Y'all, I have been terrible this week. Last two weeks really.
I've been deep in rehearsal and soccer for about two weeks now. I leave at 6:35 to drop off oldest son at school, then I get to work by 8. Work until 5 or 6, straight to theater, rehearse, home by 10:30 or 11. Eat dinner, go to bed, up at 5 the next morning.
And so it goes.
My dietary habits have been awful; I've been eating a lot from QT. A LOT. And they don't have a lot of heart-healthy, nutritious food at the QT.
My sleep has been between 4.5-5 hours a night on a good night. Not enough by a long shot.
And the running...I've made myself do a mile the last 3 or 4 days, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose my endurance if I don't get back to 3+ at least 4 or 5 times a week.
Show opens Friday, but we have rehearsal every night leading up to it. I love the show and hope you all can come see it. But it doesn't mix well with nutrition and sleep.
So I'm chugging along, trying to survive until next Monday. No show, no rehearsal. Rehearsal picks back up on Wednesday after our opening weekend. Maybe a chance to rest and eat better.
I've got to get some miles in, real miles. That's for me. I'm glad that I'm at least keeping the streak going. But as I've said so many times here, do something. Anything physical that gets your heart going. So I'm happy that I'm doing something.
I've also said a lot that you need to make time for something that you love to do. And I love acting and singing. I love being in shows. So I guess I'm sacrificing some other stuff for that, for the time being. I look and feel a lot better than I did during Phantom last fall; I even had a doctor tell me that she thought I looked bad during that show. Like unhealthy bad. Three months after that show ended, I had open heart surgery.
I love writing as well, and that's been tough to do lately as well. Please hang in there with me; I'll get back to doing this daily really soon.
Take care of yourselves.
Last four days runs: Saturday - 1.04 miles, Sunday - 1.04 miles, Monday - 1.03 miles, Tuesday - 1.02 miles. Verified by Nike + running app.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Friday, September 16, 2016
Don't ask why - Days 69-71 of running streak, Days 66-68 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Why do bad things happen to good people? My friend lost her sister on Wednesday unexpectedly; she was a wonderful person who loved to help people. She was a nurse. She helped me after my heart surgery, telling me everything I needed to do and not to do.
She was a great person. My friend is also pretty great. Why?
Why do things like this happen? It sucks.
About a month before I had my heart surgery, a friend of mine, the mom of one of my daughter's dance friends, died of a heart attack at home. She was somewhere around my age, healthy, full of life. Now she's gone.
I had surgery and lived. Why? Why does one die and one live?
Why do I get up and run every day? Because I can. It fills me with life; I can feel my heart pounding, the cool air on my arms and legs, and I feel alive.
I'm in a show that opens next week, 1776. I keep thinking, "If I had died, I couldn't have had this wonderful experience." Which is a dumb thing to think, but I can't help it.
My friends didn't want to die. They had sisters and brothers and daughters and husbands. They had things they wanted to do, people that they wanted to grow old with and people that they wanted to see grow up.
When is it our time? How can we know? We can't. I wouldn't want to know, and neither would you.
What would you do differently? Would you treat people differently? Would you treat yourself differently if you knew you had a day left, or a week or a year? Would you do things that you had always wanted to do?
Why? My friends didn't know that they were going to die, but that didn't matter. They loved people, people loved them. They took care of people. They loved their families. They laughed, lived and loved.
Don't ask why. Just don't. You'll never know why. And what good would it do you?
Live this life the way you want to. Don't be afraid to laugh and love. Treat yourself to a nice run or walk today. Look around and see your world as a walker or runner. Stop dying and start living. Stop being sad and smile. Think about all the great people and things in your life.
Live.
Last three runs: Wednesday 1.03 miles, Thursday 1.06 miles, today 3.00 miles, all verified by the Nike + running app.
She was a great person. My friend is also pretty great. Why?
Why do things like this happen? It sucks.
About a month before I had my heart surgery, a friend of mine, the mom of one of my daughter's dance friends, died of a heart attack at home. She was somewhere around my age, healthy, full of life. Now she's gone.
I had surgery and lived. Why? Why does one die and one live?
Why do I get up and run every day? Because I can. It fills me with life; I can feel my heart pounding, the cool air on my arms and legs, and I feel alive.
I'm in a show that opens next week, 1776. I keep thinking, "If I had died, I couldn't have had this wonderful experience." Which is a dumb thing to think, but I can't help it.
My friends didn't want to die. They had sisters and brothers and daughters and husbands. They had things they wanted to do, people that they wanted to grow old with and people that they wanted to see grow up.
When is it our time? How can we know? We can't. I wouldn't want to know, and neither would you.
What would you do differently? Would you treat people differently? Would you treat yourself differently if you knew you had a day left, or a week or a year? Would you do things that you had always wanted to do?
Why? My friends didn't know that they were going to die, but that didn't matter. They loved people, people loved them. They took care of people. They loved their families. They laughed, lived and loved.
Don't ask why. Just don't. You'll never know why. And what good would it do you?
Live this life the way you want to. Don't be afraid to laugh and love. Treat yourself to a nice run or walk today. Look around and see your world as a walker or runner. Stop dying and start living. Stop being sad and smile. Think about all the great people and things in your life.
Live.
Last three runs: Wednesday 1.03 miles, Thursday 1.06 miles, today 3.00 miles, all verified by the Nike + running app.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Sometimes it all comes together - Day 68 of running streak, day 65 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Tired when I went to bed last night, got up at 4:30 am to go running. Yeah I was tired, no I didn't get enough sleep. Very bad; don't do what I'm doing. Ran 2.98 miles. 3 miles tomorrow!
The stars were beautiful and the temp was about 65 degrees. Fantastic. Felt a little zombie-like, but I felt like a string was pulling me along.
Got back to the house, made taco meat for the wife and kids tonight. With 1776 rehearsals going so late and soccer practice also going so late, I do dinner for them a couple nights a week. I know, I'm great.
Got cleaned up and came to work; 5 minutes after I got here a deal closed for me! Whoo hoo!
I'm worried about where I am on my lines for 1776, so I've been working on them during lunch and before rehearsal. Was happy to find out on a review that I'm actually off book for about 70 pages; I still have 47 that I need to get off for, but I'm better off than I thought I was. Happy about that!
A healthy lunch and some great coffee later, and I'm ready to get through the rest of the day. No doubt things will go well. Or if they don't, that's okay. Energy is very high, things are going wonderfully.
It's truly great and amazing when things come together. When you invite someone to see your product and they not only look, but buy it. You came along at the right time and helped each other out. Or when you're young, and want to ask that girl out so bad, but you're afraid to, and you finally get the courage up, and she says yes. You almost can't believe it. Or when you start learning your part in a show, and you work on it, and finally you realize that you KNOW it, you've learned it.
Life is incredible. We (I) focus on the struggle and the challenges so much that we (I) tend to focus on the negatives, the problems. But so many good things are happening all the time in your lives and you don't even know it. You don't realize it, because you're not looking, You're looking for the problems. You're worried that things will go wrong. Meanwhile, things are going incredibly right.
My sons are fantastic soccer players, and that's not just my opinion. My older son just switched back to forward this year from defense, and has scored something like 7 or 8 goals and assisted on 5-6 others so far in 10 games. Great, right? What does he focus on? The misses. "Did you see that shot I missed??" Yes, but I also saw that one you buried in the top left corner. I liked that one better.
We work, we struggle, we fight, we get hurt. But sometimes, a lot of times, it all comes together. We just have to notice.
Today's run - 2.98 miles, verified by Nike + running app
The stars were beautiful and the temp was about 65 degrees. Fantastic. Felt a little zombie-like, but I felt like a string was pulling me along.
Got back to the house, made taco meat for the wife and kids tonight. With 1776 rehearsals going so late and soccer practice also going so late, I do dinner for them a couple nights a week. I know, I'm great.
Got cleaned up and came to work; 5 minutes after I got here a deal closed for me! Whoo hoo!
I'm worried about where I am on my lines for 1776, so I've been working on them during lunch and before rehearsal. Was happy to find out on a review that I'm actually off book for about 70 pages; I still have 47 that I need to get off for, but I'm better off than I thought I was. Happy about that!
A healthy lunch and some great coffee later, and I'm ready to get through the rest of the day. No doubt things will go well. Or if they don't, that's okay. Energy is very high, things are going wonderfully.
It's truly great and amazing when things come together. When you invite someone to see your product and they not only look, but buy it. You came along at the right time and helped each other out. Or when you're young, and want to ask that girl out so bad, but you're afraid to, and you finally get the courage up, and she says yes. You almost can't believe it. Or when you start learning your part in a show, and you work on it, and finally you realize that you KNOW it, you've learned it.
Life is incredible. We (I) focus on the struggle and the challenges so much that we (I) tend to focus on the negatives, the problems. But so many good things are happening all the time in your lives and you don't even know it. You don't realize it, because you're not looking, You're looking for the problems. You're worried that things will go wrong. Meanwhile, things are going incredibly right.
My sons are fantastic soccer players, and that's not just my opinion. My older son just switched back to forward this year from defense, and has scored something like 7 or 8 goals and assisted on 5-6 others so far in 10 games. Great, right? What does he focus on? The misses. "Did you see that shot I missed??" Yes, but I also saw that one you buried in the top left corner. I liked that one better.
We work, we struggle, we fight, we get hurt. But sometimes, a lot of times, it all comes together. We just have to notice.
Today's run - 2.98 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Monday, September 12, 2016
Don't let the bastards get you down - Days 65-67 of running streak, days 62-64 of Sugar Free Challenge*
When I was in high school, I did a lot of stuff and won a lot of awards. I made good grades; so good that I got a full scholarship to a college that I hadn't heard of before I went there.
I was in plays, I sang in the chorus, I edited the newspaper, I lettered in tennis. But above all, I made really good grades. So good that I graduated at the age of 16.
"You think you're so smart!", people that I didn't even know would say to me. I didn't show off about it, really. But yes, I did think I was so smart. Part of being smart is thinking that you're smart. Like you're smart enough to realize you're smart. And that most people are not.
At my senior year awards ceremony, I won a LOT of awards. Like ten or so. When I got up to get award number 9, this delinquent kid said to me quietly, "If you win one more award, I'm going to kill you." Well, I won another award and he didn't kill me, but it was still pretty scary.
It's interesting how bullying works, and what people think about it. That it's small kids or fat kids or gay kids or minority kids who get all the bullying. I was a fat kid who got bullied when I was younger, I mean badly. But I lost weight and the bullying stopped. Then, I got bullied for being smart and winning awards.
Why do I bring this up? Because it's happening again. Not to me, but someone close to me. They're being bullied because they're so good at something that it makes people jealous. This person has had this happen to them almost their entire life, at different times.
Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? Like me, they didn't flaunt their talents or abilities, but they did put them on display. And most of the reaction has been positive. But some has been negative, angry, jealousy. I can't be as good as you, so I'm going to tear you down. Disgusting.
But we see this all the time, don't we? We hate pro athletes, pop singers, movie stars because we can't be them. How dare they get rich? Or famous? Or popular? Don't they know what we need? They don't deserve that fame, that money. Equally disgusting.
Here's what I would tell my friend, who would be very embarrassed if I mentioned their name: don't let the bastards get you down. They are self-hating, miserable people who will never amount to anything. They have no/limited talent or ability, or they don't have as much talent in a particular thing as you do. So instead of making themselves better, they choose to tear you down, thinking that it will hurt your feelings or make you stop doing a thing that makes you great.
How do you avoid them? You can't. They are literally everywhere, like dust mites.
How do you combat them? By continuing to do your great thing better and better, so much better that the bastards disappear from your view completely. And by ignoring them; they hate to be ignored. Hurting you is really all that they have.
It's hard, especially if you're young and sensitive, like my friend. But once you start not paying attention to them and just doing your thing for your own pleasure, you soar. So high that no one can ever bring you down.
Last three days runs: Saturday - 1.03 miles, Sunday - 1.02 miles, Monday - 2.96 miles, all verified by Nike + running app.
I was in plays, I sang in the chorus, I edited the newspaper, I lettered in tennis. But above all, I made really good grades. So good that I graduated at the age of 16.
"You think you're so smart!", people that I didn't even know would say to me. I didn't show off about it, really. But yes, I did think I was so smart. Part of being smart is thinking that you're smart. Like you're smart enough to realize you're smart. And that most people are not.
At my senior year awards ceremony, I won a LOT of awards. Like ten or so. When I got up to get award number 9, this delinquent kid said to me quietly, "If you win one more award, I'm going to kill you." Well, I won another award and he didn't kill me, but it was still pretty scary.
It's interesting how bullying works, and what people think about it. That it's small kids or fat kids or gay kids or minority kids who get all the bullying. I was a fat kid who got bullied when I was younger, I mean badly. But I lost weight and the bullying stopped. Then, I got bullied for being smart and winning awards.
Why do I bring this up? Because it's happening again. Not to me, but someone close to me. They're being bullied because they're so good at something that it makes people jealous. This person has had this happen to them almost their entire life, at different times.
Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous? Like me, they didn't flaunt their talents or abilities, but they did put them on display. And most of the reaction has been positive. But some has been negative, angry, jealousy. I can't be as good as you, so I'm going to tear you down. Disgusting.
But we see this all the time, don't we? We hate pro athletes, pop singers, movie stars because we can't be them. How dare they get rich? Or famous? Or popular? Don't they know what we need? They don't deserve that fame, that money. Equally disgusting.
Here's what I would tell my friend, who would be very embarrassed if I mentioned their name: don't let the bastards get you down. They are self-hating, miserable people who will never amount to anything. They have no/limited talent or ability, or they don't have as much talent in a particular thing as you do. So instead of making themselves better, they choose to tear you down, thinking that it will hurt your feelings or make you stop doing a thing that makes you great.
How do you avoid them? You can't. They are literally everywhere, like dust mites.
How do you combat them? By continuing to do your great thing better and better, so much better that the bastards disappear from your view completely. And by ignoring them; they hate to be ignored. Hurting you is really all that they have.
It's hard, especially if you're young and sensitive, like my friend. But once you start not paying attention to them and just doing your thing for your own pleasure, you soar. So high that no one can ever bring you down.
Last three days runs: Saturday - 1.03 miles, Sunday - 1.02 miles, Monday - 2.96 miles, all verified by Nike + running app.
Friday, September 9, 2016
When there are other hands on your time - Day 64 of running streak, day 61 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I didn't get much sleep last night, again. Stayed up watching the Broncos win! YES!
I woke up at about 4:15 am with a lot of angst about the day ahead. A LOT of things to do this morning to get ready for the day, plus running. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't so I got up at about 4:30 am.
I didn't put on my shoes and go running; I went to the gas station and the ATM. At 4:30 am.
I got back and went running, but I worried that I wouldn't be able to get the other stuff done before I had to leave for work. So I only ran 1.04 miles today. Could have gone further, chose not to...
Isn't this the stuff I tell you all not to do?
Don't I tell you to do the thing that you want to do FIRST? If possible I mean. But that you prioritize it first?
I have felt bad about this all day. And I can't get that time back, ever.
The day and night move on. And ultimately it usually doesn't matter that you folded the towels that morning, or washed a load of clothes that could have waited until tomorrow.
Sure, if you have an emergency, or if a loved one needs you, then that is different.
But how many times do we give up that sleep or exercise or writing time or whatever because we think it's more important to do chores? It's dumb.
Who else is doing that? Nobody. Just those of us who are feeling a little guilty right that minute. How dare we go running? Why do we have the right to pick up that book? Things won't get done!
That's right, they won't. And I'm not saying put yourself first all of the time; I'm saying find a thing or two that you want or need to do, preferably something that will help you in some way (running, rest, etc.) and DO IT. Put it at the top of the list, unless there's a fire or other emergency. Not only do you get your thing done, but it carries you into the day with happiness and satisfaction, which makes it easier to do other things that you really don't want to do.
Will I ever do this again? Probably. But unlikely.
Today's run - 1.04 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Bittersweet symphony - Day 63 of running streak, day 60 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Yes, it's another meaningful song blog entry from me...
I'll give you time to exit now...hurry...okay
So it's been an up and down morning, mostly up. Didn't get much sleep last night, but I did get up at 4:30 (!) so that I'd have time to run. Did 2.94 miles; not too shabby especially considering my feet yesterday. But all felt okay, it was a starry sky, cool, perfect conditions. I pounded it out in a little under 9 minutes per mile, which was awesome. Sweet.
"'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony this life..."
This song came on at work today. Fitting, because the morning quickly got a little more bitter than sweet. Not work related, a result of my being tired and not doing all of the things I needed to do. The sweetness of the early morning was replaced by the bitterness of mid-morning, real life time.
"I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down..."
Bittersweet. Every day, bittersweet. Good times, bad times. That's how it goes.
You have great moments, like this morning. You have bad moments. Ups and downs.
You keep moving, you keep going.
The day of my high school graduation, my dad showed up drunk. Bittersweet.
Of all the singing that I've ever done, I had strep throat the day of MD All State Chorus auditions in high school and didn't make it. All three of my children have already made the equivalent. Way more sweet than bittersweet, but still a little bittersweet.
"But I'm a million different people from one day to the next, I can't change my mold"
When I was in Little League, I crushed a ball to an adjacent field that would have been a home run for anyone else. It was a triple for me because I was so fat at the time I couldn't run the bases. Bittersweet.
I could go on and on. I am a happy person. But like all of you, I have lots of bittersweet moments.
I can't fundamentally change who I am, and neither can you. So we tweak things in our lives, we change things up to hopefully make ourselves better. More sweet than bitter. It is truly the best we can hope for.
When you do things that help yourself, when you do the things that you want to do, you veer more into the sweet and away from the bitter. But never totally away. That's life.
Enjoy your bittersweet symphony today.
Today's run: 2.94 miles, verified by Nike + running app. Bittesweet Symphony by The Verve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyu1KKwC74. Watch it; you're already singing it in your head anyway.
I'll give you time to exit now...hurry...okay
So it's been an up and down morning, mostly up. Didn't get much sleep last night, but I did get up at 4:30 (!) so that I'd have time to run. Did 2.94 miles; not too shabby especially considering my feet yesterday. But all felt okay, it was a starry sky, cool, perfect conditions. I pounded it out in a little under 9 minutes per mile, which was awesome. Sweet.
"'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony this life..."
This song came on at work today. Fitting, because the morning quickly got a little more bitter than sweet. Not work related, a result of my being tired and not doing all of the things I needed to do. The sweetness of the early morning was replaced by the bitterness of mid-morning, real life time.
"I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down..."
Bittersweet. Every day, bittersweet. Good times, bad times. That's how it goes.
You have great moments, like this morning. You have bad moments. Ups and downs.
You keep moving, you keep going.
The day of my high school graduation, my dad showed up drunk. Bittersweet.
Of all the singing that I've ever done, I had strep throat the day of MD All State Chorus auditions in high school and didn't make it. All three of my children have already made the equivalent. Way more sweet than bittersweet, but still a little bittersweet.
"But I'm a million different people from one day to the next, I can't change my mold"
When I was in Little League, I crushed a ball to an adjacent field that would have been a home run for anyone else. It was a triple for me because I was so fat at the time I couldn't run the bases. Bittersweet.
I could go on and on. I am a happy person. But like all of you, I have lots of bittersweet moments.
I can't fundamentally change who I am, and neither can you. So we tweak things in our lives, we change things up to hopefully make ourselves better. More sweet than bitter. It is truly the best we can hope for.
When you do things that help yourself, when you do the things that you want to do, you veer more into the sweet and away from the bitter. But never totally away. That's life.
Enjoy your bittersweet symphony today.
Today's run: 2.94 miles, verified by Nike + running app. Bittesweet Symphony by The Verve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyu1KKwC74. Watch it; you're already singing it in your head anyway.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
My feet hurt - Day 62 of running streak, day 59 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Got an extra hour of sleep last night, was very excited about that. Still only got 6 hours, not enough, but better than what I had been getting.
Excited to get my running stuff on, I grabbed my phone, went out and stretched. Hamstrings hurt.
And my feet hurt, specifically my toes and heels. Heel pain = not a good thing for runners. Heel pain + tight hammys = really super not good for runners. Those plus toe pain = not running my normal distance today,
I think that the back to back to back 2+ mile runs are wearing me down, folks. It has me concerned because the last time this stuff started happening I got plantar fasciitis, which kept me from running for six months. Ever had that? It ain't fun. It even makes walking difficult.
So I shortened it up today. Only went 1.02 miles. Normally that aggravates me no end, but today I figured it would help me to go short more than hurt me. In other words, I might be avoiding long term injury that way.
I could use some new shoes, both running shoes and dress shoes. The dress shoes hurt my feet and have no support, but I have to wear them to work. The running shoes are pretty important too!
Yes, it's good to push yourself. Push yourself out the door to exercise. Push yourself away from that plate of crappy food. Push yourself to do what you really want to do.
But you should not push yourself if you're injured. You should take it easy, or maybe even not exercise at all.
I'm not there yet; I'm hoping this is a temporary thing that was just today, that by cutting back miles today I'll be able to go longer tomorrow. But right now I'm taking it day by day, especially with our show being 16 days away (yikes!).
Exercise but please don't hurt yourselves. You know the pace you need to go at; listen to your body because it's always right. It's your brain that you have to watch out for.
Have a great day!
Today's run - 1.02 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Excited to get my running stuff on, I grabbed my phone, went out and stretched. Hamstrings hurt.
And my feet hurt, specifically my toes and heels. Heel pain = not a good thing for runners. Heel pain + tight hammys = really super not good for runners. Those plus toe pain = not running my normal distance today,
I think that the back to back to back 2+ mile runs are wearing me down, folks. It has me concerned because the last time this stuff started happening I got plantar fasciitis, which kept me from running for six months. Ever had that? It ain't fun. It even makes walking difficult.
So I shortened it up today. Only went 1.02 miles. Normally that aggravates me no end, but today I figured it would help me to go short more than hurt me. In other words, I might be avoiding long term injury that way.
I could use some new shoes, both running shoes and dress shoes. The dress shoes hurt my feet and have no support, but I have to wear them to work. The running shoes are pretty important too!
Yes, it's good to push yourself. Push yourself out the door to exercise. Push yourself away from that plate of crappy food. Push yourself to do what you really want to do.
But you should not push yourself if you're injured. You should take it easy, or maybe even not exercise at all.
I'm not there yet; I'm hoping this is a temporary thing that was just today, that by cutting back miles today I'll be able to go longer tomorrow. But right now I'm taking it day by day, especially with our show being 16 days away (yikes!).
Exercise but please don't hurt yourselves. You know the pace you need to go at; listen to your body because it's always right. It's your brain that you have to watch out for.
Have a great day!
Today's run - 1.02 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
One way to lose people - Days 58-61 of running streak, days 55-58 of Sugar Free Challenge*
"Dad, have you been slacking on your blog lately?" My lovely daughter asked me that when she was home from school this weekend.
Yes, I told her. Yes I have been. Not on the running or the sugar free* eating, but on the actual writing about it. I'm in a show (you might have heard me mention it a few times - 1776. playing John Adams the lead role, a lot of lines to learn, etc.) so I've been using any spare time except for my running time to learn lines.
So my writing has definitely suffered. For the folks who read my blog and look forward to it on a daily basis, I'm sorry.
I'll be honest and say it's going to be sporadic for a few weeks, especially on the weekends. Lines, soccer games, etc. But the activity and the healthy eating will continue.
Why? Because I have heard from a few of you that I am inspiring you. My example is helping you to make better decisions about rest, exercise and eating. I am SO glad for this; most of you have messaged me or replied on Facebook, but one of you tagged me in a post as one of the many examples of friends who have changed their lives for the better with healthy choices. You want to do that too, so you posted your health goals for the week. Don't think I won't be checking in with you.
I told my wife after my heart surgery that I wasn't going to be a crusader. If people choose to live unhealthy, I wasn't going to fuss at them. But I was going to live, eat, exercise a certain way, and if I could help one person not go through what I did it would be worth it.
One way to lose people who actually take the time to read what you write is by not writing. Another way is if they think that you no longer care about them. So I just want you to know that the blog isn't going anywhere, and I care a lot. I think about who might read this and what they might get from it. Maybe they need a laugh, or some encouragement, or some good information.
I don't want to lose you, especially if you're getting something from this. I want you to make the changes that you want to make, and start a blog of your own if you want to. Please keep reading, and I'll keep writing, at least on a semi-regular basis.
My last 5 runs: 9/2 - 1.02 miles, 9/3 - 2.88 miles, 9/4 - 1.03 miles, 9/5 - 2.90 miles, 9/6 - 2.92 miles, all verified by the Nike + running app.
Yes, I told her. Yes I have been. Not on the running or the sugar free* eating, but on the actual writing about it. I'm in a show (you might have heard me mention it a few times - 1776. playing John Adams the lead role, a lot of lines to learn, etc.) so I've been using any spare time except for my running time to learn lines.
So my writing has definitely suffered. For the folks who read my blog and look forward to it on a daily basis, I'm sorry.
I'll be honest and say it's going to be sporadic for a few weeks, especially on the weekends. Lines, soccer games, etc. But the activity and the healthy eating will continue.
Why? Because I have heard from a few of you that I am inspiring you. My example is helping you to make better decisions about rest, exercise and eating. I am SO glad for this; most of you have messaged me or replied on Facebook, but one of you tagged me in a post as one of the many examples of friends who have changed their lives for the better with healthy choices. You want to do that too, so you posted your health goals for the week. Don't think I won't be checking in with you.
I told my wife after my heart surgery that I wasn't going to be a crusader. If people choose to live unhealthy, I wasn't going to fuss at them. But I was going to live, eat, exercise a certain way, and if I could help one person not go through what I did it would be worth it.
One way to lose people who actually take the time to read what you write is by not writing. Another way is if they think that you no longer care about them. So I just want you to know that the blog isn't going anywhere, and I care a lot. I think about who might read this and what they might get from it. Maybe they need a laugh, or some encouragement, or some good information.
I don't want to lose you, especially if you're getting something from this. I want you to make the changes that you want to make, and start a blog of your own if you want to. Please keep reading, and I'll keep writing, at least on a semi-regular basis.
My last 5 runs: 9/2 - 1.02 miles, 9/3 - 2.88 miles, 9/4 - 1.03 miles, 9/5 - 2.90 miles, 9/6 - 2.92 miles, all verified by the Nike + running app.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
I ate a cheeseburger (and I liked it) - Day 57 of running streak, day 54 of Sugar Free Challenge*
"This was never what I planned, not my intention..."
I packed 2 apples, a banana and a cheese stick for lunch today, knowing that I would be eating badly (hot dog, pretzel, brat) at the Panthers game that I'm working at tonight.
"..lost my discretion.."
I left it at home by accident today. I don't eat out much because most of the food is terrible for you as far as fat, calories and sodium go. Plus it's expensive.
But I had to eat, so I looked at the online menu at the burger place downstairs from our office
"It's not what I'm used to..."
I ordered a cheeseburger with chili, mustard and onions, sweet potato fries, and a diet soda.
"just wanna try you on, I'm curious for you, caught my attention."
I went down to pick it up and my boss was down there. I wasn't expecting this, but he stepped in and payed for it. Very nice. I brought the greasy sack upstairs.
I ate the cheeseburger and I liked it
The taste of that yummy chili
I ate some fries just to try them
I hope my cardio won't mind it
It felt so wrong, it felt so right
Don't think I'm ditchin my diet
I ate that junk and I liked it
I liked it!
Man!! That was good!! I pretty much cancelled my run from this morning, but no biggie. I run every single day, so I'll get back to being good tomorrow.
It's sitting kind of heavy. Can't believe I used to eat junk like that all the time. But once in a while's okay. Right?
Right.
Today's run: 2.86 miles, verified by Nike + running app. "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry. Click here for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAp9BKosZXs
I packed 2 apples, a banana and a cheese stick for lunch today, knowing that I would be eating badly (hot dog, pretzel, brat) at the Panthers game that I'm working at tonight.
"..lost my discretion.."
I left it at home by accident today. I don't eat out much because most of the food is terrible for you as far as fat, calories and sodium go. Plus it's expensive.
But I had to eat, so I looked at the online menu at the burger place downstairs from our office
"It's not what I'm used to..."
I ordered a cheeseburger with chili, mustard and onions, sweet potato fries, and a diet soda.
"just wanna try you on, I'm curious for you, caught my attention."
I went down to pick it up and my boss was down there. I wasn't expecting this, but he stepped in and payed for it. Very nice. I brought the greasy sack upstairs.
I ate the cheeseburger and I liked it
The taste of that yummy chili
I ate some fries just to try them
I hope my cardio won't mind it
It felt so wrong, it felt so right
Don't think I'm ditchin my diet
I ate that junk and I liked it
I liked it!
Man!! That was good!! I pretty much cancelled my run from this morning, but no biggie. I run every single day, so I'll get back to being good tomorrow.
It's sitting kind of heavy. Can't believe I used to eat junk like that all the time. But once in a while's okay. Right?
Right.
Today's run: 2.86 miles, verified by Nike + running app. "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry. Click here for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAp9BKosZXs
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Another post about coffee - Day 56 of running streak, Day 53 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I really, really love coffee. I started drinking it when I was 22-23 and I worked in a building with no heat. I drank it black. It was Maxwell House, or Folger's or some other dreck. But it kept me warm.
I drank it black until the delicious but terrible for you flavored creamers came out. Damn, that stuff tastes good. I didn't even think about the fact that it doesn't have to be refrigerated. What kind of chemical must that be? But I drank it by the gallon, a little coffee in my flavored creamer. I bet I added 1000+ calories a day drinking that crap.
After that phase I switched to cream and sugar, and now, of course since I'm sugar free*, cream and Truvia. I drink Breakfast Blend, a light roast coffee, about 40 oz of it a day. It really doesn't make me irritable (or more irritable) or more awake; I have my awake and productive zone which usually lasts from about 5 am until about 10 pm. After that I'm shot, regardless of how much coffee I've had.
So I don't drink it to wake up, or stay awake. I drink it because I LOVE IT.
My lovely wonderful daughter brought me back a pound of coffee from Nicaragua this summer; it is the best coffee I have ever had. Probably at least partially because she gave it to me, but it has this, this air about it. This flavor, this freshness. I can't explain it. It's delicious.
Here are some added health benefits of drinking coffee:
- It is rich in vitamins and minerals: A single cup contains 11% of the RDA of riboflavin, 6% of RDA of B5, 3% of RDA of manganese and potassium and 2% of RDA of magnesium and niacin. Not much if you only have 1 cup (8 oz) but they add up if you drink more than one cup.
- People who drink multiple cups of coffee per day have up to a 50% less risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Just don't put sugar in it!
- Coffee drinkers have up to a 65% less chance of developing Alzheimer's Disease.
- Also coffee drinkers have an up to 60% less chance to get Parkinson's Disease
- And an 80% less risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver
- And a 40% less risk of developing liver cancer, and a 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer.
- Here's the biggie: coffee has more antioxidants than both fruits and vegetables combined.
So drink some coffee and quit drinking those damned "energy drinks" for God's sake. They're garbage. Coffee is one of the healthiest beverages that you can drink, period.
Today's run: 2.84 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
I drank it black until the delicious but terrible for you flavored creamers came out. Damn, that stuff tastes good. I didn't even think about the fact that it doesn't have to be refrigerated. What kind of chemical must that be? But I drank it by the gallon, a little coffee in my flavored creamer. I bet I added 1000+ calories a day drinking that crap.
After that phase I switched to cream and sugar, and now, of course since I'm sugar free*, cream and Truvia. I drink Breakfast Blend, a light roast coffee, about 40 oz of it a day. It really doesn't make me irritable (or more irritable) or more awake; I have my awake and productive zone which usually lasts from about 5 am until about 10 pm. After that I'm shot, regardless of how much coffee I've had.
So I don't drink it to wake up, or stay awake. I drink it because I LOVE IT.
My lovely wonderful daughter brought me back a pound of coffee from Nicaragua this summer; it is the best coffee I have ever had. Probably at least partially because she gave it to me, but it has this, this air about it. This flavor, this freshness. I can't explain it. It's delicious.
Here are some added health benefits of drinking coffee:
- It is rich in vitamins and minerals: A single cup contains 11% of the RDA of riboflavin, 6% of RDA of B5, 3% of RDA of manganese and potassium and 2% of RDA of magnesium and niacin. Not much if you only have 1 cup (8 oz) but they add up if you drink more than one cup.
- People who drink multiple cups of coffee per day have up to a 50% less risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Just don't put sugar in it!
- Coffee drinkers have up to a 65% less chance of developing Alzheimer's Disease.
- Also coffee drinkers have an up to 60% less chance to get Parkinson's Disease
- And an 80% less risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver
- And a 40% less risk of developing liver cancer, and a 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer.
- Here's the biggie: coffee has more antioxidants than both fruits and vegetables combined.
So drink some coffee and quit drinking those damned "energy drinks" for God's sake. They're garbage. Coffee is one of the healthiest beverages that you can drink, period.
Today's run: 2.84 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Just what I said - Day 55 of running streak, Day 52 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Yesterday, I told you that I had fallen into the pit of mediocrity.
I had been running much shorter distances, just enough to keep my streak going. I even ran one night because I hadn't ran that morning, right after eating a steak. I thought I was going to drown in the meat sweats.
I promised yesterday that I would get back on track today. I owed it to myself, and I owed it to you. How could I give you advice if I couldn't follow it myself?
I got home from rehearsal at 10:45 pm last night, and with the things I still had to do before bed (like eat), I didn't go to bed until 11:45 pm. I set the alarm clock for 4:45 am. This was not looking good.
I woke up in a daze, put on my running clothes, and staggered out into the night. I stretched and almost lost my balance, but I didn't. I turned on my trusty app and started running.
The air felt so cool and crisp, like fall feels. We aren't there yet, but the cool made me think about it. It washed over me like cool water. I felt energized by it.
I got about a mile in and yes, started getting tired. My thoughts went to "I can stop", "I've already ran over a mile", "That's all I need to do", "I have other things I need to do". All that CRAP!
But I decided not to give in to it. This, after all, was my time. The only time that I have all day that I can just call my own. I chose to use it well, to do something that would make me truly satisfied.
I did 2.82 miles, almost broke the 9 min. mile average. I finished, did my cool down walk, then went back home to do the other things I needed to do before work.
On my way to work, I worked on my 1776 music, satisfied that I had done what I said I was going to do in spite of tough circumstances. I don't always do what I say I'm going to; my family knows that.
But the more I do, the better I feel. And the better others feel, I think. Seems that way, anyway.
Take the time that's yours and do something wonderful with it. Do something that makes you feel good, something that you've been wanting to do. Something satisfying. Not eating ice cream or watching TV. Something more.
Can't wait until tonight (rehearsal) and tomorrow morning (running every single day)
Today's run: 2.82 miles, verified by Nike + running app
I had been running much shorter distances, just enough to keep my streak going. I even ran one night because I hadn't ran that morning, right after eating a steak. I thought I was going to drown in the meat sweats.
I promised yesterday that I would get back on track today. I owed it to myself, and I owed it to you. How could I give you advice if I couldn't follow it myself?
I got home from rehearsal at 10:45 pm last night, and with the things I still had to do before bed (like eat), I didn't go to bed until 11:45 pm. I set the alarm clock for 4:45 am. This was not looking good.
I woke up in a daze, put on my running clothes, and staggered out into the night. I stretched and almost lost my balance, but I didn't. I turned on my trusty app and started running.
The air felt so cool and crisp, like fall feels. We aren't there yet, but the cool made me think about it. It washed over me like cool water. I felt energized by it.
I got about a mile in and yes, started getting tired. My thoughts went to "I can stop", "I've already ran over a mile", "That's all I need to do", "I have other things I need to do". All that CRAP!
But I decided not to give in to it. This, after all, was my time. The only time that I have all day that I can just call my own. I chose to use it well, to do something that would make me truly satisfied.
I did 2.82 miles, almost broke the 9 min. mile average. I finished, did my cool down walk, then went back home to do the other things I needed to do before work.
On my way to work, I worked on my 1776 music, satisfied that I had done what I said I was going to do in spite of tough circumstances. I don't always do what I say I'm going to; my family knows that.
But the more I do, the better I feel. And the better others feel, I think. Seems that way, anyway.
Take the time that's yours and do something wonderful with it. Do something that makes you feel good, something that you've been wanting to do. Something satisfying. Not eating ice cream or watching TV. Something more.
Can't wait until tonight (rehearsal) and tomorrow morning (running every single day)
Today's run: 2.82 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Monday, August 29, 2016
The struggle continues - Days 51-54 of running streak, Days 48-51 of Sugar Free Challenge*
So, how's it been going? Good. Here's how it's been going with me:
Friday 8/26 run: 1.14 miles
Saturday 8/27 run: 1.01 miles, tried running right after eating; NOT a good idea
Sunday 8/28 run: 2.80 miles. YAY!
Monday, 8/29 run: 1.03 miles
So three of the last four days, I've done the minimum to keep the streak going. And this is my first blog entry in four days. Bad stuff this.
I'm not sick. I'm not thinking about ending the streak or eating sugar*. So what's up?
I'm in a show, 1776. I rehearse until about 10 pm every weeknight Monday-Thursday, and on Sunday afternoons. But that's not my excuse.
I've been pretty tired lately, and I tried to run the other day after I ate half a steak. Right after. What is up with that??
I think what it is is that I'm letting the old life creep in. The life where I constantly said "no" to myself and "yes" to everybody else. I've been doing that more than usual lately.
Running is more than just exercise to me. It's me doing me, being me. By myself, running in the cool dark morning. No one there to say, "You're running too slow" or "too fast" or "too much" or "not enough". Well, I say not enough, but that's okay.
The sounds and smells of the early morning, the rest of my world not quite awake. I'm its' master, I run the roads, I get mad when cars come along.
I get mad when things impinge on this sacred time, when the rest of life starts creeping in. It's not right. This is the time that I've set aside for me. Just like I've told all of you reading to do. I'm being a hypocrite. Selfish? You bet it is. But you have to be a little selfish to do stuff like this.
I will take the time to run, I will get my distances back on an almost daily basis. I want to be a good example and do what I say, because how can I expect any of you to when I don't do it?
Look forward to better distances, better blogs, more consistent writing to come. Because I love it, all of this that has come from a place of near death. I'm alive, and this will be a celebration of life or it will cease to be. Period.
Today's run is verified by the Nike + running app.
Friday 8/26 run: 1.14 miles
Saturday 8/27 run: 1.01 miles, tried running right after eating; NOT a good idea
Sunday 8/28 run: 2.80 miles. YAY!
Monday, 8/29 run: 1.03 miles
So three of the last four days, I've done the minimum to keep the streak going. And this is my first blog entry in four days. Bad stuff this.
I'm not sick. I'm not thinking about ending the streak or eating sugar*. So what's up?
I'm in a show, 1776. I rehearse until about 10 pm every weeknight Monday-Thursday, and on Sunday afternoons. But that's not my excuse.
I've been pretty tired lately, and I tried to run the other day after I ate half a steak. Right after. What is up with that??
I think what it is is that I'm letting the old life creep in. The life where I constantly said "no" to myself and "yes" to everybody else. I've been doing that more than usual lately.
Running is more than just exercise to me. It's me doing me, being me. By myself, running in the cool dark morning. No one there to say, "You're running too slow" or "too fast" or "too much" or "not enough". Well, I say not enough, but that's okay.
The sounds and smells of the early morning, the rest of my world not quite awake. I'm its' master, I run the roads, I get mad when cars come along.
I get mad when things impinge on this sacred time, when the rest of life starts creeping in. It's not right. This is the time that I've set aside for me. Just like I've told all of you reading to do. I'm being a hypocrite. Selfish? You bet it is. But you have to be a little selfish to do stuff like this.
I will take the time to run, I will get my distances back on an almost daily basis. I want to be a good example and do what I say, because how can I expect any of you to when I don't do it?
Look forward to better distances, better blogs, more consistent writing to come. Because I love it, all of this that has come from a place of near death. I'm alive, and this will be a celebration of life or it will cease to be. Period.
Today's run is verified by the Nike + running app.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Having a tough time - Days 49-50 of running streak, Days 46-47 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Wednesday's run: 1.06 miles
Today's run: 2.77 miles
I didn't write yesterday, largely because my schedule was really disrupted. But also because I don't want to keep saying the same things over and over again.
I've told you how wonderful early morning running is. You can only see for yourself if you do it.
I've told you how exercising and eating better has changed my life. I hope that it has helped you; a couple of you have contacted me and told me that you were going sugar free* or running, and that's great. Keep doing it, for goodness sake.
I've mentioned several times how happy and grateful I am to have survived my heart disease and how my outlook on life has changed dramatically. Sometimes you need your butt kicked to realize how wonderful life is. How precious every day with your family and friends are. How you need to run your life, not let it run you.
But I've said that a lot. I'm not always successful at following my own advice, as I've also said a time or two.
Maybe it's writer's block. Or maybe I've run out of original things to say.
I love running. I was tired this morning and ran my farthest during the streak yet. Plus, officially, it's my 50th day. I guess that's a milestone, but not really, because I've actually been running for about 63 days. I have lost 20+ pounds by eating better and running every day.
I'm getting ready to play John Adams in 1776 in about a month. My first lead in a musical in over 20 years. I am SOOOOO jacked. I look at myself in the mirror and can't believe how far I've come in 7 months. I got to have some publicity photos taken yesterday in costume; super cool.
I also love writing. It's something that I've always loved doing, just have never done on a regular basis. This blog helps me do that, so thank you for reading it.
Tell you what: I'll keep writing if you keep reading. I'll keep trying to tell you something new but I hope you enjoy a little repetition.
Have a great rest of the day!
Runs verified by Nike + running app.
Today's run: 2.77 miles
I didn't write yesterday, largely because my schedule was really disrupted. But also because I don't want to keep saying the same things over and over again.
I've told you how wonderful early morning running is. You can only see for yourself if you do it.
I've told you how exercising and eating better has changed my life. I hope that it has helped you; a couple of you have contacted me and told me that you were going sugar free* or running, and that's great. Keep doing it, for goodness sake.
I've mentioned several times how happy and grateful I am to have survived my heart disease and how my outlook on life has changed dramatically. Sometimes you need your butt kicked to realize how wonderful life is. How precious every day with your family and friends are. How you need to run your life, not let it run you.
But I've said that a lot. I'm not always successful at following my own advice, as I've also said a time or two.
Maybe it's writer's block. Or maybe I've run out of original things to say.
I love running. I was tired this morning and ran my farthest during the streak yet. Plus, officially, it's my 50th day. I guess that's a milestone, but not really, because I've actually been running for about 63 days. I have lost 20+ pounds by eating better and running every day.
I'm getting ready to play John Adams in 1776 in about a month. My first lead in a musical in over 20 years. I am SOOOOO jacked. I look at myself in the mirror and can't believe how far I've come in 7 months. I got to have some publicity photos taken yesterday in costume; super cool.
I also love writing. It's something that I've always loved doing, just have never done on a regular basis. This blog helps me do that, so thank you for reading it.
Tell you what: I'll keep writing if you keep reading. I'll keep trying to tell you something new but I hope you enjoy a little repetition.
Have a great rest of the day!
Runs verified by Nike + running app.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Running and writing - Day 48 of running streak, day 45 of Sugar Free Challenge*
It felt sooooo goooood to get out there this morning.
Like most mornings these days, I have a lot on my mind when I go out to run. Lots of things going on, things I should do, things I need to do, etc.
It was probably 65-70 degrees when I got started at 5. Slight cool to the air, perfect. I didn't sleep well last night, tossed and turned, somehow lost my pillow during the night. How does that happen?
Got going at a decent pace, didn't run my fastest time but did run my longest distance so far.
I just wanted to keep going, to forget about the day, just keep running. You know what I mean?
I probably could have done 8-10 miles the way it felt. Euphoric. But then I would have killed my legs and back for tomorrow and not been able to keep the streak going. Those days are coming; I'm just not ready for them yet.
Got done and had to do a couple of those morning errands I hate and have tried to get rid of. So much for that.
Running has a way of undressing you as you do it. If you give into it, whatever you look like, whatever shape you're in. You just blend with the outside, the road, the breeze, the night. Sometimes I have actually looked down to make sure I had clothes on. I haven't forgotten so far. But you just sink into it, you just gel with nature.
Trying to explain it doesn't justify the feeling. And you don't always get it. Sometimes it's like a chore, you have to do it.
Other times, it's breathtaking. And it's the same road, same sights, same people out when you are. But there's something, something just intoxicating about it.
I truly hope that you're giving in to something like this every day. Running, or walking, or praying, or something. Something that you truly surrender to, that you sort of let happen unconsciously. Your body or mind or spirit takes over.
You can't do everything. Or you shouldn't. You have to have a release, a valve, something to let the pressure off. Something that feels bigger than you. Something that you can just give in to.
Please find something like this if you don't have something already. TV doesn't count. You'll know when you find it. It will feel wonderful.
Today's run - 2.74 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Like most mornings these days, I have a lot on my mind when I go out to run. Lots of things going on, things I should do, things I need to do, etc.
It was probably 65-70 degrees when I got started at 5. Slight cool to the air, perfect. I didn't sleep well last night, tossed and turned, somehow lost my pillow during the night. How does that happen?
Got going at a decent pace, didn't run my fastest time but did run my longest distance so far.
I just wanted to keep going, to forget about the day, just keep running. You know what I mean?
I probably could have done 8-10 miles the way it felt. Euphoric. But then I would have killed my legs and back for tomorrow and not been able to keep the streak going. Those days are coming; I'm just not ready for them yet.
Got done and had to do a couple of those morning errands I hate and have tried to get rid of. So much for that.
Running has a way of undressing you as you do it. If you give into it, whatever you look like, whatever shape you're in. You just blend with the outside, the road, the breeze, the night. Sometimes I have actually looked down to make sure I had clothes on. I haven't forgotten so far. But you just sink into it, you just gel with nature.
Trying to explain it doesn't justify the feeling. And you don't always get it. Sometimes it's like a chore, you have to do it.
Other times, it's breathtaking. And it's the same road, same sights, same people out when you are. But there's something, something just intoxicating about it.
I truly hope that you're giving in to something like this every day. Running, or walking, or praying, or something. Something that you truly surrender to, that you sort of let happen unconsciously. Your body or mind or spirit takes over.
You can't do everything. Or you shouldn't. You have to have a release, a valve, something to let the pressure off. Something that feels bigger than you. Something that you can just give in to.
Please find something like this if you don't have something already. TV doesn't count. You'll know when you find it. It will feel wonderful.
Today's run - 2.74 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Monday, August 22, 2016
What a weekend!! - Days 45-47 of running streak, days 42-44 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Saturday 8/20: ran 1.07 miles
Sunday 8/21: Ran 2.70 miles
Monday 8/22: Ran 2.72 miles
Stayed on sugar free challenge* all those days as well.
Now that the business is out of the way, let me tell you about this past weekend...
IT WAS GREAT!!!!! Not as great as it could have been, but still pretty great.
It was a "divide and conquer" soccer weekend. As I'm pretty sure I've mentioned, older son and younger son both play club soccer. They often have tournaments and games on the same weekend, at different locations. And by different locations, I usually mean different cities or states.
This weekend, older son had a tournament about 2 hours away that involved an overnight stay on Friday and Saturday nights. We decided it best that Mom go with him.
Younger son was within driving distance both days, so Dad stayed with him and took him to his tournament.
Older son's team won both games on Saturday and qualified for the final on Sunday. Younger son had a head-to-head collision with another player (he's a goalkeeper) early in his first game. Medical thought that he might have a concussion, but that was officially ruled out the next morning and he got to play again Sunday after sitting out on Saturday. The team split on Saturday, so we didn't know whether they'd make the final or not.
Older son and Mom got to spend lots of time together, including eating with the team on Saturday. Younger son and Dad also got to spend time together, watching soccer games and going home and chilling out together.
Younger son's team lost on Sunday, so they were eliminated from the tournament. Just got outmatched by the other team. Older son's team WON their age bracket and he got his first Champion medal after getting 3 or 4 Finalist medals over the years.
Dad and younger son got a treat on the way home from the games on Saturday. Son got a soft serve cone and Dad got a BIG Coke Zero.
Dad got to play FIFA 16 on the XBox with younger son a couple of times over the weekend, and lost three times.
Mom got to watch older son's team play like a well-oiled machine and win a championship. She got to ride home with him and his friend and their family and revel in the post-winning loud boy conversation.
Sunday afternoon I had my first rehearsal for 1776. A little rocky learning the music, but it will be fine. Nice to get back at it again.
Mom and older son got home and we reunited, hearing all about each other's weekends. We missed all being together, but it was still a great weekend.
And I did some running too.
See you tomorrow!!!
Run distances above verified by Nike + running app.
Sunday 8/21: Ran 2.70 miles
Monday 8/22: Ran 2.72 miles
Stayed on sugar free challenge* all those days as well.
Now that the business is out of the way, let me tell you about this past weekend...
IT WAS GREAT!!!!! Not as great as it could have been, but still pretty great.
It was a "divide and conquer" soccer weekend. As I'm pretty sure I've mentioned, older son and younger son both play club soccer. They often have tournaments and games on the same weekend, at different locations. And by different locations, I usually mean different cities or states.
This weekend, older son had a tournament about 2 hours away that involved an overnight stay on Friday and Saturday nights. We decided it best that Mom go with him.
Younger son was within driving distance both days, so Dad stayed with him and took him to his tournament.
Older son's team won both games on Saturday and qualified for the final on Sunday. Younger son had a head-to-head collision with another player (he's a goalkeeper) early in his first game. Medical thought that he might have a concussion, but that was officially ruled out the next morning and he got to play again Sunday after sitting out on Saturday. The team split on Saturday, so we didn't know whether they'd make the final or not.
Older son and Mom got to spend lots of time together, including eating with the team on Saturday. Younger son and Dad also got to spend time together, watching soccer games and going home and chilling out together.
Younger son's team lost on Sunday, so they were eliminated from the tournament. Just got outmatched by the other team. Older son's team WON their age bracket and he got his first Champion medal after getting 3 or 4 Finalist medals over the years.
Dad and younger son got a treat on the way home from the games on Saturday. Son got a soft serve cone and Dad got a BIG Coke Zero.
Dad got to play FIFA 16 on the XBox with younger son a couple of times over the weekend, and lost three times.
Mom got to watch older son's team play like a well-oiled machine and win a championship. She got to ride home with him and his friend and their family and revel in the post-winning loud boy conversation.
Sunday afternoon I had my first rehearsal for 1776. A little rocky learning the music, but it will be fine. Nice to get back at it again.
Mom and older son got home and we reunited, hearing all about each other's weekends. We missed all being together, but it was still a great weekend.
And I did some running too.
See you tomorrow!!!
Run distances above verified by Nike + running app.
Friday, August 19, 2016
The good with the bad - Day 44 of running streak, Day 41 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I just got cast as John Adams in 1776 at a terrific theater near me. They do great musicals; I did Oliver! and Phantom of the Opera with them last year. They regularly draw huge crowds and get written up in the big local media.
John Adams is the lead in 1776. It's a big part. I can't wait to start digging into it; rehearsals start right away. It's a great opportunity.
To accept the part, I had to break another commitment that I had already made to act in another show with some great local writers and directors. Friends of mine, some of whom I've known for over 20 years. I feel bad about letting them down, because now they have to find somebody else. I wouldn't blame them if they have hard feelings toward me about it. But I couldn't say no.
To go running every day, I have to say no to some other responsibilities, and hope to get them taken care of later. But I have to exercise and make myself better. I can't say no to that. I said no before, and wound up having heart surgery.
Growth is painful; my oldest son, who is 14, is almost 6 feet tall. He wears size 12 shoes. He will be taller than me any minute now. He is either eating or sleeping a lot of the time; gotta keep that growth going. It's tiring.
Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. The great new job that's in Cleveland. The great school that's 90 minutes away from home. Getting up at 5 am to go running.
Keep your commitments if you can. Your relationships and your health are the two most important things in your life.
But if you have the opportunity to do something great that you may not be able to do again, you have to go for it.
People will understand. They may not like it, but they'll understand on some level. Hurting people sucks. I don't like to do it, I don't think anyone does.
Enjoy this day, keep growing in spite of the pain. Take the good with the bad.
Today's run - 2.66 miles, verified by the Nike + running app
John Adams is the lead in 1776. It's a big part. I can't wait to start digging into it; rehearsals start right away. It's a great opportunity.
To accept the part, I had to break another commitment that I had already made to act in another show with some great local writers and directors. Friends of mine, some of whom I've known for over 20 years. I feel bad about letting them down, because now they have to find somebody else. I wouldn't blame them if they have hard feelings toward me about it. But I couldn't say no.
To go running every day, I have to say no to some other responsibilities, and hope to get them taken care of later. But I have to exercise and make myself better. I can't say no to that. I said no before, and wound up having heart surgery.
Growth is painful; my oldest son, who is 14, is almost 6 feet tall. He wears size 12 shoes. He will be taller than me any minute now. He is either eating or sleeping a lot of the time; gotta keep that growth going. It's tiring.
Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. The great new job that's in Cleveland. The great school that's 90 minutes away from home. Getting up at 5 am to go running.
Keep your commitments if you can. Your relationships and your health are the two most important things in your life.
But if you have the opportunity to do something great that you may not be able to do again, you have to go for it.
People will understand. They may not like it, but they'll understand on some level. Hurting people sucks. I don't like to do it, I don't think anyone does.
Enjoy this day, keep growing in spite of the pain. Take the good with the bad.
Today's run - 2.66 miles, verified by the Nike + running app
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Taking breaks - Day 43 of running streak, day 40 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Got some sleep last night (finally!); still not quite enough but much more refreshed.
Run was nice this morning. 2.62 miles, just a tad over 9 minutes per mile. Felt great, still feeling jazzed from it.
Somebody asked me the other day if it was okay to take a break from eating well, exercise, etc. Was it okay to just chill out, or eat a cheeseburger, or something.
Depends. I don't eat healthy EVERY meal, every day. Just ate some tater tots, as a matter of fact; gift from a co-worker. But I eat healthy most meals, not always rabbit food but usually once a day for meat.
I do run every single day. Without fail. So far that hasn't been too hard, some days harder than others. Let's see how I feel in January.
It all depends on your will power and how strong your habits are. If you can eat a piece of cake today, or a cheeseburger, then go back to lean meat or fish and veggies, go for it. Unless you're trying to go Sugar Free*. Then the answer is no to the cake.
If you've developed the habit of eating well, you really don't miss the other stuff that much. Sure, I crave a donut once in a while, but it's usually because I'm tired or thirsty. I eat a little peanut butter or drink some water, and the craving is gone. Or some fruit.
I have made a habit of running every single day. It's a good habit. I enjoy it, even though I have to get up a little earlier. I have to prepare for it the night before, so that I have no distractions, nothing to keep me from it.
I have also made bad habits through the years. Not getting enough sleep, for example. Still have that one. Or eating garbage. Or not exercising.
It's easy to keep those too, and hard to break them. But once you do, and have good habits, you're better off not breaking them. You never know when you'll lose them.
I've been down this road before, see. In 2008 I ran and ate well, and lost 60 lbs. Then I got plantar fasciitis, and stopped, but had already started eating badly because I was burning like 1000 calories every day. I gained most of the weight back. I did the same thing in 2012. I guess it's Olympic years, or election years, or something.
I'm not screwing up this time. I'm running every day, unless I simply can't due to illness or injury. I'm eating well 98% of the time, and avoiding sugar almost all the time.I'm drinking water. I'm being grateful.
I'm living the rest of my life. And I'm not letting bad habits rule me. Except the sleep thing; gotta get that under control.
Today's run - 2.62 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Run was nice this morning. 2.62 miles, just a tad over 9 minutes per mile. Felt great, still feeling jazzed from it.
Somebody asked me the other day if it was okay to take a break from eating well, exercise, etc. Was it okay to just chill out, or eat a cheeseburger, or something.
Depends. I don't eat healthy EVERY meal, every day. Just ate some tater tots, as a matter of fact; gift from a co-worker. But I eat healthy most meals, not always rabbit food but usually once a day for meat.
I do run every single day. Without fail. So far that hasn't been too hard, some days harder than others. Let's see how I feel in January.
It all depends on your will power and how strong your habits are. If you can eat a piece of cake today, or a cheeseburger, then go back to lean meat or fish and veggies, go for it. Unless you're trying to go Sugar Free*. Then the answer is no to the cake.
If you've developed the habit of eating well, you really don't miss the other stuff that much. Sure, I crave a donut once in a while, but it's usually because I'm tired or thirsty. I eat a little peanut butter or drink some water, and the craving is gone. Or some fruit.
I have made a habit of running every single day. It's a good habit. I enjoy it, even though I have to get up a little earlier. I have to prepare for it the night before, so that I have no distractions, nothing to keep me from it.
I have also made bad habits through the years. Not getting enough sleep, for example. Still have that one. Or eating garbage. Or not exercising.
It's easy to keep those too, and hard to break them. But once you do, and have good habits, you're better off not breaking them. You never know when you'll lose them.
I've been down this road before, see. In 2008 I ran and ate well, and lost 60 lbs. Then I got plantar fasciitis, and stopped, but had already started eating badly because I was burning like 1000 calories every day. I gained most of the weight back. I did the same thing in 2012. I guess it's Olympic years, or election years, or something.
I'm not screwing up this time. I'm running every day, unless I simply can't due to illness or injury. I'm eating well 98% of the time, and avoiding sugar almost all the time.I'm drinking water. I'm being grateful.
I'm living the rest of my life. And I'm not letting bad habits rule me. Except the sleep thing; gotta get that under control.
Today's run - 2.62 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Running on empty - Day 42 of running streak, day 39 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Don't worry, I'm not going to do another song lyric blog like I did yesterday.
Although admit it, you're still singing "Unwritten". Right?
I'm not a Jackson Browne fan at all, so you won't get any of that here.
I am literally running on empty folks. So tired today. Haven't gotten close to enough sleep in several days, hope to catch up some tonight. I have to, really; there's no way I'm going back to the person I was 7 months ago. No way in hell.
Sleep deprivation was a way of life for me back then. 6 hours was a lot, 5 or less was the norm. Every night. And that's where I've been for the last three nights, and why I'm totally burned out today.
And yet...
I got up this morning and ran. And I didn't take a mulligan; I ran 2.59 miles. Very slowly, but ran it nevertheless.
The boys and I got ready and I took them to school. I came to work a tiny bit late, and have made more calls this morning than I have in a while.
So I'm fighting it. I ate fruit and a cheese stick for lunch, and oatmeal for breakfast, so no lunch hangover for me. I'm sure that's helping.
But I see me hitting the wall later, folks. Bam, right into it.
Hopefully I'll be home when this happens.
So much going on, so many issues...
But running is a constant. Eating well is a constant. Great family is a constant, thank God.
Keep the constants going, and the rest of it doesn't seem so bad. Like you can overcome it.
Let's get some sleep tonight, what do you think?
Today's run: 2.59 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Although admit it, you're still singing "Unwritten". Right?
I'm not a Jackson Browne fan at all, so you won't get any of that here.
I am literally running on empty folks. So tired today. Haven't gotten close to enough sleep in several days, hope to catch up some tonight. I have to, really; there's no way I'm going back to the person I was 7 months ago. No way in hell.
Sleep deprivation was a way of life for me back then. 6 hours was a lot, 5 or less was the norm. Every night. And that's where I've been for the last three nights, and why I'm totally burned out today.
And yet...
I got up this morning and ran. And I didn't take a mulligan; I ran 2.59 miles. Very slowly, but ran it nevertheless.
The boys and I got ready and I took them to school. I came to work a tiny bit late, and have made more calls this morning than I have in a while.
So I'm fighting it. I ate fruit and a cheese stick for lunch, and oatmeal for breakfast, so no lunch hangover for me. I'm sure that's helping.
But I see me hitting the wall later, folks. Bam, right into it.
Hopefully I'll be home when this happens.
So much going on, so many issues...
But running is a constant. Eating well is a constant. Great family is a constant, thank God.
Keep the constants going, and the rest of it doesn't seem so bad. Like you can overcome it.
Let's get some sleep tonight, what do you think?
Today's run: 2.59 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Unwritten - Day 41 of running streak, Day 38 of Sugar Free Challenge*
"Staring at the blank page before you..."
I heard the great song "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield a few days ago, and I realized that I hadn't heard it in a while.
And I thought about Natasha, and her other great songs, and wondered why I hadn't heard anything new from her for a while.
Looks like her last album was back in 2010. Has she fallen off the grid? Does anyone know?
I find her to be an extraordinary talent, a great songwriter and singer. Usually the two don't go together; you're either one or the other. Surely in our current pop landscape, there's room for Natasha Bedingfield, right?
"Reaching for something in the distance..."
I thought about this song when I was running today. I run silently, no music, no headphones. I love the sounds of nature, of the tiny bit of traffic out in my town at 5 am.
Occasionally, I'll start humming or singing something as I'm running. I don't know all the words to this song, just the bridges and some of the chorus.
"Feel the rain on your skin; no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in..."
It wasn't raining this morning, but I wanted it to. I kind of love running in the rain. I wanted to feel it.
"No one else can speak the words on your lips."
I thought about today. Today was a blank canvas, a blank page. Things happen, things go right and wrong. But you decide how to handle it, you decide what to do. Sometimes you're right, sometimes not. But it's up to you.
I ran. I loved the feeling of digging out the last .50 miles. I got ready and took the boys to school early. I was tired but pumped.
Work hasn't been great, but hasn't been bad either. I've made some mistakes and done some things well.
So far I have written my day. A lot more to come.
But the rest is still unwritten.
Today's run: 2.57 miles, verified by Nike + running app. "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. Here's the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7k0a5hYnSI.
I heard the great song "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield a few days ago, and I realized that I hadn't heard it in a while.
And I thought about Natasha, and her other great songs, and wondered why I hadn't heard anything new from her for a while.
Looks like her last album was back in 2010. Has she fallen off the grid? Does anyone know?
I find her to be an extraordinary talent, a great songwriter and singer. Usually the two don't go together; you're either one or the other. Surely in our current pop landscape, there's room for Natasha Bedingfield, right?
"Reaching for something in the distance..."
I thought about this song when I was running today. I run silently, no music, no headphones. I love the sounds of nature, of the tiny bit of traffic out in my town at 5 am.
Occasionally, I'll start humming or singing something as I'm running. I don't know all the words to this song, just the bridges and some of the chorus.
"Feel the rain on your skin; no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in..."
It wasn't raining this morning, but I wanted it to. I kind of love running in the rain. I wanted to feel it.
"No one else can speak the words on your lips."
I thought about today. Today was a blank canvas, a blank page. Things happen, things go right and wrong. But you decide how to handle it, you decide what to do. Sometimes you're right, sometimes not. But it's up to you.
I ran. I loved the feeling of digging out the last .50 miles. I got ready and took the boys to school early. I was tired but pumped.
Work hasn't been great, but hasn't been bad either. I've made some mistakes and done some things well.
So far I have written my day. A lot more to come.
But the rest is still unwritten.
Today's run: 2.57 miles, verified by Nike + running app. "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. Here's the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7k0a5hYnSI.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Still running (but not blogging) every single day - Days 38-40 of running streak, Days 35-37 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I ran Saturday, 2.52 miles.
I ran Sunday, 1.05 miles.
I ran today, 2.54 miles
I still ate pretty well, still on Sugar Free Challenge*.
So where have I been these last few days?
Have I dropped off the grid? Have I run off for a wild weekend with my wife?
Nothing like that. This weekend was dominated by soccer and kids going back to school.
Saturday we went to middle kid's soccer tournament all day, and watched his team play great. we also saw him score his team's first goal of the season. We spent all day baking in the sun, then we had to come home and help oldest kid get ready to move back to school.
It was late. I was tired. Too tired to write anything. So I went to bed.
Sunday, we got up early to do the extremely last minute packing and my wife took her to school. They got checked in and moved in just fine, a little frantically maybe. Middle kid got two more goals and an assist, but team didn't make final. Looked great anyway.
Had to get the boys ready for school, that ran late, so I conked out before I could write.
So here I am this morning. Still cooling down from run, getting ready to get boys up for school.
Summer is over, new possibilities begin. Soccer has returned, oldest kid is gone again. I can't stop missing her.
Sometimes, you get wrapped up in life, and it can be terrible or wonderful. This weekend was wonderful. So that's where I was.
Today's run -2.54 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
I ran Sunday, 1.05 miles.
I ran today, 2.54 miles
I still ate pretty well, still on Sugar Free Challenge*.
So where have I been these last few days?
Have I dropped off the grid? Have I run off for a wild weekend with my wife?
Nothing like that. This weekend was dominated by soccer and kids going back to school.
Saturday we went to middle kid's soccer tournament all day, and watched his team play great. we also saw him score his team's first goal of the season. We spent all day baking in the sun, then we had to come home and help oldest kid get ready to move back to school.
It was late. I was tired. Too tired to write anything. So I went to bed.
Sunday, we got up early to do the extremely last minute packing and my wife took her to school. They got checked in and moved in just fine, a little frantically maybe. Middle kid got two more goals and an assist, but team didn't make final. Looked great anyway.
Had to get the boys ready for school, that ran late, so I conked out before I could write.
So here I am this morning. Still cooling down from run, getting ready to get boys up for school.
Summer is over, new possibilities begin. Soccer has returned, oldest kid is gone again. I can't stop missing her.
Sometimes, you get wrapped up in life, and it can be terrible or wonderful. This weekend was wonderful. So that's where I was.
Today's run -2.54 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Friday, August 12, 2016
What about meat? - Day 37 of running streak, Day 34 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Fantastic run today. Okay, not fantastic, but felt really good. 2.5 miles. Only 9.17 min per mile, but not a big deal.
I've talked a lot on here about the importance of getting enough sleep. I'm setting a very bad example of that, but we all should do it.
One thing that I am doing pretty well is eating well. I feel like my life has truly changed since I started the Sugar Free Challenge* over a month ago. I'll get a craving for something sugary once in a while, realize it for what it is (thirst or fatigue usually), and reach for a glass of water or a piece of fruit. Problem solved.
But what about meat? How much meat should you be eating and what kind?
The answer to how much is as little as possible. Protein comes from lots of different non-meat sources, including peanut butter, eggs, and milk products (lowfat of course).
If you want to eat meat, limit it to max once a day, and about the size of a deck of playing cards for your portion. Doesn't seem like much, does it? But surround that meat with a grain like quinoa or couscous and some colorful vegetables, and you won't go hungry.
And lowfat lean meat. Chicken breast or fish. Broiled or grilled, not fried. Not fried anything, I say as I'm munching my fried sweet potato chips!
We are suckers here in the good ole USA. If we're in a restaurant, and they bring us a 12 or 16 oz steak, we feel like we need to eat the whole thing. Or a giant cheeseburger and fries. Gotta eat it all because of the starving kids in other parts of the world, right?
Wrong. Portion size is entirely out of control, in restaurants and at home. That's one of the reasons why we're so fat as a nation.
Pork? Not the other white meat. Limit it, as well as beef, to once or twice a month.
Or don't. Say something like, "I just can't live without my rib eye steak!"
Actually, you can live without it, and live longer and happier.
Today's run: 2.50 miles, verified by the Nike + running app.
I've talked a lot on here about the importance of getting enough sleep. I'm setting a very bad example of that, but we all should do it.
One thing that I am doing pretty well is eating well. I feel like my life has truly changed since I started the Sugar Free Challenge* over a month ago. I'll get a craving for something sugary once in a while, realize it for what it is (thirst or fatigue usually), and reach for a glass of water or a piece of fruit. Problem solved.
But what about meat? How much meat should you be eating and what kind?
The answer to how much is as little as possible. Protein comes from lots of different non-meat sources, including peanut butter, eggs, and milk products (lowfat of course).
If you want to eat meat, limit it to max once a day, and about the size of a deck of playing cards for your portion. Doesn't seem like much, does it? But surround that meat with a grain like quinoa or couscous and some colorful vegetables, and you won't go hungry.
And lowfat lean meat. Chicken breast or fish. Broiled or grilled, not fried. Not fried anything, I say as I'm munching my fried sweet potato chips!
We are suckers here in the good ole USA. If we're in a restaurant, and they bring us a 12 or 16 oz steak, we feel like we need to eat the whole thing. Or a giant cheeseburger and fries. Gotta eat it all because of the starving kids in other parts of the world, right?
Wrong. Portion size is entirely out of control, in restaurants and at home. That's one of the reasons why we're so fat as a nation.
Pork? Not the other white meat. Limit it, as well as beef, to once or twice a month.
Or don't. Say something like, "I just can't live without my rib eye steak!"
Actually, you can live without it, and live longer and happier.
Today's run: 2.50 miles, verified by the Nike + running app.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Having a bad day; is there really such a thing? - Day 36 of running streak, Day 33 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I'm having a bad day.
I ran 2.48 miles after again not having slept enough. But it went okay; slow (9.18 min/mile I think was average) but I got it done. Got ready for work and oldest kid drove me in. That was nice. It occurred to me that it would be the last time she did that this summer, maybe ever.
We talked about what was going on today, what we needed to do, where we needed to be. Coordinating, discussing money. I really hope to get to the point in my life where I never need to discuss money. Maybe one of these days.
But that was it; it's been downhill from there. Work has been difficult today, I don't think I'm hitting anyone's expectations, especially my own. I feel especially inadequate today.
So I'm having a bad day.
Right.
Some of you may find out bad news today about something. I hope not. You may find out that your health is bad, or that someone has died, or that there has been another shooting or terrorist attack.
That is an actual bad day.
Actually, there really isn't a "bad" day. Days are neither good nor bad. They just exist as part of our time telling system.
We've specified units of time to help us run our lives; days are the 24 hour unit that we use.
Things happen during these days and we react to them. That's how life works.
We don't feel the same about the same things, so your great day may be my bad day, and vice versa.
My good news may be of no concern to you; my bad news may be nothing compared to your bad news.
So if a lot of good things happen to us, we say that it's been a "good day." Or a "bad day" if it goes the other way.
It's really just how we react to life. So what do we do? Do we fake it? Do we get mad and shut down?
Nah. We just deal with life the best we can and keep going. Right? We all have our stuff, our problems, our triumphs, our challenges.
All different. All similarly important and unimportant in the great scale of things, which also doesn't exist.
When I'm having a "bad day" I remind myself of the great things that I have going for me. A wife and three great kids. I didn't die of heart disease 6 months ago. I have a job where I work with great people. I can make people happy when I act and sing and write, sometimes.
Bad days, or whatever, are temporary. The problems that cause them can be large, sometimes permanent. But we have to go on.
We have to take care of ourselves and our stuff, and be as happy as we can be.
We have to remember that we are good, that there are some great things in all of our lives.
We have to deal with the bad stuff, and run toward the good stuff.
And now, from writing this, my "bad day" is starting to get better. Hope you take the time to read this.
Today's run: 2.48 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
I ran 2.48 miles after again not having slept enough. But it went okay; slow (9.18 min/mile I think was average) but I got it done. Got ready for work and oldest kid drove me in. That was nice. It occurred to me that it would be the last time she did that this summer, maybe ever.
We talked about what was going on today, what we needed to do, where we needed to be. Coordinating, discussing money. I really hope to get to the point in my life where I never need to discuss money. Maybe one of these days.
But that was it; it's been downhill from there. Work has been difficult today, I don't think I'm hitting anyone's expectations, especially my own. I feel especially inadequate today.
So I'm having a bad day.
Right.
Some of you may find out bad news today about something. I hope not. You may find out that your health is bad, or that someone has died, or that there has been another shooting or terrorist attack.
That is an actual bad day.
Actually, there really isn't a "bad" day. Days are neither good nor bad. They just exist as part of our time telling system.
We've specified units of time to help us run our lives; days are the 24 hour unit that we use.
Things happen during these days and we react to them. That's how life works.
We don't feel the same about the same things, so your great day may be my bad day, and vice versa.
My good news may be of no concern to you; my bad news may be nothing compared to your bad news.
So if a lot of good things happen to us, we say that it's been a "good day." Or a "bad day" if it goes the other way.
It's really just how we react to life. So what do we do? Do we fake it? Do we get mad and shut down?
Nah. We just deal with life the best we can and keep going. Right? We all have our stuff, our problems, our triumphs, our challenges.
All different. All similarly important and unimportant in the great scale of things, which also doesn't exist.
When I'm having a "bad day" I remind myself of the great things that I have going for me. A wife and three great kids. I didn't die of heart disease 6 months ago. I have a job where I work with great people. I can make people happy when I act and sing and write, sometimes.
Bad days, or whatever, are temporary. The problems that cause them can be large, sometimes permanent. But we have to go on.
We have to take care of ourselves and our stuff, and be as happy as we can be.
We have to remember that we are good, that there are some great things in all of our lives.
We have to deal with the bad stuff, and run toward the good stuff.
And now, from writing this, my "bad day" is starting to get better. Hope you take the time to read this.
Today's run: 2.48 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Something (someone) you can really use - Day 35 of running streak, day 32 of Sugar Free Challenge*
My phone went dead this morning.
When I picked it up to go running, I saw it was at 18%. I have an old iPhone 4 on its last legs and the battery drains really quickly, so I was worried that I wouldn't get my run in on the app before the phone died.
I didn't want to wait for it to charge more, so I went anyway.
I kept checking it to see if it had died, and it was still chugging along, like me.
I did my Olympic imitation again, and passed the same woman that I passed the other day, right before 2 miles.
"It's going to make it!" I thought. Then it died at 2.24 miles.
I kept going. No app is going to rule my life.
I hit what I guessed was about 2.46 and stopped. When I got the phone charged back up, it showed that I had run 2.24; that was where my mileage was when it died. But I know better.
I found out a few minutes ago that you can actually edit your mileage on the Nike + running app. Why they give you this ability, I don't know, but I'm glad because I was able to fix it.
I promise that my distances are what I say they are. Even if my app dies.
So here's something that you can really use: about a year ago, I heard about a guy named James Altucher. James is an entrepreneur, but he doesn't give you all the self-employment porn that a lot of other people do on the Internet. His philosophy is to make sure and "choose yourself" every day, even for a little while. James is an author and has a weekly podcast; his book "Choose Yourself" is one of the most influential books I've ever read. I have linked to his podcast from this blog a few times, because he talks about health and personal happiness as much as he talks about business and finance.
The best thing about him is that he gives away about 99% of his advice and info for free. Check out his website at www.jamesaltucher.com. You can get emails several times a week, alerts for his latest podcast, and yes, you can buy stuff if you want to.
Hope you check it out.
Today's run: 2.46 miles (really!), verified by me and the Nike + running app.
When I picked it up to go running, I saw it was at 18%. I have an old iPhone 4 on its last legs and the battery drains really quickly, so I was worried that I wouldn't get my run in on the app before the phone died.
I didn't want to wait for it to charge more, so I went anyway.
I kept checking it to see if it had died, and it was still chugging along, like me.
I did my Olympic imitation again, and passed the same woman that I passed the other day, right before 2 miles.
"It's going to make it!" I thought. Then it died at 2.24 miles.
I kept going. No app is going to rule my life.
I hit what I guessed was about 2.46 and stopped. When I got the phone charged back up, it showed that I had run 2.24; that was where my mileage was when it died. But I know better.
I found out a few minutes ago that you can actually edit your mileage on the Nike + running app. Why they give you this ability, I don't know, but I'm glad because I was able to fix it.
I promise that my distances are what I say they are. Even if my app dies.
So here's something that you can really use: about a year ago, I heard about a guy named James Altucher. James is an entrepreneur, but he doesn't give you all the self-employment porn that a lot of other people do on the Internet. His philosophy is to make sure and "choose yourself" every day, even for a little while. James is an author and has a weekly podcast; his book "Choose Yourself" is one of the most influential books I've ever read. I have linked to his podcast from this blog a few times, because he talks about health and personal happiness as much as he talks about business and finance.
The best thing about him is that he gives away about 99% of his advice and info for free. Check out his website at www.jamesaltucher.com. You can get emails several times a week, alerts for his latest podcast, and yes, you can buy stuff if you want to.
Hope you check it out.
Today's run: 2.46 miles (really!), verified by me and the Nike + running app.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
It's starting to get easier - Day 34 of running streak, day 31 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I've been telling you all about the struggles I have getting past the second mile.
Or more correctly, when I'm approaching mile 2 and know I have about a half mile or more to go.
It's been tough. But not so much today. Today I blew through it. And I didn't have enough sleep (again) and had a lot of negative stuff/stresses on my mind. They would leave, then come back, then leave, then come back.
But that's what happens every day. Fatigue and bad thoughts, they come and they go. Generally if I'm tired, I can't stay awake after 11. Physically can't; if I sit down I go to sleep. That's how I know I'm sleep deprived. And the thoughts, the stresses? Unfortunately, they're part of my daily life.
So during the run this morning, I double checked my app to make sure it was working, For some reason it didn't announce anything today, and I had the sound on. Really? Have I really ran 1.89 so far? Doesn't feel like it.
I got to 2.44 today, and I probably could have kept going for a while.
So this isn't to brag, gang, but to let you know. It gets easier.
It gets easier getting up early to exercise. It gets easier eating like you should. It gets easier avoiding sugar (especially if you have a *).
So keep at it. Things become habits. Soreness and cravings go away. When you look at certain foods, instead of thinking, "Damn I want that", you think, "Damn that is no good for me. I can't believe I used to eat that." Or, "Damn, how many miles will I have to run to work that off?"
When it starts getting easier, you know you have to challenge yourself more. You'll have to run farther, which takes more time, so you'll have to get up earlier. Which means you'll have to get more sleep. And you'll burn more calories, so you'll have to eat a little more, etc.
This is a good thing.
You'll also get people telling you how good you're doing. "You look great!! What have you been doing?"
Watch out for this because it's usually followed by, "You don't do that every day, do you?" or "well, then, one piece of cake won't hurt."
Remember, you're not doing this to please others. You're helping yourself, which will make you happier and healthier.
Wish the rest of my life would catch up with my running...
Today's run - 2.44 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Or more correctly, when I'm approaching mile 2 and know I have about a half mile or more to go.
It's been tough. But not so much today. Today I blew through it. And I didn't have enough sleep (again) and had a lot of negative stuff/stresses on my mind. They would leave, then come back, then leave, then come back.
But that's what happens every day. Fatigue and bad thoughts, they come and they go. Generally if I'm tired, I can't stay awake after 11. Physically can't; if I sit down I go to sleep. That's how I know I'm sleep deprived. And the thoughts, the stresses? Unfortunately, they're part of my daily life.
So during the run this morning, I double checked my app to make sure it was working, For some reason it didn't announce anything today, and I had the sound on. Really? Have I really ran 1.89 so far? Doesn't feel like it.
I got to 2.44 today, and I probably could have kept going for a while.
So this isn't to brag, gang, but to let you know. It gets easier.
It gets easier getting up early to exercise. It gets easier eating like you should. It gets easier avoiding sugar (especially if you have a *).
So keep at it. Things become habits. Soreness and cravings go away. When you look at certain foods, instead of thinking, "Damn I want that", you think, "Damn that is no good for me. I can't believe I used to eat that." Or, "Damn, how many miles will I have to run to work that off?"
When it starts getting easier, you know you have to challenge yourself more. You'll have to run farther, which takes more time, so you'll have to get up earlier. Which means you'll have to get more sleep. And you'll burn more calories, so you'll have to eat a little more, etc.
This is a good thing.
You'll also get people telling you how good you're doing. "You look great!! What have you been doing?"
Watch out for this because it's usually followed by, "You don't do that every day, do you?" or "well, then, one piece of cake won't hurt."
Remember, you're not doing this to please others. You're helping yourself, which will make you happier and healthier.
Wish the rest of my life would catch up with my running...
Today's run - 2.44 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Want to see excellence? Watch the Olympics - Day 33 of running streak, day 30 of Sugar Free Challenge*
So last evening we were doing some housework and we had the Olympics on in the background.
The women's archery final came on: Russia vs. South Korea. Not something I would have sought out on my own.
The South Korean archers had these white outfits with matching white hats on. They had no facial expressions, even after they shot.
The commentator said that basically the rest of the competition was basically a formality, just to see who would face South Korea. That the biggest competition that you faced as a South Korean woman archer was making the team.
That caught my attention. So I watched.
The Russian women did pretty good, lots of 7s and 8s, a few 9s and 10s. 7s and 8s are the red part of the target just outside the bullseye, the 9s and 10s are the yellow bullseye.
Also, they're shooting from about 76 yards away. Yards. Three quarters of the length of a football field.
Then the South Koreans took their turn.
First archer: 10. Next archer: 10. Next archer: 10. Then I think a 10, 9, and a 10. 59 points in their first round. Out of a possible 60.
No expression, no celebration except a little high five after each perfect shot. 10, 10, 10...
How can anyone beat this? Ever? This is what total domination looks like.
If you're an Olympic level athlete reading this blog, you should probably look elsewhere. This blog is about effort, making your life better, eating well, sleeping well, exercising.
It's about my challenge to run every single day no matter what. And no matter what shape I get in, I know I will never be an Olympic athlete. I mean, I'm almost 50; is there a sleeping contest?
I'll never be as perfect as the South Korean Olympic archers. I'll be sweating and running slowly, trying to get another couple hundreds of a mile of another 10 seconds off to be happy about.
And yet...
Right before mile two this morning, I saw another runner in front of me. I noted their pace, their gait. I thought, "I'm going to pass them."
So I kicked in my faster gear, which isn't much faster than my slower gear, just more determined. And I saw myself in the Olympics, much younger and slimmer, fit as can be. I saw the gap close between me and the other runner until I was passing her. I saw her head turn out of my peripheral vision, and I thought, "Ha! She's younger than me and I'm passing her!" The Ha! was for me, not for her.
I rounded to the home stretch and was getting tired. No Usher music kicking in today,
But I kept it up, just in case she was trying to catch up. She wasn't.
Then I finished, winded and out of breath and sweaty. No crowd cheering, just my mind cheering for me, in the dark.
Perfection is for the Olympics. We must find beauty and strength in our imperfection and our effort.
That will make us Olympians in our minds, which is good enough.
Today's run: 2.42 miles, verified by Nike + running app. Watch the 2016 Summer Olympics on NBC and their various networks.
The women's archery final came on: Russia vs. South Korea. Not something I would have sought out on my own.
The South Korean archers had these white outfits with matching white hats on. They had no facial expressions, even after they shot.
The commentator said that basically the rest of the competition was basically a formality, just to see who would face South Korea. That the biggest competition that you faced as a South Korean woman archer was making the team.
That caught my attention. So I watched.
The Russian women did pretty good, lots of 7s and 8s, a few 9s and 10s. 7s and 8s are the red part of the target just outside the bullseye, the 9s and 10s are the yellow bullseye.
Also, they're shooting from about 76 yards away. Yards. Three quarters of the length of a football field.
Then the South Koreans took their turn.
First archer: 10. Next archer: 10. Next archer: 10. Then I think a 10, 9, and a 10. 59 points in their first round. Out of a possible 60.
No expression, no celebration except a little high five after each perfect shot. 10, 10, 10...
How can anyone beat this? Ever? This is what total domination looks like.
If you're an Olympic level athlete reading this blog, you should probably look elsewhere. This blog is about effort, making your life better, eating well, sleeping well, exercising.
It's about my challenge to run every single day no matter what. And no matter what shape I get in, I know I will never be an Olympic athlete. I mean, I'm almost 50; is there a sleeping contest?
I'll never be as perfect as the South Korean Olympic archers. I'll be sweating and running slowly, trying to get another couple hundreds of a mile of another 10 seconds off to be happy about.
And yet...
Right before mile two this morning, I saw another runner in front of me. I noted their pace, their gait. I thought, "I'm going to pass them."
So I kicked in my faster gear, which isn't much faster than my slower gear, just more determined. And I saw myself in the Olympics, much younger and slimmer, fit as can be. I saw the gap close between me and the other runner until I was passing her. I saw her head turn out of my peripheral vision, and I thought, "Ha! She's younger than me and I'm passing her!" The Ha! was for me, not for her.
I rounded to the home stretch and was getting tired. No Usher music kicking in today,
But I kept it up, just in case she was trying to catch up. She wasn't.
Then I finished, winded and out of breath and sweaty. No crowd cheering, just my mind cheering for me, in the dark.
Perfection is for the Olympics. We must find beauty and strength in our imperfection and our effort.
That will make us Olympians in our minds, which is good enough.
Today's run: 2.42 miles, verified by Nike + running app. Watch the 2016 Summer Olympics on NBC and their various networks.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Yeah! - Day 32 of running streak, Day 29 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Yeah!
I slept in a little until 6 today. Needed a little extra sleep this morning.
Got out there and started running, decent pace, nothing special.
After 2 miles, my app told me that I had hit 2 miles. Pace okay, about 8.34 per mile.
Then the coolest thing happened.
I don't listen to music when I run. I like the quiet, except for the reminders from my app.
So I'm not sure why "Yeah!" by Usher kicked on after two miles.
I love that song. It just gets me pumped up. We have music during the day at work, and when that song comes on I do the "take that, rewind it back" part and name off people in the office. They love it. I hope you know what I'm talking about.
So I cruised to the end of the run.
The oldest kid had to lay read in church today and give a 5 minute talk about her mission trip to Nicaragua. Then all three kids and I sang "There is a Balm in Gilead" in four parts for the congregation. It was really good; I've never sung with all three of them before. I'd attach the recording here but the iPad was too full and we couldn't record it. So it's a wonderful memory.
We came home and ate spaghetti. Then we started going through school supplies as the return to school gets more and more imminent.
Sounds boring, right? I keep hearing "yeah, yeah, yeah..."
It's been a great day so far. Possible ice cream social later at church. Whoop!!
I'm going to miss them when they go back to school.
Take that and rewind it back...
Today's run: 2.40 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
I slept in a little until 6 today. Needed a little extra sleep this morning.
Got out there and started running, decent pace, nothing special.
After 2 miles, my app told me that I had hit 2 miles. Pace okay, about 8.34 per mile.
Then the coolest thing happened.
I don't listen to music when I run. I like the quiet, except for the reminders from my app.
So I'm not sure why "Yeah!" by Usher kicked on after two miles.
I love that song. It just gets me pumped up. We have music during the day at work, and when that song comes on I do the "take that, rewind it back" part and name off people in the office. They love it. I hope you know what I'm talking about.
So I cruised to the end of the run.
The oldest kid had to lay read in church today and give a 5 minute talk about her mission trip to Nicaragua. Then all three kids and I sang "There is a Balm in Gilead" in four parts for the congregation. It was really good; I've never sung with all three of them before. I'd attach the recording here but the iPad was too full and we couldn't record it. So it's a wonderful memory.
We came home and ate spaghetti. Then we started going through school supplies as the return to school gets more and more imminent.
Sounds boring, right? I keep hearing "yeah, yeah, yeah..."
It's been a great day so far. Possible ice cream social later at church. Whoop!!
I'm going to miss them when they go back to school.
Take that and rewind it back...
Today's run: 2.40 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Live from Greenville! - Day 31 of running streak, Day 28 of Sugar free challenge*
Here we are in Greenville, once again. The oldest kid and I.
She wanted to come here for breakfast, to meet some of her friends from this last mission trip,friends rhat are going away to college that she may never see again.
She'll be coming back here next weekend to go to school for the year. She'll get break, sure, but she'll be here most of the time. Dancing and learning. I will miss her.
We've both learned a lot this year. She's learned that the world is a pretty awesome place, that there is adventure around every corner. That the world is full of amazing places and people, with needs and hopes very different and very similar to her own.
Wait, I think she's known that forever. She's just been getting to confirm what she already knows.
I've learned that the old life I lived got me almost dead. Not the good things, like family and church and acting and singing. The bad stuff though: the bad eating, the bad decisions about career and not sleeping and how I spent my time.
So we thought about not coming today. We have a lot to do. Getting ready for school to start and whatnot. We worked late last night and didn't get much sleep.
And I remembered that life is about relationships and experiences. So we decided to come to Greenville this morning so that she could see her friends one more time.
I got up early and did a mile or so. To keep the streak going.
It's so beautiful here. I hope she's having fun.
Relationships and experiences. And love. Everything else is either extra or unnecessary.
Later.
Today's run: 1.05 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
She wanted to come here for breakfast, to meet some of her friends from this last mission trip,friends rhat are going away to college that she may never see again.
She'll be coming back here next weekend to go to school for the year. She'll get break, sure, but she'll be here most of the time. Dancing and learning. I will miss her.
We've both learned a lot this year. She's learned that the world is a pretty awesome place, that there is adventure around every corner. That the world is full of amazing places and people, with needs and hopes very different and very similar to her own.
Wait, I think she's known that forever. She's just been getting to confirm what she already knows.
I've learned that the old life I lived got me almost dead. Not the good things, like family and church and acting and singing. The bad stuff though: the bad eating, the bad decisions about career and not sleeping and how I spent my time.
So we thought about not coming today. We have a lot to do. Getting ready for school to start and whatnot. We worked late last night and didn't get much sleep.
And I remembered that life is about relationships and experiences. So we decided to come to Greenville this morning so that she could see her friends one more time.
I got up early and did a mile or so. To keep the streak going.
It's so beautiful here. I hope she's having fun.
Relationships and experiences. And love. Everything else is either extra or unnecessary.
Later.
Today's run: 1.05 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Friday, August 5, 2016
1 month in - Day 30 of running streak, Day 27 of Sugar Free Challenge*
So I've been at this officially for a month...
How's it going, you may ask?
It's going great, thank you very much. Got up at 4:30 this morning because I had some extra stuff to do, even though I'm trying to eliminate the morning errands (see a couple posts ago or so). Went running, fully expecting to crap out after a mile. Second straight night with not enough sleep.
And what did I do? Banged out 2.38 miles, longest run on the streak yet.
So I've gotten endurance from doing this.
About a mile or so in this morning, I was expecting to start fading. But I didn't. I actually got a little kick in my stride and ran faster, for a while at least.
So I got some fitness out of this.
Weight at beginning of streak: about 210 lbs. Today's weight: 202 lbs.
So I got weight loss out of this.
I got tired of not losing weight at the beginning, so I quit refined sugar, for the most part*.
So I no longer eat sweets, put sugar in my coffee, and so forth.
I can't imagine not running every day. When I even think about it for a second, I hurry up, put on my shoes, and get out there.
So I got persistence and determination out of this, more than I already had.
When I'm down (and I am), when I wake up to thoughts of panic and fear, I get dressed, put on my shoes, and get going. The bad thoughts linger for a minute, then I'm just one foot in front of the other. My stress is gone, at least for a while.
So I got a temporary stress reliever out of this.
It's time that is all mine. I don't run with others; I know that some of you do and that's fine. I'm a lone wolf. A slow lone wolf.
So I got my own thing out of this.
And I have a perfect excuse, a need, to write every day. So that you can read if you want. I want you to like my writing, but it's really for me.
So I got writing every day out of this.
And running. Every single day.
See you tomorrow!!
Today's run: 2.38 miles, verified by Nike + running app. Check out my progress: https://www.nike.com/us/en_us/p/myactivity
How's it going, you may ask?
It's going great, thank you very much. Got up at 4:30 this morning because I had some extra stuff to do, even though I'm trying to eliminate the morning errands (see a couple posts ago or so). Went running, fully expecting to crap out after a mile. Second straight night with not enough sleep.
And what did I do? Banged out 2.38 miles, longest run on the streak yet.
So I've gotten endurance from doing this.
About a mile or so in this morning, I was expecting to start fading. But I didn't. I actually got a little kick in my stride and ran faster, for a while at least.
So I got some fitness out of this.
Weight at beginning of streak: about 210 lbs. Today's weight: 202 lbs.
So I got weight loss out of this.
I got tired of not losing weight at the beginning, so I quit refined sugar, for the most part*.
So I no longer eat sweets, put sugar in my coffee, and so forth.
I can't imagine not running every day. When I even think about it for a second, I hurry up, put on my shoes, and get out there.
So I got persistence and determination out of this, more than I already had.
When I'm down (and I am), when I wake up to thoughts of panic and fear, I get dressed, put on my shoes, and get going. The bad thoughts linger for a minute, then I'm just one foot in front of the other. My stress is gone, at least for a while.
So I got a temporary stress reliever out of this.
It's time that is all mine. I don't run with others; I know that some of you do and that's fine. I'm a lone wolf. A slow lone wolf.
So I got my own thing out of this.
And I have a perfect excuse, a need, to write every day. So that you can read if you want. I want you to like my writing, but it's really for me.
So I got writing every day out of this.
And running. Every single day.
See you tomorrow!!
Today's run: 2.38 miles, verified by Nike + running app. Check out my progress: https://www.nike.com/us/en_us/p/myactivity
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Hitting the wall - Day 29 of running streak, Day 26 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I've hit the wall today, folks.
Not literally; I haven't hit any walls. Not yet.
But it's been one of those days so far. Five hours of sleep was strike one. I should know better. How can I say that you should get enough sleep when I don't? Stupid.
I've been terrible at work so far today, probably a result of the above action.
I call people on the phone all day, to try to get them to get on a webinar to see our company's products/services. When they buy, I get paid more. Pretty basic process, but it requires energy.
I let people down by not listening to them, by not giving them my full attention. By not being the best I can be.
I did get my run in today, 2.35 miles. Think I did that on wind, or will, or something. My app was acting crazy this morning, blurting out my distance and pace about every ten seconds. It was super annoying.
I think it got me to 2.35 miles.
So I got my exercise in. I have eaten well so far today; oatmeal twice, no sugar, fruit on both bowls and honey on one, and some chicken, quinoa and veggies for lunch.
That's what I've done well today. Those three things: exercise, breakfast and lunch.
Oh and I've had a LOT of coffee. That's good for you too.
So I've helped myself by doing other good things for my body and mind. And writing this, that's very good for me, and I hope for you too.
Sometimes we go into robot mode and plod through stuff. Wait, I wrote that blog three or four days ago. Gotta keep it fresh.
One of our guys is riding a Hoverboard around the office booking appointments. He also has a man bun. One of my favorite dudes here.
A good friend of mine is leaving tomorrow. He has been a great friend and mentor in the year and a half I've been here. But he's excited about the rest of his life, so I'll be excited for him.
I'm going to try to get swept up in the energy and be a good worker, for myself and my family.
But I am wiped out, y'all. Hope you're full of energy this afternoon.
Oh, also, we have music here at the office. I heard, "The Boys of Summer" earlier. It made me feel sad and old.
Sorry to dump. Gotta pick this up. Later.
Today's run: 2.35 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Not literally; I haven't hit any walls. Not yet.
But it's been one of those days so far. Five hours of sleep was strike one. I should know better. How can I say that you should get enough sleep when I don't? Stupid.
I've been terrible at work so far today, probably a result of the above action.
I call people on the phone all day, to try to get them to get on a webinar to see our company's products/services. When they buy, I get paid more. Pretty basic process, but it requires energy.
I let people down by not listening to them, by not giving them my full attention. By not being the best I can be.
I did get my run in today, 2.35 miles. Think I did that on wind, or will, or something. My app was acting crazy this morning, blurting out my distance and pace about every ten seconds. It was super annoying.
I think it got me to 2.35 miles.
So I got my exercise in. I have eaten well so far today; oatmeal twice, no sugar, fruit on both bowls and honey on one, and some chicken, quinoa and veggies for lunch.
That's what I've done well today. Those three things: exercise, breakfast and lunch.
Oh and I've had a LOT of coffee. That's good for you too.
So I've helped myself by doing other good things for my body and mind. And writing this, that's very good for me, and I hope for you too.
Sometimes we go into robot mode and plod through stuff. Wait, I wrote that blog three or four days ago. Gotta keep it fresh.
One of our guys is riding a Hoverboard around the office booking appointments. He also has a man bun. One of my favorite dudes here.
A good friend of mine is leaving tomorrow. He has been a great friend and mentor in the year and a half I've been here. But he's excited about the rest of his life, so I'll be excited for him.
I'm going to try to get swept up in the energy and be a good worker, for myself and my family.
But I am wiped out, y'all. Hope you're full of energy this afternoon.
Oh, also, we have music here at the office. I heard, "The Boys of Summer" earlier. It made me feel sad and old.
Sorry to dump. Gotta pick this up. Later.
Today's run: 2.35 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
The Joy of Snacks - Day 28 of running streak, Day 25 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I love snacks.
I can't get enough snacks. I find snacks so satisfying, especially at the end of a long day.
Sometimes, I'm just hungry for some great snacks. Ravenous maybe.
And I just can't get satisfied until I have some wonderful snacks.
Meals aren't enough, if you eat like I do. I need snacks!!
Lots and lots of snacks!!
So what kind of snacks do I like?? Healthy snacks of course.
Fruit is wonderful. Don't let all of these people scare you away saying that the sugar in fruit is the same as refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup. It's not. Plus there are a lot of other great reasons to eat fruit, like vitamins and fiber.
But those aren't the only snacks you can have.
Nuts are wonderful snacks as well. Any kind of nuts. They are like little energy pellets. Don't eat too many, maybe a handful at a time. They will help you feel full and give you energy until your next meal.
You've got to watch the sodium in a lot of snacks, including nuts. But there are so many nuts available in low salt and no salt varieties that you have to try to miss them in the store. So please include nuts in your snacks!!
I've been including a mozerella cheese stick in my lunch for protein, but they are great snacks as well. Usually low fat, they are another great tide me over type of snack. Any type of cheese is good, as long as you again limit it to an ounce or two.
Finally, a spoonful of peanut butter by itself or on a slice of 100% whole wheat bread is a great snack.
Yes, it has a little sugar, but it's a staple snack for me and I am allowing it on my sugar free challenge*.
So tonight, when you get home, relax and enjoy some wonderful, satisfying snacks. Or maybe at work you can sneak in some snacks. It's kind of tricky in the workplace.
Gosh, you'd think that all I think about is snacks!
Today's run - 2.33 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
I can't get enough snacks. I find snacks so satisfying, especially at the end of a long day.
Sometimes, I'm just hungry for some great snacks. Ravenous maybe.
And I just can't get satisfied until I have some wonderful snacks.
Meals aren't enough, if you eat like I do. I need snacks!!
Lots and lots of snacks!!
So what kind of snacks do I like?? Healthy snacks of course.
Fruit is wonderful. Don't let all of these people scare you away saying that the sugar in fruit is the same as refined sugar or high fructose corn syrup. It's not. Plus there are a lot of other great reasons to eat fruit, like vitamins and fiber.
But those aren't the only snacks you can have.
Nuts are wonderful snacks as well. Any kind of nuts. They are like little energy pellets. Don't eat too many, maybe a handful at a time. They will help you feel full and give you energy until your next meal.
You've got to watch the sodium in a lot of snacks, including nuts. But there are so many nuts available in low salt and no salt varieties that you have to try to miss them in the store. So please include nuts in your snacks!!
I've been including a mozerella cheese stick in my lunch for protein, but they are great snacks as well. Usually low fat, they are another great tide me over type of snack. Any type of cheese is good, as long as you again limit it to an ounce or two.
Finally, a spoonful of peanut butter by itself or on a slice of 100% whole wheat bread is a great snack.
Yes, it has a little sugar, but it's a staple snack for me and I am allowing it on my sugar free challenge*.
So tonight, when you get home, relax and enjoy some wonderful, satisfying snacks. Or maybe at work you can sneak in some snacks. It's kind of tricky in the workplace.
Gosh, you'd think that all I think about is snacks!
Today's run - 2.33 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
I Heart You - Day 27 of running streak, Day 24 of Sugar Free Challenge*
When I'm running, I think. Most of the time anyway.
When I'm starting I think, "Why am I out here again?"
When I'm finishing I think, "Okay just a little bit farther..."
In between, I think about a lot of stuff. Like what I'm going to write today. What will make today's entry different from other days, or similar if I'm trying to make a point.
Today I figured I'd tell my heart story. Some of you have heard this story before, but you may want to hear it again. Here goes:
About a year and a half ago, I started to have chest pressure when I did normal active things. Like walking up steps or walking for long distances. Running was pretty much out of the question.
This should have really alarmed me, because I used to run a lot. I used to help coach youth soccer and I would run with the kids during practice and scrimmage with them.
I was a fat kid, really fat. But not as much lately. Some, but not overwhelmingly.
I eventually told my wife about this. She was concerned, more than me. I kept on doing my thing, going to work, whatever.
Last December, I was cutting down our family Christmas tree at our local tree farm. Usually takes me about 5 minutes with a bow saw. I had to stop about every 30 seconds to catch my breath. My family was alarmed.
Then we had a family get together. I was playing some pickup basketball with some of the younger kids. Had to stop about 2 minutes in. She said, "You're going to the doctor."
I went to the family doctor, passed an EKG in his office, but he didn't like my symptoms.
"You need to see the cardiologist." Never thought I'd hear that.
Went to the cardiologist. "Do you want to do the stress test today or schedule it for next week?"
I said today because I had already taken off work for the day. My wife left me there to go to a funeral.
I failed the stress test (treadmill test) about a minute in. The nurse giving the test got me a chair, looked at my results, immediately gave me a nitroglycerin pill, and called the cardiologist.
He said I had to have a heart cath. By then, my wife had gotten back. He asked me if I wanted it today or next week. I said next week. My wife wisely said, "No, you're having it today."
I had the cath done that afternoon. I watched the probe camera go in, and saw as the doctor found my left main artery 99% blocked.
99%. Blocked. 1% blood flow going through.
He said, "We can't fix this with a stent. You need to have bypass surgery tomorrow."
Again, words I never thought I'd hear. "Are you sure you can't do a stent?"
He laughed. "Yeah, I've been doing this a while. I'm sure. See here where this dark area is? That's the blockage."
Damn. Okay, let's do it.
I met my heart surgeon a few hours later. He was a big, gregarious guy, like a football coach.
"Hi, Eric? I'm Dr. XXX. We're going to get this taken care of in the morning, don't you worry about it. I've got this, no sweat. Okay? You have any questions?"
I couldn't think of any. "Alright, good deal. We've got this! I'll see you in the morning!"
I got admitted. My wife went to get my boys. When they came back, the youngest one cried a little. I told him I was in the best place I could be, if anything happened the doctors would take care of me.
The next morning, a nurse came in and shaved me. You wouldn't believe all the places they shave you for heart surgery.
As they wheeled me out, I saw my wife of 26 years briefly. The lady who definitely saved my life.
"You come back! Don't be a statistic!" she told me, or something like that. Statistics haven't been very kind to our family over the years.
"I'll be back. I love you!"
I went in to several smiling, happy faces and voices. I woke up several hours later with an awful tube in my throat. It is absolutely the worst feeling that a person can have, you want that damn thing out!
They told me going in that was a good sign when I woke up that I would want it out.
A friend of my wife's and our minister stayed with her during the surgery. I think she told me that it lasted six hours. I am so thankful for them staying, and for everyone who came to visit me while I was in the hospital and when I got home. People brought us lots of good food, and sent lots of well wishes. Thank you!
I was out of work for two months, returning at the end of March. I'm a sales guy, so my pipeline pretty much bit the dust while I was out.
During my recovery, I began to eat better, again thanks to my wife. She researched recipes, and found some great meals that we could eat that were more heart-healthy than what we were used to. We hadn't been doing terribly, but we hadn't been doing great either.
I went to cardiac rehab for several months, and while I was there I started running, and you know the rest.
I don't fit the profile of a heart patient. I'm 49, wasn't incredibly overweight when it happened, I don't smoke or drink a lot. I have some stress, but generally deal with it pretty well. I don't have high blood pressure. I'm adopted, so I don't know my family history. The doctors guess it's genetic.
So I eat meat once a day, normally, if that. Chicken and fish, beef once a week. One vegetarian meal a week. Exercise every single day.
It happened to me. Unfortunately, it could happen to you too. And I heart you. So I don't want that for you.
I really feel like I have a second chance to get this right. Part of that is running and writing this blog.
Get out from in front of the computer or off of your phone. Go outside. Walk. Get some sunshine and some exercise. Don't eat that donut or those chips. Eat an apple instead. Drink water, some coffee (no sugar! Stevia!), no sodas. Realize that nothing, nothing in life is as important as your health and the people that you love. Not work, not anything. Be good to yourself and the people who love you.
That's it. Now get busy living.
Today's run: 2.31 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
When I'm starting I think, "Why am I out here again?"
When I'm finishing I think, "Okay just a little bit farther..."
In between, I think about a lot of stuff. Like what I'm going to write today. What will make today's entry different from other days, or similar if I'm trying to make a point.
Today I figured I'd tell my heart story. Some of you have heard this story before, but you may want to hear it again. Here goes:
About a year and a half ago, I started to have chest pressure when I did normal active things. Like walking up steps or walking for long distances. Running was pretty much out of the question.
This should have really alarmed me, because I used to run a lot. I used to help coach youth soccer and I would run with the kids during practice and scrimmage with them.
I was a fat kid, really fat. But not as much lately. Some, but not overwhelmingly.
I eventually told my wife about this. She was concerned, more than me. I kept on doing my thing, going to work, whatever.
Last December, I was cutting down our family Christmas tree at our local tree farm. Usually takes me about 5 minutes with a bow saw. I had to stop about every 30 seconds to catch my breath. My family was alarmed.
Then we had a family get together. I was playing some pickup basketball with some of the younger kids. Had to stop about 2 minutes in. She said, "You're going to the doctor."
I went to the family doctor, passed an EKG in his office, but he didn't like my symptoms.
"You need to see the cardiologist." Never thought I'd hear that.
Went to the cardiologist. "Do you want to do the stress test today or schedule it for next week?"
I said today because I had already taken off work for the day. My wife left me there to go to a funeral.
I failed the stress test (treadmill test) about a minute in. The nurse giving the test got me a chair, looked at my results, immediately gave me a nitroglycerin pill, and called the cardiologist.
He said I had to have a heart cath. By then, my wife had gotten back. He asked me if I wanted it today or next week. I said next week. My wife wisely said, "No, you're having it today."
I had the cath done that afternoon. I watched the probe camera go in, and saw as the doctor found my left main artery 99% blocked.
99%. Blocked. 1% blood flow going through.
He said, "We can't fix this with a stent. You need to have bypass surgery tomorrow."
Again, words I never thought I'd hear. "Are you sure you can't do a stent?"
He laughed. "Yeah, I've been doing this a while. I'm sure. See here where this dark area is? That's the blockage."
Damn. Okay, let's do it.
I met my heart surgeon a few hours later. He was a big, gregarious guy, like a football coach.
"Hi, Eric? I'm Dr. XXX. We're going to get this taken care of in the morning, don't you worry about it. I've got this, no sweat. Okay? You have any questions?"
I couldn't think of any. "Alright, good deal. We've got this! I'll see you in the morning!"
I got admitted. My wife went to get my boys. When they came back, the youngest one cried a little. I told him I was in the best place I could be, if anything happened the doctors would take care of me.
The next morning, a nurse came in and shaved me. You wouldn't believe all the places they shave you for heart surgery.
As they wheeled me out, I saw my wife of 26 years briefly. The lady who definitely saved my life.
"You come back! Don't be a statistic!" she told me, or something like that. Statistics haven't been very kind to our family over the years.
"I'll be back. I love you!"
I went in to several smiling, happy faces and voices. I woke up several hours later with an awful tube in my throat. It is absolutely the worst feeling that a person can have, you want that damn thing out!
They told me going in that was a good sign when I woke up that I would want it out.
A friend of my wife's and our minister stayed with her during the surgery. I think she told me that it lasted six hours. I am so thankful for them staying, and for everyone who came to visit me while I was in the hospital and when I got home. People brought us lots of good food, and sent lots of well wishes. Thank you!
I was out of work for two months, returning at the end of March. I'm a sales guy, so my pipeline pretty much bit the dust while I was out.
During my recovery, I began to eat better, again thanks to my wife. She researched recipes, and found some great meals that we could eat that were more heart-healthy than what we were used to. We hadn't been doing terribly, but we hadn't been doing great either.
I went to cardiac rehab for several months, and while I was there I started running, and you know the rest.
I don't fit the profile of a heart patient. I'm 49, wasn't incredibly overweight when it happened, I don't smoke or drink a lot. I have some stress, but generally deal with it pretty well. I don't have high blood pressure. I'm adopted, so I don't know my family history. The doctors guess it's genetic.
So I eat meat once a day, normally, if that. Chicken and fish, beef once a week. One vegetarian meal a week. Exercise every single day.
It happened to me. Unfortunately, it could happen to you too. And I heart you. So I don't want that for you.
I really feel like I have a second chance to get this right. Part of that is running and writing this blog.
Get out from in front of the computer or off of your phone. Go outside. Walk. Get some sunshine and some exercise. Don't eat that donut or those chips. Eat an apple instead. Drink water, some coffee (no sugar! Stevia!), no sodas. Realize that nothing, nothing in life is as important as your health and the people that you love. Not work, not anything. Be good to yourself and the people who love you.
That's it. Now get busy living.
Today's run: 2.31 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Monday, August 1, 2016
Feeling great and healthy!!! - Day 26 or running streak, day 23 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Hi everybody! Happy Monday afternoon!!!
Yesterday I was out of gas. Today I woke up fired up and haven't stopped since.
I ran the furthest since the streak began: 2.29 miles. My pace wasn't bad, although I did do better on my second mile than my first. As I've mentioned here before, I love it when that happens!! It makes me feel so good when I pump out that extra effort to try to break the 9 minute mile barrier; even if I don't quite get there I'm happy to shave off a few seconds.
I use the time as more of a motivator than anything else. I'm not a fast runner (never have been) and I'm not trying to be. It's still fun to hear that final time be faster than the split time.
I did a bunch of stuff last night that I normally put off until the morning, because I've been trying to free up some time when I get up. My run/cool down typically takes about 35 minutes, so I'm usually really pressed for time. This morning, I wound up with about 20 extra minutes! I still had to do all of the stuff, but it seemed to take less time when I did it the night before. I actually finished my Pele' autobiography this morning, and I'm actually hoping to do some WRITING in the morning if this trend holds up!
Work has been great; found out some GREAT news that solved a MAJOR problem that I was having. Also found out some really cool news about our company as well.
Lunch was simple and good; a cheese stick and two apples.
Boys start "official" soccer practice today, one of my favorite times of year. Oldest has had a position change which he is very excited about! Hope it lasts for him.
I hope that your day has been as great as mine has been so far. I still have problems (we all do, right?) but I'll take these little victories when I can get them.
Get enough sleep, exercise, eat well (listen to Dr. Chopra's podcast again on one of my earlier posts if you need that), take care of the things that you need to take care of, and free up some time to do what you want to do.
A great formula for health and happiness!!!! Have a great day!
Today's run - 2.29 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Yesterday I was out of gas. Today I woke up fired up and haven't stopped since.
I ran the furthest since the streak began: 2.29 miles. My pace wasn't bad, although I did do better on my second mile than my first. As I've mentioned here before, I love it when that happens!! It makes me feel so good when I pump out that extra effort to try to break the 9 minute mile barrier; even if I don't quite get there I'm happy to shave off a few seconds.
I use the time as more of a motivator than anything else. I'm not a fast runner (never have been) and I'm not trying to be. It's still fun to hear that final time be faster than the split time.
I did a bunch of stuff last night that I normally put off until the morning, because I've been trying to free up some time when I get up. My run/cool down typically takes about 35 minutes, so I'm usually really pressed for time. This morning, I wound up with about 20 extra minutes! I still had to do all of the stuff, but it seemed to take less time when I did it the night before. I actually finished my Pele' autobiography this morning, and I'm actually hoping to do some WRITING in the morning if this trend holds up!
Work has been great; found out some GREAT news that solved a MAJOR problem that I was having. Also found out some really cool news about our company as well.
Lunch was simple and good; a cheese stick and two apples.
Boys start "official" soccer practice today, one of my favorite times of year. Oldest has had a position change which he is very excited about! Hope it lasts for him.
I hope that your day has been as great as mine has been so far. I still have problems (we all do, right?) but I'll take these little victories when I can get them.
Get enough sleep, exercise, eat well (listen to Dr. Chopra's podcast again on one of my earlier posts if you need that), take care of the things that you need to take care of, and free up some time to do what you want to do.
A great formula for health and happiness!!!! Have a great day!
Today's run - 2.29 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Keeping it going- Day 25 of runnng streak, Day 22 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I felt like crap today.
I ran fine yesterday morning, then I went to work at a concessions stand at a big soccer game nearby. I spent about seven hours on my feet helping serve food.
I wound up staying up late catching up with the family after being gone all day.
I didn't sleep well, and woke up stiff and achy.
Not optimal conditions for running.
I started out like I was in quicksand, my legs felt so heavy.
I thought, "There's no way I'm going to make 2 miles plus today." And I was right.
I barely got through a mile today, just enough to keep the streak going. I had to at least do that.
Sometimes, the effort is all we have. We just don't have it that day. We want to break records, feel great at the end of our workout, a sense of accomplishment at a job well done.
But there are days that we have nothing in the tank. Nothing. Yet we go on anyway.
We do something, and something is always better than nothing.
I'm hoping my energy returns and I'm able to smash it tomorrow. Monday mornings are usually pretty invigorating for me, so I fully expect to be back on track, running a little farther than my Saturday run.
And I'll be inspired to write something good that will be helpful to you.
Remember that even if you're tired or not feeling your best that you still need to try to do what you need to do. If you're sick or injured, rest and feel better. Otherwise, give it a go and do something. Make the effort.
Have a great Sunday!
Today's run: 1.02 miles, verified by Nike + running app
I ran fine yesterday morning, then I went to work at a concessions stand at a big soccer game nearby. I spent about seven hours on my feet helping serve food.
I wound up staying up late catching up with the family after being gone all day.
I didn't sleep well, and woke up stiff and achy.
Not optimal conditions for running.
I started out like I was in quicksand, my legs felt so heavy.
I thought, "There's no way I'm going to make 2 miles plus today." And I was right.
I barely got through a mile today, just enough to keep the streak going. I had to at least do that.
Sometimes, the effort is all we have. We just don't have it that day. We want to break records, feel great at the end of our workout, a sense of accomplishment at a job well done.
But there are days that we have nothing in the tank. Nothing. Yet we go on anyway.
We do something, and something is always better than nothing.
I'm hoping my energy returns and I'm able to smash it tomorrow. Monday mornings are usually pretty invigorating for me, so I fully expect to be back on track, running a little farther than my Saturday run.
And I'll be inspired to write something good that will be helpful to you.
Remember that even if you're tired or not feeling your best that you still need to try to do what you need to do. If you're sick or injured, rest and feel better. Otherwise, give it a go and do something. Make the effort.
Have a great Sunday!
Today's run: 1.02 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Focusing on what's good - Day 24 of running streak, Day 21 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Great run this morning! Got in bed a little late after picking up the oldest kid from a concert, so I slept in an hour. Not my best time, but my longest distance so far during the streak.
I remembered something interesting this morning from my previous times I ran.
Running gives you time by yourself, time to think about things. That's good and bad. Great thoughts pop into your mind, like the boys' soccer season getting started this past week. I love it when that happens, my favorite time of year.
But then bad thoughts come in. Like bills to pay, and things that you have to do today that you don't want to.
I felt myself starting at a pretty decent pace this morning. Thoughts were positive and happy.
Then I started thinking about bills and obligations, and I felt myself start to drag a little. A lot. I was, to use a word I hate, jogging.
And I remembered from before: when I think positive or neutral thoughts, I tend to go at a quicker pace and feel better about my run. When I'm thinking about difficult stuff, I slow down.
I've said many times that I'm not a fast runner. I'm not trying to beat times out there, not at this point anyway.
But I am trying to go just a little farther every day, at a decent pace.
We can't and shouldn't ignore unpleasant things. We have to face them and deal with them as they come along. Otherwise the stress can manifest itself in comfort eating, depression, alcoholism and/or drug addiction, smoking, or health problems. Like heart disease.
We absolutely need to be responsible for ourselves.
But when we're doing something we love, or have really been looking forward to, we need to focus on what's good about what we're doing. Sure we still have all those monsters waiting on us later. But they can wait a little while longer while I read this book. Or go running. Or call a friend, or write in my blog.
When you do something for yourself, let your mind go. Be in that moment. Let yourself be. It's a little treasure that you give yourself.
When I realized that I was thinking negatively, I simply let those thoughts go and didn't think about anything. My running became more purposeful and I felt myself begin to move faster.
I ended the run at a quicker pace than my 1 mile pace. No records broken, but my bad thought cycle was broken. And they're only thoughts anyway, right? Can't wait to see what happens today.
Today's run: 2.27 miles, verified by the Nike + running app.
I remembered something interesting this morning from my previous times I ran.
Running gives you time by yourself, time to think about things. That's good and bad. Great thoughts pop into your mind, like the boys' soccer season getting started this past week. I love it when that happens, my favorite time of year.
But then bad thoughts come in. Like bills to pay, and things that you have to do today that you don't want to.
I felt myself starting at a pretty decent pace this morning. Thoughts were positive and happy.
Then I started thinking about bills and obligations, and I felt myself start to drag a little. A lot. I was, to use a word I hate, jogging.
And I remembered from before: when I think positive or neutral thoughts, I tend to go at a quicker pace and feel better about my run. When I'm thinking about difficult stuff, I slow down.
I've said many times that I'm not a fast runner. I'm not trying to beat times out there, not at this point anyway.
But I am trying to go just a little farther every day, at a decent pace.
We can't and shouldn't ignore unpleasant things. We have to face them and deal with them as they come along. Otherwise the stress can manifest itself in comfort eating, depression, alcoholism and/or drug addiction, smoking, or health problems. Like heart disease.
We absolutely need to be responsible for ourselves.
But when we're doing something we love, or have really been looking forward to, we need to focus on what's good about what we're doing. Sure we still have all those monsters waiting on us later. But they can wait a little while longer while I read this book. Or go running. Or call a friend, or write in my blog.
When you do something for yourself, let your mind go. Be in that moment. Let yourself be. It's a little treasure that you give yourself.
When I realized that I was thinking negatively, I simply let those thoughts go and didn't think about anything. My running became more purposeful and I felt myself begin to move faster.
I ended the run at a quicker pace than my 1 mile pace. No records broken, but my bad thought cycle was broken. And they're only thoughts anyway, right? Can't wait to see what happens today.
Today's run: 2.27 miles, verified by the Nike + running app.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Better late then never - Day 23 of running streak, Day 20 of Sugar Free Challenge*
I'm late again, y'all. Sorry.
Not as late as yesterday. It's still daytime. But not either of my usual writing times.
What's going on? What's wrong with me? Will I have to stop writing?
Of course not. I'll keep writing forever now. It's one of the things that keeps me going every day.
Maybe it will be about running and fitness and diet, maybe it will be about something else. I don't know.
I used to write when I was a kid in high school. My English teacher Mr. Greth told me that I was one of the best creative writers that he had ever taught. That he used my stories as models well after I graduated.
He would probably hate my terrible use of punctuation and my prepositions at the beginnings of sentences. But he'd like what I'm writing about, I think. See what I did there?
I wanted to write stories and novels and plays, but I decided that it wasn't very practical. So I stopped and went to college for business.
When I started college for business, I wanted to change my major to double in communications and drama. My business advisor talked me out of it. Wasn't practical. I went on to be a very average business student, and acted in some plays in college, and sang in a heavy metal band, and played tennis. And I met my wife there.
We moved to New York City in 1994, finally deciding not to be practical so that I could go to acting school. I became one of the only students who graduated with an A+ in speech and dialects. It was truly the time of our lives.
And when I didn't get a ton of acting work, you guessed it, I went back to business. I found a great job and made some great money, and acting kind of drifted away.
You're getting the idea here, right? I kept trying to do what I wanted to but kept going back to what was SAFE. I thought anyway.
20 some years after New York, I'm acting some. I was just in Phantom of the Opera and Oliver! last year, and I'm part of a fantastic local group with great local acting and writing talent. And I'm in a heavy metal band again.
I've decided that it's never too late to do what I want to do. Never.
Well, it was almost too late for me about six months ago. But I got to live.
You never know what life will throw at you. Right now, I'm dealing with something pretty big. But it's not going to throw me, not again. No matter what.
I'll keep on writing and acting and singing and rocking. Better late than never!
Today's run: 2.23 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Not as late as yesterday. It's still daytime. But not either of my usual writing times.
What's going on? What's wrong with me? Will I have to stop writing?
Of course not. I'll keep writing forever now. It's one of the things that keeps me going every day.
Maybe it will be about running and fitness and diet, maybe it will be about something else. I don't know.
I used to write when I was a kid in high school. My English teacher Mr. Greth told me that I was one of the best creative writers that he had ever taught. That he used my stories as models well after I graduated.
He would probably hate my terrible use of punctuation and my prepositions at the beginnings of sentences. But he'd like what I'm writing about, I think. See what I did there?
I wanted to write stories and novels and plays, but I decided that it wasn't very practical. So I stopped and went to college for business.
When I started college for business, I wanted to change my major to double in communications and drama. My business advisor talked me out of it. Wasn't practical. I went on to be a very average business student, and acted in some plays in college, and sang in a heavy metal band, and played tennis. And I met my wife there.
We moved to New York City in 1994, finally deciding not to be practical so that I could go to acting school. I became one of the only students who graduated with an A+ in speech and dialects. It was truly the time of our lives.
And when I didn't get a ton of acting work, you guessed it, I went back to business. I found a great job and made some great money, and acting kind of drifted away.
You're getting the idea here, right? I kept trying to do what I wanted to but kept going back to what was SAFE. I thought anyway.
20 some years after New York, I'm acting some. I was just in Phantom of the Opera and Oliver! last year, and I'm part of a fantastic local group with great local acting and writing talent. And I'm in a heavy metal band again.
I've decided that it's never too late to do what I want to do. Never.
Well, it was almost too late for me about six months ago. But I got to live.
You never know what life will throw at you. Right now, I'm dealing with something pretty big. But it's not going to throw me, not again. No matter what.
I'll keep on writing and acting and singing and rocking. Better late than never!
Today's run: 2.23 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Can't believe it's 9:30 pm - Day 22 of running streäk, day 19 of Sugar Free Challenge*
It's been a rough day.
The day controlled me today instead of me controlling it. That's not good.
I did run this morning, 2.21 miles. It was a good run, particularly because I got a good night sleep last night.
After that, it got messy.
We all have days like this, right? That just get away from us?
We try to get it under control but it just doesn't work out.
So what do we do? Go to bed angry? Not write in our blog?
No way. We squeeze a little more out of the day, maybe just enough to do one or two of the things that we love to do every day.
Like tell our family that we love them. Spend a few minutes talking with them, making sure that they're in a good place. How has their day been?
Or write our thoughts down. So that maybe others can read them. So that you can help someone else who's having a bad day.
I hope you've had a great day today, that your day hasn't run you.
I hope you've done some things that are important to you, that helped you be more creative or healthy.
I'll do better tomorrow. I'll write better tomorrow. Good night!
Today's run - 2.21 miles, verified by Nike + running app
The day controlled me today instead of me controlling it. That's not good.
I did run this morning, 2.21 miles. It was a good run, particularly because I got a good night sleep last night.
After that, it got messy.
We all have days like this, right? That just get away from us?
We try to get it under control but it just doesn't work out.
So what do we do? Go to bed angry? Not write in our blog?
No way. We squeeze a little more out of the day, maybe just enough to do one or two of the things that we love to do every day.
Like tell our family that we love them. Spend a few minutes talking with them, making sure that they're in a good place. How has their day been?
Or write our thoughts down. So that maybe others can read them. So that you can help someone else who's having a bad day.
I hope you've had a great day today, that your day hasn't run you.
I hope you've done some things that are important to you, that helped you be more creative or healthy.
I'll do better tomorrow. I'll write better tomorrow. Good night!
Today's run - 2.21 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
What I'm eating today and every day - Day 21 of running streak, Day 18 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Happy Lunchtime everybody!!
It's been a great day so far; hope you all are having a great day too.
When people find out that I'm running every day, I get about three or four different responses.
Some of them give me the ones I've talked about so far: "I wish I had time for that", "I can't run or I would", "I'm too busy for that", etc. I've already addressed those, so I won't rehash today.
Some get worried: "Do you think that's too much?" My answer: no. When I ran regularly back in 2008, I got up to about 30-35 miles per week. Right now I'm at about 15. So I have some room to go. And like I said on Day 1, if I get injured, I'll stop.
Some say it's inspirational and that they want to do it too, and get started. Great! That's fantastic.
You don't have to run every day. You can if you want to. You need to do something physical every day though.
Sometimes I get asked about diet. This is important because you can't just exercise or just eat well to maximize your health. You need to do both.
You can't out-exercise your diet. My 14 year old son is trying to do this. I told him if he ever quits playing soccer he'll weight 300 lbs.
So what do I eat every day? It's a little different but basically something like this:
Breakfast: 1 cup of plain oatmeal sweetened with honey and a banana cut up in it, with a splash of 1% milk.
Lunch: a couple apples, some grapes, some watermelon today (delicious! Seeded is WAY better than seedless) and a mozzerella cheese srick for protein.
Snack: nuts of any kind, an ounce or two. Maybe some sweet potato chips or blue corn chips from Aldi
Dinner: A lean meat of some kind (chicken or fish, grilled or broiled), a vegetable or fruit, maybe a grain (rice or couscous). Beef once a week at most
Lots of water during the day and coffee with half and half and Truvia to sweeten it.
I'm surprisingly fuller and more fulfilled by my meals now than when I was eating cheeseburgers and sweet garbage from the convenience store. Maybe it's not so surprising.
What do you eat? Try something like my diet if you need to make a change.
Today's run - 2.19 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
It's been a great day so far; hope you all are having a great day too.
When people find out that I'm running every day, I get about three or four different responses.
Some of them give me the ones I've talked about so far: "I wish I had time for that", "I can't run or I would", "I'm too busy for that", etc. I've already addressed those, so I won't rehash today.
Some get worried: "Do you think that's too much?" My answer: no. When I ran regularly back in 2008, I got up to about 30-35 miles per week. Right now I'm at about 15. So I have some room to go. And like I said on Day 1, if I get injured, I'll stop.
Some say it's inspirational and that they want to do it too, and get started. Great! That's fantastic.
You don't have to run every day. You can if you want to. You need to do something physical every day though.
Sometimes I get asked about diet. This is important because you can't just exercise or just eat well to maximize your health. You need to do both.
You can't out-exercise your diet. My 14 year old son is trying to do this. I told him if he ever quits playing soccer he'll weight 300 lbs.
So what do I eat every day? It's a little different but basically something like this:
Breakfast: 1 cup of plain oatmeal sweetened with honey and a banana cut up in it, with a splash of 1% milk.
Lunch: a couple apples, some grapes, some watermelon today (delicious! Seeded is WAY better than seedless) and a mozzerella cheese srick for protein.
Snack: nuts of any kind, an ounce or two. Maybe some sweet potato chips or blue corn chips from Aldi
Dinner: A lean meat of some kind (chicken or fish, grilled or broiled), a vegetable or fruit, maybe a grain (rice or couscous). Beef once a week at most
Lots of water during the day and coffee with half and half and Truvia to sweeten it.
I'm surprisingly fuller and more fulfilled by my meals now than when I was eating cheeseburgers and sweet garbage from the convenience store. Maybe it's not so surprising.
What do you eat? Try something like my diet if you need to make a change.
Today's run - 2.19 miles, verified by Nike + running app.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Thank you and some other important things I should say - Day 20 of running streak, Day 17 of Sugar Free Challenge*
Thank you! My blog, only 20 days old, has gone over 600 views!! Small in the vast expanse of the Internet, but big enough to let me know that you are reading it and hopefully enjoying it.
Thank you also to my loyal Facebook friends who are taking the time to read my thoughts every day. You're letting me know that you like the blog, and I really appreciate it.
I changed SFC back to Sugar Free Challenge* because my daughter just started reading my blog and didn't know what SFC was. I figured there must be some others out there that may be curious as well.
How is the Sugar Free Challenge* going for me? WONDERFULLY!!!!!
As I mentioned way back on my fourth entry, I gave up sugar in the following ways: manually added into food, sugary foods (cereal, baked goods, soft drinks, sweet tea, etc.). I did not give it up in non-sweet commercial foods that already have it, like bread, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, etc.
I also didn't give up fruit. Or coffee (I use Truvia now, which is derived from a plant, so I think it's okay).
I feel so much better now! More weight is starting to come off and I really do not miss it. The weight or the sugar. Okay, I do miss it sometimes, like when I walk into the QT to pay for gas and see the giant donut rack in there with the .69 donuts after 8. But I usually don't miss it.
It's just emptiness, sugar. Empty calories, bad for your teeth, bad for your digestion...
Eat fruit. It gives you the sweet, plus you get lots of other great stuff like fiber and vitamin C.
Don't eat baked stuff. Okay, if Grandma wants you to eat a homemade cookie or two, it's probably okay unless you're doing my SFC*. Then it's not.
But that wrapped stuff at the convenience store? Those giant sticky buns and fruit pies? Stay the hell away from those.
Not just for the sugar, but for the crap put in those things that make them stay "fresh" for 6-12 months or longer. You really want to eat that?
I did. I used to be addicted to those things. Then I had heart disease.
Amazing how heart disease can change your outlook on food and exercise and rest.
And thankfulness. Thank you again and again for reading. I hope reading this is helping some of you; it's helping me to write it.
They say that the best way to learn something is to teach it. I look forward to all of us learning together for a long time to come.
Today's run - 2.17 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Thank you also to my loyal Facebook friends who are taking the time to read my thoughts every day. You're letting me know that you like the blog, and I really appreciate it.
I changed SFC back to Sugar Free Challenge* because my daughter just started reading my blog and didn't know what SFC was. I figured there must be some others out there that may be curious as well.
How is the Sugar Free Challenge* going for me? WONDERFULLY!!!!!
As I mentioned way back on my fourth entry, I gave up sugar in the following ways: manually added into food, sugary foods (cereal, baked goods, soft drinks, sweet tea, etc.). I did not give it up in non-sweet commercial foods that already have it, like bread, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, etc.
I also didn't give up fruit. Or coffee (I use Truvia now, which is derived from a plant, so I think it's okay).
I feel so much better now! More weight is starting to come off and I really do not miss it. The weight or the sugar. Okay, I do miss it sometimes, like when I walk into the QT to pay for gas and see the giant donut rack in there with the .69 donuts after 8. But I usually don't miss it.
It's just emptiness, sugar. Empty calories, bad for your teeth, bad for your digestion...
Eat fruit. It gives you the sweet, plus you get lots of other great stuff like fiber and vitamin C.
Don't eat baked stuff. Okay, if Grandma wants you to eat a homemade cookie or two, it's probably okay unless you're doing my SFC*. Then it's not.
But that wrapped stuff at the convenience store? Those giant sticky buns and fruit pies? Stay the hell away from those.
Not just for the sugar, but for the crap put in those things that make them stay "fresh" for 6-12 months or longer. You really want to eat that?
I did. I used to be addicted to those things. Then I had heart disease.
Amazing how heart disease can change your outlook on food and exercise and rest.
And thankfulness. Thank you again and again for reading. I hope reading this is helping some of you; it's helping me to write it.
They say that the best way to learn something is to teach it. I look forward to all of us learning together for a long time to come.
Today's run - 2.17 miles, verified by Nike + running app
Monday, July 25, 2016
Harder than yesterday? - Day 19 of running streak, Day 16 of SFC*
Okay, so I was determined NOT to make the same mistakes that I made yesterday.
So much for that.
I went to sleep around 11 and got up at 5 - that's 6 hours of sleep. NOT ENOUGH.
Put the clothes on, the shoes on, opened the front door...and I had to go. Couldn't turn back, wouldn't be able to do it later.
Man I felt bad. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
But I started my Nike + running app and got going anyway. That's kind of my theme, right? You don't feel like doing it, but you do it anyway.
I am not a fast runner. Ask any of my fast running children. They will tell you. I am incredibly easy to beat 1v1 in soccer, even though I am still larger and craftier than any of them. But they are faster.
Pretty much everyone is faster.
But this morning I felt especially slow. I celebrate my "fast times", but don't really dwell on them. This is why. I heard the app tell me, "Average time, 9.30 minutes per mile."
Geez, I could walk it faster.
But I didn't get down, just said to myself, "it's a slow day, just be glad you pushed through and got out here." So I did.
I thought again about stopping short of my distance for the day, but just kept trudging along.
Just kept going.
Life is like that, isn't it? Some days we break records, some days we achieve greatness.
Other days, we do what we're supposed to, expecting great results, but we don't get them. We plod along, doing what we do every day. And our greatness has to be suspended until tomorrow or the next day.
Sometimes our going through the motions creates opportunities for great things. And, sometimes it doesn't.
But we'll never know if we don't have these days, will we? We have to put the work in no matter what.
So I got to my distance, slowly. Maybe I'll go faster and farther tomorrow. Either way, I'll be out there, putting the work in. Hope you all are doing that too.
Today's run: 2.15 miles, verified by the Nike + running app.
So much for that.
I went to sleep around 11 and got up at 5 - that's 6 hours of sleep. NOT ENOUGH.
Put the clothes on, the shoes on, opened the front door...and I had to go. Couldn't turn back, wouldn't be able to do it later.
Man I felt bad. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
But I started my Nike + running app and got going anyway. That's kind of my theme, right? You don't feel like doing it, but you do it anyway.
I am not a fast runner. Ask any of my fast running children. They will tell you. I am incredibly easy to beat 1v1 in soccer, even though I am still larger and craftier than any of them. But they are faster.
Pretty much everyone is faster.
But this morning I felt especially slow. I celebrate my "fast times", but don't really dwell on them. This is why. I heard the app tell me, "Average time, 9.30 minutes per mile."
Geez, I could walk it faster.
But I didn't get down, just said to myself, "it's a slow day, just be glad you pushed through and got out here." So I did.
I thought again about stopping short of my distance for the day, but just kept trudging along.
Just kept going.
Life is like that, isn't it? Some days we break records, some days we achieve greatness.
Other days, we do what we're supposed to, expecting great results, but we don't get them. We plod along, doing what we do every day. And our greatness has to be suspended until tomorrow or the next day.
Sometimes our going through the motions creates opportunities for great things. And, sometimes it doesn't.
But we'll never know if we don't have these days, will we? We have to put the work in no matter what.
So I got to my distance, slowly. Maybe I'll go faster and farther tomorrow. Either way, I'll be out there, putting the work in. Hope you all are doing that too.
Today's run: 2.15 miles, verified by the Nike + running app.
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