Milestones

OK, I am not going to the gym to lose weight. As I say at the top of the blog. I am running for my life. The weight is a measure of progress, it is not the goal.

Still, I was really pleased when the scale read 370 today. That’s 35 lbs lost since January 19. I am encouraged, but I need to keep that in perspective. That’s a little more than 8% of my original body weight. Ultimately, I want to drop 50%. Still, I’m happy with the progress. I am shooting for 2 lbs a week for the next two years. I am ahead of that pace - also encouraging.


I added a short walk and about 10 minutes of stretching before I lift weights. I also added some leg exercises to try to strengthen the muscles around my knee. It feels better every day, and I want to keep moving in that direction. My last cardio day was pretty disappointing - I may just start on the elliptical tomorrow and not even try walking.

Someone suggested that I think about run/walking in a race this summer. a lot of people find that preparing for an event helps them to focus their training. I looked up some races in the Bluegrass, and I’m considering it. There are several 5K’s being sponsored by our running shop, and also a big 10K here on July 4. I think it might be cool to actually get out and run with other people. I am very content with the treadmill for now, but I can imagine a time when I will want to get out and smell the good Kentucky air.

All in all, I have to say I feel pretty good today. I hope you do too.

Peace,
Pennsy

A satirist is a man who discovers unpleasant things about himself and then says them about other people.

Peter McArthur

A Swoosh in my Step

I went out yesterday to visit our super running shop here in Lexington. The people are smart and fun and I don’t think I have ever heard a negative word about them.

I went shoe shopping - which Mrs P likes far more than I - because in my research I learned that my black and blue toe nails indicate a condition called runners toe and are caused by wearing shoes that are too short. Once your toe nail falls off, you’re pretty much grounded, so off to the store I went.

The man there poked the end of my gym shoes to confirm that they were too short. then he put me on one of those old fashioned foot sizing gizmos with the sliders and all. My big old feet are now size 13 1/2. Talk about middle age spread.

He also observed that my arches are very high, which will make my foot tend to roll out when I run - supination it’s called. He went down to the basement and brought up three pairs of size 14E running shoes for me to try on. They all felt fine to me. I told him that since I had no real favorite, I would just take the cheapest pair. He then told me that the New Balance were full price, but that the two pairs of Nikes were last year’s models left over from the year end clearance sale because they are so BIG. So I wound up getting two pairs of Nikes for less that what the New Balance pair would have cost.

Mrs P loves finding a bargain and she was very proud of me! And a little turned on, I think.

Tonight I walked/ran on the treadmill - 4 miles in 52 minutes - faster than ever. I’m looking forward to spring. I like what’s happening to my body and my mind, and I want to take them both out in the fresh air for a spin.

Peace,
Pennsy