Starting Again… Again!

It has taken a long time to recover from my back surgery... about three years, much longer than expecvted. And of course, during that time, I wasn’t exercising and went back to my old bad habits, gained my weight back. Add to that the whole Covid thing over the last couple of years, and I’ve basically been sitting on my ass at home, doing nothing.

I can’t stand it anymore! It's time for a change. It's time to reset and restart my Three in Three Challenge… but slightly tweaked...

1. Establish a healthy lifestyle.
2. Lose 50 lbs.
3. Train for and complete an Ultramarathon.

I think the key this time will be patience… take it slow, build up slowly, listen to my body. 

Here we go again!

Rupture, Fix It, Repeat?

Last Thursday I had my back surgery. Everything seemed to be going well until I became sick from the pain meds. They caused me to throw up uncontrollably for about five minutes. After it was over, the rupture pain returned to my back and the next day I had pain going down my leg again.

I went back to my doctor and he noted that I still have some strength in my toes, so he is hopeful that I just irritated the nerves (as opposed to rupturing again). So he put me on a steroid pack and up'ed my pain meds. I just finished my last steroid this morning and I can say they didn't help. I still have a sharp pain in my left leg, and I've lost feeling and strength again in my left foot, both signs of disc material pushing on the nerves.

Tonight I have another MRI scheduled and I visit my doctor on Wednesday for him to read them. This might sound strange, but I actually hope I ruptured again. Why? Because that will explain the pain I am in. If I didn't rupture, than I am very concerned why I am in so much pain. It's been long enough since the surgery for the post-surgical pain to subside. And the post surgery pain felt different than this. So if I ruptured (again), it explains everything and I can get it fixed and begin recovery (again).

Onward.

Starting Over... Almost!

It's been a long time since I've posted. I've gone through an interesting time over the last three years, since I had to stop running due to the plantar fasciitis. Since I couldn't run I decided to take up another sport, martial arts. For almost two years I've studied Taekwondo and I'm loving it. However, back in January I injured my back in a sparring match. A couple of weeks later I ruptured a disc in my back. I have surgery this upcoming Thursday to fix it and then about three months of recovery and physical therapy.

So that brings you up to date.

Now... I ended up putting all the weight back on. I feel like with my injury and weight gain I've hit rock bottom (again!). But the positive... I think the injury was just what I needed to wake me back up. I have a brand new opportunity to get back on my feet (literally) and to start again.

So, my goals are:

1. Lose 50 lbs.
2. Run a 50 mile ultramarathon.
3. Don't get injured!

On the first goal, I plan to use MyFitnessPal to track my eating. I am going to link MyFitnessPal to MapMyFitness to track my trail running and other activities. What's cool about MyFitnessPal is that it automatically adjusts the number of calories for the day based on the amount of exercise I get. So work more, eat more! That's a motivator for me!!!

On the second goal, I won't get to a 50 mile ultra this year, or maybe even next. So my goal for this year is to get back into trail running and to build up consistency and some endurance. Maybe a 30K by the end of the year. I will reevaluate at the end of the year to determine if I can hit my 50 miler in 2016 or need more time for training.

On the third goal, I need to figure out how to do the first two goals safely. I've been derailed a few times in my quest to transition from fat to fit, all due to injuries. So this time I will pay close attention to my body and listen to its warnings.

Would appreciate you cheering me on!

I'M BACK!!!

I have finally reached a place where I think my foot has recovered to the point that it can handle some mileage. I've been going out for occasional walks on the street, four or five miles at a time, and my foot seems to be able to take the activity. No returning pain from the plantar fasciitis. I am hopeful that I've healed and I am ready to resume my Three In Three Challenge.

However, I will need to reset my goal. When I originally set my goal, it would have been this month that I ran my first ultramarathon. But that's not going to happen. The concept of the original goal still applies (to get into shape), but the timing is pushed out because of my plantar fasciitis injury well over a year ago.

So at this point, I am not going to set a training plan, I am not going to start measuring every mile and reporting every pound like I did last time--at least not at this point. Instead, right now, I am just going to focus on getting back into a routine and slowly building up my base. I am not going to try to break any land speed records but instead just get out there each day and put in some easy miles. Will probably jog a little and walk a little at the start. It's more important right now to get back into the routine.

Please cheer me on!

Waiting

I haven't posted in a while. Why? Because I haven't had much to say. I am in a waiting mode. Each time I try to run my plantar fasciitis flairs up. So I decided to just stop running.

Its been about six weeks since I ran the trail. I miss it. But I think waiting is the best thing for my recovery. It's been about 10 months since my original injury. I've gone through numerous cycles of recovery and reinjury. And I think because I've tried to get back to running sooner I've just prolonged the recovery process.

So, I am going to continue to wait. Probably for another couple of months. Then, maybe, I'll be ready to start again.

Patience, patience patience.

Thank You DORBA!

I have been running a new portion of the Northshore trail. The new section was recently cut by DORBA with volunteers from some of the local running and riding clubs. Work like this makes Northshore such a special place.

Thank you to all who help make this a reality.

Some pics from the new trail.

SNAKE!!!

I am no snake expert, but I think I came across my first copperhead on the trail this year. I can say it startled me big time, just about had a heart attack!

I basically stood there for about a minute and waited for the snake to slither its way into the woods. I thought about trying to go around it but that would mean I would need to go off the trail I was convinced there were other snakes waiting for me! So I just waited, patiently.

Call me a wuss--but one of my trail running rules is... don't play with the snakes!

Inspiring Marathon Story

Have you ever thought about running a marathon? Yea, no problem.

How about a muddy, dirty, trail marathon? Yea, piece of cake.

How about a muddy, dirty, trail marathon WITH your spouse and five kids? WHAT! Are you NUTS??

That's right. Last weekend the Barron family (all seven of them) completed the Grasslands Trail Run, 26.2 miles of mud, dirt, sweat, and probably some tears.

If they can do it, you can too!

Watch this...

Discipline

I am finally over my little pity party and I am back to training. I went to the grocery store this morning and stocked up on fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, basically what I was eating while I was on the Paleo Diet for Athletes. And I went out for a short trail run this morning, more of a jog actually, just to get things moving again. I will start working on building my foundation next week. It's all about getting back into the habit. It's about discipline. 

For those that know the Northshore Trail, following is a picture from the crossing near the concrete bridge. Usually you can step on a couple of rocks to cross this creak. But today I but it was knee high, the result of some heavy rains over the last week or so. 

Excuses, excuses

That is all I really have... excuses, excuses. I would like to think of them as reasons... reasons why I haven't been blogging regularly, reasons I haven't been running regularly, reasons I haven't been eating properly, reasons, reasons. But if I am being honest, they are only excuses.

Why is it much easier to be undisciplined? Why does crap food taste better than good food? Why does it feel better to rest than to exercise? Does it ever get to the point where it is easier to make the right decisions? Does it every become natural to want to eat well and run for mile after mile? Or am I doomed to a never ending cycle of good days and bad. Of good months and bad. Of good years and bad.

I don't know of an easy solution. I just know that I am happier when I know I am making good decisions. So why do I do these destructive things to myself? Why do I make these bad decisions? It is my undisciplined self winning over me. It is my undisciplined self that is making me do the things I do not want to do.

So I can either let my undisciplined self continue to rule over me or I can take a stand, slay the monster and get back on my course. I realize the choice is solely mine, I just need to make the decision who I want to be--the default undisciplined self or the self that rises above, to accomplish that which is beyond my normal reach.

The only thing achieved in life without effort is failure.

I will shut up now and go for a run.

Excuse The Mess!

It's been over a year since I've worked on my blog. Time to get it back up and running! Please excuse the mess while I go through posts and update URL's. If you've come to this page in error, click here to go back to the main page.

Fat Ass 50K Training Plan

After six months of recovery from plantar fasciitis. I am finally healed and have decided to resume training for my first 50K trail event. I am calling this an "event" instead of a "race" for two reasons. First, this will be a fat ass (self supported) birthday run at my favorite trail, Northshore Trail, not a formal race. And second, at the speed I run, you can't really call it racing!!!

I've developed a 28 week plan starting today. I adapted this plan from the Ultraladies 50K plan. Why 28 weeks? Well, because that is the amount of time between now and my birthday! Not so complicated. I am following a similar plan as the one that I developed last time around. I plan to keep Monday and Friday as rest days, but I might incorporate a little strength training on those days as long as I do not feel tired.

Beating Cancer through Exercise

By Liz Davies

The benefits of exercise on physical and mental well-being have been extensively studied in clinical trials. Regular exercise has been shown to promote maintenance of healthy weight, prevent loss of bone mineral density, reduce the risk of diabetes and hypertension, and improve psychological health.

In individuals at risk for cancer development or with an existing cancer diagnosis, however, the positive effects of regular exercise are even more far-reaching. Exercise has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers, such as colorectal, breast, endometrial, and mesothelioma.

The mechanisms by which exercise reduces cancer incidence remain unclear. One theory is that regular exercise reduces the production of inflammatory proteins thought to be central in the development of certain types of cancer. In the case of breast cancer, exercise is thought to affect hormonal balance in a way that deters tumor formation. In preventing colon cancer, regular exercise is thought to promote bowel motility, consequently reducing the amount of time the bowel is exposed to potentially carcinogenic substances.

Week R1--Weight A Minute

I'll admit it. I haven't been keeping track of my weight nor paying any attention to what I have been eating over the last few months. I was blaming it on my foot injury--you know, can't run so might as well eat! But when I stepped on the scale this morning I was shocked to see that I had gained 15 pounds from the last time I posted a weight goal update. I'm a little ashamed.

Since it is a new year and I am ready to start my training again, I am going to get refocused on my weight loss goal.

Thankful

Note: I have placed my blog updates on hold until I resume my Three In Three Challenge. Until then, you can follow my trail running at DailyMile.com.

I can think of many things to be thankful for on this special day. I have been blessed over the years. But I will limit my thoughts to the context of my Three In Three Challenge.

Today I am thankful to Dr. Santiago for encouraging me to start this journey. After setting my three goals (quit smoking, lose 50 lbs., run a ultramarathon) we started working on the first goal--quit smoking. I am proud to announce that as of today I have been SMOKE FREE for two years!

I can say that quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things that I have done in my life. But it is so worth it. If there are any smokers out there reading this, I encourage you to talk to your doctor and ask him or her to help you quick smoking. Yes, you will go through hell and back, but the journey is well worth it.

For encouragement, read how I quit smoking. Trust me... from someone who has gone through it, it is so worth it. Make the decision, call your doctor and get started down the path of living a smoke free life.

Feeling Good

What can I say... I am running again and it feels really good. I know I need to be careful not to overdue it and to ramp up my mileage base slowly, but it feels good to be back out on the trail.

I am just going to focus on getting back into the routine for the rest of the year and then pick my next target race to resume training. I know I will achieve my ultra marathon goal this year. It's a no brainier.

Did I mention that it feels good to get back out on the trail again?

Just saying...

Missed

Being away from the trail caused me to forget how beautiful it is out here.
I remember now.

I'm Back!!!

Over the last three months I've gone through a slow and often painful recovery from plantar fasciitis. I've been following the tips for treating plantar fasciitis and I can say that it seems to have worked. I am at a point now that I can walk in the morning without pain. I've also done a few test runs over the last couple of weeks and my foot seems to hold up OK. I am not at the point where I am ready to start training again but I do think its time to reestablishing a training base.

I am going to keep things real simple for the rest of the year. Since I haven't been running consistently, the first order of business is to get running consistently! So for the rest of the year I am going to focus on getting back out on the trail on a regular schedule. Initially I will run Tues/Wed/Thurs and then one day on the weekend. I will add the Sunday recovery run once my long runs get up to about 20 miles. Once I am consistently back above 35 mile per week base I will pick my next race and start training for it.

Not Giving Up

I feel a little defeated as I write this. I have not been able to recover from my bout of plantar fasciitis and I've had to totally stop my running to let my foot heal. As a result, a couple of days ago I decided to withdraw from my first ultramarathon, the Rockledge Rumble 50K.

But I'm not giving up on my Three in Three Challenge.

I still have an entire year to complete my goals. I am still smoke free, I've lost over 30 of my 50 lbs, and I was doing 26 mile training runs before my injury. I was laser focused on completing all three goals by November of this year. Now that's not going to happen.

Love This Quote

There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body. Then a bit further, it transcends the mind. A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul.

Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog at Runner's World.com