Episode 5

I do a little interview with Reg about why he has quit running. Since the man is incapable of being serious, it's really just a bit of fun.

Allergies are still making me feel like I'm plodding through molasses, and I have no energy to do anything but eat.

A surprise phone call from UltraDad really make my day - we haven't heard from him since he decided to take himself off the social network and concentrate on his family. He's doing well and training for a 10k. He says he may call in again - I hope so.

It's absolutely pouring rain today - and I mean coming down in bucketfuls. A few weeks ago I learned that the little girl Idrive to school was going to be excluded from a class trip to a farm because she needs one on one supervision. She's hearing impaired and has several behaviour problems. I get along with her very well, so I volunteered to go with her because I hate to see a child left out. Today's the day. We're going to a farm and we're going rain or shine. I'm thinking I'll wear Reg's full body rain suit. Wish me luck.

Episode 4

This week I talk about the need for added fat in our diets, half marathon plans, free iPhone apps that rock, and enjoying the summer weather.

Monday is the day I choose for my long run of the week, and I will always do it on a bike path that runs beside the river. Last Monday I was lucky enough to see these deer getting a morning drink and generally cooling off. They left as soon as they saw me, and have no idea how much joy they gave me. On my return trip I saw a herd of about 8 deer in the woods, but they too took off as soon as they were aware of me. Amazes me how they can run so quickly and make so little noise.

I got some road tires put on my mountain bike, and I plan to crank in a few miles of biking for cross-training - something I have never really done. Cross training is boring - running is fun. I think biking can probably be fun too. Only time will tell.

Have a listen to my podcast on iTunes - just search for Fifty Counting Down and you'll fine me.

WooHoo! Forty-five Counting Down!

That's right folks. I lost a whole half pound this week. Soooooo sloooow - but in the right direction.

On this week's podcast I talk about the need for enough water , how to figure out your BMR, and the advantages of taking Buckley's Mixture.

Half Mara.thon Plan.

Over the winter and into this Spring I have been running what many would call 'junk' miles. They aren't junk to me, but they haven't been doing me much good. I haven't had a plan.

In my quest to get my weight under control, I also need to get some control over my running, in the hope that I won't be exhausted by the end of the week, and my body will have a chance to ditch some of the fat I'm carrying around.

I don't have any race plans at the moment, but I'm going to start running and training as if I do. I've decided to go with John Bingham's Run/Walk Half Marathon, which seems like a sensible distance to train for when I'm not really going to do an actual Half. Although...there is that World Wide Festival of Races in October and it would be good to be ready for that.

The Bingham plan is simple and can be found in his book Marathoning for Mortals, co-written by Coach Jenny Hadfield, M.A., CPT.

Week one starts with two 35 minute Run 3 min/Walk 2 min. - repeat 7 times; 2 days of 30 minutes of cross-training, 1 long run day - first week is 3 miles; and two rest days.

Times and distances increase each week until the Half Marathon is Run 4 minutes, Walk 1 minute throughout.

This is much more sensible than running every day for 4 or 5 miles and taking walk breaks as needed, with only one real rest day.

My plan is to finish this program, and that start right into it again, with the thought of doing marathon training next Spring (2010.) I want to complete a marathon before I turn 65, and that will be in February 2011. I have lots of work to do. Join me.

PODCAST!

I am now officially a podcaster. It just seems like so much more fun than typing. My first attempt is up on iTunes - you can find it with the same name - Fifty Counting Down. It's raw, and plain, and very short. I plan to improve it in coming weeks as I learn to use the podcast creation software. I also plan to keep it to about 15-20 minutes because that's about all the information my brain can spit out at one time!

Big thanks to Chris Russell for giving me a blurb on his show - Run Run Live - which can also be found on iTunes, and to everybody else who has been so generous with tips and tricks and general information.