Salamasond

Plans for 2011

2011-01-02T08:11:00.000-06:00

Run at least one marathon - already registered for Go! St. Louis in April
Weigh less than 200 lbs and maintain a "normal" BMI for at least 6 months of the year
Get into a homework routine with Ellie
Four random unplanned vacation days to spend with family
Maintain budget and continue to reduce debt

2010 Recap

2011-01-02T08:05:00.000-06:00

I kept a list of my 2010 plans on the fridge all year long and I think I did alright. I didn't complete everything I had planned, but do plans ever turn out exactly as you expect? Here's the recap from January 2010.

Continue to get in better shape:

I definitely did this. I didn't get quite as far as I'd hoped, but I finally got the Wii Fit to tell me that my weight was in the "normal" range.
I did run a half marathon, which was awesome, and have continued to run. My speed has increased so that I'm running 10k in under an hour.
Throughout the winter, I've been running in the St. Louis Track Club's Frostbite Series of runs, which will get me up to a half marathon in late January. I'm also registered for the Go! St. Louis Marathon in April!!
I gave myself credit for the "do pull-ups" goal because I was doing them on the swing set while pushing the girls on the swings this summer. I'm not proficient, but good enough for now.

Make the home office presentable again

This summer, my sister and her family came to live with us for a while as they transitioned to being St. Louis residents. The home office became my niece's room. And I'm thrilled with how nice it looked when she moved in! (In the end, she wanted to spend more time sleeping in her mom and dad's room, but it was still worth cleaning up.)

Improve financial management skills

We've definitely been pretty good at maintaining our budget. I think we missed one or two months, but we've done alright.
We also restructured some of our debt and have been able to make great progress. Close, but not quite a 50% reduction.

Improve work/life balance

Work/life balance is always complicated for me. With running during lunch at work and having lunches at home sometimes, I've definitely made progress. I haven't taken off as many random "let's go do something fun" days. There's progress to be made there.

Academic Avocation

I started NaNoWriMo again, this year, with the best of intentions. It didn't work out, though. My wife wasn't doing it along with me and we had a lot of things going on. Excuses, sure. After a week, I decided that it just wasn't worth it this year. Maybe next year.
I also didn't submit any book proposals. Oh well.

Other things I did accomplish this year:

A five mile hike up in the Snow Range in Wyoming that was truly awesome!
We're now expecting another child to join the family in March 2011.
I joined a business intelligence workgroup as part of HIMSS, which may lead to contributing to a book.
I volunteered to be a mentor for a Wash U engineering student.
I grew a winter beard.

Friday's Wednesday Weigh-in

2010-06-04T07:04:00.001-05:00

I feel like I've struggled with weight all my life. I remember times when parents told me I would hit a growth spurt and grow into my weight; I remember the day that my waist size got larger than my inseam; I remember telling myself thousands of times that I just have a big frame and would look silly any skinnier. Really good at deceiving myself. Well... today I reached a huge milestone. The Wii Fit told me that my BMI was in the "Normal" range today for the first time. As all of my friends know, I haven't weighed this little ever. I have only one close friend that's ever seen me weight less, and that's because we went to Junior High together.

From 2010-06

Happy National Running Day

2010-06-02T18:31:00.000-05:00

I got my long anticipated new running shoes today: Vibram FiveFinger Bakilas. I've only run halfway up the street and back a couple of times (with the girls), but so far so good. We'll see how they do on a longer run tomorrow maybe!

Coincidentally, today happens to be National Running Day!
Coincidentally, I officially announced the founding of the Sisters of Mercy Health System Running Club today, too.

Yeah for running!

Wednesday Weigh-In / Running Log

2010-05-19T06:57:00.000-05:00

Today's weigh-in came in at 205.4.... which is .9 lbs away from "normal." I'm less concerned about really being in the "normal" BMI range according to my Wii Fit. What I really want is just to hear the Wii Fit say "that's normal" or whatever it's going to say. I think I'll take a video of it when that happens!

Running plans include the St. Louis Science Center 5k/10k this weekend. Sarahlynn is running the 5k. I'm going to run the 10k. The girls are running a kids 1/2 mile around the planetarium. Fun stuff!! We practiced this past weekend in the nice cool weather.

More fun - Sarahlynn's parents are coming to visit this weekend and help watch the girls while we're running. (I think they're proud of us.)

Wednesday Weigh-In

2010-04-28T18:34:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've been pretty flat in my weight loss for too long. In the past month, I'm down just a pound. So, I took the time to look back on the Wii Fit (really wish I could do that online and post some graphics here easily). Last April, I was at a high of 265.4 (obese). Today, I weighed in at 206.8 (barely overweight). If I hit my goal by next Wednesday, I'll have lost exactly 60 lbs since last April and will have crossed over into the Wii Fit's definition of "normal" BMI range.

Clearly, I'm using my Wii Fit's calculations and ratings to measure my progress. I do recognize that my ultimate goal isn't to satisfy the Wii Fit. It's to get to a place where I'm comfortable with my weight. That's obviously both a physical exercise as well as a mental one.

And update to my running log, too. I'm now using SmartRunner on my phone for GPS tracking. It also keeps my running log up to date online, too. My RSS is here.

Before and After

2010-04-18T20:56:00.000-05:00

December 2005:	April 2010:

Granted, I think I was sick in the Dec 2005 picture.

Running with the girls

2010-03-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

Mommy is out of town at a weekend retreat tonight and tomorrow night and the girls had a late nap, so... we all went for a run together! I thought the girls could just ride in the bike trailer / stroller, we'd run down to see the Clydesdales, and then run back while listening to some Disney read-along stories. Well, the first 3/4 mile went that way, but then Ada REALLY wanted to get out and run, too.

She did great!!! She probably ended up running more than 1 full mile (on and off) of the 4.8 it takes to run down to the horses and back. Ellie got out ran a little bit along the way, too. They both got some great praise from a pair of mommies running past, and got to put some dogs, and throw rocks over the bridge into the creek. It was great!

But not very fast:
Time:    0:86:40
Distance:    4.85
Average Speed:    3.36
Average Pace:    17:52

Wednesday Weigh In

2010-03-18T00:36:00.000-05:00

Today's weigh-in: 213
Pounds left until I'm out of the "overweight" range on the Wii Fit: 7.5
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 40 minutes + 15 cool down

Challenges:
I gained 6 pounds while Nana and Grandpa were in town. In response, I went back on South Beach Phase 1 for the next couple of weeks. That was very effective at helping me take some weight off right after the Nov/Dec holiday binge. It seems to have been very effective again! As I said, I gained around 6 pounds with grandparents in town and have already taken that back off. That's awfully fast to lose that weight, but I'm not eating unhealthily.

Running Revelations:
First, I'm really enjoying Born to Run. It's helped me realize how lucky I am that my natural running stride is probably also a very healthy one; and really motivated me to keep running. It's an excellent read!

Second, I want to run faster. I'm getting good exercise at my 11 minute/mile pace, but it does limit where I can run to in an acceptable amount of time. I'd love to get to a consistent 9 minute mile for 10+ miles. So, I stretched out in my last 1/2 mile today and pushed to see what a faster pace would look like. I stretched out to an 8 minute mile. That felt a bit fast, but I kept it up. So, I've got something to work on and strive for other than distance now, too.

I like this running stuff -- I also like that I'm in better shape than I probably ever have been. I had a friend from college tell me that I look like I'm in better shape than when we first met, Freshman year.

Running with purpose

2010-03-15T00:54:00.000-05:00

I don't think that I'll ever be a full time running commuter, but I do like running with a purpose. Last week, I ran the 9 miles home from work even though my fully functional car was sitting in the parking garage. Today, I ran 6 miles round trip to the grocery store for a few things that we needed. (No 8.6 pounds of milk, but I did have 4 pounds of sugar and 2 pounds of butter. We were making cheese fudge to auction off at church. And, yes, I did probably indulge myself of enough fudge to cancel out the calories burned in the 6 mile run.)

Today's run: 6 miles, 70 min

Late morning run

2010-03-10T08:09:00.000-06:00

Late morning update today:

Distance: 2.9 miles ("around the block")
Time: 35 min + 12 cool down

Weather: sunny and mid 50s... perfect!

Wednesday Weigh-In

2010-03-10T06:06:00.000-06:00

Today's weigh-in: 213.4
Pounds left until I'm out of the "overweight" range on the Wii Fit: 7.5

Challenges:
Nana and Grandpa are in town. Which means we like to go out to eat and there's deliciously tempting treats around constantly.

Powerful Reminders:
That it's my choice, what I put in my mouth.

Helpful:
Did 30 Minute Shred on Monday.
Ran 9 miles from work to home on Tuesday.
Maybe I'll run tomorrow and Friday morning, too.

Wednesday Weigh-In / Running Log

2010-03-03T20:00:00.000-06:00

No-frills today (actually Thursday, but I'm going to pre-date my post.)

Today's weigh-in: 214.2
Pounds left until I'm out of the "overweight" range on the Wii Fit: 9.2

Today's run: 3.1 miles / 33 minutes

Don't Panic!

2010-03-02T07:30:00.014-06:00

Yesterday morning, my wife noticed a strange smell -- a "first day of winter furnace" smell. Hmm. Maybe we need a new filter, I figured. I don't change those nearly as often as I should. "I'll stop and pick one up after work. Oh, and the other four things I've been meaning to pick up at the hardware store, too."

No problem finding everything on my list:

Furnace filter
New kitchen faucet nozzle
New stopper for running toilet
New ceiling fan light bulbs

When I got home, I went straight to work on those repairs without even taking my work clothes off. Dunking my hands and shirt sleeves in cold toilet tank water; replacing the kitchen faucet nozzle over the disposal; up and down the stairs to replace the furnace filter; cleaned the bathroom sink drain with draino; etc. Ada needed to go potty. Helped out with that...

Something is wrong.

ACK! My wedding ring!! Where is it!??!

I should mention at this point that I've lost more than 55 pounds over the past year. In the cold, my wedding ring can almost slip off. I thought it was almost. Yesterday it really slipped off.

I practiced my parenting patience tool:
Stop
Take a breath
And
Relax

OK. Where have I been. (Go back and read the list. Toilet. Sink. Disposal. Basement.) Ugh. The worst places you can imagine to have potentially lost a wedding ring.

Long story of searching and near state of panic later -- my ring was in an outside open pocket of my work bag. As I'd slipped by bag off of my shoulder, it must have caught my ring just enough to pull it off. I was so focused on getting chores done that I didn't notice right away.

Oh... and it turns out that in the midst of all that. I discovered the furnace is broken. No pilot light. No power to the ignition module (which was just replaced last January). So, we had a fire and spent the night with the gas oven on trying to keep the house warm. I'll be calling the furnace guy in 40 minutes.

Skating

2010-03-01T00:14:00.000-06:00

It took us until this year and the very end of this year's skating season, but we finally took the girls out ice skating at Steinberg Rink.

I was impressed that both of the girls got around walking in their skates just fine. In fact, it got my hopes up that they'd take the ice more quickly that I had imaged. But, they didn't. Both girls had an absolute blast out on the ice with Daddy supporting most of their weight.

Today's back pain has been totally worth the joy I got from having them argue over who got to go next, and finding out that Ada threw a fit when I took Ellie around for two laps IN A ROW without taking her in between.

By my fifth lap around, I thought I had a good position for crouching to keep my balance and not kill my back. I felt really low to the ice, like Anton Ohno! By the end of the eighth lap, though, my hamstrings were starting to ache a little bit. (Still I ran 10.5 miles later that afternoon!) Luckily, the girls were ready for lunch, so I got a reprieve.

Needless to day, next season, I think we'll get out a few more times. I'll need some practice to get my back in shape for it.

Running Log 2010-02-27

2010-02-27T16:56:00.002-06:00

Time:    0:130:33
Distance:    10.53
Average Speed:    4.86
Average Pace:   12.34

First Wednesday Weigh-In

2010-02-24T23:07:00.000-06:00

It would have been more satisfying if I'd started this a year ago, but that's no reason not to start now. I haven't reached my weight / body image target... not quite yet.

In February 2009, I weighed 270 pounds and was starting to stretch the limits of my 44-inch "comfort waist" pants.

In February 2010, as of this morning, I weigh 215.4 pounds and just bought the first pair of 38-inch "regular fit" jeans that I've worn since I was a freshman in college. I wore my wedding tux a couple of weeks ago and noted, with their lack of belt loops, that if I lose any more weight, I'll have to have them taken in.

So, here's my first Wednesday Weigh-In, starting off with a very satisfying history of where I am today.

Running Log 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T22:15:00.000-06:00

Time:    0:105:31
Distance:    9.04
Average Speed:    5.14
Average Pace:    11:40

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Running Log 2010-02-07

2010-02-07T21:59:00.000-06:00

Distance: 11 miles
Time: long time
Exhausted

Running Log 2010-02-05

2010-02-06T07:01:00.000-06:00

Quick little jaunt around the highway in the snow. Pointed out that I need some wedgees for my glasses (we just bought some for Ellie and they're great).

Distance: 3.02 miles
Time: 34 minutes

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I'm Registered!

2010-02-01T22:31:00.001-06:00

It's official. I'm registered for the Go! St. Louis 1/2 Marathon. Phew... now to get over this cold and get back to training!

Date: 4/10/2010
Time: 7:00 AM
Location: Downtown St. Louis
Target Time: just to finish

Running Log 2010-01-27

2010-01-27T23:34:00.000-06:00

9.5 miles
2 hours

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Running Log 2010-01-17

2010-01-17T16:18:00.001-06:00

My longest run ever, by a couple of miles...

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Time:	0:107:13
Distance:	8.39

Running Log 2010-01-10

2010-01-10T16:53:00.000-06:00

Distance: 4.6 miles
Temperature: 20 deg F

Interesting experience: From my sister-in-law, I got a tight, long sleeve, wicking shirt. When I was done with this run, my body was completely dry, but the cotton shirt I had on top of that bottom layer was soaked like I'd been running in the summer. Amazing textile technology!

Very tired.

Running Log 2010-01-08

2010-01-08T20:58:00.000-06:00

Ran with a friend at work today!
Distance: 3.38 miles
Time: 40 minutes

He pushed my usual 4mph to 5mph. Exhausted!