Austin Fit, 3m Half Marathon here I come!

So the running obsession continues...I'm running the Fall season with AustinFit, which of course is affiliated with USAFit....or something like that. It culminates in Feb 2013 with the Austin Half Marathon (the even-crazier people train for the Full Marathon). I'm never going to stop hating the name "Half Marathon". It ain't half of anything, it's a complete ass kicking of a race. Too short? Run faster then!

But I digress, which is the whole point of blogging, no? I'm so grateful to the program, and so glad I sucked it up last year and joined. It took so much for me to get in the car that first day, I was scared shitless. What? Run with people I don't even know? Last time I did that I was wearing combat boots and birth control glasses! It turned out fabulously, after training the entire season with my 11 min/mile group, I went out with a couple of our faster gals (shout out to Amy and Eliza!) and averaged 10:45 over the 13.1 miles. Not bad for such a tough course!

A group of us ran throughout the summer (read previous bitches and moans) and I'm so grateful to them all. Mark mostly, who loosely "organized" it by inviting us to keep our running fitness up. And Amy, who makes running look as easy as breathing to us mere mortals.  We slogged through some hot, hot runs and I know we are all better runners for it. It will make those cool winter runs a piece of cake!

Not being injured is something I never take for granted any more, not since THE CALF....which for any new voyeurs, er readers, was the injury I suffered last Fall. I learned a LOT from that injury, I can assure you! I learned to build a proper base mileage before any race, and to not ramp things up too quickly. I hope to never make that mistake again!

So this fall, I'm moving up with our coach to the 10:45 min/mile group. My basic plan is to do faster tempo runs during the week, and build the mileage at a slower pace on the long Saturday runs with the group. I know given a good base, my race pace is always going to be a bit faster. This year I hope to run 10-10:30 at 3m (Jan 13th) and about 10:30-10:45 miles at the Austin Half, unless I just get super fast. Not going to happen at this age, I don't think! But speed is no longer my prime objective. Just staying in shape, and ENJOYING the runs is fine with me. Losing sight of the fun is the kiss of death for me!

My workouts are in a great rhythm right now, although quite a few people have commented on the lunacy they appear to be on the outside. There is a plan people. I have a bike I'm slowly paying off, and when I get on it this Fall to start riding again, I want to be in shape and hauling LESS ass up those hills. I'm fortunate in that I can devote a LOT of time to working out that most men my age can't. Idle and Perry do not get along well.

I guess that's it for now. Now go run. :O)

Latest Fat Analysis

So I was really stunned today when I stepped on the fat analysis scale - and it read down only 1.4 pounds!! I know my weight really does fluctuate - and sometimes as much as 4 lbs....but still. Fuck that was not cool.

Bill went on to do the "7 sites" pinch tests and there was where I see the best - and biggest - results. So my eyes are not lying, I really AM getting more fit, and less flabby.

Here is a guide to the pinch test sites...


So here are the before and after numbers:


Body test site                 Before measurement          After measurement (latest)

Chest                                            15mm                              10mm

Abdomen                                      40mm                              26mm

Subscapular (back)                        23mm                              20mm

Midaxillary                                     21mm                              19mm

Suprailiac                                       14mm                              14mm

Triceps                                           11mm                              7mm

Thigh                                               13mm                             11mm


So overall I'm happy with the progress, the weight routine I'm doing is really adding strength and obvious, view-able differences. Right now I'm doing 3 sets of 15 on the ab machine; tricep; bicep; back, and chest machines. It takes less time and is more focused than I was doing before. I barely rest between sets, and I use enough weight that I am at muscle exhaustion on the 3rd set. Arms have gone from 50 lbs post surgery to now at 100 lbs (triceps and biceps). Not where I once was, but getting better after just two months!

I like that the Moobs are almost gone now. Lol!

I do need to get more serious about the nutrition and stop sabotaging my own work there. Easier said than done for a true Foodie!


Bottom line - room for improvement, but the New Leaf assessment says I've gone from a 52 yr, 10 month old body composition to a 36 yr, 7 months body. I'll take it!

Oh, and overall my body fat % went from 22% to 18%. More to come!

Cramming for a body fat test?

I look better now!

I have until Monday to "cram" for my next monthly body fat test. I did not post about the last test, but it was OK. I had lost 4 pounds and almost 6 pounds of body fat. [At this last weigh-in the machine from Hell says I now have only 19 lbs of body fat to lose. Yikes!] Yep, gaining some muscle! My trainer/nutritionist has me pumping the weights again. It really has ramped up my weight loss, I peeked at the scale the other day and was down almost 7. However, the "cramming" I have been doing lately is more cramming food into my pie hole. Hey, I'm cool with it. I may sound extreme to my Facebook friends who see that I am at the gym nearly every day, but I balance it pretty well. I spend time with my lovely daughter, and I eat. I have cut out a few things, but I am not one for deprivation. That sets me up to fail every time. I once lost 40 pounds on WW over a 6 month period, but I will never, ever do that again. I'd rather die fat and happy.

My clothes are fitting better, I don't have to force my ass into my bathing suit anymore, and I'm getting much stronger. In just 2 months, I've gone up 30-40 pounds on most of the machines I do. I'm still running on Saturdays, and will begin my half marathon training tomorrow, I cannot wait! I'll be running three this year, Decker, IBM and the Austin Half in January. And my bike is halfway paid off so I'll be riding again soon! 

Life is pretty damn good right now!