Mystery Couch Potato to Fit Challenger!

A person I knowis throwing down a gauntlet in his life.  I'm quoting him.  "but I feel like a fat old guy... and I am only 33!"

Q: Why are you taking up running?

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  I would love to play beginners hockey  ...but I'm too fat
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  I would love to own a bike and ride     ...but I'm too fat

These are the things he thinks about when he looks at getting active.  His limitations.  Even more serious are some health issues that have  him concerned, including some concerning high blood pressure.  Left unchecked with no changes, they can lead to crisis, which he has family history of.  He describes his new found fear of pushing himself too hard too soon for fear that his heart wont take it.  He is in his early 30's.

 

Q: Are you following any plan?  I have a great plan for those who would like to get going  without the newbie fizzle burnout.

No, no plan other than to run everyday, taking breaks when I feel I need to. 

So some changes are in order.  This mystery man declared to me the other day that he started running.  He has run on and off previously, but this is more than shedding a few pounds.  His goal is to get to 175 lbs.  He is currently 215 lbs. 

Can he do this?  Can he make the commitment?  Can he sweat his way to leaner life for living sake? 

YES HE CAN!!! 

Change takes getting out there, being patient, and finding joy in the process as you transform.  With God's help and strength he gave us, we can accomplish anything.

We will be following this Mystery Challenger as he progresses to his new transformation for sure.  I am impressed that he has already taken steps towards a healthier self.  Way to go!

Note about making changes:

My father is an inspiration to me.  He bought himself almost another decade of life due to the changes he made, he gave my eldest two children memories with grandpa they will forever remember because he didnt let up, he got out there, he asked God for help to transform his body from helpless to hopeful. 

When health problems arise due to inactivity and unhealthfully coping with stress, its time to wake up.  Its time to make those changes and realize you need to grow, to be committed to living actively and to teaching through example. 

I see my mystery couch potato - turned active runner as at these crossroads, and choosing life! 

WAY TO FACE IT !

Here is a simple plan that lasts 10 weeks and eases you into running, and if you are like me, makes you slow down and develop what you unlitmately need: PATIENCE!!! 

Your 10-Week Training Plan (As taken from runnersworld.com)

ITB Sore Hip

I have a very sore  left hip.  I am using my learned stretches and its the ITB stretches that cause the most discomfort.  The figure four and the standing hip jut seems to hit it right where its sore.  It hasnt affected my running as of yet, but i need to keep on top of this soreness.  It is very annoying because I am doing what I know is right but still have just the sorest hip.  My long runs are probably the culprit, but I don't want to give them up, so I wont.  Ill just keep stretching, and probably icing would help a lot.  But I am a bit lazy when it comes to icing.  I don't like doing it.  My foam roller is still in storage too, which I know will help.  I am pushing my long runs today to 26 km, too.  So we will see.  I will have an ice bath (or close to it) tonite after my long run.

GOOD MORNING...er... EVENING !

I had a funnyexperience last night.  I went for a 10 k run and the most hilarious thing kept happening to me.  I set out on a vigorous run, only to realize it had been THAT long since the last time I had run in the evening.  I was not even off my street when  I had greeted someone with a big "MORNING!".  It was 6 pm. 

I did this about five times during my run.  I just automatically said good morning to everyone around me.  I felt stupid saying it and corrected myslf the first two times, but by the third, I just started laughing at my stupidity and let people think what they would about my unusual greeting.  Maybe this was morning for many people in the world, like Australia, or a night shift person!  Am I that much a creature of habit, though!?

This has gotten me to thinking.  When I first began running, I read up on RunnersWorld.com about greeting others and the dilemma it causes many.  I really related to how vexing it was whether to greet others on a run.  First, it was a very private time for me in a way.  I really did not feel like interacting with people.  I was feeling winded, probably looked stressed, and was not in the mood to be social as I was in the middle of a kind of suffering.  Who wants to say hello when you can hardly wait for the run to be finished???  Also, I know in starting out, I was very self conscious.  I was not in shape, and felt like I was one of "those" guys trying and looking quite out of his element, the strenuousness of the sport was in my face and I felt like noone should be witness to that kind of discomfort.  Noone should hear me breathing hard, so I would even quiet down my sounds of out-of-breath-ness"  as I passed them.

But over time, something changed in me.  I became not less self-conscious, but more confident in my being out there, on the run.  I became a full fledged runner.  I was no doubt less winded and embracing the sweat.  Not so much concerned about my loud breathing but able more to be in my personal space amongst other people.  I was also really starting to enjoy myself!  As this started to happen, my hellos became more pronounced, my non verbals more friendly and obvious, and I had startled enough people out on their walks to realize that I needed to warn them of my approach so as not to have to say OOPS SORRY TO STARTLE YOU over my head phones over and over.  I started to own my runs, to claim them as mine and I realized I belonged out there, out of breath, life was made to live out of breath at times and I was going to suck up all the oxygen I  could.  I will exhaust myself because I can and life is too short to live it timidly and self-consciously.  Also, I realize that in my talks with those in my life, that when you embrace something passionately  that you become an embassador of sorts. 

Nowadays I give the peace sign to many other runners/cyclists, hellos to the elderly as they walk, and to many of those Ill say "morning!"  To too many, perhaps I'll say it even to them even when morning has no bearing on the current time of day.  My perogative, I suppose!  MORNING!!!!

My New Challenge - The daily run

Daily MileHas messed with my head.  That total for the week looms over me, and I feel a yearning to get out more and more often to build this up. Last week I only logged 25 km.  On top of that, I have thrown down a gauntlet for myself to be able to run around Skaha Lake which apparently is about 30 km long.  So far my two hour run covers 24 km, but its been a couple of weeks since I have attempted this length due to moving and renos.  I miss that.  This morning i could have gotten up for a fast 5km, but i was weary from renos, but no more!  I will see how this can go in the next while and try to do it even if its not long ones.  ithink I will try 10 k, 5 k alternating and then a longer run on the weekend.  Lets see how this week fairs.  I think Iwill try to bring my camera on an early morning run too, for those who might like to see where I run!~

Living Organized: Proven Steps for a Clutter-Free and Beautiful Home

Delayed Onset Flooring Soreness DOFS

I just reada blog entry about DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Sorness) by Runnerdude (thanks Runnerdude, great post!).  I have mentioned that we have moved houses and are renovating.  I am putting down hard wood in our house of over 1000 sq ft and my lower body today is extremely sore.  This is also due to heavy lifting pulling, climbing ladders to paint , etc.  I am still running, but I don't realize how taxing renovations are to your body!  Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness is now Delayed Onset Flooring Muscle Soreness!!  So this begs the question... can I report on dailymile that i have been putting in daily workouts???  Its sort of squats, burpees, stairclimber etc!!!???  This coupled with poor sleep and non-stop working at the house has put a challenge to my running routine.  Do I do my long run this weekend?  Do I have the energy? We will see...so far, I think if I can keep  up my running during this challenge, its something to be proud of, but that is what I usually set to myself, do the most difficult thing first then step back and be in awe of your  own accomplishment!  I actually RAN while renovating??? Looking back on my life I would like to see I squeezed as much out of it as I can muster and be satisfied.