Taking a Break

After 7 months of running, I am ready for some time off.  I like to think of this upcoming 3 month training hiatus in terms of baseball.  Once the season is over, players take the next 4 months off before spring training fires back up in February.  I am taking the same approach.  I will still be working out, trying to continue my weight loss, but I will not be training as hard as I was during the past race season, if that is what you would call it. 

So let's rewind.  I'm currently weighing in steady at 174, down 32 from the beginning of the year.  I attribute nearly all of that to running and an improved diet.  I did have to cut down on beer, which sucked, but it did pay off in a big way.  I had to eat responsibly, and did not have to give up on all of my favorites, like pizza.  It was a little bit challenging, but I knew that going in.  It was either continue to be overweight, or do something about it.  It was gradual, for sure, never losing more than 7 or 8 pounds in a single month, but stretched out over 10 months, it adds up. 

Running has been enjoyable.  Granted, starting from scratch left me a little bit injured, having to seek chiropractic help through out the summer, I would consider it a learning experience in the grand scheme of things.  I plan on spending the winter working on my running form, and maintaining a nice fitness base so that training again next year won't seem like such a drain or shock to my system.  Hopefully I'll be able to avoid being hurt as often.

As far as running more races, I've got a few lined up for the next 15 months or so.  April will take me to scenic Abilene, Kansas for their Eisenhower Marathon/Half Marathon.  I will be running the Half Marathon.  In June, I'll make a return trip to Kansas City for the Hospital Hill Half Marathon.  Ambitious start to the season, but I want to push it more this year in order to keep that weight coming down.  Once I run Hospital Hill, I'll take a small 6 week break to rest and recover, and then start training for the KC Half Marathon, where my coach is planning on running the race as well.  She has been off to a good start with her jogging, knowing that she has a long time to get ready, so hopefully she'll be ready to run that one with me.  It all leads up to me tackling my first marathon in January of 2012 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.  I want that Mickey Mouse finishers medal.  There will, of course, be intermittent 5- and 10-K's thrown in for fun.

Hopefully, and it might seem far-fetched, I can drop my weight down to the recommended weight for a 5'10" guy, which is 153-156, depending on which calculation you use.  I figure that I've dropped 32 pounds so far, 18-21 should be attainable by Hospital Hill.  I also have made another challenge with myself.  If I can drop my weight down to 163 by February 4th, when we go to Des Moines for our annual rendezvous with the High Life Lounge, I will attempt the Adam Emmenecker Challenge, as seen on Man vs. Food.  So, that gives me a little bit of motivation throughout the winter, because I really want to try that sandwich. 

So that's that.  Thanks for reading and sharing the blog, and I hope you've found what I've written either entertaining or informative or inspiring, or all of them.  I'll be working out at Pinnacle Fitness 3-4 times a week, as well as fitting in some longer runs to keep my fitness up.  I'm guessing anywhere from 10-15 miles a week running, as well as weights and biking.  We'll see how it goes, and I'll make sure to have a special blog post about that sandwich.  Until next time...later.