Nice enough to run outside...

...except I didn't.

So yesterday's weather was beautiful in comparison to the last few weeks.  I thought it would be a great day to lace up my Brooks and hit the pavement!

Well after getting home late, doing bills and taxes, the temp had dropped significantly!  It was quite a bit colder than when I had my original thought at 3:30 in the afternoon.

To the treadmill it is!

2.3 miles, 28.01

Later

Zombie Run

So, how long does it take to run from zombies? Well, apparently a little over 44 minutes.

A couple of months ago I got caught up in the TV series The Walking Dead on AMC.  As you can gather from the title, it's about the impending Zombie Apocalypse!  I've been trying to catch up on it using one of the Internet's most amazing inventions...

Netflix.

Netflix might deserve is own posts one of these days.

Unless you've been under a rock the past few years, you know that zombies have increased in popularity when it comes to entertainment and pop culture. Whether Will Smith battling uber-buff zombies in NY in I Am Legend, or Brad Pitt out running Usain-Bolt-quick Zacks (slang for the undead) all over the world in World War Z, the walking dead have captured the interest of many, including this guy!

...and if you aren't interested in zombies I've probably already lost you. But don't come crying to me for protection or lessons in zombie combat when they reanimate! If I haven't lost you, read on.

Back to The Walking Dead.

This little band of survivors are in a constant fight to stay alive. Up against the never ending zombie herds and other survivors, they spend each episode either searching for a safe haven or just clean water.  Not to mention the near weekly loss of one of their own.  Our at least a very near miss.

So what does this have to do with Thursday's run?

Well, for one thing, I'll be in much better shape and can run from the walkers!

But at this point, in the pre-zombie time, it's given me something to watch while running on the treadmill.  Running outside requires the eyes to be focused on the road ahead (looking for the telltale limp-drag, slack-jawed figure of the enemy).  Treadmill running isn't quite as visually demanding. And while I love listening to music while I run, it doesn't make the wall between the garage doors any easier to stare at. Plus it forces me to stay on for an entire episode!

Only bad thing is that I'm nearly caught up.

Good news is that it's getting warmer.  Odd course that means any Zacks will thaw and reanimate.

Oh well.

3.8 miles, 44:44.

Later.

Long time no see!

Well its been a while since I've seen my old friend the treadmill. Being busy (and sometimes just lazy) has kept me from making time to run.

So to make myself feel better I've listed a few excuses below.

Its been too cold.

The south forty needed plowed.

I had homework.

I was stuck in traffic.

I was preparing myself to watch 100 hours of Winter Olympics!

Ok, maybe not...

Good to get back on track.

4.15 miles, 47:28.

Later.

Braving the cold...of the garage.

So it's been cold.

Really really cold.

So cold my layer of winter fat needs a layer of winter fat.

So cold the icicles got freezer burn.

So cold the dogs are chasing penguins around the yard when let out to pee.

So cold Superman is looking to make a second home round here.

So cold Satan knocked on the neighbor's door to borrow some matches.

So cold we have a new ethnic part of town called "Little-Damn-Its-Cold-Out-Here!!"

So cold we don't have to worry about Zack reanimating til spring!  (for my zombie peeps)

So cold...well, you get the picture.

Thank goodness for the treadmill in my garage!  Still have to bundle up a bit as it gets down to about 40-45 after doors have been closed for a couple of hours.  Nike's Pro-Combat gear is good at keeping you warm, but it aint THATgood!

3.0 miles, 34:11.

Later

Epic fail...

Its no secret that New Year's resolutions are rarely kept. People see the new year as a time to start over or to start a new routine. Whether that is exercising, eating healthier, being nicer, or watching less TV, we look for something that we want to do differently. Problem is we are creatures of habit, and those habits are hard to break.

I'm pretty cynical when it comes to stuff like that. Probably not the best attitude to have but its hard to ignore facts. I mean look at me, it's taken me multiple starts to be a somewhat consistent runner (present month excluded). I know its hard to start, and even harder to keep it up. I've been lucky to have amazing support from My Woman (a.k.a. The Enabler), and my Aunt Sonya. Not everyone has that.

So it comes as no surprise that my most recent running attempt (not a resolution) was an epic fail.

(I like to try and keep myself relevant to the youth of today. Mainly by using their terms like "epic fail". I find that much of the language is very dramatic, and everything is taken to the next level. So a failed attempt is not just a regular failure, it becomes epic.
Then again, the fact that I just explained my reasoning disproves the level of any coolness I may have ever attained.)

Where were we? :..oh yeah, my epic fail.

So as I've written in my most recent posts, my running has been anything but consistent since before Christmas so I know I needed to get consistent again. So before getting back into the groove, I'd determined that I wanted to try and spend more time with my family in the evenings since My Woman has started her new career and is working full time. But by the time My Pal and My Baby Girl go to bed, My Woman is tired and ready to call it a night. This usually my running time.

So, here's where my brilliant idea comes in. I figured since I've been pretty consistent this year I could probably start running in the morning!

...its really too bad that my morning self disagreed with that logic.

For about two weeks straight I set my alarm for almost an hour earlier than my normal time. This was so I could get a good run in before the rest of the family woke up. Turns out all I did was irritate My Woman because we both were awakened at an ungodly hour for no reason. Its amazing how quickly one can debate with oneself when another 45 minutes of sleep is on the line.

I've always known that I am a night owl, so its no surprise that my late night self thought I could do it. Even when I was driving a truck for a living, I never got used to the early mornings. Granted I was getting paid to start work at anywhere from midnight to 4am! So self motivation was just not cutting it this time.

Now despite my two week span of prematurely interrupted sleep, I did manage to get out and run one frigid morn.

I know! Surprised the heck out of me!

Last Thursday's run at 5:45am.

2.04 miles, 21:54

Well since my epic fail, I've realized that I'm just a night runner, sometimes a middle of the day runner, but not an early morning runner. Although I do realize though that the flaw in my logic could've been that its the middle of winter and putting the body in that type of shock first thing might have been just plain stupid.

So Monday's run didn't start until about 9:20...PM!

3.0 miles, 35:40

Later

Running during halftime

Big game on Monday. Late start. Ran during halftime.

1.25 miles  13:40.

Later.

235 Miles

March 18th.

Day one of Wheezing Gorilla 3.0.

Almost 10 months after I started this attempt at getting in better shape, I can look back and feel pretty good about what I accomplished this year.

I was able to finally run consistently and not quit after it got cold. (or just getting lazy)

I ran my first 5k.

I ran 5.57 miles at one point.

The thing I'm most impressed with is the 235 total miles for 2013.  I know its only an average of 26+ miles per month but its the best I've ever done.

With that being said, now I have to come up with some bigger goals. I didn't end last year or start this year on fire, but that doesn't mean I cant reach them. Who knows, might even throw some weight training in there! (like most dudes, I've got the P90X DVDs)

First run of 2014 was nothing to be impressed with. Unless you're impressed with running in 20 degree weather!

1.27 miles, 13:27.

Later