Inspiration

I know I promised pictures of my weekend but I am going to post this first. While at work this fine morning I ran across this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbXgQqbOoU&feature=player_embedded

It is safe to say I was inspired. I have never been a big person, actually I have always been the exact opposite. I only weigh in right now at a very light 130 lbs. At my heaviest I have weighed in at 135 lbs. Its not easy being this light, its very hard to gain any weight, but that is besides the point right now. Maybe I will post on my struggles to gain a bit more weight at a later time. Right now I want to talk about what this guy did.

You can find his blog at http://bendoeslife.tumblr.com

First weight and body image are very key in happiness. Before someone stumbles into my blog, reads that and decides to flame me in my comment section let me explain. I am by no means saying that everyone has to be a supper skinny super model body style, or even for us guys, we don't have to be all muscle bound movie stars, but we have to be happy in our own bodies. Would you be happy if you had trouble getting out of a chair, or grew winded just getting up to check the mail?

I wasn't happy when my back was having problems, or when I was younger and had knee problems. Limping around, or not being able to get off the couch is frustrating to me. I felt if I couldn't will my own body to do what I want than what good was I. A year ago I got up and did something about it. Just like this guy woke up one day so unhappy with his life he decided to make a change. This man has crossed the finish line to and Marathon and an Ironman, both things I wish to do someday down the road.

If someone is reading this and thinking that they would like to change, they would like to wake up feeling better and happier then I challenge you to make today the first day of a new life. Don't sit idle, don't let life pass you by. Wake up and take hold of it all, take the first step and dare to be great.

The return of Pain

I had a great run Tuesday after work. Just a simple 3 miles run to warm things up for the week. I am still not getting the 30 min time I would like to have on a 3 mile run, but I was happy with the 34:30 I did get. I really need to get that time down, If I could just run a steady pace the whole time I would shed those 4 min with ease. The bad part about that run is that the next morning my left knee was in a good deal of pain. Its not bad if I am just sitting but to walk hurts a lot. I tried to run it out Wednesday night but I didn't even make it past two miles. The pain just wouldn't go away and once it became to much I knew it was time to step away. So that's it for this week, I am taking tonight off to rest up. We are leaving for the Ohio Renaissance Festival this weekend. No running all weekend but will do a good deal of walking. Going to be a fun but painful weekend. Will post up some pictures when I get back.

just when you can't get any lower...

Just when you think you have hit rock bottom.... you have an epic run like the one I had on Sunday. What a day, I was dreading my 6 mile run all day. I even thought about skipping it. I pushed myself though and went to the gym anyways. Jumped on the treadmill and started to move. Not even half a mile into it I almost gave up. My left leg started to cramp up, my knee started to throb. I just about stepped off and then decided I should at least go for a full mile. I could limp along that far at least. Pushing into the first mile suddenly I felt great. All the pain in my leg left and I felt fast. it was like a huge chip was lifted off my shoulder. I bit down and started to pick up the speed. 6 miles later, 1 hour and 15 min later I was finished. I felt great. That was my fastest 6 mile run yet, and better yet the fastest 3 miles I have ever done. I still feel unstoppable. Today was a rest day. Tomorrow I return to my running schedule. My goal is to run the full 3 miles with out slowing down. Just a nice constant run. Shooting for a 30 min 3 mile. If anyone is actually reading this please wish me luck.

I need a bike

I took Thursday off from running. My left knee felt horrid, if I pushed it I probably wouldn't be able to run Saturday or Sunday. With my time off Thursday night I decided to go bike browsing. I stopped into a local bike shop here in Lima, Ohio. The owner is a great guy and they do group rides out of there all the time. I couldn't afford any of the road bikes there but he told me if I found something to ride in a triathlon to bring it into him and he would help me set it up. Then... then the man made my day. He said that he may even sponsor me. Granted he said that before he knows how bad at running I really am. I will probably never win a triathlon or a marathon, but I always give my best. I would love to have a sponsor, Having someone else backing me like that would be a huge help in my push to get stronger and faster. My hunt for a used road bike continues, but first I need to secure the funds for one.

Epic Fail

Today is the day that I had an epic fail. In good spirits I went to the gym. I had a four mile run lined up and was ready to go. 1.2 miles later I am in pain and stepping off the treadmill. My left knee just didn't want to let me finish. I tried, I really did, but after I had to step off to the side of the treadmill for the third time I knew it was time to walk away. It was hard to do, I felt like I let myself down by giving up. There was just no sense in pushing myself into further injury so here I am now on the couch, with my leg up. After all my time spent on the couch when my back was bad, this is really the last place I want to be right now.

Another 3 down

Three more miles down. I even got a PR on my 5 k and finished at 34:09. Its the only time I will say that I am glad I don't have readers of this blog cause dang that is a bad time, but its a great time for me. To many years of neglect and my legs are taking a beating to get back into things. If I can just get my legs to take a steady beating for 3 miles. Right now I take 3o second walk breaks from time to time. Cut those out completely and I can get this time under 30:00.

Besides all the progress I have been making with running I am still looking forward into triathlons. Right now trying to figure out how I am going to afford a road bike and some gear. Well hopefully with Christmas coming up I might get a few items.

I didn't die

Well 5 miles later I am still alive. It turned out better than what I expected it to be. Granted it still was pretty slow, but in the end I still made it to the five mile mark. Half way through though I was thinking about what I was doing... could I really run a full marathon. 26.2 miles feels so far away. I can't even run a constant pace for 3 miles. Once I got those thoughts out of my head I got back into the run and finished up. I really need to work on my pace though. If I could just get my pace steady for 3 miles I would feel like I accomplished a lot.