Thought (or photos) of the day...

I saw these and had to post them, but I also need to write soon. My blood test was not good, and I am now taking pills and getting ready for a follow-up in February. More later, but here are pictures I found that made me laugh.

Carry on...

Run fat boy, RUN!

Well, I knew I was fat but severely obese? I attended my annual (well, it's been a few years - thanks, Carl, for encouraging me!) physical this week. This was after I had been working out regularly since November 1 and watching my diet aggressively as of November 2. I have only run 4 times over that period for a total of 12.8 miles in 2 hours and 5 minutes, but I did a whole lot of other exercise, including:

269 bike miles over 15 rides (17 hours or just under 18 miles a time on average)

18 walking miles on 7 walks (5 hours and 20 minutes and 2.5 miles a time average); and

18.6 miles on the elliptical over 9 times (4 hours 45 minutes or just over 2 miles a time average)

So, I averaged 1.6 workouts daily, with the average workout being 1 hour and 20 minutes. So, for the past 20 days, I worked 2 hours and 8 minutes daily. I am feeling better and optimistic about my Christmas deadline as I am not pushing it. If I felt like working out, I did. If I was tired, I did not…

Well, the Physician came in and looked at the chart and, in kind terms, said I was off the chart obese. We had a discussion and discovered I had been obese for decades. I exclaimed, when I was 215 pounds (which is still obese according to him) I ran the 25 K on the Superior Hiking Trail in 2:36 or so, I ran a 4 hour marathon and the Superior 50 mile in 13.5 hours. He said I needed to lose at least 87 pounds and ideal weight; I needed to lose 105 pounds… That stung…

I know I am fat, but I never considered I would be in the category of Americans who needed to lose over 100 pounds, specifically as I am 35 pounds less than when I ran my 5:45 marathon? Some co-workers pointed out that Jarred Allen of the Vikings is also obese, as are most running backs. The chart is just that, a chart. When I was 215, most people thought I was getting too thin, and they can not imagine needing to lose another 35 pounds to be healthy?

So, I wonder if there will be more than Grandma's Marathon in the store next year for the 25th time. I am curious if I will have a 50K, a 50 mile, or a 100 mile in store. I am still committed to waiting for decisions until Christmas and working out doing whatever I want, when I want, as much or as little as I want, in the following weeks. But after being told I am so obese, I may need to rethink a lot more than that?

Carry on…

Letter from the shopping center...

I read this and thought immediately that it could be a letter about Steve Quick, with the luck he has been having and the pranks he can think of. So Steve, enjoy. I could imagine you doing quite a few of these.

Dear Mrs. Quick,

Over the past six months, your ultra-runner friend has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Quick are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away.
5. August 4: He went to the service desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved the 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department.
8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him, he cried and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'
9. September 4: He looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna Look' by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: He hid in a clothing rack, and when people browsed by, he yelled, 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loudspeaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed, 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!' and last but not least.
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.!

Regards, Manager

47 days and counting

This morning, the counter said it would be 47 days until Christmas. I had hoped that by that day, I would have revived my legs to start training for another attempt at the superior beast. Having the time off has given me much time to evaluate. My failure in the first ST 100 was due to a lack of mental training, and the second was due to overtraining and entering race day exhausted.

As stated at the UMTR gathering, if I do this again, I will use the 2-3 runs a week training method. That will be a midweek speed workout and a Saturday run of 20-45 miles, and that should do it. My best running results were when I gave my body plenty of time to rest with solid quality workouts. But then again, when you enjoy something so much, it is hard to do just twice a week.

Either way, even if I do not decide to do the 100, I do have to run and train for my 25th anniversary Grandmam's Marathon finish. Yes, 25 years this year when I finish, consecutively, that is. I had this goal, well, 24 years ago, and it is hard to believe I am that close. That is the only real focus I have, and I am not sure what I will be like emotionally when I cross that line for the last time.

Carry on...

Election day...

Today is election day. This is a complex election for me with two major races, and I do not like either choice? (Some people think selecting a running/trail race is hard!) So I woke thinking I would write in Larry Peterson for President and Don Clark for Senate (As Norm, Dean, and Al have me really turned off...) I am supporting the tax increase for clean water. I know new taxes suck, but we really need to be careful with the world we live in, and water is more of an issue than we care to think. My only fear is they find a way to do what happened in the 90's with the LCMR funds from the lottery, they found a way to use it elsewhere... Either way, yet another election has come when I need to vote for Mo or Curly when we need a Larry...

I can tell my work stress has decreased after the SuperTarget application. The stress and long hours were killing me. For the first time in months, I think I am going to shake a cold. I was shocked when my resting heart rate, which has been in the mid-70s, was 61 yesterday. It is amazing how stress impacts the body.

Carry on...

UMTR and more

UMTR held the awards fest. It was a great gathering with many people, and I was glad to see many of them, as I hoped to see. We may have needed a bigger place if the people I missed could make it. The weather was great, and the awards were the best. Don and Bonny were so deserving of the outstanding awards they were given. I have often wondered what would happen to this sport if it were not for that close group of workhorses. I was going to names those i knew but there are so many other with a passion. I can never thank them enough; I am sure many feel the same way... I am just disappointed I do not have the urge to run... Hope it passes?

I did have the urge to bike. I was short of 50 miles for the weekend with the great weather. If I had known I was so close, I would have gone around the block a few times... Hope the Indian summer holds a few more day but i think that is a dream... It is now time for colder weather. Thank god I have a great workout room at the office with bikes, elliptical, weights, and treadmills. I may just stay in and try the "Diane Farmer" training method for a while? I don't know which TV show I prefer.

Anyway, I hope your health is well, and remember to vote. And if you need any opinions on who to vote for, check out http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com. These are elderly ladies who are funny. Check out the post about Sarah Palen or the funny one, "Maverick my ass"... I think we can assume she is a Democrat, but she is feisty for her age! and she makes me laugh...

Carry on...