Today was my first running race of the season.
I say first because I have signed up for many many races this year already. I have been very lucky in getting into race lotteries, or signing up on time for races, and not getting locked out. As a result, I think I'm already planned for about 6 half marathons, 2 triathlons, and one cross-country run that frankly, scares me.
I went into this mornings race with low expectations, and just barely met them. As I've said before, my weight is up, as is my pace. Add to that a very hilly course, a little overdressing for the weather, and a series of issues I'm dealing with at work, and the result was a very slow 15K.
How slow? Well, out of 216 runners, I was 201st. Of the 42 Men in my age group, I was 40th, and 41 was running with his six year old son. Yeah, that slow. For the total run, I finished in just over 1:39, or a 10:37 per mile pace. That's pretty on top of some recent long runs, but it's got to get better if I have any chance of beating my 70.3 time later this year.
The work thing is a big distraction, and my brain keeps cycling on it over and over. I finally did speak up about it at work, but some other news keeps my head on only one topic. I keep telling myself that once this issue is resolved (and it will be), I will get my life back to normal, and be able to train like I want to (including being able to focus better on my nutrition, which is really the culprit here) Stress, lack of sleep, and slowing times have made my running a sense of pressure and pain, rather than the source of joy that it has been, and I want it to be again.
For now, I'm noting that I did go out and run a 15K today, which is more than most people did this morning, and with work and hopefully some work relief, this year will turn out to be better than the last.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Step Back to Surge Forward
The last two weeks have been a bit of a wreck in terms of achieving my personal goals. The year started with illness, and that sapped all of my momentum, so the 2nd week of the month was a struggle just to get my work done, with very little time for exercise, or the energy to ensure I followed my nutrition plans.
That's over now.
Today is my first non-workday of the year and I'm counting on this being a turning point. I got a run in earlier this week, and managed a long run today (10 miles), with some other exercise in the past three days, so I'm getting some momentum back. My nutrition is getting better, but I'm not in just the right place yet.
So what's the plan now? I've done the step back part, now is a good time to surge forward. My bank account says I still need to work, so I'm going to keep up with that. But now I need to re-assert my priorities and ensure that I put the important before the urgent as often as possible. That's true in both my work and personal life, in fitness, nutrition, and relationships.
Setbacks are a part of life; I get that. They stink, and are demotivating, but I'm taking what's happened, and focusing on what can happen. Progress takes time, but at least now I think I can get really started for the year.
That's over now.
Today is my first non-workday of the year and I'm counting on this being a turning point. I got a run in earlier this week, and managed a long run today (10 miles), with some other exercise in the past three days, so I'm getting some momentum back. My nutrition is getting better, but I'm not in just the right place yet.
So what's the plan now? I've done the step back part, now is a good time to surge forward. My bank account says I still need to work, so I'm going to keep up with that. But now I need to re-assert my priorities and ensure that I put the important before the urgent as often as possible. That's true in both my work and personal life, in fitness, nutrition, and relationships.
Setbacks are a part of life; I get that. They stink, and are demotivating, but I'm taking what's happened, and focusing on what can happen. Progress takes time, but at least now I think I can get really started for the year.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Two weeks down in this year......
So I expected this would be an interesting couple of weeks, and I was totally wrong.
Two weeks into the new year, and just about all I've done is work, sleep, and (to some extent) suffer. I shouldn't be surprised - this is how every January works, and it's usually about the 15th (today) when I pick up my head to see how deep a hole I've managed to dig in the start of the year.
This year is no different. Where I should have run about 40 miles, I've run 13. Where I wanted to lose a couple of pounds, I'm up about 6. Where I had hoped to cut back on overtime, I had multiple days of 15-hour shifts, and have worked full days all 4 weekend days this year. And where I wanted to preserve the good relationship I have with my wife.....well, that's not too bad, actually (she's very forgiving when I don't see her for days, and then when I do, I'm grumpy).
So now I am looking forward. Why? Because just like every other year, I expect the next three months to be good for me. Busy, of course, but some of that in a good way, and in a way that should help, rather than hurt my health. I'll get back into my workout routine, rev up my training, run a few races (including one this weekend that I'm really not prepared for), and get ready for real race season.
So far this year, I've lined up a progressive build-up to the Boston Marathon (no, I'm not running that), the NYC 1/2 Marathon, a cross-country 10K in a local Preserve, a 1/2 Ironman in August, and a few other local races, mainly 1/2s and triathlons. I'm not ready for any of this, but I'm feeling ready to train for the first time in a good long while.
First steps, get my nutrition back in line - no more convenience store stops, cut the sweets, knock off the extra calories, and go back to healthier options. Since giving up soda four months ago, I've taken to tea, and for a while there, fruits and vegetables were my staples. It will take a transition, but I'm headed back into that territory, and back into the outdoors for my workouts.
It should be a good Spring.
Two weeks into the new year, and just about all I've done is work, sleep, and (to some extent) suffer. I shouldn't be surprised - this is how every January works, and it's usually about the 15th (today) when I pick up my head to see how deep a hole I've managed to dig in the start of the year.
This year is no different. Where I should have run about 40 miles, I've run 13. Where I wanted to lose a couple of pounds, I'm up about 6. Where I had hoped to cut back on overtime, I had multiple days of 15-hour shifts, and have worked full days all 4 weekend days this year. And where I wanted to preserve the good relationship I have with my wife.....well, that's not too bad, actually (she's very forgiving when I don't see her for days, and then when I do, I'm grumpy).
So now I am looking forward. Why? Because just like every other year, I expect the next three months to be good for me. Busy, of course, but some of that in a good way, and in a way that should help, rather than hurt my health. I'll get back into my workout routine, rev up my training, run a few races (including one this weekend that I'm really not prepared for), and get ready for real race season.
So far this year, I've lined up a progressive build-up to the Boston Marathon (no, I'm not running that), the NYC 1/2 Marathon, a cross-country 10K in a local Preserve, a 1/2 Ironman in August, and a few other local races, mainly 1/2s and triathlons. I'm not ready for any of this, but I'm feeling ready to train for the first time in a good long while.
First steps, get my nutrition back in line - no more convenience store stops, cut the sweets, knock off the extra calories, and go back to healthier options. Since giving up soda four months ago, I've taken to tea, and for a while there, fruits and vegetables were my staples. It will take a transition, but I'm headed back into that territory, and back into the outdoors for my workouts.
It should be a good Spring.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Day 2, too
Today was supposed to be Day 2. And it was, just not the kind of Day 2 I was looking for.
I decided yesterday at noon was going to be the beginning. I wrote it in notebooks, put an alarm on my phone, and had all good intentions. The rest of yesterday went fine, even though I had to work until about 11:00 pm (I'm an office worker, and even though I'm always more than 9-5 (more like 8-7), a night that late was unusual. At least it's supposed to be.
So cut to today. Packed my lunch, had all plans to be healthy, but I woke up late (overslept due to getting to bed at 1 this morning) and while the beginning of the day was fine, I broke in the evening, as I found I would likely be at work until 11 again. [As I write this, it's 10:45, and I'm waiting for someone else to finish work so the rest of my team can finish theirs].
The evening was a disaster. Hungry from the day, and having expected to be home and potentially exercising in the evening, access to the dinner I had brought in for the team just threw me off. *sigh*
So, here I am - no exercise today; eating too much; intensely stressed once again, and facing another 9 days of long days. I have just about had enough - it's time to change.
I decided yesterday at noon was going to be the beginning. I wrote it in notebooks, put an alarm on my phone, and had all good intentions. The rest of yesterday went fine, even though I had to work until about 11:00 pm (I'm an office worker, and even though I'm always more than 9-5 (more like 8-7), a night that late was unusual. At least it's supposed to be.
So cut to today. Packed my lunch, had all plans to be healthy, but I woke up late (overslept due to getting to bed at 1 this morning) and while the beginning of the day was fine, I broke in the evening, as I found I would likely be at work until 11 again. [As I write this, it's 10:45, and I'm waiting for someone else to finish work so the rest of my team can finish theirs].
The evening was a disaster. Hungry from the day, and having expected to be home and potentially exercising in the evening, access to the dinner I had brought in for the team just threw me off. *sigh*
So, here I am - no exercise today; eating too much; intensely stressed once again, and facing another 9 days of long days. I have just about had enough - it's time to change.
Monday, January 7, 2019
2019 - On to new sameness
Another year has passed, mainly with silence on this blog. 2018 was not the year I had hoped it to be when I wrote last year’s post. A lot happened as expected, and there were lots of high points, but for me, it just didn’t seem to be my year.
The start of 2019 finds me largely in the same place I was last year. I’m in the same job, which should have changed 18 months ago, but my boss made a promise, and then let me down, and I haven’t moved. (Someone in HR referred to me as the ‘stuckee’ person, and I swear I’m going to scream the next time someone points out that I’ve been in my job a long time).
I’m coming up on 4 1/2 years in a job that would burn out ordinary people in 3. And as of right now, there is no sun on the horizon. I’m being a team player and waiting for a problem to get resolved, but once that happens (later this month), I’m going to start making a lot of noise about it.
At least that’s what I tell myself. The reality is probably quite different, and I’ll continue to be the team player and let things happen to me. I don’t know, though, as I seem to spend every day driving to and from work thinking about how I’ve been neglected, and trying to decide that it’s time to leave the company. If something doesn’t change soon, I may need to do that, if only for my own sanity.
And, of course, there’s fitness (or lack thereof). The other major disappointment last year was a marathon that I ran, and ran badly. I say ‘ran’ but the reality is that I walked the last 8 miles. I wasn’t trained enough, I’m carrying a lot more weight than I used to, and I’ve lost a lot of fitness these last 5 years, the last two especially, given my longer commute and very long days at work. In the last two years, I think my workload has increased by about 20%, with no let up in any responsibilities. So even when I’m home, I’m stressed, and I spend almost every night with my laptop open doing e-mails.
So that’s why I’m writing tonight - to convince myself that it’s time to change things. To focus on me a bit more. To drop the 20 pounds my doctor said I need to (now probably 25). To put my own priorities first, and focus on the joy of achieving them. To join my wife, who is probably as fit as she’s ever been. I convinced her to run a half-Ironman triathlon with me this year, and she’s training better than I am. At this point, I’m hoping to find the time to train properly, and finish the course again.
Yes, right now, I’m down on myself. Unlike much of last year, I do see opportunities to get better though. Last year was a really rough year for me, mentally and emotionally. I was let down by someone else, and I let myself down as well. This year can totally be different, even if just because I walk in with a different mindset, a different attitude, and a different way of handling my stress. I won’t say that writing will become an outlet for me (see my various other false starts) but something must.
The start of 2019 finds me largely in the same place I was last year. I’m in the same job, which should have changed 18 months ago, but my boss made a promise, and then let me down, and I haven’t moved. (Someone in HR referred to me as the ‘stuckee’ person, and I swear I’m going to scream the next time someone points out that I’ve been in my job a long time).
I’m coming up on 4 1/2 years in a job that would burn out ordinary people in 3. And as of right now, there is no sun on the horizon. I’m being a team player and waiting for a problem to get resolved, but once that happens (later this month), I’m going to start making a lot of noise about it.
At least that’s what I tell myself. The reality is probably quite different, and I’ll continue to be the team player and let things happen to me. I don’t know, though, as I seem to spend every day driving to and from work thinking about how I’ve been neglected, and trying to decide that it’s time to leave the company. If something doesn’t change soon, I may need to do that, if only for my own sanity.
And, of course, there’s fitness (or lack thereof). The other major disappointment last year was a marathon that I ran, and ran badly. I say ‘ran’ but the reality is that I walked the last 8 miles. I wasn’t trained enough, I’m carrying a lot more weight than I used to, and I’ve lost a lot of fitness these last 5 years, the last two especially, given my longer commute and very long days at work. In the last two years, I think my workload has increased by about 20%, with no let up in any responsibilities. So even when I’m home, I’m stressed, and I spend almost every night with my laptop open doing e-mails.
So that’s why I’m writing tonight - to convince myself that it’s time to change things. To focus on me a bit more. To drop the 20 pounds my doctor said I need to (now probably 25). To put my own priorities first, and focus on the joy of achieving them. To join my wife, who is probably as fit as she’s ever been. I convinced her to run a half-Ironman triathlon with me this year, and she’s training better than I am. At this point, I’m hoping to find the time to train properly, and finish the course again.
Yes, right now, I’m down on myself. Unlike much of last year, I do see opportunities to get better though. Last year was a really rough year for me, mentally and emotionally. I was let down by someone else, and I let myself down as well. This year can totally be different, even if just because I walk in with a different mindset, a different attitude, and a different way of handling my stress. I won’t say that writing will become an outlet for me (see my various other false starts) but something must.
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