11 February 2010
Weight Check
Today: 196.5
Last week: 197.5
Start weight on July 20: 231.5
Total loss to date: 35 pounds!
I am now into early college years weight. But overall, I'd say I am living much better than I did then, when I lived on burgers, pizza and french fries for 4 years!
The doctor is impressed with my weight loss and has cut my BP meds in half. I'm checking my BP daily and there is no spike in the BP, so I am very pleased.
Thank you all for your encouragement and inspiration. It means a lot to me. More to lose. Won't rest until I'm skinny!
07 February 2010
Wear test review: Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves
Back in Late November I contacted the good folks at Zensah to request a free pair of compression leg sleeves for a product review. Much to my surprise and delight, they responded quickly and sent pair of sleeves right away.
I wasn't able to test them right away, because I was sated to run a marathon the very week I received the sleeves. Then came recovery and rehab of a minor injury. BUT finally, in this new year I've run with the sleeves several times on long runs and short, tempo runs and easy runs. I don't really understand the science behind compression. I mean, I get the whole stimulating blood flow and keeping the muscles warm, but beyond that, I really haven't delved into the physiology of compression. Perhaps my friend at RunBlogger can explain the geeky side.
I wore these today, under my tights, for a 12 mile run and was very pleased. My calves felt great through the run, and that is significant to me since I've been trying to transition from heel to mid-foot strike and to a more mid- to forefoot strike. So I expected some calf soreness over the last few weeks. I tried to alternate runs with and without the sleeves by way of a comparison and found that I like the way the sleeves "hug" the calves. And since it has been quite cold recently (sub-freezing temps when I run in the early morning) they've also provided a thin layer of extra warmth.
While I don't plan to run in my Sugoi compression socks that I reviewed a few weeks back, I like these sleeves for running, since they allow me to wear my own socks (Injinji, by the way). Of course, one can also use these sleeves for recovery and I did just that after the Rocket City Marathon in December and was pleased with the result.
Another thing I like about Zensah is their presence on the web, and especially on Twitter. Zensah, along with Brooks Running, has been a regular and interacting presence on Twitter. Both have been engaged with their customers, answering questions, running contests. Zensah even goes so far as to put their Twitter address on the packaging, as you can see below.
I really like the sleeves. They aren't cheap (but with running gear, what IS cheap anyway? LOL), but I've found them worth the price in what they offer my calves and shins. (Oh and don't worry, the sleeves come in other colors than my favorite: Orange!)They have a whole line of compression wear. So, if interested, check them out at www.zensah.com or follow their Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/zensah
26 January 2010
Downward Dog Pose--A great Yoga pose for Runners
Downward Dog Pose
Here are two more poses that are good for the hamstrings and the hips:
Triangle Pose (good for hamstrings)
Pigeon Pose (good for hips)
30!
Finally! I've lost a total of 30.5 since July 20. I feel awesome, and not ready to stop! Next stop: 40 pounds.
July 20: 231.5
Last week: 202
Today: 201
I've lost enough weight to fit once again in my 1983 Members ONly Jacket! NO! I don't plan on wearing it in public!
19 January 2010
I guess I HAVE to run it now
As if registering for Disney's Goofy Challenge wasn't enough, I had the "Running to Disney" roving correspondent (Dominic) pick me up a shirt to prove it. Disney sells these shirts 1) so they can make money, of course, and 2) so we can be proud that we are training for endurance events. And we should be.
So since I now have the shirt , I guess I HAVE to run the races? Is that how it works?
BBC interview about the podcast
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/pods/
16 January 2010
14 January 2010
12 January 2010
Visit to the ortho doc!
The thing that I loved about him is he "gets" runners, and his prescription for therapy and recovery was to benefit my running and not to merely give an "easy fix." So what he said was this. Apparently during my training for Rocket City, and likely during or around my last 21 mile run before the taper, I developed some micro-tears in the tibialis anterior, the tendon that runs on the top of your foot and dorsiflexes the foot upward. It really inflamed during the marathon with slight swelling. Since then, I have nursed it, stretched it, rehabbed it, cross-trained it, and stayed away from running. It has, to his judgment, healed. BUT, a small degree of scar tissue remains on the tendon and that scar tissue irritates the sheath in which the tendon rests, and THAT is what I feel upon dorsiflexion and when running after 2 or so miles.
So, he said that normally he'd give non-runners a cortisone shot and tell them to rest it. But he KNEW runners and our desire to run, and explained that a cortisone shot would not FIX the issue--it would only enlarge the sheath to prevent irritation and would wear off later. So, he prescribed a super anti-inflammatory and instructed me to continue my stretching and rehab activities and add to that self-massage of the scarred area, which I can feel on the tendon as a thicker portion than the rest of the tendon.
The million dollar question was, then, can I run? He asked me my mileage per week. I told him 25-35 depending on the training cycle. He said to half it, run small increments until I "felt pain," and then back off. Gradually increase the mileage until I can run again without issues. Irritation is okay, pain is not. GREAT news.
This means that Myrtle Beach Marathon is still a definite possibility, likely even, and that with some aggressive (you have no idea how OCD I can get on a rehab!) recovery, I'll be good as new soon.
06 January 2010
Run Like a Kid, you Disney Runners!
So I wish you all the best, that you will have the run of your lives and an experience that matches it. Disney was my first marathon, and it was not easy to finish. But I now realize that with every stride that I took last January, I was changing my life forever. I hope that your Disney running experience is just as magical as mine, and that your race is full of laughter, surprises, and good cheer.
I wish you all a magical time at the most magical race on Earth!
Run Happy! And run like a kid!
26 December 2009
The Emotional Side of Running
Consider the role of music in running. How many of has NOT used some playlist on our mp3 players to get through some tough miles, to find some emotional inspiration in lyrics or a special musical rhythm? In fact, there are people who specialize in supplying running music for runners, whether to match a specific cadence/pace requirement or to help runners lose themselves in their running. When I need that special oomph in a run, I turn to a couple of special songs that have struck an emotional chord in me. Who hasn’t done so?
So why is it then, that we are often taught to ignore or suppress the emotional side of our running; to treat our running like a clinical exercise? There are those who would prescribe forgetting a bad run (or even a good run for that matter, to prevent overconfidence or complacency) as a means of moving forward, of getting past the past. What good does it do us to suppress the emotional, spiritual side of running in order to perform better? And is that even possible if our genetic makeup requires addressing that emotional, mental side of running?
I’m here to submit to you that running is not a clinical, soulless exercise. That it is okay to experience and express emotions before, during, and after running. In fact, we can become better runners if we learn to understand what out emotional side requires from us and from our supporters. If we do not learn to understand what our emotions tell us, then we cannot grow as individuals, as runners. But the issue is a little deeper than learning to express emotion in a healthy way. The issue gets to the very nature of humanity itself.
We now know, thanks to the Human Genome project that no two humans are alike (well, we knew it for a long time, but some geeks in lab coats confirmed it for us). If this is true (and why wouldn’t it be, anyone found their exact twin recently?), then we must grant that runners as individuals are different. I’m not talking about paces, stride length, foot strike, or speed. What I’m writing about is runner temperament, runner emotions, and runner psyche. We are distinct, each of us possessing a set of ideals and beliefs and attitudes that derive from nature or have been nurtured in our environment. And as runners, we are no different. Each runner has a different temperament, attitude, outlook; a set of world views as they relate to the sport we all so dearly love (and sometimes hate—see, emotion!).
So what’s my point? My point is that the secret to runner success can be found not only in the training, the miles, the hill work, the speed work, the gear, or the race-day conditions, but also, and perhaps most important, in the runner’s mind! There has been a lot of recent literature and focus recently on the mind of the runner, but most of it (at least that which I have read) focuses on the necessity of understanding that the mind controls the body, that the body can do more than the mind “thinks” it can, and that once one understands that, then running progress can occur quicker. In short, this literature has focused on the mind/body relationship. But what about the need to understand a runner’s emotional needs? If we are not all alike, then we must realize that each runner has certain emotional needs. Some runners need positive reinforcement in their training and races. Others need “tough love” as a motivator to improve. There are those runners who exhibit a dispassion for their running, a sort of mechanical nature to their emotional side, but they too have an emotional side that they are suppressing.
We do a disservice to ourselves and those we support, then, when we appreciate that strides and gaits are distinct, yet ignore the variety of runners’ emotional needs. Imagine trying to fit all runners into the same model and style of running shoe. Chances are that someone will become injured by this “one size fits all” mentality. Yet, we do this when we neglect the emotional differences in runners. And worse yet, when we dispense running advice to one another we should fully appreciate those physical and emotional differences. Just because one runner may be able to take a bad run or a lousy race and forget it, to clear it out of the mind immediately, doesn’t mean that the next runner will be able to do the same. If the former can forget the bad, the latter might require a purging of the bad memories of a race or negative running result. And without that purging the runner may fail to move on with a clear and focused mind for fear of reliving a unique event. Without a discussion of what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent or overcome a negative event, some runners are unable to move on. And yet this is not rocket science. Often the answer is a simple: not your fault. Other times the answer can contain specific actions a runner did or did not take. Regardless of WHAT the answer is, the runner who requires this closure MUST get this closure. Some runners need a beer after the race in order to move on. Others need more elaborate measures, from deep-thinking conversation, to a boat load of tears. The sooner that we realize what kind of runner we are emotionally, then the quicker we can adapt to those needs and grow. Just because you are able to quickly come to terms with a bad result doesn’t mean that the person you are advising or training can. The essence of a good running friendship or training relationship is the mutual awareness of these differences and needs that each person has. One size most definitely does not fit all.
So why am I writing this? Well, for one, I’m on vacation and my mind is not occupied with work matters. Second, I’ve thought about this issue for some time now. When you cry after your first marathon and get mocked for it ever since, you find yourself thinking about why some people express emotions and others don’t. And third, being able to observe the training programs of several friends and their various successes and failures has given me an opportunity for observation and analysis. Running is like that. It is one of the few sports where we’ve all been through what every other runner has been through (except maybe BQing or winning a marathon, but you get my drift). So running lends itself to be, at once, objectively and subjectively analyzed. It offers a level of experiential analysis that few other sports can claim. I mean, really, how many of us could identify fully with Derek Jeter winning the World Series as part of the Yankees Baseball Club?
So just as we need to be aware of our physical needs and limitations, we should also be aware of our emotional needs. And more important we need to let fellow runners know what they are and how best they can support us in our running.
21 December 2009
20 December 2009
Ep. 41: Tips for Disney's Marathon Weekend (pt 1)
19 December 2009
Busy year
17 December 2009
Rocket City Marathon Report
As you know from the last post, I went into the race fairly confident in my training, but a little nervous as to the outcome. To spare you of the suspense, I had a great race where everything went according to plan. I ran 5:33:00 for my second marathon and shaved 37 minutes off my WDW Marathon time from January (which was 6:10). The Rocket City Marathon was a blast.
10 December 2009
Time to run: Rocket City Marathon
- Weight. I've lost 27.5 pounds (from 231.5 to 204) and feel incredible. My running has improved and I KNOW this will assist my racing and recovery. Eating a healthier diet has been paramount to this growth and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Megan (the Vegan Running Mom) for helping me wean myself from dairy and meat (I'm not totally off them yet, but my consumption of those two items has decreased exponentially, and my weight has come off because of it)
- Rest. Before the WDW race, I had toured the parks for a full 2.5 days before trying to rest the night before the marathon. My endurance suffered from walking miles a day and standing in lines for hours. This time, I've had plenty of rest and recovery during my taper.
- Training. My training for WDW was "just finish." The training for this race has been specific for a time goal and for growth and improvement as a runner. This has made a world of difference in my attitude and conditioning. Again, thanks to Megan for being my coach.
- Experience. Another year of running, with its successes and failures has taught me great lessons about myself and about running. I still consider myself a newbie, but feel so much more knowledgeable about this sport.
- Friends. You, the people who read this blog, or listen to the podcast, or tweet with me on twitter. You mean a lot to me. All of you have inspired me in one way or another and I can only say thanks, and hope to give you something to be proud of when I run.
05 December 2009
Chat with Disney's Endurance Team: 12-10-09 1 PM EST
04 December 2009
Product Review: Moeben Arm Sleeves
As a running nut, I am fascinated with running gear. Running sleeves, at least in my mind, are a recent arrival on the non-elite running scene. I mean, most of us have seen world class marathoners wearing them at cold weather races. My first recollection is seeing Ryan Hall wear them at the NY marathon a couple of years ago. He wore them again at Boston last year. I had never considered myself a worthy enough runner for arm sleeves. I always thought you had to be a kind of elite runner to look right wearing them. But I was curious nonetheless.
So, having seen a Moeben ad in a running mag, and on the recommendation of some twitter tweeps (who recommended them highly), I contacted Moeben and requested a couple of pair of arm sleeves for a product review. None other than the CEO herself, Shannon Farar-Griefer, responded and sent me a few pair for evaluation.
Moeben is a company run by Shannon Farar-Griefer and is named after her two sons, Moe and Ben. She is an ultra runner who developed her product after noticing a skin lesion during an ultra race. The sleeves come in a variety of fabric types (eco friendly bamboo and hemp, or poly/lycra UV protection) and a wide range of prints, from subued black, white or blue to camo, tie-dyed, and even leopard print.
I had to wait a few weeks for the weather to cool in order to see how they assisted cool-to-warm weather runs. See, since I am not a speedy runner, my long runs typically start in the cool of the pre-dawn morning and end well after the sun has come up and has heated the place up. I have always had an issue with either over- or under-dressing. So I was excited to try the sleeves on several occasions when I knew the temps would undergo some fluctuation.
Before I get to the rest of the evaluation, let me tell you the coolest thing about these sleeves: the pockets. Each sleeve has a small pocket on the portion of the sleeve that would rest near your bicep/tricep area. The sleeve is just big enough for an iPod Nano or small cell phone. The iPhone is too big for this pocket, to give you an idea. My Nano fit perfectly in the pocket. And since the sleeves fit nice and snug, there was no danger of their falling down with the Nano inside. For track or tempo workouts I even placed sheets of paper with my paces in the pockets.
I am in love with these sleeves. The ability to pull them down or up as my body heats up or as the temps climb or fall is liberating. I can wear a short sleeve shirt, and wear the sleeves, and not fear overheating during the run. In fact, on an 11 miler in Franklin, Tennessee over the Thanksgiving weekend, they came in real handy. I wore the Bamboo tie-dyed sleeves. The day started out sort of cool but not windy, so I had the sleeves on. As the run progressed, the sun rose and the temps grew milder—I pulled the sleeves down to my wrists and wore them loose around the wrists near the hands in order to cool off a bit. But as I approached the Battle of Franklin Civil War site, which is more open field, the wind picked up and cooled off again, so I pulled them back up and kept my arms warm. Nice and versatile.
If you are considering buying some, you will need to decide whether you want the bamboo or hemp (which feel softer against the skin) or the traditional poly/lycra models. The hardest thing is choosing the print that you want on the sleeves. Believe me, some of the prints get pretty wild.
Visit the Moeben site
Product Review: Sugoi Compression Socks
02 December 2009
Running to Disney- Ep. 38: 21 miles, hummus, and losing confidence
Gordon makes his last long run before the marathon, 21 miles, finds that he lacks any confidence whatsoever. He records all of this episode in his car. He makes hummus–successfully.
Blogs of the week: Things Ed Likes and The DVC Life
Weight Check
19 November 2009
Weight Check
Last week's weigh in (Nov 12) found me at 210.5.
I was nervous that my weight might plateau if not running and burning tons of calories. I did, however, go the the gym and meld with the elliptical. I also rode
my bike 15 miles on Sunday afternoon. I decided,too, to do core exercises evry other day instead of three times weekly.
Still, I was anxious. So today came the weigh in and lo and behold, I had dropped 2 pounds!
New weight (Nov 19): 208.5!!!!
06 November 2009
Weight update: 20.5 pounds lost since July 20
Episode 36: Accountability, Twitter, and Dragons

25 October 2009
09 October 2009
Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!
Race for the Taste MEETUP

30 September 2009
September Numbers

23 September 2009
Running of the Ears

There is a relatively new forum that focuses on running Disney races, and the running life in general. It is a great community of folks who have run multiple Disney races. Their experience and encouragement will be invaluable to those considering a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World or a race. Please register and join their site. I'm proud to be a member.
21 September 2009
The response from the editor of Running Times, and my response.
I think you need to read JD’s column more carefully: he says that 200 lbs is the demarcation line between a skinny Kenyan and Jabba the Hut (way on the other side of the line). In other words, a 200 lb runner is a larger runner, which I think you’d agree.
Perhaps it was a poor choice of wording, but in no way did he call all runners over 200lbs Jabba the Hut.
In any event, you’ll be glad to hear that JD will no longer be writing for RT after January 2010.
Jonathan
don't take that kind of satisfaction. But I read that passage several
times. While I agree, this was a horrible and sad choice of
wording--perhaps in the end extreme editorial failure--and knowing
several 300 pound beginning runners, I resent the term being used at
all, whether it describes 200-pound runners or those "way on the other
side of the line". NO runner, or human, should be ridiculed in that
manner. I'm sorry you missed my larger point.
Best,
Gordon
20 September 2009
The email I sent to Running Times today
I have always looked forward to reading your "Shoe Guy" article in
Running Times, so much so that I turned to that page before looking at
any other content the magazine had to offer---until today. I read with
particular interest how you planned to help a non-conventional body
style (the Biker guy) get the right shoe. I praised your
understanding and efforts to show him that there WAS indeed a right
shoe for him. Then you went and called him, and all of us 200 lb and
higher runners, Jabba the Hut. Wow! Kicked in the gut for weighing
more than you think we should. Was that really necessary? Sure, I am
confident all the many 160 pound runners nodded their heads in
agreement--perhaps even shared in a chuckle. But have you not seen
that there are many runners who are running to lose weight, to improve
their bodies, and to enjoy this wonderful sport? Do they ALL look
like Ryan Hall? No. That you would refer to anyone weighing more
than 200 pounds a Jabba the Hut disappoints and saddens me. I've lost
15 pounds in the last 10 weeks. I'm still 215 pounds. What I and
many of my fellow heavy runners need is encouragement and
understanding, and inclusion. Please don't ridicule us more than we
ridicule ourselves each day...
I know a 300-pound guy who wants to lose weight and get healthier for
his daughter, to see her grow old. His goal is to run a 5k and is
being coached by an Ultra-marathoner. He inspires me, excites me about
our sport, and I wish to see him complete that 5K and lose his weight.
I will cheer him and share a tear when he does. I wonder how he would
feel to be called Jabba the Hut?
I'll miss your columns and your wisdom. I'll miss Running Times. (I
liked the magazine so much that I'd drive 14 miles to the local
bookstore and buy it faithfully each month) Then I subscribed to what
was supplanting Runners World as my favorite running mag. Your mag
wasn't filled with fluff or articles that seemed to repeat themselves
every so often. You guys understood "real" running in a more serious
way, I thought.
That is, until today, when I canceled my brand new subscription to a
magazine that I thought understood runners--all runners, not just the
skinny ones.
Sincerely,
Gordon Harvey
17 September 2009
Running to Disney- Ep. 31: The longue durée

16 September 2009
04 September 2009
Episode 30 Show Notes: Disney Podcasters Who Run--Wedway Radio
31 August 2009
August Mileage and Weight Report

Ran 110 miles in August. That's the most in a month since last October and marathon training.
22 August 2009
Trail run. Mt Cheaha Alabama
21 August 2009
Breaking News: This is the final year for Tower of Terror 13k and Race for the Taste!
"October 2009 is your last chance to run Disney's Race for the Taste 10K & 3K andThe Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 13K and 5K! These races will not be returning in 2010.
That means it's the last chance to earn medals for these events before they head into the Disney Race medal vault!
Run both the 10K and 13K, and you will also be awarded the Fall Race Challenge medal!Experience the taste and terror of Disney's Endurance Series this fall and take home limited edition finisher medals and lasting memories!
Specially priced hotel rooms and theme park tickets are available for race participants, but you must book by September 10 to receive the special race rates. Visit Travel Details atdisneyraceforthetaste.com andtowerofterror13K.com for more information.
This fall, look for an upcoming announcement on future Disney races!"







