Shedding pounds, training, and thinking 'Disney'

Yeah, I have been remiss in keeping the blog updated (is anyone actually reading it?) so I apologize. Life has been keeping me pretty busy, which is a good thing I think. Summer Camp preparations, an awesome Youth Conference in Minnesota, birthdays, work, etc. But through it all, I have been trying to stay consistent with my running and my weight loss. It is a commitment that I am going to maintain!

After running the Rock-n-Roll 5K, I felt really good. I actually went to my TEAM Weight Loss workout the very next day (Monday). I quickly realized my legs were still tired but I had a good workout anyway. Two days later, I finished another TEAM Weight Loss workout and then promptly jumped on a bus headed to Minneapolis for a youth conference called E.Y.E. And I have to say even though my schedule was pretty full from 7AM - 11PM each day, I still managed two morning runs, totaling 6 miles. (I was pretty proud of myself for doing that). The conference was located at Bethel University, a gorgeous campus with bike/run paths through trees and shrubs alongside a lake and everything! A pleasure to run there!

Coming back from the conference, I kept moving. This week, I did two TEAM Weight Loss workouts on Monday and Wednesday morning and a CARA 10K Training run on Wednesday evening. Then on Saturday I did my Long Slow Run with a new friend Mike Rice. We went for 4.4 miles, all but 1.2 miles of it was run at a 11:15 pace. It was 90+ degrees with 95% humidity out there and I felt a little dizzy after 2.25 miles so we walked a mile before running to our finish spot. For my first time running in that kind of weather, I felt pretty good about it. I definitely need to work on my 'run in the heat' strategy (I did not fuel up enough beforehand and I should have brought a sports drink on the run instead of just water). I am told that the most recent issue of Runners World has an article about heat that I need to read.

I weighed in at Weight Watchers that day, right before I ran, and I had lost another 2.6 lbs. That brings my weight loss from the date of the 5K to that moment to 4.2 lbs! I am now at 95lbs total lost! I think my goal of losing 100lbs before my mission trip to Mississippi on July 29th is going to happen! Yes! That will be great because I want to lose 30 more pounds before the Disney Half Marathon in January 2012.

And speaking of Disney, I am getting pretty excited! My sign-up for the Disney 5K and Half are confirmed, and I have placed my reservations for a room at the Pop Century resort. I have hooked up with a running group called WISH (We're Inspired to Stay Healthy) who do a lot of Disney races (my friends Mike and Beth are both members). Not sure yet who is coming with me. Certainly Christi is coming. I think my son is coming too. Cost is a concern, so that might be all (or, it might be just me and Christi). Still figuring that part out. If Ryan goes, I would love for him to run the 5K with me.

I am already trying to read everything I can get my hands on from WISH regarding all the prep work, training, and planning needed to be successful at the Half Marathon distance. Is it weird that I am already looking at suggested packing lists for ideas? It is clear that I have so much more to learn, especially about fueling for distance races/training runs. I am determined to be ready, and to remain healthy and injury-free while doing so. If all goes well, I will end up with two Disney medals in January, and perhaps two more next fall at race(s) at Disneyland.

My gosh, who got me into this whole running thing in the first place?!!! Oh yeah, it was Beth! Hey Beth, this is all your fault! LOL

Runs, Weight Loss... and Disney here I come!

Last weekend I had a church mission trip overnight Friday through Saturday late afternoon. So I could not get in my usual Saturday morning long run. So, I ended up going to LifeTime afterwards and getting a quick 2.5 miles in on the Treadmill before meeting up with my son to have some father/son time.

Then on Sunday, we had fantastic morning weather for a change! So I was able to run 3.8 miles (3 miles at a 12:04 pace) and felt really strong! I could have run more but I had to go to weigh in at Weigh Watchers and needed to get home and shower! The coolest thing on my run was passing two deer on the side of the run path. They just looked up at me as I ran by but they didn't get spooked or anything! I wish I had brought my camera! I guess they figured "He's not wearing an orange vest and he's not armed. No problem!" How cool is that?!!

I returned home, showered, changed, and went to Weight Watchers. I weighed in and WOW! I lost 5.8 lbs since last weekend! I was SO excited! I had weighed myself before and after my run and the difference was only 1/2lb so I knew that those 5lbs were real! That just made my day!!! I am now officially passed the 90 lb total loss milestone! I am going to break 100 lbs lost by August for sure!

Disney here I come!

So I have been texting with my 'running muse' Beth the past week about tips and what events we are doing, and she was talking about her upcoming Disneyland race this fall. Now Beth ran in the Disney World Half Marathon this past January and said it was an awesome experience. So she is running in another 'Run Disney' event. It got me thinking... I love Disney, and I would love to run a race there. Do I think I can meet the challenge? I have three races already scheduled between now and October -- would I be able to train and prepare for a half marathon (my first one)?

Well, after talking with several other runner buddies, my trainer, my daughter, and my wife, I have decided to GO FOR IT! I registered tonight for both the Disney World Family Fun 5K (January 6) and the Disney World Half Marathon (January 7) next year! We will make it a family post-Christmas vacation -- it has been over five years since we were at Walt Disney World so it is about time, right?

I am totally psyched for this event!! My daughter is going to run the 5K with me and I hope to get the other two kids to join me as well. Then I will do the Half Marathon. This will mark a significant milestone in my running journey and a personal achievement that I would not even have dreamed of attempting six months ago.

I will be asking for prayers as I prepare for this. I am confident (well, mostly) that I can do this and I have great people who will support and advise me along the way. I will succeed!