Monkey Feet

That's what they look like.

I was telling a friend that the blisters from my last half marathon turned into calloused pads which felt like, what I would assume, the pads on a monkey's paws feel like. But, really... how would I know?

Been reading a book called Born to Run. Very interesting read! So, of course, I had to go out and get me some of these...

If you have read it, you know exactly what I am talking about when I say I felt this urge to try "barefoot running." Okay. So, technically it is not true barefoot BUT just about! I started off slow this evening. Ran one lap. Documented my observations. Then ran a second lap. Bottom line; they feel great! BUT... it takes some serious "getting used to."

Since many of you have been asking, here are my thoughts...

1. Very light. Reminds me of childhood running. The way my toes stretched as if grasping the ground. Felt light on my feet, too, and it felt very refreshing to have my toes wiggle as I ran around the track.

2. Forced me to run on the balls of my feet. Made me realize just how much I rely on my heels and that is not good. BUT, it feels - weird.

3. They don't hurt at all. My right knee is a little sore from this morning's run so I don't want to push it... YET.

Next week, my training begins. I'm going for a "shock & awe" type-training cycle (various training exercises to include mountain biking and explosiveness (in the form of calisthenics, weights, etc.).

Distance running is going to be a challenge since it requires running on the balls of my feet and it feels like I'm tip-toeing. But... I like challenges... BRING IT!

Wish me luck in my quest for record land speeds.

~ Speedy

Liking How Some Things NEVER Change.

In my last post, I mentioned my "To Do" list.

Well, in my effort to become even MORE efficient (although some prefer OCD - um... okay. I get it.),

I wanted to knock out another task.

My sister,Olgsmobile, posted this picture of Dominik (my nephew) in an outfit my mom made for him for Christmas last year.

It put a HUGE smile on my face when I saw her final product.

Click here to see why... ;)

{ Green Goblin }

 

Sunshine on My Face.

Ever have one of those times in your life where you just feel like you are in limbo?
I am there. Everything is quiet. I watch people all around me. Living their life as if nothing exists but their bubble of personal space, thoughts, and circle of friends and family.

But. I know better.

Crazy how we get immune to the fact that this is part of life.
We get almost - desensitized.
Not that we intentionally avoid those in our life who are "there" but just... do not... realize it.

Right now. What I feel...
Quietness...
Almost surreal.
Like the calm before a storm.

Don't read too much into this people.
(and especially don't consider this a "sign" for alarm)

Just... "keeping it real."

I am actually listening to a very ear-pleasing song by Plain White T's... "Rhythm of Love" right now and munching on rice snacks. I will sign off and get back to the grind. I just don't hold back. I feel it. I let it out. And press on.

But, this past month has been off and on.
Lots going on.
Lots of traveling.
Then, as I slow down... I allow myself to be fully aware of my surroundings.

Looking back on this past month. MUCH has happened.
Not to get into too many specifics, but I had at least FIVE deaths in my world.
Count 'em. Five.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five...

Paused with each one and paid them each their own fair share of respect. Again. And again. Seems like it is never enough though.

Can't help but have it affect you. Regardless of who they were or how it happened.

I get that it is the reality of life. But it can be overwhelming.

Looking outside, a storm is moving in. My nose is cold and red and I am waiting for the Spring to return.

My sister, Jenny, reminds us on her wall that "Spring is less than a month away!"

Thanks, Sis. Your words mean a lot to a fella' like me who is waiting to break out those summer clothes and get back into my outdoor running. It makes me smile to see optimistic people. It motivated me to add "Get Mountain Bike Tuned Up" to my weekend To Do list.

So, that said... I feel the sun coming back. Inbound storm, or not.
I am feeling it.

Tule Fog...

 The following was from an e-mail we received at work yesterday. Comes just as the fog is starting to REALLY get on everyone's last nerve... ("Go AWAY, already!")

CAN YOU SEE THE OVERPASS?

Tule fog (pronounced /tu:li:/) is a thick ground fog that settles in the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento Valley areas of California's Central Valley. Tule fog forms during the late fall and winter (California's rainy season) after the first significant rainfall, and is named after the Tule grass wetlands (Tulare's) of the Central Valley. The typical time frame for Tule fog to form is from November to March. Accidents caused by the Tule fog are the leading cause of weather-related casualties in California.

Tule fog is a radiation fog, which condenses when there is a high relative humidity (typically after a heavy rain), calm winds, and rapid cooling during the night.  The longer nights during the winter months contribute considerably by rapidly cooling the ground thereby creating a temperature inversion (i.e. the air is colder at ground level than it is at 1000 feet altitude).  That temperature inversion causes the moisture in the ground level air to condense and thus creates fog.

Visibility in Tule fog is usually less than an eighth of a mile (about 600 feet), but can be as little as a foot. Visibility can also, and usually does, vary rapidly.  In only a few feet visibility can go from 10 feet to near zero.

This variability in visibility is the cause of many chain-reaction pile-ups on the roads and freeways. In December 1997, in one accident on Interstate 5 near Elk Grove south of Sacramento, 25 cars and 12 big-rig trucks collided inside a fog bank - five people died and 28 were injured. In February 2002, two people were killed in an 80-plus car pile-up on State Route 99 between Kingsburg and Selma (about 45 minutes northeast of Naval Air Station Lemoore) - visibility at the time of the accident was zero. On the morning of November 3, 2007, heavy Tule fog caused a massive pile-up that included 108 passenger vehicles and 18 big rig trucks on Northbound State Route 99 between Fowler and Fresno (45 minutes north of Naval Air Station Lemoore). Visibility was cut to about 200 feet at the time of the accident. There were two fatalities and 39 injuries in that crash.

It may not LOOK like much. But, trust me. This is a GOOD day.

HOW ABOUT NOW?

Those of us who have been here a few years know that it gets BAD. Last year, we had our Command's Christmas Party about 30 minutes away and you literally had to drive 15-20 mph WHILE looking at the white lines OUT YOUR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. At the same time watching for taillights directly in front of you.  Lessons learned.

This video was taken from an overpass I was standing on.

A Spoonful of Sugar...

My parents were field workers when we first came to the states and I have fond memories of Carlos and I sitting on the tailgate of the station wagon while my mom and dad picked vegetables - working sunrise to sunset in the Minnesota fields.
 

Our only toys?
Rocks and dirt from the gravel road.
 

Then, as we came of elementary school age, my dad got "educated" (well... he went to a vocational tech school for automotive mechanics) and he was hired on by the uranium mines near Casper.
 

We moved from our white farmhouse (which we rented on the farm we lived on) to a trailer in a mobile home unit in Casper.
 

But, for us... it was moving UP in the world!
 

We had neighbors! Kids to play with. People to watch.
 

BUT...
 

It came with it's own fair share of danger, too.
 

There were now cars to be on the lookout for.

Dogs on the loose...

One day a large German Shepard chased us... barking HORRIBLY loud. We were SO frightened... mom took us inside and fed us each a spoonful of sugar.
 

Never knew why.
 

But, I CLEARLY remember the tears and sniffling quickly subsiding that afternoon.
 

The way Carlos and I looked at one another when she brought out that Tupperware dish... opening it up and he and I realizing what was happening.
"Are... WE... getting a SPOON FULL of SUGAR???"
 

Even now, it brings a smile to my face and my eyes swell as I think of the love my mom shared for us - daily.

"Love you, mom."

Healthy Eating...

Lifestyle Change...

Lately, I got on this health kick (refer back to my older posts under the "Fitness Labels").

Since then, I went from 180 pounds down to 150 (as of today).

There wasn't much to the first 20 pounds other than cutting out all fast food, soda and candy bars. So I figured that if I was blessed with losing all of this weight (which I had wanted to for many years), I needed to do something to ensure it STAYED off.

Then, in October 2010, I picked up running. I ran and ran and ran. Burning well over 1,000 - 1,500 calories per work out. Almost DAILY. BUT... my calorie intake was only about 300-500 per DAY. I was also under quite a bit of stress and that had much to do with my initial weight loss.

So, I met with a dietitian who educated me on proper eating habits. He explained the food pyramid to me since it had been many years since I studied it. And, to my amazement, I learned A LOT. Since that day, I have met with several friends & family and have done my own research about weight loss, physical fitness and diets.  Below are some things I have learned. I want to share them with you because it is crazy how bad most of us eat. I, honestly, did not care what I ate earlier in the year and years leading up to this past summer. Stopping by McDonald's and ordering a #1 with Coke was the norm at least 3 times per week. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED chocolate! Hershey's chocolate and I were TIGHT, I tell 'ya! "Homies, we were!" And don't EVEN get me started on trips to the mall, out of town, etc. What do you MEAN it is not right to eat a deep-fried turkey leg with a large milkshake?! I mean, I have to wash it down with SOMETHING. Right? PLUS it IS protein and dairy... part of the "food pyramid" groups... no? We ALL do it. Justify JUNK food as "healthy" in a round-about, food pyramid relation, as in next door neighbor's, cousin's, best friend's, nephew's, cousin's, cat... sort-of-way. Yes?

I NEVER knew this...

- if you starve your body (um... like only eating 300-500 calories a day when you burn 10 times that amount!), your body will take ANYTHING you put into it and turn it IMMEDIATELY into FAT! Hello?! HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?! YES! Even HEALTHY foods are turned into fat. Hear me clearly... EVEN HEALTHY FOODS ARE TURNED INTO FAT!  The human body is AMAZING. The REASON it does this is because it does not know when it will be fed again so it stores it for energy.

Literally, OVERNIGHT, I bumped up my calorie intake to what my dietician recommended... 2,500-2,800 calories PER DAY. YES. OVERNIGHT. I went to the local GNC and picked up a box of "meal supplement" packages (each one contained a powder you can use to mix with water or milk and make a shake). Inside each one was enough to kick start my daily diet. I say diet, but in a most inverse meaning of what one would think of the term. Diet usually means LOSING weight... to me, at least. But, in THIS case... I am going to eat 10 times the amount I have been used to??? I have, since, switched from a meal supplement shake to a protein shake (since I am eating all the foods I need now).



For one solid week, I tracked my food intake via an online tool which SHOWS you via a bar graph exactly how much you are consuming. It even separates bad calories from good. There are several websites you can use. The one I used was www.mypyramid.gov which is endorsed by the 1st Lady, Mrs. Obama. If you go to their website, on the left, go to MyMenuPlanner. Registration is free and easy. It took me only two days to "get it right." On Day 1, I met my calorie count; however, I had too much of the Dairy and Fruit categories and not enough Grains, Vegetables and Proteins. Day 2, I was SET. BUT, my bad calories were off the charts. So, I cut out my jelly, butter, cream cheese, etc. And now, I will periodically check my daily progress but I KNOW what I can and cannot have. This was very hard to stick to...

BUT. IT. WORKED. PEOPLE.

My weight stabilized. I have not gained a pound since then and have seen a transformation in my physical being.  I am able to run farther than ever before, completing my first half marathon with a GREAT finishing time. AND I have a LOT more energy.

In addition to the meal supplement shakes, I also started taking a daily multivitamin (twice a day). It's one thing to eat the calories you are supposed to, but another to ensure you have the daily recommended nutrients that your body needs. Just by taking my daily multivitamins, I am now getting all of the vitamins and minerals I need in order to keep up with my physical training lifestyle. The reason for two pills is because these are on a time release formula for better efficiency (keep in mind that your urine might turn light green since your body is purging itself of bad chemicals - this is normal).

I also changed my diet - completely.

On any given day, this is what I normally eat:

BREAKFAST:
- protein shake mixed with a glass of skim milk (sometimes add a tablespoon of peanut butter)
- 1 bowl of whole grain cereal with skim milk
- 2 packages of oatmeal (often add banana slices, granola mix, or various fruits)
- 2 slices whole-grain, wheat toast w/peanut butter (good source of protein)
- glass of 100% orange juice
(breakfast is usually a lot but it makes a HUGE difference in your energy levels and your mental focus throughout the day)

LUNCH:
- salad (raw spinach leaves (not as boring as lettuce and MUCH tastier!), cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, honey roasted pecans or other nuts, dried fruits (cranberries, oranges, etc.), bell pepper slices - NO DRESSING. The mixture of these items is a nice blend. They compliment one another very nicely, too.
- Gatorade/Powerade, or some other form of drink to replenish electrolytes which I will burn off during my workouts
- yogurt (Light) (with granola)

DINNER:

- turkey sausage or chicken are great, quick sources of protein
- more salad
- fruit
- 1 glass of skim milk
- 2 more protein shakes within 30 minutes of post-workouts

SNACKS IN BETWEEN MEALS:
- almonds (GREAT protein)
- rice cakes
- whole grain crackers
- fruits
- vegetables

OUT OF MY DIET:
- fast food
- butter
- extra salt (some sodium is good for you since it acts as electrolytes to help maintain water retention when exercising)
- jelly
- cream cheese
- soda
- sugar (table type)
- caffeine
- and pretty much anything else that tastes good

Bottom line; BORING! Right? Yeah, maybe. But, I have learned so much. About food. Diets. Health & fitness. And, as I navigate through this phase in my life... well, hopefully, I have created a new, LIFE-lasting culture of healthy eating and there IS a brighter side. For one, my palette has changed. I ate a candy bar the other day and it was TOO sweet. Yuck. About halfway through it, I wanted to toss it. But, told myself to eat it all to see how it would affect me. I felt a short-lived rush but the DOWN is what got me. Hated knowing I had consumed so many FAT calories and had not used it during a workout. It just sat there and would take so much longer to burn it than healthy calories would.

Now, my body KNOWS it will be fed daily. And the great thing? I am eating around 2,500 calories daily, burning at least 1,500 just sitting around living my life (basal metabolic rate) AND I burn at least another 1,000 daily during my workouts. Calories in/Calories out = the SAME! Hence the reason I am not gaining or losing weight. Plus, the minerals, nutrients and vitamins I am consuming NOW help my muscles heal faster, healthier and stronger. My heart is stronger and my blood pumps more efficiently.  I can run for over an hour at under a 7 minute per mile pace and my heart rate does not go over 165. Before, it would sky rocket to 185 after 5 minutes!  And I have also incorporated resistance training to my workouts. I FORCE ALL of my muscles to pick up the load that my heart had been carrying all this time.

I'll leave you with this...

Lots of people have asked where I get this motivation... will power... but the day that I TRULY realized that God created us. I also accepted the fact that we NEED to take care of this physical body he gave us. We are only on this planet for such a short time and...

I. Love. ME.

So, is there really any other way TO live?

PS... here is some GREAT input I received from a friend after I submitted this original post... (thank you)!

This is great! The only thing I would add is to try to grow your own vegetables and fruits. Plant a garden and do some canning. Also, buy your food locally from a market or a locally owned store that sells food from local farmers. It is also easy to make your own bread :)

Camarillo, Cali

This morning, my brother, Carlos and I woke up at 5 a.m.
I had stayed at his hotel in Camarillo, California on my way back from a business conference in San Diego.
We decided to go for a run.
Went downstairs and there were two treadmills but one was taken so I lifted weights instead.
He ran about 5 miles.
I ended up running about 2.5.
He, then, got ready for work and I had breakfast.
It was SO good.
Probably since I was hungry from my run, but STILL!
Then, he left for the office but he had a flat tire! Ugh.
So, he calls me up, I go downstairs and we fix it together.
I didn't want him to get all dirty since he was suited up (looked so sharp)!
And off he went.

I, on the other hand, go back to the room.
Get online for awhile.
Then, take a nap.
I was SO tired from the night before.
We had stayed up talking. Nice conversation, too. :)
Woke up a few hours later and it was late morning by this point.
My plan was to get on the road by 10ish but when I opened the window, the weather was PERFECT!
So, I decided to go for a run.
Ran about 11 miles but probably could have ran more had I not run out of water!
It was SO scenic in Camarillo.
The area we were in was very quiet, peaceful and clean.
Reminded me of a modern-day "Leave it to Beaver"-ville. ;)
(what WAS the name of his town? I remember Wally, Beaver, Eddie Hascal, June, Ward...)

So, I finally get packed, load the car and hit the road around 4.
This was after I took my time, showered, ate, etc.
But, of course I hit rush hour traffic!
What was I thinking?!... I WASN'T.
So, here I am... 6 hours later (should have only taken 3)!

Tired. No... exhausted.
Physically AND mentally.
2011 thus far has been exhausting - ALREADY.

Tomorrow, I go back to work.
Then, work half a day on Friday and drive BACK down to L.A. to catch our flight to Phoenix for our half marathon on Sunday.
Carlos and I will fly there and back on the same flight.
His fiance Lisa will be meeting us there.
Should be a great time!

I have friends who invited us to their post-marathon party but I don't drink.
Carlos and Lisa, I'm sure will want to party as well but I'll just want my banana, computer and Powerade drink.
THAT won't fly over very well!
I'll just roll with it.
Maybe be designated driver??

Well, anyway... it was a great trip and I have NO regrets about ANY of it.
Just hard at times, to deal with reality (traffic, long drives...  ...).

There will be so many more trips to come...
Until next time...

~ Patiently Waiting.