MRTHNDAVE's SparkPeople Blog

Exercise log 02/26/2016

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:21:23 EST

Just passed my 10k test: 6.22 miles in 46:13 A pace of 7:26 per mile.

Exercise log 02/25/2016

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:17:00 EST

4 mile run in just under 40 minutes. I'm gearing up for a 10k trial run this weekend

Exercise log 02/24/2016

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:35:39 EST

I haven't kept up the logs over the past few days, but I have kept up the exercise. Over since my last post I've logged over 10 miles on the road and an hour of squash. Today will be pretty quiet. So far: 15 minutes of circuit training. The tiredness has definitely set in as I've been able to reach only 14.33 sets in the allotted time.

Exercise log 02/18/2016

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 08:29:00 EST

Circuit training today, 15 minutes. Happy to have been able to complete 16 full circuits in the time allotted

Exercise log 02/17/2016

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 21:18:10 EST

A busy morning kept me from being out early, but I was able to log 56 minutes walking with my wife in the evening.

Exercise log 02/16/2016

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:17:59 EST

This is my first log entry and the first step on the journey that I hope to make a habit. Today I ran 4 miles with my daughter Rebekah, who's on her way to a comeback 5K. Also, I did circuit training consisting of squats and 5 different types of lunges as well as push ups and v ups. Today, I improved from Friday of last week, accomplishing a full 14 circuits of the various types of exercise.

It's official, the license photos prove it!

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:12:44 EST

I've been offline pretty much since my injury when it comes to the SparkBlog, but today I had something I'd thought you might enjoy seeing. It's a comparison of license photos. When it comes to weight loss milestones, it can't get much more official!

In the first B&W photo, I weight 165, in the photo taken today, I weigh 145.

Enjoy!

Then and Now by the Numbers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:05:14 EST

Today I mark my one year anniversary on Spark People. Here are the results:

Weight

2008-168/2009-145

Waist

2008-36/2009-30.5

BMI

2008-23.4/2009-20.2

Body Fat

2008-19.8/2009-12.8

Cholesterol

2008-212/2009-126

Marathons since 2004

2008-0/2009-1

Marathon Recovery: It only hurts when I run...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:13:06 EST

So, I can use the elliptical trainer and give a full effort without pain. I can strength train, I can walk, and I can ride a bike without pain, but once I try to get going on a treadmill or start to jog, the ol' IT band starts to complain. Patience is my new mantra.

Grounded!

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:10:39 EST

Finishing the marathon, I had the mind to continue my training and pick off a few races before the snow flies. I had one race, the Turkey Trot 10K, in my sights. I was hoping that the marathon training, coupled with a few tweaks via speed work, would have me running a PR (personal record) in that race.

Nevertheless, after my Thursday run and my mid-morning walk with the kids this morning, I've come to the conclusion that I've got something akin to my IT band injuries after previo...

Marathon Report (Cross Posted from disciplemexico.org)

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 22:05:54 EST

It was 3:00 AM and I couldn’t sleep. I had gone to bed the night before, skipping the Yankees’ game, with the hope that the early evening drowsiness would translate into some solid rest. I managed a to get a few hours in, but, by the time that the clocks rolled back at 2:00, I knew my tossing and turning had become annoyingly obvious. Now, having held myself down for as long as I possibly could, I decided to get my day started.

I made my way into the kitchen. Coffee, toast and pean...

Thoughts Before the Marathon

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 05:58:57 EST

In my devotions in Oswald Chambers I came across these lines:

"Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, 'Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.'"

As I sit here in the quiet of my house just a few hours before my f...

Rainy Day Training

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:57:44 EST

It's been raining here in Missouri. Last week we had about three straight days of rain, and, with just a couple of days of relief, the rain has set in again this week. That means my running has head indoors.

Take today for instance. I was just about to head out for my 5 miler. Actually, I had just finished my stroll around the block that I take for a warm up, when the drops started falling. A quick change had me in the minivan and off the the gym. What we had signed up for as...

It's all downhill from here.

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:01:58 EST

I just finished my last 20 miler in preparation for the Bass Pro Marathon. I ran it on the actual marathon course. You can take a look at the workout on MapMyRun.com here: www.mapmyrun.com/view_workout?w=3361
25518859543460

It was a bit soggy after all of the rain that we've had here in Springfield, and my shoes we're thoroughly soaked by the time I was finished, but thoughts of warm slippers and a hot breakfast pushed me through to the finish line.

...

It's what you do next that counts.

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:02:57 EST

Twenty miles is a long way to run. Finishing that distance last Saturday was a moment to celebrate, an opportunity to be satisfied with my efforts. Still, training for a marathon is a day in and day out affair. The clock goes off the next morning and that last workout is a thing of the past. It's what you do next that makes the difference.

Resting on success is a sure recipe for disaster. Certainly we need time to rest; we need days off, but as we reach one goal, it's importa...

Pass it on.

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:51:04 EST

I finished a 16 mile training run just in time to see my kids off at the starting line of the Erie Zoo Fun Run. It was great to see them enjoying the exercise that has come to be the cornerstone of my personal fitness.

A notable exchange happened toward the end of the event. As the kids rounded the bend toward the finish, one mom, having accompanied her child on the run said, "they don't know it's supposed to hurt." Another lady replied, "Perhaps they'll never learn."

...

No Turning Back

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:35:50 EST

It's official! I've registered for the Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon to be held Sunday, November 1st in Springfield MO! The fee has been paid. The training plan is in place. I'm committed!

Running Away from my Problems

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:03:41 EST

I know it sounds bad. Getting out of the situation instead of pushing through, escaping, perhaps putting my head in the sand, but it's not that at all. No, since I've determined to run the Marathon for Mexico 2, in November, and I've started my training, I've literally run away from my health problems.

The road started last June, with a sinus infection leading to a doctor's visit and a cholesterol study. My numbers were sky high 215 total cholesterol, 149 LDL (bad) cholesterol a...

And some days, you just plod.

Wed, 27 May 2009 09:15:22 EST

I have to admit, I'd gotten used to running as a highlight of the day. I time to get away with myself, to think, and to order my cluttered mind. Today was different though. I'd left my iPod at home in a rush to get out the door. My heart rate monitor chest strap broke before I finished my warm-up and the run itself was more of a slog than a a jog.

Maybe it was the cold that has been trying to hang on, maybe it was the lack of sleep as the heat in Mérida has made it hard even fo...

The week that was

Fri, 22 May 2009 10:41:58 EST

Normally, I'm blogging at the beginning of the week and giving you an idea of what's to come. Because of a trip at the beginning of the week, today finds me looking back on the week that was:

My running schedule was a bit more demanding:

Sun: 8
Mon: Cross
Tues: 5
Wed: 6
Thurs: 5
Fri: Cross
Sat: 4

But what is really different this week is this cold that I'm dealing with. I felt the symptoms coming on a couple of days ago, b...

Marathon Training Update: A Bit of a Rest

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:21:54 EST

The mileage buildup that I am using in order to toughen me up for the real training to come is set up in cycles, three weeks build-up and one week of rest. Currently, I'm in a rest week.

What does that mean? It means that instead of 26 miles, I'm only running 15, and I get a day off! Here is what it looks like:

Sun: 4
Mon: Cross
Tues: 3
Wed: Off
Thurs: 4
Fri: Cross
Sat: 4

Neverthe...

In the Zone

Thu, 7 May 2009 22:35:32 EST

It happened. The perfect song on the Ipod. The perfect time of day. The perfect stretch of road. Everything clicked into an amazing runner's high. What started as just another training run evolved into a dream of weightlessness, floating, if but for a few minutes, over the pavement.

In the middle of it all I reminded myself, "This is why I run." I can't wait until Saturday.

Keeping up the intensity

Sat, 2 May 2009 17:18:32 EST

I've lost the weight. I've realized several goals. Time to relax, right? Wrong!

My goal wasn't to look good for swimsuit season. It wasn't to lose a couple of pounds before I turned 35 this last week. My goal is to live this life to the fullest, to be the best that I can be.

I take a look at who I am right now and I say, I've improved physically. I'm lighter, stronger, and faster, but am I better? I've got more energy, but how am I using it? It's not time to let...

Why the marathon?

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:52:43 EST

At the end of my last marathon I thought, with the changes that we were experiencing, that perhaps I had run my last. I had accomplished a personal best of 3:49 and change. I felt that I had proven myself as a runner and that I was ready to move on to other challenges, one of those being moving to a different country and learning a new language. It's funny though, as my life has progressed, now 5 years later, I've gained proficiency in Spanish, and we've been abroad learning and contributi...

Test Tomorrow

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:40:56 EST

No, not that kind of a test, rather my longest run of my official marathon mileage build-up schedule: 7 miles. It's not that I've never run 7 miles before, it's that I've never done it in the context of a seven day a week training program.

My previous marathon training schedules incorporated about 5 days of training. I would run, and basically that was it. Now, I'm strength training and cross-training, all with the goal of being the best that I can be on that starting line. Of...

A Beautiful Day

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 17:41:00 EST

Waking up to my wife's kiss, breakfast with my kids, a great cup of espresso, and then a run.

Pounding out 7.30 miles, breathing steadily, firing on all cylinders.

Coming home to pray, then strength training, rewarding myself with a breakfast burrito.

Finishing a work project.

It truly is a beautiful day.

Switched it Up and Now I'm Sore!

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 11:06:11 EST

Since my kids have been home for their Holy Week break, I've been trying to coordinate fitness with their activities. Yesterday, we went to the park. Kelly and I started with a warm-up walk, and then I finished with 3 miler. After that, it was time for strength training.

For lack of a towel, I switched my isometric towel hold for some old-school pull-ups. I figured that it would be a pretty even swap. However, waking up this morning, I realized that I had made an error. Whi...

A Bit of a Scare

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:11:24 EST

Yesterday was pretty much spent in bed. After my spinning class, I began to feel that I was spinning myself. My stomach was upset, and I was having trouble maintaining my balance. I thought of the relleno negro that I had had the night before, but I also thought about my famous sinus illnesses. Some of which had had me sidelined for weeks. As I laid in my be watching the Yankees lose, I prayed, "Please, God, don't let this one day stretch into others." I went to sleep thinking, we'll wa...

Marathon Pace?

Sat, 4 Apr 2009 14:16:58 EST

My schedule on HalHigdon.com, which begins in June has me running pace workouts on Saturdays. I'm wondering what I should decide on as a goal per mile pace in my marathon.

My PR from 5 years ago was 3:49 which was an 8:45 pace, but that was carrying about 15 pounds of extra weight as well. I'm down from my race weight at that time of about 165 to my current weight of 149.

My most recent 10K was done in 47:06 at the end of February. Race predictors determine that I sh...

Something new

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:27:49 EST

In the spirit of shaking things up a bit, I decided that now was the time to try that spinning class that I always wanted to enter. I had seen the classes before, and they looked like a good way to get in more cardio without the additional impact of pounding the pavement that running brings along with it. It looked like fun to boot!

So today, at 6:00 AM I entered the cycling center, had my bike adjusted, and away we went. It took a bit to figure out the moves, how to stand, sit,...

Back in the Saddle Again!

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:20:22 EST

Well, the week is over. I'm pleased that I held my own without the benefit of the nutrition tracker and the message boards, but I'm glad to be able to access all of those tools and be an active part of the Spark Community again!

I kept up the running during my absence, however, running over 17 miles, some of those with my twin brother and fellow sparker, Mike. My marathon training continues this week with a bit of a rest, only 12 miles total running. So I'll be offsetting the di...

Out of Pocket

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:05:30 EST

I have been out of contact with Spark People for a bit this week. I´m in a small Mexican town with limited access to the Internet. I´ve contented myself with an occasional spin and trying to keep up the exercise habits. I won´t be gone permanently though. I´ll be back next week to keep on sparking.

20 Pounds Lighter

Sat, 7 Mar 2009 14:02:46 EST

When I began my journey I weighed 168 pounds. I thought, "I'm at a healthy weight, I just need a little toning." So I entered the Spark 5 program. "Maintaining" on that plan I find myself today 20 pounds lighter, and I say to myself, "What an unhealthy 168 I was." I lacked energy, I was getting sick frequently, and my fitness for running was beginning to become a figment of my imagination. Now, I'm more mobile, I've got more energy, and I'm burning up the pavement when I compare my current...

Little Adjustments on the Way

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:57:57 EST

I remember watching my wife as she would weigh and measure years ago on Weight Watchers. I would say, "That's a bit much for me!" I didn't want to be bothered by all of the "extra time" that it would take. Looking back, I realize how foolish I was to think that way, but I was overwhelmed with the ideas that were being thrown at me at the time:

"Eat oatmeal!"
"Cut out saturated fats!"
"Track your calorie intake!"
"Eat heart healthy oils!"
"Watch trans fats!"

Where Did That Come From?

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:00:02 EST

I was up with the alarm at 5:15 this morning and out the door a few minutes later to run my virtual 10K race. I had set my watch for a pace somewhere in between 9:00 and 7:00 minutes per mile, thinking that if I could beat my previous 10K time of 54 and change that I would be satisfied.

Cruising from the start, I began with just under an 8:00 min/mile pace. I thought to myself, "If I can hold this up, I'll be happy," but there was a long way to run. So I ran on pushed along by...

Virtual Race Anyone?

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:45:24 EST

Finding races has been a bit difficult lately, now that our kids have changed from track to basketball, but fortunately, there's Spark People to help me stay tuned and race ready. A bunch of runners from the Sparky Marathoners team are hitting the streets this weekend to log their runs, some in real races, others solo. We are then posting our results to the message boards to see who "won." All that is lacking is the T-shirt and the post-race buffet!

So tomorrow, at 5:15 AM or so...

An Active Day Off

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:15:22 EST

We had the chance to take a day off on Monday as the kids were off from school, so what did we do? Kick back at the pool? Take a rest at the beach? Forget about it! After my 3 mile run, we were off to the Ek-Balam ruins to explore and be active!

At the ruins, we climbed every structure, from the pyramid which they say is larger than el castillo in Chichen Itza, to the Oval Palace, an interestingly shaped structure at the site's entrace. After that, it was a 20 minute mountain ...

Marathon Training

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:47:07 EST

Staying on track for my November marathon, I started my mileage build-up on Sunday. You can check out the schedule on State of the Art Marathon Training . My actual completion of the schedule will differ a bit from the model because my weekends tend to be a bit busier than my weekdays. This will serve me until 18 weeks before the marathon, when I think I head back to Hal Higdon's sit...

Acting More Like My Mom

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:55:19 EST

My mom has a way of making things inefficient. I remember when she would plan to go downtown. She would always set aside another 45 minutes for the walk down. "Walk!" I would say, "Why walk when you have a perfectly good car that can take you there in a quarter of the time?"

How times change. Just today I took my daughter to her practice walking and then walked past my house in the other direction to get copies made, coming back the long way to get those extra minutes in, all w...

Making Sleep a Priority

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:27:12 EST

Muscle soreness, runny noses, grogginess in the morning, the need for a nap in the afternoon, it's all related to my lack pf sleep these days. I'm having trouble closing the door on the day and hitting the sack on time in order to get the rest I need. So far this week, I've not even logged one night of proper rest.

Sure, I have my excuses: projects to finish, the kids' homework taking up an abundance of the afternoon hours, a house to keep clean, exercise goals to meet, but all w...

Ugh! Strength Training

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:21:21 EST

Marathoning takes its toll on the muscles of the body. All of the pounding of a 26.2 mile race has a way tearing down the body and leaving it like a lifeless mass at the end of the race. One of the ways to help maintain form and power for the race is to train those muscles to be more efficient over the long haul. Enter strength training.

I started strength training with my entry into Spark People almost 3 months ago. Now, I'm specifying a bit more in order to match the demands ...

Enjoying the Ride

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:57:30 EST

I went running today for about 4.8 miles. I wanted to add a bit of spice to it, so I picked up the pace for a comfortably hard effort in 2 minute speed 4 minute rest intervals. I thought that perhaps I would be able to log some decent 8 min per mile sections throughout the run. That was the plan at least.

As I ran the pickups, I looked down at my garmin 301, and I was surprised to see that I was logging 6:35 to 7:00 min per mile during the speedwork. What can this mean? Perha...

Carryover

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:36:49 EST

It takes a chunk of time in order to train for a race of 26.2 miles, but instead of feeling like a burden to bear, I find that it becomes a catalyst for more activity in my day. I have more energy and more drive to accomplish what I'm trying to achieve. What's more, I find that the time on the road helps me to think, to prioritize and plan, so that my non-exercise hours are spent more efficiently.

Got paperwork? Bring it on! Tedious assignments? No problem. Cleaning to do? I'm...

Announcing it to the world

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:26:25 EST

When we make changes in our lives, a lot of times, we like to keep it quiet. A board post here on SparkPeople.com is a case in point. We are afraid of not being able to follow through. We've failed before, we tell ourselves, and if it happens again, we'd hate to have to live that out in front of others, even in front of those who truly want us to succeed....

I Wish I Could Capture it for You

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:45:49 EST

Running in the mornings has really become a joyful part of my day. Spending time alone, enjoying silence before the city has awoken, there is a sense of peace like in no other time. Still, today and yesterday were extra special. As I left the house, there in the sky was the full moon, shining brightly like a giant pearl in the sky. As I ran I looked over my shoulder several times to appreciate it's beauty. Just another part of God's wonderful creation that I get experience in these preci...

Not a Diet, A Lifestyle

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 08:41:23 EST

I received my results from the cholesterol study. I'm making progress on several fronts, but I'm not "there" yet. My total cholesterol and LDL levels are down, but my HDL levels remain low.

Now, while one could get despondent and decide to quit, I've decided that the results are simply an indicator of the reality of my situation. I'm not on a diet. I'm not doing this until I reach a goal weight only to quit. This is a lifestyle.

I've received the comments of tho...

Checking the Levels

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 12:19:06 EST

Today is the day I get a chance to take a look at the changes that are going on inside my body. Oh, I can talk about feeling better and having more energy, but when it comes to health care, we're measured by cold hard numbers. So today, I went in for my cholesterol screening.

Last night was a 12 hour fast in order to prepare. I went into the lab at 7, and I'll have my results at 5. Following this, I'll be visiting with my doctor, this time, not just with the results of the test...

A Little Friendly Competition

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 14:46:22 EST

There is nothing to keep you on track toward a fourth marathon like a little friendly competition. That's what I'm getting through SparkAmerica. I'm pitting myself against fellow Springfieldians to see who will come out on top each month. In January, I got off to a bit of a slow start and finished 9th, but this month I've gotten a head start and currently rank third!

Not that this will consume me; it's just another thing that gets me out the door at 5:30 to go for that run or do...

Spreading the Spark

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:28:49 EST

I got out this morning with a friend in order to get in some spinning. Unfortunately for us, the gym instructor arrived late, so we hit the park instead for a few laps. While we were walking, he commented on my weight loss, and congratulated me on my progress. Naturally, I shared the secret to my success thus far--the tools and motivation that I'm receiving through SparkPeople.com . I told him about the nutrition tracking and exercise logs, the poi...

Consistency: what it means to me after a month

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:09:12 EST

It's early mornings.
It's looking through the laundry to find some running socks.
It's accepting the little acheivements
It's getting up after a fall.
It's not being content to stay where I'm at.

Training Today:
Running 7.15 miles 66 min.
Strength Train 30 min.