Bad Case of the Runs

An Early Morning Run & I Mean Early...

2012-02-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

I have to head down to the port in Naha this morning at 0600. So I had to get up at 0330 to get my run in so I would have enough time to run and get ready for work. I'm glad this doesn't happen to often. We had two new R-11 refueling units come in and we have to pick them up at the port and drive them back to Kadena. Now that is fun. No running this afternoon. I think I need to recalibrate my Nike+ this afternoon so I will get in 1 mile at least. The workout after work is weights. I have to remember to take it easy because I'm just getting back into lifting and I don't want to be super sore. I got in 6.07 miles this morning. I need to stay focused. My PT test will be here before I know it and I need to be under 250 lbs by that time. Work, work, work!!!

STATS:
WEEKLY- 14.8 Miles
MONTHLY- 53.39 Miles
YEARLY- 164.28 Miles
WEIGHT- 265 lbs.

*ONLY 63 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST*

21 Feb. Part 2...

2012-02-21T16:15:00.001-08:00

Just got back from my second work out of the day. I wasn't sure how it was going to go but I feel pretty good at the moment. I did 30+ minutes of intervals (2.97 miles) and TRX for 30+ minutes. I need to get in some weight training. This yo-yo crap has killed my muscle mass. Every time I lose 50 lbs when I deploy, I lose a lot of muscle also. When I return from deployments I get lazy again and gain all the weight back but instead of gaining the muscle I used to have I gain more fat and it really shows. So I need weights. I hate them but I need them badly. Muscle burns fat and the more muscle I have the more efficient I'll be at burning fat. Tomorrow morning I will get my run in and in the afternoon I will do some free weights. I don't want to be in the weight room all afternoon so I will keep my lifting brief. No more than 30-60 minutes. My schedule will be broken down to something like this: Mon, Wed, Fri, run in the morning and lift in the afternoon after work. Tues and Thurs I will run in the morning and do 30 minutes of intervals and 30+ minutes of TRX. I will keep it simple and not lift heavy but heavy enough to gain some muscle back. I need this fat off of me!!! I really watched what I ate today and will continue to plan out what I am eating every day.

I NEED TO BE SMART ABOUT MY FITNESS AND NUTRITION!!!

STATS:
WEEKLY- 8.72 miles
MONTHLY- 47.27 miles
YEARLY- 158.2 miles

Back On Board...

2012-02-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks where nothing really seems to go the way you want them to. Well that was last week for me. Nothing seemed to come together and it was officially my first SCREW IT! week of the year. I mean I ran once and played some basketball on Friday but other than that is was a wasted week. After thinking about everything this weekend and making some promises to myself I am back on board and moving forward once again. I decided I want to track my weight from my birthday to next birthday. Since I turned 37 last Monday, that is how many pounds I want to lose this birthday year. So by 13 FEB I want to be 37 lbs. lighter. I thing that is doable. I finally got my PT test date on April 24th. So now I know the date and the rest is up to me. I got in 5.75 miles this morning. I need to stay POSITIVE and FOCUSED for the rest of my time on Okinawa. GET BUSY!!!

STATS:
WEEKLY TOTAL- 5.75 miles
MONTHLY TOTAL- 44.29 Miles
YEARLY TOTAL- 155.23 Miles
WEIGHT- 267 lbs. (Starting Weight)

*ONLY 63 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST*

I'm a Slacker & Happy V. Day!!!

2012-02-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Well I know I was sick over the weekend but even when I am sick I feel like I'm slacking when I miss out on my runs. Yesterday I turned 37 years old. I didn't get in a run because I was working late and Heather and I had dinner reservations at a Brazilian restaurant down in Mihama. I guess I will count that as a day off for my birthday. Now it is time to get back to work. Today the temperature is in the 70's and so I took to the streets. Mon, Wed, Fri are my run indoors days. Tues, Thurs, Sat are my run outside days. I will see how that goes. It was a so-so run today. My legs felt dead but I got out and roasted in the sun. That heat takes it out of you when you haven't ran in the heat for a while. I got in 5.76 miles and hope to carry that into a good week of running. Until next time...

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 264.6 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 38.54 miles

*ONLY 46 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Dealing with another Cold...

2012-02-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Well I took yesterday off because I needed a rest day. I am dealing with yet another chest cold and I have quite a bit of congestion in my lungs. Today was a better day so I hit the treadmill again. I would like to get where I am running 3 days outside and 3 days on the treadmill to preserve my legs. We will see how that goes next week. Plus I REALLY want to add some FIP in there. I am stuck in the fluctuating 260's (mainly be cause I eat like crap) but maybe that will break me into the 250's. I need to shake things up somehow OR, or I could just quit eating crappy things ALL the time. Oh well, I got in 5.39 miles today. Heather and Bella have the swap tomorrow so it will take all of my efforts to go run somewhere when they are finished tomorrow evening. They're leaving at 7:45AM and I am not getting up at 5AM on a Saturday to go run. If it happens it will be in the afternoon/evening.

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 264.8 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 32.77 miles

*ONLY 50 DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

2012-02-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well today is the coldest in Okinawa so far this winter. So what did I do, I ran outside today. I couldn't go for my usual run right after work so I had to wait and run later in the afternoon. It was super windy and a bit rainy but the temperature was around 50°. Now that is a freezing day here in Okinawa. The great thing about my run is that my achilles felt good for my entire run. Even with the cold weather outside. I got in 5.66 miles today which was pretty nice. I have a retirement ceremony tomorrow so I will probably get in another late afternoon run. Only time will tell. Until next time.

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 263.2 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 27.38 miles

*ONLY 52 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Getting Another Cold...

2012-02-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

Well I don't know what is going on at the moment. I am starting to get ANOTHER cold. I have a runny nose and a sore throat once again. It's like a perpetual cold that isn't going away until I leave this place. Oh well. I was lazy this past weekend and it truly showed when I stepped on the scale this morning. I need to get over it and push on, but it truly started off my day/ week not on the right foot. I decided to ramp it up on the treadmill this afternoon and get my running week started right. I did 30 minutes of intervals and by the time I was finished I didn't want to do the 2nd 30 minutes of running. I was worn out from the intervals but I pushed through to get in my full hour. I got in 5.45 miles today. I need to play catch up this week and get rid of most of the weight I put back on over the weekend. ONWARD AND UPWARD!!!

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 266 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 21.72 miles

*ONLY 53 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Bring on the Weekend...

2012-02-03T16:35:00.000-08:00

I'm happy that this week is over with and I am looking forward to the 3 day weekend because of the Super Bowl. I don't care who wins but I sure appreciate the day off. I just found out today that I am one of the top 5 alternates now for the Academy. What does that mean? It means I have to show up on the first day of the Academy and see if I get to attend the class if someone doesn't show up. It sucks but it is what it is. I was also talking to my supervisor MSgt Strub and he was saying that if I don't go before I leave Kadena there's a good chance that while I'm in Korea they would send me back to Okinawa for the 6 weeks for the Academy. That is hilarious!! I leave Kadena just to come back and and go to the Academy. Man I love how the Air Force works sometimes.

Anyways I got in the exact same run as I did yesterday almost down to the second. I got in 5.43 miles and it was a pretty good run. I always see my Commander at the gym while I'm running on the treadmill. This is the second time I've been under the command of Lt. Col. Henderson. He was my Captain at Aviano, he came to inspect us a couple of times while I was at Nellis (he was a Major then), and now he is the 18th LRS Commander here at Kadena. It's a small Air Force world that's for sure. It's funny, because he'll call me by my full name every time he sees me. It freaks people out when he does it but I've known him for a long time. Almost the same amount of time I've known Col. Kirk Davies. All good people. Until next time...

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 260.8 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 16.26 miles

*ONLY 57 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Cold, Cold, Cold...

2012-02-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

I think today is the coldest day of winter so far. I mean it's raining, the wind is blowing, and holy crap if the temperature is hovering around 50 something! Now that is cold for Okinawa. I could actually see my breathe this morning when I got to work and that is rare here. Good thing it doesn't stay cold here. I bet by the weekend or beginning of next week we will be close to 70° again. The joys of island living. I got in another 5.43 miles today. I was thinking about doing FIP next week and was contemplating only working out Monday through Friday. That would be 10 fitness sessions per week and I think my body might need the extra day to recuperate. I will have to think about it this weekend or maybe get started next week and see how my body feels. I just have to stay motivated!!!

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 260.2 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 10.83 miles

*ONLY 58 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Bring on February!!

2012-02-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

I am ready to tackle February. We are down to our last three full months on the island. Time to stay busy and watch the time fly by. We will do plenty of Okinawan related things before we leave but I am done with Kadena. I'm looking forward to getting on with the next chapter of my military career. I always get this way the last few months of any base I've ever been at. I am focused on April and my PT test and knocking that test out of the ball park. I reached my first goal this year by getting to 260 lbs. by February 1st. It was the high end closer to 261 but I'll take it. Now to focus on 250 lbs by March 1st. I got in 5.4 miles today. JUST RUN!!

STATS FOR FEBRUARY:
Weight- 260.8 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 5.4 miles

*ONLY 59 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

January 2012 is in the Books

2012-01-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

Well the last run for this month is finally logged and I can close out January. All in all I would have to say it was a pretty good month. I still have a lot of work to do in the next couple of months but at least I started off the year on a positive note. Now I have to keep that momentum going throughout the year. I am still shooting for the 230's by the time I come home in May. If I stay focused I think that is an achievable goal. It would be awesome to start Korea in the 230's and have a full year to work on my fitness. It scares Heather to think of what I could look like with a full year by myself and working out. I mean I normally drop 50 lbs when I am deployed for 5 months. It should be interesting to see how I can transform my body during that year. Anyways, I got in 5.54 miles this afternoon which I am happy about.

TOTALS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 262.2 lbs (274.4) *12.2 lbs lost in January*
Mileage- 110.93 miles

*ONLY 60 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

New Week, New Month...

2012-01-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

Well it's the start of another week and come Wednesday the start of a new month. I am looking forward to getting February started so we can get it over with. I found out today that I am a stand by for the NCO Academy which is kind of nice since I need to spend that time out processing. It would be nice to deal with the academy when we get settled down in Las Vegas. It also lets me focus on my fitness and not have to worry about school right now. Nothing goes smoothly here at Kadena but I will wade through the garbage that is out processing and get it done. I got in 5.19 miles this afternoon. I have one more run to go this month and I can book end January. LET'S GO GET IT!!!

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 264.4 lbs. (274.4) Damn Weekends!!
Mileage- 105.38 miles

* ONLY 61 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

End of the Week...

2012-01-27T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well I got in another run after work and it wasn't too bad. Now that I have my replacement doing most of my job I get stuck at the desk doing paperwork more often. That means my legs aren't too tired to run in the afternoons. I just need to stop being lazy and run when I can. That is what it comes down to. I'm still working on not replacing exercise with excuses. One more run for the week and I will reached my goal of six days this week. It will be a first for January. I've been a slacker. I got in 5.34 miles today which puts me over the century mark for this month. I will be short of my 125 mile goal but I'm happy with what I've accomplished this month. I hope to find out my exact PT test date next week. I have to wait for the Squadron to put out the sign up roster for April. I want to test before 10 April. I'm looking forward to February! Until next time...

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 263.2 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 100.19 miles

*ONLY 64 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

An Afternoon Treadmill Run...

2012-01-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

Well I woke up at 4AM this morning to go run but my body wasn't having it. So I went from my bed downstairs and fell asleep on the couch. I decided that I could get my daily run in in the afternoon. I am always a little nervous about doing that because I really don't know how I will feel after work. But today worked out in my favor and I headed off to the gym to get in my run. It was a pretty good run but my legs are still jell-o at the moment. I will keep plugging away until I get back in my rhythm. I got in 6.09 miles this afternoon and I am looking forward to my day off this weekend. I don't even know if I will get out of bed. Good times!

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 262.2 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 94.84 miles

*ONLY 65 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Dead, Dead Legs...

2012-01-25T06:15:00.000-08:00

My legs feels like mush running on the treadmill. I think that my body is just trying to adjust to running on the treadmill again and it is a tough time. I want to put in longer intervals but my body just doesn't have it in it right now. I know I need to listen to my body and back off for a while BUT my mind doesn't want to. I wish one of these years I will learn to not slack off and lose the endurance I have built up. Because it goes away quick and it is a pain in the ass to get back!! Anyways I will keep plodding along and get those miles in NO MATTER how long it takes me. I got in 5.38 miles this morning. Run, run run...

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 262.4 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 88.75 miles

*ONLY 66 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Come On May!!!

2012-01-24T06:15:00.000-08:00

Well just when I think that Kadena couldn't throw more on to my plate right before I leave they go ahead and schedule me for the NCO Academy right before I leave. I mean I graduate from the Academy a month before I'm supposed to fly out. That means I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut of that last month I am here trying to play catch up. Man this base is something else, and not in a good way. I will get through it but it is unbelievable how this base operates. Another day on the treadmill and I put on Icy Hot before I ran today and it felt pretty good. It will be interesting to see how the week progresses with running on the treadmill. My legs are a little more tired than usual because I push myself harder on the treadmill. I am going to do FIP for lunch today and see how that goes. I will try and take it easy and not aggravate my achilles. I got in 5.33 miles today. Until next time...

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 263.8 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 83.37 miles

*ONLY 67 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

On the Treadmill Again...

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well after a weekend off to try and let me achilles heal, I am back at it on the treadmill. I will stay on the treadmill until my leg feels better and I am sure I can run outside again. My achilles was tight today and I probably pushed it more than I should have but I wanted to see what I could do on the treadmill. I didn't put on any Icy Hot either. I wanted to get a feel for what I could do with it, in the condition that it is in. It held up pretty good I think. Tomorrow I will definitely throw some Icy Hot on it before I go to the gym to loosen it up a little bit. I think that even if my leg was healthy I would have hit the gym this morning. It is pretty nasty outside this morning and really cold. I got in 5.38 miles this morning and I hope to put in a good week, achilles willing.

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 265.6 lbs. (274.4) The food got me again this weekend. I need to figure this out!!!
Mileage- 78.03 miles

STATS FOR 16 Jan - 21 Jan:
Weight Loss- .4 lbs *That is sad*
Mileage- 18.96 miles *And that is sad*

Definitely a forgettable week for me!!!

*ONLY 68 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Bad Case of the Jog/Walk...

2012-01-20T05:30:00.000-08:00

Well with my little situation I decided I would cut my running route in half and see if I could get through it which I did. It just wasn't at the intensity I would have liked. I guess a injury is a injury and I will have to cut back and let it heal. I was pretty happy that I could jog for about the first 2 miles but it was at a slower pace. I am taking it easy until it feels better to run on. If I have to walk my route I will so I can stay active. Now I really have to watch what I am eating with cutting back my mileage until I'm all healed up. The GOOD NEWS is I got my new Pearl's in the mail. I wonder if my previous CRUSHED shoes had anything to do with my injury. Could be. I got in 3.39 miles this morning. One more day of exercise for the week. STAY FOCUSED!!!

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 264.4 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 72.65 miles

*ONLY 71 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Ouch!!!

2012-01-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

Somehow during my run this morning I strained my Achilles tendon. I don't know how I did it or what I did but it feels horrible. I will ice it down after I get back from work tonight and then throw some Icy Hot on it tomorrow morning before I head out the door. I will take it easy the next couple of days and probably do some walking if it feels awkward. The big thing is I need to stay active through this because I don't have time to slack off. Maybe if it sticks around, I will hit the weights a little more until this is resolved. Either way I will get my exercise in. I got in 5.19 miles. BE SMART!!

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 264.6 lbs (274.4)
Miles- 69.25 miles

*ONLY 72 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Out and About...

2012-01-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Well another day closer to coming home and I get more excited about everyday that passes. I will be sad to leave Okinawa but I will be more that happy to be home again, even if it's just for a little while. But I need to focus on the present and get everything taken care of here so I can leave and that means PT. I got in another 5.18 miles this morning. It was weird because I ran the exact same distance at the exact same pace and time. That's spooky stuff. I thought my Nike+ just doubled a run but the dates are different so it is what it is. Glad I got out the door and ran this morning. I got to hit that century mark before the end of the month and hit my goal of 260 lbs by February 1st. Onward and Upward!!

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 266 lbs. (274.4)
Mileage- 64.05 miles (Apparently Nike+ didn't update my mileage from yesterday).

*ONLY 73 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

On the Road Again...

2012-01-17T05:45:00.000-08:00

I got up and was heading out the door to head over to the gym to get in my early morning run when it hit me... It was a very nice morning outside. It wasn't cold at all and it was actually kinda warm. So I put back my keys and hit the road. I am glad that I did because it was a pretty decent run this morning. I guess I will check the weather so to speak before I decide where I will be putting in my miles from here on out. If it's cold then to the gym I go, but if it's anywhere close to what it was this morning I will keep to the streets. I got in 5.18 miles this morning and my weight is back up to 269.8 lbs this morning. Man these weekends are killing me! Next week I start FIP again since I will have my replacement with me until I leave. That will free me up to hit FIP 5 days a week. Thought for today: LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACK...

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 269.8 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 58.87 miles

*ONLY 74 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

The Week is Over...

2012-01-14T18:23:00.000-08:00

Well my running week finally came to a close and I am pretty proud that I got in all 6 runs this week. That is a rarity anymore. But everything came together or should I say that I didn't let my laziness get the better of me this week and I produced a pretty good week. I'm happy that it is a 3 day weekend and we get a little extra time together as a family. June is coming really fast and I don't want to think about it just yet. So all the time I get with my family is a bonus. I got in 5.8 miles on the treadmill tonight. I really think that spending some time on the treadmill will make me faster. Plus I sweat a ton more when running indoors so hopefully it will help me drop more weight. Well I'm off to relax for the rest of the night and enjoy my day off from running tomorrow. Until next week...

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 266 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 53.68 miles

Weekly Stats for 09 Jan - 14 Jan:
Weight loss- 4.2 lbs
Mileage- 32.55 miles

*ONLY 77 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Back to the Treadmill....

2012-01-13T05:45:00.000-08:00

I have come to the decision that I'm going to run indoors for a little while. I don't think that I will ever conquer this cough if I keep running in the cold air every morning. So with that said I will head over to the gym probably through the beginning of March. At least that is the plan as of right now. I think that I push myself harder on the treadmill anyways. I have always thought that. It is easier for me to do speed work on the treadmill and keep track of what I am doing more so than gauging my pace out on the road. I need to pick up my speed anyways and this will be a good way to do that. Plus there is nobody at the gym at 4AM so that is a bonus. I also love the Life Fitness treadmills at the gym. I got in 5.73 miles this morning. One more day of running to go this week. Good times!!

STATS FOR JANUARY:

Weight- 267.8 lbs (274.4) I ate Heather's enchilada's last night and I can control myself with those baddies.
Mileage- 47.87 miles

*ONLY 78 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

The Exercise is finally over...

2012-01-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well I'm happy to say that the exercise is finally over and things should get back to normal for the most part. I need to get hopping on my out processing checklist. I have to head over and get my re-enlistment paperwork taken care of. That is priority number one today. Well that and sign up for a class. I got in 5.22 miles this morning and it was pretty chilly outside. I get funny looks because I still only run in a t-shirt and shorts while everyone else I see out running is bundled up like it was a blizzard. I start out a little chilly but since my first mile is pretty much all up hill I am sweating pretty good by the time I end that first mile. Good thing it will start to warm up again in February. I might have to rethink things when I get to Korea and it's actually cold outside. It might be a lot of treadmill running because I don't like running in layers. I finally broke into the 70's on the count down until my PT test month. Man I hate the USAF PT Test!!! Until next time...

STATS FOR JANUARY:

Weight- 265.6 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 42.13 miles

*ONLY 79 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Happy Birthday Billy!!

2012-01-11T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well today it's my OLDer Brother's birthday. He is 43 years young and like always I am sure he is working himself to death. Who knows maybe next year I can be home for his birthday. Well Bill, where ever you are, Happy Birthday and I hope it's a good one.

I was kinda tired this morning when I woke up to get my run in. I felt sluggish heading out into the night and that carried over into my run. It really felt like I was running through mud. I guess working 12-13 hour shifts and then running takes its toll but I will solider through it and get through the week. I got in 5.29 miles this morning. It looks like the exercise will go until Thursday now. Man I hate these things and the way Kadena always prolongs the agony. Just one more exercise to go in March and it should be all over with until I leave in May. Not too much longer and I'll be out of here...

STATS FOR JANUARY:

Weight- 267.6 lbs (274.4)
Mileage- 36.91 miles

*ONLY 80 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Running in the Mist...

2012-01-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

I don't think I would call what it is doing outside raining. It is more like a constant mist with periods of heavy mist. It's pretty crazy! Day two of the LORE exercise and another 12 hour shift on deck. I am glad that this should only go through Wednesday and I should only have one more exercise in March that I have to take part in. I really, really, really hate those things. I hope that when I get back to Nellis in 2013 that they still don't exercise. That was the best thing about that base. It was a pretty good run this morning. I just wish my energy level was a little higher. These daily 5+ mile runs take it out of me. I really need to figure out my nutrition because I don't think I am taking in enough calories to get the energy I need everyday. What I would give for a personal nutritionist/chef. Anyways, I got in 5.28 miles this morning. Onward and upward...

STATS FOR JANUARY:

Weight- 267.4 lbs (274.4 lbs)
Mileage- 31.61 miles

*ONLY 81 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Exercise Monday...

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well today we kick off a short Phase I LORE that is supposed to last through Wednesday. A LORE is a local exercise to test our war fighting capability. A Phase I is the processing portion of the exercise to see how long it takes for us to get our troops to the mobility processing line, aboard an aircraft, and to the war zone. Then normally a Phase II exercise would kick off which would be the actual war portion of the exercise. Phase II's are where you "suck rubber" and don your chem suits. That sucks! Good thing this is only a Phase I.

We things were going well until last Thursday night I had a recurrence of my chest cold. I didn't get in any running Friday or Saturday because I was trying to get over my hack. I feel better today but still have that lingering cough with chest congestion. I will take things slower at the beginning of the week and see how that goes. It was a pretty warm morning and it was a nice run. I was a little bit winded during my run because of the chest congestion but all in all it was a decent morning run. I got in 5.2 miles this morning. I am starting off the week weighing 270.2 lbs. I am looking to improve on that number this week.

STATS FOR JANUARY:

Weight- 270.2lbs (274.4lbs)
Mileage- 26.33 miles

Weekly Totals for 2 Jan - 7 Jan:

Weight Loss- 4.2 lbs
Mileage- 21.12 miles

*ONLY 82 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Holy Crap it's Cold....for Okinawa that is!

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well today I actually ran in long socks,a long sleeve shirt, and a hat. It is officially winter here in Okinawa. I mean it's probably above 50° but that is freezing for here. I think I'm in for a BIG surprise when I get to Korea and have to spend a real winter there. I was really worn out during my run this morning so I walked a little more than I usually do and my pace was not that spectacular. But I am happy that I got out the door and got in my morning jog. It would be a stretch to call it a run but nevertheless it was exercise. I got in 5.35 miles and I'm down to two more runs this week. I need to be more consistent about when I'm eating. Maybe I will have to work in some timers on my iPhone to help me remember when I am supposed to eat something. I will figure it out.

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 265.6 lbs. (274.4lbs)
Mileage- 21.12 miles

*ONLY 86 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

A Run in the Rain...

2012-01-04T05:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sure glad this is Okinawa because a run in the rain most other places I would have frozen to death during my run, but since this is Okinawa I survived....barely! Some people might think it is weird that when I open the door to go run and I see it's raining outside I get excited. Most people would shut the door and head back to bed but I would rather run in the rain. I think it's refreshing and energizing. My legs were a little dead this morning since I ran a little over 12 hours ago but they held up nicely during my run this morning. I need to get at least two consistent weeks of running 6 days in a row before I expect my strength and stamina to start to come back. Oh well, I will keep plotting along and I will get there. I got in 5.32 wet miles this morning and I'm happy to be half way through my running week. STAY FOCUSED.

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 267.4 (274.4)
Mileage- 15.76

*ONLY 87 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

An Afternoon Run...

2012-01-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well I thought I would try something a little different this week and I would shoot for running in the evening. I mean what difference would it make. Well that lasted all of kinda one day. There is no way I am running in the evening. Not after working all day. I didn't even make it to FIP today because I had a dental appointment. So back to the morning runs for me. It is easier to run first thing in the morning when I have all my energy. At least that makes sense to me. Not a whole lot to talk about today just trying to get back into the working mood and it's not going very well. The first of the month is super hectic for me because I take care of the whole fuel fleet here and it's the biggest in the USAF. I won't bore you with the details but it's a lot of work at the beginning of the month to make sure everything is going good with the fleet and it all has to be finished by the 10th of the month, every month. Oh well, four more months and then it's some other persons headache. I got in 5.19 miles this afternoon. It was a pretty good run. I'm still fighting off the effects of the chest cold and sciatica but I am working through it slowly. I just need to be focused and mentally strong and I'll be fine. JUST RUN!!

STATS FOR JANUARY:
Weight- 272.4 lbs (Starting weight will be in parenthesis from now on, 274.4 lbs)
Mileage- 10.44 Miles

*ONLY 88 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Punch 2012 in the Face!!

2012-01-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

That's right, I'm going to punch 2012 in the face and become better all around by the start of 2013. It's time to step up and do what I say I'm going to do. That is be HEALTHIER, be a better father, husband, Airman, and priesthood holder. This is the year to make a difference. I can't do anything about any previous year and I can't worry about what the future will bring. What I can do is focus on today and be the very best I can be TODAY. I need to start living in the moment and do everything I can do today to be better tomorrow. Alright, good self pep talk, now step up and do it! I got in 5.25 miles. It's Jan 2nd and I am in 136th place already in the 1,500 miles challenge. There are some running monsters in this challenge. Ultimately I would like to run 2012 miles this year and will shoot for that but I would be happy with 1,500.

STATS FOR JAN:
Weight- 274.8 lbs
Mileage- 5.25 Miles

*ONLY 89 MORE DAYS UNTIL MY PT TEST MONTH*

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T16:54:00.000-08:00

Well today is not a run/ lift day but I thought I would start this year off right by jotting down some goals that I want to work towards this year. This year will be a transition because we are set to leave Okinawa this coming May and I will be in Korea this coming June for a year. Heather and the girls will be staying with my parents while I am in Korea. A lot of things will be different half way through 2012. I am starting out the year at 274.4 lbs. I have a lot of work to do in that area. I guess you have to start somewhere and it is what it is. I have my PT test coming up in April and I am trying to be in the 240's by the time I take that test. That is my main focus coming into the new year. Here is a small list of things I want to accomplish in 2012:

-PASS MY PT TEST in April!!!!
-Be in the 240's by April 1st. (Score another 90% on my PT test)
-Be in the 230's by May 1st. (I have to be 240 or under to win the bet I have with Heather)
-Run 1,500 miles this year. (Nike+ challenge I signed up for this year)
-Complete my Community College of the Air Force Associates degree this year. (2 classes away)
-Be under 210 lbs by the time I come home for my mid-tour from Korea (this one might take me into
January next year depending on what time I get to come home)
-Get my temple recommend back. (We will finally be close to a temple once again)

I think that is enough to work on through 2012. I have other things I want to shoot for but these will be my focus for the coming year. I am looking forward to coming home this year. I am looking forward to making this year better than last year.

LET'S DO IT!!!

My Nasty Little Head Cold...

2011-12-28T05:45:00.000-08:00

Holy crap! I have one heck of a head cold killing me right now. I swear I'm acting like a zombie going through the motions the last couple of days. I have a feeling that today won't be any different. I know when it's bad because I have to take NyQuil to go to sleep. I got my run in this morning. I put in 5.32 miles and my chest was burning by the time I made it back to the house. The cold air really takes a toll on me. I took it easy though. I don't want to make it worse BUT I don't want to skip a workout either. Anyways, here's to hoping that the cold starts to go away today! GET HEALTHY!!! Until next time...

P.S.- I signed up for a Nike+ challenge starting on 1 Jan 2012 and goes until 31 Dec 2012. The challenge is to run 1,500 miles this year. I like running with my Nike+ because it tracks my miles for me and I can do interesting little challenges like this. There is 1,900 people from around the world signed up for this particular challenge so it should be interesting to see how I'll do. Fun, fun...

Last Week of 2011...

2011-12-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well coming into the last week of 2011 it's hard not to reflect on what has happened this past year. It has been a very fast year. I will steer clear of the I should have or I could have thoughts because we can't do anything about the past. No, this week I will focus on the future and what this coming year will bring. I will literally hit the ground running and look to improve myself all around this year. I have fitness goals, educational goals, and some life goals I want to work on through out the year. First thing is first and that is getting through this week. I got in 5.21 miles this morning and it was around 50° here. That is cold for Okinawa. I think I'm in for a major shock next winter in Korea. Anyways, I'm looking forward to next year and improving myself. JUST RUN!!

A Late Night Run...

2011-12-23T23:00:00.000-08:00

With my work schedule I don't get to run in the evenings very much. Heather had a girl date tonight with her buddies so when she got home and got settled in I took to the streets and got my run in. It was a little rainy and a little chilly out tonight but it made for a cool run. The only bad thing is dinner hadn't settled all the way when I went to run so I fought that the whole time. The important thing is I didn't skip my run. One more to go for the week and I will have finished all 6 runs this week. I got in 5.46 miles tonight. JUST RUN!

Running in a Typhoon! Well Almost...

2011-12-22T05:45:00.000-08:00

OK well maybe it's not a typhoon but it sure felt like it this morning when I was out running. When I stepped out the door it was misting. I like running in the rain for the most part and it was a nice mist and it didn't seem really windy. That was until I hit around the 2 mile mark and then all hell broke loose. I mean it started raining side ways and the wind was trying to knock me down. It felt like I was being hit in the face by tiny little darts! Well that maybe be a little far fetched but I think you get my point. By the time I got back to the house I was pretty numb and worn out. So it was a good run? Like I've said before, this type of run is better than no run at all. I got in 5.36 "wet" miles. Stay Dry...

PS- Last day of Work!!!

Sluggish this Morning...

2011-12-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well my run this morning can only be described by the word sluggish. That is how I felt the whole time. Every time I tried to pick of my pace or kick it in another gear it felt like I was towing a car behind me. Oh well, these types of runs happen. The way to overcome them is endure it while they are torturing you! I made the mistake of eating too much chicken fried rice last night and I really paid the price my entire run. One of these days I will learn to eat healthier. Anyways, I got in 5.27 miles this morning and I only have two more days of work then a 4 day break. I have to say I love the extra time off during this time of year. Exercise, exercise, exercise...

A Bit Chilly this Morning...

2011-12-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

I wasn't that awake when I got up to go run this morning. That was until I stepped out the door and the cool air hit me in the face! Instantly I was awake and wondering where my running jacket is. Then I remembered I don't have a running jacket because this is Okinawa and it doesn't get cold here. Anyways by the end of my first half mile (which is all up hill) the last thing I am thinking about it being cold. It was a pretty good run this morning. I decided not to do FIP until the first of the year. Since I haven't ran for about two weeks, I will need the next two weeks to get my body back to where it was not too long ago. Then starting in January I will start doing FIP for my lunch hour. I think I finally got Heather on board with meal planning for me. I need help with the food part. I want to plan to eat 2000-2200 cals a day. And I know me, I will need to plan out every one of those calories to stay on track. That means the night before packing my meal for the next day so I take all the guess work out of what I am eating. That is the ONLY way I am going to conquer my eating problems. Anyways I got in 5.3 miles this morning. I want to push past this holiday season so I can focus on the headache that will be my next 18 months. MENTALLY STRONG...

Ok, Let's Try This Again...

2011-12-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Alrighty, I've finished up my leave and now it's time to get back to work. This is my home stretch and it's time to keep my eyes focused on this coming April and my PT test. I have 104 days left until the 1st of April and I will be eligible to test. In that time I want to be under 250 lbs. I am currently sitting at 276.8 lbs. It is time to get to work and do what I know I should be doing all along. I found a nifty little spreadsheet that I am going to track everything on which I hope will be a pretty awesome little tool. We will see how it goes. I got in 5.28 miles this morning which was a nice little run. I was a little winded but what do you expect when I've only ran one other time this month. I'm looking to hit up FIP class for lunch today. That should be fun all by itself. GO BRONCOS!!!! Just Run...

Back at it again...

2011-12-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

I had to take some time off from running because the Sciatica has been killing me. I seem to be all healed up now and will proceed with more caution this time. I have to remember that there is nothing wrong with walking. I think I push myself too much sometimes because I think that walking isn't quite the workout I want to get. Anyways, it's time to hit the pavement once again and see how many miles I can knock out for the second half of December. I got in 5.32 miles this morning. Stay MENTALLY strong...

End of November...

2011-11-30T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well November is finally in the books. This mornings run will be my last for November because I can't go to FIP because I have training during that time. I got in 5.24 miles this morning for a total of 104.28 miles for November. It was a pretty good month I'd have to say. I am looking to beat that in December and keep gettting stronger and more fit. I went to FIP yesterday and worked out with my "buddy". My "buddy" was a 13.2 lb medicine ball that I got to haul around the track doing various cross training exercises with. Nothing like running around the track with a 13.2 lb medicine held above your head. The FIP instructor Blake is no joke, but his workouts are hands down more challenging that anyone else's. I'm looking forward to having a good December. JUST RUN!

Still Humid in Okinawa...

2011-11-29T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well I stepped out the door this morning and the humidity smacked me in the face. Yep, it is still humid here in Okinawa. Nevertheless, I headed out into the night for my morning run. I got in 5.27 miles this morning which is always good. I hit FIP class yesterday expecting a kick butt workout but it was raining cats and dogs outside and the instructor didn't plan for that SO we ended up staying inside the gym and playing volleyball. I've never played volleyball for a FIP class before. Anyways it was better than sitting behind my desk doing nothing or worse eating. I was up and I was active. I plan on transitioning FIP into my regular daily workouts this month until it becomes second nature. Then next month I would like to add a little weight training after work. Yes, I know that's 3 workouts a day but I will be smart about it and not over do it. I think that is the key. If I don't go crazy and be smart about it I should be able to maintain it until I leave Kadena. I think building up to it will be key also. All I did this past month was run. This month I will add in FIP class and then next month I will add in weights. Until next time...

A New Week...

2011-11-28T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well it's the beginning of a new week and I am ready to start December. I want 2012 to get here so we can focus on this move and get it out of the way. There will be a lot of change come 2012 and I want everything to go smoothly during what will most likely be one of the longest years of my life when I'm in Korea. I will need to find a way to make it fly by. I started off the week weighing in at 275.4 lbs. Yep, another week of no weight loss but no weight gain either. I am going to throw in some FIP classes this week and see if the extra workouts will jump start my fat loss (work allowing, of course). Heather and I need to figure out our diet thing which is pretty non-existent right now. I got in 5.32 miles this morning in the rain which was nice. I hope that if I lose some of this weight my sciatic problem will go away. That's the dream anyways.

We had a nice family weekend. Friday we went down to Naha and went to the fish store which is always one of my favorite things to do. Plus the girls get to look at all the puppies they have at Pet Box. Saturday, the girls and I hung around the house while Heather went with her friend Danielle to Naha to take pictures over at Shuri castle. When I found out where they went I was pretty jealous. I love going to that place! Sunday we played hooky from church and went to the zoo which is one of the girls favorite places to visit. They got to ride the horse, hang out in the kangaroo cage, feed the dinosaur carp, and play at the kids science museum. We all had a really good time.

Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving...

2011-11-24T05:12:00.000-08:00

Well Thanksgiving is coming to a close here in Okinawa and it's been a pretty good day. I started the day off with a run this morning. It was pretty cold and really windy which made for a not so pleasant run. Anyhow I knocked out 5.31 miles and they were rough. This afternoon we headed over to our friends house Mark and Danielle McIlroy's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Danielle made a wonderful dinner and we had a good time. They have girls around Bella and Evie's age so everyone was happy. We are another day closer to coming home which is always a good thing. I hope everyone has a terrific Thanksgiving. Until next time...

Last Day of Work this Week...

2011-11-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

I am totally stoked that today is the last day of work this week. Man oh man I love 4 day weekends. I think every week should be a 3 day work week but I should get paid the same money though. Anyways there was an epic struggle to get out the door this morning. I have to thank Evie for hiding my iPhone so I couldn't set the alarm and take a nap on the couch and skip my run. I was a little sluggish during my run today so I took it back a notch and took my time this morning. I was in no rush but I did get in 5.31 miles this morning. It just took me a little longer than normal. I have to remember that it's not a race and this is all about consistency and getting my fat butt out that door and doing something. Until next time...

Go, go, go...

2011-11-22T05:45:00.000-08:00

Boy oh boy, some mornings are tougher than others. Not the running part, but the getting dressed and heading out the door part. I didn't sleep all that great last night so it took every ounce of self will to get up and get out that door. When I finally did I actually had a pretty decent run. I mean the sciatica was still there but it was a better run than I've had in a while. I got in 5.24 miles and look to keep it going tomorrow. Until next time...

Holiday Week...

2011-11-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well Thanksgiving week is upon us and I am ready for the 4 day break from work. Only three early morning runs (4AM) this week and then three later morning runs (8AM) this week. I should be close to the century mark if I stay on track. The goal is to break 100 miles for the month and I'm sitting at 70.56 miles right now. I got in 5.3 miles this morning which was a little chilly outside. Well chilly for Okinawa. I weighed in at 275.6 lbs yesterday. Not close to where I want to be but hopefully I can make some strides this week. Heather said she wants to do a weight loss challenge with me. She wants to be below 110 lbs by her birthday. And I said I will be below 240 lbs before we leave here in May. We give ourselves $200 allowance a paycheck on the 1st and the 15th of each month. The bet is if she doesn't get below 110 lbs by her birthday I get her allowance for that pay period but if she makes it then she gets my allowance. The same goes for the 1st of May. So I stand to gain $400 or lose $400. I guess I better get to work! Until next time...

Kinda of a Day Off...

2011-11-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

I didn't get my run in this morning because I was feeling a little under the weather. So I decided to wait until the afternoon to see if I would feel better. Well I was feeling better by the time I made it back home but when I finally got home there was a note on my door saying I need to mow my lawn and they would re-inspect my house tomorrow. I have a beast of a lawn compared to any of my neighbors and it's been a few weeks since I last mowed it. So I decided that I would throw on the Nike+ and see just how far I could get mowing my lawn. I got in 1.84 miles while mowing my lawn. I was pretty impressed that I got in that much. Anyways, I appeased the Kadena housing gods for now. Until next time...

Onward and Upward...

2011-11-15T05:45:00.000-08:00

I had a good run this morning. I felt kinda bad though, I scared the crap out of this guy during my run. He was trudging up the hill that I was running down and he wasn't paying attention and when I got right by him he let out a scream and kinda went into the fetal position while running. I don't know how else to describe it. After I made sure he was fine I continued on my way with a little laugh. I guess having someone who is 6'3" & 275 lbs appear out of nowhere can be pretty scary in the dark at 0430 in the morning. I got in 5.21 miles this morning and it was a better run than Monday that's for sure. Happy Running Everyone!!

Back at it...

2011-11-14T05:45:00.000-08:00

Well another week has started and I'm still not back to my starting weight for November. Man I suck at watching what I eat. I weighed in at 276.4 lbs this morning and I guess it's better than last week by 2 lbs. I just need to keep running and work on my eating. I think I eat way to much bread. I need to eat more protein and try to moderate my carbs since I am not running over 6 miles at a time. I got in my run this morning of 5.29 miles and it was a hard run. The good thing is I got it in and I need to keep pushing forward with my workouts. I want to start FIP again at the first of the year. I need to stay focused. It was a pretty good weekend. Saturday we went to the aquarium which is always a good time and then Sunday we headed out to the beach and the girls played in the water. Which is always nice since it is the middle of November. I got in a total of 31.51 miles last week and I am happy about that. Now to keep it going. Until next time...

Happy Saturday...

2011-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well the weeks almost over and my running is complete for the week. I will get in a walk tomorrow and total up my numbers then. For some reason I was awake at 4 AM on a Saturday and couldn't go back to sleep. So I headed out the door to finish up my weekly miles. It was a good week. It was an up and down week as far as motivation went but I got in ALL my runs and I am proud of that. Now to duplicate it next week and keep it going FOREVER. It needs to be a lifestyle not just a habit. Now if I could just get my eating more in line with my running I would be getting somewhere. I guess one thing at a time. I got in 5.22 miles this morning and I think we will make a trip to the Aquarium today. That way I'm not sitting on the couch doing nothing for the rest of the day. It is a very nice day outside and I'm sure the girls would love to hit the aquarium today. Until next time...

Happy Veteran's Day!!

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well since I have the day off for Veteran's Day, I slept in a little bit (7AM, I normally get up at 4AM) and then went for a run after everyone else was awake because Genavieve has to get up when I do. She thinks she might miss something and I don't dare leave that little monster by herself while everyone else is sleeping. So I got out the door around 0930. The run was nice but it was windy and humid. All in all it was a nice run. I got in 5.19 miles. One more day to go and that will be six runs for the week. I haven't accomplished that for a while now. Today is a day to reflect on my family members who have served our country. Those closest to me who have served are my brother Bill and my Grandpa Ross. I am grateful for their service and they truly inspired me to join the military. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our country. Although I may not be the most patriotic person, I know what I am doing is making a difference for the security of our country. Until next time...

Another rainy run...

2011-11-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

The rain today during my morning run makes yesterday's rain look like a sprinkle. It was raining SO hard during my run this morning which was awesome!! I was completely soaked by the time I made it back to the house but way better than a hot and very humid run. Four days down with two more "run" days to go. I think on Sunday's I will go for a walk so I don't give my legs and hips a chance to forget everything I've done the previous week. I think we will hit up the aquarium this weekend. We haven't been up there for awhile. I forgot to mention that we had a pretty big earthquake hit us the day before yesterday. The epicenter was a 6.9 but we only got hit we a 3 or 4 magnitude. But I was out in the yard at work in between all the R-11 refueling units when it happened and they were all dancing around me. It was pretty amazing. I didn't even feel it standing on the ground which was odd. Just another day in Okinawa, Japan. Anyways, I got in 5.32 miles this morning. Onward and upward...

Running in the Rain...

2011-11-09T05:45:00.000-08:00

Today's run was a pretty good one. Well as far as could be expected running with sciatica. As an added little bonus for my run this morning it was raining outside. It wasn't a torrent just a nice light rain for the majority of my run which was very nice. My sciatic nerve didn't bother me as bad during my run today. I hope that it will start to subside once I get consistent with my runs and some weight comes off. I would like to put in some medium runs (6-10 miles) starting at the beginning of the year. Plus come the beginning of the year I want to start Fat Boy class again so there is no way I will fail my PT test right before I PCS. Anyways, I got in 5.23 miles this morning and look to keep it going tomorrow. Until next time...

Better...

2011-11-07T23:53:00.000-08:00

Well today was a better day. I was happy that I found my stride again and that it didn't feel like I was running for the first time again. Now if I could get my sciatic nerve to quit hurting I might be able to get somewhere. I guess that will come once the weight starts to come off AGAIN. Now if I could figure out how to keep my diet under control I would be getting somewhere. I got in another 5.28 miles in today. Two days down and four to go. Until next time...

New Week...

2011-11-07T05:45:00.000-08:00

I'm looking to have a good fitness week this week. I will focus on taking it one day at a time and doing something everyday. My run today was tough. When I walked out the door and started running it felt like I was running for the first time ever. It just hurt and it felt awkward. I did quite a bit of walking and running when I could but the positive thing I took away from a very forgettable run was I did it. I got out there and I got it done. Tomorrow morning will be the same thing. I will step foot out that door and MAKE IT HAPPEN. I got in 5.28 miles this morning and it was worth it. Until next time...

A Day on the Treadmill...

2011-11-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

I spaced posting yesterday because of it seems we were busy up until we went to bed. The good thing for me is that it's still Friday back in the states so I shouldn't have to mess with the time and date on blogger. I didn't get my run in in the morning on Friday. My stomach was giving me fits so I held off until after work to get my run in. It was very warm so I decided to head over to the gym and do my run on the treadmill. For some reason I think that I push myself harder on the treadmill. I got in 5.42 miles and I was pretty worn out after the run. I had problems uploading my data to Nike + and that pisses me off. I made a challenge on their website to track my progress of running 500 miles before we leave in May and I hate when I can't upload a 5 mile run. Oh well, it's still the easiest way to track my runs.... when it's working!!! Until next time...

Clean up the Diet...

2011-11-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well I had an epiphany during my run this morning. Eat good and have a good run. Eat horrible and have a horrible run. Bad choices for dinner last night lead to a very sub-par run this morning. I felt on the verge of throwing up the whole time. It comes down to making better meal choices. I got in 5.37 miles this morning and I need to get better. All the way around...

Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

2011-11-02T03:33:00.000-07:00

Well it may be November but it doesn't feel like it outside. My run this morning was very warm and very humid. I was a puddle of sweat by the time I made it back to the house. I am only doing one work out a day this week and possibly next week to acclimate myself to running 5 to 6 days a week. Then once I feel comfortable doing that I will throw in some weights or TRX. I would like to start doing the Fitness Improvement Program starting in January but we will see if I can work that in to my already busy schedule. I am quite happy running in the mornings right now because nothing can screw up my runs that early except my laziness. I just need to stay focused and stay motivated. I got in 5.33 miles this morning which I am happy about. I still have to take walking breaks because my sciatic nerve bugs me BUT I am outside making it happen. BABY STEPS!! Until next time...

274.4 lbs...

2011-11-01T03:22:00.000-07:00

Well November 1st is here and it's time to start LOSE 10 lbs a month until I leave. I weighed in at 274.4 lbs this morning and I think I will weigh myself everyday to see where I am at. I think the key will be what I put in my mouth. Six months from today we leave Okinawa. I have a little goal that I want to run 500 miles before we leave in May. That should keep me busy. I got in 5.23 miles this morning and that run doesn't count towards my 500 because I made the challenge on Nike+ after I synced my run. Oh well, at least I got in my run. Until next time...

Phase II's suck, suck, suck!!!

2011-10-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

Well the easy part of the base exercise is over and now it's time for the crappy part. The dreaded Phase II where we spend hours upon hours in our gas masks and chem suits playing war. Good times! I can't wait until Friday when this is over for hopefully another 3-4 months. I hope that I only have to do one more of these before I leave Kadena. But then again I am going to Korea where they do these once a month, so we will see how that goes. Anyways enough complaining and on to better things. I got in 5.3 miles tonight and I am half way through my exercise week. My sciatica is bothering me but I just need to work through it. I need to stay focused on where I want to go and I KNOW what I need to do to get there. Run, Lift, Nutrition...

Gorillas in the Mist...

2011-10-25T06:32:00.000-07:00

I told my buddy Jason Lane tonight that tonight's run was kinda like Gorillas in the mist. Me being the Gorilla running in the mist. It wasn't a rainy run but it was a true mist tonight which was awesome to run in. Now if I could get my sciatica under control (weight loss) I would have enjoyed my run A LOT more. Consistency, consistency, consistency. That's the trick! I got in a total of 5.33 miles tonight. I am headed in the right direction. Only 167 days until my Physical Fitness test month is here! GET BUSY!!

Back to Work...

2011-10-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Well after last weeks activities, things are back to normal and I can get back to "fitness" work. I have came up with a lofty goal since I won't be able to run the marathon this December, I needed something for me to work towards that will push me physically. Starting on November 1st I am going to work on losing 10 lbs. a month. I will weigh myself November 1st and post my weight and my picture which shouldn't look any different then the last one that I posted but it will be a start. We have a LORE this week which means dressing up in MOPP gear and playing "war". Good times. Next week when things are back to normal I am going to start working on out processing or do what I can do right now. I want to be proactive because Kadena isn't the best when it comes to people leaving this base. Anyways, I got in 5.24 miles tonight before I head to work at midnight and work til noon. Man I love Kadena!!! Until next time...

Double Duty...

2011-10-12T03:44:00.000-07:00

Well the morning started off pretty good once I finally got out of bed. I really wanted to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep. It would have been way easier to sleep in til 6AM. But I finally rolled out of bed and rolled out the door to knock out my morning run. I got in 5.27 miles and I got to do it under a full moon which was awesome. After I got off work I debated going to the gym but I just hate fighting for equipment so I came home. I got home to a quite house because Heather and my two sick girls were taking an afternoon nap. So I decided to lace up the running shoes for a afternoon run. It was raining off and on again and I love running in the rain. It seemed like I was chasing the rain my entire run which I never did catch. It was so humid though, you would have thought I did run in the rain. It was a pretty good run but I was spent by the time I got home. I got in 5.24 miles to finish off a pretty good day.

So the new, new plan is that on my PT days which are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday I will come home and get in a second 5 mile run. Even if I come home and go for a 5 mile walk it will still be better than fighting through my workout at the gym. With that said on Tuesday and Fridays I will do TRX over at the gym because all I need is the TRX hook in the gym which no one uses. And on Saturday I will just go for a run when I wake up. I figure on holidays I will treat it like a Saturday and fore go doing a two-a-day work out. Well that is the plan and it sounds pretty good to me. We will see how it works. Until next time...

Good Bye Three Day Weekend...

2011-10-11T03:16:00.000-07:00

Well another 3 day weekend has come and gone (too quickly) and now we are back at it. I am looking to build on last weeks numbers which shouldn't be hard to do since I didn't even get in 20 miles. I got a bug Wednesday night and it really threw my week off track. I am looking to bounce back and have a solid week. I started it off this morning with a 5.14 mile run. My afternoon workout didn't happen because Heather had to take Evie over to the dentist for one of her pre-surgery appointments and I needed to be here when Bella got home from school. I am looking to get in another morning run and I have to play my afternoon workouts by ear because of Evie's appointments all week leading up to her dental surgery on Monday. Stress, stress, stress!!! It really freaks me out to have them put her out but I know it is for the best to get the dental work done that she needs. I just hate the thought of them using anaesthesia on her being so young. I pray everything goes EXTREMELY well and there will be no complications. Until next time...

A Quickie...

2011-10-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post. I got in 5.25 miles this morning but that was it. I am feeling under the weather so I stayed home this afternoon and took a nap. I feel a little bit better but my stomach is still bothering me. I hope that when I get up in the morning that I can get in my morning run. I guess we will see. Until next time...

TRX is a Monster!!

2011-10-04T01:02:00.000-07:00

I thought I would switch it up this afternoon and do a little TRX instead of free weights. I think I should of stuck to the free weights. It's been awhile since I've done TRX and I always forget how killer of a work out it is. You definitely need a strong core to do most of the exercises associated with TRX, which I DON'T have. But I guess I need to be consistent with it to get that strong core. Anyways, it was such a good work out it was giving me back cramps in places I didn't think I had muscles. Good times. I got in my morning run and then another 35 minutes on the treadmill this afternoon for a total of 7.48 miles for the day. I should sleep good tonight. Until next time...

It is go time!!!

2011-10-03T01:12:00.000-07:00

On October 1st, it was officially 6 months until I am eligible to PT test again. With that being said, It is officially 7 months until we are supposed to leave Okinawa. Now with THAT being said if I fail my PT test I would be put on Admin hold and lose my orders, therefore lose my follow on and probably get a crappy base or worse get KICKED OUT!! NOW is the time to focus and get to where I want to be because I don't want to be stuck at this base any longer than I have to. So, IT IS GO TIME!!!! In 6 months I hope to transform my body into something I will be proud of. I have count down schedules all over my office and at the house. I will start posting days left here to keep me aware and honest to what I want to accomplish. Today I got in 7.92 total miles. I did 5.29 miles in the morning before work and 2.63 at the gym after I got off work. Before my afternoon run I got in 45 minutes of weight lifting. My sciatic nerve is still bothering me but I think it is because I am heavy. Well that is about to change! I was pretty accountable for what I ate today. I don't think I will keep a journal because I don't have the time. I will be conscious of what I am eating and plan my meals the night before to take the guess work out of it. I weighed in at 276.2 lbs this morning. I didn't post another picture at the beginning of October because there really wasn't a change due to my lack of effort. I hope to post a "change" picture on 1 November. Let's do this!!!

The Long Weekend...

2011-09-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

Well after a nice, long weekend it was back to work and some physical exercise. I guess when you sit around all weekend not doing a whole lot wreaks havoc on the body. All the sitting and not getting the blood circulating in the body really takes a toll on you when you start a new week of running. Anyways, that is my theory. Since it was a holiday yesterday, I decided to spend the day with the family instead of hitting the gym. Today, after work I got in 5.34 miles. I definitely need to do some more stretching because my sciatic nerve was giving me fits. I still think that once I get my weight down it won't be much of an issues. I don't remember having this sort of problem with I was below 250 lbs. So that is the direction I am headed. I weighed in at 274.6 lbs. That number is headed in the right direction this week. I just need to think about what I am putting in my mouth and stay focused on where I want to go. Until next time...

Another week in the books...

2011-09-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well my long run didn't go as planned and I have been thinking that I need to take a step back from my marathon training and just run what I can run from now on. I am not in the shape that I need to be for this kind of hardcore marathon training. I just don't have the endurance to run double digit runs at the moment. So with that said I will continue to put in 6 days of running but more realistic mileage. With that being said I don't think that Naha will happen. We will see how I feel when it comes around but I don't think I will have the "base" mileage to complete the marathon in the allotted 6 hours. I have come to terms with it and I am fine with it. Maybe some other day but as of right now I want to focus on my weight loss because that is more important to me right now. So with that being said I look forward to some great training days and looking forward to getting to lower digits on the scale... JUST LOSE WEIGHT...

Family Day...

2011-09-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

I love when the Air Force decides to give us family days. They don't come around all that often but you can count on them certain holidays through out the year. I truly enjoy four day weekends especially here at Kadena. We went to Evie's open house for her new year at All Soul's pre-school. She was super excited to see her class room and all of her classmates. I am glad that both Bella and Evie enjoy school so much. When we got back from all of our running around I decided I had put off my run long enough. I got in 6.32 miles with my new iPod. My old one finally died on me after 5 years of constant use. I hope this one serves me just as good. Tomorrow is my long run and I hope that it goes as good as today's run. Until next time...

September 1st...

2011-09-01T01:40:00.000-07:00

Well today is the day that I make the eating change. I think I'm doing pretty well with the exercise portion of my life, for the moment. I don't want to jinx myself. So I want to gradually make diet changes that will benefit me with my weight loss. And to do that I want to start posting pictures so maybe if I can see the changes over the months maybe it will help me stay motivated to keep on track with my diet and my exercise. So ready or not here goes nothing. I got in 3.56 miles today. It felt pretty good and I hope to continue for the rest of the week. So first off let me apologize for the following picture...

280 lbs

It looks like I have a lot of work to do. Let's get to work!!!

End of August totals...

2011-08-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-30T03:54:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-27T02:37:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-25T23:37:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-25T04:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-24T03:45:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-23T03:04:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-22T01:43:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2011-08-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-06T18:32:00.001-07:00

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...

2011-08-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-05T00:07:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2011-08-04T01:32:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-08-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

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...

Hawaii Day 1

2011-07-26T01:31:00.000-07:00

Well I have been in Hawaii for a full day now. It is a very nice place and the best thing about it is it isn't super hot like Okinawa. It runs about 80° which is very, very pleasant. I also got my first little surprise being here. The guy I am escorting, SSgt Josh Johnson, found out that we will have to stay here two extra weeks because his doctor wants to monitor his recuperation here. So that means we will probably be here until mid-August. I guess there is worse places to spend 3 weeks. I started running again today because I don't have much else to do. I got in 6.14 miles and my legs are a bit shaky tonight. I want to run on the treadmill for a week before I venture outside because I'm afraid to venture outside right now. I would probably get lost. After a week I should be good with my internal GPS to run outside along the beach. We will see. I am going to try and take a page out of Heather's book and post a picture everyday of my time here in Hawaii. I said I will try!! We will see how that goes. The pictures above are my views outside of my hotel balcony. We are staying at the Ohana Waikiki East which is a pretty nice hotel. So I don't really have any complaints. Until next time...

Yet another typhoon headed our way.

2011-07-13T00:41:00.000-07:00

As of today Tropical Storm Ma-on is headed our direction. It looks that it will turn north before it gets to us but will will probably still feel the effects of it because it will be a Cat 3 typhoon when it closest to us. This typhoon season is turning out to be a winner!! That would be 3 typhoons and 2 tropical storms that have passed close to us and it's only July! I guess Mother Nature is making up for the past three years we really haven't had any bad storms roll through here. It was a nasty rainy day today and the rain knocked out a lot of transformers around the base. When I got to work this morning we didn't have power and they were working on it all day. I guess the same thing happened over at the gym because the power was on but the air conditioning wasn't working. It made for a very uncomfortable and hot run. I think by the time I got done I was swimming in sweat instead of running. Oh well at least I got in 3.27 miles today. Another day in the books and I am focusing on tomorrow's run. JUST RUN!!

Man, Oh Man!!

2011-07-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

Well if I try to get a little consistency going maybe I wouldn't struggle with my running. Just a thought as I fought through another run today. It wasn't a horrible run but I don't have the energy I would have if I was consistent. I am sure dropping weight, gaining it back, and dropping it again doesn't help. It's a vicious roller coaster ride for me and I must love the punishment I put myself through year in and year out. Maybe one day I will get it. LoL. Anyways along I trudge with my running plan with an eye on the Marathon in December. I got in 5.11 miles today. I will look no farther than tomorrow's run. Until next time...

A Case of the Monday's...

2011-07-11T04:42:00.000-07:00

Well I am back at it this week and hopefully it will be a more consistent one. I got in 3 runs this past week and then fell off the wagon. I am hoping to do better this week. I weighed in at 266.4 lbs this week so I am up a pound from last week. I need to figure this out. I got in 3.3 miles today. I hope that it will be a GREAT week!!

Short run today

2011-07-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

Today was a nice, quick run. I like the shorter runs because that means I can work on my speed. Well speed for me that is. My speed it most peoples normal running pace. It is nice knowing that I can go a little harder because my run isn't overly long. I got in 3.42 miles today. It was a good running day. I am on pace to hit my 25 mile goal for the week. That will put me on schedule to hit 100 miles by the end of July. JUST RUN.

Back on Track

2011-07-05T01:02:00.001-07:00

Well I totally forgot to post yesterday. I try to wait until it is the same day here as it is back in the USA so my posts match up for the day I'm working out. I hope that made sense. LoL. Anyways, I got back to work (fitness wise) on Independence Day yesterday. I got in 3.32 miles and it was a pretty hard run which I totally expected. I weighed in at 265.4 lbs which I totally expected and now I have to get my head on straight and start to focus on August and my Hal Higdon 18 week marathon program. The Naha marathon is the first Sunday in December and my LAST chance to run that race before we leave next May. So I need to get it in gear and get focused. To help me focus I have decided to use July as my tune up month and get in 100 miles before I start the program next month. I am running 3 miles (Mon, Wed, Fri), 5 miles (Tues, Thrus), & starting this Saturday I will start at 6 miles and add a mile every week until I reach 10 miles on the last Saturday in July. I think it should be a good tune up before I start next month. Once I run the Naha marathon I want to get a tattoo on the right side of my chest of the winged shoe with Naha Marathon 2011 underneath it written in Japanese to commemorate my first marathon finish. Well that is the goal anyways.

Well today was actually a way better run and I hope a sign of things to come. I got in 5.11 miles today. I am doing most of my running right now on the treadmill to help my legs get back in shape. Less pounding will help my legs in the long run. Plus my longer runs I will do outside but it won't be until the heat and the humidity breaks which is good. Well it's time to focus and commit FINALLY!! Just Run!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!

2011-06-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!

I wanted to post this now just in case I don't get to post the next couple of days. We will try to call this weekend and talk to you guys. Fingers crossed that Vonage decides to work!! Today was my "hit the wall" day. I knew it was coming and it came with fury today. I worked my way through it and I told myself that even if I have to walk my whole work out, I AM GOING TO THE GYM!! And I would like to say that it wasn't that bad when I finally got to the gym but I would be lying. It was a blood, sweat, & tears workout today. But the important thing is that I got through it and tomorrow is another day. I do know one thing though, it's time for another pair of shoes. I will order another pair of the ones I have now because I really like them. I got in a total of 5.31 ROUGH miles but it was worth it. At least that is what I keep telling myself. Fat Brandon would disagree! Run Fatboy Run!!!

Volleyball game

2011-06-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't get in a run today because of the 12 hour shift and plus a Squadron volleyball game tonight. If I would have thrown a run in there I wouldn't have had much time for the family today. I guess switching it up every now and then helps with the burn out. Plus I really like playing sports when I can get away from work. Still looking to get in my 100 miles for the month. We will see how that goes. It is crazy humid outside right now so most of my running will take place inside for now. Anyways I feel like I run faster when I use the treadmill. I have set a short term goal of being out of the 250's by the end of July. That way when I "officially" start my marathon training on 1 August I can shoot for the 220's by the time I run my race at the beginning of December. Good times!!