Mormon Beer Belly (My Why)

Through my internet/catalog business I have been learning how important it is to have a "why" when I am trying to achieve an important goal.  A "why" is what drives me.  It allows me to overcome the challenges and obstacles that will come when working towards a big goal.  My running "why" is my Mormon Beer Belly.  It's not from beer, but from those after dinner snacks and Grandma Christley size bowls of ice cream.  I guess I should call it my Grandma Christley size bowls of ice cream belly.  No matter what I do it hangs on like the odd friend at a party that lacks social skills.  I am hoping with running and eating better that I can conquer my lovely set of love handles with extensions.

On my second run (yesterday) I saw what I think will be the "regulars" on my running adventure.  My favorite is bouncy hair man.  He is a shorter Asian man with jet black hair, wire glasses and he wears a shiny workout outfit zipped all the way up to his neck.  His hair is a longer version of a Dorothy Hamill bob and when he runs it bounces up and down rhythmically.  For whatever reason I get a kick out of seeing Bouncy Hair Man.  He runs at least on part of my route, but unfortunately I lost sight of him.  One day I will run with Bouncy Hair Man.  

Bouncy Hair Man makes me wonder what people will refer to me as when they start seeing me on a regular basis.  I can only imagine after some of the things I have been called throughout my life what my "regular" nickname will be.  Like, "Hey, there's Feminine Hips Guy", or "look it's the Dude with the Red Face".  As much as my hip hurts right now I will probably be called "Hobblelina" or "the Guy that smells like Ben-Gay" (Pain-A-Trate actually, which is one of my favorite Melaleuca products and works miracles on my aches and pains).

I decided this time to run my route backwards.  It made it a lot easier.  It is also fun running through the open space when it is still a little dark.  Sometimes there are some cool animals wandering around.  I could have swore I saw a ferret shoot into the brush as I ran by.  Are there wild ferrets in Highlands Ranch, Colorado?

This time I made better time.  I also learned that I need to stretch, which I did before and after my run.  

It is very nice to have my run done at the beginning of the day.  I should try and do more of my difficult things first thing in the  morning.  It would make my life a lot better and happier.

 

 

Posted via email from Shane's posterous

My First Run

This week I had a couple of momentous occasions.  First on Monday I purchased my first pair of running shoes.  They are a pair of Brooks.  I have no clue what that means, but the guy at the Boulder Running Company said they were a great choice after watching me run on their treadmill and then wear a few different pairs of shoes.  At that point I had every great intention to run immediately, but the week seemed to conspire against me.

Today was my second momentous occasion.  I finally went for my first run.  I picked a route on www.mapmyrun.com that was 2 miles long and then hit the pavement.  Actually I procrastinated and went to the bathroom, filled up my water cup with ice and water for when I got home, noticed that the water filtered needed to be changed in the refrigerator, changed the water filter in the refrigerator, ran water through the new filter for two minutes per the instructions in the box, ate an Access bar, and then realized I had to wait 15 minutes before I worked out after eating the Access bar for it's full effect.  Finally I hit the pavement.

By the time I had passed the first few houses down the street I was thinking this wasn't so bad and that I could probably jog the entire 2 miles.  Then reality hit me when my lungs started to catch on fire.  I felt a tiny controlled burn at the center of my chest that quickly turned into a raging inferno, ready to shoot flames out of my mouth and nose.  The temptation was to turn around and take some puffs on the inhalers in my bedside dresser, but I resisted.  At that point I took my mom's advice and picked a predetermined destination, a street lamp, and run to it.  I would run to my preselected destination, praise the Lord that I was still alive, and then walk to the predetermined area that was going to start running at again.  I did this my entire route.  At several points I could swear that the spot that I had picked to walk at was moving, but eventually I would make it and get some blessed walk time.

Unfortunately I forgot my iPod, so I was left with my crazy thoughts the entire run.  Someone honked at me during part of my run/walk and encouraged me along (thanks Larry) and I think someone waved while passing in their car.  He could have been lifting his arm up in the air to threaten to beat his kids in the back seat and since I didn't know which one for sure I didn't wave back.

The route I picked was strategic so that someone could find my body in case I dropped dead of an almost 40 year old heart attack.  I also wore a bright red shirt so if the coyotes dragged me into the brush that the authorities could have an easier time recovering the body.  Grasshoppers and stink bugs were my companions the majority of my run as the trails were pretty much empty.  Everyone else was probably smarter and did their exercise when it was cooler in the morning.

I am proud to say that I did not give up.  I probably slowed down more towards the end, but I did run down the majority of our street back to the house to avoid the walk of shame.  A neighbor as I was walking, I mean running by her house asked if I had gone running and said, "Good for you".

My goal is to run the Portland Marathon with my family in 2011.  I will keep writing about my experiences with running and let you know how it goes.  

448 miles left on these pair of shoes.

Posted via email from Shane's posterous