Ouch !

Things were rolling along. Other than sore knees (which I expected) I have run a bunch of  miles since November relativly pain free.

This morning I was doing some yard work and I felt a sharp pain in my lower back. I knew right away that it wasn't good and right now it's pretty painful. I know Marian knew it hurt based on the long string of obscenities that come from my mouth. I have taken some Aleve and I am sitting with a heating pad on my back. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how I feel in the morning. I'll also pay a visit to the chiropractor tomorrow after work.

Last week I obsesed about miles all week. I cut my Monday run from 7 miles to 5.25 miles because I wanted something left in my legs when I played golf that afternoon. I guess it worked because I shot 80 at Stone Mountain.  I ended up making up that 1.75 miles throughout the week but it bugged me. I'm not sure how I would make up the miles if I had to miss a few days.

Total miles this week 36.1  that included a long run of 11 miles and a session of 6 X :45 hill repeats...that was fun in -1 degree wind chills.  Also did 2 light weight workouts, and 2 yoga classes.  The weather here in Atlanta has NOT been cooperating over the last few weeks. It has been raining a lot and we are having a VERY cold winter so far. At least we haven't had any snow!

I weighed in at 179.4 down a little over 1.6 lbs since last week and 7.6 lbs since I started training or Boston.

Fundraising is going strong at  $3,292 and 66%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page. http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon

But you don't look like a runner...

But you don't look like a runner. I hear that a lot.

OK I get it, I'm not built like a Kenyan. I'm short, wide and I usually carry too much weight. No one has ever mistaken me for Bill Rogers. In all of the races that I have run, absolutly no one has ever marveled at my speed. I simply run...therfore I am!

That is the beauty of running. You only have to run to be a runner. I guess it's not a very exclusive club. 

All you need is a good pair of running shoes and the determination to get out of the bed or off of the couch.

I have been told that people get annoyed when I post my runs on Facebook and Twitter. To those people I say, feel free to stop following or defriend me. I have had many people say that those posts have motivated them to start a running program of their own. When they do they feel better, lose weight and get heathlier. I guess when they see that this old fat guy can run, they fugure "why not me". I am fine with that.

Total miles this week 31.8  that included a long run of 9 miles and a session of hill repeats. Also did 2 light weight workouts, 2 yoga classes and a had a massage. 

I weighed in at 181.0 down a little over 1/2 lb.

Fundraising total is still $3,093 and 62%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page. http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon

The "Me" Wall

Marian calls this my "me wall". OK, I can live with that.

I'm not sure how many race numbers are hanging there but there are but each one represents a special challenge. It includes some very memorable races, swim caps from the triathlons and funny hats from the Warrior Dash.

So I run a lot of races, I must have and a few first place medals there right?!? Nope. I have been told I have deceptive speed...I'm slower than you think! So it's always been about finishing for me. I'll let the rabbits get out there and get the medals. I'll be in the middle of the pack or maybe on a good day in small race with only few old farts, I'll sneek into the top three. That is always fun but it's not the most important thing for me. Finish the race, get the tee shirt, fill up a bag with free stufff and go somewhere for a nice breakfast with friends and family. Thats a great Saturday morning.

This week has been a challenage with the weather. My shedule was three, five milers with a four mile hill work out and a seven mile long run. I made all of the runs as scheduled, even though Tuesday morning was 5 degrees with a -10 wind chill so I had to do that one on the treadmill and the Friday hills was in the rain. Then Saturday the worst happened, I was planning to do my 7 mile long run about 8:00 am but this crazy Georgia weather wasn't having it. I quick check of the weather channel showed not only thunderstorms but tornado warnings ! That meant my worst nightmare...7 miles on the treadmill. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Total weekly miles 26.56. Also did 2 light weight workouts and 2 yoga classes.

I did better with my weight this week I weighed in at 181.6 down a little over 2 lbs.  Thank you to all of the folks that emailed me their weight loss tips !

Fundraising total is still $2,953 and 59%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page. http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon
   

You gotta start somewhere

The first official week of training was 22.08 miles. Those included a long run today of 6.13 miles and my first "hill repeats"of the training.

The hill repeats include a two mile warm-up, then four 15 second full speed (OK all things are relative) up hill run with a sixty second rest in between. It ended with a 1/2 mile cool down.

Speaking of cool downs, the weather has been cold this week. I know all of my friends from up north are saying that I have no idea about cold. I get that, but it was 23 degrees when I went for my 6 miler this morning. That's cold enough for me.

I started the week off with a massage on Sunday. It felt GREAT and I'll be getting one every 3 weeks or so between now and the race.  Probably on my "light weeks".

I have also been going to the Chiropractor.  My Chiropractor Kris Purvis has been working with the Atlanta Falcons for years so he knows all about sore knees and backs. I guess it's gonna take a village to get me to the finish line.

With Marian's help, I am concentrating on losing weight.  I only lost1 pound this week but now that the holidays are over, I am hoping to do better.

As far as fundraising goes, I have currently raised $2,943 making me 59% of the way toward my $5000 goal for (TAN) Technology for Autism Now. If you would like to support me you can go to my fundraising page at:  http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon.