Bittersweet

Today's run was driven by heartburn. And bitterness. And anger. And a little bit of self-loathing. One of my son's "tics" is that he chews on stuff. Normally, it's just an everyday reminder to have him chew gum or to *not* chew on something in particular. Well, today was he was a little more amped up than normal since he has a sleep-over tonight and a 9th birthday to celebrate tomorrow. Kind of a big deal. Well, that brought out the tic, along with some frustrating behavior, and he chewed a hole in the bottom of his plastic water bottle.

Which really pissed me off.

So after stewing about it for a while, I took his computer away.

Then went for a run.

After the run, I'm glad I stewed on it before deciding on his punishment. And I'm glad I didn't go as heavy-handed as I wanted to at first. And I'm glad I went for a run and cleared my head and improved my mood. By the time my 5 miles were done, I was hot, tired, a little wobbly, and in a much better place mentally. I wasn't pissed off. I wasn't angry. I still had that taste of heartburn in my mouth from being angry, but it was going away fast. More of that self-loathing after-taste after you barf.

Anyway, I'm glad I went. And speaking of flavors, the first loop was hot (I went way too fast). The second was mild (I slowed down). And the third was a little sweet and salty (sweet because I was feeling much better and salty because I was sweating so damn much).

Photos:
Saw this in the Wegmans parking lot. Would have thought they'd shop at WalMart instead.

Crystal Pepsi. The 80s live!

These are the "fancy" mailboxes in my neighborhood. There's usually a few more.

My son's birthday cake. Wacky cake. Also known as Depression Cake.

Weather:
Temps were about 95F. Humidity was moderate. Wind was light but nice. Sun was out in full.

Fluids and Fuel:
No breakfast. Lunch was lemon-pepper fish, pepper steak, green beans, and a black bean enchilada. Snack was some pita chips and club crackers with coffee. Plain water during the run. Recovery was water, tea, a dinner of pizza, and dessert was wacky cake.

Aches and Pains:
None really.

Gear:
Wore shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
See above.

Naughty Neil:
I had cool whip on my wacky cake. And I'm going back for another slice. And I don't feel guilty about it at all. Although I feel a little guilty about that 5th slice of pizza.

Splits:
First loop was about 17:30, second was about 19:30. After that, I ignored the splits because my route was abnormal.
Finish - 1:10:36

Moo Moo Buckaroo

Got my 4 miles in this morning in my new team uniform. Or gear. Or kit. Or whatever you want to call it. It was long overdue in arriving but well worth the wait. Glad I had the chance to test it out before I left on my trip. The cycle jersey looked like it would fit but it was snug. I know it's supposed to be snug but I didn't expect my arms to be so big. Made me feel a little like the Incredible Hulk - one flex and I'd rip a seam. But I didn't. And I know cycle people are usually smaller than me (more aerodynamic, right?) but I still felt like a stuffed sausage in there.

The shorts were a little surprising. They looked way too small (size XL) but they fit quite nicely. So that was cool. No chafing after 4 miles, which was even cooler.

The rest of the run was filled with horse flies, neighbors, and lots of sweating.

The rest of the day was filled with sitting in the car driving to my moms. Once there, it was time to talk, eat dinner, film the cows, and stay up late.

Almost forgot! So I got a message today from an old running friend. She saw my photo and both she and her husband commented on how much weight I had lost. Totally made my day! Thank you Royanna! And, on top of that, yesterday I did my monthly measurements. I was a few days behind schedule because I was sick, but here are the numbers:

Weight - 233.2 pounds (down from 246.2 right before I quit work)
Waist - 101.5 cm (down from 110 cm)
Total cm Measurements - 650.5 cm (down from 677 cm)

Photos:

Video:

Weather:
Temps were about 80F. Humidity was high. Sky was overcast. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Nothing before the run. Plain water during the run. Ran out of water after 3 miles. Recovery was coffee followed by an egg white sammich thingie from the gas station with a few, ONLY A FEW DAMMIT, hashbrowns.

Aches and Pains:
The sleeves on the jersey bunched a little but once fixed there was no pain. Right shoe probably wasn't tied tight enough so I felt some chafing on the heel.

Gear:
Shorts and cycle jersey.

Today's Motivation:
I knew I wouldn't get a run in after I got to my mom's so I got up early and got it done.

Naughty Neil:
The gas station food wasn't a great choice but it was a good choice in what I chose. Lunch today was light and dinner was fairly healthy. I'm doing much better. But I still had some McDonalds fries. But only a medium!

Splits:
As I ran, I realized what names I had come up with for the neighborhood routes I use. I created them, used them a few times, then forgot them. And instead of going back to find them, I just ignored them and called them the "loop" when I should have used the proper word. So, a "loop" is a full 1.5 mile loop around the hood. A "lollipop" is 1.25 miles, and skips one of the dead ends. A "circle" is 1 mile and skips both dead ends. If that doesn't make sense to you, don't worry. A lot of what I think of doesn't make sense to me either.
Loop - 18:34
Loop - 18:46
Circle - 10:48
Finish - 48:09

Horse Fly War

Today's run was well needed. Down right necessary. And although I was slower than I wanted to be, I survived, didn't get bit, and feel pretty damn good right now.

The weather yesterday was very wet and very stormy when I woke up so I just went back to bed and skipped my run. For a few minutes I thought about going after work but I ended up cooking dinner for the kids which meant some creativity in the kitchen. Pancakes are tricky to cook.

So today I needed to stay true to my word and get my run in. And I did. And I even did my workout, although not as many reps/sets as I wanted to.

Anyway, the run was nice. The weather wasn't. Warm and muggy and the flies were out. Yuck. Saw my dad finishing his walk as I was starting mine. Also saw Mrs. Sparbel out getting her workout done.

And there might be a horse fly war brewing. Details to follow.

Photo:
The angry hawk.

Yesterday's Video:

Weather:
Temps were around 80F or 85F. Humidity was moderate to high. No wind. Sky was slightly overcast.

Fluids and Fuel:
Nothing before the run. Plain water during the run. Overflowing oatmeal, one egg, and two sausage for breakfast.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing really. Still a bit wheezy but not really short of breath.

Gear:
Wore shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
Most of my motivation was because I didn't want to disappoint my coach. I told her yesterday I was really going to get my run in today. So I did. Felt much better after I got it done.

Naughty Neil:
I've been doing really good on the food. It's hard as shit and I really wanted a Whopper for dinner tonight. But instead I had shrimp tacos and tortillas. Lots of tortillas. And dip.

Splits:
Time is an estimate because I'm too lazy to go back upstairs to get my watch. But it's close.
Loop 1 - 18:00
Loop 2 - 19:30
Finish - 37:30

Sun Rise Over Soy Beans

Today's run was a bit tougher than expected. More of a mental challenge than a physical one. But I got dressed, got out the door, and finished it.

Photos:
We went to Colonial Beach and took a picture with their Virginia LOVE sign.
 

Sun rising over the soy bean fields.

Right next to the mattress is an old RV. Just in case the mattress isn't big enough.

Weather:
Temps were about 70F. Humidity was high to moderate. Sun was out. Not much wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. Plain water during the run. Recovery was more coffee, a banana, two egg whites, three sausage links, and two slices of toast.

Aches and Pains:
Right calf felt a little tight but I've been noticing that I'm not drinking as much as I normally do before bed time. I'm guessing this is why I'm a bit parched in the morning and drink so much on my runs recently.

Gear:
T-shirt and shorts.

Today's Motivation:
The fact that I needed 6 and knew I could land 5+ before starting work. As long as I got up and got dressed at least.

Naughty Neil:
I had a burger and fries yesterday. And a grape Nehi. It was delicious.

Splits:
Outbound - 31:42
Inbound - 31:45
Finish - 1:03:27

National Running Donut Day

Since I didn't run on #RunningDay yesterday and today is #DonutDay, I combined them and made a #SheetzRun for my free donut.

Best of all, I survived. As any local would know, 206 is a bit hairy as a cyclist or pedestrian. So I broke out my bright colors and hit the road. Along the way, I had a few encounters:
- 1 driver got the one-finger salute for drifting a bit too close to the white line
- 80% of bus drivers waved (the other 20% had both hands on the wheel and were safely navigating around me so I'm okay with them not waving)
- 50% of Sheriff's Deputies waved (one was working a call, so again, I'm okay with that)
- 100% of runners waved at me (thanks Karyl-Lynne T. !)
- 100% of Blender bottle users waved at me
- 2 dead and very squished snakes
- 1 dead racoon
- one half of a pair of channel-lock pliers

I'm sure I caught a few WTF looks but it was hard to see them and frankly didn't care. All I cared about is if the drivers saw me.

Photos:
Time to make eat the donuts!

Weather:
Temps were about 55F to 60F. Winds were light making things a bit chilly at times. Sky was overcast. Humidity was high but wasn't really an issue due to lower temps.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a cup of coffee before my run. One bottle of plain water on the outbound leg. One plain glazed donut from Sheetz at the half-way point. One bottle of plain water on the inbound leg. Recovery was coffee, iced tea, two eggs (with yolk), leftover meatloaf, and asparagus.

Aches and Pains:
Lower, right glute felt a little tweaky on the way back. Stepped on a sharp rock on with about a mile left in the run but I don't think I re-aggravated my injury. Calves and shins hurt on the way out but I think it was my gait. First two miles or so I felt all sorts of wonky and unbalanced.

Gear:
Wore shorts and cycling jersey. Carried my .380 with no issues. Wore my belt to carry my phone.

Today's Motivation:
I'll be honest, I was tempted to climb back into bed this morning but I somehow tricked my brain into getting dressed and getting out the door.

Naughty Neil:
Well I'm sure as hell not counting the donut. It was damn tasty and I needed the fuel to make it back home. Last night I limited my snack to just a bowl of chips. Not too shabby after a more normal sized dinner.

Splits:
Splits are from RunKeeper.
Mile 1 - 12:07
Mile 2 - 11:39
Mile 3 - 13:12
Mile 4 - 12:35
Mile 5 - 17:01 (includes me getting my donut)
Mile 6 - 11:35
Mile 7 - 11:51
Mile 8 - 12:10

These are my splits.
Outbound - 49:54
Inbound - 53:25 (includes donut time)
Finish - 1:43:19

Churn and Burn

Easy recovery run meant plenty of walking. It's the only way I can keep the HR down as directed. But I did pick up the pace here and there just to make sure everything was working and to flush out some soreness.

Run itself was pretty boring. Except I think my TV died. Showing me all sorts of wacky colors which made watching Star Trek a bit disturbing. Felt like the episode was taken over by Andy Warhol so I switched to my Kindle instead.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 74F (upstairs is 77F but downstairs is cooler).

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run, applesauce and water during the run, and eggs, sausage, and toast as recovery.

Aches and Pains:
More sore than expected from the half. Foam rolled some yesterday because it kept nagging at me. Today seems to be isolated to the quads and hamstrings with the most ache. No real pain though.

Gear:
Shorts and no shirt.

Treadmill:
Time - 53:00
Distance - 2.0 miles
Incline - 3 to 6 (AVG 5)
Speed - 2.0 to 4.0 (AVG 2.4)
Elevation - 570 feet
Entertainment - Star Trek Deep Space Nine

Today's Motivation:
I was tempted to crawl back into bed but managed to throw some clothes on. That gave me the motivation to get on the treadmill. And Star Trek distracted me long enough to get most of my workout in.

Naughty Neil:
Last night I had the last piece of bougatsa from the weekend's Greek festival. Much tastier than the dinner that gave me heartburn. But I did go to bed before 2200 although the thunderstorms kept the kids awake which kept me awake.

Splits:
Finish - 53:00

Dinner Table Rules

A teammate asked a pretty interesting question about rules at the dinner table and how they could contribute to obesity. So instead of writing a dissertation on Facebook that would hijack the thread, I thought I'd write one here.

My Childhood

For me, I had two different sets rules at the dinner table because I grew up with divorced parents. When I was with my father, the rules weren't really clearly stated that I can remember other than I had to eat my vegetables. the worst for me was broccoli so I always covered it cheese to hide the flavor. But corn, green beans, and even peas were okay. I won't say I loved them, other than maybe creamed corn, but they were okay.

The unwritten rules were pretty simple though. First, you either ate what he fixed or found something on your own to eat. I rarely did this because I usually liked what he ate. When I didn't, I'd eat a bowl of cereal. The other unwritten rule was to finish what was on my plate. It wasn't really ground into me but there was an expectation to not waste food. So I'd finish what was on my plate. There was a third rule but that was less about eating and more about what we ate. And it wasn't really a rule as much as a trend. We'd almost always have meat, potatoes, and vegetables. Every dinner was a combo of those three in some form or fashion.

At my mother's, the rules were similar but slightly different. I was still expected to eat my vegetables and I was expected to eat what she made or find something on my own. Again, neither of these rules really bothered me much unless we had Brussels sprouts or lima beans or asparagus. But those were rare events and with enough butter and salt, you can hide the flavor of anything. I vaguely recall having the same rule about eating everything on your plate but I'm not positive. I do know there was a big rule about not wasting food. This was especially the case when I went back for a second helping and couldn't finish it. I think I got chewed out a few times for taking too much food. As I got older, there was a new rule put into place that I couldn't get a second helping of anything until everyone else at the table was done eating. This was mostly because I'd eat everything in sight if I was allowed, leaving nothing for my mother or step father.

So fairly basic rules and nothing that seemed out of the ordinary when I was a kid or even now when I'm an adult. But let's get into some extra tidbits that may skew your views a bit.

I've been allergic to poultry and nuts for as long as I can remember. My allergy to gourds came later in life. As a kid, I can remember being forced to eat turkey by my step father. Maybe it was chicken but I'm pretty sure it was turkey. He didn't believe me that I was allergic. Even after I ate it and barfed in the bathroom toilet. I can remember it now, crying at the dinner table on Downs Avenue in Charlotte, NC as I'm eating poultry and being harassed and teased about being a baby and that I wasn't really allergic to it. I recall there was some grumbling about me faking it when I was barfing but I think he eventually accepted the fact that I was indeed allergic to bird meat.

He also teased me when I wanted to eat hamburgers. Something about it was easier to chew and I should be eating real meat like a real man. I'm not really sure what he was getting at but I don't remember it impacting what I ate because, well, hamburgers were delicious.

As a kid that was allergic to nuts and chicken, I had to be slightly picky in what I ate to avoid an allergic reaction. Back in the days of yore when I was a kid (the 1980s), food wasn't labeled as well as it is now but I managed just fine. I knew what I could eat and what I couldn't and I just went on about my merry way. It wasn't until I got older that allergic reactions became more common place. But as a kid, I think that potential for an allergic reaction hanging over my head kept me from trying certain foods and that contributed to me being a picky eater.

But I don't think that's the biggest reason I grew into a picky eater. I think that resides in the nature of who we are and what we like. We change over time. Those Brussels sprouts I hated as a kid I love today. Lima beans, not so much. But I don't think being a picky eater is necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's done in moderation and there's room to grow new tastes over time.

My Kids

Both of my kids have food allergies (nuts and milk) and we've adapted fairly well to them. But they've developed into picky eaters. A little too picky for me but I'm dealing with it. And our rules at the dinner table could use some adjusting I'm sure.

Our latest rule is that we don't watch TV or phones during dinner. Except for Friday nights when we watch The Goldbergs. Or when I just feel like watching TV. But it helps us talk as a family and keep us in touch with each other. We don't adhere to this rule 100% of the time and some people (ahem) still like to surf Facebook but we do pretty good. This rule was my idea because I wanted to actually listen to the kids and learn about their day. And I wanted to involve everyone so we felt more like a family. Plus, when I was a kid, I ate dinner while watching TV with my Dad so we didn't talk much. I think that was a big contributing factor in my zombie-eating.

We also have a rule that's similar to mine as a kid where if you don't like what's been cooked, you're on your own. My wife has used the line "clear your plate" or something similar but I've tried to transition that to "if you're full, stop eating." This is mostly because I'm afraid that they will learn to clear their plate, even when they're full, thus contributing to bad eating habits.

But I do get on them about wasting food. I hate to waste food and I think that's partly because I know food isn't cheap and partly because my parents taught me to not waste my food. Which I'm sure they learned from their parents who lived through the Depression. Anyway, I hate wasting food so eating leftovers is always an option in our house (assuming there's any left).

But the picky eaters in both of them has led me to notice some trends. First, they're both under-weight. They're still trending up normally but they're both smaller than average but they're both proportionally the right size (in other words, they aren't obese). With my son, his medication decreases his appetite so it's always a chore to get him to eat. So much of a chore, that for years now we don't really care about what he eats as long as he eats. I can remember a few times we garnered dirty looks from other people when we'd go out to eat and he'd be eating Oreos and potato chips while the rest of us ate regular food. But with his food allergies and picky palate, that's the only thing he'd eat. And in the interest of not starving our child, we were fine with that. Would I like him to eat vegetables? Or grilled chicken? Or something semi-healthy? Sure. But getting food that's safe for him isn't easy. Just come out to dinner with us a few times and you'll find out.

As for my daughter, I think she's going to be a vegetarian by the time she's in high school. She doesn't like ground meat, rarely likes beef, and only sometimes like pork. She does love bacon but who doesn't?! She's slightly less picky in her eating and at least likes ketchup, the greatest invention ever when you need to cover up how horrible something tastes.

My Parents

As I said, my parents were pretty cool from what I remember as a kid. At least when it came to rules at the dinner table. I don't remember many stories from them about their childhood but I know my dad grew up on a farm with three other brothers and while his eating habits as a kid were probably not all that healthy, he did work a lot. In other words, when you're slopping hogs and milking cows, it's not that big of a deal if you eat some country fried steak.

My mother on the other hand, I know she had some issues with food as a kid. In fact I remember her telling my son that he shouldn't worry about somebody taking his food. And that was a big deal to her because she was the youngest of eight and they often didn't have enough food for everyone. It wasn't until I grew up that I learned that when I was a kid she had a hard time putting food on the table for me.

Bottom Line

I don't know if there is a bottom line. I don't know if the rules you grow up by define who you are as an eater. I do feel that it comes down to the basic concept taught in psychology classes; nurture vs. nature. We are all individual people that have no, or limited, control over certain things. Take food allergies. Despite what some the dumbass Food Babe thinks, allergies are real and can't be controlled in some cases. Yes, there's been some great advances but many of them are based on simply building a tolerance. Can you say iocaine powder?

So we have no (or limited) control over some things but we do have (or have some) control over other things. Going back for a second helping? Pigging out on a third late-night snack? These are things that we should be able to control. But yet again I'm going to sit on the fence because I think for some people, they have no control. I think for some people it's more in line with depression or an addiction. For me, it's more about being mindless when I eat. So that nurture part has trained me that when I watch TV, I should be eating. Just like when I was a kid. That click and hum from the TV is kind of like Pavlov ringing the dinner bell for me.

In the end, I think because we're individuals, we're all going to address the issue differently. What works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. Regardless of what the solution is, I do think we should give it a try. After all, what do we have to lose? Unless you tell me to eat a handful of nuts as a snack. Then I've got something to lose.

Is it really worth it?

Had one of those days today where I wonder if it's really worth the effort sometimes. Not the running part of training, I know that's worth it. I learned that the hard way when I undertrained for a race. Probably like all of my races.

Anyway, I got my run in before the shit hit the fan which I guess is good and bad. Running when I'm pissed off helps chill me out but it also sours my run a bit. In the end, it's outside of my control. Sort of.

The run was fairly uneventful. My son was sick today so I stayed home to keep an eye on him. I don't think he was all that sick but it's better safe than sorry and I'm sure the other parents at school appreciate the lack of germs being spread. So instead of being chained to my phone all day, I was chained to my desk. Got some work done, got my run in, got some more work done, and that's pretty much it.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 76F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was three slices of toast, two eggs, three sausage links, and coffee. During the run I had some iced tea, plain water, and an applesauce. Recovery was leftover pasta with taco meat mixed in.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Chiropractor tore into my right IT/knee/quad this morning. Felt fine before and after the visit but during I really wanted to punch him in the face.

Treadmill:
Time - 57:33
Distance - 2.8 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 4.0 (AVG 3.0)
Elevation - 453 feet
Entertainment - Star Trek Voyager and Deep Space Nine.

Naughty Neil:
I had too much to eat for dinner but didn't over-indulge for my snack last night. Today I think I might eat too much for a snack after dinner. Depends on if I get drunk or not.

Today's Motivation:
I really wanted to run. I actually really want to run outside but I knew I wouldn't have time today so I knew it would be a treadmill run. But I wanted to run. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I could hear my coach telling me "you need to want to run, don't hate the run, the run should be fun."

Splits:
Finish - 57:33

2014 Run For The Achievable Dream 8k, Kid's Fun Run, and Half Marathon Race Reports

Wow. This has been quite the four day weekend. We've signed papers for the new house, done a home inspection, gone to three races, shopped, and I can't tell you how much else. I do know that I've run too much this weekend, eaten too much this weekend, slept too little this weekend, and stressed too much this weekend.

The calm before the 8k race.

So, to start from the beginning, as best as I can remember at least, we have our trip to Williamsburg on Friday. I placed some more cameras on the trail, got my stuff packed, and fed the kids lunch when they got out of school early. We headed to Williamsburg, did a little shopping at the outlets, went through the expo, ate dinner, and checked into the hotel. The kids swam for a bit and then it was bedtime.

Met a teammate for the first time. He has good taste in clothes.

We were up early Saturday morning since the 8k race started at 0700. We dropped William off with my dad who was a few doors down in the hotel and then Elizabeth, Yvonne, and I headed to the Start line. Traffic was decent and I'm glad we got there early. With the new start area by the Visitor's Center, we ended up parking in the overflow lot. Which meant a short hike to the start line. Once parked, we headed over to just chill out until we could run.

The kid's shirt says "he not heavy, he's my brother." They were part of Team Hoyt.

We stuck to our plan which was to have Elizabeth and I run together while Yvonne ran her own race behind us. Last year I let Elizabeth run off ahead of me with a mile left so this year I increased it to two miles. We eased into the run and even though she wanted to run out fast, I reeled her in and kept her on pace. We did pretty good through the first mile and then she started to need a few more breaks. Our pace was a little slower overall but we kept moving. We talked about all sorts of stuff and while I'm sure she can turn into an all-star runner, I'm glad I'm not like some of the other parents I saw later in the day dragging (sometimes literally) their kids through a race.

At Mile 3 I gave her some last minute advice and let her truck off. I was able to keep her in sight but she gapped me pretty good. Around Mile 4 I slowly started to reel her in as I picked up the pace a little bit. In the end she still beat me but only by 9 seconds. I gave it all I could at the end and so did she. According to the race results, she placed second in her age group (10 and under).

Weather:
Temps were about 60F at the start but warmed to about 70F by the finish. Sun was out in full and there was a light breeze. No humidity.

Fluids and Fuel:
Nothing before the run. During the run I had just plain water. No recovery.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing really hurt.

Gear:
No special gear.

Heart Rate:
The first few miles were pretty easy to stay near my Zone 2 goal but as she picked up the pace and I tried to keep up with her I kinda tossed that zone under the bus.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 11:36 (AVG HR - 147)
Mile 2 - 12:30 (AVG HR - 151)
Mile 3 - 13:13 (AVG HR - 154)
Mile 4 - 11:08 (AVG HR - 172)
Mile 5 - 10:07 (AVG HR - 181)

Finish - 58:29 (3 minutes slower than my PR)

Shortly after her race finished, I ended up running and walking with William for his fun run. I had plenty of time to cool down and drink a little water before we headed out on the track. We ran out of the stadium, ran a goofy loop around the parking lot, then ran back onto the track for the Finish. The route was pretty well marked but I'm not too sure younger kids would really know where to go. Especially if they were unsupervised.

All the stats above are all the same except the time below.

Splits:
Finish - 15:45 (AVG HR - 127 )

Total for both events:
1:14:21
AVG HR - 153
MAX HR - 200
MIN HR - 94

After both races were over, we went back to the hotel to eat our free breakfast. And like the Heck family, we do our best to eat our fill of free food. Even though it wasn't really free. So after I overate, I showered (as did everyone else), then we headed back out on the town for some shopping.
 
This marked the darkest timeline of our trip as we discovered the local toy store was closed. I felt a little part of my childhood die as I walked into the store and suddenly realized it was full of shit instead of the toys I expected. I was so pissed off. I was probably more upset than the kids. It truly was a staple of Merchant's Square.

So after that sad news, we headed to Retro's for lunch. Thankfully I discovered this little burger joint a few blocks away and it's worth it. We went back to the hotel, chilled out, slept, watched TV, and then went out for dinner.

Then we went for a little pirate mini-golf.

Before I knew it, I was getting up at 0430 for my half marathon. My alarm was set for 0500 but sure enough, I woke up entirely too early. So I got some coffee in an attempt to jump start my bowels. After I showered and lubed up, I started my walk to the Start. That's right, I walked the 2.5 miles to the start line. Who does that? This guy. It may sound crazy, but that walk was less stressful, even with a gurgly belly, than trying to wrangle two kids, a wife, and a father so you can make it to the Start on time.

Once at the start line I finally got my bowels to cooperate and I was left with that pleasant empty feeling. I drank my GenUCAN and chilled. Suddenly, through the crowd, as if drawn by magnets, I see a teammate. I had met one the day before and was surprised to see a second. The three of us chatted for a few minutes before the start then we went our merry way.

The course this year changed. Again. And while it was much cooler, the scenery was less than desirable at times. The little piss-ant loops through parking lots suck. The paved trail through the trees was awesome and will be even awesomer when it's 20 degrees hotter and the sun is out. The slog down the road with nobody on it was depressing. The hills on the paved trail were hard but not quite as hard as last year's hills.

Best of all, the weather. It was a cool 60F or so at the start and that made a huge difference in how everybody did. This race has been a scorcher in years past and I'm glad it was so nice this year. Anyway, aside from the new course and some pros and cons, the race went well. I had no major issues until the finish when I thought my heart was going to explode. That'd teach me to sprint at the finish.

After I got my beer and dumped it into my bottle, I posed with this guy.

Weather:
Temps were 60F at the start and maybe 75F to 80F at the finish. Sky was clear with light winds.No humidity.

Fluids and Fuel:
Coffee and GenUCAN before the race. During the race I had a bottle of plain water, a bottle of GenUCAN mixed with their new electrolyte stuff, and another bottle of GenUCAN electrolytes. I also had two applesauces, one about an hour in and the second around 45 minutes later. Recovery was way too much food.

Aches and Pains:
Felt like a blister on my left toe but nothing was there. Outside of that, I felt fine until the finish when I sprinted a little too hard, temporarily lost feeling in my legs, and had to take a breather after the finish.

Gear:
No special gear.

Heart Rate:
Did much better just chilling out and staying pretty close to my Zone 2 goal. I'm afraid to look at my end results though. Pretty sure I maxed out my heart rate.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 11:56 (AVG HR 139)
Mile 2 - 12:19 (AVG HR 144)
Mile 3 - 13:12 (includes a bathroom break) (AVG HR 148)
Mile 4 - 11:36 (AVG HR 152)
Mile 5 - 12:42 (AVG HR 153)
Mile 6 - 11:19 (AVG HR 157)
Mile 7 - 12:01 (AVG HR 161)
Mile 8 - 11:48 (AVG HR 160)
Mile 9 - 12:52 (AVG HR 166)
Mile 10 - 12:09 (AVG HR 164)
Mile 11 - 12:27 (AVG HR 167)
Mile 12 - 12:28 (AVG HR 167)
Mile 13 - 12:34 (AVG HR 172)
Mile 0.1 - 00:30 (AVG HR 200)
Finish - 2:39:56
AVG HR - 158
MAX HR - 207
MIN HR -117

After my race, and after over-eating, we went back out on the town, did more shopping and walking around, and before you knew it, we were back at Retro's for lunch. Then it was off for more mini-golf, this time the old west one, and then back to eating dinner.

Here's William checking out a little stream.

 

How Coke Can Destroy My Mood

When I was younger, my Dad and I would go to a local restaurant for dinner on a fairly regular basis. He would order wing dings and an iced tea and I would order a gyro. When the waitress would ask what I wanted to drink, the conversation would go something like this:

Waitress: What would you like to drink?

Me: A Coke.

Waitress: What kind of Coke?

Me: Mr. Pibb.

In this specific area, we called all soda "Coke" for some reason. Probably the same reason my wife called it "pop" when she grew up in Pittsburgh. So when I talk about Coke here, sometimes I'm referencing "soda" and sometimes the actual product "Coke."

Growing up, Coke wasn't a regular drink at home. That honor went to milk and Kool-Aid. But whenever I went out to eat, I drank a Coke. It was part of what made eating out so special. As I got older and spent more time with my Mom and step-father, I realized I didn't like Pepsi. I liked Pepsi products, but not Pepsi. I don't know why. It was just too sweet I think and Coke had just enough of a nice kick and acidity to make it more appealing. Plus that's what I usually had available to me when I went out to eat in my geographic area.

When I went to college in north-western Pennsylvania, I had to adjust. It was Pepsi territory which meant I had to switch to Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew to survive eating out. But it wasn't until I went home during a break in classes and saw the dentist that I realized what I was doing. I ended up getting a bit of Mountain Dew Mouth and had my first cavity. As a student with no parents to monitor me, I treated every meal as if it were a meal at a restaurant. So even though my meal plan covered milk, water, juice, or any number of other drinks, I almost always chose soda. After my freshman year, things got worse when there was a small dining hall in my dorm that was essentially a generic McDonalds. This would turn out to be the main source of my addiction for the coming years. It set a precedent that nearly every meal could be, and sometimes should be, accompanied by a soda.

After getting in the habit of drinking 30 to 60 ounces of Mountain Dew a day for years, I graduated college and moved on to adulthood. This meant that my habits changed little over time and were mostly governed by what I could afford. I wasn't on a meal plan that my parents paid for so water was cheaper to drink than Coke. But I still drank Coke. Fast forward a few years and I land a steady job. Coke becomes a part of my diet yet again for nearly every meal. I'd drink one for breakfast to wake up, one at lunch to wash it down, and another in the afternoon to keep going. The pattern of drinking was there, it was just modulating as time passed.

Fast forward another few years and I land an even steadier job with my current employer. Like many tech companies at the time, sodas were 25 cents per can. It was like being back in college again where I could almost, almost drink for free. I'd easily drink two to six cans of Coke a day for years. I was yet again reinforcing my bad habits without knowing it.

At some point in time I got sick with a sinus infection or the flu or bronchitis or something like that. I lost my appetite for a few days and, somehow, stopped drinking Coke for three days straight. I had a small streak started and I had quit cold turkey and best of all, my detox side affects were masked by my illness. So I took the opportunity and ran with it. For the next few years, I quit drinking Coke. Period.

Then ultra marathons entered my life and Coke was a staple at many aid stations. To make sure I wouldn't have a bad stomach during a race, I started drinking again. Not anywhere near the levels I had before but the pleasure of drinking had increased. So the one drink I'd have a month would feel like a week's worth of drinks all at once. Over time I would loosen my own personal restrictions on Coke consumption and a few times I would even train specifically with Coke as part of my drop bags or fluid consumption during training runs and races.

That's quite a lot of backstory on how Coke makes me depressed but I think it's important to put out there. I honestly feel, now, that Coke is addictive and can be detrimental to your life like alcohol or some other drug. However, I also feel that, like everything else out there, a little bit of something is okay. Too much of something isn't. So I try to put Coke and beer in the same category. You can have one, but remember that there will be some consequences if you drink it. With Coke, I'll get depressed. With beer, I can't drive.

That brings us to the depression piece of this post. The whole reason I'm writing this is to talk about the odd mental aspect of drinking Coke. A few years ago I realized that every time I drank a Coke, I felt great for a few hours. I felt refreshed, light on my feet, and maybe a little hyper. But for the next day, or two, or sometimes three, I'd feel down. Depressed. Blue. Sad. Whatever you want to call it, I just wasn't feeling good about anything. I'd be more irritable and grumpy with my family and co-workers. Any little thing would set me off. I wasn't depressed enough to be suicidal but I was depressed enough to struggle getting out of bed in the morning. It felt very much like a hangover but was more mental and less physical.

I have experimented with various types of Coke and nearly every one has the same result. The only exception I've found is Cheerwine. I never drank it when I lived in North Carolina, but tend to pick up a bottle when I feel like drinking soda. And even though I don't drink that much Coke, I can still taste the difference between a glass bottle, plastic bottle, a can, and from the fountain. But none of these various serving styles make a difference. I thought it could have been the corn syrup but the Mexican Coke with plain sugar still impacts me the same way. Even Diet Coke makes me wonky. And I don't think it's the caffeine because I drink coffee and tea and they don't do anything like this.

I know I don't eat as healthy as I could. But I am glad I stopped drinking so much Coke. I may once again wean myself off completely but I still have a six pack in the fridge calling my name. Begging me to get high all over again.

Podcast - Mile 70 - Mindless Eating

mmmmrmrmrmrrr fooooodd mmmmmmememmrrmrm

Yep, I'm a zombie eater. Or maybe I'm a Pavlovian eater. Either way, I eat without thinking about it when I sit in front of the TV. I know it but I don't know it. There are times where I catch myself halfway through a second bowl of chips without remembering the first bowl. Kind of like driving to work where you suddenly realize you're at work without remembering that second stop light.

Anyway, lots of reasons for this but I think it boils down to nurture and nature conspiring against me. Okay, maybe not conspiring against me but it sure feels that way. I'd like to think I have control of this but I don't. Some days are better than others. Here's to hoping today will be a good day.

You can download this episode into your snack bowl here or gnaw on it directly here. And if you're on the go, you can listen to it here with a side of fries.

Podcast - Mile 41 - Babybel Mile

Remember that Babybel Mile I did a while back? Well, here's the audio to go along with it. Be thankful there wasn't any heaving or barfing. But you can hear me (and my stomach) go downhill rather quickly.

Yep, that pretty much sums up this episode.

The cheese wheel can be downloaded here or viewed on Podbean.

Muddy Buddy

So you may have read about my last race being a bit trippy. Well, here's proof (taken while I was waiting for my iced latte):

Eddie's Energy Bars - Initial Impressions

I'm currently eating my third bar from Eddie's Energy and I figured it was a perfect time to give some initial impressions before I tackle a bigger, full-on review.

I read about Eddie's Energy Bars awhile back in a business magazine (Entrepreneur). The blurb said the company was growing and was one to look out for (in a good way). Having been on a granola bar kick for months, I figured I would check it out. And I did. And promptly forgot about them.

Fast forward a week or two and I decide to check them out again, this time paying close attention to the ingredients. While nearly half of the choices contain nuts, all of them have milk. And coming form a highly food-allergic family, I take labels seriously. My son is very allergic to milk and nuts, my daughter is slightly allergic to milk and very allergic to nus, and I am very allergic to nuts and poultry (and mildly allergic to various other foods).

Anyway, finding a granola bar without nuts is next to impossible. Go ahead and try it. I dare you to read the label the next time you go out grocery shopping. So when I saw Eddies had some bars that were nut-free, I figured I'd give it a try. So far I'm glad I did and here's why.

The Package
My biggest complaint so far is how difficult these are to open. Scissors or a knife are required to get at your bar quickly and easily.

The Flavors
So far I've had Chocolate Chip, Mint Double Chocolate Chip, and Cinnamon Raisin. The Chocolate Chip was okay when it came to taste. But that was without any refrigeration so the results may be skewed by the heat (I ate it right after it arrived in the mail). The Cinnamon Raisin was very good. A little too much cinnamon for my tastes, but not enough to make me choke on it. I could easily eat a bag of these. The Mint Double Chocolate Chip that I just finished was good, but not as minty as I expected. In fact, it was pretty well hidden beneath the chocolate flavor. But I like chocolate so that's fine with me.

The Texture
The texture is heavy. Not lite like a feather or heavy like a stone, but still pretty heavy. And it's dense. The bar is a standard size, but it feels like a lead bar when you pick it up. It's also a bit chewy and chunky. Certainly not a crunchy granola bar that could crack your teeth, but there's enough there to make you chew for a few minutes.

The Label
As I said, I take labels seriously. While I primarily read them for the ingredients, I also check them for calories. So far they're reasonable on the calorie count (for example, the Mint Double Chocolate Chip has 249 calories in the three ounce bar). I know it sounds high but consider you could eat one of these for breakfast and be full, it's a fair trade. They also go well as snacks in the afternoon.

The Oddities
This is where things get a bit weird. You see, the name of the product implies you can get energy from it and the main page says "We are on a mission to get you powered on natural energy!" (their emphasis, not mine). But with one bar, I didn't seem to have any extra energy. The other two, I have a weird buzzing feeling. Almost like a hum. In fact, I'm buzzing right now. I'm just not sure if that equates to energy or not yet. Seeing as I haven't tested the product in combination with physical activity, I feel it's a bit early to make conclusions.

The Company
This was another impressive part of the product. It tastes good and sits well, but the founder, Michael Adams, is not only available to talk to, he seems like a nice guy. I know, it sounds lame, but that first impression tends to stick with you like a tattoo sometimes. Fortunately, it was a positive impression. He sells his wares while going to college (his mom and dad make the bars at home) and yet, is very accessible to the general public. He's on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Wordpress. And of course the main website.

I was a bit long in my "initial" impressions, but I'm hoping to do a longer review later. I've been slowly collecting peanut free granola bars for nearly a year now and these will fit perfectly into that post.

You can't spell DEATH without the letters T-E-A

If you think I'm weird, welcome to the party. If you think I'm weirder than weird, here's further proof.

I recently switched my instant tea (iced, not hot) from the generic Wal-Mart brand to Crystal Light. So for a month or so I've been accumulating enough of this that I swear it was trying to poison me. I can't explain it, but there has got to be something in there that I'm either allergic to or that cannot be consumed in large quantities.

I know I drink a lot of it (about 2 quarts a day), but if drinking that much is bad, why sell it?

Needless to say, I'm back to the generic Wal-Mart brand of tea and I'm already feeling better.

Oh, and one more side note - don't use a regular knife from your nice silverware to cut cheese. you'll bend it and feel like a fool telling your wife about it. Instead use a cheese knife or cheese slicer or ask for help.

Digital Publishing and Rejection Letters

First, we have the digital publishing topic rearing it's ugly head again. I still have mixed feelings on this. If I had some sort of e-reader, I might be more interested. As it stands now though, I have a slew of free books in PDF but have barely finished one book in nearly a year. Oi.

Then we have a very funny rejection letter. While I find rejection rather crushing to my ego, I found myself laughing as I read this. But then again, I wasn't the one being rejected. But then again, I wouldn't have submitted a theme song either.

And with that, I'll bid you a good holiday. Don't be a foodwhore!

It's like Christmas

Or my birthday.

A few days back, I got my first freebie in the mail. Two actually. One was for free cat litter (I know we don't have a cat, but it will be good for oil spills in the shed) and the other was for some popcorn rice-cake like snack (which was okay).

Then yesterday my mom sent me three books (all for my birthday). One was on my list, the other two were suggested reading from her.







And then today, the UPS guy sent a cooler full of hamburgers! They're for the whole family, but hey, I'm still gonna eat some!

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Just another update

Legends
I'm currently reading (listening to) I Am Legend and it's, well, creepy. That "Come out Neville" just gets to me every time. Creepy voice. The movie (which I watched the other night on PPV) was expectantly different than the book. And, also expectantly, not as good. I'm certainly glad I only paid $3.99 for it and that I'll be getting that back thanks to a coupon.

DirecTV
Speaking of DirecTV, we recently upgraded to an HD DVR in the living room. I had no plans to make the HD switch anytime soon until I realized we were paying for it anyway. So we'll be getting a new dish this weekend. Free. And Showtime for three months. Free. And a discounted bill for three months. Free.

Reading
And speaking of getting things for free, I'm slowly chugging through A Magic of Twilight. The war is on and nowhere near as exciting as the war in Before They Are Hanged. I like Ninefingers but I love Glotka. Best good/bad guy out there. Best good/bad guy since Keaton's Batman.

Sticks
Finally, we have the allergy test. Major allergies have been confirmed, minor ones clarified, and treatment plan in place. Fortunately no major changes.

PS - Let me know if you know of or want to participate in an audio book exchange. My wallet is running on empty and I need some new material.

Peanut Gallery

Tomorrow I get to feel like I spent the night in a sleeping bag with a dozen rabid hedgehogs. And I hope to come out of the experience wiser than before. I'm hoping the preliminary results of tomorrow's allergy tests will at least put some of my food related woes to rest. A definitive answer to what I'm allergic to and what I'm not allergic to. At least it's not like I'm allergic to peanuts but still like to eat them. They smell and look nasty. And chicken isn't far behind.

But I did happen to read a rather interesting article in the paper the other day about manufacturers and how much they are in the dark. And it reminded me of my Mom's spoon theory about how much you need to plan out your day and be careful with what you do. Maybe having the allergy for so long has made me immune to the effects of caution, but I've learned that certain foods are safe and anything new needs to be checked.

And having a daughter that shares some of the same allergies makes you take notice a bit more than normal too.

And having friends with even worse combinations of allergies makes you a bit more thankful that your life isn't as bad.

And knowing the top eight ingredients that must be labeled on all foods makes you feel like a bit of a nut.

No pun intended.

The Fourth Notch

So over the past few days, I've noticed a disturbing trend. When I wear my belt, I'm able to use the fourth notch. When first purchased, I had to use the second or the third (if I sucked it in) notch. Then I gradually used the third notch all the time. This past weekend I graduated to the fourth notch.

Sounds encouraging, right? All that exercise and watching what I eat has helped, right? Well, I'm not sure. I have no hard data to back up any shrinkage (there's a scary word for men) occurring with my waist. My pants still fit the same. My gut still looks the same. But I have not used a scale or measuring tape to gather scientific data points in months, if not years. I did manage to step on a scale a few weeks back and it showed 248. Hard to believe since a week later it showed 235. I doubt I could have lost that much weight in a week. So I cannot rely on the scale for a solid answer. And I absolutely dread the tape measure. Always makes me feel inadequate.

So, I'll take my fourth notch and keep it. If I can make the fifth, then I know I'm either losing inches or my belt is suddenly elastic. And for those of you out there trying to watch what you eat, keep up the good work. Eating better is only half of the equation, but it's often the hardest.