1st Me Vs. Me Weigh-in!

1st Weigh in - Me2011 v. Me2016!
Okay, so when I said this week was the first weigh in?  Well, I actually weighed in last week, so I could have numbers that made sense this week! 

Week	Date	2011		Weekly%	Overall%	2016		Weekly%	Overall%
0	5/31/2011	257	3	1.15%	6.55%	285	0	0.00%	0.00%
1	6/7/2011	256	1	0.39%	6.91%	283	2	0.70%	0.70%

So, Week 1 goes to Me2016!!  Now the big test comes next week.  Now that I've actually started being active, lets see what I can do for next week!

New phone problems
A few months ago, I got a new phone.  Well, when I got the iPhone 6, I had also moved all of my music at home to a network drive (NAS).  Well, iTunes blew up.  So, I've been rebuilding it, and now realize that all of my "running" playlists are all gone!  I've got to rebuild something up, as the C25K App I use only plays music from playlists!  ACK!  

Also, my Fitletic arm band isn't big enough for the monsterous iPhone 6 (not the super mega iPhone 6 Plus).  So, I'm going to need to pick up a new armband too. 

C25K W1 D2
Tonight I put Couch to 5K Week 1 Day 2 into the book.  It was pretty rough for me this evening.  Leg muscles are really starting to wake up and give me the "WTF" attitude.  

I'm feeling it at work too.  The new job is very much a desk jockey, so I'm starting to get really fidgity when I sit too long.  Unfortunately, today my legs were really restless when I was in a meeting...  ugh.

Once the C25K routine was done, I continued walking for a while longer, just to start helping my daily step counts to go up also.

Training Plan

Week	SUN 6/5	MON 6/6	TUE 6/7	WED 6/8	THUR 6/9	FRI 6/10	SAT 6/11
1		C25K W1 D1		C25K W1 D2		C25K W1 D3

The next nine weeks should look very similar to this.  MON-WED-FRI will be my C25K days.  Any other day will be open for me to do whatever I feel like.

If I need to repeat any weeks, which I'm sure I will, I do have four weeks of buffer.

With the weather improving so its not cold & raining all of the time, it's past time to clean up the bike and start getting it back out on the road!  Maybe get some biking time in during the weekends.

Shout out!

My friend Rick is out in Iowa for a Half Marathon tomorrow morning!  Yes, a Half Marathon on a THURSDAY.

Thanks for Reading!

Regards, ~Kipp

2016 - Challenge Year: Me Vs. Me! Check the link above to see my current and past races.

Walk run skip and jump!

C25K W1 D1
Made it out the door for the 2nd day!  It was hot.  But you know something, I may be an odd one out, but I actually LIKE it when it's hot.  

There was some pretty good wind this evening too.  It even took my hat at one point.  I had a shaky time with one knee for a little bit, but it got better after I walked it for a little bit more.  Same leg as the old ankle injury.  Muscles took a while to warm up, I think is all it was.  

After walking yesterday and then this today, I can feel my muscles starting to wake up and starting to complain.  We'll see how I feel in the morning!  

Tomorrow Morning is Weigh-in!
I did a sneak peak at the scale when I got back from my C25K run.  Eh, it is what it is.  From now on, it's time to do better.

A new thing I'm looking into
I've lost a lot of stability over the past couple of years.  So, I've been looking into some alternative ways of trying to rehab the legs up a bit.

Jumping rope!  Embarrassingly enough, I was going to use it to warm up this evening, but some guys were talking in the driveway across the street and I really didn't want to look like an idiot when I smacked myself with the rope.  Maybe tomorrow evening I'll not have spectators.  They did get to see all of this awesomeness walk and jog past them a couple of times, with my BLISTERING 18 minute plus pace!

So, back to the jumping of the rope!  From some of the reading I've done so far, there are many skipping variations that can help with runners form!  Some side-to-side work that can help with IBS issues.  High knees and butt kicks that I've seen many videos of suggested runners exercises while actually running. I've also read that it helps strengthen the ankles and could even be a benefit to those with Plantar Fasciitis (All ends of the spectrum on this, from NEVER to IT's A CURE!  Remember, YMMV [You're mileage may vary]).

So, step one, I just need to get the basic skip step down, so I don't inadvertently kill myself.

Oh, and it's also supposed to burn calories like mad!  So, bonus that.

I'm looking at picking up a book this weekend:

Get a load of this!  There's Bluetooth everything!

Yes, REALLY!  A Bluetooth jump rope that will sync with an app on the phone to help you keep track of your skips!  Ranging from about $25 all the way up to $130 (USD)!!  The one above is the cheapest one I found on Amazon.  I actually typed it into the search as a joke, not expecting to get any hits!!



Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp

2016 - Challenge Year: Me Vs. Me! Check the link above to see my current and past races.

The first mile (plus)...

It’s not just a step, it’s a start

I have a friend that signs off on all of his inspirational posts in that manner.

Dave over at Eastern Walking is a very inspirational writer.  I've just not been listening.  Click on that Facebook icon to go to his page.  Give him a read, you'll like it.

It's such a simple phrase.  It's not just a step, it's a start.  A start that I've been putting off for one reason or another.  Just knowing the real reason is just being lazy, complacent it just being the way that I am.

The 40th Indy Mini has come and gone, and I didn't participate.  One of the medications I'm on kind of backfires on me sometimes and makes me very sick.  Well, the day before the Indy Mini, it hit me hard again.  I didn't even make it to get the packet, let alone even think of starting the event the next day.

The Tour DeCure has come and gone too, and I didn't participate.  I've not been on the bike since last year's Tour DeCure and I was in no shape to try it this year.  I missed my donations goal too, so I wasn't eligible to ride either.  A very BIG thank you to those of you that DID donate this year.  I WILL make it up!  100 miles 2017?

I'm tired of taking this nasty medication.  I'm tired of taking ALL of the medications I'm currently on.  The only way the doctor is going to even consider taking me off of them, is if I get this weight off and show that I'll be able to KEEP it off.

This evening, I put on the shoes and stepped out that front door.  I TOOK that first step.  I took that first step TODAY.  Tomorrow, I will have to take that FIRST step again. This will be a daily battle for me, until it becomes second nature to me like it did five years ago.

FIVE YEARS AGO!
Yes, it was OVER five years ago that I swore that I was going to loose that 100 pounds.  IN A YEAR.  I followed my plan!  (For the most part)  I followed my diet!  (Mostly).  I had some slippage along the way, but I did loose the weight!  I did go from a couch potato to someone that can do a half marathon!  I didn't make it that 100 pounds, but I made a good dent in that total.

Five Years Ago, interesting...  Did anyone notice..
I was going through my files that I had set up for my training those five years ago.  It was a simple Excel file.  I had one tab with my Couch 2 5K, then a tab for my Bridge to 10K, finally a 3rd tab with my plan for my Half Marathon training!  It's all there. Dates I did what, notes on how I felt and most importantly, the weight I was loosing.

Oh, so then I noticed something.  The dates this year, MATCH the dates from five years ago!

Me Vs. ME!

So, this brings me to my next point.  For the remainder of this year and leading into the Half Marathon next January, I'm going to be competing against myself!  I'm going to take my records from five years ago, and go against them this year!

It was around this time those five years ago that I started running outside, as the Treadmill-o-doom was giving me fits.  So, I'm going to be starting behind myself for now, but things will sync up well by the time we hit Half Marathon training time.  

Training
Here is my Schedule:

Couch to 5K - 9 weeks 6/6/16 through 8/5/16
Bridge to 10k - 6 weeks: 8/8/16 through 9/16/16

Vacation: 9/9/16 through 9/18/16.  During this time, I hope to get with Dave and see if I might be able to learn this walking technique!  It also overlaps the last B210K week, which I might put off till after vacation.

4 week gap / makeup: 9/18/16 trhough 10/15/16 - Use this time in case of slippage in the C25k/B210K Plans.

Half Marathon Training: 12 Weeks: 10/16/16 through to the race on 1/7/17!


Weigh-in Tuesday


Dad and I were doing the "Biggest looser" style weigh-ins each week.  So, to match up from five years ago, my next weigh in is Tuesday, 6/7/16.  By that time, I had already gotten down to 256.  I'm NOT going to like what the scale has to say Tuesday, but that's what it'll be.  I've taken that weigh in file and updated it so that I can track myself to it this year.  Weekly, my goal is to BEAT what my weekly loss percent was then.



Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp

2016 - Challenge Year: Me Vs. Me! Check the link above to see my current and past races.

Here we go again...

8 Months Down the Road
Last that was heard from me was 8 months ago.  I was starting to "train" for the 2016 WDW 1/2 Marathon.  Well, since there were no updates, there was no training.  

I went to Disney World for Vacation in September and then I was back down for Marathon weekend in January.

I made it.  I was not last like I was the year before, but I wasn't that far ahead of the back of the pack.  

I wish I remember the guys name that stuck with me after the climb up to the overpass coming off of World Drive, heading to Epcot.  He was going back and forth with several of us back in the back, and he helped me keep my mind off of how bad I was feeling.  I wish I would have seen him at the end or even remembered his name.  It's people like that that give these types of events a good name.  He wasn't one of the Team in Training coaches either.  Just a guy, helping out the back of the packers make it those last few miles.

I walked the entire route.  I didn't even attempt to do any running, as I was THE HEAVIEST I've ever been.  I was pushing 292-295ish (possibly over the 300 mark...) in January.  

The next morning, I was up even earlier than I had been for the 1/2!  I was a volunteer for the Marathon on Sunday!  I was on my feet all morning, from 2am till 9 am, I was "on duty".  I was part of the teams that put out the snack boxes and bananas.  Our only duty was to load them up for the first and greet the super elite and wheelchair racers as they came in.

Anyone who thinks the wheelchair racers have it easy for a marathon, has never witnessed any of them crossing the finish line.  These first racers in were just as run down and shaky as the elite runners are when they come in.  

It was amazing, because we were able to see everyone in the corrals leave on the jumbo screens they had set up in the family area.  We would then get updates as to where the wheelchair racers were and where the elite runners were, and when we could expect them to come in!  It was an amazing experience to have.  Not so much the stacking of the boxes, but to see a lot of the behind the scenes work that goes into putting these events on!

In February, I saw a nutritionist.  I'm on a new diet and I'm having a rough go at even attempting to stay true to the plan.  I'm getting better, and those "better" weeks are the ones I've actually seen the scale move down.

I'm currently at 283.  Back in 2011, when I started training for my first half marathon, I was just a bit lighter.

So, today, I've signed up for the 20th running of the Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon.  We are now five ears down the road from my first race.

Coming up
I have the 2016 Indy Mini Marathon coming up in a couple of weeks.  Again, next to zero training effort.  I will be walking this one too.

A month after that, I have the 2016 Tour De Cure bike ride!  I'm way short of my donations goal.  I may actually have to pay out of pocket to meet the minimum.  I have to remember to take in my packet, so I can see if I can get some donations from work.  They have a matching plan, that I missed out on last year because I didn't get the correct paperwork.  Now, I'm very short on time.

Once the Tour De Cure is finished, its then time to fully focus on these two new goals.

When I hit that start line in 2017:

1)  I am to be AT or lighter than I was when I crossed that line five years ago!
     (242 lbs or lighter is the actual goal)
2)  I will finish the race in a better time than I did that first race five years ago!
     (3:48:49 2012 WDW 1/2 Marathon, 
      3:32:27 is my PR time from the 2012 Flying Pig Half Marathon.)


Blogging about it helped me stay honest back then, and I hope that I can use it as a tool to help keep me honest in this go around.

Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp

2016 - Some witty catch phrase goes here! Check the link above to see my current and past races.

Little Bit of Catch Up

C25K - W1 D3
Last Thursday, I got home very late from work, but I still wolfed down dinner and then went out for my run.  Nothing special, averaged 17 minute miles (did 2.01 miles.)  It was a little less humid, which made it easier to breathe as compared to the first two running days!

C25K - W2 D1
It was family reunion this past weekend!  UGH!  To say I gained weight is an understatement.  It was a weekend of non-stop eating it seems like.  We had a great turn out.  It was great to see everyone!

I felt kinda like this.

Got home Sunday afternoon and I still laced up the shoes and headed out for the next run!

About half way through the run, part of my left glute decided to cramp up or something.  I did a lot of walking and I stopped one or two times trying to stretch it out or work it out.

Finally, by the end of the routine it wasn't feeling too bad.  I still hit it with the foam roller that night!

C25K - W2 D2 
Tonight was much better feeling than Sunday was.  It was still hard to breathe until I got passed the first 1.5 miles.  Then things started to kick in and feel right.  At this point, I'm thinking that I may be repeating Week 2.  It's been rough this week and I know that I have up to 3 weeks that I can repeat without impeding the 1/2 Marathon training schedule.

Cycling - Saturday
If the weather is nice, I plan on going for a bike ride.  I've not decided where to.  It may end up just being one of those days you start off in a direction and just go.

"Homesick" for Disney!
Just over 30 days to go!  In the meantime, I've had this video going in the background, pretending that I'm at a Disney World Resort!

Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp

2015 - Rebuilding from the Shoes up! Check the link above to see my current and past races.

C25K Week 1 Day 2 - No Excuses

Week 1 Day 2
Tonight after work, I put together my new weed wacker and proceeded to tackle most of the tall grass and weeds around the house and fence.

Then I wolfed down dinner and watched the new Falling Skies episode.  Once that was over, I put on my gear and hit the asphalt!

It was quite a bit warmer tonight, but I still managed to do better than I did Sunday night with Day 1!

Spine Mobility Exercise
This first video is 2 parts of my current routine.  The rolling part is what I started with for a couple of weeks.  That first day of just doing the rolling almost had me in tears.

Today, I have 2 spots that are still hot spots, but I'm able to continue working on them.



The 2nd part I've recently added into my routine are the extensions he does later in  the video.  The first few times doing this, I was hearing all sorts of popping and crunching noises coming from my back.  It was rather disturbing!  Now I just have a few crunchy areas and a pop every once in a while.



This is the open book exercise that I have recently added to my mobility routine each day, along with the extensions.

In this video, he makes it almost all the way to the floor.  I'm probably only getting to the 45 degree mark before I can go no further.  Since my doctor back in Elkhart (over 5 years ago, at least), I've know that the side to side twisting has always been my poorest mobility.  It's way past time to change that.

Looking forward to January
I'm really beginning to get excited for next January.  I want this next half marathon to be the best one that I've done so far.

The past two runs have really shown me that working on my back is the key to a more comfortable run experience.  I've experienced absolutely no back pain in these past two outings!  Tonight I really focused on my posture while running and walking.  I know that getting my shoulders back where they should be should help with my breathing.

As I approach my official start of Half Marathon training on Octorber 18th, I plan on adding more and more to my back routine and then start on my core exercises too.

So, my plan is to once again COMPLETE the entire C25K program.  I've started that so I will be done in 9 weeks, ending on September 24th.  This will give me 3 weeks in-between the end of the C25K program and the start of my Half Marathon Training.  I'm looking to see if I can find a 5K to participate in somewhere between September 26th and October 18th!


Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp

2015 - Rebuilding from the Shoes up! Check the link above to see my current and past races.

Just put on the damn shoes and run!

C25K - W1 D1
So I finally got off my ass and went for a run tonight.  I dialed in Week 1 Day one of the Couch to 5K program to see where I was.

I can tell you, it's not great.  I was able to do all of the intervals, but it was UGLY.  Breathing was bad and I'm quite sure that I was trying to recreate a scene from one of the Indiana Jones movies with my heart.

But, to all things, there is a beginning.

Current Weight!
I have a new fangled scale!  Here is my weigh in after my run tonight:

The bane of every overweight persons existence.

Weight: 278.2 lbs.
Body Fat: 47.6%
Body Water: 43.0%
Muscle Mass: 25.0%
Maintenance Calories: 3203

How accurate is any of that?  I don't know.  It has Bluetooth and transmits to an app on my phone.  I mainly want it for my weigh-ins.

My aching back!
After my extremely poor outing for the 1/2 Marathon in January, my back continued to hurt more and more.

At my last doctors visit, I was finally referred to go get x-rays and see a back pain specialist.  

The "root" of all of my problems stem from my Scoliosis between my shoulder blades.  It's a pretty wicked curve to see it in the x-ray.

Verdict?  Apparently I've been doing just the opposite of what I need to do for this issue with my back muscles.  He wants me to hit that area with heat every day to help take my back muscles from steel coils to "jelly".  I had been using cold packs and he told me to keep those for swelling in other areas if needed, but to quit using them on my sore areas on my back.

I have to work on my spine mobility.  So, for the past couple of months I've already been giving myself the heat treatment.  I've gotten a foam roller and started rolling my back muscles with it.  Foam rolling must have it's roots in mid-evil torture chambers.

Torture Device

I've now added in the next set of beginner mobility exercises.  The first two are working on the flexibility front to back and side to side.  I don't remember the first one's name, but the side to side is called open book.

Below is the position that we did to see how poor my thoracic mobility is.

1) Lie down on the floor, back flat against it.
2) Your knees should be up with your feet and glutes flat on the floor.
3) Lock your elbows and bring your arms directly overhead, attempting to touch your wrists to the ground above your head.
4) Make sure to maintain contact between your lower back and the floor; don’t arch your back to get your hands in place.

This is NOT me.

When I tried to get into this position, my wrists were at least six inches away from the floor.  Doctor said that is VERY poor.

With just the rolling and the heat pad, I've managed to make some improvement, but still have a long ways to go.

As I continue to get better with each new exercise, I'm to start adding in more advanced routines.  I have to take it slow, since my back is in such poor shape. The doctor doesn't want me to more damage than good.

Building the Core
That brings in the next phase.  The BEST thing I can do is to build up my core.  The doctor was surprised to hear that I had been running in Half Marathons and not been working core.  He said I have to work on core exercises once I regain more mobility in my spine.  The other part of that is, of course, LOSE WEIGHT!

Looking forward to January
I'm all signed up for the 2016 Walt Disney World Half Marathon.  I have A LOT to work on coming up to this one.  It going to be a long road, but I've done part of it before.  This time, I need to have a full routine to properly train for it.

Thanks for Reading!
Regards, ~Kipp

2015 - Rebuilding from the Shoes up! Check the link above to see my current and past races.