Mid-Year is upon us!

 
















 
 

     This has been a crazy busy few months with work and life.  My running has taken a dip thanks to an achilles issue.  I was running more often and greatly improving times and distance, where I had reached slightly over 9 miles in a run.  The local running club started doing group runs on weeknights and weekends so I was able to run during daylight hours and my 8 year old Stella, was able to join me since it was in a safe area.   On the third group run we were doing a 3 mile run, easy, around the park when about 2 miles in I felt a stinging and burning sensation in my left calf .  I stopped, stretched, walked a little, and then slowly jogged backed to the car.  I elevated, iced, and rested for a couple of weeks to make sure I was ready for the Baltimore 5K with my family.

       On May 11th, 2013, we were picking up our packet for the Color Run in the parking lot of Camden Yards along with about 12,000 other people.  Stella and I were running it this year and my wife, Allison, was walking it with my son, Grady (almost 2) and Georgia (4).  I felt great, stretched and warmed up.  The weather was beautiful and the race organization was awesome too.  Stella and I took off at the start and she dragged her feet a little as we ran through Camden Yards.  It was beautiful and such an amazing experience.  I realized quickly in that Stella and I were passing loads of people in our wave and we were catching the previous wave.  I let her control the pace and I try to teach her about controlling her effort to save some for the entire run.  We hit the color stations and breezed through coming out bright, and sometimes hacking if someones inside the station got a little overzealous with the powder.  We were continually making our way through the crowds and I checked my phone and saw that we making great time.  I felt great and she kept making me pull harder.  (I am so proud of this little runner).  As we rounded the last curve and saw the finish line I told her she could run as fast as she wanted and cross before me, but she had to wait on the other side.  She started to sprint and I tried to keep up with her.  We were passing a couple of college aged girls with about 50 yards left and they started to run faster too.  Stella ran even faster, so they ran faster.  It became a foot race between an 8 year old and 20 something year olds.  They did finish slightly ahead of her, but I had to restrain myself from laughing out loud as an 8 year old gave them a run for their money.  Stella is a natural.  3.04 miles in 29:21.  I think it would have been a sub-30 5K.

     We were walking around waiting for Allison and the kids to finish , when Stella decided I wasn't colorful enough and used the color packet that some woman gave her to "spruce" me up a little.  I took a direct hit of neon red in the eyes, with my phone in hand.  After getting my vision back we caught up with Allison and hung out to relax and party.  After standing around my achilles started acting up again.  Thats when I knew it was time for new shoes.  I spent the next week in pain and discomfort, which means no running.

     I went to Annapolis for training for work and while there I went to a running store, Fleet Feet Sports.  The staff was awesome and listened to me about my injury history and looked at me feet, walking gait, form, showed me some tips for helping with my achilles and properly fit me for sneakers.  they didn't ask me what shoes I wanted they brought me a bunch of different shoes to try on and made me run in them.  I found the perfect pair and some inserts.  My new Mizuno Wave Rider 16's are the first pair of non-Asics I've ever owned.  My last pair, Asics Gel Nimbus 14's really turned me off after having owned and loved the three prior generations.  The changed for the worse.

     While I was in Annapolis and falling in love with the area AGAIN, just as every other time i'm there, I ran with my friend Jen.  She mentioned the Annapolis 10 Mile Run (A-10).  It's a historical race that challengingly takes you through beautiful Annapolis with a lot of hills during the crazy Chesapeake August weather.  I signed up with the nervous excitement of a kid at Christmas.    (http://annapolisstriders.org/2013/a10/a102013InfoA.htm). I am a little nervous for having a race that goes beyond 5K, and about the hills since I live in an area where we have "A" hill and it's not much of one.  I know I'll be ok.

     I came home on a Friday night from the 3 days in Annapolis and met the Sunday morning running group for a 5 mile run.  It was my first run after a few weeks off.  The group I ran with are awesome, but I was not aware of their pace. They are fast.  I was dying with being off so much, but they pushed me to an average pace of 10:26 min/mi.  I felt great running, but bad because they kept coming back for me since I was dragging and had to walk some.  I came home cleaned up and went to run some errands and sprained my foot getting out of my car wearing flip flops.  Figures.  So another week of no running and still keep getting a lingering  pain in my foot.  I started doing Yoga again to help loosen myself up, but it isn't any replacement for running.

     I am hoping to be back up and running again shortly and started adding my mileage back, even though I know i's going to have to be doe slowly.  Thank you for reading!  If you have any suggestions or tips for the 10 miler for me shoot me a message.  I'll take all the help I can get.



Miles- 17.51




   

February 2013: The Journey

I have been very busy the last few months, but I'm getting my running in. We have had sick kids, snow, and training for work, but I am usually up by 4:30 and out the door within minutes. I have reached the 4 mile mark. I'm trying to take my time increasing mileage so I don't hurt myself.

I ran my second Heart and Sole 5K last weekend and had a blast. I manage to hit a 30:39 time with an average pace of 9:38 minute mile. per Garmin anyhow. I forgot to hit my stop button right away so I know I was slightly faster. The next few days afterwards I felt it. The ache was in my back, hamstrings, quads, and shoulders. I physically pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I liked it. I had a blast there and met some great people.  Last years heart and Sole I netted a 31:53.  I managed to shave a minute plus off.  Yea me!

I am going to keep pursuing my goal of getting myself into a healthy place. It is amazing how much life tries to knock you down. We just have to get back up, brush off the dirt, and keep trucking. The obstacles we face are just that, obstacles. they aren't meant to stop us, rather to make us figure out a way to get over them. They slow us down, but we keep moving.

Heart and Sole 2013

I write this blog to empty some of my mind, heart, and soul so people can understand why I'm the way I am. I also hope to let people know it's okay to feel down, we just have to keep our heads up and push forward. I came from a point where I could run, but didn't and if I had to run I hated. I took advantage of an ability that so many don't have.  After my accident medical doctors didn't know if I would be able to run ever again. Now I get upset if I can't get a run in for the day. Anything is possible. We can't let someone tell us we can't do anything and we shouldn't limit ourselves on someone else's say so.

Heart and Sole 2012

I am excited to say that today, 2/16/13 I ran 4.61 miles.  This is my longest run this year and I haven't seen this distance in quite some time.



Here are my stats for the last 30 days:

Miles: 35.68 miles

Time: 7.5 hours

Calories: 6,240

2013: New Beginnings

     January 2013: a new year, a new me. I'm making some changes in my life. It's time to take care of me. I need to be healthier, happier, and myself. I've come to realize that having grown up with so  much tragedy in my life that  I've built a prison around myself. I've locked myself in and even though i can see out, i can't get out. I've become a professional griever. Life has thrown so many obstacles at me that I've become desensitized to tragedy.

     I spent 7 years as a police officer, a career I loved. I wanted to do good and make a difference in my community. I know, that's an answer a lot of people regurgitate about wanting to help people. I am by my very nature very altruistic. During my careers in law enforcement and now the judicial system I have been thrust into the pits of evil, sadness, and despair. I can't but help be dragged down into it. Then I come home to my family.  The light at the end of my tunnel each day.  I talk to them and appear happy for a few moments then my angry side starts to show. The fatigue wears away at my persona and my family suffers. I don't want that.  They don't deserve an angry me.  I've taking a big step to change me.

     I am getting back to basics. I'm running 3-4 days a week and trying to watch what I'm eating. I've lost weight, and am trying to keep up with my responsibilities at home. But I don't know where to begin to learn how to deal with my internal issues. I want to be the best man, husband, and father I can be. My goals are consistency in my running, healthier eating, and unwinding. I must remember to breathe. I have to remember myself.  a little over a year ago I was celebrating the fact that I had lost over a hundred pounds.  I want to be back there and being comfortable with myself.  I need to lose about 50 more pounds to get there.  I's going to be a tough road, but I know I'm capable of doing it.  New me, here I come.  Back to the beginning and back to basics.  2013 is a new year and I'm GOING to be a new me.  Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.

The old me

Me feeling my best

Trying to get back

     Here's to a happier, healthier, and new New Year. Welcome 2013!

August: The Dog Days of Summer!

I am sitting in bed at ten o'clock at night with Grady sleeping next to me and my wife next to him. The little man is growing up so fast. I enjoyed coming in from my run this morning to him sitting in his chair in the living room smiling at me.

I am putting in mileage but also trying to cross train. I started doing a free half marathon training program, but realized a few weeks in that the program was not correct. I got a book called, "Marathoning for Mortals" and the in-depth book details the do's and dont's of running and injury creators. The biggest rule was not to increase more than 10% per week time or mileage. I reached 5.53 miles at one point when I was to run for an hour. The next week said 1:15 mins which took me 6.55 miles. Both were over 10% increases. I decided to follow the books guidelines, but I will wait until after the 5K in September. Then I will set out to complete the half marathon training and run one next spring.

August is quickly coming to a close. This Saturday(8/18/12) Stella and I are running a 5K together. (UPDATE: The 5K on the 18th was cancelled to my daughters huge dismay.)  I am also signing us up for a Vineyard 5K in September where she'll get to stomp grapes afterwards with my 3 year old.

I have been enjoying the cooler mornings and since my daughters out of school I leave for work later, slightly, which allows me a little more sleep. A few more weeks until that ends. Not ready for super early 4:30 am runs yet. But I have to do what I have to do. One of the most difficult things I am dealing with is
Getting ready to move to a new home. Our rental home is falling apart and the landlord will not fix anything so we needed a new place. The home is smaller, but livable. The hardest part is where to run there? Here I have the city park which is essentially a 5K in diameter plus the different paths and trails and sights. I'll miss them being a daily part of my runs. But on the other hand I am going to be changing my routes a bit and seeing new places. It's nerve racking and exciting at the same time. Change is a stressor for good and bad. I am going to make the best of it. I will also miss being within 5 minutes of the YMCA. This will be my first time in the 15 years I've been in Salisbury that I have lived on the north end of town.

Well, it's September 3, and we're officially into our new home. This place looks like a bomb went off boxes everywhere. But we had our first non- fast food meal here. I am dealing with a messed up small toe on my left foot. I stubbed it on a baby gate and slit it open. Now I think its swollen a little bit but it's tender as heck. I have my 5K this upcoming weekend and haven't run in 4 days. Ugh. I'm hoping I'll be OK. I'm mentally and physically drained from the move. I'm not expecting a PR, however one would be nice. I'm still excited about running with my daughter.

My monthly mileage report is as follows:

Miles: 55.96

Time: 10.81 hours

Calories: 11,649

2012.....A New Beginning.

     Well... It's January 1st 2012. I am out of shape, tired, and depressed. I am trying to get back to running. I ran for the first time the other day since October.

     Ever since June 25th 2011, my life has been turned upside down and shredded apart. Losing my son Cullen was horrific. At the same time I was supposed to be rejoicing Grady. The conflicting emotions and trying to make everything look ok to a 6 year old and 2 year old just stacked on top of this mountainous pressure. The stress and sadness has caused me to lose myself. It has been improper eating and lack of sleep for months that has added back poundage to my waist line and subtracted from my life.

     I am turning over a new leaf. I am starting fresh. I have to get myself back. I will conquer this. I will prevail. I will win for my wife, kids, and self preservation. I love my wife and children with all my heart and hurting myself also hurts them. If you see me slacking or losing self control yank my leash hard.

     Thank you for your support and prayers over these last few months. We needed them.