What a difference a year makes! My one year Runniversary.

A year ago I started running by doing the c25k (couch to 5k) program.  I was 380 lbs at the time. I gave this a shot in order to prepare for my first 5k race which was on 11/14/10.

Here I am at my first race ever, 370lbs, 16:52 pace 

Almost a full year has passed from my first race,  I am now 246lbs and ran my first ever sub 10:00 mile (9:53) this past weekend at the 5th Ave Mile.  Im also gearing up for my first ever half marathon in less than 2 weeks.

So in a years time Ive lost 134lbs and dropped over 6 minutes from my pace. 

As happy as I am with the past year, I cant help but look forward to the coming year and what lies ahead!  Marathon training begins!!!!!!!!!

5th Ave Mille - Run Your Best Mile!

Today was the 5th Ave Mile.  Its a 1 Mile dash down 5th Ave from 80th-60th.  Original forecast was for a rainy morning, fortunately no rain was to be seen!  My pace last Saturday at the 4 mile run was a new best of 12:00 miles, so for this 1 Mile dash my goal was 10:00 or better.

My heat, males 30-34 started at 10:15.  

I started out as fast as I could, which probably wasnt so smart considering I was sick with a head cold,  I started to feel dizzy about 1/4 mile in so I slowed it down a lil bit.

There were clocks at each 1/4 mile and I saw I was on pace for a 10:00 after the first couple.  I slowed down at the 1/2 mile marker for just about a couple seconds.  After that I felt a second wind and just gave it my all the rest of the mile.

As I came into the finish chute and to the finish line, i saw 10:00 and thought it would be close.  I checked my GPS watch and it said 10:00 on the dot.

Official result ----- 9:53!!!!! Wooohooo!!!!

Less than a year running, never did I think it possible to run a mile in under 10 minutes!  I am truly happy with the result!

2 Weeks to go till my big race, the Staten Island Half Marathon!

500 LBS = Food for the Hungry!

Tonight, Weight Watchers as part of their Lose for Good campaign, donated $500 worth of food in honor of myself and another member to represent the 500lbs that together we have lost!

There will be a story done in the local paper, the Staten Island Advance as well as online at silive.com

The story is supposed to be run on October 3rd.

Below are some pictures from the photo shoot, taken by my wife Gail.

Fitness: Mind, Body, Spirit 4 Mile Run - Bob Harper/Olivia Ward

This morning was the Fitness: Mind, Body, Spirit 4 mile run in Central Park.  This was number 6 of 9 for my 9+1 Entry for the NYC Marathon.

My last time running a 4 mile race my time was 54:44 with a 13:41 pace.  My goal for this race was to PR with 52:00-53:00 finish time.

Race was at 9:00 AM and we got to the park around 8:00 AM.  There was a pre-race festival area set up.  As my wife and I were looking at the different tents, something caught my wife's attention.

It was Biggest Loser's Bob Harper with season 11 winner Olivia Ward!  I took a moment to introduce myself to Bob and told him my story.  We had a nice discussion about weightloss, running, and he was a genuinely nice guy.

After talking with Bob, we met Olivia Ward, who won last season on the Biggest Loser, she was really nice as well and we had a nice chat!

At around 8:40 AM we headed over to the corrals.

The gun went off at 9:00 AM and we were OFF!

I was feeling good at the start, but I guess I was feeling better then I had thought!  Mile 1 was done in 11:43! 

During the 2nd Mile I started playing leapfrog with a guy wearing a neon yellow shirt.  He would get ahead of me, then id catch up and jump in front and vice versa, we did this for the next mile or so.   

Mile 2 - 11:37

I knew I was going faster than I had thought, so thought I should perhaps reserve some of my energy for the finish, and the guy in neon yellow I was leapfrogging I guess felt the same way cause we continued on thru the 3rd mile.

Mile 3 - 12:52

After we passed the 3rd mile marker, i caught up to the guy in neon yellow, told him was nice running with him, gave him a high 5, and said have a great run, then I was off to the finish!  On the way to finish line I saw my friend Gal on the side, gave him a high 5, and that was all I needed for that last boost to the finish!

Mile 4 - 11:47

Finish time - 48:03

Pace - 12:01

NEW PR!!!!!  OLD PR DESTROYED!!!!!!

13.1 or Bust! Half Marathon Training Update!

First off, Id like to apologize for not blogging as much as usual.  The main reason for the lack of blogging is that I really find myself with little to no free time most days :(

Today I've completed week 5/12 of my training plan.  I'm actually ahead of the plans scheduled miles.  For this week, the long run called for 6 miles, I finished my first ever 8 Mile run!  The reason im getting ahead of the plan is because the plan only has me getting to 10 miles the week before the race.  I would feel a lot more comfortable to be at least up to 12/12.5 the week before the half.  So I'm currently on target to be at 10 miles by labor day with a month to go before the half to work on my pace at the distance.

My 8 mile run went well today.  It was a slow 2:05 total time with about a 15:30 minute pace.  I definitely didnt push myself too hard during this run because I didnt get enough rest and woke up tired, and I also wasnt feeling that great.  So in order to make sure I hit the distance, i took an easier pace.  The course I took was also very hilly.  Overall,  I was just excited to hit the 8 miles and I'm looking forward to upping that to 9 next week.

I've also picked up  a new pair of shoes, hopefully these will get me thru my first half and well into marathon training next year :)

These are my new Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11's Limited Edition

Speaking of BROOKS, there is still time to enter this months free giveaway, which happens to include a couple nice gifts from BROOKS!  So go check out the details on my site.

A Thoughtful and Appreciated Gift!

This past weekend I received an e-mail from a fan of the site, Julie Fulmer.  She wrote me the following poem, which when I read for the first time, it sent chills down my spine.  It really is filled with a lot of emotions, and I really appreciated this most wonderful gift.  Julie gave me her blessings to share it with you here on my blog.  I hope you all enjoy it and appreciate it as much as I do!  Thanx Again Julie!!

Why do I do it? Get up and do my daily run?
Do I do it because I like it, or think it is fun?
No way, my dearest friend! You got it all wrong,
I run because I have to. And I'm getting strong!

I'm achy and I'm sweaty , just running on guts.
My muscles are twitching and I wanna throw up.
My body ïs in hell, but I'm gonna beat my time.
I will not stop until I cross that finish line!

Up in the morning, before my neighbors wake,
Been running half a mile, before the bakers bake.
Rubbing achy muscles, think I have arthritis.
My hamstrings really ache, maybe I've tendinitis,

You'll be hanging with friends or reading your books,
I'll be stretching and running, just me in my Brooks.
I'm used to the pain, getting up before dawn.
My mind is focused on The NY Marathon.

Demolition Day aka Founders 5K

Yesterday was the Founders 5K in Prospect Park.  This was my first time racing in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY!  My prior PR for the 5K distance was 49:19.  It had been a while since I ran a 5K, so I was shooting for a sub 44:00 finish time.

Before the race at the Start

The first mile felt really good, I decided to ditch my usual intervals and just run and take short walk breaks as I felt necessary.  When I got to the Mile 1 marker I almost did a double take, 12:25??  My fastest mile EVER!

The second mile was the hardest of the run because there was a really big hill that I wasn't expecting.  This hill had a LONG and STEADY incline that just never seemed to end.  I asked the guy at the 2nd mile marker when the hill was gonna end, he didn't sound like he knew so wasn't very encouraged!  I wound up finishing mile 2 in 14:29.

The 3rd mile wasn't too bad, but I knew the hill during the 2nd mile took a lot out of me, but I had enough energy reserved to make sure I finished strong.  3rd Mile time 13:42.

Official finish time was 41:33!!!   DEMOLISHED my prior PR and my goal of 44:00!!!

I went to my Weight Watchers meeting when we got back, and figured Id kick the scale's ass too while I was at it.   Down another 1.4lbs, bringing my total weight lost total to 205!! 

Here I am wearing a jacket I bought in size LARGE!!  My first time wearing anything without an X in front of it in 20+ years!!