About Six Weeks...

I continue to make progress. Some days I feel pretty good and others not so much. I suppose running is like everything else in life…ups and downs. We have about 6 weeks to go until the GAR 5K. 

This week in class, Shauna plans to time us again for the mile and adjust training plans accordingly. I am curious to see how I do, but regardless of the time, I am satisfied that I am more comfortable running and can enjoy it a bit. As I understand the process, I am finishing up the building phase and starting the sharpening phase and then it will be on to taper and recovery. I recall some of this terminology when Nathan was swimming competitively. I guess the approach is the same. It is interesting how this works. 

Remember, my goal was to do this for me and hopefully create an opportunity for better health. I have lost about 7 or so pounds, and my blood pressure is very slowly starting to respond downward. So, I guess this activity stuff that we preach does actually lead to positive results. More to come since it is early in the process; but again, I am satisfied with how this is going. I hope everyone does well with their mile time this week - good luck to all!  Kevin

Snoopy and Me!

Today, Sunday, I knew I needed to get my walk in but I have been so bored just walking around the block. So Snoopy and I decided we would walk to McDonald's on Route 220. Now I live in the upper part of Belair and wasn't real sure how far it was. But I figured it was at least a mile. So I packed up water, a small plastic dish for Snoopy, plastic poopie bags just in case, and my phone into my shoulder pack and off we went!  David was going to pick us up once we got to McDonald's because I did not think I could make it back up the hill to the house. Walking, it took Snoopy and me about 36 minutes to complete the mile and a quarter. And we did just walk because for Snoopy there were too many delicious smells to trot or run past.

The interesting thing was that after we got there I really felt I could have done it again!! Wow what a difference these 2 months have made!! Next goal....I'm walking to Food Lion!!!  Jo

We had class last night. Adam, one of our dietitians, did a great job talking to the class about proper nutrition for our bodies as we gear up for the 5K. But wouldn't you know it, just as we were finishing up, the weather turned ugly. Winds, rain, lightening and hail were on its way. You would have thought it was the 10 plagues coming to Cumberland!! So we were not going to run. I was actually disappointed, especially because Carey from Wellness was meeting me. 

Well, I got in touch with Carey (thanks, Brenda), and I asked her if she would meet me at the WOC gym. I was NOT going to miss my training night!! (Wait a minute....is this really ME talking). So we met up over at the gym. And I tried something new.  I went on the stair stepper!!! How cool was that. I think I actually liked it better then the treadmill. Now I could only do it for about 2 minutes because the top of my thighs felt like they were going to catch on fire!! LOL!!  So then I switched to the treadmill. I also met some new people that are in the class who came over to workout as well.

I must admit I am enjoying this a lot more than I thought!! As a matter of fact, I am already thinking about how I will need to do something after October so I keep on  "running!!"

- Jo Wilson

So, I walked Snoopy on Saturday so long that my husband could not believe it!! Me either, to tell you the truth!

Today I was over at the WOC gym and broke my own record from last week. A mile in 19.04, down from 19.55 last week. I must say I am pleased. Carey from Wellness worked out with me this evening and it was more fun than being alone. I actually ran a couple of times!!

We have class tomorrow evening and I am looking forward to it to see how well I do. I'd like to get comfortable with two miles and then begin the push to three. I want to make sure my body arrives at 5K performance by the 2nd week in September.

Okay, gotta get home and let the doggies out!!

Jo

Gadgets and Toys

I thought to run you only needed shoes. Well, you do need a few other essentials such a comfortable shorts, or whatever style pants you like as well as some sort of shirt, top, etc. I went into this with the idea that I wouldn't have the opportunity for gadgets or toys. My other sports/hobbies such as downhill skiing, fly fishing and photography have lots of gadgets and toys to consider. However, Wednesday night in our 5K class, Shauna filled a table up with all sorts of gadgets, shoes and clothing. I was amazed! How could something as simple as running have so many things to consider. A variety of watches, heart monitors, GPS devices, different types of water bottles, belts for the water bottles, race belts (holds the race number…wait, I think it is called a "bib"), little reflective wrist bands, arm/leg sleeves, different tops, pants, shorts, jackets, hats, visors and the list goes on. I like gadgets and "stuff," so this is appealing to me. I may have found another way to accumulate more "stuff." How about running shoes! Who would have thought that could be complicated. We learned there are different shoes for different types of feet. I have to figure out what kind of feet I have - more on that later.

My problem (not my only one...no comments welcome on this one) is an addiction to technology. I love acquiring new tech things to adapt to my lifestyle.  Nathan has a Garmin GPS device he wears on his wrist for running, so I am familiar with the capabilities.  It is incredible the data it records and then you synch with your PC or MAC to a cloud based application and you can archive your training to evaluate your progress as well as build training programs for the future. These things are sophisticated and really cool. They are also expensive.

So, we will see what I do with the toy list. However, I will draw the line on the pink gaiters for shoes that Shauna showed us. Now if we could get WVU gaiters I'm in.

I can feel that I am progressing and I am pretty satisfied. It is rather interesting that while running I don't necessarily find it fun, feeling good or anything like that. Actually, trying to hit the times Shauna has challenged me with gets rather uncomfortable sometimes. But, when it is over, I certainly feel good, refreshed or whatever you want to call it. A lot of the challenge is in your head. It is so easy to talk yourself out of not going out or stopping in the middle of a workout. You have to push through. The mental aspect is as significant as the physical training. A lot can be said for the benefit of being part of a group, and for me, having a coach is a good thing. Some of this mental thing reminds me of Army basic training. You learned (and rather quickly I might say) that most of our physical limitations that we think we have are more mental than physical. 

Teammate and friend, Jo Wilson was in class Wednesday night. Due to our crazy schedules, it was the first class we have had together. I had a little bit to do with Jo starting this journey. I am pleased that she took on this challenge. Here we are ready to do our workouts.  She is determined and will do it!

It is a beautiful day out there today, so get out, get moving, do something fun and enjoy!

- Kevin Turley

Well, we are entering our fourth week of class and I have missed two of the first three. I missed one due to business travel and one for vacation. Hopefully, my attendance will be better going forward. I do now have a coach! Shauna McQuade is leading me with a pretty calculated training plan to help me accomplish a first time 5K. Even though my attendance hasn't been the best, Shauna has done a terrific job keeping me up to speed with what has been covered in class and with my running homework. We have chatted more on line via email than in person.  It is early, but so far having a coach makes a difference. First, I have some confidence that I am doing what I should be with running. It is easy to second guess yourself and try to do more than you should or the other way around and not challenge yourself. Secondly, I feel a sort of commitment to do the workouts as prescribed and strive to hit the goals that she has developed for me. You know how it is, we all want to do well for the coach.  Maybe I should have done this a long time ago.

Last week, I was in Virginia Beach on vacation and I actually did my workouts! I surprised myself... I completed two runs on the boardwalk and did two sessions of strength training in the hotel fitness room. Then, my son, Nathan had me on the hotel steps as opposed to using the elevator. Those steps can be tough after a workout! Nathan is a tough trainer.  He was a big help keeping me motivated during one of the morning runs. Mid-morning was very hot for running and he wouldn't let me stop. Thanks Nathan!

Yesterday, I did my weekly "long" run. It was 4.5 miles of running with a 2 minute interval of walking between each mile coupled with a half mile warm up and cool down walk. It was pretty hot (my excuse these days). No really, it was in the mid-eighties, which is hot for an out of shape guy! I was able to achieve the target times from Shauna's plan. The last half of the run was a little harder. Here is a photo after the run...enjoying a cool Gatorade to re-fuel and hydrate. The label says it is "performance"! What is up with that?  I believe they are good marketers since I can't tell the difference. As consumers, we tend to buy anything that looks like a magic bullet. Sorry, I digressed from the topic of preparing for a 5K. Nothing magic in these workouts - it is hard work, but worthwhile!

- Kevin Turley

So I am back from vacation and looking very forward to joining the class this coming Wednesday. As you know, at least those who have been reading my blog, my goal is to finish the 5K. Walk, run or crawl I am determined to finish. I have never done anything like this before and have not been able to get myself into formalized or sustained exercise. But perhaps I am seeing just a glimmer of what this can mean to me.  So far I have lost 23 pounds since I have begun a serious commitment to get to my goal of weighting 199.9999999 (that is onederland in case you want to know!). And over my vacation, thanks to my sister-in-law Elizabeth, I have walked with a purpose any time I walk. None of this lolly gagging strolling for me! LOL!!  So it really paid off. As you know from my first blog I had weight loss surgery but things had stopped for me and now with the introduction of 'walking with a purpose' I am losing weight again! Yeah!!

When I left for vacation I was only able to do 0.8 miles and it took me 30 minutes and I could not go on.  I was on the treadmill at our gym at the WOC on Thursday and am very proud to say that I did 1.0 miles in 19.55 minutes!!! Huge improvement!! Thank you, ELIZABETH!! 

More soon!!

- Jo Wilson