Quick update tonight, since I'm getting up early tomorrow to travel. I just wanted to share some great websites for information on and tools to help with running.
I'm definitely getting ahead of myself here, but I'm really looking forward to training for runs. I'll probably regret saying that when I actually start training, because my legs will probably feel like they are going to fall off after my first couple runs. But it's kind of cool to think about running, simply because I've never been a runner. It's sort of like learning a new skill or trade, or beginning college (or law school, in my case). It's a little scary to think about, but it's kind of exciting to be learning new things. Anyways, on to the websites...you runners out there probably already know of these places, so feel free to skip today's blogisode.
Hal Higdon is a legendary Runner's World magazine writer who has a ton of books about running and provides a bunch of training programs and information. His site is LOADED with extremely valuable advice. I will absolutely visit this site on a regular basis when I'm ready to train. But I now have a difficult question to answer: follow Hal's 5K training program or Cool Running's Couch-to-5K program? Anyone have any suggestions or have personal experience with either?
Map My Run allows you to plan your running routes in advance, so you can determine how long a route is and whether there is any elevation in your run. You can also view runs set by others (there are over 3.5 million runs), log your training, and even create leaderboards. It is so great to know that a helpful website like this exists, because it gives me greater confidence to get out and run in the neighborhood. I was wondering recently, "How do I know where to run around here?" This site is the solution. Looks like they have a cool iPhone app, too.
I'm sure I will discover more resources as I get closer to training. For now, it's fun just reading all of the articles on these sites and playing around with the cool tools. I'm getting psyched!
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Summer Is Here
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, everyone is in a wonderful mood...sounds like the perfect day, right? Good day to be outside and do some sort of activity.
But for fat guys like me, hot and humid days like these can be a killer. I take two steps outside, and my shirt already needs changing thanks to everyone's favorite bodily fluid, sweat. I feel ridiculously sluggish, and I actually dread engaging in any form of activity, outside or inside. It's just one of those days when I stand outside for five minutes, and I'm soaking. Not a fun time. It's a little demoralizing because I want to engage in some outdoorsy activities, but I just hate feeling gross.
Part of me thinks that I gotta suck it up and deal with it. When I'm ready to start running on a regular basis, I can't really make those excuses anymore. On race day, you gotta run regardless of whether it is hot, cold, raining, or snowing. The more often I can deal with adverse conditions, the better prepared I'll be in the future. I'd be whining a lot less, that's for sure. No one wants to listen to a whiny fat guy.
I guess we'll see how the rest of the summer goes. Perhaps I'll try to get out and do some kind of activity whenever it gets hot again. Today, it's just gonna be a lazy Saturday (besides the usual Wii workout). Don't tell anyone.
But for fat guys like me, hot and humid days like these can be a killer. I take two steps outside, and my shirt already needs changing thanks to everyone's favorite bodily fluid, sweat. I feel ridiculously sluggish, and I actually dread engaging in any form of activity, outside or inside. It's just one of those days when I stand outside for five minutes, and I'm soaking. Not a fun time. It's a little demoralizing because I want to engage in some outdoorsy activities, but I just hate feeling gross.
Part of me thinks that I gotta suck it up and deal with it. When I'm ready to start running on a regular basis, I can't really make those excuses anymore. On race day, you gotta run regardless of whether it is hot, cold, raining, or snowing. The more often I can deal with adverse conditions, the better prepared I'll be in the future. I'd be whining a lot less, that's for sure. No one wants to listen to a whiny fat guy.
I guess we'll see how the rest of the summer goes. Perhaps I'll try to get out and do some kind of activity whenever it gets hot again. Today, it's just gonna be a lazy Saturday (besides the usual Wii workout). Don't tell anyone.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Weigh-In Day #1: That Was a Close Call
In the words of the immortal Johnny Drama...Victory!
I was a little nervous about this morning's weigh-in, because I did a stupid thing and checked my weight last night. Whoo boy, that was not good. It was basically the same weight as last week. I was flabbergasted...I ate under my points target the entire week, I worked out 6 out of 7 days, and I didn't lose?
But this is why I need to weigh myself at the same time every week. The morning came, and all was right in the world...I was down 3.9 lbs. to be at a weight of 301.3 lbs. Good thing too...I probably would have gathered all the fat people in the world and started an uprising against God to demand an answer to why I didn't lose any weight. I'm glad it didn't come to that.
I had a little mini-celebration by going to the British Beer Company for dinner with the wifey. I ate less than I normally do there, but it was a lot compared to my dinners over the past couple weeks, and I felt so full that my stomach almost went Boom Boom Pow. It's OK though...I needed some sort of mini-reward. Besides, I basically ate a cardboard sandwich for lunch.
My friend Rich sent me a great link to the Couch-to-5K Running Plan at the Cool Running website. This is exactly the plan that I'm going to follow once I'm ready to run on a regular basis. Cool Running has lots of other great articles and a gigantic amount of race listings, so I'm sure I'll be checking there regularly in the future.
Onward to Weigh-In Day #2...hopefully next week, my weight scale and I will hug it out.
I was a little nervous about this morning's weigh-in, because I did a stupid thing and checked my weight last night. Whoo boy, that was not good. It was basically the same weight as last week. I was flabbergasted...I ate under my points target the entire week, I worked out 6 out of 7 days, and I didn't lose?
But this is why I need to weigh myself at the same time every week. The morning came, and all was right in the world...I was down 3.9 lbs. to be at a weight of 301.3 lbs. Good thing too...I probably would have gathered all the fat people in the world and started an uprising against God to demand an answer to why I didn't lose any weight. I'm glad it didn't come to that.
I had a little mini-celebration by going to the British Beer Company for dinner with the wifey. I ate less than I normally do there, but it was a lot compared to my dinners over the past couple weeks, and I felt so full that my stomach almost went Boom Boom Pow. It's OK though...I needed some sort of mini-reward. Besides, I basically ate a cardboard sandwich for lunch.
My friend Rich sent me a great link to the Couch-to-5K Running Plan at the Cool Running website. This is exactly the plan that I'm going to follow once I'm ready to run on a regular basis. Cool Running has lots of other great articles and a gigantic amount of race listings, so I'm sure I'll be checking there regularly in the future.
Onward to Weigh-In Day #2...hopefully next week, my weight scale and I will hug it out.
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