Still Alive

Still alive...
Here we are!  Less than 2 weeks until I'm back in Florida!

In 2 weeks I'll be back Walt Disney World, taking in all the sights and riding rides.

Pre-Training isn't going as I had scheduled, but I'll be okay to start up when my full schedule starts up on September 9th, after I get back to Indy from vacation.

The Plan 
Here is my training plan.  It's basically Hal Higdons Novice 2 Plan.  I bounced around the idea about using Novice one, but after comparing the 2 and my need to loose weight, the 4 day a week run will suit my needs better.

WEEK	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
	9/9/2013	9/10/2013	9/11/2013	9/12/2013	9/13/2013	9/14/2013	9/15/2013
1	Rest	3 m run	5 m pace	3 m run	Rest	8	Cross
	9/16/2013	9/17/2013	9/18/2013	9/19/2013	9/20/2013	9/21/2013	9/22/2013
2	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross
	9/23/2013	9/24/2013	9/25/2013	9/26/2013	9/27/2013	9/28/2013	9/29/2013
3	Rest	3 m run	5 m pace	3 m run	Rest	6	Cross
	9/30/2013	10/1/2013	10/2/2013	10/3/2013	10/4/2013	10/5/2013	10/6/2013
4	Rest	3 m run	6 m pace	3 m run	Rest	11	Cross
	10/7/2013	10/8/2013	10/9/2013	10/10/2013	10/11/2013	10/12/2013	10/13/2013
5	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	12	Cross
	10/14/2013	10/15/2013	10/16/2013	10/17/2013	10/18/2013	10/19/2013	10/20/2013
6	Rest	3 m run	6 m pace	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross
	10/21/2013	10/22/2013	10/23/2013	10/24/2013	10/25/2013	10/26/2013	10/27/2013
7	Rest	4 m run	7 m pace	4 m run	Rest	14	Cross
	10/28/2013	10/29/2013	10/30/2013	10/31/2013	11/1/2013	11/2/2013	11/3/2013
8	Rest	4 m run	7 m run	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon	Cross
	11/4/2013	11/5/2013	11/6/2013	11/7/2013	11/8/2013	11/9/2013	11/10/2013
9	Rest	4 m run	7 m pace	4 m run	Rest	15	Cross
	11/11/2013	11/12/2013	11/13/2013	11/14/2013	11/15/2013	11/16/2013	11/17/2013
10	Rest	4 m run	8 m pace	4 m run	Rest	17	Cross
	11/18/2013	11/19/2013	11/20/2013	11/21/2013	11/22/2013	11/23/2013	11/24/2013
11	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	18	Cross
	11/25/2013	11/26/2013	11/27/2013	11/28/2013	11/29/2013	11/30/2013	12/1/2013
12	Rest	5 m run	8 m pace	5 m run	Rest	13	Cross
	12/2/2013	12/3/2013	12/4/2013	12/5/2013	12/6/2013	12/7/2013	12/8/2013
13	Rest	5 m run	5 m pace	5 m run	Rest	19	Cross
	12/9/2013	12/10/2013	12/11/2013	12/12/2013	12/13/2013	12/14/2013	12/15/2013
14	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross
	12/16/2013	12/17/2013	12/18/2013	12/19/2013	12/20/2013	12/21/2013	12/22/2013
15	Rest	5 m run	5 m pace	5 m run	Rest	20	Cross
	12/23/2013	12/24/2013	12/25/2013	12/26/2013	12/27/2013	12/28/2013	12/29/2013
16	Rest	5 m run	4 m pace	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross
	12/30/2013	12/31/2013	1/1/2014	1/2/2014	1/3/2014	1/4/2014	1/5/2014
17	Rest	4 m run	3 m run	4 m run	Rest	8	Cross
	1/6/2014	1/7/2014	1/8/2014	1/9/2014	1/10/2014	1/11/2014	1/12/2014
18	Rest	3 m run	2 m run	Rest	Rest	2 m run	WDW Marathon

My cross training is going to be a plyometric cardio workout video from the Insanity crowd.  I've viewed it several times and I have practiced some of the moves.  I'm pretty sure I'll be able to use it without killing myself.

I have found in my training so far, if I go up to four days a week on running, I loose weight.  If I do anything less that that, I just stay the same.

In the past few weeks I have been working on strengthening and stretching my calf trouble areas and they seem to be doing well.  I've narrowed down one of my problems to the fact that I really should buy some new work shoes.  As this is the only time my feet and legs start giving me troubles.

Expenses 
My last couple of runs in the New Balance shoes have shown me why Brooks are better.  At 150 miles, they are giving up the ghost.  The front padding is almost non-existent at this point.  One of my older pair of Brooks are not suitable for anything anymore, as the heel of the left shoe has collapsed.  This leaves me with my Saucony Kinvara, which I won't go over 5 miles in, and my old Brooks Trance.

So my list of expenses are going to hit me sooner than later.  I still need to sign up for the Indy Monumental Half, as that is going to be in my training plan for the Full in January.  The next thing is that I'll need to figure out how to fit in the cost of 2 pairs of shoes, instead of one pair, as I THOUGHT the New Balance shoes would last me through the Marathon training.

So I still need to do the following:
1) Sign up for the Indy Monumental Half
2) Get the first new pair of shoes to enter the training rotation
3) About a month later, get the 2nd pair of shoes, as these will be the ones I actually run the Marathon in.

I'm glad that I actually have cold weather running gear, as that's something I don't have to worry about.  I have 2 kits, so they'll have to just get washed a few more times to get me through running 4 times a week.


Here we goooooo!



Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2014! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Cincinnati Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon May 5, 2012-  FINISHED - 3:32:27 PR

Happy Fathers Day!

First off, I want to wish all my friends and family a Happy Fathers Day!

A Recap for this week.
In the past week, I've had a 2 pound drop in weight.  I went from 252 down to 250.  

I also got some running in this week in a semi-regular basis for the first time in weeks!  I went out Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

This brought me up to 12.95 miles for this week.

Spirit of the Marathon II
On Wednesday I went to see Spirit of the Marathon II.  The first movie was about people training and going through the Chicago Marathon.  This new movie was for the Rome Marathon.  It was another very good movie.  It really highlights the wide range of people that are now running marathons, all the way from pros to first timers.

HUGE, CRAZY NEWS!
Also on Wednesday, I signed up for the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 12th, 2014!  That's RIGHT!  M-A-R-A-T-H-O-N, no 1/2 in front of this one!  I will be working on endurance and some speed work all through the summer in order to prepare for my training starting in September.  Training will begin right after my Florida/Disney vacation.

And a 5K!
On Friday, I signed up for another "local" 5K.  This one is in Layfayette, IN on July 20th.  I'll be going up to visit some friends that started walking last year and they will be also at this event.  It's called the Zoo Run Run.

Future Plans
Through our work, we get a discount at some of the local gyms.  A new LA Fitness is opening up close to one of the ways I go to and from work.  So I'm now trying to figure out if this new one will also be available as a discounted membership.  If so, I'm going to try and work it into my budget to take advantage of some of the other types of training that they provide in classes.  I would hope that I could just go there after work and get some types of cross training in.


Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2014! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Cincinnati Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon May 5, 2012-  FINISHED - 3:32:27 PR

IT'S OFFICIAL! I'M CRAZY!

2014 Walt Disney World Weekend


HERE I COME!

Okay, not the most huge news since I have been down there for the past 2 years.

Here's the CRAZY part!

It's not for the 1/2, or Pluto (5K & Half)....

It's the FULL MARATHON!

26.2 miles!

It's time to bump this up.  I've been stagnant on my weight loss for far too long.  This is my next incentive to KEEP LOOSING WEIGHT!  When I first signed up for the Half Marathon, I lost 40 pounds and I've been gaining and loosing the same 10-15 pounds for the better part of a year and a half now.

After having gotten back up to 255, I'm now BACK DOWN to 250.  So this point forward, it's focusing on getting more of that weight off!  I want to be as close to somewhere around the 200 pound mark by the time I hit the start line next January.

So, I hope you'll join me for the next 7 months for my next big adventure!


Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2014! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Cincinnati Flying Pig - 5/5/13 - 3:32:27

Marathon Weekend Report - Day 6 - Going Home

Last Day at Disney World... for this trip.


The day started off with me finishing up my packing.  I then made my way down to the airport check in stand.  Disney Magical Express had already dropped my boarding pass off to the room.  I also had already made my call that morning to pay for my checked bag.  (Flew Airtran home, $25 1st checked bag fee BS).

Once I was done with that, I checked in my carry on luggage to the bag storage.  This year I made triply sure that I had my ID with me when I left baggage check in!!  I grabbed a bus and headed over to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  

Once at Studios, I walked over to the Boardwalk for the WiSH team bling meet.  I grabbed a muffin and some orange and water for breakfast.  This was the final meet up and it was great to talk and meet with everyone for one last time this trip!  

I somehow managed to not get a copy of our group picture at Boardwalk.

Rick and I made our way over to Epcot by the boats after splitting away from the meetup.  

Rick and I at Epcot

View of Spaceship Earth from the Japan Paviliion

The drummers in the Japan Pavilion.

Lunch at UK Pavilion

Rick and I spent a little bit of time together before he headed out.  I grabbed some lunch at the UK pavilion, as I hadn't had the fish & chips in quite some time.  They got rid of the packaged cookies that they used to have, and now have a baked cookie instead.  It was okay, but I rather missed the other packaged shortbread cookies...

After lunch I wanted to get a little bit of Magic Kingdom time in one last time for this trip.  I took the Monorail over and enjoyed a bit of walking around.

One last spin through Magic Kingdom

See you later PUSH!

I may or may not have stopped at the Main Street Confectionery on the way out and grabbed a piece of fudge....  *innocent look*  (yes... it's SOOOOO good)

All too soon it was time to head back to Pop Century to pick up my carry-on luggage and wait for the bus back to the airport.

Heading back to Pop Century one last time this trip.

Here's Magical Express to take us to MCO...

Bus Shelter at Indy Airport

The trip back was fairly uneventful.  Since I remembered to take a picture of the bus shelter, once I got back to Indy I was able to find the car in short order and get into my heavy winter coat once again!  I got onto the interstate and went on home.  It wasn't quite as late as I had gotten in last year, but it was still late enough that that alarm clock in the morning was going to be much too early!


Finally, this brings me to the end of my trip report for my JANUARY trip to Walt Disney World for the 2013 Marathon Weekend!

Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2013! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Next Race: Cincinnati Flying Pig - 5/5/13

Marathon Weekend Report - Day 5 - Marathon Day

Marathon Day/Goofy Challange Day 2!


**** LOTS OF PICTURES IN THIS POST!! ****

Sunday morning Dad and I went to the Pop Century food court and grabbed breakfast before we headed out to Disney Hollywood Studios   I was going to meet up with some of our WiSH scream team members to cheer on our team mates and others as they went past us.

We were set up right near the boat dock just outside of Hollywood Studios.  This section is getting towards the end of the full marathon course, as they went by us to head over to Epcot to finish up the race!

WiSH hands out Twizzlers (YUM!) and pretzels to any that want them. Sweaty hugs are gladly accepted.  They were also handing out frozen wet cloths to runners because of how HOT of a day it was!  

Animal Kingdom people join us at Hollywood Studios

The Marathon Show podcast guy!

More Team Hakuna Matata coming through!

I'm taking a picture of you taking a picture of me!

The cold/frozen cloths were a huge hit on this HOT day!

I was getting to the point that I had to go grab some lunch.  So I headed on into Hollywood Studios and went to Backlot Express quick service and I bumped into Amy from the Relocated Tourist blog!  Her family had lived in Wisconsin and managed to pick up and move to Orlando!  I had a very nice chat with her.

I bumped into Amy, The Relocated Tourist blogger!

I then did a few things by myself at the Studios.  I grabbed a Carrot Cake cookie from Starring Rolls and it was awesome!  I then headed down to Rock'n'Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror.  While I was down at that end, I picked up a Frozen Lemonade, one of my favorite things at Disney World!

It was getting closer to the time for our team dinner, so I headed out from Studios and took a boat over to Epcot.  I didn't really do a lot through Epcot, other than just look around.  I was mainly just wanting to get over to the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

Our dinner was at Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge near the Magic Kingdom.  They now serve mainly family style dinner and have some really good milkshakes!  

Team dinner at Whispering Canyon

The common thing said to our waitress, was MOAR MEAT!  We went through many plates of meat and just a couple plates of the side dishes.

We had a great time, but people were getting worn out, as some had run the Half the day before AND the Full Marathon that morning!  Some people also had to start packing to leave the next day.

We went to Magic Kingdom for a LITTLE while

Vicky, Rick and I went on into the Magic Kingdom for a little bit of park time.  We rode Pirates (YEAH!  No breakdown and didn't get soaked!).  We watched the fire works and then went into The Haunted Mansion.  After the visiting the ghosts, we were going past the Mad Hatter Tea Cups.  I said that that was a ride I had never been on, so Vickey and Rick insisted that we ride it!  

It was extra magic hours at The Magic Kingdom  but we were all pretty worn out by this time!  

I started to pack up some of my stuff once I got back to the room, as I was also leave the next day, just not early.





Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2013! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Next Race: Cincinnati Flying Pig - 5/5/13

Marathon Weekend Report - Day 4 - 1/2 Marathon

After the Half Marathon


See 1/2 Marathon Report

I took a picture of myself with my bling on my trip back to the resort!

Me and my new Bling

After I soaked in a cold tub and then took a warm shower, I got dressed and Dad and I headed out to the Magic Kingdom.

I'm looking a little burnt.  Monorail to MK

I was going to meet up with Rick and go to the WDW Radio Show meet of the month.  We were there early for the meet and I was HUNGRY!  Dad and I went up to the podium for the Plaza Restaurant and were able to get a wait time for a table.  This small place is usually overlooked and it is a nice place to eat.  Very much comfort food oriented.

Here is a link to the Plaza Restaurant menu.

Hi PUSH!

We met up with Rick and made it over to the meet.  I got to speak with Lou for a few minutes, it had been a couple of years since I had met up with him!!  He congratulated me for the race and I thanked him for him and his team cheering me on near the end, I really needed the boost going into Epcot!

Lou Mongello... sort of... picture messed up :(

Some people I don't know.  Okay, it's a Picture of the Castle. 

Rick was meeting back up with his family and Dad and I went on some rides.  It was VERY crowded and with my moving about was going slowly, Dad and I decided that we were going to start thinking about where we were going to go for dinner.  

We went to Downtown Disney to do a little bit of shopping.  I picked up a couple of pins and we decided to try and do a walk up at Raglan Road for dinner.

We only had to wait for a little bit for one of the outside seats.  It was a fantastic night to be outside and we really enjoyed ourselves.  We had a sausage appetizer and it was REALLY good.  I went for my normal Sheppard's Pie and Dad had a lamb and pasta dish that he said he would definitely get again!

After dinner, I managed to walk around for a bit more.  We decided to call it a night and headed back to the resort.

I vowed that I would go and cheer with other WiSH members at the area near Disney's Hollywood Studios.  It wasn't going to be a really early wakeup, but was still going to be early enough :)


Thanks for Reading!  Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2013! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Next Race: Cincinnati Flying Pig - 5/5/13

My 1 Year Journey enters its 3rd year!

and so it begins...

That's how I started this blog, on March 27, 2011.

2 Years Later....


I had lofty goals 2 years ago, when i boldly stated that I was on a mission to loose 100lbs in one years time.  I made it 40% of the way!  

At the lowest, I made it to 242.  I then slowly went back up over 250 again.  Then last year I stayed at almost the exact same weight all year long, right around 250ish.  


I have been put onto medication for the Type 2 Diabetes.  This could have been part of the problem last year, I didn't get the weight off quick enough and the Diabetes progressed further.  I've managed to get some of the weight off that I had gained back, but I'm still struggling.

It's still a matter of more activity and controlling the portion sizes of what I eat.  My only really bad part of the day is when I go out to lunch.  I'm still consuming about twice as many calories than I should be at lunch.  Breakfast and Dinner I've been doing very well with, since that is food consumed here at home.  I KNOW that I shouldn't be ordering what I do... but my will power is zilch at lunch.  That seems to be the time of the day that I'm hungriest.

I've tried snacking mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but I've not had success with that as of yet.  I think if I make it into a habit AND follow through with ordering what I SHOULD, I may start making good progress again.

Running...

Last year I signed up for another Half Marathon and while training for that, suffered my first injury running.  I barely made it through that race experience last November.  Had it not been for my new Disney Running buddy, Rick, I probably wouldn't have!

Back then, I had thought I had aggravated the Achilles bursa.  I know today, that was a false (self) diagnosis.  It was actually the Flexor hallucis longus muscle, a muscle that runs behind the area I thought was affected.   

I'm currently doing many things to help this, most of the information is found at this link: Physio Advisor.  This time, under more legitimate diagnosis.


I once again did the Walt Disney World half and encountered a different problem, HEAT.  Even through I had spent last summer running in the extreme heat that we had here, I still started to dehydrate.  The first half of the race was going very well as far as my speed and I was all set to get a PR.  Then the heat hit me on the back half of the course and I almost went down in Epcot.  I got to the point where I was a bit dizzy and the last water stop was in the perfect place.  I managed to complete the race, but with a very disappointing time.

On the increase of physical activity, I'm currently in training for another Half Marathon, this time in Cincinnati, The Flying Pig Half Marathon.  Once again, this is another race I'll be with my Disney Running Buddy, Rick.

Still slacking on the Cross-training...

On the Cross training portion, I'm looking into some plans.  I first looked into some of the fad home plans going around right now, INSANITY and P90X.  Then, once I dug deeper, I found some truths about it.  Those programs are for people that already have a good level of fitness.  Even though I can slog through a half marathon now, I'm still FAR from FIT.

I'm currently looking at maybe picking & choosing from those 2 plans and taking the "easiest" cardio & stretching portions and molding them into something that may be beneficial   We were joking at work that if we play the videos at half speed, they might be better for us!  LOL!

Gadget(s) & Shoes Updated...

I did it!  I won a bid on a "new" Garmin Forerunner 610!  It was JUST the watch & charger, but all the other stuff I have with the 405CX works with it too.  So no real loss.  I'm getting used to it, the touch screen is a bit harder to work with than the 405's touch bezel.  It takes a heavier touch to get it to register, but it works when wet.  The vibrate feature is AWESOME.  

I also came across a GREAT deal on a new pair of shoes.  I went with a pair of New Balance 870V2's and they have surprised me.  They are just as cushy as my Brooks Trance!  I'll have these shoes broken and primed just in time for the Flying Pig half!

My thanks!

My thanks go out to all of those that have supported me in the past 2 years!  I've met many amazing people along the way that I'm awfully glad to be able to call friends now.


It means a lot to me that you've taken time to read this blog of mine, thanks for reading!  

Regards,
~Kipp

Lighter, Stronger & Faster for 2013! Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon January 7, 2012-  FINISHED 3:48:49 January 12, 2013-  FINISHED 4:00:29 Indianapolis Monumental 1/2 Marathon November 3, 2012-  FINISHED 3:37:29 Next Race: Cincinnati Flying Pig - 5/5/13