I’ve got it in my head that I want to be a runner. I’ve tried this experiment a couple of times and at one point long ago ran a 5k in just under 25 minutes.

I bought some new shoes because the padding in my 993′s was shot and hit the proverbial bricks. Ouch…running hurts. I was pretty disappointed after these results:

A little under two miles in 25 minutes sort of sucks. In my defense this is the first time I’ve tried to run in over a year.

Last night I went out with the Garmin again and turned in similarly pathetic results:

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. If you look at the timing I suck, if you dig a little deeper then maybe I’m not so bad.

My average heart rate for 25 minutes of running and walking was 130 bpm. If you look at the chart you can see the little peaks that correspond to the peaks in speed. The slower speeds are when I was walking, higher speeds are running obviously. Here’s the interesting part. If you go back and look at Sunday Afternoon Ride you can see my average heart rate is 156 over the course of an hour. There are still peaks and valleys or times of exertion and rest. My point is that my cardiovascular health is such that I can maintain 85% of my maximum heart rate for an hour except when I’m running.

In summary, my excuse is that my problem is leg strength or more specifically muscle memory. Here’s what wikipedia has to say:

When participating in any sport, new motor skills and movement combinations are frequently being used and repeated. All sports require some degree of strength, endurance training and skilled reaching, in order to be successful in the required tasks.

[13] Specifically, strength training enhances motor neuron excitability and induces synaptogenesis, both of which would help in enhancing communication between the nervous system and the muscles themselves.^[13].

[14] This confirms that muscle strength is first influenced by the inner neural circuitry, rather than by external physiological changes in the muscle size.

[13] In addition, neurotropic factors within the motor cortex are upregulated in response to endurance training to promote neural survival.^[13]

[15] Even a small amount of training may be enough to induce neural processes that continue to evolve even after the training has stopped, which provides a potential basis for consolidation of the task. Additionally, studying mice while they are learning a new complex reaching task, has found that “motor learning leads to rapid formation of dendritic spines (spinogenesis) in the motor cortex contralateral to the reaching forelimb”.^[16] However, motor cortex reorganization itself does not occur at a uniform rate across training periods. It has been suggested that the synaptogenesis and motor map reorganization merely represent the consolidation, and not the acquisition itself, of a specific motor task.^[17] Furthermore, the degree of plasticity in various locations (namely motor cortex versus spinal cord) is dependent on the behavioural demands and nature of the task (i.e. skilled reaching versus strength training).^[13]

[13] Strength training results are seen in the spinal cord well before any physiological muscular adaptation is established through muscle hypertrophy or atrophy.^[13] The results of endurance and strength training, and skilled reaching, therefore combine to help each other maximize performance output.

Laura and I arrived at Forest Park early Saturday morning, layered up and ready to run.  I was a little nervous to take part in my first organized run but figured that if a fifth grader could do it so could I.  We met Cathi and James and set out through a sea of girls to find our running buddies.  After finding the girls we approached the starting line, did a little stretching, and took off.

After awhile of running, my buddy informed me that we only had one mile left.  I knew that this could not be true.  It didn’t seem like we had been running very long or gotten very far.  I didn’t have my nike+ to check our stats but was quite certain that my little friend was confused.  We kept our pace going and a little later heard officials cheering us on and saying, “you’re almost there!”  I was still slightly confused.  Running had never been this enjoyable/painless for me.  Sure enough as we rounded the corner the finish line became visible.

It was an awesome feeling to cross that line, knowing that I had accomplished something I never thought I would and realizing that I helped a young girl do the same.

I just fell in love again… with my treadmill.

I know you’re thinking… “She owns a treadmill?…  And shes chubby?”

Nonesense, right?  One would think these things are mutually exclusive by they are not my friends.

Happily, I got back on the treadmill.  I believe this is due to my extreme laziness that has prevented me from driving 5 miles to my gym and attending spinning classes.

How fun is it to watch Wheel of Fortune when running?  You have no idea!  Lemme break it down:

A – I love Wheel of Fortune

B – I love shouting– even when it’s just answers at the TV

C – Apparently I love running again.  I feel so stealthy!

Maybe I was inspired by James’ running experiment… or maybe it feels good to run when you are down 10 or so pounds and have less chub to lug around… maybe I felt motivated because I got a postcard from my friends at weight watchers congratulating me on my benchmark loss of 10 pounds…

All I know is…I’m in love again.  Its like a new romance – or more accurately, a reconciled one.  I know my treadmill has been there for me all along – waiting by itself in the corner, just hoping I would jump on.  And I did!  I feel whole again. 

Treadmill, “you complete me”. 

XOXO, Laura

So once again home from work, lace up the New Balance and hit the road.

I figured by now my lungs and legs would be accustomed to the abuse and not retaliate as much as they did. I thought that 24 hours of sleep, sitting in an office and doing nothing would have been adequate for recovery. But last night hurt. I am so looking forward to a night off.

We’re heading down to the Taste of St. Louis tonight. I am going to enjoy whatever my buddy Thom from Portabella comes up with. They’re a white table cloth kind of place but at the Clayton Art Fair they made some pan fried burgers. I deserve one of those after a week of running. I’ll probably have some of their “Kick Ass Fries” coated in asiago cheese and garlic olive oil too. They’re almost so good you don’t need ketchup.

Anyway, we’re headed to Forrest Park tomorrow. I thought I was good for the 6 mile loop using our run/walk pace, Cate and last night convinced me otherwise. I am still excited about my future life as a runner. I’m going to keep pushing until it feels good to continue running instead of only feeling good when I can finally see the house again.

Running hurt me last night but it was a good kind of pain.

Last night I crawled into bed at 9:00 with muscles aching, it felt good.

I’d been listening to NPR on the way home and was getting seriously frazzled about the whole 700 billion thing and the economy. I even started to talk about it as we headed out the door on our run.

Thoughts of anything soon evaporated as we picked up the pace.

I don’t want any of you reading this to think I’m some sort of super in shape athlete who one day just decided to pick up a new sport. I’m a six foot tall 245 pound nice guy with a belly. Running currently sucks.

Anyway, everything that had concerned me through the day was erased by the rhythmic pounding of my feet. I would see Cate a few paces ahead and look over her shoulder to the next intersection. We’d get closer and my pace would drop a little in hopes that it would be like last time. She just pushed on, crossed the street and kept running.

Hmm, I can handle one more block. Reach for the door knob, hand to the back pocket, loose shoulders, don’t bounce.

Thankfully, the next block we slowed to a brisk walk. I wondered if we were going to have an extra bit of walking. Nope.

We continued on the same route we did yesterday only I think we ran closer to 75% of the time. There were a couple stints where Cate got pretty far ahead but I kept running until I caught up.

It wasn’t fun while it was happening and I probably had the sour look of pain and suffering on my face the whole time but when we got back I felt good.

I had willed my body to do something it wasn’t accustomed to and it reluctantly obeyed. The feeling of personal victory also took care of my fears about the economy.

Small triumphs in any form set your brain up to expect a win instead of settling for defeat.

My wife used to run cross country so I thought to myself she’ll make the perfect running partner/coach.

Last Saturday we went out and covered about three miles, mostly walking, with some short stints of slow jogs. We’d pick a park bench and leisurely jog to it never really breaking a sweat.

Tonight was different. We’re house sitting for her parents and I suppose running her old routes added a bit of vigor to the pace. I’m not complaining, this is what I signed up for. I want to become a runner so I pushed. It felt good-I got sweaty.

I didn’t have my Polar heart rate monitor or my Nike+ iPod but I believe we covered about two and a half miles with a little less than fifty percent running. It felt sort of like intervals because as soon as my heart rate dropped we picked up the pace again. Fun times.

I’ll keep you all posted with my progress. I’m going to stick with this until it’s fun.

Posted from the iPhone so go easy on the grammer and spelling critiques.

For the sake of Paunchiness research, I did something ridiculous.  I physically exerted myself on the first date.  Heathen!  Two reasons why this is a bad idea.  One: I do not look normal when I exercise.  I look like a lobster upon entry to boiling water.  Two: It worries me because all I can think of is those couples who have pictures of themselves after climbing a mountain or completing a marathon, and have subscriptions to Outdoor Magazine.  Those people are disgusting.  As Shania Twain says, “Okay, so you’re athletic.  That don’t impress me much.”  (Shania Twain is my own personal hero and demi-god, and her lyrics occasionally speak to me)

So I am preparing for this “tennis date” and thinking alright, does it look like I’m trying to be precious with this tennis skirt and these pink high-tops?  For any sporting event, I try to look as fierce as possible to distract from a sub-par skill set.  However, since I only have the high tops, I decide to apply some mascara for added Tyra Banks fierceness.  I look good.

We are playing the tennis, I am kicking ass, he has brought Gatorade, everything is wonderful.  Then all the sudden there is sweat happening, and my face is hot.  Still kicking ass, but a little nervy.  In fifteen minutes, my eyes are burning with sweaty teardrops, and my bangs are sticking to my forehead.  I curse Shania Twain’s name.

I can’t even explain how mortified I am when I return home to see my lobster face with my raccoon eyes.  I look like some defeated beauty queen after a particularly grueling talent competition.  It’s awful.

The lesson learned is this: Never do it on the first date.  They never call you afterward.

I will fully admit that running in the morning is not exactly going to plan. There are many days I wake up and think “I can’t do this” for whatever reason. A good percentage of those days I let myself believe I can’t and go back to bed. On the days I do manage to get up and get going it usually is someone else that pushes me out the door. Sometimes its Brian grumbling at me to turn the alarm off (which as a motivator I have been keeping in the kitchen) other times its Gus’ face in the bedroom window and a low “wake up” bark.

Imagine my surprise today when the bedroom alarm went off at 5:30 and Brian popped out of bed. “Alright, let’s go!” he said brightly. I rolled out of bed, laced up and we hit the pavement, together. It’s been a long time since I have run with someone. In fact it may have been my senior year of high school running with the tennis team. It was nice to have someone encouraging me to push myself and check my form.

It reminded me of the days Maren and I would spend at the gym, working our abs more by laughing than by actually staying on the balance ball. Or playing tennis with buddies, workout videos with roommates, and yoga with siblings. Working out with a friend creates a whole new element in your fitness routine. It helps you take your mind off the pain and have a little fun. So find a friend, share a laugh, and shed some pounds.

Getting a new pair of shoes is a good way to start a new fitness program. I just ordered a pair of New Balance 992s which arrived yesterday. I took them out of the box and put them on with my pinstriped pants and thought I looked like some sort of professor or other intellectual you see wearing these shoes around with clothes that don’t quite match. I often wonder if these people are hard core runners ready to strip off their outfits revealing a pair of split seam running shorts and go out for a 5k at the drop of a hat.

Maybe they’ve just reached an iconic status, maybe they’re just really comfortable. I’d like to think that even though they aren’t as flashy as a pair of Nike Air something or others that they are in fact a better running shoe.

Either way I have a pair of them on my feet now. I’m wearing them with jeans and a button down but I have my running shorts in a bag in my car. I’m not going to turn into one of those run over my lunch break guys on the first day with my new shoes but I am planning on taking them to the park for a spin as soon as I get off work.

So now that I have a pair of 100+ dollar shoes I’m going to give running a go again. A couple of years ago I got to the point where I could run 5k pretty easily but I never got that runners high everyone talks about. My wife ran cross country and I’ve always had these visions of us being the cute couple running around the park.

This new pair of shoes is going to be my motivation to get out and run.  Even though I’m wearing them at work now I am going to reserve them for running. These shoes are not going to go into the closet with all of my other shoes to die, they’re going to be my work out companion and my running partner.

If you’re reading this blog to find some motivation to lose weight then follow this advice. Go out and get yourself a new pair of shoes. Get excited like a kid with a new pair of Buster Browns and try not to look at your feet to much when you go out for a run or a walk around the block.

P.S. They’re on sale at Endless.com which is Amazon’s new shoe store with free overnight shipping so you can have them and start running or walking tomorrow. If you don’t want the 992s check out all the New Balance Shoes available at Endless.

I would like to take a minute to share with you some of todays accomplishments. Yes I know it is only 8 am but it has already been a full day. I woke up this morning at 5:45, grabbed the dog and hit the pavement. I have been working myself up for months to go running in the morning. The first phase was just thinking about it then I moved on to actually setting my alarm to snooze through it. Finally true motivation crept in on this random Tuesday morning and I rose to the occassion. Not only did I run, I ran in record time improving my sluggish mile time to 9 minutes. Something I have not done since college. I went on to complete a two mile run and since I ran too far away from home a .75 mile cool down. Kudos to Gus as well for two incident free runs in a row!

It’s 5:45 am. I hear the alarm and instantly start making excuses. It didn’t seem like such a lofty goal when I made it but now the thought of lacing up my nikes seems almost impossible. It’s still dark outside. That must be unsafe, maybe I should wait til a little later. I roll over and press the snooze button. Ten minutes later the alarm starts screaming at me again. “Wake up! Just do it!” I calculate how long it will take me to run, shower and get ready, and make it to work for an early morning meeting. It might be cutting it close. Who am I kidding, it’s enough time. When I set the alarm last night I added in an extra twenty minutes of snooze time. That means I still have another snooze left. I click the button and once again fall back asleep. I sleep until the back up alarm rings at 6:30. I wonder why I even bother as I roll out of bed and walk to the shower. I make a promise to myself that I will run today no matter what.

At 4 o’clock when I should be heading home I find myself still at my desk planning for next week. This is silly. I can’t even fool myself. Staying at work is yet another way to kill time so I won’t actually have to run. I feel my goal being pushed off to another day. I head for home and have a seat on the couch. I laze about for awhile until I realize their truly is nothing on TV. Maybe if I put my fitness gear on it will encourage me to get out the door. That plan doesn’t seem to work until Brian and Lucky walk in the door. “Oh are you going to go work out?” Ummm. “Yeah just finishing some other things up first,” I reply. The boys leave to go skate and I am once again on the couch. I really don’t want to drive all the way to the gym.

I walk outside and grab the dog’s leash. I am slightly nervous to take the dog running due to his intense intial pace and his poor people skills. We do a couple practice laps around the backyard and once he calms down head to the front yard. I strap on my ipod and click play.

3 miles later I am back at the house. Sweat is pouring down my face and burning my eyes. My face is bright red and the dog looks as if he might collapse. I give him a treat as I pour myself a glass of water and think, “was that so hard?”