A New Year, A New Start

Well, it's almost the end of the year.  Christmas Day.  Only a week left in the year.  I haven't posted here in over 9 months.

During this past year, many challenges have presented themselves.  I've lost two jobs, gained four, and then quit three out of those four jobs.  I'm still in all kinds of financial distress, but my mental stress and my lack of ability to manage that stress has begotten even MORE challenges.  I'm now faced with the possibility of stomach cancer if I don't take care of myself.  Recently I was told that I have three ulcers in my stomach.  So now I need to take care of those ulcers before they make more problems for me.

I've also had to deal with a bilateral calf injury this year, which set my running back a few weeks.  Overall it didn't affect my abilities too much but it was quite a challenge coming back from that injury...it definitely added to my stress levels.

Now that things seem to be on the upswing, I think it's time for me to get back in shape.  Right now I'm at a bodyfat level that I don't enjoy and I need to change that.  My antidepressants have finally kicked in and I finally feel like getting better.  For weeks I didn't care what I looked like, what I ate, what I did with my exercise program, nothing.  I just wanted to lay around and be miserable.  Depression sucks.  But now I am actually waking up in the mornings feeling like I want to get "ready" for work...not just get dressed.  I feel like I want to get better.  I joined a new gym, and I think being in a new atmosphere will help me get motivated again.

Starting January 1, 2011, I'm gonna start following the CrossFit WOD's again and REALLY start training for Boston.  I have a pretty hefty goal for that race this year.  I want to run UNDER 3:05 this year...my 3:11 last year, 3 weeks after a 100-miler, let me know that I can do it if I really get the training right.  I have to be motivated and most importantly, I have to eat correctly and cleanly.  I have been neglecting my eating habits since the depression worsened.  But now I feel like I want to get back at it.

This is not the usual cliched "new year's resolution to get fit"...this is a renewed sense of self, it just happens to be starting on January 1.  If we're talking new year's resolutions...mine is simple.  Get out of the USA and move to Canada.  I will make every effort to get this done starting January 1.  THAT is my new year's resolution.  Fitness is my lifestyle, not a hobby or new fad.  It's the way I exist, the way I survive.  So calling it a new year's resolution would be redundant.

Stay tuned...I am gonna take my "before" picture in the next few days.  I will make every effort to post here at least every other day.  My goal is to post every day that I work out.  3 days on, 1 day off for CrossFit...and I'll be swim/bike/run training as well.  So for the most part, I'll be working out every day, unless a tri off day and a CF off day coincide...which will probably be rare.

Merry Christmas all.  Have a wonderful and safe holiday!

And the winner is ...

Well in our book it's Jeff ... in 20h and 46m ... he wrapped up his last 100 mile run ... at least he says it's his last .. well see after he has time to heal from this ordeal.

He's just tired and sick from all the nutrition but in great spirits over all ... time now for some much need rest.

I'd like a plate of women and a bowl of butter

Now that I have your attention ... Last lap ... very slow on the 7th lap ... he's have overall fatigue and some stomach issues ... but he's back out to finish the last 12.5 miles even if he has to walk it all.

He'll still finish under 21 hours or so ... which beats the time last year.

Now isn't that the funniest thing since sliced bread!

Was that a Brawny Bear I saw go by ...

Six loops done and he's looking strong ... feet are hurting and another blister to contend with ... plus the temp has started to drop again ... so time to bundle up and stay warm.

Nutrition is holding up for him and his pacers are keeping him motivated ... no delusions of the man in the red shorts so far .... but we all swear we saw a Brawny Bear go streaking by ...

Two loops to do ... finish time should be somewhere between 1am and 2am ...

What place am I in?

Well we finally checked after Loop 4 and he's in 17th place ... but we're still not telling him. At 10 hours and 40 minutes, he finished the 5th loop or 62.5 miles assisted by Jess and Kelly ... yes he is starting to hurt ... yes he is starting to get tired ...  but off he went, with Jess and Pete, for his 6th loop.

There have been more wardrobe changes so far on this race that what happens backstage at a Victoria's Secret runway show. Ahhh the gene just won't let go, even for a race.

At the halfway point

50 down ... 50 to go ... at total time (with rests) is 8h 15m .... not bad for a mere 50 miles. Important thing is he's maintaining his pace ... Gatorade and Biofreeze and Roctaine ... stuff to live by

He got sticked by Janelle ... looked like she was rolling out cookie dough. Shaun said it looked like she was blowing him ... leave it Shaun to say that.

Have no idea what place he is in since we want to remain in blissful ignorance ... if we knew,we had to tell him and that would just spur him on to run faster than he needs to.

Kelly and Jess are pacing with him now ... expect him in around 4:30 pm ... if all holds well he should be finished by 1am ...

She looks like a east german water bearer

it was all in the shoulders ... and this is definitely not a reference to Jeff.

Okay .. so three loops in .. and one small blister ... and Peter is a good sherpa ... he popped the blister, aquaphor'd the feet, changed the socks .. now that's friendship.

Jess (Pete's girlfriend) is getting worked up about running loops 4 and 5 ... yes it's odd that she's excited about the 25 miles but she's getting her first taste of ultras.

Pictures of the foot work shall be on Facebook

25 miles - sweaty laundry drop off

He's done his first two laps ... done well with pace but talk about sweat monster. There must be 5 soaked shirts drying on the stumps around our makeshift based camp. He also changed out of his new shoes ... yes new shoes on race day - worn in the face of the don't use new equipment on race day!

Jon and Janelle showed up with coffee for the group - thanks to them for the caffeine boost! Shaun and Kelly will be along about the time that Jeff finishes his third loop.

12.5 in the books

perfectly on pace for this loop ... he'll probably go fast on the second loop ...

got his supplements, gave us an extremely sweaty sweatshirt (which is drying outside before being allowed in the car) ... the new shoes are working out well ...

As Miranda Priestly would say .... "That's all"

and he's off ...

It's 6am and the 100 mile endurance insanity, I mean race has begun. It's dark, it's cold but at least it's not raining. Perfect day to run - at least for Jeff.

We expect him finish the first 12.5 mile loop in 1.5 to 2 hours ... keep an eye out for the next post.

One DAY To Go!

I'm here in Raleigh and ready to hit this thing hard!  I feel good and I've got all my supplies ready to go.  We're just about ready to go to packet pickup and the race briefing, followed by a yummy Italian dinner.  18 hours to go!!

One Week To Go!

Here we go people!!  In one week I will begin another 100 mile journey at Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC.  I will post updates during the week as the day nears.

So far this year, I've run the Disney Marathon (3:13, 172nd of 16885 overall), the Gasparilla Marathon (3:04 - a new PR, 37th overall of 2090), and a long slow 32 mile run in Tampa with some friends.  I'm ready to conquer the 100 mile challenge again!  This time I hope to run the race smarter (which hopefully means "faster"...last year I went out too fast and slowed WAY down at Mile 80) and be able to PR.  I hope I've learned my lesson!

More details to come!