Do Run Run Run, The Do Run Run

From April 2010

Above… A Timmie picture… Just because you cant have enough pictures of kittens!

I REALLY hate running… When I was in track years ago… I used to dread running around the cinder covered track for anything longer than 200 meters. I was the 100, 200 and Long Jump guy. Hard to believe right? But I was pretty decent. I was always the #2 to #3 guy. So, when we were competing against a really crappy school… I could sometimes place!

ANYWAY… The point is…. I hated running distance. So, it should seem very ironic/idiotic that 20 years later that I think I can just throw on some shoes and take a jog! I cant! Last year… When I was still in the throws of a healing ankle… I tried to push it and see how bad it was. Turned out I had that screw poking out of the bone… So, it was bad! I have not run more than a few steps since.

Its been several months since that last surgery… So, I am attempting this all again. There are a few reasons.

The insurance company wants to settle… So, I need to be sure that this foot is as healed as its gonna get. Giving it a little stress, then watching how it reacts (or doesn’t) will help me feel more confident in closing this all up. Its still very tender. I get plenty of swelling and tightness from it after a day of working… But a run is like a whole day compacted into a few minutes. I can feel it for long after that short burst.
I am also hoping that a little more activity will loosen up any tendons that have been riggored into place by my inactivity over the past years.
We are headed out on a beach vacation in June. That means plenty of time with the shirt off. You have not seen it… But I can assure you that it is not a pretty sight. Pity the poor folks on the beach! I am hoping that some more activity will help me get off this 200 pound rut that I have been in. If I could drop 10 pounds before June… Well… That would be great. 15 would be exceptional.

The cool thing about running/exercising these days are all the digital gadgets to help track your progress! LOTS OF COOL STUFF!

Like… Nike Plus. You get this little blue-tooth “nubbin” and put it in your shoe. Add your iPhone… And viola! Your iPhone is watching every step you take (Just like Sting). Without doing a thing… Your iPhone will sync that data with Nike. (See image below)

You can then share this data with friends… Or enemies… Or, just hide it until you are not embarrassed anymore. Ideally, you will start to see some progress. I have already been inspired to shoot for .3 of a mile! Baby steps!

Another great tool… GPS. I have shown you all these cool GPS tracks from our bike rides over the past few years. The GPS is a watch… So, I can wear it while running as well. (See image below) This picture is my .2 run to the waterway and back.

Lastly, I can use my iPhone to keep track of my calories and exercise for the day. (We are really reaching a convergence of tech) I have not been the best at logging everything I eat. But I have used it to measure what the value of food items are. I have to tell you… Doritos… They just might kill you! I remember eating whole bags of those suckers! Its like all the calories you need for 2 days! (Below: Screenshot of Lose It app)

When you use it correctly… You can watch your calorie intake for the day. By the time supper comes around… You can see if it would be better if you just went to bed!

Taking it even further… You can tie these programs into Twitter and Facebook. Doing this makes sure you can have lots of peer pressure from all your social networking friends. Believe me, my friends are just like me… A-Holes! So, they make sure to mock my progress when its not really that stunning! (See thread below from a Facebook posting)