Just starting

[EdgarHF]

I did a 2.5 mile run with the 5k group yesterday. Today is a rest day. At lunch time today I searched the internet for a public running track in Chicago. I found a promising one close to my place. After work I drove over to check it out. It turned out to be a beautifully groomed track with lanes painted on it. Here it is a beautiful running on a Saturday evening and not one person using it. I have found my place to do my Tuesday morning speed work. Now, all I got to do is find a nice hill

[EdgarHF]

Today was my weigh in day. I tipped the scale at 237 for another 2 pounds lost. I think the big weekly losses may be over for me. As I get lighter it is getting harder to lose weight. I did an easy 5k run this morning. I sprinted the last 100 meters other than that I did not push at all and my time for the run showed it. I completed the distance slower that last Sunday. My 5k race is now less than 2 weeks away. I want it too get here, I am getting impatient. I want to know what time I will get when I push myself the whole distance and not just sections of my shorter Tuesday runs.

Time: 00:42:46
Distance: 3.11 mi
Elevation Gain: 13 ft
Calories: 424 C

Timing
Time: 00:42:46
Moving Time: 00:41:22
Elapsed Time: 00:42:46
Avg Speed: 4.4 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 4.5 mph
Max Speed: 6.8 mph
Avg Pace: 13:45 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 13:18 min/mi
Best Pace: 08:49 min/mi
SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 13 ft
Elevation Loss: 25 ft
Min Elevation: 579 ft
Max Elevation: 594 ft
Laps 4
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:42:46 3.11 13:45
1 00:13:12 1.00 13:12
2 00:14:21 1.00 14:21
3 00:14:02 1.00 14:02
4 00:01:08 0.11 10:47

[Fygle]

Personally I think 2 pounds lost per week sounds like a healthy amount.

[feelin-great]

Great job on the 2 pounds And way to go on keeping up with the running, it's very inspirational

[Boss Man]

2lbs weight loss per week, is normal for people within a 100lb proximity of an ideal healthy weight level.

[EdgarHF]

Yesterday I played hooky from the gym and went out to one of the collar counties to check out a forrest preserve there for running hills. I did walk down a hiking trail about a mile and found it to be about as hilly as anything I would find in the area I live in. I walked back out and drove home. Now, I have a hilly place to run and a running track.

I turned 56 years old today. I got up at 6:30AM got into my running clothes and drove the 35 miles to Waterfall Glen Forrest Preserve. I ran down a hiking trail for 2.5 miles then turned around and walked back to my car. According to my Garmin the hills were not that high, but they sure as heck felt like I running uphill for a long time. I found that after a bit running downhill was almost as bad as running uphill. My speed for the run was terrible, but I will get used to running uphill soon enough. It reminded my of some of the runs when I was in the Marines except this time I did not have to run with pack, helmet and rifle.

Time: 00:38:44
Distance: 2.50 mi
Elevation Gain: 115 ft
Calories: 344 C

Timing
Time: 00:38:44
Moving Time: 00:36:30
Elapsed Time: 00:38:44
Avg Speed: 3.9 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 4.1 mph
Max Speed: 7.5 mph
Avg Pace: 15:29 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 14:35 min/mi
Best Pace: 07:57 min/mi
SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 115 ft
Elevation Loss: 111 ft
Min Elevation: 597 ft
Max Elevation: 666 ft

Heart Rate
Avg HR: 49 bpm
Max HR: 76 bpm
Avg HR: 26 % of Max
Max HR: 41 % of Max
Avg HR: 0.5 z
Max HR: 0.8 z
Zones% of MaxbpmLaps 3
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:38:44 2.50 15:29
1 00:14:40 1.00 14:40
2 00:15:13 1.00 15:13
3 00:08:50 0.50 17:39

[Fygle]

Happy birthday!

[fitoverforty]

Good job on the hilly trail run! That's 5 miles total counting the walk back - awesome!

Happy Birthday!

[feelin-great]

Happy Birthday

Great way to celebrate!!!

[Boss Man]

Yesterday I played hooky from the gym

We won't tell if you don't

Happy 56th, you've definitely earned it .

[Nokie173]

HAPPY B-DAY!!!

[EdgarHF]

Rest day. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[EdgarHF]

I just have time to jot down a quick one. Its a day of rest. Yesterday, I did a 3 mile run with the Thursday group. Now, time for bed.

[EdgarHF]

Some days I really don't know what to write in my journal so I jot down a couple lines and call it a day. Today is not one of those days. If fact, today I have so much to get out this will probably be my longer post here ever. First off, I weighed in today at 232 lbs. That is a 5 lbs loss for the week. Last week I had stated that my weeks of big weight losses were over an I would have to settle for one and two pound losses if I was lucky. The responses to that post were unanimous is saying that one or two pounds losses were healthier than losing big. Even though I want to lose weight fast even when I posted about big loses being over I knew smaller losses were better. I am not going to change my diet based one week, but if this happens again, say next week. I am going to increase my calorie intake a bit. As my fitness is improving my time of there running is increasing making me burn more fuel.

I extended my long run to 3.5 miles today and as almost always I ran out the distance and walked the 3.5 back. I think eventually as I extend these long runs I am going to have to choose a turnaround point for running the remaining distance back.

My 5k race is Saturday and I only have 2 more runs scheduled before the race. I think whatever happens in the race is going to be what I can do now it is too late for improved conditioning for this race. I hope I can mentally push myself the distance. If I can do the best I am capable of I will be happy no matter what the result. I know I can run the distance as I have done it several times now. I am signed up already for another 5k in September and plan to sign for an additional one in that same month.

I'd like in this post to also reflect on a few things. My current goal weight is 190lbs and when I make that goal I will then decide how much more weight if any I still need to lose. That means I still need to lose at least 42 more pounds. Despite still needing to lose that much I am lately really starting to feel agile. Although I may not look light now I feel light. I can not imagine what I am going to feel like 42 pounds from now. I must confess that after my wife died 15 years ago I have felt like an old man both mentally and physically and I now feeling young for the first time in a long while. I am going to ask at work when I go back on Wednesday if I can keep the schedule they have let my work in order for me to be able to take the 5k course. I want to continue and take the 10k course that starts in the fall. One more thing. When I mentioned to one of the group leaders for the Thursday evening runs that I wanted to take the 10k course he replied to me that I was doing pretty good and that I should have no problem taking it. Then he said that maybe I should think doing a half marathon in the spring. Well, I had post a few weeks back about a goal I had I called the BIG ONE. I really did not at the time really want to say what the big one was. It was and still is somewhat in the dream stage. But, since I am actively doing things to get me to that goal I am going to start actively talking about it. I want to run the Chicago Marathon in 2011. I have read that one should have a year of running under their belt before training for a full marathon and training for the Chicago Marathon would not start until May. By then I will have had about a year of running under my belt. I know I will have to give up some things to do this. But, I know I can do it. I know I can put in the time.

Today run was pretty slow by design. I ran the whole distance but at a pace that felt like a stroll. I don't even think my heart knew I was running

Time: 00:51:25
Distance: 3.50 mi
Elevation Gain: 3 ft
Calories: 443 C

Timing
Time: 00:51:25
Moving Time: 00:50:15
Elapsed Time: 00:51:25
Avg Speed: 4.1 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 4.2 mph
Max Speed: 6.2 mph
Avg Pace: 14:41 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 14:21 min/mi
Best Pace: 09:37 min/mi
SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 3 ft
Elevation Loss: 15 ft
Min Elevation: 579 ft
Max Elevation: 594 ft
Laps 4
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:51:25 3.50 14:41
1 00:13:40 1.00 13:39
2 00:14:45 1.00 14:45
3 00:15:40 1.00 15:40
4 00:07:18 0.50 14:39

[Fygle]

Chicago marathon, hell yeah! I'm almost feeling your joy as I'm reading this post, pure gold!