Jumpin Jack Flash, It's a gas, gas, gas!

Have you ever seen that commercial where the woman starts out on her jog and her husband follows her everywhere in the car with the stereo blasting because she has no headphones? I'm thinking, "man, that woman sure runs a long way and fast too"! Now I know that is only a commercial, but I start to get winded after about 1/8th of a mile! The rest is just a lot of heavy breathing.
I have started taking Mark's advice about stepping with the opposite foot when a stitch comes and that really does seem to work. I'm still having to focus on the abdominal breathing. Of course, my belly's so big as it is that it looks like I'm in my third trimester about to give birth! So no one really knows if I'm breathing with it or not.
Hey, I ordered my little running id. That does make a lot of sense (especially when I pass out at mile 17 or so, hee....hee....).At least I look like a runner with all of my 'non cotton' sports wear. As Billy Crystal used to say on Saturday Night Live, "It's better to look good than to feel good, dahling"! I may look the part, but I sure don't run the part. But before anyone chimes in, yes, I AM A MARATHONER!!!! You know the old saying....How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! So far I'm on the little toenail of the back foot.......

Thought for the day: "If you're green you grow. If you're ripe, you rot. Never stop being green and learning to grow." - Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonalds

I'm coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs.....

Great to meet new people on Saturday. The run was nice (except for the wind!!). And the cinnamon bread!! Don't get me started! I would have eaten the paper towels they came on if no one was looking. That stuff would make ya slap yo granny!!

Did I ever tell you how difficult it is to diet on Sundays? I attend Pinelake church (The Madison campus currently being held at Ridgeland High School). Guess who is in charge of do-nuts and coffee each week? Yep! It's me!! Now I don't know about you, but I can bet that NOBODY can resist it after picking up 15 DOZEN fresh hot do-nuts in your car early on Sunday mornings. That aroma wafting through your car and by the time you get to church, you are ready to rip open a box! I usually find myself gulping at least 3-4 within 15 minutes of setting them up. But wait, the day gets better. Sunday nights, I am a small group Bible study leader and my dinner usually consists of chips/dips, rotel, sodas, and of course some kind of dessert. Now those of you that have seen and met me already should know that by my sheer size alone, I can't be rude and not eat, can I? Sundays are just going to have to be my 'free day' as far as dieting goes. Hey today, I've got my yogurt, oatmeal, pita and hummus, and fresh fruit and veggies so I'm back on the wagon until next Sunday. Then those nasty little round demons will be taunting me again in my car! Oh the pain!! Oh the humanity of it all!! Curse you Do-nut Palace! Curse you!!!

Be vewy quiet....I'm hunting wabbit.....

Can you believe this weather today? I'm going to enjoy my wogging after work at the track (if it's not in use). Is it just me? Or am I the only one who likes tracks? I don't really like looking over my shoulder and looking around for cars and traffic. I like my oval, plus I know that four times around equals a mile. Problem is....I can't get past ten laps! I don't seem to be making much progress, but hey, it's still February. However with the track I see the same bleachers over and over, whereas on the road, I might spy something neat on the run. I guess there are pros and cons to each venue. Either way, I'm moving, it's kicking by behind, and I'm getting some cardiovascular benefits.

Thought for the day: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill.

Billy Joel Tickets Anyone?

Well today, JackFM called me and told me that I won a pair of tickets to see Billy Joel in New Orleans on Tuesday March 6th. Since that is in the middle of the week and a school night at that, would anyone like to have them? I will give them to the first person for $100. No really, they didn't cost me anything, so I won't charge anything. Just make your check out to.....seriously the first person to respond gets them (and if you want to exchange with a chick-fil-a gift card or something, that would be great).

Spiru-Tein

Hey guys, with all of the health food talk this past Saturday, I thought I would chime in my two cents worth. My wife and I both drink something called Spiru-tein. It has soy protein, bee pollen, apple pectin, green algae, etc. It is an excellent meal replacement. I usually put a scoop in the blender with some skim milk and add some frozen fruit and a banana. You can go to www.naturesplus.com and click on the 'spiru-tein samples' at the bottom. They will send you a free sample of whatever flavor you want. I usually get vanilla so I can add, but the flavored ones like cherry cheesecake and pina colada, etc are also good. I get it at vitamin world in the mall, or your local health food stores like Health way on 51 in Ridgeland. I don't think I could have anything else for breakfast. Check it out if you want some good vitamins/protein that you can drink on the go. This commercial brought to you by.........

Mud and Nascar

So I'm unloading some boxes at a friend's house out in the back shed Saturday after our run. I hop back into my truck and all four of my tires yell at me in unison, "Hey you big dummy, we're stuck!!" Needless to say I spent the next five hours trying to get unstuck in the mud. Well, finally at 9pm, I was cold, wet, and covered with mud, only not the kind you pay lots of money for at a spa. After falling through my ceiling, breaking my fireplace glass inserts, and getting stuck in the mud, you could say that last week was not the best of weeks!!
I said that this week was going to be better than last week and guess what I got in the mail on Monday? An official letter from Coca-Cola stating that I had won a contest giving me two tickets to the Bristol NASCAR race on March 25! Needless to say my wife the big NASCAR fan that she is, WAS STOKED!!!! So don't expect me to run on Saturday the 24th as we will be on our way to the race.

Is it just me? It seems that during the last two weeks, I am eating three times more than I used to. After every training session, I come back with a ravaging appetite and want to eat everything in site!!! I can't seem to lose any weight because I'm taking in more calories than I'm burning. I'm waiting for the Super Foods book to help me out.

Help! The Sky is Falling!!

Well today I missed by XT day. Why? Let's just say that it had something to do with missing a step up in the attic and a big hole in the ceiling! I was getting some boxes down when I missed the area I was supposed to be following. As I was watching my foot go through the sheetrock, I thought about that Aflac commercial where the guy is falling off a ladder saying, "Do I have that insurance?" It seemed every thing suddenly became slo-mo. (Deep voice)Oooooooooooohhhhh Nooooooooooo!!!!!
Dropping the box, I lurched for a wooden beam slamming my ribcage and other parts of my body I don't care to mention. Thankfully, I think that is what slowed my fall. I hung for a second or two, and then fell to the ground. No broken legs, or blown out knees. Ok, so I'm still in the marathon race.....but sore as you know what! A lot of Ibuprofen, cold packs, and icy hot later, I just couldn't make myself work out today. I don't know about running tomorrow either. Maybe try a walk and go from there.
I will chalk this one up as the first of many obstacles in my goal for Chicago. So on Saturday, if you see a big ole guy kinda shuffling along, you'll know the reason I don't have my own home improvement show on HGTV.

Watch it wiggle.....See it jiggle.......

Great meeting people on Saturday. This is going to be fun (except for the running part! ha). Chris from Vicksburg made me feel right at home (XXL men of the world, UNITE!!). I'm looking forward to this Saturday and meeting more people. Today was a great day to run. Shorts and a shirt!