A Good Restart...

Last time I posted it was to put a public commitment out there regarding weight loss and run performance.  In regards to both I had established an end point or milestone of the end of April 2013. 

I'm proud to report that I've taken concrete steps on the right path.  On the weight loss program I'm hoping to be able to say that by the end of today - or about 3 weeks into my effort - that I will have lost at least 6 pounds.  Would I have liked to have lost more?  Absolutely.  But is 2 pounds a week a good rate of loss?  Yes, and probably the safest level of weight loss (at least to my way of thinking) given that I'm also trying to ramp up the volume and quality of my workouts at the same time.  Still having moments of failed willpower and there are still steps to take to ensure my success - those damn potato chips still keep calling my name...and probably still have work to do on managing portions on my plate.  But getting there and it is getting easier each day I'm on the plan.

On the workout side of things I had, for me, what was a good weekend of workouts.  Even with a long weekend and family in from out-of-town, I was able to get in a 10 km run on the Saturday, a 45 km indoor bike on the Sunday, and another 10 km run on Monday!  I haven't had that kind of consistent effort in a long time.  I was happy not only with the quantity of the workouts but also the quality of the effort.  I've been very conscious of the effort I'm going to have to put in if I'm going to finish the half-marathon in under 2 hours.  And so I've been pushing up my effort and getting used to a higher level of intensity.  So far so good.  My base comfort level on the run is certainly higher than it was in my Ironman years.  And I pushed hard enough on the bike to feel it.  The other comforting part is that, other than the hours immediately after the workout (when I'd like to nap) my recovery has been very good.  Waking up the next day and ready for more!

I've also taken steps to map out my race year as well.  Already booked my first target race - the Edmonton Police Half-Marathon on April 28, 2013 - and plan to register for several other run events through to September.  In addition, I plan on registering for the 100 km version of the Tour de l'Alberta again this year.  Accomplished it last year with very little training and don't want to repeat that mistake.  I really coasted on the base I had established in my previous Ironman training.  So I finished the effort but paid for it!  Hoping better training and lower weight will combine to make the ride a little more enjoyable! 

So all-in-all making progress towards my goals! 

The Power of New Goals!

Well this sort of seems like the first day of the rest of my life.  Hmmm...perhaps a bit over the top.  What I have done (not just starting today) but since coming back from the Goofy experience in Orlando is carry through on some commitments I made to myself at the end of 2012.  At that time I said to myself, "Self, we are going to lose 30 pounds and we are going to get our half-marathon time under 2 hours in 2013!"  I have started on the road to achieving both those goals.

Earlier this month I went back on the weight loss program that saw me lose 37 pounds in 2008.  I officially started from 223 pounds back then and got down to 186 within 4 months.  About a year later I decided to push the envelope just a bit further and temporarily pushed myself down to 179 so I would look particularly svelte for my wedding - and to look good in my Armani cruise wear on the honeymoon!  Unfortunately, the honeymoon and the damn the rules approach I took to having fun at the time put 9 pounds back on within a 2-week period.  Zoinks!  Since then, and through my two Ironman Canada events, I have floated at around 195. 

Since starting on my weight loss program (less than 2 weeks ago) I have dropped four pounds.  That's a good rate of loss - two pounds a week.  If I lose more great.  But I'm trying to keep it realistic and healthy.  I'm also conscious of the energy level I have to sustain if I'm going to meet goal #2 - taking my half-marathon time under two hours.

Historically, the best I've every done at the half-marathon distance is 2 hours, 8 minutes.  When I consider I pulled that off at 195 pounds I'm actually pretty impressed with myself.  With thirty fewer pounds on my frame I'm guessing that gravity will be more forgiving come April - that's when I'm focused on breaking my own personal sound barrier.  I'm also far more aware of what kind of training it's going to take to meet my goal and I've already begun to push my pace.  I'm becoming more confident by the day.  I also don't intend on finishing my race year in April.  I'm looking at races throughout the year of varying distances all the way from as little as 5 km events through to more than one half-marathon effort.  Would be nice to establish a consistent level of success throughout the year and maybe even continue a progression. I won't just be running either.  I will continue to get on the bike as I appreciate the variety in training and I hope to get back into swimming come June when Heidi starts her latest maternity leave. 

So there are the goals - get down to 170 pounds by the end of April and get my half-marathon time under 2 hours by the same end point.  Stay tuned and wish me luck!

And as Picard would say (that's him to the right) - Make it So!