Mixing it up

Yes, I am a runner at heart, but I have been challenged to an online Ironman competition. That's right. I have 1 month to complete a 2.4 mile swim, 26.2 mile run, and a 112 mile bike ride. I'm doing it at the gym, mostly. I just had my first training episode including a 2.7 mile run, 5 mile bike and 200m swim. I'm going to try to do this 3-4 times a week. I'll have to do about 7 laps in the pool, 2.2 miles on the treadmill, and about 9 miles on the bike if I go 3 times a week to complete it in 4 weeks (if my math is good). Crazy, huh. These Ironman competitors do it in a day! I'm not one of them! So here we go. One Ironman in one month.

Current weight status: Weight loss 4 lbs.
Current weight is 163.
8 lbs. to goal by 1/1/2011

12/6 Back outside

I tried running at the gym early yesterday and couldn't do more than a mile at a time without overheating. Not good, because I was out to put in 7+ miles. Baled after 3. Had a nice day with the family. Weather is great today. Going back outside to put in the other 4-5 miles. Made new friends at church and was invited over for dinner and a church meeting at someone's home. Ate too much, but was extremely hungry from cutting back recently. Probably tried to cut out too many calories. Feel really good today, even though I actually gained back a pound from yesterday. I weighed in at 163 yesterday and 164 today. I'll burn that off with my run today, though, no prob. Got a lot done on our Christmas list. So overall, yesterday was a good day.

Goal: 155 by 1/1/2011
Status: 164, down from 167, nine pounds to go in 26 days. Totally doable, if I stop overeating!

Running through the winter

So I came up with a plan to maintain fitness and try to correct an issue with my timing. For my winter runs, I am going to run a minimum of 3 times a week. First run will be a minimum of 5K distance. Second run will be a minimum of 5 miles. Third run will be a minimum of 7 miles. That's a minimum of 15 miles a week. That also guarantees that I am ready at any time to run a 5K or 10K. It will also give me a lot of chances to see what I can do in the 10K zone. I have currently run 4 10Ks to date. All in the 57-59 min. range. I should be running 52-55. I need a focus on that distance to do better next year. This shouldn't be such a challenge for me. Also, for this site I will be ( as embarrassing as this may be ) posting my current weight at the bottom of each post. I have made a goal to reach 155 by New Year's Day. This way everyone can see my progress and hold me accountable. That will put me in a healthy BMI range that I will need to maintain going forward and with my 2011 race goals and training needs, this should be no problem.

Current weight: 167 ( have been in the 163-167 range all year)
Made it through Thanksgiving without significant weight gain.