Lifestyle Fitness’ Run Wild 5K

This event was just a week ago, first 5K ever.  The wife and I decided it would be good to get an actual event or two under the shoes before heading up to the ‘main’ attraction in May.  We found that this type of race, a Fun Run, is rather informal.  It was a great opportunity to run beside others and just get the feel of race day in our blood.  This particular event took place at the Phoenix Zoo.  2 laps twisting past monkey cages, dirt trails by camels, and wooden boardwalks beside the aviaries.  Overall, being a 5K (3.1miles), the mileage was not difficult, but the adrenaline in the veins proved another story.  Just the feel of 100′s of other runners surrounding you is exhilirating.  So much so that our initial pace was pushed past our normal limit.  No big deal, except by the second lap or repeated scenery we were worn down beyond what we should have been.  Secondly, there were hills, small ones mind you, but hills we have barely trained with.   It was good though, just ignore those around you and run your pace, my personal recommendation.

Weigh-In Results

Wednesday was weigh-in day and I missed posting, but officially now down to 205 (28 pds under).  Weight loss is slowing it’s pace.  I wish I could keep up 3 pds a week, but I just know it’s going to be harder the further along I go.  Diet has been sporadic, but still been healthier than what it used to be.  Daily vitamins have become a routine and rarely missed.  I really will rejoice after I get below 200 though.

Weekly Training

This week we had two 3.5 mile runs to accomplish.  The wife and I hit the treadmills for the first run, and with the experience of the Zoo run, knew we needed hill training.  Luckily our gym’s treadmills had a random hill setting (or Mystery Hike as it was called).  I was able to set the max incline, max speed, and timing for the runs.  This was a killer, plain and simple.  I know Prescott will be hilly, I know it will be difficult, so I know I need to step up the hill intake.

Run two, the wife and I found ourselves tired from long days at work, late in the evening slugging it out on the streets.  Traffic lights and sidewalks were the main contenders here.  I’m not a big fan of running like this, but I do see people frequently while driving doing the same thing.  Now I feel that connection, like “Hey, I do that same thing!”  I just wish the canals nearby were lit, but maybe I will find some that are somewhere.  Any suggestions readers?

For Saturday’s cross training day, we joined with some friend’s (Nicole & Eric) to endure the breathtaking views of Piestawa (Squaw) Peak.  I know this going into it, but Saturdays are just the worst time to hike this mountain.  I haven’t ventured to many other trails around Phoenix, but this one is always crowded.  The parking lots have waiting lines.  Other than the people, it’s labeled as a ‘moderate, difficult’ hike.  It’s steep, rocky, and very rewarding if you make it to the summit.  Pictures will follow (when I figure out how to upload them off the iPhone).

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So I still have this hard time enjoying running, it’s something I want to do, it’s something I’m glad I’m doing, but the idea of running just hasn’t caught my brain as attractive yet.  Soon though, I feel, soon.  But until then, just keep asking, “What Next?”

First key: Shoes!

I know we all wear them, but they are important.  It’s really the only item between us and the ground.  As for me, I had some old Puma ‘running styled’ shoes.  I started the first few weeks in these.  I quickly found my feet to be sore and just plain in pain.  It was the shoes, I learned from my local running store that they were designed as trail running shoes.  These will kill your feet if you spend any significant amount of time running pavement.  Easy fix, I spent more than I thought, and bought a new pair.  Feeling guilty at first, I was unsure of returning them for something cheaper.  After even the few weeks of wearing them, they are now my best friend.  They were custom matched to fit my stride style, of which there are three.  I tend to run on the insides of my feet.  These shoes are made to level out my foot, so it strikes flat instead of placing the weight bearing load on the inside.  Plus being new, shiny, and comfy always helps.

Clothing

Even though shoes are great, you may still want to wear some clothes.  I’ve found that what all the experts say really is true.  Go light!  The lighter the clothing, the less restrictive it will be.  You want minimal excess weight when you’re running distance.  Since I’m a large hulking hairy guy, I find that anything that dries quickly and wicks away sweat is suberb.  No need to spend big bucks on these though.  Wal-Mart, Target, Ross will all carry some version of this that has sufficed for my padawon ways.  I’m still hunting for the perfect pair of shorts though.  I just can’t get into the tiny tiny shorts you see.  I know they will have their place, just can’t do it yet.  I have invested in true running socks.  These are great, I wish I could wear them all the time.  They help keep my feet dry and also provide some cushion too.  I sampled both the thin and medium thicknesses, but have found the thin to be my choice.  It’s still hot in AZ!

Belts/Packs

Like I said, lightness is key, but I still feel the need for water.  I know that once I pass the 4 mile mark, I will need to rehydrate along the way.  I’ve honestly been meaning to buy a simple belt with water bottle pockets.  I’ve seen them at my local running store, just haven’t dropped the dime on it.  It will happen soon, and I will provide my insight then.  I do know, running with bottle in hand gets extremely annoying, plus gives me sweaty palms.

Second, I wanted to start this six weeks prior, (read: there will be a lot of catching up to do).

Main focus of writing will be either my mindless ramblings, big excitement in my little world, or an update to my current goal of running and/or lifestyle change.

This said, enjoy!

-jim-

This brings us to the schedule.  It’s a fairly simple run down of our training, merged from many online and paper sources into the perfect beginner’s guide.  Run, rest, run, rest . . . you get the idea.  It starts off small, covers 16 weeks, and ends with running over 13 miles.  I for one was not keen on the idea of running, even though I wanted to change how I was.

How was I, you ask?  Easy, I love food (good food) and liked being lazy.  But, I hit an all time new high . . . as in high weight.  I’d say in my college days I was around 180-190 pds.  As of January 2009, I had reached 233pds.  Most of which I contribute to poor eating schedules, gorging on goodies at work, and lack of exercise.  I was physically unmotivated to do much of anything, and I liked it that way.

This brings us up to week 1.  To celebrate starting this change and the loss of my old ways, the wife and I headed out for a fine meal.  We settled on steak, which of course had to be accompanied by a glass of wine.  Well, I will never recommed eating a big meal before a run.  In fact, I’d rather run on an empty stomach and eat afterwards now.  It was painful, pulling my legs around the neighborhood.  Our goal for the evening was to run for 5 minutes, walk for 2 minutes, repeat this 4 times.  I thought to myself, easy . . . NOPE!  I was so out of shape.

The next few weeks were rough.  Each week we were doing more, running further and further.  I look back though and the previous weeks now seem like a joke.  The more I run, the more into this ‘lifestyle’ of running.  I find myself getting more involved.  There are so many resources available just online, but I will get into those at a later date.  Let’s get back up to pace.

Week 6, currently in the middle of this.  Just ran 3.5 miles this morning.  It felt good, and I’m not even sore.  First day of the week, Sunday, did the max I’ve run at 4 miles.  The canals nearby have proven a great new-found asset too.  I’ve come to realize the importance of spending a good 10-15 minutes of stretching before runs.  So I suppose some are wondering about my weight now as well.  With a change in diet, thanks to the wife who has been meal planning, things are progressing nicely.  Wednesday Weigh-In right?  OK, here’s the facts, 208.4 pds this morning, after the run.  Folks, this is the 25 pound mark for me, I excited about this.  Still not where I’d like to be, but I feel like I’m on a good track.

We’ll leave off here for now, just keep asking “what next?”

-jim-