Run Your Ass Off

No Running Today – It’s Friday, after all

No running today. Well, I call it running, but it’s really walking at this point. Let’s call it thundering along with Hugh. We’re just too wide at this point. If I don’t keep up with this, I’m afraid of ending up like the kids on South Park — just kind of waddling from side to side to get my feet off the ground and move myself forward a little bit at a time. I don’t think that I’m really losing weight at this point. Still close to the 230 mark every day, maybe a few pounds over that in the evening.

But tomorrow is Saturday, and with the campaign underway, there will be walking in addition to the distance I hope to cover in the morning with the club.

Onward.

Just a simple walk

Today was just a simple walk. I didn’t walk yesterday, so I was overdue.

Nothing extraordinary to report. Just remembering that covering 2 miles used to be the “off days” running. Today took longer: 35:17, and I was only in my HR zone for 4 seconds. My average HR was only 101. The total event distance was 2.006 miles.

But, I also remember more days sitting on the couch, thinking about my running days gone by, wondering when I’d be out trying again. So, today was better than nothing.

No comments about Hugh. I fed him a sundae last night. That was unnecessary, but I did it. Tasted good enough.

At least I’m still at it.

Back on the Horse and to Hell with Hugh

Had an extremely long day. Started late last night, returning home from WTTW Channel 11 — “Hello! This is WTTW. May I take your pledge?” Our shift ended at 12 midnight, and we pushed our clocks ahead 1 hour last night.

Did not make it up early in the morning to run with the club. Did not run or jog yesterday. I did campaign yesterday, and I walked quickly while doing that, but too much stopping and starting to really count as exercise.

We had a candidates’ forum this afternoon. Afterwards, I was very unsettled. I did well, and I thought I answered questions very well. But I was not comfortable. Most likely it’s because of last night, too overtired to really relax. Afterward the forum I went out to Panera Bread with some friends, and I was still unsettled. Just edgy. My blood pressure was probably up from the forum as well.

So, after I got home, I got back on the horse and went for a walk. Not a jog at all, just a walk. Covered 2.084 miles in 37:05. That’s not very impressive, but it is more than I’ve been doing in a long time. So, it’s good compared to sitting my ass in a soft chair all evening watching television.

To Hell with Hugh

And that reminds me of my friend Hugh Dzhass. I almost forgot about Hugh while walking this evening, until he started asking for a chocolate peanut butter sundae with marshmallow and chocolate sauce topping. Whipped cream — the chocolate kind as well. I suppose I could reward Hugh for sitting with me this afternoon during the candidates’ forum, but that will only make him want more. In the past, I would have thought of an excuse to feed Hugh. “It was a long afternoon,” I might have reasoned, “Hugh put up with a lot.” But, not today, at least.

Hugh has a nasty way of playing weird logic games while I’m walking. It’s almost as if he’s afraid of going away, finding someone else to harass. If I exercise, Hugh expects a reward. When I do the work, and Hugh wants to eat ice cream.

That would be funny if it weren’t true.

So, not tonight, Hugh. Just relax. Maybe a bowl of cereal later if I get really hungry, but I’m not going to pour a second bowl for Hugh.

Hugh will have to do without for tonight.

No Running Today – WTTW Tonight

No running today. On WTTW tonight with the Young Dems until late.

Hugh really complained today. Had a late lunch. Must dump Hugh Dzhass.

Hugh and I go for a run

Well, today was not nearly as impressive, but it was worth it. And I get tomorrow off.

Hugh Dzhass is really slowing me down. I try to leave him at home, but he is very persistent. Where I go, he goes. He’s a real pain sometimes. I don’t know why I’ve been so patient for so long, putting up with his antics.

So, I could only run 3.5 mph. I was out for 30:47, and my average HR was only 107. My distance was still 1.931 miles, and I don’t really know how that happened, as I completely left out one of the parking lots on Birch St. But, hey, who am I to argue with technology?

I’ll never run another Marathon, but at least I can still cover distance. And I’m not out of breath any more when I climb or even run up stairs.

I can’t believe I’m saying that. How did I let myself — oh, never mind that at all. I started hanging 0ut with Hugh. Worse yet, when he showed up, I started feeding him. You should never feed Hugh.

I’ll make that my next rule. Is that rule #3 or #4? I don’t remember. Well, here it is:

#4 (ca.) Never feed Hugh Dzhass.

Meet Hugh Dzhass

Meet Hugh Dzhass. Hugh has been with me for quite some time now. So long, that I sometimes forgot that I actually had another dependent. By himself, you probably wouldn’t notice him: 50, maybe 60 lbs. tops. But he’s always with me, and I’ve had the devil of a time getting rid of him. He’s with me in the morning. He shows up at work. He’s with me after work, at meetings, in the evenings, while watching TV. He’s so much a part of my life, that I often forget about him, and have even considered him a part of the family.

And, oh, does he like to eat. He loves sweet cakes. He adores chocolate syrup, and chocolate-peanut butter ice cream. He can eat a second plate at dinner after I’ve finished my first. He often orders dessert without finishing the main course at restaurants, and leaves me with the bill. When I’m stuffed at home after eating dinner, he makes himself a bowl of ice cream, or yogurt, or whatever.

I’ll tell you more about him later, and all the trouble he’s caused me in life. For now, it’s enough to say hello.

For my part, I actually ran up the steps at Park Forest Village Hall today without losing my breath. Didn’t even know that I had run up steps. Feels pretty good. And, I found out that yesterday’s run was actually a little over 2 miles: 2.036 miles. The GPS worked today, so I did it all again. This one took me a bit longer, 32:29, but I made it, and had time to stretch afterward.

Now I have to eat, and probably feed Hugh a little. But at least I made it through another run.

Ran Yesterday — Actually running

Just a brief report. Made it out the front door yesterday and got my ass moving. Event time: 31:48. Can’t get the GPS to function right on my Timex Ironman, so I don’t know how far I went. However, given the lay of the land, I’d say it was a bit over 1.25 miles. Made better time than previous days. I’m happy with that.

Average HR in zone: 117. Time in zone: 13:30. Average HR overall: 110.

Cheers to my doctor, Mark McKeigue. I never wanted to reach the point in my life where I talked about my doctors like I remember my grandparents talking about theirs, but, I’m their.

McKeigue was a friend first, however, before he was my doctor.

So, here’s his honorable mention in the blog. Thanks for the motivation, Mark.

I reserve the right to take Monday off also

Back in the day when I was running Marathons, Monday was an off day, or a cross training day. Never a running day. That’s according to the Hal Higdon’s training programs, which I highly recommend. You may think that you are in very good shape, but your first Marathon will be a monster. Go with Hal.

Anyhow, I reserve the right to take Monday off. That’s what I did today. I did walk the dog, about .8 mile, stop and go. One of the most ridiculous things I heard and saw today was a Toyota blaring bass music. It was so out of character for Toyotas.

Anger as motivation

In my strong running days, anger was often good motivation to run. If I was pissed off at someone or something, that experience could carry me 7 miles or more in a 10 mile run. Some days I would be upset at myself. Sometimes it would be something that happened at work.

It didn’t matter. Anger was great motivation. I don’t know that I ever solved anything while running, but I was able to process some pretty strong feelings.

Well, that’s all for now. Just an initial thought on the matter.

Made it to a Sunday run!

The Park Forest Running and Pancake Club regularly meets on Saturdays and Sundays. Today it was cold, 14 degrees, I think, when I left the house. I over-dressed, perhaps, but I was warm enough, and got in my 33 minutes. I don’t know if I should record my HR, as my monitor said 44 bpm as I started out. I don’t think I’m in that good shape yet.

It was good to see some old friends again. Recently, I’ve only been catching up with the club at monthly meetings or while volunteering at races. I had been walking on my own. But, our club is for walkers as well as runners.

And Prez Fred brought me a nice little statue of the Hindu god Ganeesha for my World Religions classes. He just returned from India. Thanks, Fred!

It was good to see everyone, even if I couldn’t keep up with them. Looking forward to next Saturday and Sunday.