Half of Phil

 Well I got off track on blogging and my weight loss journey.  I've done a good job getting back on track with fitness and dropped about 15 lbs of the weight I'd put back on. I missed my weigh in this weekend as well as my daily step count, but did get my 10k this morning before I came into work.  I also weighed in and was down to 317.6! I just checked and that is only 2.6 lbs up from when I made my last blog post. I'm turning 50 in October, so I've got a goal to be in the 'best shape' of my life when my BDay rolls around. Still noodling on what I'm going to based that somewhat abstract goal on.  I doubt I can get back down to 275 lbs, before then or even at all. But there are other health factors besides weight. I was able to complete the Huntersville Half back in December, and was not far off my PR which is incredible considering I was probably 30-40 lbs heavier than the last time I did it. I'm planning to do 50k in races this year before by Bday.  My ...

 I guess I did not come through with my commitment to post here monthly starting in Jan huh?  So here's my first post for 2022.  I've not done very well with my weight this year.  The good news is I've lost about 8 pounds the last month or so.  Hoping to keep the trend up.  Bad news is I'd gotten back up over 320 over the summer.  I've not done well with tracking my food, but I can clearly see from the two graphs above that I've done better losing weight when I track my food.  So I really gotta keep that up. I've kept up my run training with Garmin this year.  I don't think the 5k goal is going to happen because of the weight I've put on and I'm just not doing well with getting faster in the short time.  I am doing better with keeping and sustaining an running effort for the long run though.  Since early summer I've been doing a 1/2 marathon training plan.  I'm scheduled to run the Huntersville Half on Dec 10, which I'm confide...

 I gotta get back to updating this blog in 2022.  I gotta also get back on track with weight loss.  I did pretty good until the delta surge, but things kinda went off the rails eating wise the back half of 2021 without a doubt.  I'm back up over 300 lbs not just hovering there.  I just went back and checked by 2021 goals: Run 5k in in 31 min 30 Seconds - didn't make Run 10k once per month - achieved Complete 2,021 miles walking and running - achieved Get down to 250 Lbs - not even close I finished by 2021 miles at the end of November.  I'm currently a 2100 for the year and I've stopped tracking some of my walking.  I've only been tracking walks when I wear a weighted vest. I also completed a half marathon on Dec 11.  My goal was to finish in under 3 hours and not be last.  I met both of those goals. Since then I've been focusing on trying to train for a faster 5k time and getting back to doing some strength and conditioning work.  We got...

 My plan to reboot my fitness journey this month was a definitely failure to launch.  I kept up with my running until this week.  I hurt my back, most likely working on my car.  Went to the dr the other day and got some muscle relaxers and prescription ibuprofen with instructions to take it easy for 2 weeks. I can keep up with walking, but I've got to not lift anything of consequence for 2 weeks or run any.  So I may try to do more yoga and see if I can get limbered up some. I'm still on track to make my goal for mileage this year.  I'm still over 100 miles to the good.  Hopefully I can keep that up.  So far walking hasn't really hurt my back.  It is feeling much better but muscle strains take time and the willingness to take it easy even when it starts to feel some better.   It's easy to sit and ice when it hurts, less so when it gets to feeling better. The weather has turned cool, it was in the 40s this morning.  We've got he...

 I've stayed the track with my running during COVID, but I've lost track on losing weight.  I weighed myself today and was 297!  The good news is that's down a few pounds over the last few weeks, but the bad news is that's at least 10 more than where I've held my weight for the last several years.  I'm determined to do better.  I'd really like to get down to 250 so I'm going to push for it and then do my best to hold it there.  I definitely don't want a lb or two a month to keep creeping back on. I've gotten my 10 miles run every week so far this month.  I got on more 10 mile run on Friday and then the following week it'll be Sept and I gotta go for 11!!   We signed up for the Huntersville Half in December, so I'm hopefully on track to be able to run it.  I do need to do some exercise beyond running.  Not sure if I'm going to join a gym or work out group, or try to do something on my own.  I'm planning to get started next week,...

 We are seeing a wave of COVID cases again.  It's very disheartening after it kinda dropped off to near nothing in June and now we are back up to nearly 10 people testing positive per day in our zip code! Seems every day I hear of someone else I know that's had it recently even among folks that are vaccinated.  We are scaling back some of our activities again and trying to wear masks indoors.  I've been out to restaurants twice this week and feel like I'm taking a risk every time.  My daughter is back in school and my son is back in XC training full time.  So we are back out there, it's just a matter of time I suppose before we catch it.  My concerns are the healthcare workers and hospitals, I really hope they don't get over run again. I did my 10 mile run last week in 2 hrs 13 min.  It went pretty well all things considered.  Tomorrow I think we going going back to McAlpine Greenway.  We haven't been there in a few weeks. Next committed...

 I've kept up with my 9 mile runs this month.  Last week I nearly got it done in under 2 hours.  Maybe tomorrow I'll break that barrier, but I know it's going to be hot so time will tell.  Doesn't look favorable. I'm doing well keeping my mileage up for the goal of 2021 miles this year.  I'm up over 70 miles to the good so far.  Hoping I don't need the buffer, but its nice to know I have one. My weight is creeping up, I've got to get back to tracking my food again as well as doing some exercise beyond running and walking.  I'm definitely looking forward to some cooler weather in Sept which of course is still a month away. Next committed update: 8/10

 Boy it has been a hot July so far!  It doesn't help that we've had AC issues.  So far though we've been an entire week without the AC going out!   I've gotten my 9 miles in the last two weeks but I haven't done any other real exercise.  I'm still getting my 5.53 miles per day and at least 15 miles run per week.  I've probably only run 3 days each week thought in the spring I was running 4-5.  I'm over 68 miles to the good for the year on my goal to get to 2021 miles. I think we are going to get back to lifting weights more now that we won't be traveling as much.  I may look into rejoining HFFA or something similar.  Need to talk with the family about it. Looking forward to cooler days ahead in a few months. Next committed update: 7/30

 I've done my long 8 mile runs every week this month, one week I did 9.16 miles the inverse of Juneteenth for the Race Against Racism at work. We had about 12 people show up to walk I had gotten there early to log my miles before the heat of the day.  This week I'll bump my long runs to 9 miles for July.  Adding one mile per month should put me at 13 miles in Oct or November.  I need to look for a half marathon to sign up for in that time frame.  It'll be cooler then too which is a huge bonus. It has been crazy hot here, well not really but it sure feels that way to me, we had such a mildish spring.  Plus our AC has been on the fritz but I think we finally got it fixed on Monday.  It's much more comfortable in the house now and easier to cool off after running. So far for the year I'm 60 miles or 11 days ahead of schedule for completing 2021 miles of walk/run over this year.  I'm very proud to have not gotten nearly to my goal last week.  We ...

 I missed making my 2nd May update.  Life got hectic. I've kept up with my running, I did 7 miles once a week all month for my long run.  In June I'm going to try to do 8 miles once a week for my long run.  Hopefully I can stretch myself out and run a half marathon length later this year. I'm not sure if we'll sign up for a half or just run the distance.  There are starting to be plenty of in person races.  This weekend I'm doing the Race for Racism event again for work.   Need to look at calendars and try to find another race or two to sign up.  My son came back form his injury and is looking forward to his conference meet next week. I've enjoyed having my truck.  I took it to a small car show here in town a couple weeks ago and have worked on it some in the driveway.  Got problems with parking brake and speedometer cable maybe half way fixed.  I'll keep plugging away at it though. Next committed update: 6/29

 So I missed my last update for April.  I meant to do it, but got busy and just didn't.  April was 5 year anniversary of this journey to get into better shape.  I think I'm likely in the best shape I've ever been in, but I admit I was whooped after a 9Round workout the last week of April.  My buddy is selling the place so I had to go get one workout in with him before he left.  I got both my vaccines so I think it was pretty safe. I started tracking my food again May 1st and weighing in.  I was up to 294 on 5/1.  I was back down to 288.8 by 5/7.  I was out of pocket some this weekend and didn't track my food well, but I'm starting back today.  This past weekend was quite simply amazing and one I'll cherish forever.  I took Friday off because I wanted to go get a truck I've been dreaming of having since I was 14 years old.  Before we left Friday I did my 7 miles for the week and set a 10k PR by 2 min 40 seconds.   In t...

 We did the Motus race this past weekend.  I finished my first ever organized 10k and my son his first half marathon.  He also won the whole thing! Pre Race Selfie Post Race Selfie Garmin Tracker Shot the event took of the two of us. I had thought it would be a flat course but I was dead wrong.  Lots of hills and twist and turns.  It was definitely a tough course, but we had fun. Our beach trip was good we had a relaxing week and aside from a ghost scare the last night all went really well. Next committed update is: 4/29/21

 It's definitely sprint time here.  Our grass is finally starting green up.  I'm planning to pull up the barriers I've had up since the fall to keep the pup from digging on Friday.  Hopefully when we get back from the beach the grass will be even more in and the dog will leave the yard alone.  One can hope right? We've had so much rain it's unbelievably wet in our yard.  I'm hopeful that pulling up the barriers will help it drain better, but time will tell I guess. I finished my first garmin training session and didn't get a new PR for my 5k time, but I did get a PR for 10k a few weeks ago. We are doing a race in North Myrtle on 4/10.  I'm doing a 10k and my son is doing a 1/2 marathon.  It's at a trail run park and should be an interesting race.  It should be flat but looks like a lot of twists and turns for sure. I'm doing the galloway run walk training session right now with my garmin watch my race day for this session is 6/26 so hopefully...

 Have been putting off the blog post.  Been hectic at work.  I'm off track on eating and have really only run for excercise for awhile now.  I need to get back to weights and some cross training.  Hopefully I can once we get the vaccine.  It opens for our group in NC today so hopefully soon. We did a 5k last weekend.  I didn't get a PR like I'd hoped for, but I did do decent. I had a time trial for my Garmin training to run 1.5 miles.  I averaged 11 min mile which I think is outstanding.  I'm hopeful I can maintain that in 2 weeks for the full 5k and then I will get a new 5K PR. Next committed update: 3/31

 We did the hot chocolate 5 k last weekend.  It was crazy cold but we survived Today I got us signed up for the Leprachaun 5k in Locust on 3/14, a trail run in Myrtle Beach on 4/10 I'm doing the 10k and my son is doing the 1/2 marathon.  In May they are having the Harrisburg 5k again and I got us signed up for that. Things are going to get pretty busy for us after this weekend.  Soccer will have a tourney the first weekend in March and then at least one game every weekend through April aside from Easter weekend. We have booked a house go to Sunset Beach for spring break it'll be our first trip in well over a year.  I think we are all looking forward to it. I've got to to do better about my eating, but I'm staying on track with running and walking for covering my 2,021 miles thsi year.  Right now I'm 4 days ahead of schedule.  That will come in handy cause I know I'll get tied up with work or something one day and miss out.  Or maybe I can take the...

 I've been doing pretty well with running.  I made it the entire month of January with running at least 1 mile per day.  So far I'm on track to complete my 2021 miles for the year.  I'm actually a few miles to the good which I think is great because at some point I will miss a day down the road. I've not run a couple days this week so far.  I decided to follow the Garmin recommendations for my training plan they say to take a couple rest days.  Last week I got 10:38 for my mile time trial.  I have to do another one tomorrow so we'll see if I got any better this week.  I'd had some faster mile times just using Strava on my phone, but I think the Garmin is much more accurate. For Christmas I made my wife a nice trivet and my son a set of cornhole boards.  I wasn't sure what to make my daughter, but my wife suggested I make her a queen headboard so she could have a larger bed in her room.  I wasn't able to find any good plans on the interwe...

 2021 is well under way.  We have a new President.  Gone is Trump and in is Biden.  I'm hopeful that our country can regain some decency at the federal level that has been missing since Obama took office in '08.  But alas the current Senate can't even agree on new rules to reform the new Senate body so I'm not holding my breath. I've run at least a mile so far every day in Jan.  I didn't include running every day in my overall goals because I wasn't sure about it.  I'm glad that I didn't cause I'm not sure it's good for me.  I've decided to finish the month of Jan though if I can. I'm on track through with my 2021 goal for walking/running that many miles in the year.  I got off to a slow start but I'm gaining ground.  So far I'm right at 5 miles over, hoping to build that up some because I'm sure I'll get behind at some point this year. I've got family struggling with covid right now, it's still pretty rampant ...

 I've decided on my goals for this year: Run 5k in in 31 min 30 Seconds Run 10k once per month Complete 2,021 miles walking and running Get down to 250 Lbs I've still not decided if I want to commit to 'streaking' for the entire year where I run at least 1 mile per day.  So far I've done it every day for 2021 which is only 7 days, but I'm pretty sure in my first 45 years I've never run 7 days in a row. I got a new Garmin watch so I'm learning to use it for tracking.  It has a training program that I've started to help me reach my 5k goal by mid march. I'm trying to do better on my eating and get back on track with weight loss.  I think the additional running will help with that. Biden was officially certified as the next president by Electors and the Congress.  Our national capital building was occupied by protestors briefly on 1/6/21 egged on by an irresponsible sore loser and the far right press.  I'm praying for our nation.  I truly ...

 So I had the idea to try again to get my 10 min mile average for a 5k by going to a track with the boy.  Well first off I couldn’t get my fat ass over the fence to use the track.  So I ended up trying in the bus lot while he did his track workout. Running in circles got old real quick and I still didn’t get the whole run done at that pace.  I did make the first mile though. This morning I finished my 100k for Dec run challenge on Strava. I haven’t 100% decided on my goals for 2021 yet.   I’m sure it’ll involve more running.  I think we are gonna be distancing still until summer at the earliest.  For 2020 I made my goal of running a 10k.  I missed on the others. Next committed update and 2021 goals to be set by 1/8.

 Few days late updating my blog.  Last week was pretty stressful.  Over the weekend we had a what used to be normal hectic schedule.  XC for my son at 10 am Sat and then a Soccer game at 2 pm.  He came in 2nd in the XC meet and his team won their soccer game!  So it was a cold but good day for sure. Sunday afternoon we did the Elfie5k in Locust, NC.  My MIL lives out that way and wanted us to run it, so we did our first in person run since February.  My son got 2nd place there but set a PR with time of 17:17!!!  The guy that won is just a crazy good runner and was nearly a minute under his pace.  I was able to finally finish a 5k in under 35 minutes which was my 2019 5k goal. We've started using Strava to track our runs, my sons XC team at school uses it.  And FitBit has been kinda buggy lately.  It has me with a PR mile effort sub 10 min!!  I don't know how accurate that is, it kept auto pausing if I'd stop to walk some....