Ugh...Another blog.

Yes, this is another blog about running, trying to eat right, and probably a little big of life in general.

XL Runner really says it best.  When you think of runners you think of those little skinny guys that a stiff South Dakota breeze would blow over.  That's not me.  I've been the big guy most of my life.


Image from chrisfarleymovies.com

In December of 2009 I got sick of it and decided at 307 lbs. that I needed to do something different.  I started eating better and I started working out.  In the spring of 2010 I decided to run a 5k.  My wife and I started doing the Couch to 5k program.  A funny thing happened during the training, I started enjoying running.  Not only that, but I enjoyed the results I was getting on the scales.  We decided to sign up for a local half marathon that was taking place in September.  13.1 miles seemed like an impossibility at the time.  Using Hal Higdon's novice half marathon training plan, we ran all summer long.

September came and we ran the half marathon together.  I loved it!  My wife endured it.  In the end, I became hooked on running.  Along with finding a new hobby, I found a new body.  In one year I had lost more than 75 lbs.  Some people hear 230 lbs. and think that's still a big guy, but believe me, there are huge differences between 300+ and 230.

Anyway, running became a hobby/addiction.  I started reading everything I could find online.  I even bought winter running gear and was out running in single digit temps.  So what's next?  Well, this year I decided I should run a marathon.  Whoa!

Image from www.thirteenpointonex2.com

That's right, I signed up for the 2011 Chicago Marathon.  My current goal is to get into one of the starting corrals for the marathon.  They have 4 starting corrals and then EVERYONE else.  With 45,000+ runners running the marathon, the "everyone else" section is going to be a mob.  The slowest starting corral (Corral D) is my goal.  To get in I need to run a half marathon in 1:50:59 before August 19.  This is a pretty aggressive goal for me.  My half marathon time last fall was 2:09:XX.  So I need to knock almost 20 minutes off last fall's time.  My first chance is May 14.  I'm signed up for a local half marathon.  Training is ongoing.

Well, there you have it.  It felt a little like I was rambling, but now you know a little about where I came from and where I'm headed.  Since I don't really talk to anyone in real life about this stuff.  I'll be doing quite a bit more rambling.  Somewhere along the way maybe I'll find my niche in this community.