Jeff's training blog: 3 months, 30 pounds lost!

[veginator]

Weight this morning: 151.4.

Monday I played six games of racquetball. Yesterday I drove to Muncie to hear my sister's piano recital, so the only body part that got much exercise was my ears. Today I ran 6.4 miles at about a 10 minute per mile pace. I went all out on one of the (.8 mile) laps in the middle, doing it in about 5:30. Average heart rate was 135 with a peak of 170.

I may do a 5k race this weekend, depending on how psyched up I feel!

[veginator]

Yesterday I ran 4.3 miles, walked another 1.1. Not counting the walking part, I've run a tad over 28 miles this week in addition to the 6 games of racquetball Monday. Today I biked just under 27 miles.

[veginator]

Ran a 5k race this morning in 22:39, 16 seconds faster than my time from a race two weeks ago and over a minute faster than my time from a mid-September race. I need to get two or three minutes faster to be competitive for the top places in my age group. Maybe by spring?

My heart rate monitor went haywire for the first half or so of the race, so I really have no idea what my average or max. heart rate were. Although it would have been nice to be able to keep track of that, I think I managed to pace myself pretty well despite the technology malfunction.

Weight this morning: 150.6.

[veginator]

Sunday I took it easy, just walked my dog 3 miles or so. Monday I ran a little under 6 miles and played 3 games of racquetball. Tuesday--not because of exercising a lot Monday, I don't think--I was feeling like crap all day, so I didn't really exercise. Today I ran 4.8 miles, the first 3.2 at a pretty leisurely pace of about 34 minutes, and then really picked up the pace for the last 1.6, doing it in about 12 minutes. Average heart rate was 125 for the first segment and 155 for the second.

[veginator]

Played 4 games of racquetball tonight.

[veginator]

Ran about 8 miles Friday, slow easy pace with lots of walking breaks. This morning I ran a 5k race with a time of 23:29. Although my time was slower than last week, it was a much hillier course this time. My 13-year old son, who's in pretty good shape from soccer, ran it with me, and I beat him by almost 2 minutes. One victory for the old farts!

[veginator]

Sunday I ran 11 miles, with lots of walking breaks so that my legs weren't killing me at the end. Took about 2:15, with average heart rate of 120.

Unfortunately, my left hip/lower back area has been sore the last few days, so I took yesterday off from exercise. I'm planning to go for a run later today.

[veginator]

Wow, I never would have thought I'd get essentially no exercise for four days! It has rained nonstop here since Tuesday, so running has seemed like a yucky idea and I haven't been able to make it to the gym.

Finally ran last night, about 4.6 miles with around 3.5 miles at a fairly brisk pace and the other mile or so walking. Average heart rate: 130.

Tonight I ran about 10k (6.2 miles), in around 65 minutes. Average heart rate: 135. Warmed up for the first 1.1 at a very slow jog, then ran the remaining five or so at a shade faster than a 10 minute per mile pace.

[veginator]

Today I ran about 10.5 miles in 1:50. So, I managed to get in over 20 miles this week even though I didn't run (or get any other exercise) at all for the first four days of the week. The first 1.2 was at a fairly slow pace, and the rest was at around 10 minutes per mile. I think this is the farthest I've ever run at a pace that wasn't Granny pace. Average heart rate was 145, with a peak of 166.

[veginator]

Ran 4.6 miles this morning, in 48 minutes, before teaching my Monday classes. Average heart rate 135, with peak of 166. So that makes 25.7 miles in the last 4 days, definitely making up for my 4 days of involuntary inactivity last week.

Played 5 games of racquetball. As expected, I kind of sucked, given that I hadn't played in over a week, but it was fun anyway and a pretty good workout.

[veginator]

Yesterday I ran 7.8 miles in 88 minutes. Took it easy the first mile or so, then a little slower than 10 minutes per mile the rest of the way. Average heart rate: 133.

This morning I ran 4.6 miles in 47 minutes. Average heart rate: 134.

Mileage over the last 6 days is 38.1. With any luck, I'll be able to run tomorrow and will have my first week of 40-plus miles running. Alas, so far that hasn't resulted in my losing any more weight!

[veginator]

Ran 3 miles at a slow jog today, making 41.1 for the week. But most of my exercise today consisted of nearly two hours of racqueball.

[vivalasvegans]

Wow, way to go. You've made some serious progress... this blog is awesome. Keep up the good work! I'm gonna follow this for inspiration, if you don't mind.

[veginator]

Well, it's been almost 2 months since my last post in this blog, and the reason is, I've been so busy that I've done almost no training of any kind during that time! And, since my last posted weight of 150.6 on Nov. 1, I've gained 20 pounds. Double ! I've been using my recent hectic work schedule as a (at times very good) excuse not to take the time to run, play racquetball, etc., but this is driving me crazy sitting on my ass and watching the pounds pile back on. So, I may not get back in shape as fast this time now that I'm working a good 60 hours a week, but these next few months, I'm going to do it!

[LocalBrada]

I was wondering what happened there. Don't be too harsh on yourself regarding the weight gain, as long as your mindful and gonna get it back under control. Glad to see you back and remember you've got my support!