Inspired by @Sarah_dietitian "You Can't Outrun Your Fork!"

I've been seriously struggling with my nutrition lately and I don't know what it is.  I just feel myself slipping back into the abyss of quick eats. I'm becoming unfocused on what I take in to fuel my body versus just eating because I may be hungry and taking for granted the fact that I'll just run it off.  Now, before we get too deep into this post, I take full responsibility for my actions.  There's no passing the buck here and no denial of bad judgment like A-Rod and Ryan Braun (don't get me started on these guys... Agh the arrogance).

Anyway, I have a problem and I'm looking for a solution.  My problem is: What do I need to do to get my nutrition back on track?  A few weeks ago, a buddy of mine challenged me to go on a no sugar diet... No sugar, no carbs, etc.  He told me it's serious and will push me to my limits, in so many words.  This challenge has been rolling around in my head ever since he mentioned it and I have been noncommittal about trying it during the month of August.  (I'm still deciding)

I heard about the Paleo diet and how beneficial it was for weight loss.  So, I decided to take action and do some further research.

I just finished reading a blog post by Sarah Danaher "To Paleo Or Not To Paleo... That is the Question".  It explained what the Paleo diet is and it's Pros and Cons.  But, there was a specific thought in the article that just hit me like a ton of bricks... "You Can't Outrun Your Fork".

When I read this, so much clarity came to my mind.  It hit me how important diet is to my running and weight loss.  It reminded me of something an ultrarunner, who runs five 100 mile races a year, told me about a month ago.  He said that fruits and vegetables are the key to running well.  This is truth.

I ran easier and so much more efficient, before I fell off the wagon.  My times were better and it didn't seem that I was working as hard as I've been working more recently.  (It could also be the heat o_O... I'm just saying)

So with this information and more information to come, this is how I plan to proceed...

I'll continue to do research on the Paleo diet and by July 31st, I will make a decision on whether I will make an attempt at the Paleo diet for the month of August or some other approach to getting back on track.  Whatever my decision is, I will post my progress throughout the month of August so that you can benefit from my experiences.

If you've fallen off the wagon too, maybe we can help each other to get back on.

Camelbak Dart 1.5 Liter Pack review

I've run with my new hydration vest three times. The first was 3.25 miles in the heat and humidity; the second was 5.38 miles, a much better day weather-wise; and yesterday I ran 10.56 miles.  This is my first hydration vest, so I really have nothing else to compare it against outside of having nothing at all.

Running has become exponentially better now and I can focus more on my running, instead of worrying about finding the next gas station to purchase a bottle of water. Then after purchasing the water, running with it in my hands. (I don't know about you, but i can't stand running with anything in my hands)

Another plus is how i now have a place for my keys, my nutrition, my phone and my iPod, outside of the two pockets in my shorts. I can now run without anything weighing me down or creating an awkward bulge in my shorts.

So let's get into the more technical stuff...

(See pictures below for illustration purposes.)

This hydration pack is lightweight and has a 50 oz (1.5L) bladder that is tucked inside of the inner pouch.

The straps are made of a breathable air mesh which does not soak up and hold moisture.

The pack has two main pockets. One is a little larger than the other, on the outside of the pack that will hold items, like keys, wallet, energy gels, etc. 

There is also a pocket on the left strap which can hold a phone. (I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 and the pocket holds this phone very tight. It'll also hold the iPhone if you have one)

My experience with this hydration vest has been a good one so far. On my shorter runs of 3.25 miles and 5.38 miles, I put cold water in the bladder and it stayed cold throughout the entire run. My longer run of 10.55 miles, I decided to put ice in it. This was smart as it kept my water cold until there was no more left.

Now I am heavy runner and a heavy sweater. So I'm always looking to quench my thirst on longer runs. I don't sip water, I siiiiip. I say that because, my bladder was empty around mile 9.5.  This was ok as I was almost done with my run anyway. It would've been nice if it lasted me through the entire run, but I'll make adjustments from this point forward.

My Conclusion:

 

I've come to the conclusion that, this hydration vest can carry a heavy runner like myself thru a half marathon, if the proper adjustments are made on my end. The Camelbak Dart 1.5L is a solid hydration vest and I would recommend it as a beginner's vest. It is less expensive than other hydration vests and works well for newer runners like myself.

I plan to continue running with it and adjusting my strategy for long runs.

I'm happy to answer any questions or comments in the comment box below!

Celebrate the small victories... Re-Inspiring Yourself

Me at 287 lbs 2 yrs ago

Me at 287 lbs 2 years ago

My weight loss has slowed down considerably.  I've set a goal and it doesn't look like I'll make it.  (If I were honest with myself, I'm not as far away from my goal as I used to be.)  But that very same goal feels like it's further away than it's ever been before.  Giving up seems like a viable option.  I begin asking myself why I even tried to do this in the first place... It's too hard. What's the point?

Are you thinking some of these thoughts?  Good...  You're still human.

These same feelings and thoughts have crossed my mind too.  Many times, this journey of weight loss and healthier living seemed like a good idea.  But, it has also seemed like a crazy idea that same number of times.  Maybe more...  There were times when frustration set in and the progress I thought I should see, just wasn't showing up on the scale or even in the mirror.

I've even felt light at times and said to myself "Yeah, I've lost a significant amount of weight."  Only to realize that I'm where I was last week.  It's funny how the mind and body can play tricks on us.

But, instead of allowing these negative thoughts to cloud our mind and fog up our vision of how we should see ourselves and want to become, we should look back on where we've come from and see the progress we've made.  Not just once, but as many times as it is needed.

See, if this weight loss thing were easy, so many more people would be doing it.  This is win number one!!  We're already doing a lot more than those people who aren't doing anything at all.

Number 2: You are already successful... As long as you continue to work towards your goal!! Once you've quit, you are no longer successful.  So don't quit!!  Earl Nightingale, the accomplished author and great philosopher defined success in "The Strangest Secret". (If you haven't heard of this audiobook, stop reading this now and go get the mp3 here!!)  He said that success is defined as the steady progression to a worthy goal.  Keep plugging away and don't stop!  It's just like running a race!!  You continue to put one foot in front of the other, in order to get to the finish line.

In this weight loss journey there are times when we have to encourage ourselves.  Everyone is not going to acknowledge our journey to self improvement, all the time.  It's just the reality of the situation. In my opinion, that's a good thing.  It keeps us grounded and allows us to learn to inspire ourselves or light our own fire.  People can say what they want, good or bad, but until we find out our own "WHY?", we'll become unfocused and distracted.

So, take a moment to look back on some old pictures or videos.  Take some time to think about what you used to do and compare it to what you do now.  Celebrate the small victories and re-inspire yourself.  Enjoy the fact that some changes have been made and if none have been made, you still have an opportunity to make those changes.  Obviously, if you're reading this now, you have a desire to become better.  So... become better. One step at a time. :-)

Me at 244 lbs now

First Marathon Nightmare

I just woke up abruptly, to the sound of my alarm on my phone... Its 4:30 am. This is the time I normally wake up to get ready for my runs, as i'm a morning runner. I go to use the bathroom (sorry) and I look in the mirror. I was dreaming!!

I posted on twitter that I just woke up from a marathon nightmare and began writing this post about it.
I was running in the Rock 'n' Roll USA marathon in Washington,DC, my hometown marathon (which is a race that's on my bucket list). I'm at the start line with all the other runners and for some reasons the race director and coordinators have given out brown bag lunches, with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in them. (Now, I don't know whether this had anything to do with the fact that i've had PB&J for lunch most of this week or what...)

But, everyone has a brown bag lunch. This is odd, because normally post race food is given, well, after the race. But, this is a dream or nightmare, so anything goes I guess... Whatever.

The gun fires and everyone starts the race. But, in my hand, I've got 3 brown bag lunches!! I don't know how I got them or if the other racers just "left me holding the bag", but I've got them.

I begin to run, but I've gotta put these bags down, so I decide to put them under an overpass and figure I will come back for them after the race. (Please don't ask me why, this is a dream/nightmare)

Now, this particular overpass looks like one of the overpasses at Hains Point, under I-395. But, in real life, I don't even know if the race course goes anywhere near that particular overpass at Hains Point.

Anyway, I'm already in the back of the pack. We're talking dead last. I'm so far in the back, I'm having conversations with the driver of the van that picks you up if you don't look like you're gonna finish. That's how far to the back of the pack I am.

I decide to start running... A light bulb comes on and says, "you can't leave those brown bags there". So I go back to pick up the brown bags and put them on a table. (I don't know where the table came from, this is a dream/nightmare... Stuff just happens and appears, you know?)

After putting the brown bags with the PB&J sandwiches in them on the table, I can begin my run. There's a man that directs me which way to go.  By this time, an hour or so has gone by and I'm the only one running.  Doubt begins to creep into my head and the negative thoughts about not finishing are getting louder and louder. I begin to think about the 26.2 miles that I still have to run and how long it will take, with no one else around to keep me company... My discouraged trot becomes a walk and I quit.

(ALL OVER SOME PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES IN SOME BROWN PAPER BAGS?!?! - you might ask)

I'll chuckle and say, no. I doubt that's the real reason. There maybe something deeper that I need to figure out about myself, on my journey back to health through running.

And that's what so great about running and becoming an endurance athlete. It allows me to dig deeper into who I am as a person and what I'm all about. The competition is not against other runners... The competition is within me. My mind versus my own body.

I was talking to my dad the other day and he complimented me on my weight loss so far. He asked me about my running and I told him that I was preparing for a few upcoming races. I told him about how I enjoy the experience and my strategy of running races and he jumped in said "... And then you speed up at the end to try to win, right?" I laughed and explained that running and racing is not about winning "the race you're running in", its about winning the race YOU are in. Whether, you're running for weight loss, running to get fit, running for you're mind's sake or running to find out who you are... Running is about winning the race YOU are in.

I hope you enjoyed this...  It's about 6am and it's time to begin my day.  My wife stepped out of the house, so I'm here while the kids are still sleep.  No run this morning.  But, I'll get mine in and I hope you get yours in too.

Feel free to leave a comment in the comment box and provide your thoughts on why you run? I look forward to reading them and hopefully we can encourage one another in winning the race WE are in.

Brooks Addiction 10 Review

I purchased some new shoes last week... The Brooks Addiction 10s.  These shoes are part of the Brooks collection for over-pronators.  Another shoe that works well for over-pronators is the Brooks Beast.

I normally wear a size 12, but I believe Brooks running shoes are cut smaller.  So, I purchased a size 13 and these were perfect.

I've been wearing these Brooks Addictions over my last few runs and before providing an official review, I wanted to put at least 25 miles on them.  It also helps that I have a 90 return policy at my running store. :)

As of yesterday, I have logged 27 miles on them and they have officially been broken in.  I believe in giving my gear that I wear a full and fair review.

Test Run #1:
Distance: 9 miles
I could tell that I was running in new shoes as the shoe was somewhat stiff all around.  There wasn't much give initially.  As I ran further, the shoe provided more flexibility.  Another observation is that this is a heavier shoe, so that's something to consider when looking to purchase motion control shoes.  Around mile 8, I felt a little pressure around the top part of my ankle.  I attributed this to the fact that they were new and I had previously been running in shoes that did not provide the type of all around support the Brooks Addiction provides.

Test Run #2:
Distance: 4 miles
No problems at all.  This was a much shorter run, compared to the 9 mile maiden voyage.  I felt no pain, there was no rubbing or friction anywhere.  Great run.

Test Run #3:
Distance: 3 miles
This run went well too.

Final Test Run
Distance: 11 miles
This is an overall good shoe.  The arch support, cushioning, and shock absorption were impressive.  I ran on asphalt and concrete throughout this run and I didn't really feel a thing during my run.  This was the longest distance I'd ever run to date and it seemed like the longer I ran the better the shoes performed.

The Brooks Addiction may not be the coolest looking shoe, but it's functionality is exactly where should be.  Check out a more technical review by Brooks Running, here:

Go slow to go far - My first 11 mile training run.

It's the 4th of July and I decided to do my weekly long run on this day, mainly because my weekend was pretty full.  My wife's work schedule would not have allowed me to do a long run, especially since I'd be watching the kids all day.  I just wouldn't be able to fit it in.

My mind was already set to do 10 miles, but 11 kept flashing in my head.  I said to myself that I've already done several 10 mile runs and I need to see if I can push past that, as I'm continuing to build mileage.  So, I started out and figured I would just see how I felt as I got into it.

I knew I would need to run at a slower pace, if I wanted to have energy for the latter part of this training run.  Of course the heat and humidity already had that taken care of, as I couldn't run much faster even if I wanted to.

My first mile was 13:43 and I figured that was a good pace.  It wasn't too hot at this point and there was a light breeze blowing... I was comfortable.

Fueling for this training run was also very important.  I figured I would fuel early and often to keep my body supplemented with the necessary nutrition to be strong throughout.

Around mile 3, I ate my Pure Protein protein bar.  I didn't want it to get soft and begin melting in the heat, since it was chocolate.  This would have been a complete mess. So, that was the first to go.

I felt pretty good.  I was moving along pretty steadily and around mile 4.5, I started to think about what I would do for water.  I really need to purchase a hydration vest for my long runs.  It has now become evident that I can't go without it.  I took a couple of dollars with me to stop at a gas station and pick up a water during the run.  I didn't think about how much I hate running with water bottles in my hands.  It's not fun and becomes somewhat of a distraction to me.

I get to mile 5 and I decide that I'm going to go for the 11 today.  So at the 5.5 mile mark I'll turn around and head on back.  Now, I like to do out and back training runs for the psychology of it.  I've seen the course already and I won't be finished until I get back to my car.  So, there's no need to get anxious and continuing to wonder "are we there yet"...

At about the halfway point (5.63 miles to be exact), there was a Shell gas station.  This was perfect, because I could get water, get A/C and get somewhat of a rest while waiting in line.  I stepped in the door and it was wonderful.  It felt like a refrigerator in there!!  The A/C felt so good on my legs!!  This was great... AND they had a little line that was formed, so I could enjoy this wonderful goodness for a few seconds more.

I bought my water, drank some and began my trek back to my car.  I felt OK at this point, but, my body knew that it had run 5.5 miles in the heat.

At mile 6, I took some orange flavored Clif Shot Blocks.  I normally take some more fuel around mile 7, but I needed some fuel already in my system at mile 7, so early and often.

Now, I don't know what got into me at this point, but during these long runs your mind tends to go places.  For whatever reason, I began to chant the words of
Sherman Klump, "Yes. I. Can.  Yes I Can" in my mind.  I don't know where it came from, but this was my mantra for a good part of the way back.

At mile 8, I was moving pretty steady.  I was feeling the effects of the heat and my water had already begun to lose it's coolness.  In fact it was almost luke warm by this point. I decided to take another Shot Block.

Around mile 9.75, a cyclist who I had seen on my way out was coming up behind me.  He shouted, "Good Job!! Great Way to Work!!" and passed me.  This was the encouragement I needed.  It came at the right place and at the right time.  I had a second wind!!  Where did that come from?!?!  That encouragement was provided in such a perfect moment that I literally got goose bumps!!  I was thankful, because my mind was in the middle of fighting a battle at this point.  My body wanted to quit, but my mind provided the determination to keep going.

That's a part of what I enjoy about this sport.  No one else can do it for you.  It's you vs. you.  Even in races, as runners, we're not really competing with others, we're competing against ourselves.  And if you're not mentally strong, you will lose that battle every time.

At this point, I had a renewed mindset.  I was ready to be done, but I was also ready to keep putting one foot in front of the other until I reached my goal.  Mile 10 came and went and I had officially run farther than I had ever run before.  I could've stopped at that point, but I set a goal and I was going to achieve it.  Not to mention, my car was still about a mile away.

I looked at my phone and Map My Run said 10.89 miles.  I was way too close to stop now.  All my water was gone by this point and it was just a matter of staying steady and continuing to move forward.  Before I knew it, I heard a voice say "Total distance 11 miles, time 2:30:14."  I smiled.  I did it.  I said Thank You and I began to walk to my car.

Running to me is like love was to Alfred Lord Tennyson...

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

I was talking to my running buddy yesterday and expressed to him, how I was coming off a terrible week of training.  No injuries, no excuses... In fact, looking back on the week, I really could have fit my scheduled training runs in if I stayed disciplined.  Frankly, I should be up to about 25 miles per week and this particular week I only ran 13 (extremely disappointing).  What was more disappointing, was that the majority of my mileage for the week, came from my long run of 9 miles!

After talking with him further, we came to the conclusion that it could've been a whole lot worse.  Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem came to mind and I modified it a bit.  I concluded that it's better to have run, than not to have run at all.  Perspective began to set in.  If I ran 2 miles, it would've been better than sitting on the couch and not running at all.  That's about 24 minutes of exercise for me and 24 minutes of exercise is better than no exercise at all.  Right?

Sure, the initial disappointment still hasn't left completely; but, I'm dealing with it.  It's not so much the lower mileage, but the lack of discipline on my part that I'm most upset about.  So, what are you gonna do??  Instead of dwelling on it, we will move into a new week.  A week that we can make a positive change, a week of improvement, a week that I'll be able (with the good Lord's help of course) to reach my goal.

That's the good thing about life's journey and running.  We can always improve...