Wednesday, November 4, 2009

back at it...


Mother nature has relented, and I've taken advantage of the dry weather to get out and go.
Monday, I did the bw200 with mini-me and the number one son and topped it off with a 20 minute walk with the dogs.

Yesterday I did push ups, situps, bridges, step ups and prisoner squats with the princess and then went 3.5 miles at a leisurely pace after packing them off to school.

Tonight I'm going to try to squeeze in a quick workout before parent/teacher conference.
I'm on a mission, inspired by Friday's Toga party. Subconsciously I've known it for a long time, but the point was hammered home on Friday that all of my friends are in tremendously better shape than I am. My mission is to be as studly as they are by Toga II next October.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Monday

Went for a nice 40 minute walk with the boss and number one son on Monday. Took VGFATdog and the chiwienie along. Those doggies do love their walks. I incorporated the bw 200 into the walk, doing prisoner squats, jumps, pushups, setups and stepups as part of the circuit. Felt pretty good while doing it, and a little soreness yesterday morning let me know I'd worked things that hadn't been worked in a while. Planning on doing the same tonight.

Yesterdays' run was washed out by the storm that passed through VG at the optimally wrong time. Am planning on going 3 miles tomorrow, good lord willing and the creek don't rise.

Big time interview coming up Thursday night/Friday. I'm cautiously optimistic...I'm really strong in some of the desired areas..not so much in others.

Monday, October 5, 2009

You can put it on the board.......


YESSSSS! (tip of the Bears cap to the nerdgardener and to #1 son, the only white sox fans I know)


I finished the WW5K in 44:08 after setting a goal of 45 minutes. Not record time, but who cares? it was a great, cool run filled with people i've known for years, and I'm looking forward to next years' version. Oh, and I beat the 4 year old boy, running with his Daddy. Yay Me!
Tonight it's a nice walk with the boss and doggies, interspersed with the bodyweight 200 workout, then tomorrow another 3 miles.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

another 3.1

I went back out and did a solo circuit around the WW5K course this morning before the monsoons hit. Shins started hurting like hell...the first time since I began running again.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

update

Hard to believe that JFL is ending Saturday. It's been a good year. All of the boys have made improvements. Cookie scored the first of what I hope are many touchdowns, and has been pretty solid as a linebacker. Soccer season is in full throe as well. The princess is becoming quite the little athlete. She's got good wheels, and she uses them on the soccer field and ball diamond.

I am officially registered for the Camargo Woolly Worm 5k, with all proceeds going to friends of music. I went out and walked/ran the course today. Great morning. good company and a good walk, interspersed with intense suffering as I ran splits.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

1/2 mile corner


one half mile. roughly 800 meters. World record time for the distance is one minute and forty one seconds, give or take. It's also the distance from the west edge of my village to the first country road. It looks enticingly close at sun rise, with wisps of mist floating over the fields...the first rays of light coming up behind you. It's also now my personal marker. I've been running out and back for the past week or so. A nice quiet stretch of concrete. I've been incorporating my own mini fartleks into the end of the run, picking out landmarks and increasing speed at each one, finishing with the fatman's sprint for the last 50 yards or so....it's good and I'm masochistically starting to look forward to my runs sans doggies. They get their walks at night, but this run belongs to me alone.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

back after it...

Went for a nice 30 minute walk with the knucklehead dogs this morning. They drank so much salt water from our pool last night that they both had the trotskys today...made for lots of starts and stops. Going to dust off the weights tomorrow and bang out a set.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Lance Armstrong....


....I'm not. I did go for a twenty minute ride on the mountain bikes with #1 son last night. Followed it up with a half hour run/walk with the dogs this morning. Still tweaking the diet...by the time meetings were done last night we ended up having dinner at 10 pm. Grilled chicken breast, cukes and a baked potatoe. I just have to figure out how to eat earlier.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

mundania..

Tip of the Cardinals cap to Piers Anthony..

Went for a rather pedestrian ( heh) walk slash jog with the doggies after work. Got my wind up, dripped some sweat for a bit, but enjoyed yesterday's festivities immensely more. Tomorrow the kids come with.

new era


Yesterday, the #1 son, the princess, two mangy mutts and myself embarked on a new adventure in trying to get back into shape. We walked for two blocks, did some mountain climbers, walked two blocks, did some jumping jacks, etc. At the park, we did some modified pull ups on the monkey bars, did some speed climbs up the slide, took turns running and jumping over the painted storm tiles that serve as kids' tunnels and generally had a blast. We wrapped it up by "racing" the dogs the final block back to our house and then we did some ab work. A 30 minute moderate to medium workout, cleverly disguised as play. (and as #1 likes to point out, it's really offensive that the street department labels those poor children.) It was a blast and I highly recommend it if you're workout is in a rut. Tonight, it'll be back to a boring mile or two walk/run combination.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

time flys when you're being a bfl

So..it's been a month since my last post. means it's been a month since my last run. Damn. I went about a mile and a half today...baby stepsses, my precioussss. I had no wind, my legs and feet were killing me. in other words situation normal.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

emphasis on the loser

I failed to complete my run today...I just felt like doogie after the first half mile. Things started swimmingly. I cut 15 seconds off my 1/4 mile pace, and felt fine. My half mile stretch went ok, but I couldn't complete my second 1/4.

Back after it on Thursday....

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Global warming

I completed my w4d2 Couch to 5k workout this morning, and it feels good, though my legs feel like they weigh about 2 fitty apiece right now.

the first 1/4 and 1/2 were pretty smooth, by VGFAT standards, the second 1/4 was a little tough, and by the end of the second 1/2 I swear I contributed to global warming by sucking a hole in the OZONE layer. Panting, wheezing, coughing and gagging were the orders of the day for about the first 100 meters of my recovery lap. By the second 100, I had actually gotten my breathing under control, and by the time I did my post run stretches I was breathing normally.

Kudos to the VGFAT dog for pacing me the entire way. She runs in front of me, investigating. If she ranges too far ahead she doubles back to check on me. Very nice.

The princess is SUPPOSED to have a tournament game tonight, but it's been rained out twice and I'm not confident in the weather holding off tonight either. It's been rumored that they might have to play a double header tonight to get the tourney back on track.

Mini me's all star team is gearing up for their first tournament game Sunday night at 8, which seemed like an odd start date and time. Not sure why we're not playing earlier, since it's a Sunday.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

epic

Fail? I don't think so!

I didn't complete w5d1 today, but I feel great. I mean couch royalty great! I ran a 1/4, walked an 1/8, ran a 1/2, walked a 1/4, ran a 1/4 and walked a 1/4. A balky calf muscle ended my day before I could finish it out, but overall it felt good. Really good.

Tomorrow, I hope to lift a bit and do some abs work, then Thursday, I'll try again to complete the full run. Oddly, my calf didn't start hurting me until Sunday when I started some pre-run stretching.

Today was one of those crazy logistical days one has when they have multiple kids doing multiple things. #1 son had martial arts in Urbana.... at 5. Mini me had baseball practice in Camargo....at 5. The princess had to be in Sidney at 7 for her first tournament game....and I had to work until 6. Wild times for mama and the crew, and after all the driving and dropping, rains came in and postponed her game.

Monday, July 6, 2009

W3D3

The princess and I trekked to the high school yesterday for day three of week 2, part II. After some sage advice from RTL about timing my splits and running at an even tempo, I was able to finish the run much more comfortably.

This week, I'm going to try to move up to the week 4 workout. It's pretty daunting with its two half mile sections, but we'll just roll the dice.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

w3d2 part II


I am not a runner. Never have been, never will be. I plow through my workouts the same way I plow through a case of beer or a plate of ribs...just stick my chin out and go. I've got all the agility of a mack truck and probably as much quickness. That's why I can take a smidgeon of satisfaction from workouts like today. As good as I felt during Tuesday's run, (with good being a decidedly relative term) I felt the opposite today. Couldn't get my wind, quads screaming, calves on fire, minor hangover, the entire litany, which in the past would have led to failure. For some reason, today was different. I don't know if I've crossed some sort of threshold or if it was the presence of my beautiful little princess cheering me on to the finish, but I sucked it up and completed the circuit, and it felt good.
Maybe I can do this thing. Maybe I can run a 5k. Maybe I can actually start to regain some semblance of fitness and set a better example for my kids. I hope so. I KNOW I'm going to keep trying.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Week two of the week three training...

I stuck with the week three training schedule and it felt better. Not great, but better..probably because the princess joined me for parts of the run and all of the walking segments. She's a natural athlete and I can't wait to monitor her progress if she chooses to stay with sports as she grows up.

Cookie had his first all-stars practice Sunday. He hit the ball really well, one of the top 4 or 5 out there....I was happy for him. The tournament starts the 12th, and i hope we win at least one game. We open with Paris and then play a Champaign team, win or lose. Tough sledding, but we've got some skilled players.

The princess has her final game on Thursday, and then I think they have some sort of tournament, also.

The firstborn has had a setback and won't be coming home this weekend after all...overcoming unfavorable circumstances is crucial to her development, so I hope she doesn't let this defeat her.

Net loss for the two weeks since this endeavor started is 4 pounds...Probably would have been more, but I devoured some pizza this weekend...washed down with plenty of barley and hops...
I'm willing to give up a lot, but some things are inviolate!

I hope that everyone has a fun, safe fourth of July, filled with family and friends.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Day 2

Hot, steamy, sweaty....and I'm not talking about Mrs. BFL, though I could be!

Did the full week three C25K routine this morning. run 200, walk 200, run 400, walk 400...rinse, lather, repeat.

I got a new pair of running shoes with better arch supports and they seemed to help a bit.

Today is #1 son's 13th birthday. He's growing up too quickly, dammit. We'll be swimming, grilling, drinking, chilling, so if you're in the neighborhood, come on by.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Couch to 5 K

Mixed results from day 1...hereafter known as the HOTTEST, MUGGIEST DAY EVER!

I jumped in to the C25K at week three, thinking that should just about get me to the Ag days run on schedule, and it was a bit too much. It called for two sets, and I was only able to complete one. brisk warmup walk from the house to the track, do two sets of 200's and 2 sets of 400's. Twice. The 86% humidity was pretty oppressive and I decided not to push it on my first day. I am encouraged that I was able to huff and puff my way around for a couple laps...but I surely didn't set any land speed records...Oh, and big props to Katie Dog, who, as always, ran with me...she probably ran twice as far as I did because she would range ahead and then double back to check on me. Nice Doggie....

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

melon collie


No...Katie didn't eat a cantaloupe. Once again, a funk has descended upon me and I'm not sure why. I think it's because the boss has been working herself to exhaustion doing projects after working her regular job and driving the kids to myriad activities. I wish there was some way that I could make it so she didn't have to work so damned hard.

I did the 20 minute workout from MH yesterday, and frankly I don't think I'm in good enough shape to try it again. This workout is all about standing on one leg and doing the exercises, and my left leg balked. I was ok on my right leg, but my form started breaking down almost immediately when I balanced on my left. It's a good solid workout....two sets of alternating arm db bench presses, single leg, single arm rows, the infamous bulgarian split squats, standing single leg lifts and split curl to presses with one leg elevated. All of this is designed to put pressure on the core muscles of your lower back and abs, and it did. I was pretty sore this morning. I don't however, think it worked the chest, back and arms as much as I expected, probably as a result of my aforementioned form meltdown.

We're told that Cookie made the baseball All-Star team, and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm a little ambivalent. I know that he REALLY wanted to make the team, so I'm grateful for that, but had he not made it, we would have had almost a month between sports. Now it's going to be a week or two, at the max, before football starts. Then soccer, basketball, and soon it's March and baseball again. Damn.

Mad props to my homies who are sticking to their running programs. Nerdgardener, Tom, Ally, and Astro are all kicking Ass and taking names while I remain...the big FAT loser.

Friday, June 12, 2009

weekly wrapup...




Grades for the week...


Diet=B

Exercise=B-

beer consumption=B


Net= Solid B, lost two pounds since Sunday. All I have to do is do that for the next 44 weeks and I'll attain my target weight. :-)

Friday, June 5, 2009

Addictions





It's time for me to bare my soul about something that probably shouldn't see the light of day, but we all know that sunlight is the best disinfectant.

That's right friends. I'm talking about my addiction to gas station hot dogs. Those tawny, spinning tubes of delight, two for 2 dollars, while one is $1.39. Even a VG grad can compute the savings by taking the double. Hell, some places will even throw in a ginormous soda for next to nothing.

Sure, they're packed with enough nitrates and sodium to embalm the 5th fleet, but that's what makes them so tasty. Ooooh...my knees get weak and my hands get twitchy when you add flecks of cheese and jalapeno bits.

Geesh, temptation is EVERYWHERE! No wonder I remain the big, FAT loser.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

of weather, bias, and other sundry topics

It appears that Spring has finally Sprung! Yee Haw. Because of rain, mini me's baseball team had games on three consecutive days....losing 8-6, 9-8, and 11-10. I'm not sure it wasn't better last year when we got our a$$es kicked, regularly.

So, as I've said before, I don't usually delve into the political arena in this little corner of blog heaven, BUT.....

The media treats this president differently than the one before him. A case in point came Sunday...when "President and Mrs Obama took advantage of the nice weather by frequenting an upscale French bistro. They later strolled the White House grounds."

I can only imagine the headlines had this been GW. ...

" The President, proving once again how out of touch he is with his constituency, fiddled while Rome was burning by going out to an exclusive DC restaurant Saturday night. Afterward, seemingly oblivious to skyrocketing unemployment and the myriad protesters at the gates, Bush and his wife took a carefree walk around the White House." Apparently I'm not the only one noticing...

Got a wild hair this morning and lifted for the first time in a while....supersetted squats with sets of side and chop kicks, then super setted alternate arm db presses on the swiss ball with swiss ball push ups and supermans. Finished with the crazy shoulder/back work out from this month's MH. I am one sore fat guy...

Thursday, April 23, 2009

I think I'm gonna hurl.....

Cookie made his pitching debut last night...struck out five and only walked 3 while giving up 2 runs in a game his team won 9-7. I've said it before, but I am a zillion times more nervous watching my childrens' endeavors than I ever was when I was playing. The combination of wanting so badly for your child to have success and your absolute inability to influence the outcome is painful. His coach awarded him the game ball afterward and he beamed with pride. I think it might have made it into bed with him last night!


I've reverted to slug-like inactivity. I just can't find the motivation, and we're chasing our asses with kids activities. I'm determined that next week will be different, but I don't know how to make it happen.


Tommie's first communion was terrific. Always a good excuse to get together and drink some beer! it's the Catholic way!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

groundhog day

Cookie had his first baseball game last night, and the results were painfully similiar to last years...a 12-2 loss to a team that's not that much better than us. We have to find a catcher who can catch and pitchers who can pitch or it will be more of the same.

Walked 3.75 miles this morning. I'm not as sore as Tuesday...hurray.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

X yur thighs...

Did a lifting circuit last night...first time in months and the shoulders, arms and quads are reminding me of the gap.

Walked 3 miles this morning....went by the Hoffman Estates and then the Greifenkamp Grotto...like a little kid on a bike, hoping in vain that one of them might come out and play with me, but alas.

Monday, April 13, 2009

long time, no post.

I've become addicted to facebook. It's like crack for the 40 yr old set.


anyway Jules and I put a new floor in TA's room over the weekend. I think it looks great! The boss is getting really good at the laminate flooring thing.

Haven't been real diligent re: exercise. I've made a promise to myself to get back on the horse this week!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Homer is my homeboy...


Odyssey 

 /ˈɒdəsi/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [od-uh-see]
–noun, plural -seys for 2.
1.

an epic poem attributed to Homer, describing Odysseus's adventures in his ten-year attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
2.
a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.


So, the family has returned from our great southwestern trek...scarred yet unbending. 5116 miles of automobile family fun. It was an amazing adventure, but not one I'm willing to replay. Too much time in close spaces reveals things that maybe should be left hidden. Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri. 14 days. Seven states...some of them twice.


I'm more convinced than ever that warmer climes are in my future. Arizona in March is just about ideal, to my way of thinking, and I'm willing to trade the three months of unbearably hot summer for the three months of unbearably cold winter here in Illinois.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

odds, ends, random thoughts


"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." (tip of the Texas Rangers Cap to George Bernard Shaw)


So, as I made the long drive across Texas, I was struck by the recurrence of man's folly. The failed campground in the middle of the oil fields, 60 miles from anywhere. The ramshackle trailers, unoccupied for years. The gas station without a roof, with nothing inside except the ghosts of failed dreams and rodents. Upon arriving here in Phoenix, the evidence of the real estate crisis leaps out on virtually every corner. I began to wonder what the thought process was...why did it seem like a great idea at the time? Where are the people who put their lifes' blood into these enterprises that seem so foolhardy in retrospect? Of course there's no way of ever knowing how they came out,but I have to give them their props for trying....


We've been busy doing nothing since we arrived. Wedding is today..then tomorrow its off to points west.

Monday, March 9, 2009

It's over...it's all over

Farewell to thee! but not farewell To all my fondest thoughts of thee:Within my heart they still shall dwell;And they shall cheer and comfort me (tip of the Tarheels cap to Charlotte Bronte)

Basketball season has ended, and I'm ambivalent. I won't miss the long road trips, the too many games or the loss of free time, but I will miss hanging out with the ten young men who comprised the team and with the other coaches, who realized that these are ten year olds, and the most important thing is to have fun. I don't suppose I've ever seen, nor shall I see again, another coach laughing so hard he was crying while losing a game by 15 points!

Ten ten year olds, who each made me laugh out loud at some point in the season; who frustrated me to no end at others. I enjoyed the ride, and I owe each of them and their parents a profound debt of gratitude.

Time change has me all fouled up. I was up at 4:15 this morning, so I lifted for 20 minutes. Then tonight I took cookie to the outdoor court so I could run suicides while he practiced shooting. He and I then played two games of pig...with the loser running sprints. I prevailed! Of course I ran with him...his misery loves company, and my fat needs the work.

Four and a wakeup before we set out on the BFA (big family adventure)

Friday, February 27, 2009

3.5

I went 3.5 miles in 48 minutes yesterday. A seven minute improvement, which could have been better, but my calves were getting tight so I walked the last ten minutes. I've added 30 seconds to my run/walk splits, as the C25k program dictates. I'm thinking a sub 40 minute 5k is now possible.

Fish fry tonight, so I took a half day.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

round up....

I try not to criticize my fellow volunteers in youth sports. I know the countless, thankless hours that generally go into these things. However, I find that I have to vent about the schedule at the end of our hoops season, one that was set up by someone who doesn't have a horse in the race, so to speak. This Thursday, we open play in our own tournament at 5 pm. We then travel to Chrisman to play in a second tournament on Saturday, return home for two games on Sunday to conclude the tournament we're hosting, then back to Chrisman on Tuesday and Saturday to wrap up the year. 6 games in 10 days...FOR 10 YEAR OLDS! These kids need to be learning fundamentals...not playing an NBA schedule. To make matters worse, we're playing teams in Chrisman that we've already played twice this year, so it's not like we're getting varied competition or anything. By the time it wraps up, we'll have played 24 games. That's more than the Jr High, freshmen, or JV played. Too much. Way too much.

Here at work, we've started tracking our running distance in a light hearted contest leading up to the Illinois 5k. One of my talented colleagues created a track complete with little "avatars", and we're racing to be the first to complete 100 training miles. I went 1.8 miles this morning.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

lifting...

Found an excellent 15-20 minute dumbell workout in Men's Health . It works EVERYTHING, with an emphasis on the core.


The All-in-One Abs Workout
Istvan Javorek's dumbbell complexes build the entire body while pegging metabolism in the red zone. He designed them to help create Olympic champions in Romania, but you'll enjoy the effects: more muscle, less fat, and a six-pack core.

The Drill
Three times a week, do either complex. For Complex No. 1, do 6 reps of each exercise and move to the next without stopping. For No. 2, do 3 reps of each exercise and move to the next without stopping, building up to 3 total circuits. As you advance, increase the number of circuits.

The Program1. Upright Row2. High Pull Snatch3. Squat Push Press4. Bent-Over Row5. High Pull Snatch

The Technique
Upright Row: Stand with your knees slightly bent and hold a pair of dumbbells at arms' length in front of your thighs, thumbs facing each other and palms facing your thighs. This stance turns your elbows slightly outward and your shoulders slightly inward. Look ahead with your chest up, back straight, and abs tight. Bring the weights up to neck level, keeping the pair aligned. Your elbows should be flared out to ear level. At the top, rise up on your toes. Return to the starting position.

High Pull Snatch: Stand with dumbbells as if you're about to perform an upright row, but lean forward to lower the weights to knee level, keeping your head and neck aligned. This is the starting position. Now raise the weights as you did with the upright row, but don't pause at the top; instead, flip your wrists back to bring the weights overhead, extending your arms fully while rising up on your toes. Return to the starting position. Keep the weights as close to your body as possible throughout the lift.

Squat Push Press: Stand upright and hold dumbbells at your shoulders, palms facing forward. Maintaining this position and looking straight ahead, bend your hips and knees to lower into a full squat, thighs at least parallel to the floor. As you rise from the squat, begin pressing the weights overhead, rising up on your toes at the top, at which point your arms should be fully extended overhead. Return to the starting position.

Bent-Over Row: Stand holding dumbbells at arm's length in front of you, palms facing back. Bend your knees slightly, and bend at the waist so that your back is flat and angled 45 degrees to the floor. Once your body weight is centered on your heels, you're in the starting position. Without altering this position -- no swinging your trunk -- bend your elbows to bring the weights quickly and explosively into your armpits. Return to the starting position at a slower pace.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Treadmilll

Not much to report..I allowed our kids' schedule to knock my exercise program off track until this morning. I did 15 minutes on the treadmill, and I haven't weighed since Sunday.

Mini me served as alterboy for the first time on Sunday, without incident!

#1 son received his first rank promotion in scouts, and will soon test for blue belt in HRD, and the princess continues to excel in school. Her cursive is better than mine...not much of a surprise.....

Friday, February 13, 2009

Finally Friday....

Decided to use today as a rest day. I was set to lift, but found my shoulders were still a bit sore from Wednesday's session. I'll try to go 1.5 tomorrow before basketball. I did 1.75 yesterday, but it didn't feel comfortable.

Speaking of hoops..hats off to the Illini for winning a game they probably shouldn't have. Those 5 Vodka Tonics speak to the difficulty of watching us play from behind against Northwestern, of all teams.

Cookie travels to Unity tomorrow, to Arcola on Sunday, and then we host Tuscola on Monday. What the hell? games on 3 consecutive days for 10 year olds? Great scheduling...not.

he's also alterboy for the first time Sunday morning and then has baseball camp before high tailing it to Arcola for an afternoon contest. La vida loca? More like La Vida estupida.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

a night without activities....

Is a blessing in these parts. The kids have church for an hour, and that's all. No hoops, scouts, brownies, martial arts, band, just family night at home. Ahhh.

#1 son and I did the men's health core workout in combination with the Runner's world ab routine from a couple months ago. the mid section is smoldering right now. He's so stubborn that it wouldn't surprise me to see him stick with it and become rock solid as he progresses through his belt ranks in HRD. He'll be testing for Blue belt in the next few weeks....4 away from Black belt.

The 5th grade team fell behind by ten at half time, mounted a furious rally and came up short vs Christman last night. We've lost 8 games, and only two have been non competitive. We've outscored and outplayed our opponents in the second half of 6 of the losses. We've trailed at half time of all three of our victories also. I can't get a handle on how to get them to come out strong. We've had plenty of open shots...just can't get them to fall. Probably a product of this being our first year of basketball. It seems like every single team we play has one player who is much more advanced than the rest of the guys on the floor. We just don't have that stud. We do have a bunch of guys who are genuinely happy for their teammates success...a real team.

I feel remarkably good for having doubled my usual mileage yesterday. I'm thinking I can do the 5k in 38-45 minutes.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Where the sidewalk ends...

There is a place where the sidewalk endsAnd before the street begins,And there the grass grows soft and white,And there the sun burns crimson bright,And there the moon-bird rests from his flightTo cool in the peppermint wind. ( tip of the Boilermaker Stomping Illini hat to Shel Silverstein)

3.5 miles...in about 50 minutes. Way too slow, but make it, I did. and I'm not ready to keel over. My house around Henson Park and back....

Monday, February 9, 2009

Monday Fun day


Got off my fat donkey and went about 1.75 miles this morning. I must be getting old, because every joint in my body is screaming in protest. I've only got nine weeks to go before the Illinois 5k. I've got to ramp up the training if I don't want to embarrass myself.


Plus, I've only got 30 days before I'll be sporting the Speedo in Arizona...


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tuesday blues day


The wintry west extends his blast, And hail and rain does blaw;

Or the stormy north sends driving forth

The blinding sleet and snaw:

While, tumbling brown, the burn comes down,

And roars frae bank to brae;And bird and beast in covert rest,

And pass the heartless day. (tip of the PSU Nittany Lions Cap to Robert Burns)


Another day, another painfully cold blast of air from the north. Sucked the good mood right out of me. I'm ready for baseball, golf, fishing (that doesn't include cutting holes in the surface of the lake), barbeques, babes, motorcycles, boats, scantily clad college girls, hikes through the woods, camping, and babes . (I LIKE babes, to paraphrase blazing saddles)


I went to the school and ran for 1/2 hour before basketball last night. i didn't wear my running shoes, stupidly, and my arches were killing me. I'll do a half hour with the weights tonight, and try to have a good week.


5 weeks until Phx, Baybee!

Monday, February 2, 2009

time is relative...

e·ter·ni·ty

(ĭ-tûr'nĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key n. pl. e·ter·ni·ties
Time without beginning or end; infinite time.
The state or quality of being eternal.
The timeless state following death.
The afterlife; immortality.
A very long or seemingly endless time: waited in the dentist's office for an eternity.
//-->[Middle English eternite, from Old French, from Latin aeternitās, from aeternus, eternal; see eternal

An eternity is how long it takes a basketball, shot from the hands of your anxious 10 year old, to travel toward the basket and through the net for the first points he's ever scored in a game.
An eternity is how long it takes your nervous 12 year old to carry a vessel of holy water to a waiting priest without spilling it when he's altar boy for the first time.
At least that's how it seemed to a proud daddy, watching helplessly from the sidelines as his sons began to spread their wings and grow into the kind of men you hope they'll be.

The boys won their second straight game on Saturday...beating Bement 20-15. They're starting to come together as a team, celebrating everyone's contributions, not concerned about their own statistics, and I couldn't be prouder of them.

Not too much to report in BFL news. I lost another 2 pounds, somehow. I'm going running tonight before practice, then lifting tomorrow and such.

Friday, January 30, 2009

three tomatoes


mommy, daddy, and baby tomato, are walking down the street...baby tomato lags too far behind and the daddy tomato smashes him and says ketchup! (5 points to the first who can identify the source of this fine piece of trivia; bonus if you can describe the context)

Anyway, I'm going to try to catch up on goings on over the past week. We had three games...lost to two teams that we can beat...and won last night...turning in a defensive gem by holding Tolono to 2 points in the entire second half. Cookie had his worst game. He was really tentative, afraid to make a mistake, which naturally led to LOTS of them. As is his nature, he didn't let it keep him down...joining in the celebration after the game.

On the BFL front, I lifted Tuesday and I'll lift tonight. The only aerobic activity this week was a half hour of basketball with the team. Little bastards almost KILLED me.

#1 son will serve as alter boy for the first time, on Sunday. I am so proud of him. Public display is against his nature, but he's agreed to do this.

Another Busy weekend ahead. Hoops tomorrow. birthday party tomorrow night, hitting camp Sunday A.M. and then on to the grazing grounds for Superbowl festivities.

I really, really wanted to call my dad last night and talk to him about the victory. To try and see why I couldn't enjoy it more. to see why I was thinking more about what we did wrong than what we did right. Guess I'll have to figure it out on my own.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

obsession

My fantasy has turned to madness All my goodness has turned to badness My need to possess you has consumed my soul My life is trembling, I have no control (tip of the Phoenix Cardinals hat to Animotion)

So I'm thinking I might be a little too wrapped up in this whole weight loss thing....

Twice now, I've had a dream where June Lockhart is a bounty hunter. Weird enough, but there's
a catch. She only hunts fatties! In the latest iteration, she unfurled down a banner like some cirque du soleil bit player, smiled beatifically at me as though I were Timmy, freshly raised from the well, and aimed a harpoon at me. Thankfully I woke up before she speared me. That would have been weird. :-)

The cold and snow has curtailed my running. I just can't make myself go out to the garage and jump on the treadmill. I am still doing the men's health dumbbell workout three times a week, and I've managed to lose 8 pounds, but I can't wait until warmer weather so I can hit the streets.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

snow crab


Weather in Vegas=Sunny with temps in the mid 60s

Weather in PHX= Sunny, with temps in the mid 70's

Weather in Orlando=Sunny, with temps in the mid 60's



Weather in Illinois=Ball shrinkingly cold, with freakin snow and wind and bullshit, and go ahead and try to go for a run you crazy bastard...and forget about seeing the sun for a month or so.
I'm supposed to be of hardy midwestern stock, able to put up with this with a smile on my face, but every year it gets more painful. I'm serious about being able to complete my first 5k. I'm serious about dropping the tonnage that I've accumulated over the past 15 years. And this weather is a serious impedement and it's pissing me off.

Seasonal affective disorder? Try seasonal affective frigging psychosis. No wonder the russkies/poles invented vodka, and the scandanavians perfected it, and I'm soaking up LOTS of it.
I did hit the weights with #1 son for a half hour last night. I introduced him to the unmitigated joy of the superset...hammering sets of db bench presses with push ups. He was impressed, certainly.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

VG wins! VG wins!

Vg traveled to arthur Saturday and defeated the amish menace, 21-15. Cookie played some tough D, but didn't dent the scorers column.

I went 1.33 miles on Friday, doubling the run/walk splits, then followed by going a couple blocks further on monday..up to around 1.5 miles. Had some major pain in my left arch. I'm not sure why it manifested itself on my fourth run rather than on one of the first 3, but I'm too old not to worry about it.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Friday!

Another day, another mile or so. Katie dog enjoys our time running, although I think she's a little bored with the pace. So, I exercised for 5 straight days. Net loss-5 lbs. Net gain-mucho pain. I'm sore in places I forgot I had.

I'll do a light workout with the weights tomorrow before cookie's game, then rest the weary bones on Sunday before hitting it again next week. Looking like some treadmill time next week if the temps dip as low as stated.

Unity nipped the VG 5th graders 21-20 on a late basket last night. So close. Progress is coming, but we need a LOT of practice. We'll practice from 6-8 tonight, then travel to Arthur tomorrow to battle those crazy Amish.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

another day...

#1 son and I did a MH 20 minute weight workout today...then he ran through his ssang jyel bong forms while I did an additional set of lifts. I really busted the shoulders today. It hurt to wash my hair afterward, but it feels good.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The road not salted

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.--(tip of the OSU cap to Robert Frost)

So I just returned from slip sliding my way around the 1 1/2 mile circuit. Funny, but it's easier to remain upright while running than walking. I'm certain there's a scientific reason for it, but it still seems strange to me.

I too tend to take the road less traveled...which is really weird considering my pathological need to be liked. In a way, I think Obama's ability to bridge this dichotomy is what won him the presidency, and I'm ok with that. I'll leave further political musings to those more qualified, like the nerd gardener.

So, day two of the new me went ok...did have a couple Vodka Tonics after work...I'm not a mormon....

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Epiphany

1.
a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.
2.
an appearance or manifestation, esp. of a deity.
3.
a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
4.
a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight

So I went to two visitation services for two nice ladies on Sunday, and I realized that they both had died from complications of diabetes, and diabetes is hereditary, and my dad was diabetic, and I'm pushing the three century mark on the scale, and Holy Freaking Blubber, Batman! It's time to get a little serious about this weightloss/exercise thing. Seriously.

#1 son and I completed a 20 minute lifting circuit, followed by 10 minutes cardio this morning. It hurts SO GOOD, Johnny Cougar!

Monday, January 5, 2009

On hope....



Hope springs eternal in the human breast;Man never Is, but always To be blest:The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,Rests and expatiates in a life to come. (tip of the Baltimore Ravens Cap to Alexander Pope)

So, with that thought in mind I ventured out into the frosty morning air and completed a 1-1/2 mile circuit at 5:30 this morning. Baby steps, to be sure, but steps that must be taken.


If I were a professional gambler, the kids would be subsisting on mac and cheese and hot dogs after the first week of the NFL playoffs. No way did I see Philly winning at Minny or the Dolts losing to San Diego. I thought Miami had a chance, also. The Cards and the ageless QB that I like, unlike the Jets' franchise killer, were my only clear cut winner. At least I have no emotional investment in this, thanks to the Hamsters of the Midway's brilliant chokefest in Houston last week.

In local sports news, my brilliant basketball coaching career is off and running....VG 5th graders falling to 0-2 in a very lopsided loss to Heritage. I know they're only 10 and I shouldn't care so much, but I feel like I'm failing these kids when they don't have success in games after putting so much effort into practice. So yes, I was up most of the night Saturday, fretting. Trying to come up with a way to make the kids see that the only way to overcome our general lack of speed and athleticism is to out work our opponent. I think that's a lesson that we can all take to heart.