This is it; the last big run in the training program has come and gone. By my Garmin the 32K run was actually 34.8K, which would explain why I was hurting after the run. The pace was quick maybe about 30 seconds slower then what I figure I would run during the race. My prediction is a 4:30 – 4:45 Marathon should be right on.
My health is good, while I do have some small aches and pains, but there is nothing that will prevent me from running in the Bluenose at this point. After this week the last two weeks taper down so that my body will be rested and hopefully repaired.
The massage at the College of Massage therapy in Bedford, was really good. I had a good 2nd year student who was a good as any RMT I have been to in the last year. She is going to do really well. I certainly would go back to the College for another massage.
For a good laugh,
http://www.realbuzz.com/en-gb/Your_pictures_and_videos/index?pageID=3174&ht_do=view&id=130
Harry
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Well, here we are less then one month away from the Bluenose. Last Sunday we did a 29K run, the time on it was actually faster then the last time we did a 29K run. So far I am still on track for the full marathon.
Through I have been questioning myself lately on why am I putting myself through the training. Let’s face it, running 29K hurts. Two minutes after finishing the run my legs are stiff. Muscles are complaining as they have been pounded into submission. My energy level for the rest of the day is that of a sloth.
Then yesterday, my daughter posted her High school grad pictures from 2004. It was a shock to see how fat I was. I never perceived myself as fat at that time. Yes I knew I was big, but being that fat. It was a good reminder of why I do what I do.
It’s good to be reminded that only two years ago I was over 300lbs. and could not even walk around the block. It’s a wonder that I did not have a heart attack, I was luck. The diabetes diagnosis was a kick in the pants.
I don’t think we give enough kicks in the pants to people. In Zellar’s the other day, I was at the check out. Saw a woman (overweight) with her 3 kids all overweight, double chinned and big bellies. In her cart were at least 7 cases of Pepsi. Bags of chips and candy, I looked over to Aingeal and said, “I wanted to go over and tell her she was killing her kids”. Of course I would be told to mind my own business.
If we want a more healthy society we are going to have to start calling people what they are. I am sorry but FAT IS FAT, not big boned, or “he’s a husky child”. These kids are fat, a lot of them live in homes where the parents are FAT. They eat junk and crap there is nobody to teach them good eating habits.
I am not saying these parents are bad people, but they need to be educated. Maybe we should put health awareness workers at checkouts. Can you imagine the Cashier at Zellar’s telling the customer, I am sorry you are fat I cannot allow you to have the regular Pepsi, but we do have Diet Pepsi if you wish to buy pop.
Or I am sorry sir you are fat, please return the box of chocolates before I can process you through the check out. How about a nice bag of apples, I can see that going over well with consumers.
Should we start denying healthcare on the basis of survivability? I mean why should a doctor waste time on someone who refuses to take care of themselves. Run healthcare like a business, where’s the return on the investment on a person if they refuse to maximize there health and minimize the risks of health care problems by healthy living.
Maybe we should start giving some health care dollars back to people so they can afford to eat better. Eating healthy is expensive. So maybe we need to invest money into food growers so they can provide cheaper produce and meats to consumers. Not to say we should not have junk food. But how about a health care tax on McDonalds meals, or maybe on every box of Kraft Dinner sold. That certainly would raise awareness.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Harry
Through I have been questioning myself lately on why am I putting myself through the training. Let’s face it, running 29K hurts. Two minutes after finishing the run my legs are stiff. Muscles are complaining as they have been pounded into submission. My energy level for the rest of the day is that of a sloth.
Then yesterday, my daughter posted her High school grad pictures from 2004. It was a shock to see how fat I was. I never perceived myself as fat at that time. Yes I knew I was big, but being that fat. It was a good reminder of why I do what I do.
It’s good to be reminded that only two years ago I was over 300lbs. and could not even walk around the block. It’s a wonder that I did not have a heart attack, I was luck. The diabetes diagnosis was a kick in the pants.
I don’t think we give enough kicks in the pants to people. In Zellar’s the other day, I was at the check out. Saw a woman (overweight) with her 3 kids all overweight, double chinned and big bellies. In her cart were at least 7 cases of Pepsi. Bags of chips and candy, I looked over to Aingeal and said, “I wanted to go over and tell her she was killing her kids”. Of course I would be told to mind my own business.
If we want a more healthy society we are going to have to start calling people what they are. I am sorry but FAT IS FAT, not big boned, or “he’s a husky child”. These kids are fat, a lot of them live in homes where the parents are FAT. They eat junk and crap there is nobody to teach them good eating habits.
I am not saying these parents are bad people, but they need to be educated. Maybe we should put health awareness workers at checkouts. Can you imagine the Cashier at Zellar’s telling the customer, I am sorry you are fat I cannot allow you to have the regular Pepsi, but we do have Diet Pepsi if you wish to buy pop.
Or I am sorry sir you are fat, please return the box of chocolates before I can process you through the check out. How about a nice bag of apples, I can see that going over well with consumers.
Should we start denying healthcare on the basis of survivability? I mean why should a doctor waste time on someone who refuses to take care of themselves. Run healthcare like a business, where’s the return on the investment on a person if they refuse to maximize there health and minimize the risks of health care problems by healthy living.
Maybe we should start giving some health care dollars back to people so they can afford to eat better. Eating healthy is expensive. So maybe we need to invest money into food growers so they can provide cheaper produce and meats to consumers. Not to say we should not have junk food. But how about a health care tax on McDonalds meals, or maybe on every box of Kraft Dinner sold. That certainly would raise awareness.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Harry
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
With five weeks to go to the Bluenose Marathon I can say everything is on track. Training is going well and this week is a bit of a step back week. Then on Sunday we are down to the last two big runs before we start to taper down. We are now done the hill work and this week I started on the speed work. I did not do this last time with the half, but this time I am stronger and feeling better physically.
Feeling better physically as I did not try to over train the event. When I did the ½ marathon in the fall I over trained and paid the price in the last 4 weeks of the program. I had to slow down and taper early. What a difference 6 months make, when we were out doing the 23K run on Sunday I noticed at the 18K mark I was actually about 10 minutes faster in then when I was training for the ½. I am hoping that will translate later on in the season when I start to pick up 10K events.
My Sucony Trigons did not make the grade, while they were a nice running shoe the only went about 400K when I wore completely thorough the heal to the padded layer. I wrote Sucony and got some response that really did not answer or solve anything. So I went out and bought a pair of Adidas Shadow’s. They are not to bad, but not as comfortable as the Trigons.
I may pick up a pair of Trigons just for racing purposes. This I think is a good move as I want to be as comfortable with my run as I can.
Physically I can say I am in the best shape I have ever been in the last 25 years. My weight is steady in that 205 area, I am hoping to drop 15 pounds after the marathon. No sense trying to cut back my food now. I will have to cut back anyway when I take my mileage back down I will maintain a base once I am recovered of about 35K a week until its time to train for the goofy.
Running upright and smiling
Harry
Feeling better physically as I did not try to over train the event. When I did the ½ marathon in the fall I over trained and paid the price in the last 4 weeks of the program. I had to slow down and taper early. What a difference 6 months make, when we were out doing the 23K run on Sunday I noticed at the 18K mark I was actually about 10 minutes faster in then when I was training for the ½. I am hoping that will translate later on in the season when I start to pick up 10K events.
My Sucony Trigons did not make the grade, while they were a nice running shoe the only went about 400K when I wore completely thorough the heal to the padded layer. I wrote Sucony and got some response that really did not answer or solve anything. So I went out and bought a pair of Adidas Shadow’s. They are not to bad, but not as comfortable as the Trigons.
I may pick up a pair of Trigons just for racing purposes. This I think is a good move as I want to be as comfortable with my run as I can.
Physically I can say I am in the best shape I have ever been in the last 25 years. My weight is steady in that 205 area, I am hoping to drop 15 pounds after the marathon. No sense trying to cut back my food now. I will have to cut back anyway when I take my mileage back down I will maintain a base once I am recovered of about 35K a week until its time to train for the goofy.
Running upright and smiling
Harry
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Interesting, we now have major corporations like Coke and McDonalds working with the Advertising Standards Canada to advertise healthier options. While I agree with that in concept lets face it these companies are consumer driven. What this means is that if the consumer is going to buy it the company will produce the product.
McDonalds has tried over the years to clean up there image of the fast food they serve. While there are not many healthy choices at fast-food restaurants you can at least get a salad and water. So the bottom line is that if we as consumers want better products we need to stop buying the products that are killing us.
Why are fast food giants so successful, because they offer cheap, quick meals that they can sell for a low price and high profit. The name of the game is offer a consistent product no matter which store you go to. So that Big Mac here in Halifax, tastes the same as that Big Mac in Vancouver.
We are making good headway; companies are using Trans-Fat Free oil. This still does not mean French fries are good for us. We are conditioned to say Yes when they ask us to upsize that order. You have to be careful with their healthier choices. What is so healthy buying a salad only to put a breaded chicken breast on top. Your 80 calorie salad is now 580 calories.
What we need to do is get into the supermarkets and grocers and start buying and creating demand for fresher foods. Produce, meats and Dairy. Start sending a message to companies like Kraft that Kraft Dinner is not going to cut it anymore. Until we send a clear message as a consumer to the large multi national companies that control what we eat. We are going to be a society of fat, overweight, heart diseased ridden folks who will die at a young age.
McDonalds has tried over the years to clean up there image of the fast food they serve. While there are not many healthy choices at fast-food restaurants you can at least get a salad and water. So the bottom line is that if we as consumers want better products we need to stop buying the products that are killing us.
Why are fast food giants so successful, because they offer cheap, quick meals that they can sell for a low price and high profit. The name of the game is offer a consistent product no matter which store you go to. So that Big Mac here in Halifax, tastes the same as that Big Mac in Vancouver.
We are making good headway; companies are using Trans-Fat Free oil. This still does not mean French fries are good for us. We are conditioned to say Yes when they ask us to upsize that order. You have to be careful with their healthier choices. What is so healthy buying a salad only to put a breaded chicken breast on top. Your 80 calorie salad is now 580 calories.
What we need to do is get into the supermarkets and grocers and start buying and creating demand for fresher foods. Produce, meats and Dairy. Start sending a message to companies like Kraft that Kraft Dinner is not going to cut it anymore. Until we send a clear message as a consumer to the large multi national companies that control what we eat. We are going to be a society of fat, overweight, heart diseased ridden folks who will die at a young age.
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