Still Interesting

I found this post which I wrote on a previous, and never really seen, blog and still found it interesting. What is most interesting is that even though I only wrote it about 3 months ago, I now view food TOTALLY differently than I did then, but this story still equally disturbs me.

Saturday, April 18, 2009
You can't make this stuff up...

Its very interesting to look at the way a person like me views food versus the way "normal" people look at food. Recently Ive come to realize that the way I eat, and I'm not talking about table manners, is very different than the way most people do. I know a lot of people who will look at a big fatty hamburger, or a monster burrito and be turned off by its unhealthy aspects. I usually relish in them. However that view has taken a big hit today (which I think is a good thing) when I came across a little special on the travel channel about best places in America to pig out. (Constantly watching television about food, no I'm not sick, really I'm not.)

Its called the Heart Attack Grill, just South of Phoenix. Its nothing new to desire to carve out a business niche in American counter-culture. Look no further than places like Hooters or Dick's Last Resort, all making money off of being a little contrary to the "status quo" and maybe a little politically incorrect. No harm, no foul. But the Heart Attack Grill, is something entirely different and truly disturbing. This place literally looks at people who have no regard for their health and tells them, "come here, Ill help you kill yourself!" And I'm not exaggerating.

The menu has 7 items. The single, double, triple, and quadruple bypass burgers, flat liner fries (fried only in pure lard), jolt cola, and Lucky Strike cigarettes. I'm not making this up. The quadruple bypass, the joints #1 seller, is a 2 pound, 4 patty burger with the buns dipped in lard before grilling, that comes in at 8,000 calories. 8,000 calories!!!! That's the amount of calories that a normal person eats in four days. Wash it down with the highest concentration of sugar and caffeine on the market, and for desert, cigarettes. This goes beyond counterculture and innocent fun.

Now at this point I was already flabbergasted, until the really really sick part came on. At the Heart Attack Grill, if you weigh over 350 pounds, you eat free, for life. The owner of this restaurant is giving free food to keep people obese. In order to fall into a "normal" body mass index range and be 350 pounds, you need to be 8' 4" tall. I hate to tell you, but there isn't anyone in Arizona that tall. This is shameful, disgusting and really really sad. His restaurant is packed every day, and yes, almost everyone in the videos eating in there is overweight.

I wish I was through with the sad news. You would think that the FDA or some advocacy group would be in an uproar over this place that unapologetically, even proudly, wants to kill its patrons. Well you'd be right, but it has nothing to do with the food. The waitresses at this place keep with the heart attack/medical theme by dressing as naughty nurses. Scantily clad nurses take your order which they call a prescription, and even roll you out to your car in a wheelchair when your done. (You cant make this stuff up) So after the 8,000 calories, the Jolt and a pack of smokes, who's pissed off? The Arizona State Board of Nursing. They contend that by using the term "nurse" in this setting, they are sexualizing the profession and discouraging young women from becoming nurses, and therefore contributing to a nursing shortage, and therefore the death of innocent people. Truth be told, they have a very valid point with the whole naughty nurse thing in general, BUT ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!! Not one person has stepped forward to say how insane this place is for the food?!?!

Ive rambled on here for way too long, but in closing here's my point. I think I finally see what other people see when they look at a person who overeats like I do. I may not be choking back 8k calories, but the same disgust and pity that a lot of people who see me, a guy who's about 100 pounds too heavy, is the same way I was looking at the people choking down quadruple bypass burgers. Its not a pleasant feeling at all. This more than anything was what left an impression on me today.

A difficult morning

This morning is turning out to be difficult, and its not even 7:00 am. Several things are present this week that are really fantastic, but its making my head swim in regards to my marathon training. First of all, Im leaving for a vacation to San Diego and then my first trip to Las Vegas. I am so incredibly excited about all of it. I love San Diego, I get to see one of my best friends and I get to see Vegas for the first time. What is worrisome for me is that very little of this is conducive to my training or my weight loss. So begins my stress. San Diego is absolutely beautiful, and a good running city, so luckily Ill be able to get a run in there on Thursday. I am supposed to run on Wednesday as well but will be traveling that day and it doesnt look like the schedule is going to work out so I thought I would just run today instead of tomorrow. Well thats a great plan for everyone except my body who is giving me all of those little signs that say "give me a day off." Normally I would just say, "Ok body, no problem," but I think the added worry of being on vacation, expecting not to be able to really nail my nutrition like I need to and the possibility of missing my long run completely on Saturday has me a worried enough that I want to ignore my body and go for the run anyway. Im also aware that in the course of this long training process that there will be days that I do have to push. Not ignore, not go too far, but just push my levels of comfort, but again, Im conflicted. Is it too soon to push? Is this not one of the situations to push in? These are all the questions and concerns that worry me, but they also excite me at the possibility of learning something new. So, as for the answer, Im going to give my body the rest today, at this point, I think erring on the side of caution is still the best plan. Im going to cut lose and enjoy myself on vacation, but just make the best choices I can while Im there. I have to realize its not the end of the world to miss a day here and there, but that it CANT be a habit, and I cant do it often. Viva Las Vegas!

Milestones etc

Its been a while since I last posted and quite a lot has happened and is happening. Today officially begins Houston Marathon training for several groups, although my particular group has already been training since May 30th. As far as my personal training goes the biggest change is that I have changed my goal race from Houston Half Marathon to the full Houston Marathon. Its still staggering for me to think of making it to the start line of a full marathon, but with some research and the guidance of a few close friends and coaches, I feel the marathon will be within my grasp. Its not now, and theres a chance I may not make it this year, but I feel like I have the drive and the desire, and at least for now Im lucky enough to be able to devote the proper amount of time needed for training. One of the best things to come from this decision has been some great conversations Ive had with Vic. Conventional wisdom states everything from "you shouldn't train for a marathon until youve been running for a year," to "It takes a year to train for a marathon," and so on, so there is no ONE set rule for it, however I know that technically I am very early in my running life and that marathon training at this stage is a bit "risky." However the good thing is, when thinking about running this marathon, its a running goal, not a 2010 goal. I know that I want to finish a marathon, but more than that, I want to run for the rest of my life, and no marathon, positively or negatively, is going to stand in the way of that for me.

Another milestone Im about to reach is with my weight loss. Im just a breath away from having lost 50 pounds. Its hard to type its so unbelievable to me. Whats even more amazing is that there hasnt been one single day since March 1st (my unnoficial change of life start date) that I have felt like I was on a diet. Through running and a desire to eat in a way that was going to supliment my running, I have had amazing success shedding the pounds. As I tell my friends, there are certain things I deny myself, but only because I know myself (more on that later) enough to know that if I eat these certain things, theres no stopping me. Ive formed great habits that will be with me for life, but I still hold in great fear the power of a basket of chips and salsa, or that plate full of garlic bread more than any boogie man. Im very aware that the more weight I lose, the harder it is going to be to keep up this weight loss, but so far I am keeping a steady pace of losing 10-12 pounds a month. As Vic keeps telling me, "ride it!" Im going to do just that for as long as I can. It will slow down at some point, I just have to make sure that I dont.

My last milestone Im about to face is a little more on the painful side. Many people already know that my sister, brother-in-law and two nephews are moving to Lubbock for my brother-in-law to attend law school. I couldnt be more proud of him or more excited for their family to be moving back to Jill and I's home town and all of the possibilities that it will bring. However, Id be lying if I didnt say my heart gets a little heavier every day that their move gets closer. Watching my two nephews (Jack 2 and a half, and James 1) be born and start to grow up has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Also having my best friend also be my family has really been a blessing as well. All of these things fill me with a sweet sadness, but none of them as much as when I think about not having my sister here with me. I feel like any words I write wont do justice to the bond we have formed over the last few years, and especially over the last two. Our bond was forged out of some great joys and great tragedies, but through them both, I have been the lucky one to have such a caring, honest and passionate friend as Jill. Ive had a sister since I was 3, but in the past couple years I've realized exactly how special that is. I love you Jill more than you could know, and as much as Im going to miss you, I know that our friendship will always be close.

I couldnt be more excited for what the rest of the summer and year have to bring, especially that first cool weather run sometime this fall.

Feeling Good

Today I finished my 3rd 5k race in just over a month, but today's was a little unique for me in that, except for the first mile, I ran the whole thing by myself. Now it may only be 3.1 miles, but without talking to anyone, I had the opportunity to talk and really listen to myself. Luckily I kept the dialogue internal as not to worry the onlookers, some of which were my wonderful friends and family. There wasn't too much to report on this race, it was fairly straight forward, and I felt great. I was able to better my 5k time by almost 2 minutes, a tribute to how much easier running without hills is. The best thing I took from today is that I really do feel like a runner. Every race is a big deal, especially one with a new PR, but where as my first race and even my second were sort of monumental events, I'm getting the impression that they are becoming more routine, and that's a good thing. As I said I have wonderful friends and family that cheer me on and support me as I am still at the beginning of a very long road to a healthier life, but I'm starting to feel as though running and succeeding at running IS becoming my lifestyle, and not the anomaly that it was a few short months ago. I don't know if I'm communicating well how I feel, but I feel good. I'm feeling healthier and stronger than I have in a long time, and although I know up and down days are ahead, I'm optimistic and excited.

Nobody Will Understand This

Starting tomorrow I'm faced with a difficulty that most everyone I know wishes they could have. Tomorrow officially starts my summer vacation. Until the beginning of August I don't have to work, save a 3 week summer school session for a couple hours a day. Its this chunk of vacation that usually sends eyes rolling and sarcastic comments flowing whenever I describe my job as a teacher as difficult. Then I get defensive and start detailing my job blah blah blah. That's not what this is about. What this is about is the question: Why would anyone else I know be basking in the glow of two months paid vacation, and I'm looking at it with worry?

As Ive become more self aware, Ive realized one of my biggest enemies is idle time. Don't get me wrong, I'm taking off time over work time faster than anyone you know, but the prospect of two months off feels more like retirement to me than vacation. I need things in my life to occupy my brain so my brain doesn't start looking for entertainment in the places its always looked for it before, namely food and all around misery. Ive been rather successful as of late, running, self reflection, work, the "stress" of the end of a school year has kept me sufficiently busy in my waking hours, but a large part of that is going away.

I'm completely pumped about my marathon training and continuing to loose weight, but I can only do that for so long each day. Even if I stretch it out to a couple hours a day, its still only a couple hours a day. I guess my worry comes from wondering how I will fill the other hours, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared of falling into old habits.

But lemons into lemonade is sort of my new thing, so I'm going to try to be optimistic about actually having to make myself busy/happy/fulfilled without a built in system. And maybe that's the whole key to this. Ive been a master my whole life of looking to "things" to be my savior, to "fix" me, rather than choosing to do it consciously myself. So even though I approach summer with some apprehension, maybe Ill find that I do like having 2 months off as much as everyone else. Or maybe I'm just crazy.

Race for the Pennant

Since I dont have but a couple races under my belt, I figured it was still worth giving a race report, especially sinc this one had some good moments.

This morning my sister Jill and I ran in the Astro's Race for the Pennant 5k that started at Minute Maid Park. We were both surprised by the number of people that were running this race, TONS more than the 5k we ran in just 4 weeks ago. The start gave me my first taste of what a big race is kind of like. Lots of people running/walking at different paces and navigating them was a bit tricky, and I noticed that more than anything it sort of made me run faster. After a bit of bobbing and weaving, we settled in a bit to begin the rolling "hills" of the Elysian Viaduct.

By mile 1 we were feeling pretty good having tackled the first hill or two without much of a slow down, and it was here that we started to see the leaders coming back. What was shocking to Jill and I were the 9 and 10 year old kids that were running at about a 6 minute mile pace. I guess they could have jumped over the median, but they looked like they had been running it all.

As we made the turn to come back I looked at my watch and saw that we were well on pace to finish by my goal which was under 40 minutes. I also knew that the hardest running was yet to come. Right at the turn around was an uphill that Ill admit was not easy. We were getting hot and the sun was beating down, but we were still pretty much on pace.

Right after mile 2 was where things got...interesting. Making a little turn we could see Minute Maid Park. "There it is." I say, but what is funny here is that its hard to remember that a structure the size of a ballpark can still be waaaay in the distance and look like its just right there. The last (and longest) hill was coming up and both Jill and I were getting tired, but still sticking close to that 12:30 pace we had been running all along. Just as we crest the last hill we can see the entire road leading us straight into Minute Maid, Im huffing and huffing, but Im boosted by the fact that we are on a straight road to the finish, so I thought.

About 1/2 a mile from the park, the course took a right turn, Im assuming to add that pesky .1 miles to the end of the 5k. At this point I literally said to Jill "Im not gonna lie, that dampens my spirit a little bit." At this point Jill starts doing everything she can to keep me optomistic, singing to me, trying to immitate my "power song," anything, but I just need to run.

I look at my watch and see that we are at about 36 minutes with about a 1/3 of a mile to go and I know that it is going to be tight. We have run really hard and we are both really hurting at this point when I hear in the distance a familiar voice. I look across a vacant lot, and theres Vic cheering on all the runners as they pass by. I tell Jill, "there's Vic!," and for some reason Jill decides to take off to get us to him. I literally tell her, "Jill, I knew he would be here, we dont need to sprint to see Vic!" But as we turned the final corner towards the finish Vic is cheering for us at the top of his lungs, and he brought Anna from PIM to cheer for us too. For whatever reason, his cheers worked, I found some sort of new gear that I didnt know I had and I started running, like really running. As we pass Vic and Anna I hear Vic yelling still and he even says "Will, wait for us!" as he realizes Im almost at a dead sprint he says, "never mind, KEEP GOING!" This new gear I found was amazing, and frankly I dont know how I would have finished if Vic hadnt been there to push us the last little bit.

So as we pass up the mile 3 marker and can see the entrance we run through to enter the field and cross the finish, we see "THE RAMP." The ramp leading down to the field, we had been warned several times was extremely steep. I had pictures the whole race of a trecherous slope that had to be carefully navigated, but when I got to it, it didnt look so scary. Enough so that I said, "Screw it, Im running down this." Jill did not however know my thoughts and as I started barreling down this ramp she literally puts her hand across my chest in her best "mommy keeping kid from falling" move but I "knew" what I was doing.

In the final tunnel and the last 40 yards or so we could see the official clock over the finish tick 39:59....40:00. I was instantly deflated until Jill yells, "its the start clock, not our time!!" So with the last energy we had we burst over the finish and I stop my watch, at 39:11. Goal accomplished.

It was such a great run, nice weather, well organized, and I got a PR to boot. Four weeks ago to the day I ran my first 5k in 44:33, so in just a month I shaved 5 min and 22 seconds off my time. My favorite thing Jill said was, "I wonder what you could do with no hills and no lower respiratory infection." I guess we will find out next week :)

Goals

As my half marathon training officially starts this Saturday, I thought it would be good to set some goals, short and long term, to lead me through the next seven months.

Short Term:
-Run the Astro's Race for the Pennant 5k on May 30th without stopping and at least a little bit faster than my first 5k.
-Run the Heights Fun Run 5k sub 40 min

Mid-Long Term:
- DON'T GET INJURED!!
- Stick consistently to the In Flight Training program, especially the cross training and weight lifting, not just the running
- Run all of the Race of the Month Series races
- Finish the Aramco Houston Half Marathon
- Cross the start line of the half marathon 50 pounds lighter than I cross the start line of the Heights 5k

Some goals may be added or modified, but this is what I'm starting with.