In Recovery.

Hi, My name is Ron and I am a recovering fat guy.

I have worked very hard over the last few months to improve my fitness level and drop some excessive poundage.  I hit a milestone today and was very excited to share it.  I normally check the scale halfway through the week to see if I am still on track for the week.  When I weighed myself yesterday morning the scale read 199.  I haven't been below 200lbs in I can't tell you how long.  I don't expect that number to still be below 200 on Sunday for my weigh in though, we are headed to Burgatory on Saturday to celebrate Christine's birthday.  I am banking as many points as I can for this epic journey because its going to be a weight watchers points record most likely.  Crossing my fingers that I will have the willpower to resist getting EVERYTHING on the menu, and just keep things to the smorgasbord level.

I was working in my old store a few days ago, and one of my customers came in and said, "wow Ron, you look great!!" I thanked her for the kind words, and she continued on,  "what have you been doing?  you got a pill that I can take that will do that for me?"   I told her it was just eating right and recording my food into an online journal provided by weight watchers, and also plenty of regular exercise.  Mind you this customer really isn't overweight so I am sure she was kidding about taking a pill to lose weight.

As a Pharmacist though, this is a really common question that I receive at work.  People looking for a quick way out, a fast fix for years of bad habits.  I don't want to preach or get on a soapbox in this blog because it's supposed to be enjoyable and easy reading.  But it got me thinking.  Is what I am doing, or anyone else for that matter who is working hard to lose weight...is it really that hard??  I am not a guy who is much into willpower or resisting the things I want but I am learning to control those feelings.  I made simple, small, and healthy changes to my lifestyle and I set goals for myself and I reward myself when I attain them.  Is it really that hard to take lunch to work with you everyday and plan ahead for your meals during the week so that you don't eat poorly?  Is it really that hard to try to squeeze in a few 30 to 60 minute workouts a week?  I would say no, it just takes a will to succeed and some planning on your part.

Right now, my life isn't as chaotic as it could be but I am by no means sitting around all day looking for something to do either.  I plan my workouts most days and force myself out of bed at 5:50am to workout before I go to work everyday.  The wife and I plan out meals for two weeks at a time and we shop for all the items that won't spoil in that time period every other week.  We add veggies, milk, and other items that may spoil with small trips to the store once a week.  It just takes a little planning on our part, but rarely are we scrambling for a meal during the week.

Sometimes I lack motivation in the mornings to get out of bed and workout and sometimes I reward myself with 45-50 extra minutes of sleep (because sleep is healthy too right)?  But most days I trudge out of bed, put on the workout clothes, and get to work.  I have NEVER regretted a workout, (had to steal that line Susan.) and I always feel really good throughout the day when I have worked out.  I feel light years better than I did before I decided to change my life.  I have an amazing amount of energy now, I can just drop everything on a whim now and run 3-5 miles without even thinking about it.  I can hop on my bike and ride for 1 to 2 hours, come home and still have the energy to cut the grass, cook dinner for the wife, and spend a few hours watching the Pirates on Root Sports.  (Although that has been more difficult recently with the current 6 game skid).  I know that this will only help me when it comes time to raise our son.  There are going to be plenty of sleepless nights, plenty of long and difficult days ahead, and plenty of days where I won't have time to workout.  But when I do have time, I will because this is the new me and I never want to go back to the old me.

My name is Ron, and I am in Recovery.

multi sports switchup!

A few weeks ago I finally had some time to get out on my mountain bike.  I really missed being out on the bike.  I have since been out about 5 times in the last 2 weeks.  Adding biking to my training regimen has also helped to break up the monotony of running all the time.  As much as I like to run, sometimes its nice to have another avenue to take to freshen up your workouts.  After some discussion with friends I have decided to start training for a potential sprint triathlon or two in the coming year.

I am curious to see how having the baby will affect my exercise routines.  I know that the first few months to years are going to be very time consuming and are going to strain my workouts.  I would never put a workout first when it comes to my son.  I am going to have to be creative to get my workouts in while the baby naps or when Christine and I are both home and I can sneak away for an hour.  Add to that the lack of sleep we will have from having a newborn in the house and this whole fit dad thing could go out the window in a few weeks! (unlikely...I've worked too hard to get here!!).

So after talking to some friends that cycle, riding some bikes, test riding some bikes on craigslist and lusting over the $10,000 carbon fiber featherweights the guys in the Tour De France were riding I went to my Local Bike Shop.  I went to Trek of Pittsburgh and tried out some Focus and Trek bikes but the prices for the bikes I wanted were just too high for my budget.  I went to ProCycles in the South Hills and the bikes there were too high for the budget as well.  On a whim I asked the guy who was helping me if they had any bikes they were offering deals on now.  He showed me a few bikes that were carbon fiber and out of my price range.  I asked if they had anything at any of their other stores that were aluminum and reasonably priced into my budget.  He told me they were dealing on a couple of older Cannondales.  I tried one out, and the frame fit me very well!!  So I had them ship one over and I am now the proud owner of a 2009 or 2010 (not sure) CAAD9.  It's light, its fast (has a compact sprocket), and it was in my budget!!  

I can't wait to get the clip in pedals set on the bike and learn how to use them so I can get out and use this thing on the road.  I will follow up with a review/writeup of my experience with the bike as well as my foray into road cycling.  For now the bike is relegated to use on the trainer in the game room just until I get comfortable with the pedals.  Of course I am sure there is going to be an amusing story to go along with my first road trip on the clip in pedals!  Wish me luck!

Can I call this a timeline?

At 16 years old, I definitely wasn't ready!  I cared about girls, sports, and driving.

At 18 years old, I can assure you I wasn't ready.  I was a serial dater, competitive athlete, and was thinking about college.

At 21 years old, I wasn't close to ready.  I was more concerned with beer, parties, and making sure I passed my tests in Pharmacy School.

At 24 years old, I wasn't ready but I could have provided for.  I was a freshly minted Pharmacist, I drank too much, worked too much, and cared too much...about myself.

At 27 years old, I had so much more I wanted to do.  I still cared more about myself but was ready to care equally about someone else.

At 29 years old, I was sharing my feelings and my life with another person.  Christine became the center of my life but she was my focus.

At 30 years old, I caught the traveling bug, Maui, BoraBora, and Italy, we came home refreshed and happy and ready.

At 31 years old the time had come I was ready to care more about someone else than I did about myself.

At 32 years old, I am going to be a Dad.  I'm ready to devote my life to this child.  Changes are going to be swift and drastic in the coming weeks.  I'm ready.  I don't entirely know what to expect but that's part of the excitement of being a first time parent.  I know now that it will never be about me anymore, it will be about him, about us, and about everything else.

We have about 20 days left until the due date, with the current progression with Christine I would say that she won't make it to the due date.  I have a feeling that little boy in there is going to be here sooner than later.  I can't wait to meet him and I can't wait to show him to you.

Life is going to change...sooner than later.

Why We Run.

Let me start off by saying I don't feel bad for Ben Comen in fact, I am very happy that Ben Comen found running.  Watching this story had a profound effect on me a few years ago and I want to share this amazing young mans story with the world.  I first saw this story on an episode of ESPN Sportscenter a few years back.  I was getting ready for work and while watching it I was balling like a little baby.  I'm not a cryer and I am thinking to myself dude, get it together!!  But then I felt this overwhelming feeling of happiness in the story because Ben overcomes so much to be a part of this team it's just amazing.   If you don't smile, choke back tears, and watch in awe at the power of the human spirit in this kid you need to check your pulse.

After being part of the Cross Country team in high school and now getting back into running I can tell you that the way his teammates respond to his drive is everything that is good about running.  It's the mindset of a group of people who strive for individual achievement but come together so strongly for someone who is just like them, a runner.  I beg you to take the 8 minutes or so will take to watch this video.  There is so much this young man can teach you about life and the value of being part of something bigger than yourself.

Why do you run?  Is it to keep in shape?  Is it to feel better about yourself?  Or is it to feel like you belong to a team, a fraternity of runners, a group of like minded people who share your love for the run?

I run because I love it and I hope that never changes.  I promise to raise my son to be as accepting and amazing as the teammates of this young man as well!!

Drummmmroll Please!

The nursery reveal is long overdue!  I have been putting it off because I have been too busy doing yard work, running, biking, and working!  I finally took some pictures yesterday, while I was editing those I also edited some pictures I took of my Godson, Nolan. 

So without further adieu here is the nursery!

I am very pleased with how the nursery turned out!!  I think it will be the perfect environment for our son to grow up in! 

While I am here talking about figured I would also point out that my Godson turned 6 months old recently.  Here are some shots from his last trip to our house.  You can find additional pictures at my flickr page. 

Here's Nolan!

 I loved the pouting picture, I think it's hilarious because he is normally so happy like he is in this picture below!

The Brooks Ghost 3.

Saying goodbye to a really good friend can be difficult.  Especially a friend that has been with you for many months.   Braved frigid winter temperatures, rain, sun, humidity, heat, pavement, and trails.  Saying goodbye to your favorite pair of shoes can be heartbreaking.  I have put the Saucony Ride 2's into retirement, they have been relegated to the medial task of keeping my feet comfy at work.  Enjoy retirement Ride's because after retirement you will be relegated to grass cutting which will only leave you stained green and tattered.

You see, I loved these shoes.  I don't think I have ever loved a pair of running shoes more than these.  I finally found a shoe in the Saucony Ride and then Ride 2 that I loved.  They fit me perfectly, they were light, they were comfy, and they didn't rub or cause blisters.  Then Saucony decided to change the shoe.  I went to Fleet feet the other day and tried on a pair or Ride 4's only to find that they tightened up the toe box on the shoe and now it rubbed on the outside of my foot when I ran and it cramped my toes.  Frown.  I have to find new shoes.

I consulted the always friendly and knowledgeable staff at Fleet Feet and was directed to the Brooks Ghost 3 (currently on sale because they just got in the 4's).  I was intrigued.  Would this shoe be as comfortable as my last pair, could I ever love again?  You see I am a shoe snob, always have been.  I can't help it, I can tell the first time I wear a pair of running shoes if I will like them.  I can also tell by the fatigue in my legs when its time to replace said pair of shoes because when I get home my legs ache.  Please judge me if you must but I am picky about my shoes, but its what's inside that counts I don't go on looks alone.  You can keep your Nikes, your Adidas, and your RBK's.  You can't sell me on toning shoes or other gimmicky crap for the average consumer, I want a running shoe that has a sole (get it sole...not...soul...) purpose in life to make running more enjoyable.  So after quietly weeping to myself that my Saucony's were moving on to people with more narrow feet and neutral running style I reluctantly tried on the Brooks.  I don't have anything against Brooks honestly I don't.  In fact I love my Cascadia Trail shoes, but I have never worn Brooks out on the road.

I put them in the store and was offered the chance by the sales girl to take them out for a quick jog around the parking lot.  I was excited for the spin around the lot because when I laced those puppies up they just felt good.  I did my lap around the lot and thought I heard angels singing because these shoes felt exactly like my previous pair of Saucony Ride 2's, only lighter.  I didn't weigh the shoes to find out but they feel lighter on my feet.  Feeling satisfied with the purchase I took them home and made it a point to make sure I got out for a run on Saturday to test them out.

I was up late on Friday so I opted to sleep in Saturday and instead run after work at 4pm.  Of course if you have been keeping up with the weather around these parts you would also know that it has been near 90 all week but the humidity was relatively low for this time of year.  I came home as excited as a muggle on the release of the new Harry Potter Flick and immediately changed into my running gear and put on the Ghosts.

I went for a 4 mile run in the heat in about 33.5 minutes.  Then warmed down with a brisk walk for 5 minutes and headed in to the A/C to try to get my body back to a reasonable temperature.

Saucony who?  I love these shoes!! Love Love LOVE them.  They are  well cushioned, they don't rub, and they look sweet.  They have a slight curve to the sole as well so it feels very natural wearing them.  Traction was also very good with them, but then again pretty much anything that touched the pavement was gooey and sticky in this heat so I will let you know the next time I run in wetter weather how they hold up.  The shoe is well ventilated and my feet never felt like they were overheating either.  I am a neutral runner and I felt that these shoes did not hinder or change my stride or foot striking either.  I am happily impressed with them!  Sometimes it takes a little heartbreak to open your eyes to what else is out there. 

Runner's World Magazine also has this shoe as an Editors Choice and many of the reviews online are also very favorable.  After some reading up on Brooks as well I learned that they have an EXCELLENT guarantee with their products as well.  (I lifted this directly from their website)

Brooks' True Blue Guarantee

Brooks products come with a no-questions-asked, 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your new Brooks equipment within the first 30 days after purchase, we will replace or exchange your product.

To return item(s) purchased on Brooksrunning.com

Unworn Items: To return an unworn item for a refund, please package it in its original packaging and return it within 30 days. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the item back to us, and we recommend using a shipping method with tracking for your return. Please use the address label provided in your original shipment. We do our best to refund your credit card within 48 hours of receipt. After that, your bank may take between 2 and 10 days to credit your card.
Worn or Defective Items: Brooks products come with a no-questions-asked, 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied, please call us at 1-800-227-6657 and we will replace or exchange your product free of charge. Please note that abuses to the exchange policy, such as abnormal wear and tear, are subject to Brooks' discretion. When used for its intended purposes, Brooks footwear has a life expectancy of 300 to 500 miles or three to six months.

So if you are a neutral runner and you are in the market for a cushiony, buttery smooth road shoe I highly recommend you check these out!

Happy Running!

Weigh In update.

Nothing exciting to report from my usual Sunday weigh in.  Lost 0.0lbs last week, good news though I didn't gain anything either.  I am sure the two trips with the wife, and the wifes family to The Original Pancake house didn't help.  No worries though just sticking with the plan and the workouts.  Speaking of workouts, check out the review of The Brooks Ghost 3's coming next!