved since I did not run on tuesday.

A whole new Iron me.

2006-11-16T06:11:00.000-08:00

Well The Ironman race sell out so fast its not even funny. Sad thing is they all start together except the pros get a slight head start but if you win and not a pro you do not get the money. no idea what would happen if someone from the open field at the Chicago marathon would come in number 1 clock time. If they did they have a chip time WR and may not get anything for it. Maybe no money, definately no WR, and an elite start next year for sure and probably to any marathon they want. In the Ironman though this has happened its sad really. At the same time though pros who do not win can not win A/G awards but still I think A/G people should be able to beat the pros.

Well I thought maybe I need to train like I was training for an Iron distance race. Train like I want to race 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking, and 26.2 miles running. Maybe then Lora will let me do it.

Today I screwed up I could not get up to go swimming this morning so I will have to do it after work. My form needs alot of work. Tonight I am going to swim and do weight lifting again. I doing the lifting because 1 am being good and muscles are not too sore and 2 need to do something at the gym for atleast 1:30 hours and I do not think I want to swim for that long. Hopely I will hit the bike when I get home. I want to get my training time for the week up to
840 mins maybe even more. The summer I lost alot of weight I was doing 700 atleast a week and eating like I do now. I would really like to get to 240 - 250 by march madness. My goal of 2:30 half marathon will finally be in my reach. Also means I will be down about 70 - 80 lbs from last years half marathon race. That in theory should bring me down to 2 hour half marathon time. the old :30 secs per half marathon for every lbs I think will have its limits though.

That summer I lost 30 lbs in 8 week then. I managed to keep it off until my first year of running.

2006-11-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

MAtrix revolution

Agent Smith : Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something? For more that your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Yes? No? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why do you persist?

Neo: Because I choose to.

That is one of the best lines I have every heard. It really does not make up for the fact that the marix series when from awesome to ok. Probably the best lines from the movie.

Ok Last night I was bad. Tuesday night run and no todd. How odd is that? Well I would not been able to eat dinner with them anyways and if I did I had to make it fast. This morning I was speeding off to Master swim class and I looked at the clock and it said 3:50. I am like how can this be. Turns out I set my clock time by an hour so my over sleeping some was good. today I left home at 4:40 and I got an extra 10 mins in the pool. The coach really helped me out alot. I guess they normally do not help people only give them workouts to do. If that is the case that is pretty cheap since everyone says join a master swim class and learn how to swim. I have a really good drill now that will help me.

Good news is that I did make lunch for this week so no more subways which I think will help my weight down. Also hope my dad finally freezes the cheesecake so I do not eat it. I am weak I know but atleast I know my weakness.

So Yesterday work outs
planed 1 hour swim about 1:10 run did nothing.

Today
1:10 swim and :45 weights.

Today not as good as yesterday

2006-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

"These are the best tops around. Last time, last year - not so good. But now, this is the *truth*!" - Dawn Campbell from "I heart huckabees"

This morning my goal was to wake up at 5:00 get out the door by 5:45 and go swimming for an hour. Guess what I failed in that mission. Yep after I got off the bike for 35 mins and I had to shower and waited for the laundry I guess I was tired and needed the sleep. Let's look at yesterday.

1 hour swimming
:45 mins weight lifting
:30 on the bike.

I wanted to start earlier but I had an interesting talk with my friend about my other friend. Frankly I realised I am trying to save a friendship which was long over. She tried to renew the friendship without wanting to put an effort into it. Frankly our hopes for her is gone. I look at a picture from her now and a picture from college and I realise they are not the same person. The person I was friends with and loved is gone. Replaced by a total stranger who I do not know, and I can not relate to. Everything used to be so deep and I felt closer to her than most anyone. now its all shallow and superficail issues. I guess that can be ok. I guess the problem when you have that kind of bond with someone its hard to become a casual hey how is the weather yeah I did x and y yesterday. Sure that is apart of any friendship but there are no more hopes,dreams,fears. I guess that is what I been trying to hang onto and its long gone and I do not like where it is now.

I feel closer to Lora now than her even though Lora and I pretty much only talk about running, weight lose, and women who are not good enough for me. But I enjoy the talk and so it works well. Once you go from telling someone all your secrets to hey I tell you really nothing I guess it does feel like a real disappointment.

Wow new day, New Blog

2006-11-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

Well I am in the new Blogger Beta. yeah me.

Well I do not care what Lora says I am the greatest man alive. I got to my swim class this morning. Yes she asked me to do drills I did not know. I woke up at 4:00 am. put my head on the pillow and woke up and it was 4:45. 4:45 was the very lasted I felt I could leave. Lucky for me I packed up the night before and I jumped in the car and took off. I got out of the house by 4:57 I am like crap 33 mins to drive there change and its 35 miles away. I am trying to speed as best as I could but at 5 am your kinda in cop central. I was getting close and I hit the road constration area. I usualyl do not speed but I did some today. It says photo enforced so I am hoping they do not enforce it at that time in the morning, or I hope I get lucky. I was still the slowest car on the road at that time. With hardly anyone on the road though your kinda of a sitting duck though. Needless to say I got there 5 mins late which is not bad. I am kinda behind the class anyways so she had me do some beginnner drills.

After that I got ready to do some lifting. On my way up I called a girl Lora and well it was not her. Sure it looked like her with her 6 pack abs and decent sized arms. So I lifted for about 45 mins. I did my legs and my upper body. I got into the legs because ashley simpson video came on the tv and I wanted a better view. What can I say I am a 7th heaven fan. I still kept it on the lighter side not pushing too hard since I am not used to it and my tri coach recommends about 95% of max. You want to be tired and just a little sore so you can still do your swimming, biking, and running which are the main sport.

Question will I bike tonight for an hour? not sure but the bike computer works now which is also exciting, and I really want to test it out.

Lora and me makes 3

2006-11-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

"You want to talk to me about my fat, sad brother?" - Brad Stand in I heart huckabees.

yesterday I felt so bad. My friend was yelling at me for not feeling better. Not sure if I feel better today but oh well. I over slept by almost an hour today. good news is traffic was light and I did not waste too much time so I got to work earlier than normal. I can get home at a decent time today. Yeah. I do not know if I want go home or go swimming. I should rest up for tomorrow so I can keep up with Lora the speed demon. Wow she is so fast. My next big goal is simple to be standing at the finish line looking at my watch and wait for Lora to cross. :). It might be about 4 years before that happens. I think I finally fixed my bike seat so it does not cause me problems. Yes I so wanted a computrainer last night. So jealous of those who have one.

Yesterday was my sister's birthday so I did lift for 30 mins so I could get home in time for the family dinner and then I hit the bike for 50 mins. I was so tired though but I got through it.

scale is not my friend

2006-11-09T07:04:00.001-08:00

I learnt today why weightlose has been hard for me. The scale. Yep it is my best friend/ worse enemy. Problem is really not the scale but how to handle it. YOu eat alot of bad food but your body is low on carbs so less water so your weight goes down but your Bodyfat goes up. So then eventyually the water weight is gone but your total fat may be higher. Plus its easy to fall off the wagon if the weight spikes.

Last night I went to the gym to swim and the pool was just packed so I figure ah screw it I will just go home. I stopped at the store and I saw something maybe I should have bought. Sometimes I wonder around just looking for something to jump at me. Get that feeling I should go there but do not know why. I was looking more to go with it because you get a deal with you buy more, but its nothing else with the deal I want but just the 1 item. I think maybe I should get it. Good reason to get it I think. Still got home in plenty of time for the bike. Well I could not get going on the bike until 9:25. takes awhile to set up so I biked for 35 mins but My acg heart rate on the bike was 125 - 130. garmin may not be able to measure distance but the heart rate part still works. I had a great workout and yes my weight was done over 1 lbs. hehe. you ahve to love water weight.

Well my candidate lost

2006-11-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

yep someone I voted for lost. Its so sad. What can I say he/she put up the good fight but in the end he/she lost. I will not call this person a loser since frankly they did not know they were even going to get a vote. Sorry Lora we fought the good fight.

Well last night I ran. I did not have good numbers since well it was mixed in with saturdays results but I think I was moving pretty good and I tried really hard to keep it up but unfornautely the really hilly parts were hurting my knee a little. My legs felt dead about mile 4. Tis the season to get faster. Run shorter but go faster so when Jan comes and marathon training starts I can train witha faster group. I need to probably start running with the 10s once Lora leaves me. Maybe start with 4 and build from there. Then again 8 miles would be better since well 2x the weight lose. oh well I am going to keep working on the weight lose. I was pretty good yesterday. no beer but I had some holloween candy and yes I through it away. that killed me since I could not sleep after such a sugar rush. The weight lose is still coming but its hard to tell with the water weight on top of it.

I voted Today

2006-11-07T06:41:00.001-08:00

"If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates." -
Howard Zinn

Today I voted for. Voted 2x for Lora. yep vote for Lora she has the goods. Other than that my votes were pretty straight forward. Actually I will not vote for people who I do not know. Its too easy to just guess and really we should not just guess because if we guess wrong we cancel out the person who did not guess at all.

I only voted for 5 races 2 of them I voted Lora annd other 3 I knew. 1 I know nothing about but have a sign for her on my lawn last years candiadate who I met recommended her so I decide to vote for her. For congress it was Bean or the guy who I knew nothing about at all. I get alot of emails from the GOP but none from him ironicly, but Bean done alot of things I disapprove of also. So that is still a toss up. I very much do not like US unpatriotic act. Government same way. I really do not know lady. I know nothing about her. I guess negative advertising does not appeal to me so all her ads about how bad he is just gives me no reason to vote for her. No wonder most people view voting as the lesser of 2 evils since well all we ever hear is how they are both so evil.

Well I saw the Nurse yesterday. She put her hands all over me and told me good news. I need to go out there and run. yep I have lack of running disease. I went more to catch something early but my fears were just fears and I was not getting sick atleast not from that. She does think I may be getting a viral disease though. It is not the start of Strep thoart and that is the main thing I figure better to go to he Dr now then to have to take a sick day later which I do not have. so its back to training. I tried to set up my bike computer but it did not work at all so I decided screw it and I am getting the cadense senor for the garmin and using the gramin to monitor my candense and time. If I get total pedal count + tire length will give me total distance travel. :). so sneaky I know but its really getting the minutes on the trainer I guess than a certain distance. They do not compare to outside anyways. Next year when I get my super fancy bike I am going to get the garmin edge 305 for it so its all good. Also with the garmin I will be able to monitor my heart rate. cals burnt and distance will not work but oh well.

I can not catch a break

2006-11-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

like the bears I can not change a break Well bears catch breaks but they just give it away on the next play. I hope they get there act together, just like me.

I ran 5 miles and walked 1 mile on staurday. my heart rate was way too high. It should be around 150- 154 for the ideal and it was up to 178. I have not had heartrate like that since my 5k. Our pace was quite good though 11 min mile for the ifrst 3 miles. I was trying to look impressive for Julie B who was out there. Its hard when your slow and struggling runner to impress someone who is slacking off. I know I have not ran in while so that does effect it and it faster than I normally ever go. Even before Lora left We were running 8 miles atleast at first at a 11:30 min pace. Lora is just getting too fast for me. oif course she also likes to draft off me which is just no fair consindering she does not need the help. I think though I laid to rest all Julie Bs claims that I am just there because I am in love with Lora and that Lora and I have no training issues ever. Maybe now she knows why Haight does not kill me because there is no reason to kill me.

I felt sick so I did not bike on saturday or go to my party. I am trying to get into the Doctor today. I may have tonislists. maybe I got it from the gym pool. Decided no more mr nice guy. too many people use the lap pool as a kind of gaint bathtube. there is one guy who likes to hang out in the lap pool in street clothes/ workout clothes. nothing like somsone who may be hot and sweety jumping into the water all dirty. Frankly the gym is $60 a month so he should not be that poor that he can not wear proper attaire. The sick feeling did not start until I left bagels.

So needless to say I did not do anything on sunday but watch the bears, play video games, and watch the Matrix. I forgot just how good that movie truly is. My friend does not like it because it has too many holes in it but my view is that it does a pretty decent job at explaining alot of things but he is right many things do not fit. Still I think it does an excellent job at protraying the world.

I am failing

2006-11-03T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well I some of my birthday weight but I have a few more lbs to go. I gained 5 lbs on my birthday and I have to get them off. opps. It was a pizza day on my birthday only pizza for lunch/dinner.

Last night I swam for 58:00 mins which is good since it was for 1 mile. I am getting faster. The good thing is that I swam first .5 miles in 29 mins so I need not lose time. infact I think I swam the second .5 miles faster than the first. I am getting the hang of swimming.

I was only on the bike trainer for 50 mins though. I will always stop at 10:00 pm so I did not quite get my 1 hour in. I am trying to work out 2 hours a day 5 days a week and 3 more on saturdays. Satuday should be easy though about 1:30 running then its jsut another 1:30 on the bike trainer and I am there. Actually I would like do do the evilant of a oly tri every saturday. If I want to do a HIM I have to be able to do the Oly well. Also hope to finally do a sub 2 hour spirit. by spirit though I mean around .456 - .5 mile swim, 12 - 15 mile bike, 5k run. problem with tris are no 2 races at the same distance tend to be the same distance. they are always kinda close or in the general area.

Why do birds?

2006-11-02T06:32:00.000-08:00

"Why don't I know things like this??" - Lora

Well now that I am officially old ok been old for awhile now but so many of life questions are answered.

I was talking to a girl about running and weight lose. Kathy P complained how it is too ahrd to train and lose weight. She is not the only person I heard this from and I am one of them. I talk to Kristen off BegginerTriathlete.com and she told me same thing as Coach Dave. each 1 g of protein for 1 gram of everfy carb and you will not be so hungary all the time. if you do that the birds will sing, grass will be green, and the sky blue. ok maybe not but you will lose weight easy and then you too can have everyone wanting to check you out like Lora has now. I kinda feel sorry for her must be hard having like everyman drooling over her constantly.

Well I was back on the right track. I got down to 291.8 I felt I could be below 290 by saturday. Yesterday was my birthday and for lunch and dinner well it was pizza. desert for my BD was of course cheese cake. lucky for me its a smaller one. so this morning my weght jump 5 lbs but alot of that of course is water weight. I ate way too much cheese cake. I tried to get on the bike but was talking to kristen and did not do it early since I was talking to my friend Tom after work. Plus I should of my pics of my races to my family and yes they were very bored. hehe now my sister knows how we feel when you see something like the staute of libery at every angle for 150 pics. I never talk to my friend Tom much anymore and he is kinda upset with me. So many things he wants me to do and I do not do them. Kinda like read this book and learn to run but I say no and struggle. oh well I guess until I see value in something it is hard for me to read. I see value in it but I do not see how reading the book will help. Yep I keep so many things from Lora. She does not even know half of what I am about. Its better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a really cool person to run with then to open your mouth and be thought a fool.

Worse bithday ever

2006-11-01T06:32:00.000-08:00

"Happy, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, and to you." - cracker

Well Yep today I officially become 30something. You really can not be 30something when you are 30. So when asked how old am I now I just say well 30something you know like 38, 39. Juli A thinks I am just saying that so my age is closer to Lora's age. nope not even close. As I told Juli Lora is my training partner. Beth straightened her out. you have to love Beth. I think its in the waiver when you sign up.

Last night I went out for a good 5 mile run. It was dark, cold but I did ended up getting into a runing constest with sawyer. I won. of course I am able to keep up with him at short distances and well when I was about to lose it I did the simple plan of just grapping onto him and slowing him down. I am not be fastest but I can stop pretty much any runner out there. Angie totally cheared me on. What a beautiful sweetheart. Yes I found out the cute girls name. Now I just need more info about her.

I am very sad today. My heart is broken. Looks like Julie B has a boyfriend and its not me. I guess from the sound of it is her and glenn are dating now and well I am sad. I like glenn. Now I must hate him. I emailed Juli A and hopely found out the truth that is jsut a nasty rumor, but they did leave together. Maybe there is still a chance. hehe Glenn bought me a beer last night so I think he is trying smooth things over.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T06:29:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday was a simple day. I may even swam a mile in record time but my first half was not or I lost count when I switched lanes. Aqua aeoribics were goiing to take my lane soon. So I switched and I did a few more but hopely I did enough. I felt I had good speed going though in the second half mile.

I got home ate had some food then hit the bike trainer for 45 mins. I wanted to do more but for sound reasons I will not bike after 10 pm and I should be sleeping by 10 anyways. Tonight is a nice easy rest night so its only 5 mile run for me. Hopely I can do it. I wish I had Lora on tuesdays but its ok. Nice to be able to run with someone. John used to come out but he been too busy with work. Maybe if I start to date cute tuesday night girl she will have to come out once to met her. She is never there on saturdays for some reason. I have to get my legs back into shape to run 8 miles. Thanks to beautiful Lisa for helping me get back into running. hopely the knee will completely heal in 2 weeks or so.

my weight is down back to 293. now as good at the 289 I was at for a about 1 week but the marathons really hurt me. Weight lose and marathoning do not mix.

So what is going on?

2006-10-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

Friday.

Simple told Lora I was back up to 298 lbs and she got a little freaked out. She recommended that I lift weight which I did. needless to say I still can not move my arms. So much pain. Only did Body body and the core. I was reminded of other things I should do.

Saturday.

I ran 4 miles with John and Lora. Haight was there which was really cool. I guess he ran/walked for 4 miles. I though I was going to do that also but I ended up running all but the last .15 mile so it was all good. I thought about going on but I did not do it. Latter that might I set up the old bike trainer and was on it for 1:10 mins. I watched "The Long Run". Great movie but I had to turn on subtitles with the trainer since alot of the dialog was hard to understand in the first place and the noise of the trainer did not help. Already thinking I should have gotten the fluid which I believe is quiter but I could be wrong. Now I would like to run the Conrades marathon. Its a little longer than a regular marathon. to be a Conrades qualifier you need to run a 5:00 marathon and finish conrades in 12:00. Conrades is a 90k and I guess a pretty tough point to point. They call it the most cruelling road race. Honestly I think badwater probably is more though.

Sunday.

Well Today I got to see my sweetheart Lisa. Dick Pond's had a post marathon injury clinic and NB was out there also. Just for the record Lisa > Lora. Told her what been going on with me. She showed me some streches for my tendious and says she will give me a good dr if it does not go away or atleast better in 2 weeks. Sounds like from her that I should be able to do the Chicago 50/50. She also warned me about lifting with my quads since you want them to be flexible and strength is not as important. I totally should have asked her out. She also asked me how Loraine was doing and I am like I do not know any Loraine but I told her that my friend Reen is going be back very soon and that Lora and I are counting the days.

After that I swam for .5 miles which was slower than I have been doing and very painful since my arms are sorer than my legs were after the marathon. I came home and on the way home I found out I missed the bears game and I was sad. My parents then came home from Wisconsin. I got my mat on saturday so I set it up in my room and when on the Bike trainer for about 45 mins. I would gone longer but it was 10 by the time I got off of it and that is ppretty late already. Being noisey I do not want to do it after 10. needless to say I like it and still go in over an hour for my work out. thinking for awhile now I am going to try to swim then bike everyday. swim a mile and then come home and bike about 15. heck if bump that up 10 miles and then run 6 miles I would do an Oly every day. ok I not oging to but I like the idea of almost doing a triathlete everyday. Maybe because I have nothing better to do at night when I get home from work then to cycle and watch tv.

2006-10-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

"Paradox

You will never achieve spiritual enlightenment.
The you that you think of as you is not you.
The you that thinks of you as you is not you.
There is no you, so who wishes to become enlightened?
Who is not enlightened?
Who will become enlightened?
Who will be enlightened?

Enlightenment is your destiny more certain than sunrise.
You cannot fail to achieve enlightenment.
Were you told otherwise?
Irresistible forces compel you. The universe insists.
It is not within your power to fail.

There is no path to enlightenment:
It lies in all directions at all times.
On the journey to enlightenment, you create and
destroy your own path with every step.
No one can follow another's path.
No one can step off the path.
No one can lead another.
No one can turn back.
No one can stop.

Enlightenment is closer than your skin,
more immediate than your next breath,
forever beyond your reach.

It need not be sought because it cannot be found.
It cannot be found because it cannot be lost.
It cannot be lost because it is
not other than that which seeks.

The paradox is that there is no paradox.
Is that not the damnedest thing?"

- Jed McKenna

thought I share of my favorite poems. What does mean in your dreams when haight and lora are selling to crap holes so you go there and checked them out and they really small not bad but small. Funny I think the one that was more haight was the worst since it had a bed built into kicken cabnets. that was the bedroom. crazy huh. Lora was pushing the other one and it was small but perfect size jsut for me. it was cheap and also close to the city which also means close to her but not close to work so I had to turn it down.

Also in my dream I watched baseball and Bob shram and Cindy Jo got married. atleast it looked like they did.

It was a fairly lucid dream which was nice too.

now what

2006-10-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

"I have 5 mins to spare. I do not know what to do with myself" - american president

ok marathon is over. I am hurting so I need to take time off. what do I do now with my life? even with some training but loswing it down will I have no idea what to do with all my free time I have now. It is driving me crazy.

As for the marathon thing I think time limits should be 8 hours at the most. honestly anything less and people will not take it seriously I beleive. I want to see people to do it but if they jsut wake up and decided to walk couple hours take a few off and repeat that for 10 - 14 hours is just not the same. you can have a charity walk or even do that on your own for fun but for a race its just too slow.

I still give the 370 guy credit because even at 8:30:00 I knew he had to work hard to get there. for me its more about the work than your race time that really matters.

When big guys Marathon

2006-10-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Well I learnt I am not the biggest guy to finsish a marathon but still may be the biggest to finisher at chicago. This guy I found on the course weights well currently about 72 lbs more than me. yes my weight this morning was up to 298.2 again. ONce my muscles are no longer sore and I am back working out that will go down again very fast. Its common that a person will gain several lbs shortly after a marathon. There is alot of water weight. My foot is getting better and hopely in couple weeks it will be fine. Still not going to do the 50/50. I also know that since my foot will keep me off my feet hopely for 2 weeks that my knee which was killing me on sunday is feeling great now and will be fully healed by then. The redness is way down and the pain is alot less with my foot.

looking up the guys picture above he did the honaloo marathon. Interesting thing about that marathon is that 1/3 of there finishers which is about 22,000 of them finish after 6 1/2 hours. It is a warmer marathon being about 70 degrees at mid day. My only greater than 6 1/2 hour marathon has been on an 86 degree day. Plus that marathon only had poweraid at half there stops which also with the heat was very very bad situtation for BOPs like myself. That is what really killed me and not my skills that day. The fact so many people finish after 6 1/2 hours makes me think. ok to be an Iron Man finisher its distance and time thing. You only get 17 hours to do it in. The time is a big part of if your an iron man finisher. How long do you get before being a marathon finish does not mean anything? 6 hours? 6 1/2? 7? 8? 10? 14?
Honolouloo had number over 14 hours. 7000 over 6.5 hours, 2000 over 8 hours, 300 over 10 hours with 10 over 14 hours. Cleveland marathon had 74 who took them 11 weeks. Should there be a line drawn and if so where? I been told that Marathons are suppose to have finish line open for a minuim of 8 hours really but there is nothing set really. Chicago wants people done in 6 - 6/5 hours but leave the line open for seems like 8 hours. so should one try to finish in 6 - 6.5 hours? since they keep the finish line open for 8 hours is that ok to finish at that time?

Can you tell I been talking about the 17 hour time limit for an IM finish?

Hell and Back.

2006-10-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

by Julibean262

Start of the Milwaukee Marathon. click to make it really viable.

I would repost the pic or Lora and myself but honestly people who read mine reads mine also.

I came I saw I did Chicago Marathon for the 3rd time. Miwaukee marathon was so much easier on my body in some ways. I was very tired, sore, and instead it being enjoyable after about mile 10 it was a long painful struggle. My knee was killing me. The drugs helped but wore off at mile 20. I also took some on the course and it was better but I need to take more but well I tried to throw up twice on the course. I was not able to do it since nothing to throw up. I thought more ibuprofen would not helped me at all since I did not know if I was able to keep it down. I was able to keep my cliff shot down but that was very hard. I walked lended over for awhile since well I thought I was about to lose it. I did not find any place that had blocs at the expo. Just too much stuff there. I will be posting alot of pics soon I think from the race and maybe expo. So many I think I will get a webshots account like Juli B has to post them on. So Many stories also and some well I have to see when pics come out. About mile 24 I was getting pain in my knee and a shooting pain from my foot too. It was hurting so many and well having to go up the hill on concrete was so hard on my foot. Being farther back as I was make it alot harder. A few water spots were closed when I got there. Lucky my sisters brought me water since well I would not had some for the last couple of miles. Lucky some were still open and I had a water bottle that my sisters gave me at China Town. The end of the race van passed me at like mile 18 and was telling me to get off the street and go to the sidewalk. I still finsihed the race with 8 mins to spare with the road reopenings. I guess though in China town where I got know water the road was open a few minutes after I got through but they went found lunch and got me some Bananas and Jewel. So maybe 10 - 15 minutes after I went through the road reopened. I knew if I had to go to the sidewalk that I would had to dropped out. going up that hill on the side walk was painful enough. It would be really too bad if I would have had to be so close and not make it.

My sister's wore there team Todd shirts but its was too cold to show them off.

Decided to make sure this is my last 6 hour marathon. I am going to get alot faster and so when I have to slow down I am not bringing in the rear so much. Either that or just not run it hurt. I muscle wise I feel alot better than I do after most but my foot sore is not good though.

Seatech Astronomy

2006-10-20T10:56:00.002-07:00

From movie sneakers

David Strathairn (Whistler): Fellas, Janek's little black box is on his desk between the pencil jar and the lamp.
Dan Aykroyd (Mother): Uh, Whistler, I hate to tell you this, but you're blind.

Yep. I myself have too many secrets. Its about time I let you all know one of my deep down secrets. Yes its true. I can no longer hide my love for this. espcially the last 2 mins of it. I just found this longer version.

I think in a past life I must been Irish. I love Irish folk music. Yeah marathon week can be pretty boring I spent like 40 mins in a hot tube last night. swam really slowly and easy about 1/4 a mile. Really did nothing all week. I been eating bad and just well not caring. Marathon day should be fun, and will be a good test for me.

Now you all know my deep dark secret. Shh just do not tell anyone.

October 17th

2006-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Did everyone have a good October 17th. I know I did. It was a very good day for me. Probably one of my best days. Atleast that I felt the best. My face is sore from all the laughing.

I did not get a chance to ride in my bike trainer but its probably for the best. The knee feels good. Last night I had a dream that on aol news my nutirousion coach was listed for like internet diet scams and that Chicago 50/50 was something I skhould do and it fun. hehe I really want to do the chicago 50/50. It would be so much fun.

Does the avg runner actaully lose weight or gain it during a marathon? Its an interesting question. If you over eat the night before by lets say 500 cals. you consume 20 cups of gateorade at 50 cals each that is 1000 cals. Maybe you over eat like 500 cals after the race you are looking over 1000 cals net lost where it is something you do on a normal good day. I guess it makes you second guess too much racing. Then again all of that allows you to enjoy yourself and get through the race happy and healthy and isn't that what the race is about.

Beth yelled at me last night. She complained that I stopped talking. We were talking somone came up to say something to her but I stop and allowed the other person to talk and Beth was upset because she never got to hear the end of my mindless chatter. What a sweeet woman.

Rubber Duckie

2006-10-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

"Quack, Quack, Quack" - Duck

Well last night at lifetime fitness I there was a group of ciroprators giving free spine tests. I filled out the questionaire. I did this after I swam. Well I been having back troubles since well I for a new bed. water bed to a really firm bed. Hmm wonder if I am not used to it. I have a sore neck because not only did I swim like 4 miles last week but friday and Monday I swam 1.2 miles. Nothing like a HIM swim. I would like to do a HIM so I figure its good to get the distance in. I may not compete in the chicago tri or atleast may not do it as an A race and try to do a HIM instead. Well when I swim I tend to favor that side giving it more of a work out and causing that side to be sore. So I also have a sore next and of course I could not do math so I was quite fatigued. I also had a weight control problem for a long time. So he had be go through these tests and was like you had back problems for some time because my weight is equal and that is spine must be off. my head is forward because well I am tired and I always looking down on the little people. my right neck is stronger but like I said I been using it more and I been working hard to work the other side because of my spine imbalance.

Well girl at work today said a friend of hers broken her back going to see one of them. Well interesting she was like I am republican and telling how the unions are ruining everything. Funny how unions which do not reall exsist anymore are ruining everything because corperate leaders are going to china for cheap labor. If our company could they would pay her next to nothing too if they could.

Thing I really learnt in this life is everything must be in balance and if something is not imbalance then it will not work as well as it could and should. In theory most everything is good but without a good balance the flaws show and become beginner. Reason I like Lora so much. She balances me and forces me to be a better person. I hope I do the same thing to her in turn.

Just For Today

2006-10-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Just for today, I will not worry
Just for today, I will not anger
Just for today, I will show love and respect for every living thing
Just for today, I will do my work honestly
Just for today, I will live in gratitude

Everyone who may read this blog. For rest of the day today and tomorrow remember these mottos. Do not be afraid to take an honest look at yourself and what you want from this world. Find Joy in all things. Life is a beautiful thing. May your lives be blessed.

Just for Today, I will see the beauty of Life.

Marathon Week

2006-10-16T06:52:00.003-07:00

because everyone sometimes needs a little taper.

Welcome to another edition of marathon week here on my blog. That is right its Oct which means Marathon season. If you ever wanted to do back to back marathons this is the weekend. There is Indy on Saturday and Chicago on Sunday. Its doable if you can do the distance that is. IT sounds rough but if you done a 50 miler then this should be easier

Lora is tapering but still dieting. I am going to carbo load and not going to taper. My view screw the taper. ok I will taper but Taper starts wednesday night. I will have like 3 - 4 days with nothing to do. Coach is going to kill me since well I am suppose to do 1:15 in the gym this week. I will not get my minutes/days in. He will call me a failure and a loser. I would challedge him to a marathon but he has too many muscles and he can not run even 5 ft. ok maybe not but still. No impact work out though. No running/walking this week only biking and swimming.

Speaking of working out. I did 1:15 on the bike trainer for the first time. IT was fun and cool. This morning my body fat % is down. Water is up and weight well I ate almost an entire tsaumusu I was saving for post marathon. needless to say I threw about 1/4 out but the weight was at 288.4 this morning. I was staring when I woke up and I am getting hungry again so its almost snack time already. Sure I do not have the best snacks yet I am trying to figure that all out but the weight is still coming off faster than a person on biggest loser. :). The week I pred at the marathon this year I ran 17 miles in 4 days within 3 days of the marathon and I still pred by alot.

3 - 4 - 2 is the marathon miles for the week but I am going to save my knee. IT feels great this week but Saturday was so bad I am not taking any chances. Maybe I will do 2 miles on thursday because I can but like I said its all aboput the healing. Lets face it I want to finish the marathon but its also important to get out there again with Lora and John. Also thinking about a massage this week too. If I do I need to do it earlier than latter.

Since I am so skinny now I decided to sign up with the 5:00 pace team.

Interesting fun fact I learnt on average a 160 man running marathon at 12:00 or 8:00 the 8:00 burns only 125 more cals over 26.2 miles.

1 8 oz cups of gaterade endurance will give you 50 cals also. I will drink abotu 1000 cals over a marathion but I will still burn an extra 4500 cals. so excited about marathon time.

Totally 80s

2006-10-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

"I didn't feel it but this time I feel and I can't deny the fact that you like me. You really like me!" Sally Field 1985 Oscar acceptance speech. (Best actress)

Do you remember the 80s?

Well That is where I am now. 289.4 lbs. Sure tomorrow I might be over 290 again but who knows. I drank alot saturday night. I was going to be a good boy and then I saw Stephanie at the party but she left early, and I will decided to go all out. Not bad but not good either about 4 drinks worth. Stephanie looked so cute and she seemed to actually wanted to talk to me unlike last couple of months it was like nothing. First thing out of her mouth was wow Todd you realy lost alot of weight. Ironicly I bought a bike trainer that day and I got to see newer Ron. I was excited to see him because I wanted to get his views on the trainer I bought. He figures next year I will be a speed demon on the bike. I have a need for speed. I will porbably bike with the BCLC once a month once I figure I can keep up with them. I hope he is right it would be cool to actually pass people on the bike, swim, and run on the tri or atleast not have them pass me up so much. I guess you have to be bad at swimming to be able to pass people on the bike if you do a mass start. My goal is not to be that bad :). MOP here I come. I think next year when I reach my goal weight I am going to try to be 1 above the middle time. Maybe not in every race but really to do quite well. Like around a 2 hour half marathon time. Already I have a 2:30 goal for Cary in mind. 30 - 40 lbs lighter and if I am healthy to run and to train I should make it easy.

I did 1:15 mins on my bike trainer. That is about how far I like to do. I would like to have swam first for an hour or basicly 1 mile. would be cool to burn about 2000 cals a day. but the beauty of tris is not avoid overuse injuries and exhuasted and not increase the chance of them.

I jsut made 8 meals worth of food. Wow that was quite a project but knowing I do not have to cook for almost 2 weeks is exciting also.

My knew weight lose plan mean I need to lose .5 lbs every day so if I can burn 1300 cals and eat 500 less I will do it. This week being marathon week I am going to take it easier though. Its hard to though. I always have big goals but my last marathon I did not taper at all for I found myself injuried for 2months and missed 2 races I wanted to do. I really wanted to do the bus trip marathon. next year I will do it and hopely next year haight will be there and will be able to run with me.

In trouble again

2006-10-13T06:11:00.001-07:00

Well bad news. weight went up. Should I say I finally bottomed out. no more water weight for me. now I really have to start working. Maybe its because last night is the first night I did not work out on since Sunday. TOmorrow I think I will walk 6 miles. its not great but its almost the same distance I need to for tomorrow.

what do wear for the marathon checklist
winter parka
ski mask
snowmoblie pants
snow shoes.

I hate the snow. go away.

I saw a foot type doctor last night at this foot store and she told me I need to spend $250 or my feet will go bad forever. interesting though your suppose to have orthinics to help correct feet problems caused alot by our shoes. so why not change the shoes?

to lift or not to lift that is the question. Do I want to be all skinny and look hot or do I want to be skinny and be able to run really far and really fast. choices choices.

I guess its better to be skinny and look hot since well it gets more girls. Girls are what its all about. You get more girls with a better body than you do with 30 mins faster marathon time. Of course with chicago marathon coming up I can not do much since well I have to make sure my muscles are in prime shape then. Its not really an A type race but It still requires alot of work. In other words its not an A but its a race you still have to respect.

Interesting my sister and I debated men/women friendships and dating. Men and women are friends to date without having to have sex. This is not true because well its silly. Women want to marry their friends. Also not true. Girls are into relationships and why marry a guy when you can get the milk for free. Also they worry about ruining the friendship which might been ruined anyways after one gets married. Its happened with me before. Last one is girls do not want to marry a goodlooking guy for fear they will cheat on you. Also I do not think that is true because 1 you have to be attracted to the guy to date him, and 2 I seen what happens when you gain weight. I used to gain weight and girl would leave me. lose it and she would come back.

In trouble again

2006-10-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

Dropping Fast

2006-10-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

My weight is dropping fast. By the time Lora comes out on a saturday again which is in 3 weeks I will probably be dead. I went from 298 on thursday and this morning I am at 292.2. Yep I am doing to be dead soon enough because I losing too much weight. I will admit I do not eat enough food in a day lately. Well its hard to eat that much of healthy food though. seriously 2500 cals of good food? its hard to do really. Its easy with crappy food but with good food it just seems to hard. Since well it seems like alot of food to cram down.

Good news is I can freeze my lunch. yep I can turn my lunch into a tv dinner which is really good since I would not have to eat out ever unless I forget it at home. I can make alot of them and save alot of time.

I walked 4 miles last night. no pain during it or after which is good. my knee is getting better slowly but surely. Chicago Marathon may screw it up againa little bit but hopely not. tonight I plan on swimming 1 mile again. I got to work later since I could not get up this monrning but gym is close to work so I can avoid the traffic.

Michelle is sad she does not get a chance to met Lora before she goes back to moscow. Well I mention Lora to Juli A and Michelle ask who is that. I tried to explain it to her and she jsut did not get it. Atleast until I told her its Haight's gf and then she knew. Juli A does not think I should spend so much money and feels I been doing well on my own. Maybe I have and I can but I have too many ups and downs constantly and so many times I fight to lose 10 lbs. I like to lose 50 lbs in 6 months and not 1 year.

swim,knee, and bodyfat

2006-10-10T06:17:00.001-07:00

ok. I am confused since coach says I can drop 39 lbs by Sno fun run. He wants me to lose 1.2 lbs a week so I am very confused how this is going to happen. Plus if I eat the calories he wants me to eat well I do not know if I can do it and be healthy at the same time. 2500 cals is alot even for me. I can eat more cal foods but they would be cals for the sake of them without any other benefit.

I have dropped 5 lbs alreadyt his week. I am sure I was retaining water but still.

Today I have double breakfests and double lunch. yeah me. All I need after that is doulbe dinner and I am golden.

Swimming well I jsut did .5 miles it was very hard since I was exhausted. but I did it and in pretty good time. Cute girls at the gym always bring the best out of me.

Well I like the idea of posting my pre marathoning picture if I fail but not sure what my goal should be. coach has me on 1.2 lbs a week but to reach the goal he mentions I need to drop about 3 lbs a week. 275 by sno fun run woutld be a little more than what coach wants from me. but I think it can be done. It will be my pre stephanie weight and be 50 lbs for the year which is not bad.

How to embarrass myself?

2006-10-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

I been listening to my new weight lose coach. One thing he recommends do something that would really embarrass yourself. I saw this done on Dateline I think and everyone lost the weight but 1 girl. It was showing themselves in a biniki before they did there weight lose. Question I have is what can I do? MAybe something to do with the Apline Runners. Since a big milestone comes about the time of the snow fun run can I put use that? Lora is good for kicking butt should I have her publiclly beat me down if I fail? Any ideas would be good.

Prune Hands

2006-10-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

My name is Todd and I suffer from prune hands. Yes prune hands suck. Yesterday I swam my first mile. As I may switch focuses from the 50 miler to the oly Triathlon I need to swim more. Plus swimming is much better for my knee right now. nice thing about swimming you can not get over use injuries but you can pull muscles. My upper body is so tired today if I swim again tonight it will only be 1/2 mile. I would really like to be able to get a mile in 30 mins which is my goal. Actually my goal for 1 mile is 38 minutes. Last night it took me 1:17:00 and the .9 which is the Oly length took me 1:07:00 which need to be down to 35:00 by august. I did the first 1/2 in 33 minutes which is probably my fastest 1/2 mile to date. Calorie lose wise I got credit for 6 miles which is exciting. I guess if I swim on saturday it will equal my 8 mile long run. After next paycheck I am getting a bike trainer also. I may not be able to run for awhile longer but when I come back I want to be faster than ever.

Good news is my knee feels very good today. So far today my pain is gone. Thank God for tris because instead of back on the weight lose train I would be back on the weight gain train I am sure.

Is Chicago/ Is not Chicago

2006-10-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

Nothing like Finishing Milwaukee to make me smile. :). Finishing a marathon is fun but 22 mile is better.

Last night I saw the man Cary Pinkowski. I did get a picture with him but I got home so late and I have Milwaukee pics of me now so I figured I would put them up first. He should the highlight dvd which was like the one they had 2005 for the see yourself in the race dvd but it was extended. I actually think I saw two people I have raced with in other races and what not in the DVD which is cool. One being the cute girl who ran the 50/50. But they show her kissing her man who also did the 50/50 last year. Also a girl I beleive I did a running workshop with.

Well Lora was right. I joined her club last night and my knee has not bothered me since. It did not hurt since I went swimming last night. It probbaly finally loosened up a muscle that is tired and tight from the marathon. Note to self. no matter how cute a girl is or how fast she can run do not walk 2 days after marathon., swim instead. Always swim.

Speaking of swimming I did 34 lenths or 929 yards. 32 lengths are basicly a half mile. I did it in like 40 mins and I seriously need to basicly double it in the same in. August will be here in no time. It was slow but it felt good to be out there and training again. ONly 1 tight area left on my body and that is my feet. Not sure why that always gets so tight but it does.

Chicago here I come.

Lora is such a pain

2006-10-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

Pain makes you beautiful. Lora is beautiful therefore Lora is pain. ok logically speaking Lora must have gone through alot of pain.

Well yesterday my knee hurt. It was hurting pretty bad actaully. This morning not so much but still bothering me some. funny though the area that hurts at times stops hurting and even though its the same knee it could be a different pain and that would be good. I am thinking I probably should finally see a DR about it. Maybe it jsut takles awhile but it seems not to have changed much. All I know is tonight I swim.

Weight has been going back up. I am up about 5-6 lbs since I got sick 1 week before the marathon. I am reading the book but I admit my diet has been poor lately. Plus last night was my dad's birthday celebration and we got a 10 lb cheese cake I think to celebrate. maybe it was 8 lbs anyways it was huge still 3/4 of it left. I so need to get back into eating better and stay away from quiznos. You can not get nultrional information from them so I really need to avoid them since I think they are trying to hide something.

The Good, The Bad, and the painful

2006-10-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well I walked last night. My friend Michelle from Russia bought me a hat from the world track championships that were in Moscow. That was so sweet of her. Later today I may edit the blog and add the pic of her and myself from Yogi's last night.

I walked about 2.67 and my knee was aching but not from the tendon directly so I figure maybe that is a good sign. Just general a post marathon ache and not tenditsis. Still icing the heck out of it and its getting better. In fact so many of my muscles are sore. I could not keep up with Pat when I walked with him for about 1.3 miles. He was just too fast for me. I am walking about a 22 min/mile pace now.

I asked PAt about the article about how marathoners are getting so slow. I have never seen Pat so angry about anything before. Funny because its not the elites that usually bitch but the elite wannabes.

I heard about a 50k and I wanted more details. Yep I want to do an ultra this weekend but I know since I can not even walk that would not be a good thing. marathon withdrawl is a hard thing to go through.

This just in

2006-10-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

We interrupt our regular blog for a special news flash.

Chicago Triathlon 2007 announced there very own version of the goofy challege. It is their new triple race. It included the super spriit on saturday which is not very far at all. The bike is 6 miles. Spirit distance on Sunday follow by Oly distance race. The Combined Sunday races almost give you a Half Iron man. You swim farther but your bike and run are shorter. They also made the Cydesdale groups smaller making it hard to win. no longer do they have the 30-39 and then 29 and under. now its 39 and under and 40 and up. Now still looking at last years time the 29 and under were alot slower than the 30 and up. I still feel if I work hard enough that I have a chance but the question is do I still train to compete or do I do the cool goofy like challege. there is no special finisher medal for the triple threat challege but you do get a special shirt. So cool race finisher or do I go for double medals and probably more glory?

OK more techical info now

2006-10-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

Well my garmin said I did 26.51. I know I took 1 curve a little wide. IT was about mile 14 and I wanted to give my knee a break. It was not hurting but I did not want to take any chances. I want to do well in Chicago, and of course finish chicago. My weekly millage been kinda bad this summer but I have something 2 marathons and 1 ultra so I think my overall fitness level is better but its taking longer to recover then I would like. First Marathon and Ultra I basicly PR. Marathin I pr'ed by 11 mins and the ultra was not an official pr but I did my first 50k in about 8:45 and this was a little less than 30.11 in 8 hours which is alot laster than the first 50k but not quite the same ditance.

Garmin % error was 1.18% which is still quite good. somehow my max speed it said was 57 miles per hour. You know what. I think I had it on on the high way so I turned it on and off again so I was doing that on the highway. hehe. glad I remember it. ok I will give garmin a 26.50 because of my little problem. So I figure only about 1.14% which is pretty good. I always compare the garmin at each mile marker to get a sense how far its off so I know how to better read it.

My Avg heart rate was 146. Which is about where I would like it to be. It was getting over 160 for the last couple of miles but that is getting a little high. 154 is where it should be for maxium cardio trainiing for me.

Tueday I am walking even though I was only going to swim. Michelle is going to be there so I figure I better be there also. I talked to her for 2:30 hours last night on the phone.

Chicago I am thining about the 5:45 pace group. 5:45 is a PR for me. Knee is getting slow close to being better now its not funny but still not there. If it still hurts with hard pressure after chicago marathon I may not do the 50/50 and just let myself heal unless of course Lora wants to do the 50/50.

Milwaukee Lakefront.

2006-10-02T06:35:00.001-07:00

Well I came I saw I ran 26.2 miles. OK I walked most of it but I hate the term when you run/walk or in this case walk/run a marathon people call you a walker. now I did get passed by a couple of ladies who were really steady walking, but those 2 ladies and the guy who beat me by like 20 seconds are the only people who passed me after about mile 6. I passed probably about 12 - 15 people myself, but all but 1 did not finish in 6:30:00 so we will never know how many people I really beat that day. Unless of course you count people who made it to mile 20 but did not get an official time. There were a handful but I did not sit around and count how many people I beat.

Juli A was sweet she came back and want to see if she could see me but had no idea I was on my final mile and missed by only 5 minutes. She called me later to see how I did. once again what a sweet heart. She also BQ for 3rd year in a row.

I have to thank virtual Lora. Yep I basicly created my own Lora in my mind who would yell at me if I went to do something stupid or to encourage me to be smart out there. Most anyone else would be like hey you can PR so why don't you push it and do it. Lora would never do that and I love for that. She cares about people, and I know she cares about me and my health. I do not care if I PR at Chicago and I do not think I will be able to run with Lora and if I did it might not be a smart idea because it would mean I start out too fast but still. When you are out there and know you can do 4 15 min miles and then 3 twenty min miles and you can finish is a good feeling. Funny I was hurt and did not know if my knee would ever take me out but I felt early I was going to finish. Even though I saw the sweep bus follow me on the side of the road alot. It was a very beautiful race though. Basicly running on alot of country roads. Reminds me of the Cary race alot. I would defintely do the race again. Tune in later for my techical race information.

Milwaukee Lakefront.

2006-10-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Tonight

2006-09-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

"Tonight, Tonight will not be just any night." - Song Tonight from West Side Story.

Well tonight lots to do. I have to go home and find my garmin. Yep I moved and now its lost. I guess that forces me to unpack my room. I got alot of stuff done when it comes to unpacking last night.

Tuesday it was cool because I could wear my chicago half marathon shirt from last year again. I felt bad wearing it because of my boycott and all. My goal for end of the year was to be able to wear my chicago marathon shirt but I do not know if that will happen now. Its ok I done really well this year. Well one weekend a month next year I should ride with the BCLC's singles ride. It will not only get me on the bike more but maybe met some nice girls. I need to get on the bike more. Maybe next paycheck I will go out and buy myself a bike trainer. There is a place close to work where you can have you and 7 other people all on a computrainer for fun riding in place but you know what. Do I really want to tempt myself like that.
April 14th next year I am going to the Chicago Bike show looking for a bike.

Tomorrow I get to sleep in and not have to worry about running or bagels or anything. I thought about just going to hang out but so many people either do 20, running chicago half, or doing milwaukee I bet no one will even be there. Then again you never know. Tomorrow I need to have garmin in the morning and get my butt to Milwaukee so I can pick up my stuff. Unlike everyone else I am going home that night. Maybe I should stay in a hotel closer to there if its cheap just so I do not have to drive all the way there in the morning. its 4:30 for me otherwise but then again is maybe saving 30 mins worth it?

My knee has no pain at all this. I also got a knee brace with a nice big hinge for the race. It says it should releive symtoms for my type of knee injury. I think I will wear that can carry my small brace with me for when the big one becaome so ingorning I have to take it off. So much to do and so little time to do it.

I am about 30 pages into the Paleo diet for atheletes. Its pretty interesting so far.

Now a word from our editor

2006-09-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Talk from last night at Yogis. No real details but this does pretain to everyone I talk to on the blogs.

http://www.slate.com/id/2149867/?GT1=8592

Ok read it first before reading the blog. Did you read it yet? no go and read it.

Ok Basicly people like me are ruining marathons for everyone. Yep little old me or big old me. I am too slow and I am destorying the sport. Honestly I think I am not destory it but making it bigger. I think he is not upset about slower people but upset that its becoming so big and that .5 millon people run a marathon a year. Honestly if Sunday goes well I will have done same amount of marathon's as the writer. Marathoning become apart of you and yes I do want to get faster and better. Maybe I have started too quick and done too much but I do it and that is my point.

I would say that if marathons dropped off or they worked hard to keep people like from doing them that many races will fall apart. People like me help keep the numbers up. When you finish chicago at like 5:45:00 you still have 3 to 4 thousand people behind you. Honestly you do not ahve 40k 3 hour runnners because the course would just be so jammed up. Maybe the streets of chicago are not the best place for slower runners because of traffic needing to be let through but it is an amasing experience. I do admit my friend struggle and he did not train for it. Plus the slowest finishers at chicago tend to start way up front and that bugs the heck out of me. I figure if your slow go to the back and deal with the more distance. I also do not like the people who carely can not make the cutoff and do not even try to make it. Those people do not have the right to be out there in my opinion. Its like the Mainre corp issue. I do not think anyone should be allowed to cut the course short nor do I think people should sign up for a race they honestly know they can not finish. I have no problem with unsure people going for it and trying it. 1 big reason I switch to the half at the game games because I did not think on that day I could finish the marathon in decent amount of time. They had a 6 hour time limit and I respected it. Milwaukee has a 6:30:00 so I will be out there for 6:30:00 but no longer. I will run if I ahve to get back on pass. If I can not makie it I will drop out. No sense injuring yourself over something as silly as a marathon.

The big city.

2006-09-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated." - Laverne and Shirley tv show title song

When I was a kid we would go to Milwaukee about once a year. It was very cool going into the big city. It was about 1 hour south of where we lived. It seemed like it took forever to get there. There were so many roads and the buildings were so tall. I get that same feeling even now when I go there. I guess parts of your childhood just never go away. The highway system there I think is more complex than Chicago. Milwaukee just has ramps over ramps over ramps. I have to drive through there on come Chrismas days and I worry about icey condistions on those interchanges. I wish I was in better condition for the marathon but hey I want to get wisconsin in even though honestly with Lake Genveva and ice age ultras the chances are I will do a marathon+ distance there very soon. ultras count towards your 50 states. Sunday will be about 6 weeks into my injury so I may very well be better by Chicago. I know I have reinjried it several times but only delays the healing. I have not gotten worse.

Last night I did Yoga for the first time in a long time. The new floor does help with it since being a wooden floor its much easier to get a grip on the floor vs carpeting. As for the idea of leaving the Alpine runners will I do not think I will do anything until atleast end of winter. Winter makes travel tough and less people to met. Nothing worse than making new friends who live 50 miles away that you can never see.

Marathon Week

2006-09-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

"Marathoning is like cutting yourself unexpectedly. You dip into the pain so gradually that the damage is done before you are aware of it. Unfortunately, when the awareness comes, it is excruciating."
- John Farrington, Australian marathoner

Welcome to another edition of marathon week. Unlike shark week on the discovery channel this is this years 3rd marathon week and have a couple more coming up.

Well last night I had a little freak out. I was watching my old videos from past marathons. I used to watch my first marathon video on days I did not want to train and it would get me to go out. Now I see teh video and I get so worried about the pain. Interesting not since the first marathon I do not think I have not had some pain going into the week before the marathon. Like last weekend I am going to take this week easy and ice alot. good news is my knee is not hurting to the touch but I can feel tightness in the muscle itself. Its getting better as well as my sickness. I just hope I am better by saturday. I need to be able to breathe otherwise sunday will be a long day.

For sunday my goals are simple. Finish at 6:28:00 and get 20 mile in hopely if I do have to drop. if I hurt too much I may drop out but I will try not too. I have never dropped out of a marathon and never dropped in a non loop course. only DNF 1 race and switch to the half mnidway through another. switching is not a DNF :). I knew I went out too fast and a 6 hour cut off time is hard for me. I like to go over. I will not even try to pr anymore this year. Now its just about finishing unless my knee is just feeling that good even then I do not think I will push it because well I do not want to injury myself last time I pred and did not train enough. Atleast my heart is string enough and I am lighter so that helps alot.

This week I am going to walk and take it easy once I feel up to it. Icing alot and streching is key.

Hate

2006-09-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Hate makes you powerful gives you focus." - Cancellor Palatine.

OK maytbe the quote was about angry and more cool things about it. I decided to let everyone know that I really hate Lora and not in love with her as people may thing.
Lets review. I want to beat in her every race we run together. I like to run with her because by running with someone you can make sure you maintain there level of edurance as well as know exactly where they are and there weaknesses. I bought the book "The Paleo Diet For Athletes: A Nutritional Formula For Peak Athletic Performance" because well Lora used it to lose weight and well I need to also if I am to beat her. I like to do the same types of races she does but I always do more of them. I alos sing to her while we run because well it keeps her from opening her chatterbox mouth and of course gives me a harder workout so when it comes to race time I will blow her away. I study every inch of her body so I can find any weakness I can exploit. Ok maybe I had a few more reasons I since forgotten. So now you all know the truth. So all these rumors can be finally be put to an end.

Me and Dean make 3

2006-09-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Lora is right. I am resting. Resting is crap btw. Its really overrated. Last night all I did was move stuff back into my room and watched the TV show House. I love that show. yeah House. I wish my doctor like that. Brash in my face, House would never see me but would fix me up. I still wonder why my Doc thought I have Asthema. yeah you have a chest cold or something worse but I will assume chest cold. Since you have said cold and have a hard time breathing I will assume it must be an Ashemic problem. I mean you would think about 20 - 30 miles of running a week + swimming and biking (rarely biking) would cause me to have breathing problems. ONly time I have trouble breathing while running is when I am at about 95% of maxium heart rate.

Interesting news if want I can run with Dean. That would be so cool. I may do it for a mile or 2 at the Chicago Marathon. He runs slightly faster than I can for a marathon or even a half marathon but it would be cool to run with him for lets say 1 mile or 2 :). The reason I say that makes 3 because I am sure Lora will want to run with Dean and then make him pay and beat him. Lora likes to beat people and that is why I never joined her in chicago. I would be jealous when she is beating other people and not me. :). jk she does not beat people that I know off except in races. I used to beat her and now she beats me. Well that is going to change but it may take some time.

I did get a piece of fan mail today. Now some of my stats are wrong but still makes me feel good. No idea who wrote that first part though, and I was hoping we decided to move to to A so you get 2nd for the 170 - 185. there is no adavantage to running with more weight. :). I do think unfortuately it is a guy and not some cute 50 year old lady. I guess only girls I remmeber there were the other 2 girls listed in the race results. Oh well it would be fun to have dated a girl and then go to Julie B and go yeah your just too young for me. Honestly Julie B is too young for my older woman fantasy as well as Lora or Juli A. Anyways here are the quotes

"BTW there is a guy from the Alpine runners that I ran with once. I weighed him in on Sunday. He was 293 pounds. Look at his time! He has run SIX marathons. Just knowing a guy that weighs a lot more then and has completed a marathon gives me great comfort. Now if he was 20 years older....
4 D-TODD M 30 LAKE ZURICH IL 0:31:32.0 78 / 44"

Ron Lawson replied with
"Not only has big Todd run six marathons, he thinks he's an ultra-marathoner and has run 50K's and 50 milers, also has his sights set on a 100 miler !
You can't deny his enthusiasm, in addition to the 293 pounds, he's also 6 foot 8 inches in girth ! A true CLYDESDALE !"

Wow they love me they really love me. Lawson is my Cyldesdale mentor and well wants me to become super skinny. when I am as skinny as Tom but have the muscles of a triathlete I will kill as a Clysdesdale D.

Back to work

2006-09-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

America what a country. I had to use my only sick day I had hopely and a vaction day also the only one I had. I am back to work but not by choice. I would have liked another day but oh well. It is what it is. I was running late. Sitting here at work for 5 minutes and you can hear 4 different being coughing but a storm. No wonder people always getting sick because hey we go to work sick and we are all trapped in these small rooms together. I have not been sick in 2 years. One reason is because during th height of cold and flu season I was unemployeed. heck I think I got more sick days a year as an intern that I do at this job. I only really get like maybe 3 this year. 4th I earn right on or right after the last day of year. 6 a year is missleading because you only get 1/4 a day every day check. ITs better than nothing.

Good news of all of this is it forces me to rest my knee. I am sure Lora does not mind hearing that news. Lora and I have several dates coming up. No that kind of dates. Running dates. come on still not kinda of date but date for races. Man some people. Only way I will be able to fully enjoy the races coming up is if I am healthy and well maybe something to slow Lora down. She has always been faster than me. I am working on changing that. :). No not by slower her down but speeding myself up. like Milwaukee I am going to take nice and slow but I can not take it too much slower. I like to be a 4 hour marathoner. better yet a 3:59:00. marathoner. :).

Other good news is I mostly have my room back. I get to finally move back into it minus I do not have a bed in that room so my pc might not be moved for awhile since well I want to be able to lay down and watch a movie and the wood floor does not help with that. But I can start doing Tai Chi or Yoga again. That would be helpful with my cold potentially. My friend suggests I do not do Yoga until I am better but that is more because of senis drainage issues. Tai Chi would good. Actually more thinking about Chi Gung which is better for me actually. needless to say while I am out from running I might as well work more on loosening up my body. Nothing worse than running Milwaukee and getting hurt again since well Chicago is the race I want to do again. It will be my 3rd year in a row.

When the the Doctor today

2006-09-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

I forgot the Dr. only costs me $15 now. It used to be like $90 + the cost of the day off. Man how sweet is life. Well Dr. says I have a virus going around. Also susspects that I have asthma, and I need do do something about my high blood pressure and my dad who smokes in the house but not around me and only a 1 room I rarely go into is causing my chest problems. I guess I should start to feel better by saturday or so. It could take up to next wednesday.

Needless to say I have to go back to work tomorrow since well I had to use a day of vaction today because I only had 1 sick day I could use. You can not go negative into sick days. No way I can be off for 1 week from work. If I am I probably be off perminately. Resting now while I can. Also sucks I have to move back into my room by saturday. I have no choice in that one either.

As for swimming I to wait until I am healthy again before I enter a pool otherwise I will just get everyone else sick. Pools suck that way.

Lora and I are doing the crazy ultra. It has been decided. I am not too concerned. It will be like march madness. That race can have a really warm day and other days they run it in a snow storm. Being in Kanasas Chance are it will be above 0 and that is a big mark. I do not thinnk I will every run below 0 again. It was -10 one day and I ran about 2 miles outside but it was just too cold for me.

One Alpiner jsut had a baby. She is excited because she should be able to still run Chicago Marathon if she wants too. She stopped running the last week of the pregnacy.

I been having fun watching movies this week though. I learnt alot also. Movies I watched are

Spanglish: It is possible to deeply love someone and not to be with them.

Stanford Wives: Robotic wives kick ass.

Signs: Even Mel Gibson can lose his faith.

Austin Power: Internal man of mystery: yeah baby

The days of Yore

2006-09-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

video from when life was easier and times were simpler. Life without Alpine Runners. Before Reen hurt herself. Maybe even before Lora started to run. A day when a 100 miler was just in the eyes of crazy Juli A. When a little race was going to be my first and probably my last race.

Sunday I was good and I followed a very special woman's advice. She told me I needed to run a 50k so I did and life could not be better. jk. I rested. In fact I rested so much I caught a cold. I stayed home from work and been in bed all day. In fact I could not even sit up for too long. This is not my first blog of the day but I jsut could not write anymore.

I do not think I will walk or run today but starting maybe tomorrow I can start to tretch and do Yoga again. My room is almost ready for me to start to move back in. Ateast the important things like teh pc desk and the tv. I will not be able to sleep in my room until saturday night when I get my new bed. If I can I will only walk for awhile maybe not run until milwuakee but walk to keep up my endurance. Saturday I may have over did it but I did feel good about it how I felt.

Alpine Bunch

2006-09-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

"All I ever hear is Lora. Lora, Lora, Lora" - Julie Bane

Today was fun and sad and just alright. It started at 5:00 am. Since I went to sleep at around midnight I did not get much sleep. I had fun with my charge coffee though. Mmm Mmm charge coffee. nothing like running with Coffee in your hand. Well I did 5 miles before everyone elese even got to the high school. I was having some foot and Ankle problems but I work on my form and that helped alot. I walk/ran the 5 miles. taking it easy.

I then ran with John until well either I did 13 more miles or my knee started to hurt. Well sure enough my knee started to hurt 3 miles into the run with John or my 8 over all. I then walking back when it occured to me that Pat, John C, Julie B, and shannon were going to be coming around the courner. So I ended up walking with Julie B for about 2 miles and then the others for another 2. That was nice. Ran into John again and my knee was hurting from the walking at mile 9 but was feeling good at mile 12. Pain while walking came and went about 3 times while walking so I stopped at 14.5 miles. 3.5 miles short of my goal. I figure better to miss miles than to miss the race. Plus I think Sunday I will go to some trails for atleast 10 miles of walking. That would be good. Yes I iced as soon as I walked into the house.

Good news at 14.5 miles I was not even tired so I am not too worried about Milwaukee that way but I am concerned about it when it comes to strain on my knee. My goal is to finish in 6:30:00

That is a 14:58 pace or with the clock time it is about 14:30. Its a little fast to walk even though I trained to walk my first marathon at a 13:45 pace. I may have to run some but not alot. If I keep my running down I should be ok. I do not want to DNF but I do not want to miss my chance. Espically now that I know Lisa will be there. ok Lisa is not my secret love but still she is cool. My secret love made me feel sad today since she does not love me back.

Talked to Dorn today and he was like Physco Wyco is not good for rookies and that 50/50 is perfect no extra training required. For once I agreed with Dorn. If only someone else would agree with me. I hope my knee is strong enough to do 50/50. It is 8 weeks away so it should be if I do not keep screwing it up.

Dream a little dream

2006-09-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Well frustrated by the lack of weight lose I am going to start to do something radical I have not done in a long long time. Basicly I am going to count my calories. yeah I do not want to do it but you got to do what you got to do.

Yesterday I was tired and I just walked for 3 miles. Honestly though I think my heart is too strong now that walking does me no good. For me ideal weight lose is around 124 hbm and I average 101. Looks like I need to run more. I did do some weight training on the way home. I carried anti freeze and 5 qts of oil home from wal amrt for a mile. I need to change out my oil this weekend and redo my anti freeze. Keep the car in good shape and I will get alot more use out of it. I think I need to work out more and eat less. Maybe I need to work out more and eat more but its hard to say. I hit a platue and I need to break it. I would love to be able to get into the 270s by chicago and 260s by 50/50. If I got into 260 by november then well I think competeing at 250+ chicago oly will be gone but honestly I think geting down to 225 would be worth it in the long run. enjoy the pun. :). I just need to be healthy and happy.

Change at the Alpine Races. do to the cold and the rain they are thinking about a cut off time for the Alpine Races. to be a circuit race like it will next year they need to keep it open I guess for 2:37. Beth asked me if I could make it in 2:45 and I told her I can do that now and I should be able too barring some unforseen issue. It is sweet of her to think of me and make sure I can run the race. IT really comes down to screwing a Alpine Running named Janet. She did the Race on sunday in 3:20:00 and did not even say thank you. Second to last palce person was in at 3:07:00. With the cold and the rain she kept everyone out there and they thought it was unfair. Really it is an issue that most people wait extra 30 - 40 mins to help 1 - 2 people. Being a BOP I do not know how I feel on this issue since well There was a time I jsut hoped to break 3:00:00 and I did Cary the first time not knowing if I would be able to finish in the time given. Heck I worry about Chicago Marathon that way. Milwuakee will be a real good test for me.

The Tale of 2 Julies

2006-09-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Last night it was interesting. It was 2x julie fun. Now I absolutely love both Julies. They are both great and wonderful people. I learnt they are a great team. Juli A will tell you so many wonderful things and dreams where Julie B will keep it real and warn you of what you are trying to do.

Juli A was recommening Ice Age 50 miler. She seem to have forgotten she recommended it too over something like the 50 miler with the chicago 50/50. Julie B was like I would not do it. 12 hours and she barely made it. Last year Mary Ann barely made it. Juli A said she would give me her belt buckle if she made it and I did not make it in the time limit. Juli A what a wonderful woman. Plus how many belt buckles to the same race do you need?

I told Juli A of my training plan and she really do not help too much but did give me some good advice. It was more that she liked some of my ideas and proved them than to give me new info. Beth would be better for this but I do not think Beth has done a 50 miler either. Beth though did suggest speed work since she thinks I am ready and I should be out running with the 9:30s so I can run with the 3 sisters. I am not quite ready for the sisters yet but I have thought about doing more speed type work during the week but only after I am healed.

I told Juli A about Lora's plan for the 50k. Julie B quickly came in and was like is Lora insane. She mentioned how it was her hardest race she ever ran including the ice age 50 miler and the ice age 100k. Dorn who she was dating at the time is like a 3 hour marahtoner and took him 6:23:24 to do it in. She had to pull herself up on tree, it was cold and the ground was all icey. She was like I should not do that one unless I am really prepares. Juli A was like can I go with you? I really want to do that one.

Julie B did think about alternate 50 milers for me one of them being sunmart or sunmark 50 miler. She thinks that one would be better. She may be right. I am not worried about the distance at ice age but the cut off. Plus Julie B was worried about me and winter training since the hardeest part of ice age is running alot in winter.

Julie B also looking all sweet and serious was like you really do like older women don't you. She was talking about Lora. What that I go and run a 50k with her? Well yeah since she is the only one who will really run with me. Lora is an incredible woman. So is Julie B and I do not have the guts to let her know that. She is quite the beauty.

So for now I will continue on my Ice Age 50 miler journey but I will head Julie Bs advice. In all honesty Julie B is sometimes too levelheaded and Juli A is too high in the clouds. Julie B really looks out for me to the point of maybe over protecting me where Juli A wants me to do amasing things perpahs too quickly. If I only had a 3rd Julie who was about 26 - 27 who was a beautiful as both Julies but was also the middle ground. That would be the perfect woman I think. Not to say I would trade in either Julie in for the world. I am lucky I have them on my side.

Swimming and Lora

2006-09-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

"You can hit your legs really hard, you can get very, very sore from training and I love that, but, the one I'd feel most on stage is legs. But, the thing that happens is once the adrenalin kicks in, that's the trigger." - Warren Cuccurullo of Duran Duran

Today I am sore from Sunday. I swam for a good 30+ minutes last night. Funny I was watching a young girl doing her laps and well she was doing all these weird things and make some big splashes. I am like does she know what she is doing or is this a case of being self trained like I was. Well when I finally got into the water I could see her from under the water and I was even more confused by what she was doing. She was so splashing and what not I thought maybe she had only 1 arm and had some other physical problems. She was going free style with only 1 arm and kicking like a dolphin. I still do not get it. I am a slow swimmer but I decide to see how I do matched up against her so when she was free syling I start out and see if I could beat her. She still beat me in 25 meters but not by much. I felt good about what my "coach" says and will keep it up. I will admit when I put in my 1/2 mile in I stop alot but when a cute girl enters the pool its hard not to keep going. There was a girl waiting and I was trying to stay in the pool until after she got in. Interesting thing about watching her after I got out and she took my lane was just how good her form was. She jsut glided through the water and made it all look so simple. I was impressed. My form is getting better but I need to drill more. I know like running drills are important but the least fun.

I also learnt the 1 key about swimming. That is do not ever weigh yourself when you first get out of the pool. Looks like your body absorbs water and your weight can really be up. I noticed this when I got out of the pool I weight over 300 lbs again. I got home and was down to 298. I felt so bad and depressed until I ate dinner watched some tv and weighed again and I was down to 294. I felt so much better. I just need to break the 289 ceiling. I swear getting into a new decade is tough. I always get close and then go back up.

Really good news is my knee feels alot better since I got the brace so I think I will be back running regularly again. This should kick my weight lose back into high and I may be able to run with Lora this weekend. I am sure she would like that. I know she is just using me for my body ( to help pace her) but I do not mind. Tonight and maybe thursday will be the real test. I want to take it slow but if I am going to do like 18 miles I need to speed it up a little more and make sure my knee can handle it.

Do you remember when?

2006-09-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

"We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail." - George W Bush 9/12/2001

Do you remember 9/11? I sure do. it was a hot day. Sweet beading down my face. I was really tired. I had all these horrible thoughts going through my head. All I knew is I had to press on and overcome this struggle that was laid before me. Today on the anniversary of first Alpine Races where I came in 2nd in the Half Marathon for the Clysdesdale D division. It was a hot 86 degree day and I could not keep hydrating. All I knew is I would probably place if I just finish so I pressed on. Those words really reflected 9/11/2005 for me.

I personlly do not like 9/11 as a date. Not because of 2001, but because of 2002,2003,2004,2005 and now 2006. I will admit at that time I was full of confusion, hatred and many other emotions. By next year I was over it and I had to really think about why such things happen. I remembered the tragty of Columbine and I really felt sorry for the 2 gunmen. I mean I remember being in high school and being the butt of so many jokes and laughter that honestly I felt there pain. It takes alot of pain and hate for a person to do such a horrible act. If you are going to give up your life willingly for something then you have to really beleive in it. The idea that we need to continue to hate and live in fear because it could happen again is real tradegy of the event. I do not mean to belittle the loss of family of 9/11 victems. The problem is angry and hatred do not solve the problem but only make it worse. If we want to prevent future events killing the people's family who did this would prevent this because there friends would be outraged by it and seek revenge on us. Jails do not solve crime they are only a quick solution on how to deal with crime after it happens. There really is no easy solution though since people are so imperfect. Its our imperfections that makes everything in life interesting and gives us all our drama but it also causes all our problems.

I beleive the Buddha said it right when he mentioned how people cause most of there own suffering needlessly. Even today as people remember that Half Marathon relive all the pain and suffering they had on that day, we really do not need it and it does us no good to do it. What is past is past and hopely we all we have left to remember the day is the hardware in which we won.

Alpine Races

2006-09-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

How cute is that. Yep Stephanie is an Offical Race Offical and Ron is helping her get her sign on. I guess a girl who loves to bike will bike than run. :). I wonder if that was the thing Pat needed to talk to Stephanie about.

How did I do? Well I got 4th in Cylasdale D

Pace max speed mph Calories Avg Heart Rate Max Heart Rate
Mile 1 9:25 8.9 312 171 182
Mile 2 10:16 6.8 317 178 184
Mile 3 10:46 7.3 301 176 184
Mile.14 1:03 9.5 54 183 191
Total 10:03 9.5 984 175 191

Total time 31:32. offical pace is 10:10 since its 3.1 miles.

It was cold and raining. I had a great pace and I am proud of it. Sad thing I am the only Cysdale or Athena that did not get an award. How frustrating you PR by like 7 mins and yet you only one who does not place. Oh well there is always next year. Once I drop 70 lbs I should I ok.

38:48 was my past pr so was 7:16 time off it.

How Ironic. I just learnt there were no 30 - 34 old who ran the race. In fact there were 2 but we both ran as Cyldesdale Ds. So if we were both in the A/G instead of 3, 4 we would have had 1,2. How crazy is that? Is it too late to switch to A/G?

I did Elicpical for about 16 mins but my legs where so tired. then I biked for 15 mins but it was hurting my knee so I stopped and swam for about 30 mins. I took it nice and easy no idea how far I went.

Trust

2006-09-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

There are alot of things we life we need to trust.

Trust that my dear sweet Reen will get better.

Trust that if I run 5k I will not screw myself up more. I think I will buy my first knee brace ever. That should fix the problem. Its very miniumal problem right now. Rarely hurts until I press down on it or ran the day before and even then its pretty minial. I think my next run after the 5k will be Milaukee marathon. You may be asking but Todd don't you need to train for Milwuakee. I will but I will walk. Its much easier on my knee but harder on the feet. Its ok. I have my nice cushioning shoes for my training. I decided running shoes is not the way to go while I am walking since well it hurts the feet since they are not made to be on your feet for so long. When I run my feet glide off the pavement.

Trust that Juli will get me through my 50 miler. She knows alot about Ultras and I can always get Beth's opipinions on the subject. I trust Beth with training issues also.

Real question though I used to fix pcs and printers for 4 years and yet people do not trust me that I know what is wrong with the printer. I do not get it. Software Engineers may be smart but they do not have the mechiancal experience I have.

Well I am also about halfway out of my room at home. I do not have to be completely out jsut mostly out. I have to get out by tonight.

Knees who needs them

2006-09-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

Why do I need the knees?

Well this morning my knee hurts again to the touch but its not bad. It does not hurt on stairs but I can feel it. I say its in a threating state right now. not sure if I should run or not. Its really hard to say. thinking maybe I will be good until sunday for the 5k but do I run the 5k? I am not sure. I have a shot of beating Ron since well he just had knee surgery. I could be good and volulineteer but then again if I can beat Ron I may get first in the 5k in the A/G and even beat someone to get it. :).

I heart running

2006-09-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

Today I walked run. I ran and walk and I walked every hill because I did not wwant to push it. Tomorrow morning will be the real test on my knee.

to give you an idea of how I did.

mile 1 15:31
mile 2 13:28
mile 3 11:56
mile 4 13:55
mile 5 13:47
mile .15 1:13 the .15 I avg 8:55 :) with a max speed of little less than a 6:00 min pace. I was running as hard as I could.

more details on how I feel tomorrow. I saw juli but she did not come to Yogi;s so I have to wait to find out my training scedule.

I heart Juli A

2006-09-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

"Motherfucking cocksucker motherfucking shit fucker what am I doing? What am I doing? I don't know what I'm doing. I'm doing the best that I can. I know that's all I can ask of myself. Is that good enough? Is my work doing any good? Is anybody paying attention? Is it hopeless to try and change things? The African guy is a sign, right? Because if he isn't, than nothing in this world makes any sense to me. I'm fucked! Maybe I should quit. Don't quit! Maybe I should just fucking quit. Don't fucking quit! I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to fucking do anymore! Fucker! Fuck shit!" - Albert Markovski from I heart huckabees

That quote from the movie is really something that I love. It really very much how I am like in my life. Many times I am lost looking for truth of the world and I just feel lost.

Why do I heart Juli A? Not only because she is beautiful and very sweet to me, but because she is helping me with "The Plan". The plan to run 50 miles. Thanks to my triathlon coach he says I need to really focus on my running up until Ice Age. That I should do some light recovery workouts with swimming and biking but use them to basicly move the body and not to use them to gain speed or distance in those areas. I agree with him and figure I will do most my biking this winter on a trainer so I can use it too avoid the really cold weather and snow. Now I just need to come up with a weekly millage plan. I will turn to a couple of 50ks I have between now and ice age 50 miler as well as hal higdeons training advice. Once I get it I will ask the approval of 1 Juli A. She has been one of the closest people to me in the running club for quite a time. I just love her for all she has done and has given me. She has supported me so much. This summer I been closer to her than to anyone. I have not ran with reallyanyone this summer but Johjn about once. I feel bad since she keeps wanting me to run with her but I keep turning her down. Good news is I think I am back and this wekend I am planning on running a 5k. If that goes well I will run about 13 more miles.

I heart Lora

2006-09-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

"Why are you guys wasting all of your time fighting each other? I mean, come on, seriously. Put the egos aside for a second, guys, please. Deal with the issues, okay. We have a deadly petroleum situation, not to mention -- SHUT UP! SHUT! -- Cystic Fibrosis, civil war in Africa, toxic fish. You have children in your own community who are going to prison. Father Flavin doesn't have the money to help them! Ma'am, listen to me!" - Tommy Corn from I heart huckabees

Yes there is politics in running. There are politics in every social setting. It is simple why. We are social creatures who have a need for a heirarchy. People are constantly fighting control of it. Now people can and will screw other people over, and do things other will not like. One of the biggest things I promise no matter what happens I will not allow the politics to get in the way of my runs and between me and my running partners.

The greatest problem we all have is the inability I think to see things from others perspectives. We all love to judge people and we do like to take the moral high ground and yet when faced with the same situation we may follow the same path others would condemn. Life is never black and white. I been told several things about Beth and Pat that frankly has upset me. Still I support Beth and PAt in there in enduverous and I still like them. Even though I guess they have done things to upset people at the same time I know they have done alot of good things also. We are all flawed people who make mistakes. We deal with the issues in our lives the best we can. One problem with being in a club is there is so much history we do not know and did not experience that to get an accrurate view of past events are impossible.

I will tell you one of my biggest pet peaves is hypocracy. We all do it and I know I have done it myself. Like my cousin who said English government is doing my in-laws wrong since they will not allow them to visit England from Packastain because of people who abused it and seeked assylum. Now my cousin wants to do the exact same thing. Maybe Packastain there are some big problems going on there but to complain how we do not want to abuse it and then 2 months later say they need to do it just bothers me. I do not want to see his inlaw to die I just want people to be honest with there attention instead of misleading people jsut to try to gain sympathy.

omg I new it

2006-08-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

I new Lora would once again pick the pass group over me. Sure I did not think I could keep up with her in a marathon because well look at her. She can really shake that money maker. I will stay with the marathon since well I need more marathons. I really like to do the half on monday or the half with Alpine but with m knee causing issues I rather heal and then do Milwaukee and then Chicago. For me its about the thrill of the marahton. I love to run with Lora and John at Chicago half and I would even try to be goofy for them but unless I do not think I can make milwuakee I will not do chicago half. Plus I am boycotting it because it took away Lora and Reen from me. Without Lora there reen never comes out either. :(.

I took thursday night off and I may swim tomorrow nigt. I would have done that tonight but I left my suit at home. So tired and my headhurts. I am going through alot of changes in my life Ithis is apart of it.

statue got me high

2006-08-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is weird. I feel funny like ha ha funny. Is it possible to have a White Castle high? Maybe I took too much Ibuprofen like 5 hours ago. Something is weird.

Also though this weekend I am being a good boy. I volenteered to help out at the Runner's high half marathon. I figured I go and watch people run anyways I might as well help out and get some stuff out of it. yeah helping. I may try to walk 16 miles this weekend. I can not run but I seem to have no problem walking and since like always I assume Lora is going to do 20.

You know its only like 5 weeks until I get to run with Lora again and yet it seems like it been forever. 12 weeks is way too long to train for a half marathon. Remind me never ever to do that. With my goals for next year I should be doing over a half marathon every weekend. I do not even know what Haight or Reen or even Lora looks like. I bet they do not even know what I look like anymore.

I can not wait to see Reen and Haight again. Haight better show up too. :). Its been too long. I ahve not seen Reen since I last saw Lora.

We need to talk to you about something

2006-08-31T06:09:00.000-07:00

Ok today the picture worked. no idea why it did not work yesterday

"We need to talk to you about something" - Parents/landlords

As a kid that phrase would always scare me and still scares me to this date. I guess I feel like something bad is going to happen. Just also scares me when I come home and my parents are sitting quitely on the couch together and then say we need to talk. I always expect I will homeless when they are done.

Well turns out my oldest sister is coming home to live. She is all excited that she might be able to move to Russia by Januarary. Either that or she will try to leave her job. They basicly replaced her a few months ago because she told them she will give them 2 months notice before she leaves. Needless to say I do not think she will be able to go. Real problem is there is no room for her in our house. She can be quite bossy and a control freak. Plus it means I have to move out of my room temperarory so my dad can redo the floor quick before she moves back in. This means I have to move everything out of it. Also I can not use that room as a store room. My Dad is talking garage sale time. I agree we should have one. Yes she will be trying to drive me out because I have the bigger room.

Lora was so sweet in her responce to my last blog but then I realised Lora is not sweet not the Lora I know and love. She is a slave driver that pushes you forward like some sort of slave driver.

Last night I dreamt of Lora and Reen. In my dream we 3 went to the movies. We saw some animated flick made for kids and enjoyable for adults. Also dreamted I woke up at 2 pm and missed work. I felt so bad.

yesterday work out what you really want to know about. .5 miles swim in 28 mins + I did 12 bonus lengths of the pool so I did a total of .67 miles. I need to get it up to .9 miles with a 34 mins swim. I did the total distance in about 40 mins. Let me tell you I wanted to do more but my arms were so tired. I still do not have good form but I been practcing. I also did 5.5 miles in 60 mins on the Elipical machine. It did really bad things to my knee but I took drugs and iced it and today its feel alot better and I mean alot. I think the instant ice after my works out really helpes it out alot. Tonight its about 13 miles on the bike. Its a nice and sweet group ride.

Ice Age 50 miler

2006-08-30T06:24:00.000-07:00

"Is ok lose to opponent, must not lose to fear" - Mr Myaigi

Sometimes titles say it all. First of all Haight is correct if there was a finisher medal for hopscotch I would be so there. :)

Picture is from my second tri. I look so natural on the bike don't I.

Looks like my new goal is Ice Age 50 miler. I am concerned about it being in may and not enough time to train but I think I will make it. Training will actually be easier this winter than last winter. Wait you may be asking how? why? who? hippo? Wait what was that? yep you guessed it hippo is the key. hot indoor practice pool operating or hippo. :). ok I making that up. Lora is concerned how can I train for a 50 miler and try to get super fast. Well my sweetheart crazy Juli A told me exactly how to do it. God I love that woman. I really feel she may be the perfect woman. The game plan is simple even a 5 year old can do it. first lose 40 lbs. ok the 5 year old would be dead after step 1. now while losing 40 lbs do 3 marathons and 1 ultra. December 10th after Las Vegas the key is to run as many 12 - 14 milers you can outside. Then when you are too cold switch to the (bike trainer/ biking) with clipless pedals and/or swim. This will increase cardio and really work well to prevent injury. also though while losing weight and gettting in those marahtons save money. Lots of them. going to need it for the $4,500 custome tri bike. ok maybe not that hardcore. but atleast a decent road bike with good aerobars. So after the 50 miler recovery in the pool only for atleast a week or 2. This will help loosen the body and prevent injury. Then after that work on speed with the endurance. really get my running speed up. remember tri is endurance sport and after running 50 miles and being total of 80 lbs lighter from the sno fun run I should be getting pretty fast there. Juli A is more than happy to help me out to train. I may have found my new Lora. Little younger, little blonder, and has legs that will just not quit. ok maybe I have not found a new Lora but she is more than happy to really help me out. What a sweetheart. So that is the plan. swim/bike/run and run 50 miles. Plus by running that 50 miles I may get to see a girl I liked a long time ago. Only concern is the 12 hour cutoff. so basicly I have to do 2 marathons back to back and in 6 hours. Once again alot of cross training is not only helpful but needed to prevent over use injuries.

My goal.

2006-08-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

"Gooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllll" - that soccer screamer guy

yesterday work out was pretty decent. swam .5 miles + 100 meters. I did the first .5 miles in 30 mins so I am getting faster. Now I just need to get up to .9 miles. I will get to why in a second. After that I went on the ellicpicatal machine for 2.5 miles at about 11 min pace so that was decent but not decent enough. explain in a minute.

now what do I need to explain? simple I have 2 race goals for next year. They are simple and sweet but maybe they will work against each other but maybe not.

start with the biggest goal. 50 miler. I am sick of being that near 300 lbs 50ker. I want people to talk about distance to do 50 miles and not 50 ks. miles > ks. Now that is a good goal especially if I can drop 20 or so more lbs this year. The trianing for the 50 will help with the rest.

Goal number 2: Olympic distance Triathlon in about 2:58:00. This is my goal for the chicago triathlon. This time will give me 1st place in the 30-39/250+ division. I doubt I will get into the 225 - 249 division by next year but you never know. If I am close I will try to gain some quick weight to make sure I make it. I am going to go for an AG award. That will porbbaly be harder to do that the 50 miler but not as impressive.

Goal 3: if I still weight 250+ in june and they still have 250+ at steamboat in peoria I would like to win that 15k. That would be pretty sweet.

Goal 4: by end of next year to be about 230 lbs. actual weight will be decided when I get there. no point in deciding now.

I do think my olympic training will help aout of with 50 miler since if I train at the equlvelent of 40 miles - 50 miles a week running for many weeks I should be in good enough shape. Triathloning in an insteresting sport because its the only sport were training beyond the race distance is practical except for maybe the iron man distance. I think if you are going to do an iron man maybe you should ride 100 miles after you do a marathon. or atleast 50. :).

Fear

2006-08-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

"Fear. Fear attracts the fearful. The strong. The weak. The innocent. The corrupt. Fear. Fear is my ally." - Darth Maul

Ok I am scared of the bike. Bike hurts me and no matter what I do I can not hurt it. It mocks me, laughs at me.

Satudayday. Well I walked alot. my knee is good good enough yet to run so I walked. Last few week before marathon I am really going to struggle. Good news is that my knee only feel bad and does not hurt well going up or down stairs. You know in life its alway the little things. I walked about 11 miles. 6 saturday morning and 5 in the afternoon. I did my walking down town. That was pretty cool. I went to the Everybody loves you when your tri expo. It was funny seeing the Running Unlimited people there. They had a big area too. I saw a custom bike builder who will build my custom tri bike for only $4500. I am like Sold :). I am a big time working man now I can spend more on a bike that I am scared of then my car. I got a couple of autographs from pros and a semi pro even remembered who I was. Maybe it was because 1 week early I asked her a stupid question. Well I think she was being silly about it. If you are going to probably win the race and get paid why carry a spare because if the tire goes you lost. At that kind of level finishing is not that big of a deal. Does Evans Ruto go hey I finished the chicago marathon or does he go hey I won the chicago marathon? I doubt if he ever brags about finishing it.

Sunday. Well I decided to bike a long ride. I biked 16 miles on this nice bike trail. I would have done more but I am scared of the clipless pedals and the road the path when over was out and
I did not feel like going around. I would have walked my bike because like I said I am scared of sharp turns and clipless pedals now. I fell do to a sharp turn. knowing that Lora is out there doing back to back 20 milers or atleast that is what I have in the back of my head everyday I knew I needed to do more. I then swam .5 miles in about 33 mins. I am definetely getting faster. Then I went on the Elicalle machine for a 5k finishing a sort of spirit triathlon for the day. IT still not the same as Lora's 20 miles for the day but I will train even harder today since I am sure Lora is doing 20 miles.

Everytime I see you failling

2006-08-25T06:16:00.000-07:00

"Every time I see you fallingI get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say" - "Bizarre Love Triangle" New Order

One song I just absolutely love. Nothing like a little "Bizarre Love Triangle" to start your day.

Funny. I am looking to dump my aol account finally. I had it so long its like my life line to old friends. its gotten to the point though that when it goes I will not lose anyone too important to me. Even dumping aim might be a nice thing to do since having so many online chat windows comes hard. So I looked at some saved email I got from my ex Stephanie 1 year ago. It was amasing all the stuff we talked about and even who in the running club we talked about. Those were the days when it was all about one girl and one girl only. Do you know who she is? any guesses? I doubt you will get it right. Maybe you would since I still think she is somekind of wonderful but I just do not know our relationship is weird. for a couple of days we emailed each other like every 5 minutes but she will not talk to me too much at bagels. I really do not get it. Kinda like I do not like you but I think your a great guy Syndrome.

The big news is I missed the beer run. :(. I missed beer and cool people and for what? well hung with Pat harmon and Stephanie. Stephanie is cool but talk about someone who just avoids me like the plague. Oh well. She is cute but she is not worth killing myself about. Since I missed the run I biked alone which I put myself in a position I needed to make a sharp turn around and well you guessed it. I lost my failling virginity. Man falling really hurts. I am worried I broke something. I can not grab things with my left hand because it hurts so much. Lucky I did not fall on the elbow but I fell just on front of it. Lets just say my 2 day of long bike riding might be out of the question now since well I am bike shy. Riding after the fall was one of the hardest things for me to do. Good thing I did not buy that new bike I was looking at.

Sometimes in life you just have to let things go.

2006-08-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life you have to just let things go. I am realizing that this morning as I think about tri'ing in sept 9th. Well its going to be a tough course. Bob things I could do an Oly by then since well spirit distance is almost an Oly already. difference is .4 miles swimming 8 miles biking and 3.1 miles running. Then again the lake is going to be cold and I have no wet suit. The course is going to be hilly and I have a heavy hybrid. Maybe my knee will not be better for the run and I will reinjury it. It has gotten alot better but I am worried about saturday if I should push it or not. I can always cycle but 2 days of biking might not be so fun. I need to find some place by my house I can bike safely ie few stops. I do not know I will figure something out. Maybe I should follow Juli's idea and run on the trails by my house. They are only 3 miles so its not very good for bike riding but perfect for running. I will have to think about that also. less pounding is less pounding.

Talked to Juli about Mcnaughton. She told me they give you 36 hours to finish it because you need 36 hours to finish the 50 miles. You need to practice downhills. Most of the time you have to grab onto trees to help you go down because downhills are so steep. Plus you have to run through water so you need several shoes because otherwise its blister city. Plus she mentioned that I would need to do a 37 miler about 3 weeks out if I wanted to try it. Maybe I will have to let this race go and just let Lora do it on her own. Not that she asked me to go with her but I worry she is thinking too big too fast too soon. Then again I am already figuring for a Half Iron Man next year.