Running With Jack

The heat and humidity that we have been having is still lingering. It was nearly 29C/84F as I made my way out the door, but with a little wind for a change. For the second day in a row I had 20km/12.5mi. on my schedule, but this time I wanted to run at least part of it at a faster pace.

I ran to the trailhead from my running club and set out over the 11K route that I usually run there. This route is advantageous for a faster paced run as it is flat and consists of well maintained dirt-gravel logging trails without any roots to trip over. I gradually increased my pace until I was running around 5:30/km (8:50/mile). This was roughly the point where my legs warned me that if I kept increasing the pace they would be dead in the morning. So I ran about 4-5 km at this pace, then slowed down again for the rest of the run.

So what’s up with the title? If you have been reading my log for awhile you might have read that I started running about 4-1/2 years ago to lose weight. After many years of too much food and too little activity my weight was surpassing the 240 lbs. mark, which was enormous for my 67 inch height. Through walking, then running I got my weight down to around 170 lbs. and have held it for over three years now. Generally during race season my weight drops to around 165, but I was never able to get under this for more than a day or two at a time.

This race season I also dropped my weight to 165 lbs., but in the last few weeks I have managed to drop below that. This week I am down to 161 lbs. and so far have been able to hold it, even while fuelling some longer runs. I am hoping that I can continue and bring my weight down to a lean (for me) 155 lbs. by July 30th (my birthday). If that doesn’t work, than I hope I can maintain the 161 lbs. Worst case I hope I can stay under 165 lbs. over the winter. Nothing like a race-of-my-life, good day, and bad day goals for my diet too, huh!

Oh, and for any of you searching for a diet plan, mine is simple:
1. Eat healthy, but in controlled quantities.
2. Cut out as much fat and sweets as possible.
3. Drink lots of water.
4. Run at least 50 miles a week, preferably on hot, humid days.