Going For The Goal

Between watching Grace in the morning and going to the Raymond Independence Day festivities in the evening (plus an afternoon nap with the monster that I refuse to feel guilty about), I wasn't able to make it out to Beckemeyer on Saturday. But Sunday was a new day and with the encouragement of my beautiful wife Mary, I did run some today. For some reason my knees felt like someone hit them with a sledge hammer, so the first few laps were pretty rough as I pretty much just ran the front straightaway and part of the back.

After three laps, I decided to try something different. Big Dawg Dare veteran Bill Flemming recommended that I strengthen my ankles before the race because running on asphalt is much different than running on grass. With this in mind, I took a detour for the final 15 minutes of my workout. The playground at Beckemeyer has two soccer goals located in the yard, probably 75 or 80 feet apart. To get used to running on grass, I decided to run from one goal to the next, then walk back, lather, rinse and repeat. 

I'm not sure how many times I did this, but probably close to 10 or 12. I noticed right off that there is a huge difference in the two surfaces, which was pointed out even further when I almost rolled my ankle on my first step. By the end though, I think I adapted pretty well and the only other time I almost hurt myself was when I relaxed too much and landed awkwardly on my next to last run.

Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way, but I think doing other things besides just running is really going to help me at the Big Dawg Dare, even if I'm not quite in 5K shape. My brother Daniel recommended running stairs as well, so I'll probably try to do that sometime this week. I have a feeling that I won't look much like Sylvester Stallone during that famous Rocky scene on the stairs, but as long as I don't trip and fall down them, I reckon I'll be happy.

Days til the Dare: 20

Pushing For Progress

No running today, but I definitely got a workout as I push mowed the yard again. Admittedly last time, I'm not sure how much it really helped, in large part due to the hour break for lunch. But this time I mowed two hours straight and definitely felt it afterward.

Through fairly thick grass (not necessarily deep, but just hard to push through) and some minor hills, I pushed, pulled and drug my mower until I was finally done. I definitely mowed at a slightly quicker pace than last time as well, due to the impending rain. That pace is probably the biggest reason I found my legs a little more sore than usuall this afternoon.

While I didn't make it to the track today, I should have time tomorrow. My anticipation of the Big Dawg Dare has now gone from dread to excitement. I know full well that I will probably finish closer to the bottom than the top, but the sense of accomplishment is going to far outweigh any disappointment in my time. Can't wait.

Days til the Dare: 22

I Would Do Anything For Love...

So for the first time in almost a week, I made it back out to the track at Beckemeyer on Thursday. For whatever reason, my motivation really waned over the last seven days - partly due to lack of sleep and partly due to lack of effort on my part.

But today I decided to get back on the proverbial horse, waking up at 7:30 and doing six laps at the elementary school. While my running is really more of a jog and I only did both straightaways for the first three laps (and just running the front straightaway on the other three), it did feel good to get back outside and be active.

The biggest reason for my renewed vigor today came from a conversation with Litchfield wrestling coach Brian Lee on Wednesday. Brian and I were discussing our chosen professions and our love for them, despite the fact we occasionally feel like seething stuck to the bottom of a show on some days. Despite some differences in our jobs, both of us pour almost every thing we have into the thing we love - wrestling for Brian and writing for me. 

As I was driving home from Litchfield, I began to think about our conversation. If I put that kind of effort into taking care of my work, why don't I put that kind of effort into taking care of myself. With my family history and current less than ideal lifestyle choices, I know that I need to make some changes if I'm going to be around as long as I'd like to be. Granted rolling out of bed instead of slapping the snooze button is a small victory, it is a victory nonetheless and even the longest races start with one single step.

Days til the Dare: 23

The Grass Is Always Greener

Today started my first day of "cross training" for the Big Dawg Dare, although that wasn't really my intention. Originally the plan was to mow my yard in the morning, we were beginning to lose small objects and children in the overgrowth, then squeeze a run in between the Raymond truck pulls and the MCCA Celebration of Life.

That plan went south when I didn't start mowing until 10:30 a.m. and stopped at noon to eat lunch with Mary and Grace. I still probably had a half hours work left to do, which would have cut me pretty close if I would have tried to sandwich in a run. 

So I cut my losses and tried to think positively. I always mow my front yard with the push mower but did even more today, basically because it felt good to be up and moving. My original plan was to finish off the back with my rider but my mower had other ideas. I had issues with it dying two mows ago, but last week it ran like a top. Not so much this week.

I made two passes when the old girl died and wouldn't start back up. In reality, it was kind of a blessing in disguise as I was contemplating pushing the whole thing anyway. So rather than ride along the last few laps, I pushed it. I know that push mowing isn't necessarily strenuous excercise, but I figured it would be good for me even if it didn't prep me for the race.

Push mowing wasn't my only "cross training" on the day though, somehow my mower managed to die on the side of a small hill next to my house, which along with the sloped driveway made pushing my rider a little interesting. Ultimately though, the yard was mowed, I got a little excercise in and I discovered how nice it was to just be up and active. 

In fact, unless I'm in a hurry, I will probably push mow the whole thing the rest of the year, which may be required if my mower continues to be nothing more than an oversized lawn ornament. Herschelman curse - we get great parking spots, but everything mechanical we own breaks down. Such is life.

Days til the Dare: 28

My training partner/new push mower.

Who's Up For A Stroll

After a couple days off due to a busy Wednesday and recuperating Thursday, I made it back out to Beckemeyer today and was lucky enough to have some company. Mary and Grace were nice enough to join me on the track as I continue to get my wind back before the Big Dawg Dare on July 19. Mary isn't much of a runner, but she loves to walk and Grace has inherited that trait, although her laps are always from the comfort of her stroller.

As we have done many times before, we scooped Grace up after her nap and headed out for a walk to stave off any post-slumber grouchiness. It almost always works, with a cup of water and some animal crackers added in to sweeten the pot. Today's plan was a little different from our usual jaunts, where Mary and I take time to catch up on our helter skelter lives. Today I would walk with Mary and Grace until the straightaways, which I would run. I would the turn around and run back, joining my girls until the next straightaway. 

The first part went really well, but the second running part not so much. I ended up just walking back to Mary and Grace, which gave me some extra time to regroup before the next run. This meant that I was doing basically the same amount of running, but a little more walking. Besides the benefit of not hyperventilating, the extra walking time also allowed me extra time to talk to Mary, which I consider as important to my mental health as running is to my physical health. Nothing brightens my day more than hearing about hers'.

The chats between runs also helped reinforce why I am doing this. At 33 years old and almost 260 pounds, it was time for me to make a change in my lifestyle before it was too late. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and a high number on the scale spell nothing but trouble if left alone. I will not be one of those people who misses their 20th anniversary because they are six feet under due to poor health choices. I will not be the one to miss his daughter's wedding because he's too sick to get out of bed, or worse.

What I will be is dedicated to becoming more healthy. I'll probably never be a marathoner or a gym rat, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to be around for Mary and Grace. 

Days til the Dare: 29

Grace and Mary joined me on my run today. Despite this less than impressed look, Grace is a big fan our walks.

You Can Sleep When You're Dead

For the second day in row, I hit the track at Beckemeyer for a morning run. It didn't go quite as well as yesterday, but I still managed to do six laps, running the straightaways on the first lap, before just running the back straightaway for the next five laps (btw, today's playlist was Dropkick Murphys, love me some bagpipes). 

Cutting down my work was more self preservation than anything. I was pretty sore from my first strenuous physical activity in a while, but I kind of expected that. Unfortunately, it feels like I bruised the outside portion of my left foot too, probably due to my crappy running form. Despite these two things, I still managed to get a half hour im and really felt good.

I did realize one more thing I need to work on - sleep. I do pretty good on not a lot of sleep, but I might be more productive the rest of the day if I got more than six hours of sleep. Obviously it's too late for tonight (stupid new iPhone and your addictive features like the Blogger ap), but tomorrow will be a different story. Or maybe the next night. Promise.

Days til the Dare: 32

Run Straight, Turn Left

Today was the day of no return so to speak. It was either hit snooze and stay in bed or roll out of bed, lace up and hit the road. I chose the latter. At 7 a.m. I took the first step in getting in shape for the Big Dawg Dare and ran outside for the first time in a long time, possibly since I did the 5k in Champaign just before Grace was born.

While I usually prefer to run on a treadmill, I thought the great outdoors would better prepare me for July's race. While the track at Beckemeyer Elementary School isn't exactly littered with water hazards, cars and cargo nets, it does offer a good starting point for me. So with my cellphone cranking out a rock playlist I found on Spotify, I hit the pavement.

Starting off slowly, I decided to run the straightaways and walk the curves, something my brother Daniel recommended I do when I was training for the first 5k. The first thing I realized was that my running form wasn't exactly picture perfect. I tried to avoid heel striking early on, but quickly reverted to my old form to focus on breathing more, hence I don't pass out.

My other revelation was that I can probably do this. The start of training for my last 5k was such a spectacular failure, I almost quit before I really started. But today was different. I know it's not a huge accomplishment but I managed to run the straightaways for all but two of the laps I completed (I lost count but six or seven in a half hour). One of the full lap walks came about at the midway point, when I really struggled with the last straightaway the lap before. The other was a cool down lap just before the end of my workout.

Oddly enough, it started to sprinkle just as I was finishing the last lap as if God was saying "enough for today Kyle". Just as I walked through my back door, the floodgates opened and it started pouring. With Mary and Grace still asleep, I spent the next 15 minutes or so stretching, listening to the rain and thinking about my morning. Attitude is going to be key to this process. If I think I'm going to struggle, I will. But I take this experience for what it is, it could turn out to be something fantastic - for my overall physical health and mental health as well.

Days til the Dare: 33

Well hello there old friends. Long time no see.

Sh*t Or Get Off The Pot

   I thought I would give everyone an update on my progress since the last time. There is none. That's not exactly true, but I haven't grabbed the proverbial bull by the proverbial horns so to speak. I've eaten somewhat better and my weight is down from last Monday, but I have yet to get my excercise routine on track. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Except the whole spirit is willing part. 

   My brother-in-law Scott jokingly said today that I shouldn't train at all, but part of me wants to follow that route. With my work schedule and Grace's therapy, it would be much easier to just continue on my current path and take on the Big Dawg Dare cold. Granted that this will almost certainly kill me, but the thoughts still in my head. 

   Despite the temptation, I think I will go a different route. Tomorrow I am going to try to get up and either go "running" outside or head to Fusion for some kind of workout. You will find out tomorrow how it went or if I come back to my blog with my inactive tail betweeny legs. Only time will tell.

Days til the Dare: 34

Baby Steps

So I am still working my way up to a full blown exercise regimen but until thing, I'm just going to do what I can. Today Grace and I walked up to see Mary at the paper then made the trip back to Westwood. Not exactly running a marathon, but much better than my previous inaction. Plus I got to have some quality time with Grace Lou and got to see my favorite person in the whole world. As Ice Cube said, today was a good day.

Days til the Dare: 37

Me and my workout partner. In case you're wonder, she is shocked at how sweaty I am after just a walk uptown and back.

Countdown To Cardiac Arrest: In the beginning...

So, I haven't written much here, or at all, in the last year but I think my entry into the 2014 Big Dawg Dare should really provide some good column fodder. Right now I get winded getting out of bed, so training for a 5K where I have to climb over cars should go swimmingly. Look for the first entry in the next few days.

Countdown To Cardiac Arrest: 38 days