Back in the Saddle

Talk about falling off the wagon!

After a great start to my "running career," including my first (and PR) half marathon, things never quite got on track.  That half marathon was in 2011.  Sure, I've had three since, but none of them quite as good because my health, training, and motivation slowly went downhill.

There are plenty of excuses.  Life and stress certainly were a problem.  My jobs (yes, plural) demanded most of my time, and time became money, and the increased stress drew my attention away from my running (and my health).  I had lost 60 lbs prior to that 2011 half marathon; by August 1 of 2013, I'd gained 55 of them back.

I had various false starts to get back into the game.  But I never could quite get motivated to run a race.  I did gut a half marathon out in March of 2013; I have no idea how I did so.  I guess that should say something about my will power when I really put my mind to something.  But I was running the race in an unhealthy body.

This came to a head at the start of August, when I had to go to the hospital for what I feared was a kidney stone.  Turns out it wasn't, but my blood pressure was ridiculously high.  This prompted a trip to the doctor, and adjustment in medication, and blood tests.  Turns out my cholesterol was also high.  My doc recommended at statin.  After reading about statins, they seemed like something I wanted to avoid.

So the alternative is getting back to being "me."  The "me" I created in 2011.  When I felt as good as I had in years.  But getting back to this "me" takes effort.  My medical information has provided me that motivation to put forth that effort.

So I'm back in the game.  True to the title, it will be slow progress.  But progress is progress.  I'm focusing on the information my body gives me as a guide.  I'm tracking my blood pressure, my heart rate, and my steps along with my mileage and time.  Heart rate running appeals to me, as your heart rate provides you a guide to what you're ready for so you don't overdo things.

I've been back at it for a few weeks now.  I've lost a few pounds, but more importantly I feel better and my clothes are fitting better.

Rather than focus upon a particular race, I'm focusing on my health.  However, races are great indicators of health, so I'm game for some to move me forward.  I've signed up for a Thanksgiving Day run, and who knows after that.

Even slow progress is progress!  My goal is to avoid regression.

Wishing you the best!

Travis

Running for a Cause

How are things going?  Well, they're on track.  I'm building toward my first of the trifecta of half marathons in April.  There have been ups, and there have been downs, but overall I'm on schedule.

More importantly, I'm registered for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.  It'll be my first!  And because I didn't feel I've put enough pressure on myself, I've decided to try to raise money for charity along the way.  My charity is Concerns of Police Survivors, and organization that provides assistance to survivors and families of police officers injured or killed in the line of duty.  My charity page is here:

http://www.gofundme.com/fhaj0

Now I have to do it!

I care strongly about this organization, and hope that I can raise a little bit to help out.  I've set my goal at $1,000.

Enjoy your progress!

Travis

Progressing Slowly

Progressing Slowly

2012 is coming into focus, and training is moving along nicely (finally).  Progress has been slow, but shouldn’t I expect that?  It should be important to keep my blog’s namesake accurate.

My first week of training was wrecked with a bout of the flu.  I blew off a flu shot again this year; perhaps that wasn’t a good idea.  I suppose I’d rather run into this before training was in full gear instead of hitting it toward the end. 

What has been surprising to me is that getting back into a training program has felt like starting all over.  I guess without some structure and with some extra weight, you can lose some fitness pretty quickly.  I’ve had to incorporate run/walks again to build up, but I believe that I’m gaining progress quicker than I did before.  My last few runs in particular have been pretty decent; I feel the improvement coming along well. 

What I’ve also learned is the importance of cross training.  Doing something on my non-running days is important to contribute to greater success during my training runs, and subsequently my races.  After looking at a variety of things, I’ve settled on doing a stationary bike at the gym for 30 minutes, and then doing circuit weights with little to no rest between sets for about 20 – 30 minutes.  The goal is not only to build some strength, but also get the heart going to improve cardio fitness. 

Pretty obvious and simple lessons, but sometimes you just have to prove them to yourself. 

I’ve been pretty luck as winter around here has been extremely mild.  I should knock on some wood.  I’ve found that running from 20 degrees and up isn’t that difficult once you get used to it, as long as you layer well and bundle up.  I think your breathing gets a bit arrested at times, so you have to consciously think about breathing a bit more.  Overall, it isn’t too bad.  I’ve tried to run outside at least a couple times per week in addition to some treadmill work.

Otherwise, I’m on track to complete my first of three half marathons in the spring.  Still a little concerned that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.  We’ll see!  I’ll be registering for the Chicago marathon next week.  That is what I’m really excited about. What a challenge! 

Enjoy your progress,

Travis

2012

The migration from 2011 to 2012 was a painful one.  I was struck with the flu right before New Year’s weekend.  This also coincided with the end of my first week of half marathon training, so it threw me all out of whack.  I’m about 80% recovered and have resumed my training (now modified) this morning.  Luckily I’m still more than three months out, so I have plenty of time to catch up.  It has been a while, though, since I’ve been “on track.”  Probably before my last half marathon, actually, which is now almost three months ago. 

I feel very eager to get rolling for 2012, though.  I have some ambitious goals and I’m excited to challenge myself.  I have three half marathons scheduled for April, May, and June.  I also have a 5k scheduled for July.  To cap off the year is my plan to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon; my first.  I went ahead and applied for the New York Marathon just to throw my hat in, but I don’t expect to make it. 

All three half marathons are locals.  The first is “Rock the Parkway,” a well reviewed local run through some picturesque Kansas City neighborhoods with rolling hills.  The next is a fairly flat course in a rural area in Kansas called “Run with the Cows.”  The medal for this one is a cow bell.  How could I resist?  Finally, I’ll cap the season with “Hospital Hill,” a well-known local half that has some very challenging terrain.  I think the hills will be an interesting challenge, particularly when coupled with the June heat.

The 5k is just for fun.  It is a race put on by Major League Baseball in conjunction with the All Star Game this year, which is going to be held in Kansas City.  Seemed like one of those races that won’t be available again, so I thought I should do it. 

The marathon will obviously be the biggest challenge.  I’m still intimidated, but also ready for the challenge.  I’m considering documenting my progress through pictures and video to create a video of my ups and downs when it is all over.

I may throw a couple more races in during my marathon training to build me up.  The race calendars for late summer and early fall are still being filled in, so I’m not sure what opportunities will arise. 

As far as my training, I’ve gone back to a simple schedule based upon your average half marathon and full marathon routines.  I adapted it to what would work for me, and have everything planned out.  I will also throw in a variety of cross training to help get in shape.  Now I just need to get my legs going.  I’ve lost some fitness, for sure, since my half, so I have some work to do to regain it.  I can’t wait until spring for longer and warmer days!

Well, that’s my plan, and I’m sticking to it.  What are your goals for 2012?

Enjoy your progress!

Travis

Brrrr.....and the percentages

When we’re told how to overcome barriers, it brings to mind the picture of a hurdler jumping over one obstacle, then another, and so on.  As the hurdler jumps each obstacle, he moves forward.  Wouldn’t this be nice if this were actually the case?  Unfortunately, it isn’t.  At times, we are presented with multiple challenges stacked on top of each other.  Think of those hurdles balanced on top of each other, or placed back to back, making the task of moving forward that much more difficult.

I feel like some hurdles have been stacked up against me lately, so slow progress seems to be even slower.  But I’m still trying to push forward.  First, money has been tight with the holidays, a rental property I own seemingly self-destructing before my eyes (and wallet), and the usual costs of living.  Second, work has been busier than ever; both at my primary job and the numerous others I have on a “part time” basis.  Third, after the half I experienced the usual runner’s slow down.  Fourth, the cold weather has been difficult for me to deal with during my training.  I’m sure there is a fifth, sixth, and seventh, but you get the idea.

Despite this, I’ve tried to keep moving ahead.  Some things show signs of lessening; others not so much.  I think I’ll eventually get acclimated to this cold weather and how to dress for the different temps.  So far I’ve been layering and trying some different hats and gloves.  I’m open to suggestions, though.  Here in the Midwest, it can go from 55 to 25 within a day, so the morning forecast is very important.  I do have the treadmill, but I try to avoid it as much as possible.  I’d like to stick to the streets unless precipitation pushes me toward the hamster wheel.

Ah; the hamster wheel.  Complete with paneling view.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is just to keep moving forward.  I recently read about Ben Davis in Runner’s World.  I’d seen Ben’s video before, but it had been some time.  In the RW article it was discussed how many people who lose a substantial amount of weight gain it back.  I’ve seen different figures, but usually from 80-90%.  Regardless, it is high!  I want to remain in the percentile that do not.  That is my biggest, highest, longest, life consuming hurdle to jump.  After all, count me in the numbers who wish to “Do Life.” 

My "Do Life" long sleeve t-shirt...recently acquired

So where am I at?  After packing back on 23 lbs of the original 70 that I lost (thanks to very little exercise and a lot of eating post-half marathon, on a road trip, and over Thanksgiving), I’ve taken off about 4 lbs and I’m on Week 2 of good nutrition again.  I’m trying to keep up some mileage. My training for my next half marathon (in April) starts the day after Christmas.  2012 is going to be a big year.  I have a lot of challenges for myself ahead.  I just need to keep running; and jumping!

Enjoy your progress!

Travis

The Blogger Game

Alright, so Mike W. from http://www.justalittlerun.com/ has passed along a "get to know you" game, where I offer seven random tidbits about myself and then proceed to tag 15 other bloggers.  One minor problem:  I don't have 15 bloggers that I follow that are distinct from Mike W!  In order to play along, though, I looked at my list and found four to tag.  Well, here goes!

1.    I love Las Vegas.  I’ve been there about a dozen times.  It is one of the only cities, outside of my hometown, where I know some of the streets and highways.  It is one of the only places where I can truly unwind and relax, although I usually come back from a Vegas vacation exhausted.  I listed to three Vegas podcasts regularly.  I can pretty much tell you anything you want to know about the place.  I plan on running the Rock and Roll half marathon in Vegas next year, nicely combining a couple of my interests.

2.     I’m a published author.  I wrote a textbook a couple of years ago titled “The Investigation of Crime.”  Along with my half marathon, it was one of the biggest challenges of my life.  It hasn’t been a huge seller, but hey, it’s a textbook.  Writing a book, particularly a non-fiction one, is a tough job. 

3.    I’ve been a police officer for almost 20 years.  I’ve worked in a variety of assignments, from patrol to investigations to narcotics.  I worked in a drug task force where I did a lot of surveillance undercover.  I served as a crisis negotiator, and talked a few people out of killing themselves.  I’m currently in a non-exiting position as major of administration, where I’m working on stuff like a $1.6 million radio project.  Not my favorite assignment, but I like working for the police department.  My father is a police chief in a small town; retired from the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department after 26 years.  My grandfather was also a state trooper.

4.  I almost died when I was in my 20’s.  I had gallstones, and was misdiagnosed for months.  I couldn’t eat and hold anything down.  Finally one night, I collapsed and was taken to the hospital.  My pancreas had become infected.  I was given a high dose of morphine, but still felt the pain.  I was told that pancreatitis, my condition, is more painful that childbirth (although I can’t testify to that).  They ripped out my gall bladder and all turned out okay.  In fact, maybe I’m faster without it?

5.   I played bass in a rock band.  We featured a lot of Van Halen covers, but added some other hard rock tunes here and there.  I had played guitar a little as a kid, but hadn’t played in 20 years before I was asked if I was interested.  I figured what the heck, and played enough to be decent in a year.  The band hasn’t practiced in a while; not sure if we’ll continue on or not (life is busy, no?).  My favorite is a Fender Precision Bass Lite. 

6.    I’ve taken motorcycle trips all over the United States, and a couple of years ago went into Canada.  While I don’t ride much day-to-day, we usually take one big trip a year.  While Canada was cool (it was the less pretty eastern part, though), Utah is by far my favorite.  Zion and Bryce Canyon were a couple of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen…particularly by motorcycle (although it got up to well over 105 degrees).  I usually go with my dad and a couple of friends.  It is great bonding time, and I really enjoy hanging out with the ol’ man. 

7.    For all of my accomplishments in the past, I’m so proud of my son and his just concluded high school marching band career.  Over the course of the last four years, he’s gone to the Rose Bowl, the Presidential Inauguration, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  He also played in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  I don’t think there’s much that can top the feeling that you get when you see your child accomplish something significant.  And he’s one of my biggest running fans!

Here is who I'm tagging:

Jessica @LilMissRunshine http://www.littlemissrunshine.com/

Andrea http://runtoruntobeme.blogspot.com/

Kat http://kat5k.blogspot.com/

Becca @TriBeccaTO http://tribeccato.wordpress.com/

A Plan for 2012

Not having some sort of plan was killing me, and also adversely impacting my running.  I had to have a destination…without it I was horribly lost!

Now, I have a plan.  The plan is to try a new half marathon training regimen.  I’m going to give it a trial run, and if it works well I’ll use it for my full marathon training.  It is the FIRST training plan, advocated by Runner’s World as a “Run Less, Run Faster” method.  It is based upon three strategic runs per week: a track repeat (city streets for me; I don’t have a convenient track), a tempo run, and a long run.  The key to making this work is that you also include two (and an optional third) cross training workout.   I like the sounds of it, and the variation that cross training brings.  We’ll see if I like it after an extended period of time.  That’s the true test.  If not, I may try PRSfit…which is something I might do in the future anyway.  Have heard lots of good stuff about them and they seem like great people. 

More about FIRST:  http://www2.furman.edu/sites/first/Pages/FirstTrainingPrograms.aspx

I’ve signed up for my first half in 2012.  It is called “Rock the Parkway” and is local half marathon in April.  It is kind of a local version of the Rock and Roll series, but is also quite well-attended.  It is more than 16 weeks out, so I don’t officially have to start the FIRST program yet.  What I’m doing, though, is extending FIRST a bit.  I’m going to repeat the first few weeks until I hit that 16 week out mark and then follow it exactly.  By the time I’m actually in the program, I should have the concepts and runs down. 

What am I doing for cross training?  I’ll likely focus upon stationary bike work at my local gym and swimming.  Swimming will be a new deal for me, but there’s a local indoor community pool nearby that should work (the hours are limited, though…and I keep missing the right time of day!).  I’m also trying out some pilates to help strengthen my core.  So far, so good with that. 

After Rock the Parkway things are more fuzzy.  I want to run the Chicago Marathon this year.  As long as I get registered I’ll do it.  Between Rock the Parkway and Chicago, I’m thinking I want to do one more half around the first of June.  I’m considering either Hospital Hill (another local, challenging half marathon with lots of hills) or the Minneapolis Marathon (and half).  Minneapolis is 8 hours away…might be a nice trip and a good experience.  I’m undecided. 

Finally, I want to wrap the year with the Rock and Roll half marathon in Vegas.  I think I'd be able to enjoy Vegas more after 1/2 the misery :-)  We'll see if my legs will agree to do a half a couple of months after my full.  

So glad I have a plan of action.  It helps keeps me motivated and moving forward.  After all, we’re looking for progress, right?

Enjoy your progress!

Travis