2011 Rockledge Rumble Volunteers Needed!

I am planning to run the 2011 Rockledge Rumble as my first 50K ultramarathon. My training is going well and I am confident that I will go the distance.

All three races of the Rumble are filled, so if you haven't signed up already it is too late to register to run. However, it is NOT too late to get involved with the race!

I just received the following message from Michael Melder, the volunteer coordinator for the Rumble. He is already starting the process of putting together the small army of people needed to pull off the event. If you are not running the Rumble, please consider volunteering.

Here's the message from Michael.

Week 58: Tickled Pink

I never thought I'd use the phrase "tickled pink" when describing my weight loss progress, but this morning that is exactly how I feel! I lost just over a half pound last week, the fourth straight week of weight loss, bringing me to a total loss of 32.5 lbs since I started my Three In Three Challenge!

I was expecting a good slap when I stepped on the scale this morning because I haven't been playing very close attention to my eating over the last week. And I know from past experience that if I don't track it, I will tend to eat more than my allotted calories, resulting in weight gain. I need to get back to the tracking so I can keep this ball rolling.

I am about a pound away from the lowest weight I've registered since I started this challenge (which was around Week 32 or about six months ago). Then I hit some kind of set point and was stuck within a few pounds for months! But it seems like I've broken through and I am on my way down again.

Self talk... you can do this, just keep at it, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming... D'oh! A little Dory flash back there...

Week 57: Three Big Steps Forward

I was pretty excited when I stepped on the scale this morning. This is the third week in a row that I've lost weight, this time almost a pound. Ya baby! I feel like I've taken three big steps forward. Yes, I know the step back is coming, but I'm OK with that.

What's working? Well, I continue to keep track of my consumption and stay within my daily allotted calorie totals. I'll be honest that some days I go slightly over, but I try to offset those by going slightly under the next day.

I just need to keep up the discipline. The hard thing about weight loss is that the process never stops. Now that I've been smoke free for almost two years, I rarely think about smoking. However, I think about food every day, morning, noon, and night. So, although quitting smoking was tough, this diet thing is even tougher.

I give a lot of credit to those who have lost weight and kept it off. It takes a true lifestyle change and ongoing discipline to achieve that. Cheers to you!

Active-Isolated Stretches

This might change your thinking about proper stretching...



Phil Wharton, who has worked with some of the top runners in the world over the last 15 years, explains the science of flexibility and demonstrates a few key Active-Isolated stretches.

Week 56: Steady Progress

Once again I lost weight over the last week. I am very excited about it. I have been very careful to track my eating and to stay within my allotted calories. In addition, I've resumed my training. I think the combination of the two are helping me to stay focused and the result was positive (well, negative as to my total weight!!!).

I don't plan to change anything this upcoming week but instead to do more of the same. Continue to track excessively what I eat and to stop eating when I reach my daily total. I will also continue with my running, which I know also contributes to my weight loss.

I finally feel like I am getting my arms around this portion of my Three In Three Challenge. I'm excited about it again.

2011 Rockledge Rumble Update 1

I just received the following update from the race director of the Rockledge Rumble (which will be my first official ultramarathon). If you are planning to run the Rumble, better get your entry in soon!

The Rumble is filling fast with the 15K already filled. The 30K and 50K are already 50% full as of today. So if you are planning to run the Rumble don’t wait until the last minute as you won’t get in.

Week 55: Yes, It Works!

I am back to running and I am also back to closely tracking what I eat. I am being very careful to balance my intake and to stay within my allotted amount. As a result, I LOST WEIGHT THIS WEEK!!!!!!

Ya baby!

I continue to use MyFitnessPal to track my eating and exercise and it works well. The tool is FREE and makes it really easy to track. I can even update my information via my SmartPhone, so I have no excuses.

The hard part is to continue doing what I know works. Wonder why that is?

Resuming My Training

My foot is recovering quickly from my recent bout of plantar fasciitis. This morning my foot was just mildly achy when I stepped out of bed. My doctor had prescribed a regimen of icing and stretching and that is working out well.

So today I decided to resume my 50K training schedule. I am about 15 weeks away from running my first ultramarathon and achieving my second of three goals. As long as my plantar fasciitis continues to behave itself, I don't see any roadblocks to completing my training and running a strong ultramarathon.

Bring it on!

It's Worth It!

Last week I went to my doctor for my yearly physical. As I mentioned in my Three In Three Challenge, he was the person that inspired me to start this journey. Inspired is probably not the best word... scared the HELL of of me is probably a better fit! Anyway, I set out on this journey to transition from fat to fit. So what were the results of my last physical?

By this time last year I had already quit smoking but I had not yet started my dieting or my running. He identified three issues at my last physical. First, I was borderline obese. Second, my blood pressure was high. And third, I was outside the safe guidelines in all four areas of my cholesterol (weighted average, triglycerides, HDL, LDL).

So over the last year I changed my eating habits and ran my ass off. Was it worth it?

Week 54: I'll Take It

I haven't been running much due to a bout of plantar fasciitis. So I've been concerned about gaining weight. As a result I have been paying closer attention to my eating than I have over the last couple of months. I wish I could report that I've lost weight but I haven't. Instead, I gained slightly, a half pound. I'll take it.

I have started running again and hope that by keeping my consumption in check, the extra miles will help knock off some of the weight.

I never through this would be the hardest of my three in three goals to achieve.

I'll get there.