Nerd Fitness!

Now that the Chicago Marathon is over, it’s time to reassess the priorities. One thing that has come into stark focus is that training for a marathon is a terrible way to lose weight. I’ve been stuck in this plateau for several years now. I’ve got to make some changes.

Step #1 is to Level up my life! I joined Nerd Fitness. They have a lot of great information and resources for getting fit and losing weight. One thing they push is the Paleo diet. I’m not a huge fan of these diets in general but not as a basic concept.

I like the idea of checking off quests and earning points to level up. The quests make for nice challenges along the way. The Nerd Fitness Academy has a lot of great information and articles. I’ve got a lot of reading to do.

Running With My 6 Year Old

I started running in 2009. That’s also the year I became a father. My son will be 7 later this year in December. and he’s been to almost all of my races to cheer for me. This past weekend we were talking about running and races and he decided that he wants to run a 5K with me.

I’m pretty thrilled about it but I’m also apprehensive. 3 miles seems like a lot for his little legs but I’m reasonably sure he’s strong enough. He’s very tall for his age at 52″. We talked about choosing a race and preparing for it. We’ve decided on the Pumpkins in the Park 5K on October 22. That gives us 6 weeks to train together.

On Sunday, he wanted to start. At first he said he wanted to run 3 miles right away. We talked about how we will be training by starting short and slow and building up. I decided we would try 1 mile. So we put on our running shoes, we stretched a bit, and then started down the block. I set a slow pace and told him to stay with me and we talked the whole way. We finished that mile in a little over 11 minutes. He was very proud of himself and I was doubly so.

So we’ve set a schedule. We’ll run on Tuesdays and Thursdays and once during the weekend. This morning, we set out for 1.5 miles. This was a little bit of a push for him and we walked a few blocks. When he got to school this morning, he was excited to tell his teacher that he went for a run before breakfast. I made sure he went to bed a little early since we woke him up early.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading about kids and running. As usual, there are lots of different opinions. I’ve decided to adopt a set of rules I found on the GeekDad blog.

• Encourage him; don’t push him.
• Let him set and maintain his own pace.
• Walk when he wants to walk, and don’t make him feel guilty for walking.
• Let him run his own race; don’t point out other kids who are faster, farther ahead, etc.
• If he wants to stop, then we’ll stop.
• Shower him with praise at the finish line.

I’m adding my own rule to this list, try to keep it fun. I’m really happy he wants to be my running buddy for now. He’s very chatty when we run and sometimes it’s good to run short distances just for the sake of running. I take it for granted that going out for one mile is easy for me. I have to remember that he has a lot of work to do to get stronger. His legs are a lot shorter than mine.

2 Weekends, 2 great races

My gawd was it humid out there! This past Memorial Day Weekend was my 6th time running the Soldier Field 10 Miler and it was a rough morning. The race started with a yellow flag and by the time I hit the turnaround, they raised it to red. What was kind of amazing was looking back at 2011 when I did the race for the first time. Here’s what I looked like at the end of that race:

Now here’s a shot of my son and I after this last race.

Yeah, he’s gotten older but what’s amazing to me are some of the changes I’ve gone through. In 2011, I finished in 2:08:43. This time, 1:51:56. Given that I ran the 2nd half much slower than I intended due to the heat, that’s still a really cool difference in finish times.

A week later, I was in Hammond, IN for Leon’s World’s Fastest Triathlon. This is one of the few races that are nearby enough that I don’t need a special trip for, but because of my school schedule I haven’t been able to do it in recent years. This year, I finally made it.

When I made my race plans this year, I decided to simply focus on Sprint distance Tris and this was in fact a pretty fast course. It would have been faster, had it not been for the winds. No matter where we rode, it seemed like we had a quartering wind. The first leg of the swim was tough too since we were swimming into the wind as we went out. Very choppy and murky conditions but I flew back the 2nd leg. For some reason though, it ended up only being a little over 500 yards (about 468 meters) instead of the advertised 750. Several other athletes on Strava showed similar distances.

Either way, I ended up with a PR for Sprint Tri of 1:35:50 and the especially cool part was that I came in 4th in my age group. (and no, I wasn’t last). I finished pretty strong and probably could have come in under 90 minutes if I hadn’t taken so long in T1 and pushed a little harder on the bike. I don’t know if I’ll be doing Leon’s again. It was small and fairly well organized but man Hammond, IN smells bad. Worse that rural Illinois when I did Galena a few years ago.

My next race is Toughman Wisconsin, which despite the name I’ll be doing the sprint distance again. After that, I’ll be focusing solely on training for the Chicago Marathon.

 

So I’m running another marathon

I ran my first, and only marathon in 2013. I finished and swore I’d never do another one. Then last year I did my first 70.3 and at some point decided I would do a 140.6 in 2017. Then a few weeks ago, I saw a Facebook post from Fleet Feet Sports that “TAG Heuer, the official time piece of the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, is looking for a select group of runners that have faced down every challenge, and who never crack under pressure.” Winners would get a free entry into the Chicago Marathon, free coaching and training, and a free Tag Heuer Connected Smartwatch. On a lark, I submitted an entry. I didn’t think I’d be chosen, but last week I got a phone call from 670 The Score that I did.

So now I’m planning to run my second marathon.

I’ve been reflecting on why I was so adamant about not doing another marathon. The Marine Corps Marathon was an incredible experience. I’m very proud of what I accomplished. There is a part of me however that has wondered if I could have done it better. Another part reminds me that I still have a bit to go on this journey to better fitness. Still another says if I’m going to do a full 140.6 next year, I need to train this year to build a stronger base.

So now I’m going to train for and run the Chicago Marathon as part of Team Tag Heuer. I’m not sure what all that is going to entail but it appears that last year the participants were featured on several segments on the local CBS news. I haven’t set a goal just yet other than beating my previous time. We’ll see how training goes.

My first group run with this new team is June 4th with a 5 mile kickoff run. There are some interesting people (9 others) that also were selected and reading their stories makes me wonder why mine was chosen. Regardless, this summer promises to be a little more stressful than I had originally planned. #GameOn

Journey to a Full Iron-Distance Race

Last year, I completed by first 70.3. I finished in just a hair under 8 hours and the final part of the run course was brutal for me. I had gnarly cramps in my calf and ended up walking much of the last 4 miles.

Swim Time: 45:31, Bike 3:44:06; Run 3:14:49, Finish 7:58:53

Not pretty. Yet somehow, I still want to try for a full 140.6 for 2017. I’m in the process of choosing a few races. I know I’m supposed to favor the Ironman branded races but I’m actually looking at Rev3 Cedar Point as a strong possibility. It has the dual advantages of being an awesome place where my son can have a blast and also being completely flat.

So I’m making my 2017 resolution a little early. I’m going to complete a 140.6 next year.

Choosing a Training Program

So I’ve already dropped over $200 just registering for my 70.3 next year. Plus I reserved a hotel that’ll run over $500 for the weekend. This is easily my most expensive race to date and its about to get even more expensive. I need to choose a training program for this race. I feel like this is going to be a key part of how successful I am next year for this race and I’m trying to weigh my options. In general, it looks like this will be an additional $500 or so.

I’ve been debating between group training, online or virtual training, and one-on-one training with a coach. I think I can safely say I’ve ruled out a personal coach. That would likely end up being even more expensive and I don’t know how well that could work. I like the idea of group training but I’ve had some negative experiences with it. Last year for example during marathon training, I had this continuous feeling that I could have just shown up for the group runs every week and no one would have noticed that I hadn’t paid. There was one coach out of about 6 or so who seemed genuinely interested in interacting with the runners, especially those of us in the back of the pack. It repeatedly felt like an organized regular social run.

I’m told that the Triathlon training for that organization is smaller and better supported in general but I remain a bit skeptical.

Going alone with an online training program would have some advantages. It would be cheaper of course. It would also allow me more flexibility for my training. The good news for me is that my school year ends about a month and a half before race day. The downside is not having the accountability that I know I need.

The good news is that I have some really solid options for training. There are several really good organizations and coaches here in Chicago. The Chicago Tri Club also organizes some informal training sessions, especially group rides. (That’s going to need to be a priority for me).

Speaking of expensive… I went to register for the NYC Triathlon lottery. They wanted to charge $11 for the lottery registration but then the race itself is $285! For an Olympic Triathlon! Needless to say I won’t be doing that one this year. The race budget for 2015 is getting really thin and might start taking away from 2016!

Planning for 2015

This was supposed to be an off year. I trained hard last year for the Marine Corps Marathon and successfully finished it. So my plan this year was to simply focus on middle distance events and maintain a base of running.

Race creep hit me again.

I ended up doing a couple of 10-milers, three Triathlons, and Ragnar Relay Great River and a bunch of other events. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time but somehow I just kept racing.

Now I’m starting to plan my 2015. This is going to be a big year for me. My A race is the Steelhead 70.3 on August 9th. Registration opens for that race in two days. I’ve also already planned several other races. So now is the time to put in writing my goals for 2015

1. Finish the Steelhead 70.3
2. Run a sub-90 minute Soldier Field 10-mile
3. Hit my goal weight

I’m planning to do several races. I’d like to do the Polar Dash 15-miler in January. I’ve already registered for the Soldier Field 10-mile in May. Later this week, lottery registration opens for the NYC Triathlon. I don’t know if I’ll get into that one but I think it’ll be a really cool race. Plus its about a month before Steelhead. Beyond that, I’m going to (try to) resist race creep and focus on training.

This winter will be about conditioning and maintaining my running base. I’ve been working with a trainer at X-Sport in Lakeview and have really gotten into using kettlebells. They’re a great workout and I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my running. When they open their pool next year, I’m hoping to get some swimming in during the winter.

I’ve got a Team RWB tri suit I’ve been wanting to wear. I’ve been reluctant to wear for fear of looking like a trussed ham or something. With a little extra work, I’ll get ever closer to my goal weight.

I’m going to spend a lot of time this summer planning for my training. Its going to be a difficult challenge but I am really looking forward to completing my Ironman 70.3.

Why my 3rd 5K was more important than my 1st

I ran my first 5K in 2009 after successfully completing the Fleet Feet No Boundaries program. About 2 weeks later, I did my second 5K and finished in almost exactly the same time. After that, I didn’t have any races lined up. I figured I had all the tools I needed and that I would have no problem getting in better shape and losing more weight. I would just keep running and everything would work out great.

Boy was I wrong.

Without a race ahead, I had no focus. I would run occasionally but never with clear expectations. Everything I gained from the first training program faded as summer began. I made lots of excuses. I soon realized that if I was going to improve, I needed to set more goals. Longer term goals. Push myself goals. So I signed up for another 5K and a new training program.

This time I trained with the Chicago Area Runners Association and registered for the Hot Chocolate 5K. (Back when it was smaller and much better organized at Montrose Harbor). The training in some ways was a lot harder than the first time. I had to work through the same struggles. The CARA program was OK but I had much better support from the Fleet Feel coaches.

Race day was cool. There was a great vibe that morning. Lots of people were there for the candy and the fun. It was a smaller race back then. I had a pretty good race and finished in the same time as my first two 5Ks. I had a few friends who were running the 15K. That morning I set my first longer-distance goal – that I would race the 15K the next year.

It was during this time that I set several other  important goals for myself. I resolved to do the Shamrock Shuffle 8K and trained with Team in Training for it. I also trained with TNT for the Chicago Triathlon. That year was in many ways more important than 2009. I not only did the 8K, 15K, and the Sprint Triathlon, I proved to myself that I could set bigger goals. I learned how to train for more than running. I set intermediate and longer term goals. I wasn’t just moving the goal line, I was adding new ones and celebrating the ones I crossed.

I’m still doing it five years and 52 races later. Last year was one of my biggest goals,  the Marine Corps Marathon. In 2014, I kept my races simpler without major training programs. 2015 is going to be the year of the Half-Ironman Triathlon. I don’t know which one just yet, but that’s the goal. In about a week I’m going to start working with a personal trainer for strength training and core conditioning.

What’s important is that I keep pushing myself. I’m about 30lbs away from my goal weight. The fitness goals remain elusive. Maybe in the end I won’t get all that much faster. We’ll see. What will be the goal after the 70.3? Who knows. I had vowed I would never do another marathon but them again, I swore I would never do one. I’m saying the same thing about a full Ironman but there’s a voice in my head saying, “why not?” That would be a good turning 50 goal I think.

Set big goals. Celebrate and reflect on the victories along the way.

Hot Chocolate 5K, 2009

The Next Big Challenge: Ragnar Great River

Tomorrow I will be racing in one of what I think is the coolest race series. The Ragnar Relay Great River. I’m running with Team RWB Chicago. I’ll be Runner 7 in Van #2. That means I have three legs. Ragnar describes them thusly;

• Leg 7 – 6 miles, very hard
• Leg 19 – 5.1 miles, moderate
• Leg 31 – 4.9 miles, moderate

The distances don’t bother me so much. My first leg has a pretty decent climb in the middle. My second will be at something like 2:30 am Saturday. Its going to be a fun, interesting challenge. I’ve been wanting to run a Ragnar for some time. The problem is that Ragnar Madison-Chicago always falls the first week of June which is usually finals and I can’t take the time off.

I’ll post updates during the race and a full report after.

Planning my 2014 Race Calendar

As 2013 is winding down, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about my goals for next year. My next big race goal is a Half-Ironman. I’ve been thinking about the Steelhead 70.3 in Benton Harbor, MI for some time. But as I’ve been reflecting on my training this year for the Marine Corps Marathon and the idea of another major training program next year, I’m going to put off that race distance for a year or two.

Instead of training for one big “A” race, I’m going to focus on distances I have done before and enjoy. I want them to be challenging enough to keep my training up but not so much so that I give up significant chunks of time to training. I lost a lot of weekends this year to training and I want to enjoy my summer more. With that in mind, here is the working list for my 2014 race calendar.

• Chi Town Big Game 10K 2/2
• CARA Lakefront 10 Miler 4/19
• Soldier Field 10-Mile 5/24
• Leon’s Triathlon 6/1
• ITU Chicago Triathlon 6/29
• North Point Triathlon 8/3

There will likely be several more added. I like the idea of focusing on running 10K or 10 mile races and Sprint Tris (and one Olympic). Hopefully, it will be a challenging yet fun 2014.