CANCER SUCKS

Hello All,

I haven't posted in a bit, due to some bad news that I had to deal with.  My Mom was diagnosed with Melanoma a skin Cancer about 2 years, she had it removed but not before it spread to her lymph nodes.

Well last week I got a call from my sister saying Mom was not doing so well, so I had to take some time off to go see my Mom and Dad.  They live in South Carolina so it is a bit of a hike to get there to see them.

Well she didn't look good at all, apparently the Cancer treatments have taken there toll on her body as well as the Cancer itself doing it's number on her.  The treatments were working at first, killing the Cancer but the Cancer fought back and became resistant to the treatments.  So they were going to start my Mom on a new experimental treatment but she needed to get all these test done first.

Well the tests showed that the Cancer has now spread throughout Mom's body and is growing at a very aggressive rate.  The doctor gave us the bad news, prognosis, he thinks that Mom has until the end of the summer before the Cancer will take her life.  I personally don't think it will even be that long just given the way that Mom looks.  The pain that she is in is horrible, so we had to take Mom to the hospital so they could treat her, they have since moved Mom to a Hospice house now and the pain is under control.  Happy for at least that part, she is resting comfortably now.

My Dad just doesn't know what to do with himself, they have been married 54 years, he tells me he can't sleep at night because my Mom is not there with him.  He hasn't slept alone in 54 years so it has to be tough. He has to now take care of everything at the house, cleaning, cooking, paying bills, everything.  Mom has done all that stuff for 54 years, plus raise 7 of us kids.

Sorry for the depressing post today, I just need to get it off my chest.

CANCER SUCKS...

So I haven't run much this last week, but I managed to get a couple days in just enough to clear my head and think about things for a little while.

I am back home now but heading back to Mom and Dad's at the end of the week to spend some more time with them.

I will be back to running today, gonna get back on track with the training.

Well that is all for now.
Thanks for letting me vent.

Feeling your Run

Hello Everyone,

Well yesterday was a rest day on the training schedule, but did I rest... No way.  I did an Insanity workout, "Max Recovery"  I want to know just what part of that workout was for recovery because that was pretty intense.

On schedule for today, 5 mile run, and it looks to be a beautiful first day of summer, so I am looking forward to a nice easy 5.

Which leads to the title of today's blog. Feeling your Run.

I was wondering how many people actually take the time during their run to actually enjoy the run and the world around them?  

I know most of the time when I am running I am way to focused on just getting the run done more than actually enjoying being out and being able to run or sometime I focus too much on my breathing, my posture, my turnover rate, or how I am landing on my feet.  I tend to over think these things instead of just letting them happen naturally.  So I wind up missing out on enjoying the feeling of my run and the things around me during my run.

I love running and being outdoors, it really doesn't matter what the conditions are outside I would rather be outside than in.  So running really fits with me.

Recently I have been going out for my runs with the intent on just enjoying the time outdoors and taking in all that the run has to offer.  It has been a little tough making that change, since I seems to keep falling into the old habit of focusing on the mechanics of how I am running.

I hope you all take the time to enjoy your runs today.



 

Easy day of running

Well today is a light day on the running schedule, an easy 3 miles on a nice sunny 78 degree day here in Philly.

Not much else going on today, just the normal work stuff.

One thing I want to bring up is a product that I came across yesterday that seems very interesting.  EnergyBits http://www.energybits.com/

This really seems like a great product, so I am just wondering if anyone has had a chance to try this product out with your training and what your results have been.

I order a couple sample packs to give it a try, hopefully they will arrive quickly so I can try them out on my next long training run this weekend.

My review will come once I am able to give it a try.

Anyway, there are 4 different formulas, Energybits, Recoverybits, Vitalitybits, and Skinnybits.  All these contain Chlorella and Spirulina algae and are loaded with 40 nutrients.

Check them out and let me know what you think.

Well that is all for today.

Good Running Everyone.  

Treadmill vs Road Running

I am constantly asked why I run outside on the road when I could run on the treadmill in a nice controlled environment?  Why do I torture myself with running in the hot, cold, rain, and snow?  Why not just run on a treadmill?

Well for me there is not comparison to running outdoors on the road.  I really love to run outside, and can't stand to be stuck running on a treadmill.  The joy of the scenery, the people you see, the wildlife, the wind blowing in your face, and the sounds that you hear.  So what if every one in a while you get a little rain or snow in your face, or you have to add a few layers to run in the cold or remove a few to run in the heat.  It always beats being stuck on a treadmill going nowhere looking at the same old things, even with a TV it just gets so darn boring running on a treadmill.  

Don't get me wrong I started running on a treadmill, that lasted about a month, once I got up to 3 miles I just couldn't take it and had to venture outside.   Luckily I work with a bunch of runners so they helped me make the transition and showed me some good places to start running.

That was 5 years ago now, amazing how time goes by so quickly, seems like only the other day I was running in my 1st marathon.   Now 5 years later and I have completed 4 marathons, 5 half marathons 2 10 mile broad street runs and a countless number of 10K and 5K races.

I love running, the feeling I get during the run and after the run is pure joy.  There are days that I just don't feel like running but I get out there and do it anyway, and afterward I am happy that I did it.  I truly feel energized after a nice run, not the long runs, a nice easy 3 - 5 mile run really gets the juices flowing and get me pumped up for the day.

Let me know what your thoughts are.

Have a great day all.



 

Week 2 of 18 Marathon training

Today starts week 2 marathon training.  Still a light week, longest run 9 miles on Saturday.

So I have been doing this smoothie thing since January, I purchased a Nutri-Bullet and almost every day I replace one meal with a smoothie drink.

My recipe is usually a variation of these ingredients

Fruits
Banana, Pineapple, Mango, Apple, Pear, Avocado
Greens
Spinach, Kale, Spring Lettuce Mix
Add-ins
Wheat Grass powder
Agave Nectar
Cashews, Almonds or Flax Seeds

So I usually a use a couple combinations of different fruits (lately it has been 1/2 cup Mango, 1/2 cup Pineapple, and 1 Banana with a big handful of some greens, a scoop of Wheat grass powder, a teaspoon of Agave Nectar and a bunch of nuts or seeds.  Oh yeah and about a cup of water to help make it easier to drink.  I tried using Strawberries and Blackberries but the Nutri-Bullet didn't break down the seeds very well  and I wasn't too fond of the way it felt drinking it with the seeds so I don't do Strawberries or Blackberries.

I usually have this smoothie after I do my run or workout, helps with replenishing nutrients and liquid and the will be my meal for that part of the day.  Surprisingly this will keep me satisfied until next meal time.

I think this has really been helpful with my recover after a run and keeping my weight in check.

Well that is all for now

Have a great day everyone.

Weekend with no races

Well I didn't have any races this weekend but did a 8 mile training run on Saturday and then some time in the sun at poolside.

Sunday was just an easy day, did some shopping for the week and then back to sun at poolside.  

Week 2 of marathon training starts tomorrow, still short runs bu the long one will be coming soon enough.  

Nothing much to discuss this weekend.  

Hope you all had a great weekend and for all the fathers a Happy Father's Day. 

Adding Insanity as part of your workout routine

So as I mentioned earlier, I started my 18 week marathon training this week and I have decided to add Shawn T's Insanity DVD training series into my weekly routine.  I actually started doing the Insanity training a couple weeks ago, just two days a week since I was still in training for a 1/2 marathon, doing more seemed like a bit too much.  So I started with just 2 days a week on my days that I didn't  have to run.  So in total I have done 7 Insanity workout so far.  I have to say that I can already feel a difference, my core feels stronger and firmer, crazy you might think, but I really can feel the difference. 

So now I am thinking, how can I fit more of these Insanity workouts into my routine.  Maybe I can get out an run early in the morning and then do Insanity later in the day. That could work, but I will need to be careful not to over do it.  

There are 2 sets of DVDs in this Insanity pack, a 60 day workout challenge.  I started with doing the fit test at home when I first got the DVDs, now I thought this would be pretty easy seeing how I run a lot, I thought I was in pretty good shape, boy was I wrong.  Just doing the fit test I was soaked with sweat and out of breath, that my friends is a workout in an of its self.  

So you work your way through the 1st set of 4 DVDs over the 1st 30 days and they are tough, but just when you think they are starting to get easier, you bump up to the 2nd set.  Which all start Max, like the 1st set wasn't intense enough now we are stepping up to MAX.   

Oh Yeah, there are 2 DVDs that say Recovery, don't be fooled by this bad boys, there is nothing recovery about them.  You are working your butt off just as hard. 

One thing I recommend, make sure to have some good Training Shoes, don't try doing this workout with the same shoes you use for running.  There is a lot of jumping and you really need to have the support of some good training shoes.  Also make sure to have some towels handy and plenty of water.  

Well that is all I have for today. 

Have a great day and get out there an run.