My First 100 Miles and some lessons along the way

I've recently logged my first 100 miles according to my RunKeeper App on my phone. Here are some lesson's or observation's I've noted.

• Walking on Sunshine -  When I first started I could barely jog more that a minute without becoming severely winded. My "Couch to 5k"  app I used did a run/walk/run/walk type of training which helped. Gradually I've expanded my time and distance.
• Every Breathe You Take - Like I said I could barely jog for minute before gasping for air. I then began learning to breathe different. I read some where that to ttry and breathe using your whole gut rather than than my diaphragm. Gradually my breathing wasn't as much of an issue as it was before and my distances soon lengthened.
• Should I stay or should I go now - Use the the bathroom before going out. Just like long car trips it's a good idea to go before you go. Avoiding large meals the night before is probably a good idea although I've discovered no sure trick to avoid it totally. If you do let me know. Nothing much ruins a good run that having to hit the porta-potty and there's none around.
• I still haven't found what I'm looking for - It helps to have a goal in mind when going out for a run. Sometimes two in case something comes up. A minimum goal and perhaps a strentch goal if things look well. Right now I feel a 2 mile run is my minimum goal with 3 being my average and 4 being an extra good.
• Running with the devil - Running sucks. You push limits of your endurance to the limit voluntarily. Despite my body disliking it I do miss when I miss  or postpone a run. I used to hear of this before but never understood it. The during the run itself is the challenge but afterwards is when it hits you. My body almost has a cleansed feeling of burning off extra fat or something.
• The Long Run - Never thought 3.11(aka: 5k) was so far away. I'm still a relative newbie so even a simple 5k run is still a challenge and I've only broken the 5 mile barrier once. It's about average run for me now. I'm comfortable with that but it still feels great to finish. 
• Lyin' Eyes - While signing up for my second 5k a gentleman signing up nearly floored me as he stated he was 80 years old. Although I'm hardly the cocky type I thought I'd at least finish ahead of him. Guess what? Yep he did. Not only that, he power walked it too. It was a humbling experience and told me I still had a way to go.

I feel as I'm constantly learning more. I'm sure the next hundred miles will bring more revelations and thoughts. I'll be back again then.

Long and Winding Road

 

Took my couch to 5K training to the Cape Cod Canal yesterday. It was a sunny warm day with a cool breeze off the water. It's not my first time here but I usually hit here about once a week. It's an ideal place for beginner runner's like myself. It's fairly level so it's not so intimidating for newbie runner's like myself. 

The area I run is on the south side of the canal in Bourne between the Bourne Bridge and railroad bridge although my circle is expanding as my distance grows. So far I've onlt seen the occasional sailboat or pleasure craft on the water. Usually some guys along the way fishing along the rocks. The canal access road is also popular for walkers, bikes, joggers and just plain sightseer's.

Today's run stat's.

 I've been at this couch to 5k training for little over two month's now as a fun way to lose weight and get into shape. I had packed on the pounds since the fall and when spring time hit fewer of my clothes even fit any more and of course the comment's of my shape increased also. Something clicked inside me to get off my butt and do something.

I had heard of couch to 5k program's and app before and thought it would be good way to start. I figured having a goal would help my stay with it. After looking at a few I did choose Active.com's Couch-to 5k program. Between the mapping run's and using  music it seem to win out. The first few run's were actually the hardest. It was still early spring and as fellow New Englanders will tell you this past winter did not want to go away. Some of the first weeks were were really cold(for me at least) in the 30 and 40 degree range.

The picture above is misleading as I'm actually in my tenth week. Around the third week I had hit a stumbling block.I had a couple of crappy run's between the the app I was using messing up. Probably hitting a button or two which through my rhythm off. So I scrapped that week and decided to do that whole week over. It seemed to be a turning point as it's been steady progress since then.

MyFitnessPal app

Over ten weeks ago I started off at a portly 220 lbs and just this past weekend I weighed in at 211 so I seemed to be averaging a pound a week which was my goal. I'm feeling much better and my cloth's are fitting better too.

I've already signed up for a 5k and I'll post more on that later.

Thanks for coming by.