Run

Today I ran to QFC and back, for 2 miles. Ran the entire distance in 30 minutes. My toe bothered me a bit when I started, but got better as I warmed up.

Paul

Cross training - Another Sore Toe

I have had a little sore on the top of my right pinky toe for the last couple of days. Although it hasn't been bothering me enough to prevent me from working out, last night I futzed with it and made it a little tender.

So this morning, I headed to the fitness center to ride the Stationary Bike. I did 45 minutes at level 5-6 coming up to 16.2 miles. I tried talking myself off the bike nearly the entire time, but endured through it without quitting. I just kept thinking 15 minutes is enough...then 20 minutes is more than enough....all the way up to 45. I am glad I didn't listen.

My toe still aches, but I am going to put a band-aid and some antiseptic on it and see if it can heal some before tomorrow.

Paul

Starry Morning

I got up this morning after a nice restful day, and headed out to run. It was clear and frosty out. I could see all the stars, as well as the crescent moon during my run. It was beautiful. I ran about 2.2 miles in 42 minutes, increasing my distance to a new personal record. I didn't walk at all. I seem to have much more energy after my rest days, so Monday's seem to be when I do my best at running.

At work, walking in, I slipped and fell in my parking lot from the frost causing me to bang up my knee a bit. I just hope it doesn't cause a problem. It seems minor, but I am worried it may interfere with my running. I guess I'll know more by tomorrow. If I were still 400lbs, I am sure it would have been worse though.

Paul

Day off and 1st Weight Goal met

Yesterday I ran, Same as the day before. Today is my official rest day, which I have every Sunday. Although I normally don't write about these days, I woke up this morning and weighed in at 250lbs. A goal I have been working towards for 6 months. I am supposed to allow myself to buy a motorcycle, but may hold off as I just entered college, and will need the money more for that.

My next goal is 200lbs. Wish me luck!

Paul

Tired

I headed out running today, anticipating a reasonable performance, but instead, I got really tired early. I ran/walked for about 2 miles in about 45 minutes. I ended up walking about half of it. I just didn't seem to have the energy. At least I was able to keep my heart rate up for the duration. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

Paul

Cross Training - Bronze Award

Today was a cross training day. I again rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes (16.2 miles) at level 6. I still am uncomfortable on the bike after a little while of riding, mostly some numbness. It was a great workout anyway, and it was what I needed to win that bronze award that I mentioned yesterday.

Paul

Lost in Thought Again

I am really starting to get in to my morning jog. Not so much for the exercise or any of that, but more for the time I have to drift away mentally and think. Granted I usually feel pretty good afterwards. Today, like most days that I run, I spent thinking about my recent entry into college and what it means in my life, as well as about a close friendship I have. I don't even think I can remember all the specifics, but when I lose myself in thought, the run always goes fastest. That way, I don't end up thinking about every step I make, which generally makes for a pretty long run.

Today's run was my standard 1.6 miles to the end of the block and back. I got pretty tired about two-thirds the way through but still didn't stop. I completed that distance in 28:40, which isn't too bad. I did pick up the pace quite a bit the last block as well, just to push myself some.

Still weighing in at 256. Not that I am not eating right or anything, I think my body is just catching up a bit with all the weight loss.

Tomorrow, I should complete my second award in the presidential challenge (the Bronze Medal). After completing the Active Lifestyle program a couple of months ago, I have continued to log my exercise into that journal as well as this one and have managed to accumulate enough time to qualify for the low-end award. Its nice to have an award to note my accomplisments.

Paul

Misty Run

I guess I didn't sleep very well last night, as my alarm clock seemed to be ringing in the distance this morning. After I stumbled around the house for a few minutes, trying to orient myself, I got ready and headed out into the foggy morning.

I started running the QFC route that I do most days, and was determined yet again to run the entire distance non-stop. I did it, as well as added another block to my run making the distance around 2.1 miles or so. I messed up when starting my stopwatch so I haven't a good idea of the timing of it, but it was about 40 minutes or so. I am pretty happy with my progress as of late, and think that if I were to keep it up I might be able to push it to do the 5-K running fully.

On that note, I realized this weekend that my kids won't be able to be with me for my 5-K run in December. I am bummed about it. Hopefully one of my friends will show up and support me. Even if not, however, I will do it. I have to. I have to complete one goal to start on another.

Paul

Runnin with the Youngin

My youngest boy decided to come run with me this morning. It was nice having someone along. We ran and walked about 2.5 miles in about 45 minutes. Good workout...as well as fun.

Also, weighed in at 256lbs.

Paul

Cross Training

I was doing performance reviews yesterday, and was disucssing some outdoor activities with one of my employees, and learned that he was into cycling. He and I chatted, and he agreed to provide me with some information so I could learn more about it. He mentioned, however, that some of the numbness I feel after riding a stationary bike may be really bad for me, and potentially cause problems in the long run, but that it could be corrected with the proper seat. Now I am not about to change the seat on the stationary bike at the gym that I work out on, but I will definitely consider a good seat when I buy a regular bicycle after my 5-K.

So today, I felt some cross training was in order, and went ahead and rode another 45 minutes at level 7, covering 12.36 miles. It seems to be getting easier, and my heart rate is not going up as much as it used to. I guess that is a pretty good sign.

I also weighed myself again this morning, and came in at 257.2 lbs. Thats roughly 131 lbs lost so far.

I listened to another episode of Motivation To Move and heard Scott (the host) mention one of my comments I made on his blog. He had mentioned (in Show 19) some goal setting tips that i just had to listen to again so I could write them down. Good stuff. Thanks Scott for your helpful advice.

Paul

Easy Run

Today, I did an easy run, and ran most of the 1.6 mile distance without stopping, but did rest a couple of times. I didn't break any records, but felt good when done, and that is what is important.

Paul

Deep in Thought and another Personal Record

I woke up this morning and did my run deep in thought about last nights event. I had a lot to think about, and found myself again running non-stop for the entire 1.6 miles, which is truly an achievement that I am proud of. The fact that I was so distracted mentally, made the run zip by faster than I realized, and I completed my run in 29:30 which was about 2 minutes faster than Monday's run. I really don't care how fast I am running, and am more excited at just being able to complete the distances, but I time myself anyway, just to check where I am.

I may be a little off in my distance measurement as well. I have driven the distance, and it seems like 2 miles on my odometer, but when I measure it on a map, it only measures to be about 1.6 miles, so I am running somewhere between those. I guess if I run more than I think I run, then a measured 5-K course may be easier than harder to do. I am calling it 1.6 miles anyway, and am happy to run that distance.

Paul

On becoming an Athlete and Runner

As I continue to progress on my fitness regime, I have thought a bit about my self image and what it means now that I am active and getting into shape. Had you asked me the last time I was relatively fit (roughly 11 years ago, in the Military) whether I was an athlete, I would have laughed at the notion, and probably gone on to congratulate myself on my hating of exercise and my wishing for a sedentary life.

Of course, even when I was relatively fit, I thought I was fat. I think I have always seen myself that way.

After removing the military from my life, and was free to choose my own path and fitness level, I definitely met my expectations of that sedentary life, as well as dealing with the weight gain associated with it. Thinking then of being fit wasn't even desired. I don't know why I have always hated exercise, probably because I was lazy. Even when boot camp forced me into getting fit, I hated it.

Of course since the military, when I started gaining tremendous amounts of weight, I didn't care. I, of course, didn't like the changes I was making to my body. I used the slow metabolism excuse, like many of us do. I would eat pretty lightly around other people, and when nobody was looking, I would eat a bunch. I would weekly down a large pizza solo and think nothing about it. I would look at skinny people, and wonder how the hell they could sit around and eat the way they do and always be skinny. It really pissed me off, but not apparently enough to do anything about it. My self image was deteriorating rapidly, and it was low already, even when I was fairly fit in the military.

After my weight loss surgery, and the changes to my life that have all occurred lately, including marital, financial, and physical, I have started to realize that I was killing myself, and none too slowly. Although the weight loss surgery was one aspect of my continued improvement, starting to get active was the other. After a friend convinced me (unbeknownst to her) that I could get fit and that it started seeming to be realistic that I could get there, I started doing what I always do when I get motivated to do something. I learn everything about it I can. I read books, websites, and join groups that help educate me.

Many of the books I chose to read were semi-motivational in nature as well. They stated that I have been doing all the activities that qualify me for calling myself an athlete and runner. Now that is a big deal. I may be only 3 months into my fitness training, but I am committed to doing it for life. I may not be a competitive or even professional athlete, but I am one all the same. I run, therefore I am a runner. Its as simple as that. I may not be as fit as I will be next year, but I progress at a relatively steady pace, and amazingly enough am starting to enjoy it....er...at least I am enjoying the feeling I am getting when done with the activity, as well as the boost to my self-confidence when I make a new personal record. I do still fight a daily morning battle to get my butt out of bed and work out. When I look in the mirror, I often still see myself at 400 lbs. I know now that it a temporary state, though, and am not bothered as much by it. I know that I like much more of what I see looking back at me than I used to.

I know now that I am an athlete, because I can honestly say I am in training and working out daily. Hell, I am in training for a 5-K run, scheduled next month, and am working hard to be in shape enough to run most if not all of it. Completing it is my main goal, and I don't care if I walk some, or even all of it. I am still running at just over a walking pace, and such as quoted from John Bingham, one of the more famous authors on running, I am fully qualified as a "Penguin Runner" and "Amateur Athlete" and am proud of it.

Cross Training

Well with me making my personal record for running yesterday, I decided that today would be good to cross train. I worked 45 minutes on a stationary bike (level 7) and rode 12.2 miles on a hilly course. My legs were burning by the time I hit that last hill, and was grateful that I didn't have another. Then sat in a sauna for 10 minutes to recover.

All in all, good workout, and feeling great afterwards.

Paul

New Picture

I just thought I would update my site with a recent picture of me.


Me at 263lbs

Very Close Now

I have been having a hard time lately getting up and starting my workout. Although I haven't yet missed any because of it, I find myself in a mental battle each morning as to whether I go out or not. I think the act of getting dressed in my sweats is what is comitting me, as why would I bother if I wasn't planning on going out.

Suffice it to say, I went out grudgingly, and just planned to run/walk the 1.5 miles to QFC and back. I started out pretty slowly, in a very slow jog. I picked things up a little bit, and felt pretty good until next thing I know, I have run half of my distance total without stopping to rest. So, I decided to run that way back, and with the exception of a 20 second fast walk just past half way, I ran the whole distance. That for sure is a personal record, and the most I have run since the Navy.

It took me 31 minutes to do it, but even when I was done, I probably could have run more. I came back to the house feeling terrific about my accomplishment.

Even though the motivation to do my workouts is a struggle sometimes, its days like today that make it all worthwhile.

Paul

Cross Training

Well, my blisters are taking thier damn sweet time in healing, and ached some today, so I decided a cross training day was in order. I rode a stationary bike for 11.1 miles in 45 minutes at level 6, which makes todays workout pretty vigorous to me. Then I sat in the sauna for 10 minutes and cleaned up.

Paul

Back to the Run

Yesterday, I received a book in the mail. Mary Barley's "Getting Fit from the Inside Out: Seven steps to Becoming your personal best" It was a pretty small book, and I finished it in a few hours. I must say, it is refreshing to read something that isn't about what kind of shoes to get, or how to do a specific exercise. Her book was motivational, with a fitness theme, and her stories, both personal and not, put into perspective a few areas that I need to work on. I am passing this book on to another friend that I hope will enjoy it as well.

This morning, I awoke pretty motivated, and although my blisters were bothering me a little, I ran 30 minutes anyway. I ran a total of 1.91 miles on the treadmill, in a 2/1 pattern. The plan I am following says I should be running 4/1 now, but they don't know me, and I am doing what my body will allow. I had no trouble getting my heart rate into my training zone today, and would have gone too far had I run the 4/1 instead.

I am still losing weight, and now weigh 263lbs, bringing my total loss so far to 125lbs since May. My father called me the other night, and I guess I hadn't told him about my loss in a while, and he seemed amazed at the outcome. I am still amazed that the weight continues to come off, although I am working very hard at doing just that.

My training for the 5-K is going well, and although I don't think I will be able to fully run the 5-K, I definitely will be able to walk it without issue. If other friends join me, then I will walk the entire thing, otherwise, I will run some. I am hoping to complete the event in under an hour, hopefully in the 45-50 minute range, but just completing it will be the accomplishment that is most important.

I have to mention about how I am feeling these days. Although I am still overweight, and have to deal with the added effect that gravity gives me as a result, I am finding myself not taking elevators anymore at work. The stairs, that I would get winded at just looking at, now don't even cause me to breath hard. I fit in booths in restaurants now, which at 400lbs, wasn't an option. Theater seats are comfortable again. I am up and about much more than I ever used to be. I am really starting to think of myself as an athlete and runner these days, as I am working hard to be just that. Life is improving for me daily, and I am amazed each time I can do something I haven't been able to do since when I was in the military.

Well, that's it for today.

Paul

Cross Training and Sore Toes

Well, the blisters on my toes are healing, albeit slowly. So, as they ache today, I decided to take it a little easy and do a stationary bike. I rode for 30 minutes at 70rpm for 7.5 miles at level 6. Unfortunately it was barely hard enough to get my heart rate in the zone it needs to be in, but it was still a good work out.

Paul

Short Run and Blister Number Three

I just about had to peel myself out of bed this morning, and I didn't really want to go out and do any workout today. Suffice it to say, I did, however, go out today. I had decided to make it just a 1.5 mile walk, but ended up running most of it. I did it in about 30 minutes, and did my longest running stretch returning of about 3-4 long blocks. It was cold and drizzling, but I hit the road instead of the treadmill anyway.

It looks as though I am forming a blister on my right foot, in the same place as the one on my left foot, so this morning, I put on some MoleSkin to see if that would help. It seemed to.

Well, that's all for now.
Paul

Another Run....Another blister

Well, today I did a run/walk. Same shoes, different socks. I bought some fancy CoolMax socks from Amazon.com and tried them for my workout today. I am not sure, though if they are what caused my blister or not. Either way, as soon as I realized I had a problem, I stopped running, which is good. So even though I got a blister, it isn't as bad as it could have been.

As a result, I worked out for only 50 minutes instead of my normal hour. I ran/walked 2.75 miles. I tried a 2 minute run to 1 minute walk today, and did them for the first 20 minutes or so and walked the rest. Then I headed home to pop the blister and get ready for work.

Good workout today, albeit a shorter one.

Paul

Longer and farther

Slept in a little today, but worked out anyway. Again, as it seems that rainy and cold weather will kill me, I decided to work out in my fitness center on the Treadmill again. Today, I did pretty good. I Ran/Walked for 1 hour and ran 5-6 minutes at 4.4mph, then walked 2 at 3mph. I did this 4 or 5 times, and then walked the rest of the hour at 3mph. In all I did 3.58 miles, which is a record for me in that time. I am amazed that I am starting to enjoy this.

Back to running

Well, after taking it pretty easy this week, I am back to running again. I did the treadmill, mostly because it was cold out and apparently I melt in the cold....go figure. Anyway, I ran/walked for 3.25miles over an hour, running mostly the first half. I did good today, though and was running 4-5 minutes with a 1-2 minute walk breaking it up, and that was definitely an endurance testing activity today. I got my heart rate a little too high as a result though. The blister is also nearly healed. No major pain with it today, despite the run.

Last night I had my support group, and wouldn't you know it, it was all about exercise. The exercise physiologist, Alicia, was there, and she was pushing the benefits of the large inflatable ball. I had a good time though, and enjoyed the company of the folks I was with.

Later!
Paul

Cross Training with a sore foot

As the guilt got me good yesterday, and my foot was feeling pretty good today, I decided to go ahead and do a cross training day. I started on the Stationary Bike, and rode 7.25 miles at 70-90rpm for 35 minutes. Then just for kicks, I tried some of the other machines at my fitness center, and quickly determined that I wasn't quite up to them yet, so I hopped on the treadmill and set my speed at 3mph for 25 minutes, clearing 1.12 miles.

Of course afterwards, I felt great, although by then, my blister was reminding me that it hadn't quite healed fully yet, so I was limping again a little. I didn't quite abuse it nearly as much as Tuesday, though.

Tomorrow I will run, but only if my foot doesn't hurt. Hopefully it won't be raining so I can do it on the road, which I prefer. (And yes, I know I won't melt from the rain, but my foul weather gear is on order from Amazon.com)

Later!
Paul

Damn blister is making me feel guilty

Well, I am feeling guilty as hell today. I woke up this morning, and my blister was hurting so I decided to take today as a rest day. It is the first one that I have taken aside from my weekly one. As a result, I feel like I am missing out on something important. Well, I guess I need the time to heal the injury, but still. I could have gone to work out in other ways and didn't, hence the guilt.

Tomorrow is another day though, and if my foot feels better this afternoon, I might do a late-day workout instead, just so I don't have to feel this way. I guess I am mostly worried that if I start a pattern of taking time off of working out, I will stop, which is the last thing I should do. My ways of sabotaging my health are devious, so I must be vigilant.

On a good note, however, I weighed myself today, and I am down to 264lbs, making it a total loss since the surgery of 124lbs. Putting that into perspective, I have lost a thin adult woman in weight. (and no, that does not count the x-wife...lol.) I am only 14lbs from my goal weight to get my motorcycle, which I expect to reach early next year, and only 64lbs from my final goal of 200lbs. I am hoping to make this goal by June.

Paul

Motivating Force (Long Post)

Late last winter, I started noticing that my seat belt in my car didn't fit too well. Not that others that rode with me had any problems, but as I was encroaching on 400lbs, it wasn't too suprising. I had already adjusted my lifestyle to accomodate my weight long ago, with little things, such as asking for tables instead of booths at restaurants, or by watching my children play and have fun, but not being able to join them. My sedintary lifestyle affected all the parts of my life. My blood pressure was up. I was being medicated for depression. My life was a mess.

My children were my arms and legs. Hell, I rarely even got up out of my chair to get water, or to fix myself something to eat. Never did I go out and do anything. TV was my life, and my family was my servants. Not that they liked to do this or anything. I just didn't have the energy or strength to do any of it myself. Simple things, like going out to do some weekend activity became very difficult, and even painful at times. I didn't want to go do anything that would make me winded or start to sweat. Of course, walking out to my car about did that.

Now I am nor ever was one to diet. I had a "religious" right to eat the way I did, and nobody could tell me otherwise. In the military, during a manditory weight loss clinic I was a part of, I learned all about nutrition and appropriate portion control, and wanted nothing to do with it. By June 2005, and for many years prior, eating a large pizza solo wasn't a chore, nor even an inconvenience.

Sometime over last winter, I decided that enough was enough. I couldn't stand the body I was in, and wanted to live past 40 years of age, which at the time, I don't think I would have. As dieting was clearly out, and I couldn't stand exercising, I started looking seriously at the latest trend in diet pills. Although my financial situation wouldn't support them, I nearly went that route in hopes that the "Magic Pill" would solve all my lifes woes.

Also of interest was the gastric bypass surgery that I had heard about. Now I had never had surgery in my entire life, and had never been admitted even to the hospital overnight, but I was seriously considering how I was going to achieve weight loss without some help. Also, my insurance should have been able to cover the cost, thereby not putting my finances in worse shape than they already were. So, without consulting anybody but my Mom, I decided that was the way to go. It seemed to have a little chance of failure, and an awesome rate at reward. So I started researching information about the surgery.

Now any of you reading this that knows me, knows that when I get the mind to learn about something I do so in full force. I spent hours and hours reading, chatting, and learning about the procedures that I was interested in long before I ever made my first appointment. I wanted to know details about the affects that this could cause to my life and my lifestyle. Secretly I still hoped that all the details I learned was wrong, and that I could still eat like a horse with a pizza fetish, and sit around all day and still lose weight. Boy was I wrong.

After choosing a doctor, and getting my insurance cleared up, I decided to go ahead and make plans to move forward with my decision. I informed several people of my decision with the hopes of garnering support. One place I did expect support but didn't was my wife and kids. Now don't get me wrong, they helped a bunch during the post-operative period, but none of them thought I should be doing it, and nobody thought it would make that much difference.

After wrestling with the insurance briefly, and subsequently having my employer override them when they denied the claim, I had my surgery scheduled for May 16th, 2005. I had a lot of work, however to get to that date. The Wish Center, who performed my surgery, had a bunch of prerequisites to meet long before I got to have the surgery. Of course, those were diet and exercise, my two hated enemies. I had to maintain logs for 10 weeks of my food intake, and my activity, which I mostly just filled in to keep current, although I didn't always do the activities that I was recording. Like any diet, and exercise plan with me during my entire life, I did a half-assed job for the first 2 weeks then quit. In either case, I did eat a little better, and followed the food plan fairly well, but I didn't like the protien drinks that I was having to drink.

Well, when the pre-op appointment came and I had all my "finished and accurate" logs done, they approved me for the surgery, and I was given all my instructions, as well as a $2000 bill that I had to pay before the surgery would happen. The Wish Center was gracious enough to allow me to pay half up front, and half the following month, and my soon-to-be-x-wife loaned me the money to put the down payment down.

Now during this time my wife decided that she wasn't happy with our 17 year marriage, and I can't say that I was either. She was going to leave me after my surgery so that I have someone that could support me through the worst of it. She planned to leave and take the kids at the beginning of July. I was determined not to allow this to cancel my plans, however.

Two weeks later, I went in for the surgery. Now I have been in the pre-op ward many occasions, but never was the one on the bed. I was pretty damn nervous. The docs and nurses saw this and after a brief injection of something, I was feeling MUCH better. You could say "not a care in the world" and "look at all those pretty colors" :)

I remember wheeling into the surgery room, and scooting on the table, and greeting one of the nurses. Next thing I remember was waking up and looking at the clock and asking why it had taken so damn long. (I expected a 2-3 hour sirgery, and had actually had a 6 hour one) The nurses explained that there were some difficulties getting through my large stomach with the laproscopic tools, which caused some delay, as well as some uncomfort later on in my recovery. I was stabilized and wheeled to my room and expected to start moving around nearly immediately. Sheesh....exercise again....and I am barely awake. I had to regularly walk around to get the circulation in my legs to prevent an embolism.

I spent 5 days in the hospital, and returned home on a liquid diet and having to give myself shots 3 times a day. I had to do that liquid diet and shots for 2 weeks, as well as sleep in my Lazy-Boy recliner, as I couldn't sleep in bed as I sleep on my stomach.

The blessings of getting off a liquid diet cannot be overstated, although the first solid food I had I puked up after eating it. Go figure. I recovered normally, and went in for my post-op appointment and was told that I am doing well. I had already lost over 20lbs, and although I wasn't exercising as much as I was supposed to be, I was up and about more at least.

When my wife finally moved out in July, I was fully recovered from the surgery, although I was still on a semi-restricted diet, and couldn't lift over 8lbs. I had a nasty back problem, probably caused from sleeping in a chair those first 2 weeks post surgery. A couple of visits to the ole chiropractor cleared that up thankfully though.

I continued to lose weight at a rapid pace, and although I was severly restricted on how much I could eat, I was eating pretty good. It helped alot that I wasn't feeling hungry at all. The worst of it was remembering to eat all 6 meals a day. I still only intermittently exercised, however, and then only walking down the block. I didn't even break out in a sweat.

I had my 3 month post-op and had lost like 80lbs. The doc thought I was doing so good that he didn't want to see me until my 1 year anniversary. This was fine with me. At my support group meeting, however, one of my friends there motivated me to finally get off my duff and start exercising. Now that I was unrestricted on my lifting, and my exercise physiologist wanted me to start "Body for Life", a 12 week weight lifting program, it only made sense to start it. I bought the book, and comitted to the program. I also found another program that I could do in parallel called the "Presidential Acitve Lifestyle Challenge", which was 6 weeks, and had an award attached to it that sounded pretty neat. That was early September 2005.

Its now been 6 months, and one of the things that you learn about this surgery is that this isn't a "Magic Pill". Actually, now that I have had it and have had this much time losing weight, I can honestly admit that it was probably the most work at losing weight than I have ever attempted before. I am now physically active, and improving. I am starting to run, as indicated in my blog here. I am on a much healthier diet, to which the surgery helps with portion control and restricts some of the nastier foods, although I can have anything if it is relatively small in size. My divorce is final, and my finances are coming back in to order. My blood pressure is down. My resting heart rate is down. My energy is through the roof. I am getting fitter every day, and am currently preparing to run a 5-K. My depression is in check, and without needing any medication. I am enjoying my exercising, as well as all the compliments that come with my now smaller size. I am 120lbs lighter, and life is definitely worth living again.

If that isn't a motivating force for you, I don't know what is.

If this didn't motivate you, check out Motivation To Move. This site and podcast inspires me regularly.

Paul

Foot Pain

Today, I decided to take it a little easy, and as it was raining to boot, I just did a 1 hour walk on the treadmill. Walked like 2.78 miles. Generally, this only gets my heart up to the low end of my target heart rate, but its better than sitting at home eating a twinkie. :)

So in my hurry to go out this morning and exercise, I just threw on my clothes and headed out, not paying attention too much as to how I put on my socks. Well, about 50 minutes into the run, my left foot started burning pretty badly, and I figured I may have had a twisted sock or some such in my shoe. Like a fool, I didn't do anything about it until after I was done with my walk and limping.

I got a small blister on the ball of my foot, and now am going to have all day of limping around on it to remember that pain isn't something to be trifled with when working out. It usually tells you that you are doing something wrong, and that like many of us exercisers, I chose to ignore it.

Well, I will take it slowly today, and hopefully tomorrow, it is better.

Later

Paul