Things are looking up

The past few days have been a lot of fun for me. I was able to run on Saturday and on Monday. Besides stiffness and weakness, the ankle feels pretty good. I've lost about 12 lbs. in the last few weeks bringing me down to 328. That's about where I was halfway through PIM in the Fall of 2004. I remember that time because it was the first time I could fit into any kind of running apparrel (e.g. running shorts, singlets). I think I've finally turned the corner with the ankle problem and am ready to start the real work of getting back to where I left off in the spring of '05. WOW!!! It's really been that long since I've run. It seems like an eternity.

I'm still not ready to really set out my short and long term goals, particularly my dream of running a marathon. I think for now, I'm just going to continue to watch what I eat and gradually increase my running over the next weeks. If I had to publish any goal, it would be that I hope to be able to run for 30 minutes continuously by 10 weeks. That gets me to the first part of July. At that time I'll probably look at a formal 5K training program and continue to progress, taking it very slow. Of course, the most important goal is to stay injury free.

Thoughts on my first marathon...it's hard to imagine the fact that I'm even able to entertain thoughts of running a marathon. I was sooooo pumped back in '05 and well on my way to running a marathon in the late Spring or definitely by last Fall. It really is not realistic, given my ankle problems (continuing to heal) and my weight to shoot for Houston '07, or is it? We'll just have to wait and see. That's basically 9 months. If I were advising myself, I'd say NO but we'll just have to wait and see. One day at a time.

Quick report

Ran this morning in the pre-pre-dawn hours. It was a beautiful morn and I felt great. I did 8x(1w/1.5r).

Going into my surgery last May, my podiatrist said that recovery time was 12 weeks. After my surgery, he said it may be more like 1 year. As I approach the 1 year mark, I'm starting to believe that the 1 year timeframe may be about right. My ankle is just now starting to feel normal. I hope this is a good sign and that I can progress and get back to where I want to be. If I get through the next couple of weeks without any setbacks, I'm going to get serious again with my goals and dream of running a marathon one day. For the time being, though, I'm taking one day at a time.

Feels Grrrrr8!!!

Just have to post that today my legs are sore. My thighs are tight. My calves ache. I feel GREAT!!! No, really, no joke! It has been soooo long since I felt like I've worked out and now I can remember why I love running so much. Hurts so good! :) The great thing is that my ankle feels pretty good. I can definitely tell that I'm weak there but no "bad" pain in all the oh so familiar places.

Rest today. Probably do a little yard work. I'm running again in the morning.

I ran today!!!

Never thought I'd see those words again on this blog!!! I've been walking 3-5 times per week but decided today to do a little running. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I did 8x(1 min run/1.5 walk). I was breathing hard, sweating, feeling a little fatigue in the legs, all the signs that I acutally worked out!

I'm not too sure about my new running trails out here in Fairfield. Actually, they are just sidewalks. Boy, I really miss Memorial. Wish I could find some crushed granite or dirt trails out here somewhere. Well, if I really start to get motivated, I'll start running at Memorial Park in the pre-pre-dawn hours before work. I just need to find a place to shower.

On a more serious note, my brother-in-law was murdered last week in his trailer in Lousiana. He was 44. It has been a tough week or 2 for my family so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers

Great news!!! I've had the flu!

I was very ill over the past week and am recovering from either the flu or a really bad cold. The reason this is good news is that I seem to have kind of broken some bad eating habits. Over the past week, I've lost about 8 lbs. too.

Now I'm not naive enough to think that this is the norm in just a week but I am still encouraged that this is the only weight loss I've experienced in many months. So, I want to keep it off and continue to lose more.

My walking regimen has been going so-so. The great thing is that my ankle has felt pretty well. I'm soooooooo weak, though and am going to be very careful building back all the musculoskeletal structure that has not been used in sooo long. I'm walking about 25 minutes at at time now so that's good.

I need to get such more serious about my fitness but am starting to have a better attitude and starting to get more and more motivated.