Brian's World

Working It Out

2008-04-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

I love working out. I realy like the feeling of expending all that energy. But I have to say I am getting a litle obsessed about it. But Amanda says that's me. I get obsessed about things for a couple of months, then let them slide. Maybe tha's true sometimes, but with running and biking, I have these goals, and it keeps me going.

I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I don't think I had that much to loose in the first place. I was 185, and now I am 176. But I am turning fat into muscle, so I am not loosing much weight anymore. But my workouts are getting more intense. And my diet has been going pretty god. Not limiting myself too much. Just trying to eat the right things. I feel like I can cheat a little because I am working out so much. A little icecream at night is my weakness.

But what is so wild, is that since I stopped running in 1984, there have been tremendous advances in running technologies, if I can call it that. I mean, there is so much more about nutrition, and supplements, and info on how the body works, and processes energy. I have learned so much more about running in the last two months by reading the internet. Mostly on http://www.runnersworld.com, but other sites too. I could have been so much better if I had known what I was doing. I had a great coach in High School. Doug Johnson. But as far as I know, he never really explained what the different drills we were doing were doing FOR us! Like I have learned that to increase your strength and speed on a regular flat course, you should do hill running drills. Well, we used to do lots of hills, but I thought it was so we could run hills better! I didn't get the added improvement to regular running! And Nutrition! You perform as well as what you eat! We were never given a diet to follow at all. I think that high school athletes should be getting this information. maybe they are now, but I didn't. I suppose if I had asked, I would have been given the advise, but I never thought about it. All we knew was to eat pizza the night before a race to "carbo-load". Well, this is partially true, but it is so much more complex than that!

Anyway, I am learning a lot about running, and am really looking forward to this summer. I am running in the Philadelphia 10 mile on May 4, then hopefully doing some 5K's this summer. Maybe try a sprint tri-athalon, and then attempt the Philadelphia 1/2 marathon. I am actually looking at the time I have, and I may train for a earlier 1/2 marathon, and go for the whole Philadelphia marathon!!!!! Wow!! What a goal!!!! Meanwhile, there is the MS 150 Bike Tour in September too! But that's a whole nother story!!

My first 5K!!

2008-03-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 15, I ran my first 5k in abot 10 years. It was called the Haddonfield Running Company "Adrenaline Run". It was very exciting.

I went to the race with our friend Colleen Babore, who is the mother of one of the girls Abbys dances with. When I told her I was running the race, she said she wanted to go too, so we went together. Well it was a great race! Even though we started in the back of the pack, I was able to move up pretty steadily and continuously pass people. I did the first mile in about 8:40, and the second came at around 16:40, so I had picked up a little time. The course was mostly flat, but there was one good downill, and then the return uphill. It was one big loop, as these races usually are. So I finally made it to the home stretch. I was tired, but was keeping my pace. I kicked it the last 100 yards or so, and ended with a time of 25:08. My watch said 24:49, but I started it a few seconds late, as I lost track of the actual starting line, but because I was in the back, their time is a little slow, so I figure I really did about 24:58.

Not too bad for my first run in some time. I am really looking forward to doing another one so I can try to improve my time. If I do, I will be hooked. But there are so many 5K races around now, it won't be hard to find one almost every weekend if I want to. I don't, but I could.

So that's it for now, I will keep you all updated on other runs I do, or any other races or excercise events I participate in. I'm not sure why I feel compelled to tell the world, but what the hell. It's my blog, and I can brag if I want to!

That's all for now!

I've been away too long!

2008-03-05T07:46:00.001-08:00

Wow!! I can't believe I haven't written since November!! Sorry. It's not like anyone is actually following my blog. So no big deal.

I wanted to write today to talk about my latest round of exercise and nutrition. I went to the doctor again recently and she said my cholesterol had not gone down much in the last 6 months. I thought Ihad been doing pretty well, what with the exercise I had been doing, but apparently, it wasn't even close. I had a choleseral lebel of 243 with LDL's of 17o! Well after the 6 months, it came down to 240 with LDL's of 165!! Not good. So I have really taken to exercising three or four times a week. I finally kicked my Plantars faciitis problem, so now I can run again.

I went to the Haddonfield running company and with a gift certificate that my generous mother-in-law gave me for christmas, I bought a propper pair of running shoes! They fitted me and consulted with me on the shoes, so I know I have the best pair for me. Anyway, I have been running two to threemiles a day (not every day). I have decided to run in a 5k next weekend, and mayb some other fun runs in the spring!

One of the runs I am looking into is th e Broadstreet Run in Philadelphia. It is a ten mile run. A big jump from a 5K, but it isn't until May, so I have time to build up to it. BUt I'm pretty excited about getting back into running again. And my diet had really improved too. Since I don't really want to take medication for cholesterol, I told the doctor that I wanted to try again to get the number lower by watching my diet, and as a result, I have been eating a lot more of the so-called power foods (fibre rich whole grain breads, nuts (almonds), yogurt, Omega-3's, fish, peanut butter, berries, vitamin B6 and B-12, stuff like that), and I think my body likes it. I have been losing my belly fat, and maybe not loosing weight so much as slimming down and getting into better shape.

So that's where I am, if anybody actually cares. It feels good, and isn't that hard to do. It just takes a little discipline, and staying motivated by reading about nutrition and health. BUy that book called "eat this, not that". I don't remembr the author at the moment, but it is featured on the Today Show about once a week. The author is one of the editors of Men's Health Magazine.

Well, that's it for now. Hope you all enjoyed this latest episode. I will be reporting more after I finish these couple of races, and really start to kick my spring running and bicycle riding into gear! Gotta get ready for the MS 150 2008!!

Craziness

2007-11-20T08:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I was reading my last blog entry. I went on a bit of a rant, but bo big deal. Everybody is entitled to do that once in a while.

Things have been a little nuts the last few days. Most of it I have already talked about on the web page, but in the last few days, we got two new kittens AND Amanda got appendicitis and was in the hospital overnight! That is such a drag for her. She hates the hospital. Unfortunatley, she is always the one who ends up there. Most of the time it has been because he was ready to have a baby, but still, she has spent her fair share of time in hospital beds! And all I can do is stand there and be supportive and wait with her. I feel pretty useless, but I think the morale support makes her feel better. That's Amadnda's M.O. If she's miserable, then I should be misserable too! (I love you honey!!)

Anyway, everything is working out fine. The kids are getting to and from school no problem. Mary is helping out Dennis is helping out. Our friend Rhonda is helping out. So everything is fine. Amanda will be back home tonight. The kids will be relieved to have her back, and after thanksgiving, everything will get back to normal.

Now if we can just get through Christmas!

Supoport the troops

2007-11-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

Yes I put a Pro-Military video up on the front page of the website. So what! I do not support our being in Iraq. I didn't from day one. However, I do feel bad for all the senseless killings and death and destruction that the war has caused, both on our side and theirs. We shouldn't be there in the first place, and everyday good people die for no real good reason. I don't beleve that we are there fighting for anything! What exactly are we going to get out of the war in the end? What is the objective? Is it even possible to achieve it?? NOOOO! But that doesn't change the fact that we (and by we I mean George W) have sent all these troops over there, ripped them out of their lives, and we, as Americans, do need to support them. They have no choice but to be there. The war is not their fault, so We must support them. And at the same time, we must continue to push to get them the hell out of Iraq! So whether we elect Clinton, or Obama, Edwards, or Biden, we have got to make sure they do the job we want.

So that is why I posted that video. It is sad that we even have to think about it. Our troops need support because they are trapped in a world they can't control, and until they all come home, we can't forget about them. Thanks for listening.

Leave a message.

2007-11-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

So I am a little disapointed that not very many people have left messages for me on my blog or web site. No big deal, but it's nice to know who had been visiting. But I am whinning..

Things have been very exciting lately. We just had Jim and Rene for a visit. That was so much fun. I mean, we didn't do anything except go to the Reading Terminal Market. I had never been to that, and wanted to go. Wow!!! My mouth was watering as soon as we walked in. All the Italian food with Mozzerella cheese balls, and basil, and olives, and pasta and tomatoes!! Very delicious!! Then we move on to the fruit and vegetables. They were big and fresh and cheap. And the restaurants/food preparers!! Fresh pretzels, cheese steaks, icecream. It was all delicious, and I can't wait to go back. Rene took video of a lot of what was there, and Jim is going to edit into a short movie and post it on there site.

Jim is trying, or tried to talk me into changing Blog/home sites, and use Word Press. I think I will, but I have to change everything over, and I just don't know when I will have that kind of time. So I guess I will limp along with this site for a while. The problem with the googlepages site is that it is limited on interfacing with the audience. I have a hard time posting pictures, and video is no longer allowed to be embeded, so no more direct fee Utube. I can still do links, but its not as good. Also, the look is a little boring, and to be honest, I am starting to think that a blog is really what I need. In addition, I am thinking of starting a blog for training for the next years MS150, and also for other rides in spring. NOt sure yet, but it is a thought I am working on.

Before I do that, I have to figure out if I want to organize my own riding club, or join another. There is a local club which does shorter, slower rides called "dridesplus", but I haven't actually ridden with them yet.
Meanwhile, I am still trying to get into shape to handle harder rides. My gym training is going well, and I am looking forward to more cycle training, namely spinning, in the future, probably more in January. Until then, I will stick to spinning once a week, and doing cardio and weight training. Get my "core" into shape first.

Okay, I have rambled long enough. If you have any thoughts on any of this, or want to tell me to shut up, please Leave A Message! Thanks.

Foot Fixed Fast! Fantastic!!

2007-10-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

I went to the doctor today because of my Plantars Faciitis. I have Dr Janik, she is a GP, but she's pretty good. Amanda also goes to her and so does (my father-in-law) Dennis Kelly. So it's a family affair. Anyway, she had already said it was Plantars, and that I should do excercises. Well, the excercises weren't cutting it. Major pain. Some days I could barely walk. And with the workouts I have been doing, I needed it fixed fast.

So anyway, I was visiting Dr. Janik, and she said, "Oh, we have a Podiatrist in the office now. He's here today in fact. Would you like to see him??" I said I would, so she got him and sure enough, he has a quick fix for me! He gave me a cortizone shot, which pretty much numbed my foot for the next hour, and it is maskng the pain now, and should make it go away for good. Now I still have to do the excercises, but at least I will be able to do my workouts. So that is my Foot Fixed Fast story.

Getting in shape

2007-10-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now that I have participated in the MS 150, I am determined to get into shape. Better shape. Well, I have a bad shape right now, and would like it to look better. Mainly in the stomach area. Even my mother said I look fat. Well, I have made the commitment to a gym, and by spring of next year, I will be fit fit fit.

I had such a great time riding in the MS 150, I want to join a bike club and do some independent "fun rides". I am thinking of rides in the 20 -50 mile range. I waould also like to get prospective members of next years team together to train earlier in the year, so that we are all pumped and ready for the big day! It's not that we win anything special by being more or less in shape, but I think we will have more fun if we can ride together, and not worry about being so tired! Also, we can get to the end at a time when the festivities are still going on, instead of seeing everything geting packed up! I am very upset that I couldn't get an icecream cone from the Jack-and-Jill truck. They were just sold out!! AURRRGGGH!!

Anyway, that's my goal for next year. So that is why I have started training at the gym. This weekend I took a spinning class. Wow is that hard! BUt I think if I stick with it, I will get better, and maybe it will get easier. I am also taking a class called boot camp, which works pretty much every other muscle in the body until I am drenched in sweat. I think that makes Nicole, the teacher, happy to see me so sweaty!

Wel, that's about it for working out. I should have amanda take before and after pictures of me. I think I will have to set a goal of April 1st for getting into shape. I will get back to you on what my actual goals will be.

FirstPost!

2007-10-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hey,I have a blog! This is pretty cool. I have been meaning to start one, and now I have. Well, I'm just checking it out right now, so,see ya later!

Ok OK. I know there isn't much here yet, but it is a work in progress!! I keep telling you people that. Just keep checking back. I will write when I get time. You'll see!