Friday, November 19, 2010

Moving to a new platform...

...at least to try it out.  I've decided that the limitations of blogger.com are a bit annoying, so I've set up a new blog on Tumblr.  Check it:  http://pantalonasenfuego.tumblr.com/

When I post to the new blog, it updates Facebook for me.  Good stuff.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Milestone

Ran 10 miles yesterday.  Around 6 miles, the "runner's high" kicked in, felt great.  That turned south around mile 8.5, when I really just wanted to be done as soon as possible.

Average pace of 9:48, so good time overall.  Cardio capacity was more than adequate.  Some soreness in right hip, but otherwise ok.

Weight is fluctuating like mad now, from 175 up to 179, mostly depending on the amount of water I'm drinking.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Ah, scale....why do you tease me so?

So after completing my longest run ever this Sunday (8.25 miles), and knocking out my fastest 10k split (59 min), I was hoping to see some good numbers on the scale.  I broke a plateau and saw some numbers I hadn't seen in a loooong time...but in a good way.  179.8, which means only 9.8 pounds to go.  However, the scale quickly rethought it's morning gift, and switched to 180.0.  I don't know why this is such a sticking point for me, mentally-speaking.  But it is.

Still, Nike+ is happy with my progress: 

Monday, September 13, 2010

a runner am I?

Flash back to six months ago, and (barring a short stint during my freshman year in high school) any time prior in my life.  I have always hated running.  It hurt, I wasn't particularly good at it, and my metabolism was such that I didn't need to burn big chunks of calories.  Plus, I was pretty good at swimming, and that hurt a lot less.

Now flash to the present.  I've been running for just over 3 months.  When I started, I couldn't do a mile without significant pain and wheezing.  After a short build up, I strained a quadricep and had to lay off for 3 weeks.

That all behind me, and a more sane training regiment in place (thanks, Nike+!), I ran the farthest this weekend I've ever run in my life:  10 k (6.2 mi).  And it felt...good.

Now, I haven't actually lost much weight yet.  My lower body has definitely started to change shape, but I think I'm doing more with muscle refinement than with fat burning at this point.  I just started combining nutrition monitoring (via iPhone app Lose It!) with my Nike+ training tracker.  We'll see how that goes.  There is something addictive about knowing that 6.2 miles gives me an additional 800 calories of eating/drinking to play with  ;)

Now, about the shoes.  I am in love with my Nike Free Run shoes.  $85.  Light as a feather.  They simulate barefoot running, so in theory my ankles, feet, calves and knees are getting stronger as the shoes do not provide much in the way of support.  They are purely there for cushioning.  I should cross the 100 mile mark early next week, so I will continue to update as I go along.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

How to torment a toddler

Emerson:  More oatmeal, Daddy, peez!

Me:  Peas?

Emerson:  No, *peez*?

Me:  Oh, *peez*

Emerson (giggling now):  No, PEEZ!

It's called diction, young lady.  In this house we do it right.

To be fair, at this point Marantha intervened, noting that Emerson was only 2 and I should stop...doing whatever it was that I was doing.