I've been reading a lot of articles out there in running publications about how MP3 players are banned from most sanctioned marathons. I guess I won't be running any marathons soon because I pretty much live with my iPod now. I haven't always been a fan of running with headphones, especially outdoors, but I really enjoy listening to music while I run. It helps get me through my runs and takes my mind off the mileage I need to cover.
My playlist is pretty eclectic, as you'll soon see. I like intense music, like hard rock, when I need to do a faster run. For longer runs, I prefer something a touch more mellow. Then for those in-between runs, like for hills or just when I'm working out I might try something more contemporary. Music can be a huge part of a good workout and can really help your running goals for the day.
So, what's in your playlist? Here's a sampling of mine:
Born to Run--Bruce Springsteen
I Love Rock N Roll--Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Metal Health--Quiet Riot
Turn Me Loose--Loverboy
Heartbreaker--Pat Benatar
Faithfully--Journey
Sweet Dreams--The Eurhythmics
The Heart of Rock N Roll--Huey Lewis and the News
Welcome to the Jungle--Guns N Roses
Dead or Alive--Bon Jovi
Banana Pancakes--Jack Johnson
All Star--Smashmouth
Rock and Roll Band--Boston
Lucky Star--Madonna
Hot Blooded--Foreigner
Let me know what you're listening to. Hit me with your best shot, baby!
TFR
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Media, Life, and True Reality
While running on the treadmill this afternoon, I caught a newsflash on CNN which was playing on the TV above me. I couldn't hear what was said, but I could read the closed captioning. The anchor was talking about singer Amy Winehouse and how she's been hospitalized with emphysema. If you aren't familiar with Winehouse, she has a hit song aptly named, "Rehab." It seems this young lady, aged 25, is determined to leave this earth as fast as she can. She's been in rehab for a cocaine addiction and continues to be reckless with her life. Now, she's been diagnosed with emphysema, a disease more closely associated with smokers of more advanced age.
From what I can tell, the media has gotten a great deal of mileage at Miss Winehouse's expense. There are pictures splattered all over the internet showing her with a white, powdery substance under her nose and tears in her eyes. Other photos show close-up shots of her arms and legs revealing what looks to be track marks (injection points) where she has shot up either heroin or coke. It's tragic what is happening. She's a human being and no one seems to be helping her.
I guess what prompted me to blog about this was something I read tonight on the internet. A few months back, I did a Google search on Winehouse and watched a video on You Tube of her song "Rehab." She has a wonderful voice and the tune reminds you of an old Vegas lounge act or some coffeehouse trio. After seeing how she is falling apart I got online tonight and read an article about her admittance to the hospital. So, again I Googled her name and came across a web site that is asking its readers to predict the date and time of Amy Winehouse's death. Can you believe that? What has happened to us, as a species? Have we grown so insensitive we would actually revel in calling the time of someone's death and find that entertaining? I find it repulsive and sick.
Recently, the Australian government intervened in television programming in that country, calling for more stringent guidelines for behavior, specifically profanity, on television. It seems that one Australian official was fed up with certain "reality" shows airing on local stations. He called the shows "crude" and said Australians were becoming a nation of "crude people." The same could be said in many places, such as the U.K., where this web site prophesying Amy Winehouse's demise originated, and the U.S. We are losing our civility to make a buck or to be entertained by foolish behavior on television. And now, some complete idiots are "cashing in" (their words) on the death of what should have been a bright singing star.
My call is for someone out there to please help Amy Winehouse before someone collects on the i-Pod Touch that is the grand prize for accurately predicting her death. Ironically, I'm certain "Rehab" will be one of the preloaded songs on the i-Pod. How nice.
I also urge everyone to remember we are a civil society, not animals. I'm glad someone in Australia had the guts to stand up and say enough. Too bad we are so blinded by political correctness and have become so incredibly sterilized by the garbage on American TV that someone in our government doesn't have the courage and moral decency to draw the line.
I'm not sure what it will take. But I'll lay this challenge at the feet of any lawmaker in Washington. Stand up in Congress tomorrow and put forth a bill to clean up television programming in the United States. I have a used 2 gigabyte, i-Pod Nano with over 400 songs already loaded that I'd be happy to give you. Maybe it'll save a life or someone's soul.
I pray for Amy Winehouse and others like her. This is the true reality of life. And unlike American Idol or Top Chef there are no winners. If she dies, someone will get a shiny new i-Pod.
You tell me...did they really win?
TFR
From what I can tell, the media has gotten a great deal of mileage at Miss Winehouse's expense. There are pictures splattered all over the internet showing her with a white, powdery substance under her nose and tears in her eyes. Other photos show close-up shots of her arms and legs revealing what looks to be track marks (injection points) where she has shot up either heroin or coke. It's tragic what is happening. She's a human being and no one seems to be helping her.
I guess what prompted me to blog about this was something I read tonight on the internet. A few months back, I did a Google search on Winehouse and watched a video on You Tube of her song "Rehab." She has a wonderful voice and the tune reminds you of an old Vegas lounge act or some coffeehouse trio. After seeing how she is falling apart I got online tonight and read an article about her admittance to the hospital. So, again I Googled her name and came across a web site that is asking its readers to predict the date and time of Amy Winehouse's death. Can you believe that? What has happened to us, as a species? Have we grown so insensitive we would actually revel in calling the time of someone's death and find that entertaining? I find it repulsive and sick.
Recently, the Australian government intervened in television programming in that country, calling for more stringent guidelines for behavior, specifically profanity, on television. It seems that one Australian official was fed up with certain "reality" shows airing on local stations. He called the shows "crude" and said Australians were becoming a nation of "crude people." The same could be said in many places, such as the U.K., where this web site prophesying Amy Winehouse's demise originated, and the U.S. We are losing our civility to make a buck or to be entertained by foolish behavior on television. And now, some complete idiots are "cashing in" (their words) on the death of what should have been a bright singing star.
My call is for someone out there to please help Amy Winehouse before someone collects on the i-Pod Touch that is the grand prize for accurately predicting her death. Ironically, I'm certain "Rehab" will be one of the preloaded songs on the i-Pod. How nice.
I also urge everyone to remember we are a civil society, not animals. I'm glad someone in Australia had the guts to stand up and say enough. Too bad we are so blinded by political correctness and have become so incredibly sterilized by the garbage on American TV that someone in our government doesn't have the courage and moral decency to draw the line.
I'm not sure what it will take. But I'll lay this challenge at the feet of any lawmaker in Washington. Stand up in Congress tomorrow and put forth a bill to clean up television programming in the United States. I have a used 2 gigabyte, i-Pod Nano with over 400 songs already loaded that I'd be happy to give you. Maybe it'll save a life or someone's soul.
I pray for Amy Winehouse and others like her. This is the true reality of life. And unlike American Idol or Top Chef there are no winners. If she dies, someone will get a shiny new i-Pod.
You tell me...did they really win?
TFR
Worth the Weight
I have a very low tolerance of lazy people, but I can understand them. I struggle with bouts of laziness from time to time. Fat people in America have been shackled with the stereotype of being lazy by those who make no effort to understand them. One man's fat is another's skinny, in my opinion. When I say I have a low tolerance for laziness, I guess that comes from being a teacher. But, speaking as someone that once weighed over 300 lbs. I know what it's like to have people look at you weird and shout insults at you when you're out in public. Heck, I weigh 240 right now and still get idiots yelling at me while I'm running, "You need to run, fatboy!" I wonder if they could keep up. Doubtful.
The next time you see a fat person sitting on a bench or maybe slamming that burger in a restaurant, remember, there's a story there. That food may be the only friend that person has. Cap'n Crunch at least smiles at you when you pour it into the bowl. A Hostess Twinkie doesn't make fun of you on the playground. Devil's Food cake won't laugh at you while it's sitting on your plate. I found comfort in lots of these foods, and mac and cheese and pizza and donuts. None of them made fun of me--none! Behind every fat person there's a story of lousy self-esteem just waiting to be told. The more we eat, the less our self-esteem so we eat more. You get the picture.
Where does my intolerance for lazy come from? Well, here's my point. If you're fat, you don't have to stay that way. Will I ever look like an Olympic marathoner? No and I don't want to, either. I lost over 100 pounds and looked horrible at 195. My mom used to say my bones would weigh 200 pounds and she was right. I had friends telling me I needed to stop losing weight and maybe put back a few pounds. I really did look bad. Some people can lose weight and look great. I'm not one of them. When I got back up to 235 that was a decent weight for me and I did look pretty good. I never want to weight 300 pounds again--NEVER! But I now know how an anorexic feels. At 195 I would look in the mirror and still see the same fat guy I saw at 305. I'd tell my wife I need to lose more. I would constantly weigh myself and obsess over everything I ate. Does that sound like fun to you? At some point, enough was enough.
If you are fat you may never be America's Top Model and so freaking what? But you don't have to live a life that puts you in danger of dying of a heart attack. You can be healthy and still eat the foods you love. Just don't make love to those foods while you eat them. Do you know what I mean by that?
God has a plan for us. Sure he does. I don't think God wanted me to be unhappy at over 300 pounds and miserable because I always had to shop in the big and tall section. I wore a size 50 pant and a 3XL shirt and jacket. But, God does want me to share his story through my weight loss and glorify his name. I'm blessed to be able to run 3, 4, and even 5 miles at a time when at one time I could barely walk down the street without resting.
I'm lazy, by nature, and have to work hard at keeping my weight under control. It's a constant struggle, one I'm sure will go on until I die, or finally quit caring. But for right now I'm proud I'm a runner. I'm glad I don't weigh so much because I often wonder if I would still be alive today had I not lost all that weight. I owed that to my kids to be able to play with them and be there for their graduations.
Runners have heart attacks too, don't get me wrong. But if you're reading this and you're overweight, I understand. Read this again--I UNDERSTAND. God understands too. When you don't think you have a friend you do in Jesus, as the song goes. If you don't think you have anyone, write me. I'm only too happy to talk with you.
And for you runners that might have been overweight at one time and now you're thinner, never forget where you came from. And don't keep that to yourself. And don't let others make fun of overweight people. They're humans, just like you. You want respect and so do they.
I've been up and down, back and forth just in last five years trying to hang in there and stay below 250. It has been "worth the weight." I wouldn't trade the struggle for anything because, in the words of Coach Jimmy Duggan in "A League of Their Own," "it's the hard that makes it great."
That's my confession. What's yours?
God bless you!
TFR
The next time you see a fat person sitting on a bench or maybe slamming that burger in a restaurant, remember, there's a story there. That food may be the only friend that person has. Cap'n Crunch at least smiles at you when you pour it into the bowl. A Hostess Twinkie doesn't make fun of you on the playground. Devil's Food cake won't laugh at you while it's sitting on your plate. I found comfort in lots of these foods, and mac and cheese and pizza and donuts. None of them made fun of me--none! Behind every fat person there's a story of lousy self-esteem just waiting to be told. The more we eat, the less our self-esteem so we eat more. You get the picture.
Where does my intolerance for lazy come from? Well, here's my point. If you're fat, you don't have to stay that way. Will I ever look like an Olympic marathoner? No and I don't want to, either. I lost over 100 pounds and looked horrible at 195. My mom used to say my bones would weigh 200 pounds and she was right. I had friends telling me I needed to stop losing weight and maybe put back a few pounds. I really did look bad. Some people can lose weight and look great. I'm not one of them. When I got back up to 235 that was a decent weight for me and I did look pretty good. I never want to weight 300 pounds again--NEVER! But I now know how an anorexic feels. At 195 I would look in the mirror and still see the same fat guy I saw at 305. I'd tell my wife I need to lose more. I would constantly weigh myself and obsess over everything I ate. Does that sound like fun to you? At some point, enough was enough.
If you are fat you may never be America's Top Model and so freaking what? But you don't have to live a life that puts you in danger of dying of a heart attack. You can be healthy and still eat the foods you love. Just don't make love to those foods while you eat them. Do you know what I mean by that?
God has a plan for us. Sure he does. I don't think God wanted me to be unhappy at over 300 pounds and miserable because I always had to shop in the big and tall section. I wore a size 50 pant and a 3XL shirt and jacket. But, God does want me to share his story through my weight loss and glorify his name. I'm blessed to be able to run 3, 4, and even 5 miles at a time when at one time I could barely walk down the street without resting.
I'm lazy, by nature, and have to work hard at keeping my weight under control. It's a constant struggle, one I'm sure will go on until I die, or finally quit caring. But for right now I'm proud I'm a runner. I'm glad I don't weigh so much because I often wonder if I would still be alive today had I not lost all that weight. I owed that to my kids to be able to play with them and be there for their graduations.
Runners have heart attacks too, don't get me wrong. But if you're reading this and you're overweight, I understand. Read this again--I UNDERSTAND. God understands too. When you don't think you have a friend you do in Jesus, as the song goes. If you don't think you have anyone, write me. I'm only too happy to talk with you.
And for you runners that might have been overweight at one time and now you're thinner, never forget where you came from. And don't keep that to yourself. And don't let others make fun of overweight people. They're humans, just like you. You want respect and so do they.
I've been up and down, back and forth just in last five years trying to hang in there and stay below 250. It has been "worth the weight." I wouldn't trade the struggle for anything because, in the words of Coach Jimmy Duggan in "A League of Their Own," "it's the hard that makes it great."
That's my confession. What's yours?
God bless you!
TFR
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Shoe Junkie
Some people are addicted to food (I'm one of those), some are addicted to reality shows like my wife. I'm a running shoe junkie. A more apt title for my blog site might just be "Confessions of a Shoe Junkie." Don't think I didn't consider that name when considering titles. I don't know where my obsession with shoes originated. My best guess is it was born from growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. My folks weren't rich, or even middle class, for that matter. Heck, I got hand-me-downs from my best friend. Since I had no brothers, he was the best I could do. Whenever he got tired of his old sneakers he gave them to me and I gladly accepted.
I worshipped my best friend and any chance to wear his shoes was a real honor. He was a gifted athlete and had everything in front of him until he got bone cancer and lost his right leg below the knee. He went from being this really fast kid that everyone looked up to in school, to a below-average runner in middle and high schools. After he got his artificial leg he seldom passed on shoes to me anymore. He didn't wear them out as fast so I wore what I had.
My serious addiction of shoes didn't completely surface until I got into my thirties. It worsened when I began running. The reason I can give reviews of running shoes is because I've owned so many different styles and models. From Adidas Response, Asics Kayanos, and Reebok DMX to New Balance 992's and Nike Air Pegasus, Shox, and Zooms I've tried them all. My wife and friends call me "Imelda Marcos." I'm flattered to be compared to a dictator's wife with a closet full of zapatos!
I'm learning to dial it back a little. Quality not quantity. I do a lot research prior to buying a pair of running shoes now. I read all the latest reviews, talk to people when I see them wearing a particular shoe I'm interested in, and wear-test different models until I find the one I like.
My need for running shoes and the abundance I've accumulated led to me to create a ministry at church called "Shoes for Zimbabwe." My church has supported missions work in Zimbabwe for many years. One day, I was reading about a young high school runner that was collecting gently used running shoes to send to Africa. What a great idea! I've got all these shoes lying around and I'm sure there are many like me out there that have more shoes than they need. So, I called the missionary that works with churches in Zimbabwe and then spoke to our pulpit minister and both were excited about my idea to send shoes to needy people in that region. We put out the word at church and as of today, I've collected over 150 pairs of shoes and close to $200 to help with shipping costs.
Sometimes an obsession can lead to doing something good for others. Of course, a couple of my friends, namely Jason, wondered if this just wasn't another excuse for me to buy more shoes. Hmmm. People in Zimbabwe need our help. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Seriously, people in that riot-torn and politically unstable area could use all your help and prayers. If you'd like to help us, I'd love to tell you how. Contact me by commenting to this story and give me a way to get in touch with you. I'd love to send as many shoes as possible by the end of September.
I hope to hear from you soon if you'd like to help.
God bless you and ever forward!
TFR
I worshipped my best friend and any chance to wear his shoes was a real honor. He was a gifted athlete and had everything in front of him until he got bone cancer and lost his right leg below the knee. He went from being this really fast kid that everyone looked up to in school, to a below-average runner in middle and high schools. After he got his artificial leg he seldom passed on shoes to me anymore. He didn't wear them out as fast so I wore what I had.
My serious addiction of shoes didn't completely surface until I got into my thirties. It worsened when I began running. The reason I can give reviews of running shoes is because I've owned so many different styles and models. From Adidas Response, Asics Kayanos, and Reebok DMX to New Balance 992's and Nike Air Pegasus, Shox, and Zooms I've tried them all. My wife and friends call me "Imelda Marcos." I'm flattered to be compared to a dictator's wife with a closet full of zapatos!
I'm learning to dial it back a little. Quality not quantity. I do a lot research prior to buying a pair of running shoes now. I read all the latest reviews, talk to people when I see them wearing a particular shoe I'm interested in, and wear-test different models until I find the one I like.
My need for running shoes and the abundance I've accumulated led to me to create a ministry at church called "Shoes for Zimbabwe." My church has supported missions work in Zimbabwe for many years. One day, I was reading about a young high school runner that was collecting gently used running shoes to send to Africa. What a great idea! I've got all these shoes lying around and I'm sure there are many like me out there that have more shoes than they need. So, I called the missionary that works with churches in Zimbabwe and then spoke to our pulpit minister and both were excited about my idea to send shoes to needy people in that region. We put out the word at church and as of today, I've collected over 150 pairs of shoes and close to $200 to help with shipping costs.
Sometimes an obsession can lead to doing something good for others. Of course, a couple of my friends, namely Jason, wondered if this just wasn't another excuse for me to buy more shoes. Hmmm. People in Zimbabwe need our help. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Seriously, people in that riot-torn and politically unstable area could use all your help and prayers. If you'd like to help us, I'd love to tell you how. Contact me by commenting to this story and give me a way to get in touch with you. I'd love to send as many shoes as possible by the end of September.
I hope to hear from you soon if you'd like to help.
God bless you and ever forward!
TFR
Friday, June 20, 2008
Talking Points
I have a confession: I hate thieves!!! Well, I hate the sin of thievery, at least. This morning, I decided to sleep a little later and got up at just after 9. I got dressed and was heading out the door to grab a cup of Joe and read the morning paper and then hit the gym for a lift. Last night, for the first time, I parked on the street instead in my driveway. I hit my clicker to unlock my truck and it sounded like my truck was unlocked. As I walked around to the driver's side, I saw my window was smashed and there was glass everywhere. Someone had broken into my truck, ransacked my console and glove box and there was glass all over the floorboards and seats. I was ticked, to say the least.
Then, I gazed up the street and saw the twinkling of glass next to my neighbor's two vehicles. They got him too. Bless his heart, I had to wake him up after he had gotten in from work at 2 am. Some nit-wit took his stereo. Of course, we called the police only to learn there had been 20 vehicles hit in our neighborhood. The silver lining to this story is they caught the morons. It'll be a while before they sort out all the mess. Their little rampage cost me $200 for a new window. Thanks, dudes!
You know, ordinarily, I'd want a pound of flesh, but strangely, I wasn't as mad as I thought I'd be. I just wanted to talk to them and let them know that $200 was insulin I could've purchased for my daughter. Maybe one of their victims has cancer and can't afford to replace a car window. My neighbor has diabetes and I'm sure the stress of the morning jacked his blood sugars through the roof. Most of all, I'd like these guys to know the Jesus I know. That while they'll have to face consequences for their actions, they have a way out that is eternal. They have access to the same Savior I do, if they want him. I'd like to tell them about him in the hopes they might realize a life that is different from the one they are presently living. Sadly, I probably won't get that chance. All I can do is pray someone else talks to them before it's too late.
Next topic: Achilles pain. If anyone out there has experienced achilles pain or an achilles injury, please tell me about it. How do you run through something like that? My left achilles has a knot that is really bugging me. I considered getting back on the bike until I can get it healed. It comes and goes and I'm sure being over 240 lbs. contributes to the stress I'm feeling on my left ankle.
Last topic: I noticed I got a comment from someone I'd never met before. Welcome Friend! I hope you'll check out my blogs more often and chime in. I hope you'll tell your friends and running buddies to check us out. Also, I'd like to suggest you browse The Runners' Lounge by going to www.runnerslounge.com and while you're there, look me up. I started a loungers' forum called "The Fat Runners Society." I hope you'll sign up and engage in conversation with me and my buddy Jason. We're big runners and we'd love to hear from more of you.
That's it for now. God bless you all and ever forward!!!
TFR
Then, I gazed up the street and saw the twinkling of glass next to my neighbor's two vehicles. They got him too. Bless his heart, I had to wake him up after he had gotten in from work at 2 am. Some nit-wit took his stereo. Of course, we called the police only to learn there had been 20 vehicles hit in our neighborhood. The silver lining to this story is they caught the morons. It'll be a while before they sort out all the mess. Their little rampage cost me $200 for a new window. Thanks, dudes!
You know, ordinarily, I'd want a pound of flesh, but strangely, I wasn't as mad as I thought I'd be. I just wanted to talk to them and let them know that $200 was insulin I could've purchased for my daughter. Maybe one of their victims has cancer and can't afford to replace a car window. My neighbor has diabetes and I'm sure the stress of the morning jacked his blood sugars through the roof. Most of all, I'd like these guys to know the Jesus I know. That while they'll have to face consequences for their actions, they have a way out that is eternal. They have access to the same Savior I do, if they want him. I'd like to tell them about him in the hopes they might realize a life that is different from the one they are presently living. Sadly, I probably won't get that chance. All I can do is pray someone else talks to them before it's too late.
Next topic: Achilles pain. If anyone out there has experienced achilles pain or an achilles injury, please tell me about it. How do you run through something like that? My left achilles has a knot that is really bugging me. I considered getting back on the bike until I can get it healed. It comes and goes and I'm sure being over 240 lbs. contributes to the stress I'm feeling on my left ankle.
Last topic: I noticed I got a comment from someone I'd never met before. Welcome Friend! I hope you'll check out my blogs more often and chime in. I hope you'll tell your friends and running buddies to check us out. Also, I'd like to suggest you browse The Runners' Lounge by going to www.runnerslounge.com and while you're there, look me up. I started a loungers' forum called "The Fat Runners Society." I hope you'll sign up and engage in conversation with me and my buddy Jason. We're big runners and we'd love to hear from more of you.
That's it for now. God bless you all and ever forward!!!
TFR
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tired, but Still Going
I have a confession. There are days when I wonder if I should just quit running and start riding a bike again. My legs ache this morning and my left achilles has been bugging me. My frame has a lot to do with all my aches and pains.
Running has been my relief and retreat for more than a decade now. My weight loss quest began on bicycle, though. Many times I long for the fun of cycling. But, I just don't have the time to sit for hours on a bike. I can get a quality workout in under an hour if I run. But I can't ignore the toll running has had on my body. But I also can't ignore the fun I've had or the way running has kept me in shape. Plus, running is a lot cheaper than cycling. The most expensive pair of running shoes I own cost me $100. Try finding a decent bike for that.
When my colleagues and friends ask me why I run, if running isn't wearing my body down, I tell them I need that escape from the realities of life that only running can provide. Running is one pure thing I can do where my only competition is me. I'm not running against the clock, another person, or even the world. I run to make myself better. I run to think and dream and zone out the noise of a frantic life.
I guess one can do this cycling. There were many times back when I rode every day where I pretty well got lost in my own thoughts and got caught up in the mindless cadence of my pedaling. But you can't stop and walk and slow down on a bike the way you can while out for a run.
A few years ago, while working at a different school, I ran a few times with an old friend. He's pretty much a toothpick, going 150 lbs soaking wet, if even that. He looks like a runner with his skinny legs and tight gait. The first thing I noticed about a block or two into our run he was not wearing a watch. Odd, I thought. Mine was reset and counting the minutes. Then, he did something I thought was really crazy. As we crossed the bridge over the railroad tracks, a train was slowly moving underneath us. He screamed, "Cool, check it out!" He stopped dead and hung over the rail. My watch didn't care about the train. It was still running and I wasn't. Instantly I grew perturbed. It must have shown on my face because he looked at me and said, "What?" I smirked and we carried on toward his house. Of course, he stopped a couple more times before we finished our 5-mile destination. While sitting in his yard, I just had to ask. "Okay man, you've ran 4-5 marathons and you run 30-40 miles a week, yet you wear no watch and you stop all the time--why?" He smiled, looked me in the eye, and replied, "Why not?" He's right...why not? Who cares?
Make running fun for yourself, not a chore. I guess that's why I keep on running in spite of the hurts I have. Like my buddy Scott, I've learned to stop and smell the honeysuckle or check out something cool on my runs. My best friend (Dale) and I were inseparable, especially as runners. But he's always been a clock and not stop guy. I've decided life's too short to worry about my watch or keep running with my head down and never notice the beauty that surrounds me.
Have fun out there, whether you walk, run, or ride. We live in a beautiful world and God has given us a lot to look at. Don't pass it up.
That's my confession...what's yours?
TFR
Running has been my relief and retreat for more than a decade now. My weight loss quest began on bicycle, though. Many times I long for the fun of cycling. But, I just don't have the time to sit for hours on a bike. I can get a quality workout in under an hour if I run. But I can't ignore the toll running has had on my body. But I also can't ignore the fun I've had or the way running has kept me in shape. Plus, running is a lot cheaper than cycling. The most expensive pair of running shoes I own cost me $100. Try finding a decent bike for that.
When my colleagues and friends ask me why I run, if running isn't wearing my body down, I tell them I need that escape from the realities of life that only running can provide. Running is one pure thing I can do where my only competition is me. I'm not running against the clock, another person, or even the world. I run to make myself better. I run to think and dream and zone out the noise of a frantic life.
I guess one can do this cycling. There were many times back when I rode every day where I pretty well got lost in my own thoughts and got caught up in the mindless cadence of my pedaling. But you can't stop and walk and slow down on a bike the way you can while out for a run.
A few years ago, while working at a different school, I ran a few times with an old friend. He's pretty much a toothpick, going 150 lbs soaking wet, if even that. He looks like a runner with his skinny legs and tight gait. The first thing I noticed about a block or two into our run he was not wearing a watch. Odd, I thought. Mine was reset and counting the minutes. Then, he did something I thought was really crazy. As we crossed the bridge over the railroad tracks, a train was slowly moving underneath us. He screamed, "Cool, check it out!" He stopped dead and hung over the rail. My watch didn't care about the train. It was still running and I wasn't. Instantly I grew perturbed. It must have shown on my face because he looked at me and said, "What?" I smirked and we carried on toward his house. Of course, he stopped a couple more times before we finished our 5-mile destination. While sitting in his yard, I just had to ask. "Okay man, you've ran 4-5 marathons and you run 30-40 miles a week, yet you wear no watch and you stop all the time--why?" He smiled, looked me in the eye, and replied, "Why not?" He's right...why not? Who cares?
Make running fun for yourself, not a chore. I guess that's why I keep on running in spite of the hurts I have. Like my buddy Scott, I've learned to stop and smell the honeysuckle or check out something cool on my runs. My best friend (Dale) and I were inseparable, especially as runners. But he's always been a clock and not stop guy. I've decided life's too short to worry about my watch or keep running with my head down and never notice the beauty that surrounds me.
Have fun out there, whether you walk, run, or ride. We live in a beautiful world and God has given us a lot to look at. Don't pass it up.
That's my confession...what's yours?
TFR
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Strength of Running
I have this friend, Jason, who's fighting his own battle with his weight. He and I were emailing back and forth the other night and he admitted he has to interrupt his running by walking. My answer: do it!
As a faithful reader of Runner's World magazine, I religiously subscribe to the teachings of former Olympic marathoner and coach Jeff Galloway. For years, Galloway has taught his trainees to add walking to their long training runs. He advocates walking as a means to extend runs without injury. Walking uses different muscles than running so it allows your legs to rest while increasing the duration of your runs. I tried it and it works. Don't believe me? Go check out Jeff Galloway's web site and subscribe to his free newsletter: www.jeffgalloway.com
When I talk to guys like Jason, it really inspires me to want to help out and share what I've learned. For example, he and I were deep in discussion the other night over what running shoe he should buy. That's right up my alley. I have tried a lot of shoes in the last 11 years of running and have opinions on many styles and brands. The one thing I have discovered is there's not a perfect running shoe for everyone. What works for me may not work for a guy of my similar weight. Jason's a big guy and I'm proud he's taking up running. He needs a well-constructed, quality shoe that will support his frame. But, he also needed to adhere to a budget so he couldn't afford to break the bank purchasing a good shoe. I'm 6'1", go 244 lbs, and usually spend anywhere from $75 on up for my shoes. I recommend many of the Asics models, particularly the Gel-Kayano, Nimbus, and Cumulus series. New Balance makes some good shoes for bigger runners, as does Nike. Just be careful when looking at Nike as they tend to run a bit narrow.
Big guys need stability, which can add weight to a shoe. I don't like heavy shoes, although I'm running in one right now, the New Balance 992. It is a classic, stability shoe with no bells and whistles. My shoe is the old suede gray and it's not fancy at all, but it works for me. I also ordered a pair of Asics Gel-Kayano 14 shoes and I haven't been disappointed in them at all. For any runner, it's trial and error. Just like our favorite restaurant, we have to find something that works for us and, in the words of the old Texas Longhorns coach Darrell Royal, "dance with them that brung us."
One piece of advice and this is just from my own personal experience--stay away from the Nike Shox series. They are not made for serious running, especially for larger runners. If you notice, they seldom get any notice from the Runner's World shoe review. In fact, I can't remember ever seeing them reviewed in the magazine. They will hurt your feet if you're a big runner.
Here's a few recommendations for running shoes for bigger guys (190 lbs-250 lbs):
Higher end price, but worth it, in my opinion:
Asics Gel-Kayano 14
Asics Gel Nimbus
New Balance 992
Nike Zoom Vomero
Mid-price:
Asics Gel 1120
Brooks Adrenaline
Nike Air Pegasus
Oh, and I've gotten to where I won't buy retail ever again. I found a great place on-line to buy running shoes. Check this site out and tell me if it isn't worth every penny:
www.holabirdsports.com
The Asics Gel-Kayano 14 sells in my city for an average of $135. I got them at Holabird Sports for $105 with shipping and handling included, no tax. I saved more than $45. The New Balance 992 sells for $107 at Holabird which is far less than retail. I don't think you'll be sorry you ordered from them. I got my Kayanos in about 4 days.
Hey, I hope some of this helps you. Find what works for you and keep doing it. Try walking with your running and see what happens. If you discover a great workout, share it here. And if you find great deals on running shoes, pass that along to the rest of us.
Good luck, God bless, and happy running!
TFR
As a faithful reader of Runner's World magazine, I religiously subscribe to the teachings of former Olympic marathoner and coach Jeff Galloway. For years, Galloway has taught his trainees to add walking to their long training runs. He advocates walking as a means to extend runs without injury. Walking uses different muscles than running so it allows your legs to rest while increasing the duration of your runs. I tried it and it works. Don't believe me? Go check out Jeff Galloway's web site and subscribe to his free newsletter: www.jeffgalloway.com
When I talk to guys like Jason, it really inspires me to want to help out and share what I've learned. For example, he and I were deep in discussion the other night over what running shoe he should buy. That's right up my alley. I have tried a lot of shoes in the last 11 years of running and have opinions on many styles and brands. The one thing I have discovered is there's not a perfect running shoe for everyone. What works for me may not work for a guy of my similar weight. Jason's a big guy and I'm proud he's taking up running. He needs a well-constructed, quality shoe that will support his frame. But, he also needed to adhere to a budget so he couldn't afford to break the bank purchasing a good shoe. I'm 6'1", go 244 lbs, and usually spend anywhere from $75 on up for my shoes. I recommend many of the Asics models, particularly the Gel-Kayano, Nimbus, and Cumulus series. New Balance makes some good shoes for bigger runners, as does Nike. Just be careful when looking at Nike as they tend to run a bit narrow.
Big guys need stability, which can add weight to a shoe. I don't like heavy shoes, although I'm running in one right now, the New Balance 992. It is a classic, stability shoe with no bells and whistles. My shoe is the old suede gray and it's not fancy at all, but it works for me. I also ordered a pair of Asics Gel-Kayano 14 shoes and I haven't been disappointed in them at all. For any runner, it's trial and error. Just like our favorite restaurant, we have to find something that works for us and, in the words of the old Texas Longhorns coach Darrell Royal, "dance with them that brung us."
One piece of advice and this is just from my own personal experience--stay away from the Nike Shox series. They are not made for serious running, especially for larger runners. If you notice, they seldom get any notice from the Runner's World shoe review. In fact, I can't remember ever seeing them reviewed in the magazine. They will hurt your feet if you're a big runner.
Here's a few recommendations for running shoes for bigger guys (190 lbs-250 lbs):
Higher end price, but worth it, in my opinion:
Asics Gel-Kayano 14
Asics Gel Nimbus
New Balance 992
Nike Zoom Vomero
Mid-price:
Asics Gel 1120
Brooks Adrenaline
Nike Air Pegasus
Oh, and I've gotten to where I won't buy retail ever again. I found a great place on-line to buy running shoes. Check this site out and tell me if it isn't worth every penny:
www.holabirdsports.com
The Asics Gel-Kayano 14 sells in my city for an average of $135. I got them at Holabird Sports for $105 with shipping and handling included, no tax. I saved more than $45. The New Balance 992 sells for $107 at Holabird which is far less than retail. I don't think you'll be sorry you ordered from them. I got my Kayanos in about 4 days.
Hey, I hope some of this helps you. Find what works for you and keep doing it. Try walking with your running and see what happens. If you discover a great workout, share it here. And if you find great deals on running shoes, pass that along to the rest of us.
Good luck, God bless, and happy running!
TFR
Where'd I Go?
I'm b-a-a-a-ck! Maybe with a vengeance, maybe not. At any rate, I'm back after a lengthy hiatus from blogging. When last you heard from me, I was on a tirade about the state of my job as a teacher. And even though it isn't always fun, I don't want anyone to think I don't believe for one minute I'm incredibly blessed. I'm blessed just to have a job to complain about. Every morning I awake, I'm in a nice, warm bed next to my beautiful wife. We live in a wonderful home, better than anything I've ever had in my entire life. We drive two cars that actually start in the morning. I have a choice of clothing and, according to my wife, way too many running shoes.
That being said, all this is possible because my wife and I have well-paying jobs that afford us to live better now than ever. Could things be better in our profession? Sure. But, I can't sit here and dwell on that. As much as I'd like to make a few Congressmen substitute for a while and draw my pay for a few months, I know there are others out there, like classroom assistants, that are paid far less than me.
I just felt the need to address my last blog before moving on to other, more pressing items. Since my last blog, my youngest daughter has graduated from high school. She's now on an insulin pump and her sugars are vastly improved. She continues to struggle with diabetes, but she's doing better now than anytime during the last three years since her diagnosis.
My oldest daughter is still in college, pursuing a degree in secondary education. She'll make a fantastic middle school teacher. She has the attitude to work with middle schoolers, like her old man. My wife is doing well and still teaching those little knee-hugging four-year olds.
It's now summer break and we're all enjoying some time off. But, my wife and I have been teaching elementary summer school. I actually taught bilingual pre-kindergarten for three weeks. I now love my job as a middle school art teacher. I don't know how my wife has done it for twenty years. Yikes!
I hope someone will take the time to read my blogs like I have many of yours out there. Every now and then, I browse through different blog sites and I'm amazed at some of the writing and passion of the bloggers I encounter. There are so many good stories out there I fear are going unread by the public, at large. And that's too bad. You're missing out on some great stuff.
I apologize for steering off the course from what this blog was originally intended to be. As the title suggests, "Confessions of a Fat Runner" was and still is supposed to chronicle my running experiences. I'm still a fat runner, tipping the scales at 244 lbs. right now. Eventually I'd like to be the medium-sized runner, but for now I still push through the mileage and fight to keep my weight under control.
It is my hope you'll stop in every now and then, have a cup of coffee with me, and check out what I have to say. I hope to inspire people, not turn them off with negativity. I love the sport of running and I want to share that enthusiasm with you. There are a lot of you out there just like me. You enjoy running and maybe you've had weight problems and are trying to battle your bulge, like I do. Hang with me once in a while and I'll do my best to give you some of the wisdom I've gained from losing 100 lbs.
As soon as I post this blog there will be another one following devoted to nothing but running. If I lost you, I hope you'll come back for a visit. I'll try to make it worth your while.
That's my confession...what's yours?
God bless you!
The One and Only--Fat Runner
That being said, all this is possible because my wife and I have well-paying jobs that afford us to live better now than ever. Could things be better in our profession? Sure. But, I can't sit here and dwell on that. As much as I'd like to make a few Congressmen substitute for a while and draw my pay for a few months, I know there are others out there, like classroom assistants, that are paid far less than me.
I just felt the need to address my last blog before moving on to other, more pressing items. Since my last blog, my youngest daughter has graduated from high school. She's now on an insulin pump and her sugars are vastly improved. She continues to struggle with diabetes, but she's doing better now than anytime during the last three years since her diagnosis.
My oldest daughter is still in college, pursuing a degree in secondary education. She'll make a fantastic middle school teacher. She has the attitude to work with middle schoolers, like her old man. My wife is doing well and still teaching those little knee-hugging four-year olds.
It's now summer break and we're all enjoying some time off. But, my wife and I have been teaching elementary summer school. I actually taught bilingual pre-kindergarten for three weeks. I now love my job as a middle school art teacher. I don't know how my wife has done it for twenty years. Yikes!
I hope someone will take the time to read my blogs like I have many of yours out there. Every now and then, I browse through different blog sites and I'm amazed at some of the writing and passion of the bloggers I encounter. There are so many good stories out there I fear are going unread by the public, at large. And that's too bad. You're missing out on some great stuff.
I apologize for steering off the course from what this blog was originally intended to be. As the title suggests, "Confessions of a Fat Runner" was and still is supposed to chronicle my running experiences. I'm still a fat runner, tipping the scales at 244 lbs. right now. Eventually I'd like to be the medium-sized runner, but for now I still push through the mileage and fight to keep my weight under control.
It is my hope you'll stop in every now and then, have a cup of coffee with me, and check out what I have to say. I hope to inspire people, not turn them off with negativity. I love the sport of running and I want to share that enthusiasm with you. There are a lot of you out there just like me. You enjoy running and maybe you've had weight problems and are trying to battle your bulge, like I do. Hang with me once in a while and I'll do my best to give you some of the wisdom I've gained from losing 100 lbs.
As soon as I post this blog there will be another one following devoted to nothing but running. If I lost you, I hope you'll come back for a visit. I'll try to make it worth your while.
That's my confession...what's yours?
God bless you!
The One and Only--Fat Runner
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