End of August totals...

Well the month has come to an end and I feel pretty good about this past month. I put in some tough runs and I still have a long way to go but I think I am headed in the right direction. I just need to stay consistent with my work outs that things should be fine. Maybe throw in a little nutritional discipline and just maybe I will see some weight loss, but that's another story. I got in 6.26 grueling miles today. I was having some stomach issues during my run but I got in the whole 6 miler today. For the month I got in a total of 99.9 logged miles which I consider pretty good since I haven't been close to 100 any other month this year. I hope to blow that total out of the water in September. Let's get it!!!!

Let's begin Week 5...

Well week 5 is upon us and I am looking forward to having a good week. I took yesterday off from cross training because it was a really hectic day. I found out that I am going to Korea for a year in June 2012. I will be at Daegu Air Base which is a Republic of Korea Air Force base. It will be different from the other assignments in Korea because we are a 4 man shop and we will be doing Quality Assurance work on War Reserve Materials. We are there just in case a war breaks out with North Korea. It should be an interesting assignment. Heather and the girls will move back to Manti, Utah so they can be close to family. We are hoping to get Hill Air Force Base as our follow on. My 8 choices will be Hill (UT), Nellis (NV), Travis (CA), McChord (WA), Fairchild (WA), Beale (CA), Luke (AZ), & Mt. Home (ID). We just want to be in the West so we are close to family. I hope that the year will go smoothly and go quickly.

Anyways back to other things, I weighed in at 277.4 lbs this week. I need to figure out my eating because obviously things aren't going in the right direction. I am going to try something new starting September 1st. I will post a "before" picture and continue to do so until I am satisfied with where I am at. It will be embarrassing at first but maybe it will give me the motivation I need to lose this weight. I got in 3.36 miles today. It was a pretty good run. I am looking to improve on my endurance this week. JUST RUN!!!

Week 4 in the Books...

Well today I wrapped up Week 4 and I have to say that it was a pretty decent week. I got in all of my workouts and that is saying something because I always have something come up during the week or I get lazy, but not this week. Today was my long run and I got in 11.08 miles which gave me 30.41 miles for the week. I would like to say that I ran most of it but that would be a lie. I did a lot of walking because the humidity, heat, and Okinawa hills kill me BUT I did get in the whole 11 miles outside which is a moral victory. I will continue to do my weekly runs indoors on the treadmill and my long runs will happen on the road. When it cools down here I will probably switch some of my runs to outdoors. As long as I am getting in my runs is what's important. I need to stick to this schedule and the wind and endurance will come. All in all it was a productive week and I look forward to continuing it into week 5. Until next time...

Slow and Steady...

Slow and steady is what my runs are about right now. I don't really have any speed and my endurance is crap right now. So all I got to rely on is running slow and steady and when I need that break I walk to reach my mileage goals. It is kind of frustrating but at least I am getting my miles in. That is better than sitting on my couch eating my life away even though my love handles wouldn't agree. I know I just need to keep plodding along and eventually I will get back to where I was not too long ago. Anyways I got in 6.32 SLOW miles today. I have my long run tomorrow (11mi.) and I'm sure that will take me quite a while to complete BUT I will get it in. I am also running on the road tomorrow so it will be an early run to beat the heat and humidity. Well at least the heat, it's always humid here. Until next time...

Totals for 25 Aug 2011

Well it was a pretty simple day today which was kinda nice. Work was kind of a beast today so it was nice to only have a 3 miler to do today. It was my last easy run for the week and I took advantage of it by not over doing it. I got in 3.33 miles and I felt pretty good afterwards which is always nice. I am still having a little issue with my sciatic nerve but getting consistent with my runs will loosen it up so it won't bother me anymore. Until next time...

Totals for 24 Aug 2011

Not a lot happened today as far as life goes. I got my car towed over to BC motors to get fixed and the car is still under warranty so that is great!! The mechanic said the coil is bad and I don't have a clue what that is. At least it won't cost me a thing to get it fixed. After all that head ache I headed to the gym to get my run in. It was actually a pretty good run today. I got through it with minimal walking and I felt pretty good afterwards. I definitely could of went longer. I got in 6.31 miles when it was all said and done and I am happy with that. Until next time...

Fun, fun, fun...

Well another week of fun has begun. A good time working and running and trying to stay sane here at Kadena. Yesterday after my run Bella and I was on our way home after picking up some food when off in the distance we saw a funnel cloud dropping out of the sky. It was a pretty amazing water spout that lasted a good 15 to 20 minutes. They are always cool to look at from a distance. Today was a little frustrating because I think the fuel pump went out in my car. Tomorrow I will have to check to see if the warranty is still good so I can get it fixed. Today I got in 3.35 miles and it was an ok run. My lower back is giving me some trouble when I'm running but running will loosen it up! It's the only thing that will work and stretching. I'm not very good at stretching. Well I am done rambling now. Until next time...

Week 4 Starts Now...

Well it's a start of a new week and it's time to get busy! I only dropped 1 pound last week but that is pretty good since I ate like total crap this past week. Maybe if I could clean up my eating I would get some where. So I weighed in at 276.4 lbs. At least I went down a little bit instead of up. Today was cross training day so I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and 30 minutes on the stationary bike. It was a pretty good work out. My running week this week goes 3, 6, 3, 6, 11. It should be a good week until I get to my long run. The double digit run kinda scares me because its been awhile since I've went double digits. I guess we will see how it goes. Until next time...

A Rough Week...

I am soooo glad this week is over with. I just hope I don't have too many more like it. I just had a really rough week running. I mean the energy wasn't there the whole week. I thought I felt pretty good in Hawaii and I was knocking out some pretty good runs. Now that I am back in Okinawa in the heat and humidity I am slowly dying (or at least that is how I feel). I think working outside in the heat and humidity really takes more of a toll on my body than I realize. Then I want to go put in 5+ miles a day and I am totally drained afterwards. But then again I just chalk it up to me not being in shape and being fat. So I will continue to push myself "safely" and knock out my workouts. I won't hurt myself and if I need to taper it back some I will. I just need to build some consistency with my workouts and the heat/ humidity will eventually go away and running will become pleasant once again. Just in time for my long runs outside. I got in 6.29 miles today. This is Saturday so that was my LONG run for this week. I don't know if I could have finished a double digit run this week. I guess we will see how week 4 goes. My totals for the week are 23.09 miles (goal was 22 miles for Week 3). I also got my new shoes in and I laced them up for my run today. Man o' man do I love Pearl Izumi's, best shoes ever...in my humble opinion.


I will probably have to get one more pair of shoes before the marathon in December since most of my mileage will go onto these bad boys. I can't wait to break these in and get running. It's seriously like running on two pillows. Until next time...

The ORI is Over...

Well the ORI is finally over with and now we can move along with life! LoL We can get away from the 12 hour shifts and hopefully stay on 10's for awhile instead of falling back into 12's. I am looking forward to my running week to be over. I need that day off to hurry up and get here. Only one more day of running and week 3 will finally be over with. I have really struggled this week with my running. I just don't have the energy this week. It has been so hot at work that by the time I get on that treadmill I am spent. I still get in my workout but it has been tough. I need to get this weight off once again and the running and energy will get better. At least I believe it will. I got in 5.36 miles today. I felt pretty good at the beginning and the end of the run but the middle really almost did me in. I will keep trudging along and knocking out this marathon training. I know eventually my fitness life will get better. Until next time...

Another day complete...

Well another 12 hour shift in the books. You would think that I would be used to working 12 hour shifts because that's what I have pretty much done the whole time at Kadena but I still hate them. I hope this exercise doesn't go into the weekend but it looks like it will. Oh well, I'm glad that my long run this week is only 6 miles. Today I got in 5.32 miles and it was better than yesterday but still not great. I just don't have the energy yet but I am sure it will come back. I can sure tell the difference between the Precor treadmill in Hawaii and the Life Fitness Treadmills we have on the base. The Life Fitness ones are so much better and accurate. If I could only afford one to put in my house. Anyways, I am spent so it's time to sit on the couch and do nothing... JUST RELAX!!!

A Rough Running Day...

Have you ever had those days where you feel like you can't keep up with the treadmill no matter how slow you run on it? Well today was one of those days. Every time I tried to pick up a little speed (speed for me that is) or get some consistency running I just didn't have it in me. I was just worn out for some reason. I had side aches, nausea, acid reflux, etc. during my run today. Let's just say it was a less than stellar running day. It took me FOREVER to get in 6.11 miles (80 minutes). I just felt like I was never going to get there but I didn't give up because I had to reach that number today and I did. I just hope tomorrow will be a better day or I will be walking 5 miles tomorrow because I WILL get in 5 miles tomorrow (work or sickness pending that is). I will keep my head up and know that consistency will make my life a LOT easier. JUST RUN!!

Back Home in Okinawa...

Well I am back in Oki and things are pretty much back to business here. I was just informed that the Inspector General (IG) Team is here at Kadena for our Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) which is a big deal. It shows how the base performs to prepare for war and how the base would fight a war. It is a really big deal and they suck, suck, suck!! If you fail, you can look forward to 6 months of exercises every other week until the IG team comes back for a re-look which is a worst case scenario. I hope that everything goes smoothly this week and we do fine. I am happy that it is a low mileage week because I will be working 12 hour shifts probably through Saturday. My week is Circuit Training, 3 mi, 5 mi, 3 mi, 5 mi, 6 mi. It shouldn't be hard to get in my mileage this week. The problem will be staying motivated to get in my runs after 12 hour shifts. I got in my circuit training today. I did 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and 30 minutes on the stationary bike. It was a pretty good work out and my legs were dead by the end of the hour. The saddest part was when I weighed myself this morning and I weighed in at 277.6 lbs. That is disappointing. There is nothing I can do about all that weight gain. I just need to work to get it off once again. So let the journey begin...again!!!

Next to last day in Hawaii...

Well I thought today would be the day that I would venture outside and find my shoes. Well I made it over to The Running Room here in Waikiki which is supposed to be the premiere running store here in Oahu but it wasn't that great. Therefore I didn't get my running shoes or anything else that I was after. Oh well, I guess it's back to the Internet to order my running things I will need. It seems that Hawaii is more of its own country than part of the United States. It is very beautiful here but I am ready to go home. I got in 4.93 miles today. I will reach my 16 mile goal tomorrow after I knock out a 5 miler tomorrow. Then flying Thurs and Fri. Then my long run on Saturday AT HOME and this week will be in the books. It will be nice to get home and be able to make home made meals. I am looking forward to eating at home. There's a first. Until next time...

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I hope that you have a wonderful day and I wish we were there to spend it with you. Well it's the start of another week and it will kind of be a condensed week since I head back home on Thursday and I won't get into Okinawa until 10PM on Friday. So with that said I have to knock out Thursday and Friday runs early. I split it up over Mon, Tues, and Wed which isn't too bad. I am glad that it is early in the program because those would have been some beastly runs. I have to run a total of 16 miles between Mon, Tues, and Wed. which shouldn't be a problem. Yesterday was my day off from running but I did about 4+ miles of walking all over Waikiki. So my run today was a lot harder than it should have been. I got in 6.3 miles today and I was glad when it was over. After my run I went down to the swimming pool here at the Ohana and soaked/ stretched my legs for a bit. The water was nice and cold and made my legs feel better. We will see how tomorrows run goes. I have a scheduled 5 miler tomorrow. JUST RUN!!!

Week 1 totals...

It was a good start to my marathon training this week. I stayed focused on what I had to do for that day and I did not dwell on the mileage for the week. It seemed to work pretty good but it also helps that I have nothing else to do here in Hawaii unless I want to spend a ton of cash I don't have. Today was my "long" run and I got in 8.25 miles which was a pretty hard run towards the end of it but I got through it. That would give me 25.51 miles for the week and I consider this week a success because I ran everyday I was supposed to. I have 17 more weeks to go until my first marathon. JUST RUN!!

Friday in Hawaii...

Well this should be my last Friday in Hawaii, I know rough life right. Especially when my family is hunkered down, getting pounded by Typhoon Muifa at the moment. Obviously there isn't a lot going on here right now. I will dub today movie Friday and go see a movie or two to pass the day away. I decided for that to happen I had to knock out my run early today which I have already did. I got in 5.36 miles and it was a pretty good run. The fitness room here at the Ohana East hotel is on the 2nd floor over looking the pool and all I can think as I am running is people thinking "Wow that fat guy has been running for a long time." Oh well, so it my life. Long run day tomorrow and week 1 of marathon training will be in the books. Just 17 more to go!! LoL. Until next time...

Totals for 04 Aug 2011

Well today is officially my anniversary in Hawaii and I didn't do a whole lot today. The highlight of my entire day was getting my run in. I am starting to get tired of living in a hotel room. As sad as it is, I want to go back to my ghetto fabulous house in Okinawa. The house may suck but I sure do miss my family. I can't wait until next week. I got in 3.32 miles today. It was a good leisurely run, nothing too strenuous. I got another 5 miler scheduled for tomorrow. Good times...

Happy Anniversary Heather!!!

Ten years ago today I married a wonderful woman who has some how managed to put up with my crap for this long. I think I have a keeper. I love you Heather! Thanks for making my life better. Well I am still "stuck" in Hawaii and I am ready to stop living in a hotel. It was fun for a week but it's time to get back to my family. My overseas listing just came out yesterday and I found out there are 3 bases on that list. Three slots for Daegu, South Korea; one slot for Ramstein AB, Germany; and one slot for Aviano AB, Italy. So we will wait and see if I get picked up for any of those bases in September. If I don't get chosen for another overseas assignment, my stateside listing should be out in mid-January. I love the wait and see approach Incorporated by the military. Anyways, back in Hawaii, I got in 5.29 miles tonight. It was a pretty good run but I have a looooong ways to go still. I hope that Typhoon Muifa goes easy on my family back in Okinawa. They are in my prayers. Dad, I don't know if it's my computer but I still can't post on your blog. I will keep trying but know that I am at least reading your blog. Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. Yes, that was a hint. Love you all!! Until next time...

Naha Marathon Training Begins...

My 18 week Hal Higdon marathon program kicked off officially yesterday. I didn't get in my cross training but I made up for it today. I hope to be ready to run my first marathon on December 4th. I have a long way to go but the journey will be well worth it. The fitness room finally opened back up here at the Ohana Waikiki East hotel so I am happy about that. Today I got in 3.28 miles and I made up for yesterday by doing running/ swimming in the pool for 45 minutes. The cold water in the pool should help my legs not to be so sore. At least that is the plan. We will see tomorrow. I have a 5 miler scheduled for tomorrow. I am hoping to have a good week. I hope and pray that Typhoon Muifa takes it easy on Okinawa and my family while I am away. The marathon training should help to take my mind off of that situation. Until next time...