Tag: exercise

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My Big 50

”What? You’re turning 50? You don’t look it!”

A little late for that one, but thanks.

“Oh! You’re running your first ultramarathon!”

Nope. That was in 2022, but you’re getting closer… because that was my “little 50.”

“What race it is?”

The Trail Animals Running Club Stone Cat Festival! Yeah, it’s not just a race – it’s a festival.

“You’re running 50 MILES…?”

Yes. Yes, I am.

Well technically I’ll be running, walking, and eating 50 miles, but as any seasoned ultramarathon runner will tell you, “ultramarathons are one part running, one part walking, and one part eating.” I think Brendan Leonard had a graphic that illustrates this but I can’t find it. If I could, it may have looked something like this.

Why is that? Because at some point, even Kilian Jornet walks and stops for a food break when running 100 miles. Me? I plan to follow the advice of a veteran 100 miler (whose name escapes me). The advice he received when running his first ultramarathon was simply “walk the uphills, jog the flats and downhills.” Given that I am running a loop course, I will be walking less than I will be running because there can’t be more uphill than there is downhill, but there will be flats. Also, there will be roughly seven aid station stops along the way where I will refuel.

Will I use poles? I got clearance from the race director to break out my Leiki poles for the last 12.5 mile lap but I’m really hoping to not need them! I’ve run the entire course twice, both times with poles. Both times it felt like they were slowing me down. That said, having a set of crutches available to me during the last lap will be comforting, even if I don’t need them.

What am I packing for food? A variety of UCAN gels and bars, and assorted LMNT electrolyte powders, and Cheez-It crackers. I used to pack M&Ms, Clif bars, and Gu gels, but my stomach seems to have gotten less tolerant of sugars recently, so the above combo of salty crackers, gels, and electrolytes seems to work better for me.

What am I wearing for shoes? My Altra Lone Peak 5s with over 400 miles on them. The treads are still strong. I have a pair of 7s that I’ll bring along just in case I need a switch. I’ll be wearing Injinji socks, and my Salomon Adv Skin 12. Of course, I’ll be counting on my Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar to track all my stats and help me navigate when needed. Finally, I have a sticker like this for my car. You know, to make it official.

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TARC Fall Classic, 2023!

Yesterday I ran the TARC Fall Classic half marathon. This was a fun one! It was my fifth race, second half marathon, and second trail race. The terrain was very similar to the trails I normally run near my home in Medford, MA, as was the weather (since I was only about 30 minutes away). I finished in 2:37, which I think was a decent time for me.

Lessons learned:

  • The race provides no cups at the aid station. You must bring your own bottle. I did this, but I forgot to fill it at the start of the race. Fortunately for me the 13 mile course starts with a 1 mile loop around the cornfield and parking lot, then takes you right by the aid station again, so I stopped there and filled up again. Next time, I’ll take a bottle from the get go.
  • My Ultraspire waist belt – my normal goto on trail runs and long runs – proved to be a bit of a hindrance. This is because to get a snug, non-bouncy fit, I need to cinch it tightly around my waist. Unfortunately this interfered with my breathing when running at race pace, so I had a choice of a little bounce or restricted belly breathing.
  • I carried the right amount of food. I started off with some Harry & David Moose Munch popcorn (think “Cracker Jack with chocolate”) about half an hour before the start, a gel, an IQ bar, and some Gummy Bears. At the aid station I had peanut butter pretzels, an Oreo, and I snagged a bag of Doritos for the second lap. I definitely benefited from the salty snacks more than the sweet ones, so I plan to factor this in to nutrition/training moving forward. At the end of the race, I had some banana, boiled potato, and half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
  • I wore my Altra Lone Peak 5s – the same ones I ran the Vermont 50 in a year ago. They were fine for the terrain.

Seriously looking to run this one again next year – maybe the 20 miler or 50k,

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You Don’t Need Running Shoes. Go Minimalist!

A Stack of New Balance Fresh Foams
A Fistful o’ Fresh Foams

From 2017 to early 2021, my go to running shoes were the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 (I forget if they were version 9 or 10), and a pair of the New Balance Summit Unknown for trail running. In 2020 I went on a bit of a shopping spree and was trying all sorts of New Balance shoes, as I liked the wide toe box that didn’t mash my feet. I had an old pair of the Fresh Foam 960s, and bought a pair of the Fresh Foam 980s, as well as the Fresh Foam More. I liked my shows like I like my cappuccino – fresh and foamy.

Or so I thought.

Continue reading “You Don’t Need Running Shoes. Go Minimalist!”
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Slow Carb Modified

In late June, I made some measured modifications to my now-(depending on how you define it) famous slow carb diet practice. 
For starters, I resumed drinking Gatorade during Krav Maga training sessions. I noticed an immediate increase in my mental acuity and energy levels, resulting in better training, both physically and mentally.  I am also allowing myself up to one soda – usually club soda, lemon juice, and stevia – per day. 
Next, I allowed myself one “slip day” (in addition to my cheat day) per week, where I can eat restricted foods (dairy, or grains) provided I do so after a resistance training workout, and I stay within my daily total energy expenditure (so if I have a couple slices of pizza after hitting the gym, and keep the calories sane, I’m okay. 
I’m also skipping breakfast – yes, the most important meal of the day – on most days. Also, I haven’t been eating as many legumes as previously, usually only having them a few days or of the week now. 
Finally, I allow myself some night time carbs. This has usually been a small amount of dark chocolate, but could also be a granola bar. In addition to satisfying any cravings, this had resulted in better quality sleep than melatonin, valerian, or GABA. Again, I make sure to stay within my daily TEE so this is not a bingefest like some Saturdays turn into. 
The results? Not much to report, actually. There has been a modest decrease in weight over the last few weeks, but nothing dramatic. 
Given all of these adjustments, I’m not sure it even qualifies as the slow carb diet even more, but hey! As long as it works, I’m happy. 

Weight tracking June-July 2016
Weight tracking June-July 2016

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Low Carb Diet – Round 3

In the last week of May, 2012 I started a low carb diet. This is not my first attempt at such a thing, as I successfully lost 45 pounds following a program called Medifast in 2008, and I experimented with the slow carb diet for a couple of months in 2011. While I am not necessarily looking to lose weight this time around, I do want more energy and would like to tone up some. Since moving to Boston, I have increased my regular exercise regime to where I am doing some form of exercise pretty much every day, whether it is yoga, martial arts, or cycling.
However, I was feeling quite exhausted on occasion, most likely as a result of not yet changing my diet.
I have not adopted a formal diet this time, preferring instead to “trust my gut” and see what happens. While I am not counting calories, I am consciously choosing to intake fewer carbohydrates, which is difficult for me, as I miss my popcorn and potatoes. However, I have noticed that after eating a big meal, by skipping the potatoes with dinner, I do not feel “stuffed” to the point of needing a wheelchair to leave the dinner table. Rather, I feel comfortably satisfied.
I am allowing myself to eat all of the protein that I want, whether it is beef, fish, poultry, etc., does not matter. I am also increasing my daily intake of vegetables. So far, the resulting diet has been rather similar to the slow carb diet, minus the weekly “binge day,” and allowing for some occasional, albeit small, doses of carbs, e.g., a slice or two of Ezekiel bread every few days.
For the first week, my energy levels definitely dropped, which is to be expected when you first start something like this. However, now that I am in the second week, they seem to be coming back. I don’t know if my weight has changed yet, as I will have to wait until returning to Vermont, where my scale is, but I do seem to be getting a little more muscle definition already.

Posted using Tinydesk Writer iPhone app

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Medifast – 2 months, ~25 pounds

Medifast progress: 20080814
Medifast progress: 20080814

Two months ago, I started on the Medifast plan. I was 208# then, and I’ve been as low as 183.4# a couple of days ago. Weight fluctuates, so I’m up a bit today, but I’ve lost nearly 25 pounds in two months. It doesn’t sound quite as impressive as when I lost 18 pounds in the first month, but I knew that the rate would slow as I got nearer to my goal, so I’m not worried.
Today was the first time that people commented, unprompted, at how I was losing weight. The were folks whom I hadn’t seen in over a month, so they had the “old me” (read “fat me”) in mind and could really see the difference. Also, today I wore a pair of dress pants which I hadn’t worn in well over a year because I outgrew them – something which really bothered me at the time, because my wife picked them out with me after a time when I had gained weight. So basically, I couldn’t fit into my “fat pants.” That did not feel good, but wearing them today sure did.
Now I need to replace the four new pairs of jeans I bought back in May. Maybe I can take them in…