A little more commitment

I found this today and it reminded me of when I started.  I didn't have a yoga mat, a gym membership, or a trainer.  What I had was MOTIVATION and a lot of COMMITMENT.  Michelle and I kept each other accountable by walking together at night and we did our own thing in the mornings.

These days I find myself leaning on running buddies a lot to get my butt moving in the morning.  I never regret getting out early but getting there is a minor victory in itself some days.

Statesman Article from the 2011 Boston Marathon

I was cruising my C: drive today and found this article from the Idaho Statesman the day after I ran the Boston Marathon.  They listed top local finishers and I made the top 10.  I only knew 2 people on the list that day.  I have met or ran races with a bunch of these people since then.

WSER Runner Update Email

Nothing to report here really. Other than when I saw my name on this email it suddenly felt REAL. Can't wait.  One actual bit of news they added was the fact that we will have an additional.... "river crossing at the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River (Deadwood Canyon) just below Devil's Thumb (~mile 45). The Swinging Bridge at the bottom of Deadwood suffered damage (from the 2013 American forest fire) which will require substantial work next spring/summer. For the race it is looking like we'll be crossing the river just downstream of the bridge either with the help of a cable or boats."

The OM Radio Interview with Melissa Part II

The Om Radio

Finding ourselves through conversations about Fitness, Nutrition, Spirituality, Health, Art, Crafts, Nature, Gardening, Outdoors Activities and much more. You’ll love how really living feels…

My friend Melissa does a weekly podcast at The OM Radio and she asked if I would sit down and visit with her about my weight loss, running, and juggling family life in pursuit of a healthy life.  Part II

I am glad I had the opportunity to record this to memorialize it in my own words while I still remember it! Thanks Melissa.

Listen Here

Link to Part I

Runner's World Quote

I saw this today and had to share.  Set high goals, push yourself in training, and know your limits when it's go time!

Western States 100 Lottery Update

The odds were not great but someone has to get in and the third time was a charm for me!  I was the 66th name drawn at the lottery held on Saturday.  On an unrelated note this is the first time I have seen my age written down as 40, I am getting old.  Can't wait it should be fun!

One a side note, I think anyone who has put in 5 times should automatically be in.  First, they have earned it. Second, it will remove them from the lottery and give a small boost to those with fewer names in the hat.   This year there were 19 people drawn that had 5 tickets which means 34 people will have to try again next year with 6 tickets.  With more difficult qualifying standards I imagine the number of entrants will go down next year too.

I never pay much attention to this but this is Ultrasignup's prediction of my time.  Usually they estimate a lot longer time for me.  This one seems fast but we'll have to see what comes on race day.

5th Sort of Annual Ryan Anderson Invitational Marathon

Today was a wonderful day spent with Christie, Derek and Michelle celebrating 1 more year of maintaining my weight loss and counting my blessings.

It was 19 degrees at the start with a wind chill of 6 degrees through 3 to 4 inches of fresh snow a majority of the way. It felt like running on the beach for 26.2 miles which wore us out. BUT there was zero possibility that I was not going to go the distance.  I told Michelle I would still be out doing it even if there was a foot of snow and 20 below.  That's how much this means to me.

The original plan was for Michelle and Christie to ride along on the bikes like they did last year but the snow was so crazy they opted to meet us along the way with the car which was fun too.  The cold combined with our hard breathing made for wonderful beard-sicles too.

My original plan for the run was to beat my 3:08 time from the Potato Marathon in May.  After about 5 steps Derek and I knew that would never happen so we just embraced the snow and cold and tried to have fun.

Today was also the Western States 100 lottery. I have put my name in for 3 years and I told my wife I am turning off my phone so no one can text me. I also told her that if someone sends a text to her I didn't want to know if I got in or not.  I went so far as to tell her not to even appear happy or I would know I got in!

After I finished, Michelle said I know you didn't want to know but the best way to receive good news is among friends! YOU GOT INTO WESTERN STATES! It was the perfect way to end a wonderful day with her, Christie, and Derek.

26.22 mi 4:04 09:17 pace

The OM Radio Interview with Melissa Part I

The Om Radio

Finding ourselves through conversations about Fitness, Nutrition, Spirituality, Health, Art, Crafts, Nature, Gardening, Outdoors Activities and much more. You’ll love how really living feels…

My friend Melissa does a weekly podcast at The OM Radio and she asked if I would sit down and visit with her about my weight loss, running, and juggling family life in pursuit of a healthy life.  This is part I (since we talked forever!).  This was completely unedited as far as I can tell.  I was thinking it might turn out a little scattered but it seemed to flow pretty well.  The interview starts at about 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

I am glad I had the opportunity to record this to memorialize it in my own words while I still remember it! Thanks Melissa.

Listen Here

Hollilynn 10 miler and a bit of reflection

Gorgeous day. Started with my normal gloves, jacket, and hat. By the end I had the gloves stuffed down the front of my shorts, the hat tucked in my jacket, and wishing I didn't even have the jacket.

One of my friends Melissa came over to the house on Wednesday and interviewed Michelle and I about our weight loss and running transformation. It took me back to why I started all this in the first place and reminded me of what it felt like starting out as a runner.

Back in 2009 I decided to do a marathon plan and I couldn't seem to bring my brain to get over the 13 mile hump. This ten mile route was always the start of my longer runs back then. I think I gave up before hitting 13 miles two times before I finally brought myself to complete it because, "Why would anyone want to run that far? ON PURPOSE...crazy....!!"

Anyway, I had all this rolling around in my brain while I was out yesterday while at the same time trying to figure out a good way to cut it short and cave on my original 10 mile goal. I thought about just stopping at 9 and doing a cooldown or walkng mile 10. The more I tried to talk myself into it the more I realized it wouldn't happen. I have set lots of seemingly impossible goals for myself and achieved most of them. Giving up is not what got me there. By the time I made it to 8.5 miles I was determined to make the last mile the fastest one just to prove to myself that I can push when what I really want to do is quit and finish what I started. Mile 10 did turn out to be the fastest at 6:56.

The interview was for an internet radio program. Once it's up I'll post the link if anyone is interested in hearing me tell my story of Fat Boy to Fast Boy!

This is a great hilly route for marathon training.  I did have to stop in the first mile to adjust my bra strap which was unfortunate. Wearing a heart rate monitor can be a huge pain some days!

Source: http://bit.ly/1hbqrgg

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10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Working Out

by brynnharrington on November 19, 2013

Mid-way through a recent group exercise class, the teacher lost me.  She didn’t lose me because of some complicated step sequence or insanely long set of burpees; I mentally checked out because of a few words she kept saying over and over.  “Come on!  Get that body ready for your winter beach vacation!  Think about how you want to look at those holiday parties!  PICTURE HOW YOU’LL LOOK IN THAT DRESS!”

“THAT DRESS?”  My brain couldn’t focus on an image of some random dress hanging in my closet.  All I could think about was my three-year-old daughter hearing and trying to process those words.

My daughter’s little brain is making sense of the world every single second, taking in verbal and non-verbal cues about how things work and what things mean.  And when it comes to exercise, I want her to grow up seeing it as a joy, and not a utility…as a gift, and not a chore…as an opportunity, not an obligation.  I want her to do it for the love of it, not to fit into a dress.  I want her to grow up knowing that…

1. Strength equals self-sufficiency.  Being strong – particularly as a woman – is empowering.  It will feel good someday to be able to carry your own luggage down the stairs if the airport escalator is broken, and it will be important to have a solid shot at outrunning a stranger should you meet one a dark alley.
2. Fitness opens doors.  Being healthy and fit can help you see the world differently.  The planet looks different from a bike or a pair of skis than it does from a car or an airplane.  Out in the elements you have the time and space to notice details and meet people and remember smells and bugs and mud and rain and the feeling of warm sunshine on your face.  And those are the moments that make up your life.
3. The bike is the new golf course.  Being fit may help you get a seat at the table.  Networking is no longer restricted to the golf course, and the stronger you are – and the more people you can hang with on the road and trail – the more people you’ll meet.
4. Exercise is a lifestyle, not an event.  Being an active person isn’t about taking a class three times a week at the gym.  It’s about things like biking to the grocery store and parking your car in the back of the lot and walking instead of taking a cab and catching up with friends on a hiking trail instead of a bar stool.
5. Health begets health.  Healthy behavior inspires healthy behavior.  Exercise.  Healthy eating.  Solid sleep.  Positive relationships.  These things are all related.
6. Endorphins help you cope.  A good sweat session can clear the slate.  You will have days when nothing seems to go right…when you’re dizzy with frustration or crying in despair.  A workout can often turn things around.
7. Working out signals hard-working.  The discipline required to work out on a regular basis signals success.  Someone recently told me they are way more likely to hire marathon runners and mountain climbers because of the level of commitment that goes into those pursuits.
8. If you feel beautiful, you look beautiful.  Looking beautiful starts on the inside.  And being fit and strong feels beautiful.
9. Nature rules.  And if you’re able to hike/run/bike/swim/ski/snowshoe, you can see more of it.
10. Little eyes are always watching.  We learn from each other.  You may have a daughter—or a niece or a neighbor or a friend – one day.  And that little girl will be watching and listening to everything she you say and do.  What messages do you want her to hear?

I’ll never talk to my daughter about fitting into THAT DRESS.  But I will talk to her about what it sounds like to hear pine needles crunching under my feet and what it feels like to cross a finish line and how special it is to see the world on foot.  I will talk to her about hard work and self sufficiency.  I will teach her the joy of working out by showing her I love it.  And I’ll leave the rest up to her.