The Chances

How a 250+ Pound Couch Potato Got Healthy

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Early Morning 9-Miler

I've noticed the past few days, a lot of people have been commenting on the morning weather, either on Twitter, on Facebook, on blogs, and elsewhere. I don't blame them, I'm about to do the same thing, because of this amazing California weather.

This is the time of year when the weather doesn't seem to want to stay the same. It can't figure out whether to be spring or remain winter. This morning for example, it was 48 degrees when I ran at 4am, and by afternoon, there were 20mph winds.

But really, 48 degrees at 4am? Sure, I could see my breath, but this is the same temperature it was two weeks ago at 8am, when I ran the Bidwell Half. It's gorgeous morning climate, but I have to wonder, does this mean the summer's going to be hotter than last year?

I mentioned 4am. Today was a scheduled 9 mile run, which is much farther than I can fit into lunch. As with the 8 mile run I did two weeks ago, I decided to do it in the morning. Unquestionably, it was the right decision, it was perfect running weather. Of course, I wore my Brooks reflective yellow running vest, my headlamp, and my flashing red light from Fleet Feet.

It was going great, and when I got to the end of the E Street Bridge, I decided to run over the levee and into Riverfront Park rather than run on the levee. By doing this, I had a steeper hill to run over, but I wouldn't have to walk over the railroad tracks.

I turned around at 4.5 miles, walked for a bit while I drank water, listening to the Mike O'Meara Show podcast. I think I've mentioned this before, but by listening to podcasts and music, i develop strong memories of particular runs based on the content of what I'm listening to. I'm sure this will be no different months from now.

As I ran along the final sidewalk portion of Arboga Rd., I couldn't help but think of how much water there was the last time I ran early in the morning. In fact, that was the run I stepped right into a big puddle and ran with a soaked foot the last two miles.

As I approached the dreaded Furneaux Rd., I was looking down at the road and thought gee, my foot's not going to land properly. No sooner had that thought crossed my mind that my foot landed on the edge of the asphalt, and BAM, down I went.

When you think about it, it's a wonder I haven't fallen since long before last year's California International Marathon. That was in December, but my ankle twist and subsequent fall was in August! Six months without a fall, for me, is a fabulous record.

Anyway, I landed on the corner of my left hand/wrist, then rolled onto my right side and right arm.



As I got up, I was momentarily afraid that I wouldn't be able to go on. That was brief, and after walking it out for about a quarter mile, I was fine for the rest of the way home.


See the activity on RunSaturday
Type:Run - General
Duration:2:34:00
Distance:9.00 mi




Splits
Mile 1: 9:44
Mile 2: 9:39
Mile 3: 9:47
Mile 4: 10:30
Mile 5: 11:53
Mile 6: 10:32
Mile 7: 9:44
Mile 8: 12:28
Mile 9: 9:37

9 miles, 1:34, 10:26/mi average, 949 calories burned

This Saturday is the Bok Kai Festival in Marysville, and along with it comes a 5k. It should be fun, I'm going to register on Saturday morning, run the race, then watch the kids in the parade afterwards. I haven't run a 5k since Frost or Fog, hopefully I'll do well!

From Twitter 03-17-2010



  • 03:03:39: New post on my blog: From Twitter 03-16-2010: 03:12:53: New post on my blog: From Twitter 03-15-2010: 03:02:47: Ne... http://bit.ly/dACmOq
  • 06:21:27: Wt: 175.4, RHR: 49, BF: 17.5% #myhealthstats #fb
  • 07:39:36: Crap, I'm not wearing green! NOOOOO!
  • 08:20:17: Someone tell this girl to stop saying "O M G" out loud.
  • 08:37:19: Dude... James Lipton wrote the theme for Thundercats
  • 08:47:19: I just got an email asking for toner. Actually, he asked for a new "carteidge".
  • 08:49:48: RT @johnmoe: My friend Peter looks at Droid at mall kiosk. Him: How do apps work on this? Salesman: Droid has no apps but you can build ...
  • 09:06:24: Girl is at one of our remote offices, she called asking me why she can't get onto our wireless router. We don't have a wireless router.
  • 09:06:45: She then asked, "Then why do I see several of them when I tell it to connect?"
  • 09:21:09: Woo! Got my work computer to sync my Garmin with @dailymile. I had to plug in the ANT, then manually remove its driver.
  • 11:30:22: http://twitpic.com/196624 - Steve Austun... astronaut... a man barely alive...
  • 11:38:02: Did you guys see this Bing commercial? The music was the tipoff for me. :) http://bit.ly/G0EZb
  • 12:10:34: Wonderful, "wireless access" woman is blaming me for no access. 1st time in 3yrs someone's wanted laptop access in that office.
  • 13:58:46: Doing maintenance on my @dailymile imports.
  • 16:58:14: I'm at Bradshaw Shell (3591 Bradshaw Rd., Sacramento). http://4sq.com/5xcgQc


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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

From Twitter 03-16-2010



  • 03:12:53: New post on my blog: From Twitter 03-15-2010: 03:02:47: New post on my blog: From Twitter 03-14-2010: 03:02:45: Ne... http://bit.ly/9Vj4Rk
  • 06:14:42: Wt: 174.6, RHR: 48, BF: 17.2% #myhealthstats #fb
  • 06:43:06: I'm at Tower Mart (4217 Arboga Rd., McGowan Pkwy, Olivehurst). http://4sq.com/7CHyek
  • 07:49:06: A supervisor apparently doesn't write emails to the owner's approval, so he wants her to switch from Thunderbird to Outlook
  • 07:49:23: and use a grammar checker. To make sure she's trained, he's having me sit with her.
  • 07:49:25: For two hours.
  • 09:47:35: If women get Diva Night at the running store, what do men get? Power Drill Day?
  • 09:57:38: "What's Java?" No, user, you really don't want to know. It's just something that "makes things work".
  • 09:59:37: "Wow, supporting us must be a full time job." Yup, that's my full time job. Or so they tell me, but I do everything else, too. :P
  • 10:26:18: New post on my blog: Sunday's 16-Mile Long Run: I just realized I didn't blog Sunday's run!Since it's been a few d... http://bit.ly/a5tD7D
  • 13:16:06: Intervals: 1k, 2k, 1k, 1k (400m RI), 5.1miles total, 535 calories - http://bit.ly/axVgmw
  • 13:19:18: MapMyRun.com: Updated 2010/03/16 . 535 (kcal). 5.08 mi.. 00:50:22
  • 15:54:11: Annoyed as hell that the garmin sync doesn't work on my work computer. I think it's just majorly broken :)
  • 15:54:16: Not @dailymile, my work computer.
  • 16:39:15: I forgot this earlier because I got busy, but
  • 16:39:20: #Lost! #fb
  • 16:39:43: Going dark from the Internet until #Lost is over.
  • 17:11:44: I'm at Bradshaw Shell (3591 Bradshaw Rd., Sacramento).
  • 21:09:45: I'm at Arco AM/PM (886 Colusa Ave., Yuba City). http://4sq.com/4GQc56
  • 21:21:03: I'm at Walgreen's (855 Colusa Hwy, Yuba City). http://4sq.com/axV030
  • 22:47:40: Ran 5.07 miles in 50 mins and felt great. Now this is what I'm talking about! Beautiful weather, feeling good, min... http://bit.ly/co3vRD
  • 22:53:18: By Grepthar's hammer!
  • 23:14:09: New post on my blog: Intervals - 1k, 2k, 1k, 1k (400m RI): Wow. Where can I begin? Today's run was one of those ... http://bit.ly/bWyDU8


Tweets copied by twittinesis.com


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Intervals - 1k, 2k, 1k, 1k (400m RI)

Wow. Where can I begin? Today's run was one of those where everything just comes together. The morning at work was crap, and things kept happening to push my run back. I was trying to get outside by 10:30, but by noon I still hadn't run. Once the guy working on the outside lights was finished doing his job, I was able to bolt to the restroom and change.

It was already 70 degrees, and I was a bit worried. I'm not used to these spring temperatures! Nevertheless, I went for it, and boy was I glad I did.

The intervals, as expected, were difficult. As I've been doing lately, I didn't run across the freeway. I think I've learned my lesson with that nonsense, especially on interval days. No more grumbling to myself about traffic!


See the activity on RunSaturday
Type:Run - Intervals
Duration:1:50:22
Distance:5.07 mi




There were four intervals total: 1k, 2k, 1k, and 1k, with a 400m rest interval in between. Paces were:

Intervals
1k: 8:16/mi
2k: 8:32/mi
1k: 8:36/mi
1k: 8:47/mi

After warmup & cooldown, it was a total of 5.07 miles in 50:22, with an average pace of 9:56/mi. I burned 535 calories.

With the weather being as warm as it was today, I think I haven't worked this hard or sweat this much on a run since September/October. Does this mean winter is now a thing of the past? We shall certainly see!