Week 37

Week 37 - Fall Ball

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0

Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 1-3, Single; Game 2: 3-4, Double, 2 HRs)

Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4 miles
• Time: 29:46
• Minutes per mile: 7:41

Weight: 238 - *No weight lost*

Week 36

Week 36 - Negative Split

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0

Softball Games: 0

Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4 miles
• Time: 30:57
• Minutes  per mile: 7:44

Weight: 238 - *TWO POUNDS LOST*

Week 35

Week 35 - Meeting Nels

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0

Softball Games: 0

Running Events: 2

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4 miles
• Time: 30:33
• Minutes per mile: 7:38

Weight: 240 - *No weight lost*

Week 34

On the whole, I like working for Intel.  One of the things I enjoy is the extracurricular activities they encourage you to do.  They hosted a 5k and a 10k for Intel employees and their families.  There are some serious runners at Intel, both men and women that place very high in local running events.  I decided to do the 5k as it was a distance I've been running on a regular basis (weekly) all year.  I wanted to do better than better than 22:45 mins, which is about 7:20 per mile.

One of the top finance controllers at Intel is an avid runner and older brother of my boss.  I knew he'd be well under 7:00 per mile pace so when I started the race I looked for him and wanted to see how long I could stay with him.  I could only keep pace with him for about half of a mile.  My first mile pace was 6:45 and then I slowed down over the next 2 miles.  I finished strong with a sprint, passing 4 or 5 runners (hard to remember as I was so swift) in the last 40 yards (one in the last 5 yards).  My time was 22:35 with an average pace of about 7:16 per mile.  I finished 48th overall in a field of about 1,600--in the top 3%.  I met my pre-race goal so I should be happy with it, but I'm not.  I know I can do better than 7:00 per mile.  Next year, I want to be in the top 25.  Since I've been stuck at 240 pounds, I'm going to get two birds with one stone by getting back to using the treadmill at work.  I can do a quick 2 miles in 2-3 times per week and practice a 7:00 per mile pace.

Week 34 - My first 5k

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0

Softball Games: 0

Running Events: 2

Best Time:

• Course:  2012 Intel - Great Place to Run
• Distance: 3.10686 miles
• Time: 22:35
• Minutes per mile: 7:16

Weight: 240 - *No weight lost*

Week 33

So I had two contractor choices to remove the popcorn ceiling and put up new texture.  For $1.50/sqft a dude would remove, retexture, and paint.  But for only $1/sqft a different dude would remove and retexture but wouldn't paint.  Well my finance analyst brain said, "paint is only about $300, so save $700 because you're cash poor with this new house."

Mistake.  $700 just ain't that much, and painting is the worst.  Also my contractor was a little sloppy, so I have to do a lot of touch up.  So I was busy.  Not much time to run.  But I got really motivated on Saturday and finished the laundry room, family room, kitchen, and dining room.  And then I decided I needed to get at least one run in.  I want to have the ceilings done by the end of this week.  Let's see how that goes.

Week 33 - Prime and Paint

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 0

Softball Games: 0

Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4.0 miles
• Time: 30:11
• Minutes per mile: 7:33

Weight: 240 - *No weight lost*

Week 32

I spent the week in Bloomington, Indiana at Indiana University for my Online MBA.  All the lectures will be delivered streaming over the Internet except for one week per year of in-residence work.  I was very impressed.  I can see why the Kelley School is a top 20 MBA and the best online MBA in the country.  It was an intense week.  7am to 2am almost everyday.  Somehow I found 30 minutes to go for a run around their beautiful campus.

They catered everything with really healthy meals, but kept a snack room with pop and candy and assorted treats.  I was lucky to make it out without extra weight.  When I got back I logged a miserable time on the Rosa Run, completely ran out of steam on the way back.

Week 32 - Indiana

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 0

Softball Games: 0

Running Events: 2

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4.0 miles
• Time: 30:43
• Minutes per mile: 7:41

Weight: 240 - *No weight lost*

Week 31

Well the time I turned last week, my first attempt on my new 4-mile course, might be the new freak time.  I wasn't even within a minute of that time this week.  But the good news is that I stretched two singles into two doubles because I'm fast.

Week 31 - More Extra Bases

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 1

Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 2-3, Double; Game 2: 3-4, Double)

Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4.0 miles
• Time: 30:26
• Minutes per mile: 7:37

Weight: 240 *No weight lost*

Week 30

I've lost 40 lbs this year.  40.  I can't believe I used to carry 40 lbs extra.  It turns out, if you take away that weight I'm pretty fast.  I stretched a single into a double and then a double into a triple in consecutive at bats on Thursday.  Getting a triple in softball is really hard.  This is because there are 4 outfielders, and the fences aren't MLB distance with a 400ft center field.  When I get up, people usually sit pretty far back (which makes it easy to make a double out of a single) but really hard to get a triple.  You have to hit it just right and think 3 out of the box.  But to stretch a double into a triple is really hard.  You just plain have to be fast.  Well I'm fast.  I'm fast.

We moved, so I had to find a new course.  I wanted it to be 4 miles.  So if I take a certain route to and through Rosa Park out to Butternut Park, it's 2 miles.  Then I just run back.  I'm going to call it the Rosa Run.  And my previous course (which I'll return to someday to beat my PR there) will from this point on be known as Triple Creek.  Well on the inagural run, I kept a pace that were you to clock me at 3.5 miles (Triple Creek distance) I'd have destroyed my personal best by 18 seconds.  I kept an average pace of a couple tenths of a second better than 7:20/mile.  It was so good I had to double check the distance on mapmyrun.com.  It's legit!

Week 30 - Extra Bases

Basketball Events: 1
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 2-3, Double, Home Run; Game 2: 2-3, Double, Triple)
Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Course:  Rosa Run
• Distance: 4.0 miles
• Time: 29:19 
• Minutes per mile: 7:20 (Best pace to date over at least 3 miles)

Weight: 240 - *LOST 1 POUND - 40 lbs to date!*

Week 29

We moved this week to our new house.  And all the exertion from moving did wonders.  When someone needs help moving, you should volunteer because you burn a lot of calories.  I lost all the weight I gained from vacation and then some.

My sister came to visit and I had her help me on my run.  I wanted her to improve my pace on the second half of the course.  It almost worked.  I started too slow.  My out time was about 10 seconds slower than the same half when I set my PR but my time back was essentially the same.  My sister pushed my pace on the way back and I kept an astonishing 7:35 per mile pace for the second half.  This was a huge win since it was the first time since setting the PR that I've been able to run that pace on the way back.  Thanks sis!

I also played some old timey baseball.  I play for the Pioneer Base Ball Club.  Every year we play the West Linn Willamettes at the Annual Old Time Fair in West Linn.  The venue for that game isn't very good.  It's on a softball field which messes up the whole vintage vibe.  The best game is played on the grounds of Fort Vancouver.  We play the Vancouver Occidentals there every year as the Shermans (historically a team of soldiers at the Fort).  We won on the walk-off single of my friend Paul.  I feel I played quite averagely.  Though I had a couple of good hits.  I hit a monster shot that hit the branch of a tree in deep left field that was ruled a ground rule double.  And I hit another monster shot in the bottom of the ninth to start our 4-run game winning rally, that should have been an easy home run (no fences--in the old days you used to have to actually run home to get a home run) but became a triple when I slipped rounding third.  I was going a little too fast with no cleats.  Apparently, cleats weren't invented in time for vintage baseball.  A fan got a picture of me just before I wiped out and posted it to Facebook.

Compare the picture to when I've played in the past to see how much weight I lost.  You can also see video of me running (realize I'm using the term "running" loosely) out 2 home runs.  I really wish I had video of me running last Saturday so I could see how much faster I am.

Week 28 - Moving on up

Basketball Events: 0
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 1 (3-4, Double, Home Run)
Old Timey Baseball Games: 2 (Game 1: 2-4, Triple; Game 2: 4-6, Ground Rule Double, Triple)
Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:03 
• Minutes per mile: 7:26

Weight: 241 - *LOST 5 POUNDS*

Week 28

I love the food in Wisconsin.  They have things like butter burgers.  That's my #3 favorite dairy product on the my number #2 favorite dairy product on my #1 favorite way to eat ground beef.  The bratwurst will blow your mind.  a lot of the grocery stores make their own version all in the natural casing.  One in particular I remember had actual knots in the pig intestines on the end of the sausage that got really crispy on the grill ... so good.  On Fridays, you want to go to the fish fry at Gipper's in Green Bay.  Get the Perch, I prefer it to the Walleye.  And the cheese and the milk is creamier.  I don't know how they do it.  I can say that the happy cows in California might be happy but they don't make good cheese.  Good cheese is made in Wisconsin.  Face it California you ain't as good as they are and you never will be.  Basically what I'm getting at is that it is hard to go on vacation in Wisconsin and cram into a week all your favorite foods and not gain some weight.  I'll make up for it.

Oh and I still haven't beat my personal best.  One more attempt before we move.

Week 28 - The Badger State

Basketball Events: 1
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 0
Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:15 
• Minutes per mile: 7:30

Weight: 246 - Ugh ... gained 3 pounds on vacation

Week 27

Before I left for Wisconsin on Wednesday, I made an attempt to set a personal best on my 3.5 mile there-and-back course.  I was going fast on the way out.  I checked my stop watch after the turn and saw 12:14.  This was much better than anything I had done before.  This was my plan.  I did some research into my past data and found that when I set personal records, my first half of the run was always much faster than in previous PRs.  I was feeling good ... for about 200 yards.  Then I cramped up and folded like a cheap lawn chair.  The pain was exquisite.  Somehow I managed not to stop, but I my pace was barely a lumber at something just below 8.5 minute miles--I haven't had that slow of a pace for months.  

My cardiovascular breakdown demonstrates an endurance problem.  The current PR was set on the back of the best "back" time I've ever had.  I've never even approached it.  And on my way back on this most recent attempt, I was on pace to set a new PR, but then freak time laughed at me and said, "Come back when you're worthy."  We move next week to our new house, so I'll only have two more attempts at breaking the record.  If I fail in the next two attempts, I'll return for an exhibition run ... when I'm worthy.

Week 27 - Come back when you are worthy

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 1

Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 1-2; Game 2: 2-4, Double, 3-run Home Run)

Running Events: 2

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:55
• Lap 1: 12:14 - (6:59 per mile pace, previous best was 7:09) best ever by nearly 17 seconds
• Lap 2: 14:41
• Total average pace: 7:41 per mile

Weight: 243 - *No weight lost* (Scale in Wisconsin isn't digital, so though it appeared to be 242, I can't in good conscience declare the pound lost.  I'm just grateful to have maintained while on vacation.)

Week 26

The freak time still stands.

God looked down upon Adam alone in his apartment while his beloved wife and two kids were in Wisconsin and said, "It is not good for man to be alone."  I don't like being away from my wife.  The "hey-I-can-play-video-games-as-long-as-I-want feeling" wears off after about 12 hours.  I miss my wife and I am excited to see her today.

Week 26 - It is not good for man to be alone

Basketball Events: 1
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 1 (2-5)
Running Events: 3

Best Time:
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 26:06 (Second best time ever, but still slower than my PR by 13.5 seconds)
Minutes per mile: 7:27
Weight: 243 - *LOST 1 POUND*

Week 25

In Intel Finance, your life revolves around the planning and close cycles.  Right now we're in the mid-year cycle, where we refresh the 2H of the full year plan.  It was really busy for me because of some new scope I recently obtained and two key people that decided it would be a good idea to take their sabbatical during a planning cycle.  Anyway, the point is I didn't get much exercise.

I've kept softball stats because I wanted to see that if I was faster how many extra base hits I'd get.  Well I've gotten at least 1 double each week.  This last week I got a speed double.  The left fielder was positioned a little too deep.  I also noted that the third baseman wasn't playing the line.  So I figured if I could get the ball on the ground right on the line, the third baseman wouldn't be able to do anything and the left fielder would have a long run to the ball ... and I'd have a double.  I did just that.  I painted the line with a hard descending line drive that skipped past third just barely fair.  Out of the box I knew I had two, and with the extra speed AND NOT the extra fat, I was up standing.  That is the third such double I've had this season.  I could get used to this.

Week 25 - June Planning Cycle

Basketball Events: 1
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 1-2, Double, 2 Walks; Game 2: 3-4)
Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:24 
• Minutes per mile: 7:33

Weight: 244 - No Change

Week 24

I got one chance this week to do a time trial.  And I thought I was moving fast.  The whole way out I was thinking, "this is going to destroy the record I set a few weeks ago."  Then at the mid way point I turn around to head back, hit the lap button, check the time, and realize that I didn't even have my best first-half time.  I was totally deflated, so I lumbered my deflated self on sub-par run back.

The silver lining this week is I lost some weight this week.  The kids fell asleep early on Wednesday and I zonked out early too, sleeping without dinner.  Not eating that dinner made quite the difference.   Also of note, I've returned to wearing contacts.  My senior year of high school after the basketball season was done I got rid of my contacts (a necessity for sports) in favor of some glasses.  I've been wearing glasses ever since.  When I returned home from my mission nearly 10 years ago, I thought a pair of horned rimmed glasses would be cool.  So I started wearing horned rimmed glasses.  And that was cool until hipsters started wearing them too, often without the need for prescription lenses.  Way to go hipsters.  You ruined horned rimmed glasses.  So I have to wear contacts now.  Just do me a favor and stay away from baseball.


Week 24 - Back to contacts

Basketball Events: 2
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 1 (2-4, Double)
Running Events: 1

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:36 
• Minutes per mile: 7:36

Weight: 244 - *LOST 3 POUNDS*  36 lbs since January 1!

P.S.  We closed on our house and take possession on July 15th!  We should move in around July 20th once the popcorn ceiling has been removed.

Week 23

My goal was to keep a pace better than 8 minutes per mile during my 10k, otherwise I'd have been a failure.  I did much better than my goal.  I finished in the top 7% of participants.  I also learned something very important at the race.  There was a guy there that was an acquaintance of a friend that ran the 10k also.  He was tall, probably 6'4".  Thinner than me.  Every external sign indicated that he was in much better shape.  His pace over the 6.2 miles was a little worse than 10 mins per mile.  Honestly, it was a pace I think I could have matched when I started my comeback back in January.  I think what that tells me is that my weight is different than a lot of other folks' weight.  I was a mildly in shape dude, that used to be an athlete underneath 50 lbs of fat.  That is a much, much different thing than someone who is just 50 lbs overweight and has never been active or even someone who doesn't have a weight problem but isn't in shape.

My point is this ain't a exercise in vanity.  I'm doing this because I want to recapture some former athleticism.  The highlight of the race for me was the last stretch.  I was in a dead sprint for the last 50 yards.  Because 6 people were going to beat me and I wasn't having it.  I cam around the corner closing in like freight train and left them looking at the back of the biggest son of a gun they ever saw run that fast.  Next year I want to get down to 7:15/mile.

Week 23 - My First 10k

Basketball Events: 1
Strength Training: 2
Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 3-5, Double; Game 2: 1-3; Double)
Running Events: 2
Race Events: 1

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:16 
• Minutes per mile: 7:30 (Second week in a row at 7:30/mile pace)

Race Results:

• 10k or 6.2137 miles
• Mile 1 - 7:25.48
• Mile 2 - 7:25.76
• Mile 3 - 7:45.92
• Mile 4 - 8:01.15
• Mile 5 - 8:02.75
• Mile 6 - 8:07.3
• Last Stretch - 1:18.59
• Finish - 48:06.95  (It is very likely I had the fastest time among those 230lbs and over.)
• Pace - 7:44.61/mile *15 seconds better than my goal of 8min/mile!*

Weight: 247 - No weight lost, but my belt keeps getting tighter!

Week 22

In one week, I'll be doing something I never would have done last year, running in a 10k. Since this is Amurka! and we don't use the metric system, I'll be running a 6.214 mile race. In a little more than half that distance, you've noted that in the past few weeks I've been able to sustain a pace of about 7:40 per mile. Over the greater distance, I expect my pace will be slower, but I plan to do at least 8 minute miles. If I do worse than 8 minute miles, I think that will make me a failure. I'll be spending the coming week training my body to the pace. Wish me good training.

On Saturday I decided to play basketball for 2 hours and then help a friend move. But then I thought it would be cool to run to the move and run home after. No problem. Being in shape is way more awesome than being fat. Also the Red Sox are starting to close the gap in the AL East. Good week.


Week 22 - Good Week

Basketball Events: 1
Strength Training: 1
Softball Games: 2 (Game 1: 2-3; Game 2: 3-4, Double)
Running Events: 3

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:10
• Minutes per mile: 7:29 (closing in on the freak time)

Weight: 247 - No weight lost

Week 21

My mom came to visit.  We went on a very rainy 6.1 mile run using umbrellas.  That was the first time I'd ever run that far in a long while.  I'll be running in a 10k (6.2 miles) in June, so it was good practice.  At the pace we ran I was fine and was able to finish strong.

While my mom was in town we went on a quick walk to this old homestead house in the forested park near downtown Portland. It was a cool walk, though very rainy, and the destination was awesome.  I carried Claire down the switchback and back up which was a good workout.  My softball games got rained out, which always sucks.  All in all, a pretty rainy week.  Friday didn't rain, so I got a good time trial in.  Put in my second best time, and I thought I was cooking.   But I still didn't even approach the freak sub 26 min time from a couple weeks ago, but I'm demonstrating that 7:45 per mile is a very comfortable pace for me.

Week 21 - Rained out

Basketball Events: 2
Strength Training: 0
Softball Games: 0 (rained out)
Running Events: 2

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:50
• Minutes per mile: 7:40 (Not a horrible pace, but I want it at 7:30)

Weight: 247 - *LOST 1 POUND*

Week 20

So I am fairly certain that the Week 18 time trial was a freak show performance, that I'm unlikely to match or beat for a while yet.  In other disappoint news, I had a disappointing showing in softball in Saturday.  It was an all day tournament for Intel.  And my team made it unbeaten to the championship game and we lost in the bottom of the last inning.  Though I'll admit I was been playing third base like Brooks Robinson all day and especially well in the championship game, my bat, which had been hot all day, died in the last game.  No hits.  Including the last at bat where I would have been the tying run, but instead was the last out of the game.  It was a long fly ball that came up a good 10 feet short of the wall.  Pretty much described the week.

Week 20 - Pop flies

Basketball Events: 2

Strength Training: 0
Softball Games: 8 (6 on Saturday) (Thursday 5-8;  Saturday 14-22)

Running Events: 2

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 27:15 
• Minutes per mile: 7:47 (Not a horrible pace but it ain't great either)

Weight: 248 - Same as last week.

Week 19

The important thing this week was the return of softball.  Last week got rained out, so we made up one of those games on Wednesday.  I was concerned that without the weight somehow my power would be gone.  Not true.  I'm just faster, a lot faster.  I hit a home run in the first game of the year on Wednesday and then on Thursday I hit another one in the 2nd game of a double header.  Two homers in three games to me says that my power isn't gone, I'm just faster.  I made use of it.  In the base paths I was moving like I haven't in years.  I was stretching extra bases, getting to balls I usually couldn't get to, and beating out throws to first on deeply fielded grounders that used to get me.  Sometimes it takes losing weight to realize how much the extra baggage really holds you back.

We also got a new stroller to accommodate both little Henry and Claire.  It has inflatable tires, so it can double as a jogging stroller.  I tried it out on my 3.5 mile course.  It is hard work.  I did get one legit time-trial in, and it was dismal.  Starting to wonder if my time last week was a freak accident.

Week 19 - Softball Returns!

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0
Softball Games: 3 (Game 1: 4-5, HR; Game 2: 2-4; Game 3: 2-4, HR)

Running Events: 3 (1 with the stroller)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 27:38 
• Minutes per mile: 7:54 (Dismal pace - have to go back several weeks before I was that slow)

Weight: 248 - *LOST 1 POUND*

Week 18

I hope that I saw my weight in the 250s for the last time this week.  The other breakthrough is that on Saturday, I turned in a time a full minute better than my personal best putting me just below 26 minutes.  It was weird.  I started running and almost immediately felt heavy.  I felt heavy the whole way out.  Then I hit the lap button at the midway point on my cell phone stopwatch and checked the time quickly and was astonished to see 12:35.  I was on pace to beat 26 mins (previous best was just under 27 mins).  Invigorated by my pace, I didn't feel as heavy on the way back.  My pace was 7:11 per mile out and 7:35 back.  Averaged 7:24 per mile.  That's a respectable pace (also first time keeping an average pace below 7:30/mile).  My final weigh-in put me at 249.  I've lost 31 pounds since New Year's Day!

Week 18 - Good Bye to 250s.  Don't let the door hit you in your fat butt on the way out!

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 1

Running Events: 3 (0 on Treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 25:52 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per mile: 7:24

Weight: 249 - *LOST 2 POUNDS.  Finally done with the 250s!*

Week 17

I can't wait to wake up one morning and see 249 on the scale.  The 250s have been like watching a movie that's really bad and really long.  I'll be glad when it's over.

Week 17 - I'm tired of the 250s

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 1

Running Events: 2 (0 on Treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 27:05 
• Minutes per mile: 7:44

Weight: 251 - *Finally lost 1 friggin' pound*

Week 16

I broke through the 27 min barrier and would have repeated the feat later in the week had it not been for one of my shoes being a little wet, causing me to slip on the polished plastic faux wood boardwalk of my course.  The interesting stat is that in both runs--even with the fall--I kept better than 8 min/mile pace on both the "there" and the "back."  This was a first as I had only been able to average better in total.  Now if I could just go back to losing weight ...

Week 16 - No Friggin' Progress

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 1

Running Events: 4 (2 on Treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 26:56 *New Personal Best*
• Minutes per mile: 7:42

Weight: 252 - Still no friggin' change

Week 15

This week was supposed to be better. I was done with close and excited for a lighter work week and more time to exercise. I was wrong. It was busier. On Monday, I took the GMAT. If Kaplan practice tests were an indication of performance I was probably going to get about a 550, a score not good even close enough for the programs I wanted. I got a 690 (88 percentile). Kaplan can cram their practice tests up their butt. They made me unnecessarily nervous to take the test for 3 years. And if their practice tests are any indication of improvement, I didn't really improve from the study.

Well I was super excited to get a better score than Viddy (my old college roommate, Viddy, got a 680). So I went home an logged a good time detailed below. I didn't have free time the rest of the week. I got a quick 15 min treadmill session on Wednesday and then tried the course again on Saturday and missed the Monday time by 3 seconds. No change in weight, which is lame, because I'm still kinda fat.

Week 15 - Still Kinda Fat

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 0

Running Events: 3 (1 on Treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 27:25 *New Personal Best*
• Minutes per mile: 7:50

Weight: 252 - No Change

Week 14

Tough week. The Red Sox lost on opening day. Verlander was unhittable. And because of Quarter 1 close, I didn't have much time for exercise. But I was able to get a good run in on Friday. I set a personal best, and, for the first time, I kept an average pace over the 3.5 miles that was lower than 8 min/mile. That's a respectable time.

Week 14 - Quarter 1 Close

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 0

Running events: 2

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 27:52 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per mile: 7:58 *First time average was below 8 minutes!*

Weight: 252 *Weight remained the same.*

Week 13

I'm sore. You'd think that since I've been working on this for 3 months that I wouldn't get sore, but I still do. I think the reason for this is my body is still telling me, "hey your positive life changes and weight loss progress are great and all, but you're still kinda fat and it's still requires great effort to lift your butt off the ground when your run all week."

I beat my personal best by 51 seconds, just barely missing the 8 min mile threshold by 11 seconds. I'm so close to breaking the 8 minute mile threshold I can taste it. And I've got data to prove that I like food. I was sore for my time trial on Saturday. I think I can breakthrough 8 minute miles, if I can flush my system of the lactic acid.

Week 13 - Sore muscles

Basketball events: 1

Strength training: 2

Running events: 4 (3 on treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 28:11 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per mile: 8:03 --Now that is a respectable pace.

Weight: 252 *LOST 3 POUNDS*

Week 12

I was 1 second off my personal best and lost a little bit more weight. But the 5lbs/week stuff seems to be a thing of the past. I was able to do a 5 mile run at a little bit better than 10min/mile pace, which is OK I suppose. I think one promising data point is, in my time trial, I ran my fastest lap 2 (the "back" of the there-and-back) by 15 seconds. So the gap between the there and back is getting smaller.

Week 12 - Slowing rates of progress

Basketball events: 0 (I need to start waking up early to do this)

Strength training: 2

Running Events: 5 (3 on treadmill, 1 five-mile run)

Best Time:

• Distance 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:03
• Minutes per mile 8:18

Weight: 255 *LOST 3 POUNDS*

Week 11

My resolve to use manorexia as a weight-loss method waned a little this week. I had a few glasses of milk (I miss milk so much it hurts sometimes), over-indulged in a few meals, and found I'm a huge fan of Dave's Killer Bread and jam. I'm serious, you think you like your bread. You don't. You don't know how bad your bread sucks until you try this bread. It reminds me of the homemade loaves my Aunt Laurel used to make me when I was in college.

Week 11 - I like Dave's Killer Bread

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 2

Running Events: 5 (4 on a treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:25
• Minutes per mile: 8:24

Weight: 258 *LOST 2 POUNDS*

Week 10

I must have underestimated my calories everyday because I couldn't break 260 on the scale. So no weight lost this last week. But I had a personal best on the 3.5 mile course. My pace was effectively 2.5 miles at 8 minutes and 1 mile at 9 minutes. To shave another minute off my time, I'll have to keep an 8 minute pace for 3.5 miles.

Week 10 - Plateau?

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 0

Running Events: 5 (3 on a treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:02 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per mile: 8:18

Weight: 260 - Same as last week. BOO!!!

Week 9

My darn times are getting worse. I think it is the result of running more during the week. I'm more tired when I have my "time trials." But I can still keep my time on the 3.5 mile course below 30 mins. Still making good progress and my resolve to not over-eat is getting easier, but is still a struggle. I've found that I get fuller faster, and have a taste for more wholesome food.

Week 9 - Still losing weight

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0 ( it was close week, so i only have about 20 mins/day so I did cardio)

Running Events: 6 (4 on a Treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:54
• Minutes per mile: 8:33 (I was so disappointed that I was back above 8.5 min miles.)

Weight: 260 lbs *LOST 5 POUNDS*

I'm down 20 lbs for the year. Only 25 more to go!

Week 8

My time on the 3.5 mile course wasn't my personal best, but I was only 11 seconds off the time from last week, and still under 30 mins. I'm still losing weight at a good pace. Hoping to maintain the 5lbs a week pace at least until I get below 250lbs.

I cannot believe the energy I have. Nothing sucks the life out of you like being overweight. I eat a lot less food each day, but I really don't go hungry. I played in a basketball game on Saturday where only 5 showed up. I had to play all 40 mins and I was fine. It was so much easier to move and jump and run. So with less food, I have more energy. And I'm still 30 pounds overweight, so I'm looking forward to all the energy I'll gain as I lose.

Week 8 - Keeping at it

Basketball Events: 2

Strength Training: 2

Running Events: 3 (2 on the treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:34
• Minutes per mile: 8:27

Weight: 265 *LOST 5 POUNDS*

Week 7

I used to eat for non-nutritional reasons. You know ... something to do when you're bored. And eating crap makes you feel like crap, which strangely makes you want to eat more crap. It's kind of like a fat cycle. What I'm experiencing now is that improvement boosts morale, and a boost in morale leads to improvement. It's a much better cycle.

But when you start out, it's hard to see improvement. That's why I'm so glad I tracked my running times because I saw improvement in the running times before I saw progress on the scale. And now I'm so glad I see progress on the scale because I don't see it in the mirror. You remember that robust double chin. I still got one of those. You see? Robust double chin:

But that robust double chin just beat his personal best for 3.5 miles by 40 seconds, and that robust double chin averages better than a 8.5 minute mile over that distance. This week, I could argue that my robust double chin was to my advantage because it was much colder and windier than last week. And my thin ... well okay, mildly thick ... layer of blubber kept me warm. But imagine what I'll be able to do on a nice day in a body that isn't 25% fat. Let's just go ahead and say it. We're looking at a Presidential Physical Fitness Award. But enough of that, I don't want to jinx it.

It's a there-and-back course that I run. And now that I'm losing weight, I'm seeing improvements on my "there" times, which as I demonstrated in week 5, have been fairly steady. On my run on Saturday, my average minute per mile pace "there" was just UNDER 8 minutes. There are a lot of people that can't even run 1 mile in under 8 minutes (I know because I was one of them 7 weeks ago). I nearly ran 2 miles at that pace. Seven weeks ago, I could barely keep a 10 minute mile pace. I've said it once and I'll say it again: The best way to improve your results, is to track them.

Week 7 - Plugging Away

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 3

Running Events: 4 (3 on a treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:23 *NEW PERSONAL BEST* **First time breaking 30 min!**
• Minutes per Mile: 8:24

Weight: 270 *LOST 4 POUNDS*

Week 6

I've slowly been seeing progress while running, but have yet to see progress at the weigh in. Well this week was a good one. I lost 5 pounds and destroyed my previous personal best time of 31:52 by 1:40! I blew past 9 minute miles to nearly 8.5 minute miles. Imagine what I'll be able to do when I get this 40 pound bag of weights off my butt?

I started utilizing Intel's on-site gym. The two other guys on my team go with me and we work out 3 times a week. It means the three of us have to log in at night and answer emails we missed from 4pm-5pm on those days, but I prefer being able to be home with my family and not make this weight loss adventure the focus of our lives. The advantage is I've started strength training which I think is going to be huge. It's easier to lose weight when you drive an F-150 than a Prius, if you catch my meaning. But I hate treadmills. They are so boring, and hard to get excited about. But I somehow suffer through the 25mins of running in place followed by a brisk 5 min walking in place.

Week 6 - Losing Weight!

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 2

Running Events: 4 (3 on a Treadmill)

• Best Time:
• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 30:12 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per Mile: 8:38

Weight: 274 lbs *LOST 5 POUNDS*

Week 5

This is the first week where each run wasn't my personal best. Last week's record of 31:52 still holds, but I ran three times this last week and started using a great tool to help with my diet. It's called My Fitness Pal and you can join for free too at www.myfitnesspal.com. My brother, Trent, told me about it. I started using it and have logged my meals ever since. If my soul-less pursuit of financial analysis has taught me one thing, it is that the very act of tracking behavior, improves behavior. Record your life and you'll live one worth recording.

Week 5 - Counting calories

Basketball Events: 1

Running Events: 3

BEST Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 32:13
• Minutes per Mile: 9:12

Weight: 279 lbs

Let's analyze some data:

This is a graph of all my 1st laps to date. I run a 3.5 mile course, which is a "there-and-back-again" endeavor. I log the lap time there and obviously the final time when I finish. This graph shows that with the exception of 2nd event, which had icy conditions, my 1st lap has been around 15:40 consistently.

This graph is more interesting. It demonstrates the improvement of my cardiovascular strength in the short time I've been running. On the left y-axis we have the total time for each event labeled on the x-axis. In the secondary y-axis we have my 2nd lap times.

Look at how strongly correlated they are. I actually did the regression analysis and the r-squared value is 0.92. So the math proves what is obvious visually. My 2nd lap got better as my cardiovascular endurance improved, and this improvement led to better running times. Eventually the difference between the 1st and 2nd laps will decrease and then I expect to see decreases in my 1st lap.

I should note that the last run of this last week was terrible. It was the worst time yet. I ran it on no food. And I felt it on the second lap. Don't run without eating.

Week 4

I ran twice this week, getting personal bests each time. On my run on Saturday, I very nearly broke 9 min/mile goal I thought would take me several months to break. I'm only a month into this, so that is promising. Seeing rapid progress in my running ability is also making me feel better about not losing weight just yet. My first run of the week I ran 9:18 min miles, and finished the 3.5 mile course in 32:44. My second run nearly shaved a minute off that time.

Week 4 - Making progress

Basketball Events: 1

Running Events: 2

BEST Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 31:52
• Minutes per Mile: 9:06

Weight: 280 lbs

My goal for this week is to run twice and to get the average below 9 minute miles. Stay tuned for next week. There will be graphs and data analysis!

Week 3

I was pretty busy with work this week; I even had to work on the weekend. I think my goal strategy is wrong. Instead of shooting for three running events, I just want to get two. Once that becomes a habit, I can get to the end goal of three events per week. The good news is I slashed my per mile time by more than 25 seconds this week on my 3.5 mile course. 15 mins to get to the midpoint and 18 mins to run back. I suspect that as my fitness improves the delta between there and back will decrease. It's one piece of data I've been tracking in my spreadsheet. I'll start posting graphs when I feel the sample size is large enough.

Week 3 - Busy at Work

Basketball Events: 1

Running Events: 1

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 33:04
• Minutes per Mile: 9:27

Weight: 279 lbs

Week 2

I didn't do as well as I hoped because I was so tired. Not as tired as Claudia, but little Henry has day-night confusion. So I never had energy. But he's gotten better. I bet if you make fun of my being overweight in the comments, I'll be more motivated this week.

Week 2 - Very Tired

Basketball Events: 0

Running Events: 1

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 34:36
• Minutes per Mile: 9:53

Weight: 280 lbs

1 second better than last week, but I think I lost at least 30 seconds on account of the icy conditions on the boardwalk.

Week 1

My friend Josh wants to match me mile for mile. So Josh you'll have to post your mileage in the comments. I created a good spreadsheet to track my progress. Graphs will be published in the future, but as there is only 1 data point for week 1, it could be awhile.

Week 1 - Lazy

Basketball Events: 1

Running Events: 1

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 34:37
• Minutes per Mile: 9:54

Weight: 280 lbs

Here at the beginning of Week 2, I expect to do much better.

My Un-famous Comeback

I want you to see me on Day 1 of my un-famous comeback. It's an "un-famous" comeback, because not many will know about it, nor will they care. I ran in a Ragnar Relay with my family in October about a month after an appendectomy. I averaged around 10 minute miles in the relay and I was a little embarrassed about how bad I did. I was given the easiest legs of the race because I was considered the weakest runner, and one of the other runners was pregnant ... so it was a wake-up call. So in 2012, the year I turn 30, I'm going to make a comeback. This blog will document my journey. Here's my picture on Day 1. You see that robust double chin? That crap has gotta go.