Archive for the ‘Physical activity’ Category

It was brother versus brother…

Posted: June 13, 2013 in Exercise, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Weather
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So, I woke up this morning at 4:45. I noticed that the other side of the bed was empty, and it was still cool to the touch. I assumed that Supportive Partner Woman (night owl!) had simply just fallen asleep in the Nerd Lair. I got dressed for the gym and ambled downstairs only to see that she was very much awake and engrossed in watching North and South: Book II. Now, I understand a guilty pleasure as much as the next person, but I just looked askance at her and said, “I don’t know you any more.”

Her response?

“The power of Swayze’s mullet compelled me.”

Hard to argue with that level of logic.

So, the gym wasn’t particularly good. My legs felt very heavy today. Maybe they were feeling the lower barometric pressure, but I still managed to get 30 minutes of cardio in. It’s the days like this, where you generally feel lousy, that show a level of commitment. Plus, it feels good to be able to say that you managed to get your work in… even though you pretty much felt like crap. I’m hopeful that tomorrow will be better.

Hope everyone stays safe today with the biblical storms we’re having. And in honor of the rather damp U.S. Open, I give you the following:

Have a great day!

The streak is alive!

Posted: June 11, 2013 in Exercise, Footwear & socks, Lego, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Yard sale
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I am pleased to announce that I haven’t fallen off a treadmill in four days.

That’s not for lack of trying.

snap0082I should clarify and say that I am not, repeat NOT, actively trying to fall off a treadmill. It’s just that my legs have been awfully rubbery of late, so stepping off the treadmill can be an iffy proposition. The funny thing as that while my hip/posterior was where I thought I’d get a bruise, I actually did more damage to my arm.

It’s a good thing, though… if my legs feel rubbery, that means it was a decent workout. Plus, the more I get my work in, the less time the legs stay rubbery. One thing I do know for sure is that the Balega socks are wonderful. They feel good when you put them on, there’s no seam to rub against your toes, and your feet are wonderfully dry when you’re done. I’m in the process of converting to a mostly moisture-wicking sock collection and selling the old cotton socks at the next edition of The Dreaded Yard Sale®. I figure I can get a quarter a pair… after all, most have hardly been worn, and it’s all for charity!

I also am going to pick up a pair of Balegas for Supportive Partner Woman (She of the ouchy back!). While her feet are nowhere near as bad as mine, she would probably benefit from a nice, comfortable pair of socks.

photo (7)In other news, the Lego 10240 X-Wing is complete. It’s sizeable, especially when compared to the standard X-Wing that was released in 2012. The downside is that the new one is not scaled for minifigs… but I’m keeping Porkins, because, well, he’s Porkins. I’ll probably sell the other one… limited display space is a bad thing. This is why I never bought the Super Star Destroyer.

At any rate, that’s about all I have for today. Tomorrow and Friday bring sessions with the boys and hopefully my arm will continue to feel better. Oh, and I plan on continuing my streak of not falling off of treadmills or other objects.

Song of the Day: In Too Deep – Sum 41

The Dreaded Yard Sale®? Not so bad, actually.

Posted: June 8, 2013 in Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Team AllEars, Yard sale
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There.

I said it.

I actually didn’t mind the Dreaded Yard Sale® this year. I know somewhere in the great beyond, my father’s ashes are trying to recoalesce so he can give me a brain duster for even thinking the thought.

It’s when I stop to think of why it wasn’t so bad that I realize just how worth it the sale was. See, this is the first time I’ve done the sale where the proceeds are going to something more important to me. As I previously mentioned, all proceeds from today’s sale are going to Team AllEars,

418988_10201352629964288_113381515_nAfter all is said and done, Supportive Partner Woman and I raised $176.

That’s a pretty good chunk of my fundraising commitment. Of course, some people might question us selling baked goods to benefit a running team. All I can say to that is that the running part burns off the baked good calories. Hey… it sounded good in my head. Work with me, people!

I’ve been circling around the point, though, and that point is that I am so happy and pleased to work toward such a worthy goal with such amazing teammates and friends that even the Dreaded Yard Sale® doesn’t get me too down. So, now when anyone asks me if I run, or more to the point WHY I run, I can honestly say it’s because of something far bigger than myself.

That’s all anyone can ask for.

Now, of course, I’m looking forward to another yard sale so I can get rid of some more shit. You can never complain about that.

Song of the Day: Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-a-Lot (No, I’m not a huge fan of Mix-a-Lot, but it was playing on the 90s channel and it almost made me swerve off the road.)

The word of the day is “Whoops”

Posted: June 7, 2013 in 5K, Cooking, Exercise, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking
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Anyone remember that time I was at the gym?

That time when I fell off the treadmill?

Didn’t think so, unless you were there this morning.

See, I was actually done with my workout. I had grabbed a cloth to wipe it down because that’s how I roll. I went to step off the treadmill (and you must know that I am always scared I’ll lose my balance, so I grab the rail to steady myself) and I managed to have my steadying hand slip and I collapsed in a heap. It wasn’t as “graceful” as in in the following video, but it was pretty embarrassing.

Ouch.

I’m going to have a pretty colorful bruise on my right hip, I should think… that’s pretty much the extent of my injury, other than the wounded pride.

So, yes… the word of the day is “whoops”.

In the good news, I managed to do my walk (before my tumble) at a 15:45 pace. Now if I could maintain that for 13.1 miles, I could do a Disney half-marathon, staying barely ahead of the sweep van. I’m not seeing that happen any time soon, though. I still have a long way to go yo just worry about the 5K.

I also managed to mix four batches of chocolate chip cookie dough. I’m now praying the weather holds out so the dreaded yard sale goes off as planned. I have cookies, brownies, water and Supportive Partner Woman (Excellent baker in her own right!) is planning on baking cupcakes. All we need is good weather and hungry customers. I would love to raise a nice chunk of change for Team All Ears, so keep your fingers crossed.

Doing work

Posted: June 6, 2013 in Exercise, Foot issues, Footwear & socks, Physical activity, Walking, Weight loss
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So, after the Boot of Shame came off, I took it easy for a week. I walked a little, did elliptical and arc trainer to get used to moving again.

After a week, I started back to the gym. I’ve been there 9 straight days. It’s my new streak, ya know? I’m trying to get used to the changes in my body… I can actually get the treadmill up to almost 4 mph. It’s a big deal. Used to be that 3.2 was pushing it for me. I also find that the combination of the new shoes, socks and reduced weight has eased the stress on my ankles. Now I’m just a little achy after a good workout instead of not wanting to do anything.

It’s an improvement.

I’ve been trying to get at least two miles a day n my workouts… unless I’m doing something else. For example, on Sunday when I was swimming laps, I didn’t walk two miles. But I got the work in. That’s what it all comes down to. If you don’t do the work, you’re not going to get anything out of it.

I’m going to try to keep this pace up. I know I’ll have some conflicts, but I feel better when I’ve gone to the gym and gotten it done. Will I get there this weekend? I certainly hope so. There are days I just don’t really feel like doing anything, though, and those are the tough days.

Take this morning. The alarm went off at 4:45 and I just really didn’t feel like going to the gym. I just wanted to go back to sleep. That’s when I remember the words of Ryan who told us in an early class that if we don’t feel like doing a full workout, then just do ten minutes, because chances are you’ll change your mind after you get started.

I know I did.

That’s all I have for today.

Song of the Day: The Metal – Tenacious D

I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Scopa & Ms. Scribner-MacLean

Posted: June 4, 2013 in 5K, Bariatric surgery, diabetes, Exercise, Foot issues, Goals, Mickey Miles podcast, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Team AllEars, Walking, Weight loss
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I’ve mentioned before that I am lucky enough to call some members of the podcast community my friends. These are fine folks who invest a lot of their time and themselves into doing something they love and something that benefits the community as a whole. I feel blessed to know them and treasure their friendship immensely.

All that being said, I was totally flabbergasted when I was contacted by Michelle Scribner-MacLean, co-host of the Mickey Miles Podcast and a dear friend, who said they wanted to have me on the show as a guest so I could talk about my journey toward that 5K in January.

I was stunned.

Flattered.

Deeply honored.

See, I never thought I’d ever be a guest on a show that was listened to by fit people, unless it was a lesson in what NOT to do. I talked it over with Supportive Partner Woman (Still the best wife EVER!) and agreed… after all, while I might not think my story is that special, Michelle and her co-host, Mike Scopa, obviously thought there was something there worth telling.

Who am I to argue?

So, arrangements were made, Skype was downloaded, times were set, and at the appointed time, the “phone” rang. I had plugged in the old Skype headset, which apparently wasn’t working too well, so after we ironed out a few difficulties, Michelle and Mike laid out the plan.

Say what?!?!?!?

Say what?!?!?!?

Seems I wasn’t just a guest, I was THE guest and the entire show was about my journey.

That was a little bit of a shock. (For an idea of my internal response, picture Kyle’s mom on South Park saying, “Wha-wha-what?”)

I have yet to actually listen to the episode… it’s just been posted, or so I see on Facebook. Give it a listen here.

I hope that hearing my story can inspire some folks on the fence to make a positive change in their lives. It’s never too late to start. If I can think about completing a 5K at age 42, having never run much of anything in my life, with my pronated feet and blisters and missing toe, then, by God, anyone can. You just have to want to.

I want to do this. I want to complete that race. I want to be healthier and live a long time, because I have a reason to.

In short, I’d like to thank Mike & Michelle for the opportunity and for taking the time to create such a wonderful podcast. I’d also like to thank them for their unwavering support and friendship. They are two of the finest people I have the pleasure of knowing and I know that with their support, the support of my Team AllEars gang, the support of my family and especially the support of my lovely wife, I can keep moving forward.

Because retreat is not an option.

Song of the Day: Without Me – Eminem

Things went… swimmingly.

Posted: June 3, 2013 in Exercise, Gratuitously Naked Guy, Physical activity, Team AllEars, The Rec, Walking, Yard sale
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So I made it to the pool yesterday. The pool is actually part of the Rec, just a part I usually don’t go in, mainly because I kind of forgot where it is (don’t judge me).

I showered, got my suit on and went hunting, primarily by feeling the humidity level and smelling the chlorine increase. I made a wrong turn in the locker room and found the hot tub. There was also a Gratuitously Naked Guy sighting. A regular slice of life at the Rec.

As it was Sunday, they had half of the pool sectioned off for family swim. This left two lanes for lap swimming, one of which was occupied by a kid getting swim team coaching and the other occupied by two wizened women. I figured my best choice was to stay on the family side next to the lane rope and get my work in. Everything went well, until I was on my second lap, when I realized that granny had stationed herself about 20 feet from the wall, next to the rope, and was just standing there. I kept swimming, figuring she would see me coming and be courteous. Guess I thought wrong. Granny watched me swim toward her and didn’t move, forcing me to swim around her.

I kid you not.

After swimming around 300 yards, albeit slowly, I toweled off and headed back to the locker room. I was tired, but I still felt pretty good. I decided to hit the treadmill and did 20 minutes on there. Turned out to be a pretty good workout.

After that, I showered up and headed to the ghetto for the viewing. We weren’t there all that long, just enough to pay our respects. Afterward, I dropped off my mom and I headed home, hitting a torrential downpour that was mercifully brief. I stopped and picked up supplies to add a baked good table to the Dreaded Yard Sale. I got extra flour, sugar, chocolate chips and eggs… hope this adds to the bottom line and allows us to increase our contribution to Team AllEars and the Avon Walk.

That about does it for the day. I plan on mixing dough tonight and getting ready for Bake-a-Palooza. I really hope the sale does well… maybe my cookies will gain new fans.

I can hope.

Song of the Day: Avenida Revolucion – Chickenfoot

Things we do for the family

Posted: May 31, 2013 in Bariatric surgery, Exercise, family, Footwear & socks, Little Victories, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Yard sale
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Greetings from cow country!

As I drove to the gym this morning, I was stuck behind a slow-moving tractor pulling a manure wagon. It made me think that there aren’t many places left where this is a common occurence. However, smell aside, I like living where we live. On a quiet night, we can here the cattle lowing at the farm down the road. It’s peaceful. It’s bucolic. It can stink to high heaven. But it’s our home now.

I took a half day vacation to handle a few projects for my mom (and to get a blessed haircut), so after my gym session with the boys (totally killed it, too… had the treadmill up to an 11° angle and up to 3.7 mph for a stretch) I headed to the bustling metropolis of Reading, PA.

Now Reading is somewhat infamous for being among the most dangerous towns in Pennsylvania (per capita). It’s a city of around 75,000, lots of city issues, i.e. unemployment, drugs, gangs, prostitution, political corruption. It’s a regular ray of sunshine. My travels did not take me downtown today. I spent part of the time in the suburb where I grew up, and I gotta say, it’s a lot scarier than I remember. Old mom and pop places that I remember have been replaced by tattoo parlors, check cashing places, Walmart, etc. Farm fields plowed under for housing, all the typical stuff you see these days.

It made me sad… I’ve only been out of high school 24 years and the mall I worked in is now I place I will not willingly set foot in.

But, I still have family in the Reading area, as does Supportive Partner Woman (Photographer of great skill!), so it’s a necessary evil that we visit there from time to time, and no, the evil is not seeing our familes, but seeing what has happened to our home town.

One of my daily routines is to visit the Reading Eagle website on a daily basis just to see if I know anyone who got shot, stabbed, or otherwise. I do this every day. There’s just something wrong with that, ya know?

So, I got to my mom’s, moved a big flowerpot for her (and didn’t throw out my back FTW!), and put in her window screens. I don’t see mom as often as I should, but she was really surprised with the changes in me since my operation. She even liked my Beasts. I was very proud of her as she didn’t try to push food on me, as she used to. She understands that my capacity is limited and I appreciate that.

After that, off to work. Now, as for the weekend, SPW will be working (and I might have to work Saturday… the jury is still out on that), but she will be taking time on Sunday to shoot pictures of her parents’ class reunion. As for me, I have to take my mother to a viewing. In a surprise move, she’s not really thrilled at the thought of having to drive into the hood by herself, but since the deceased was the mother of a close family friend, I’ll do it. Dolly was a sweet lady and will be missed.

Next weekend, though, is the Dreaded Yard Sale. This year, all proceeds from the sale are going to Team AllEars and from there to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Should make for interesting writing at the very least. Maybe the fact that the proceeds are going to a good cause will stop some of the cheap bastards from trying to haggle over a nickel.

I doubt it.

Song of the Day: You Just May Be the One – John Flywheel

P.S. As I was at the gym this morning, the “music” channel was playing something from Justin Bieber, prompting me to say, “Is there a volume setting lower than “mute”?

Surf n’ Surf

Posted: May 26, 2013 in Cooking, Physical activity, Racing, Supportive Partner Woman, Weight loss
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One of the pleasures of my new diet is that I can eat lots of protein, and in my mind, the best way to get protein is seafood. I just love fish, mollusks and crustaceans. I had mentioned in the last post that Supportive Partner Woman (owner of new running shoes!) had picked up a small piece of Copper River salmon. Well, we both had off today and after running around, it was time for dinner. We also had a few clusters of snow crab legs in the freezer, so I opted for surf n’ surf, because, well, you can’t go wrong with that.

Rocking my new apron and lovely piece of fish.

Rocking my new apron and lovely piece of fish.

So, after slapping the fish on a piece of cedar wood, I boiled up the crab legs with Old Bay and served them with melted butter (not for me, though), alongside the salmon. It’s just amazing how much more flavor the salmon has than the typical farm-raised stuff. I was also rocking my new apron that was part of my groomsman’s gift for yesterday’s extravaganza. It was a nice end to a very busy day.

SPW and I both went to the driving range. It was a great day for it, if a little windy. I really like my five iron… I was making some nice, straight shots that had a perfect arc on them. I don’t have my distance back, yet, but I am looking forward to a real round of golf with Lieutenant Graham one of these days.

Other than that, part of my day was occupied with watching racing. Specifically, the Monaco Grand Prix. It was nice to see Nico Rosberg win what is basically his home Grand Prix and also to be the first son of a Monaco winner to win the race. Memorial Day weekend is really a good time for racing, between Monaco, Indianapolis and Charlotte.

So, we also paid a visit to Inside Track to get SPW a new pair of kicks. She wound up with a very shiny pair of New Balance 860’s that she said fit wonderfully. It’s simply amazing how getting shoes in the right size can help your feet. Turns out her old shoes were too narrow. Took Mark at Inside Track all of about three seconds to figure that out, and he went in the back and came out with these and it was love. Professionals are a good thing.

At any rate, that’s all I have to talk about at the moment. There’s going to be a big announcement the week after next, so stay tuned!

Song of the Day: 10538 Overture – Electric Light Orchestra

Getting seriously serious

Posted: May 23, 2013 in 5K, Cooking, Digestive issues, Doctors and Dentists and Nurses... oh my!, Exercise, Foot issues, Goals, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Team AllEars
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Greetings!

It’s been good to be wearing a regular shoe. The Toe. That. Will. Not. Heal. is now the Toe. That Would. Not. Heal. That’s right… the Boot of Shame has been put back in storage until the next time it’s needed.

My first stop after leaving the foot doctor on Tuesday was at Inside Track. This place is apparently THE running store for central PA and I can see why. The owner, Mark, took one look at me and knew I was dealing with overpronation and hammer toes and knew which shoe would work for me. I picked up my Brooks Beasts today and I can’t wait to start breaking them in. He was able to fit me up, knew exactly how these shoes ran in terms of sizing, and was able to get a pair of size 13 EEEE shoes in just two days.

Speaking of our upcoming 5K, I’ll be posting some information regarding fundraising in the coming weeks. I’ll be raising money for the Avon Walk through Team All Ears. Too many of us know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer, whether directly or indirectly, and it’s my hope that we will have a cure in my lifetime. Keep your eyes peeled.

My new Brooks Beasts

My new Brooks Beasts

I’ve always struggled with shoes… I think I kept trying to squeeze my feet into smaller shoes, not for any reason other than I hated trying them on. Plus, the last time I tried a size that was a little wider then what I was sued to, I could feel my ankle grinding. Not a good feeling. But, I figure if I’m going to do this 5K, I’d better have decent shoes for it. Mark assured me that while my trusty New Balance trainers were fine for general use and working out, these would be a far better option for any serious roadwork. I was sold the second I slipped them on and walked around outside (Could you see Foot Locker or Dick’s let you wear the shoes outside?). These have plenty of cushion and the motion control insoles really cradled my feet. I was concerned about the length difference in my feet, but they seem OK to start. If there’s a problem, Brooks will even create a mixed-pair order for me. Good to know.

So, speaking of shoes, I’m in a wedding on Saturday. I went to Men’s Wearhouse to get fitted and was presented with the dreaded rental shoe problem. Is there nothing worse than rental shoes? I mean, they don’t fit, they feel cheap, and they want to charge you $20 extra to torture your own feet. I was worried that I would have issues, so I went in search of my dress wingtips, which I might add I wore to my wedding almost nine years ago. They aren’t the greatest fit ever, but they should be enough to get me through the day, and Lord knows they are a better fit and quality than the rental shoes. I mean, seriously, bowling shoes are much more comfortable and don’t cost $20 to rent.

Other than that, I’ve been managing to keep food down today. My lunch was a crab burrito that we found at the store last night. It’s pretty spicy, not too much rice and loaded with beans, crab meat, and salsa. Oh, and Supportive Partner Woman (Still the bestest wife ever!) located some Copper River salmon and picked up a small piece. If you’ve never had this salmon, it’s easily the best you can find. It’s wonderfully red with no added dyes like the farm-raised stuff. (Also, I love seeing “Atlantic salmon – product of Chile… guess nobody ever looked at a map to see exactly where Chile is) I’m looking forward to plank roasting it and just having it melt in my mouth. The season only runs about a month, but,  well, damn.

We also attended the Friends of the Library book sale at Franklin & Marshall college. Gotta love when you can score three big bags of books for around $35. Plus, all the proceeds benefit the library. After we read the books, we wind up donating most of them back to the library, so they can be sold again. I would prefer to keep them, but storage space becomes a premium in a townhouse.

At any rate, I have an appointment with the boys tomorrow. I think I’ll be breaking out the Beasts and seeing if they get Ryan approval. I’m also going to invest in some decent socks that should help the blister conditions. The guys at Inside Track said that cotton socks are a bad choice because of how much moisture they hold. We will see what happens.

Hope that you all have a great day!

Song of the Day: Nineteen Forever – Joe Jackson

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