And I thought I was running

A little delayed in getting this week's post completed.

I had a great visit from my Dad over the weekend. We attended a couple of Halifax Mooseheads hockey games (two wins), completed a sightseeing trip to Peggy's Cove on a bitterly cold (but stunningly beautiful) day, did some shopping in Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedford, and hosted other family members for dinner on Sunday evening. (My beautiful wife did an amazing job as head chef. Thanks Charlene.) It all led to a decently busy schedule.

Through it I managed to get in a few runs ... or did I?

I've been spending a lot of time reading about running and came across a number of articles on the running vs. jogging debate. There are varying definitions, but the consensus is that until you cross the 6 mph (9.7 km/h) mark you are technically jogging. Others rank it at a level of 9 mph or 14.4 km/h! This Houston Chronicle article seems to be one of the best sourced.

I have run a few kilometres at the 10 km/h pace and it's really pushing it at this point. Contemplating holding a pace of 14.4 km/h right now is a little unnerving.

The debate is a fun read. But my favourite comment came from someone who jumped into the debate on some on-line forum. He said it simply: "Who cares?"

John Bingham sums it up nicely:

“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.”

I agree.

This is more of a journey toward a fit way of living than breaking the land speed record. I watched a documentary on Usain Bolt on Netflix just recently. He is a marvel to watch. His record is safe with me!

There's just 105 days to Blue Nose Marathon weekend. I look forward to the next number of weeks when the Team Myles training formally begins. I can see the finish line and I look forward to crossing it. The goal is set and yes, I will be running, no matter what the speed.

Runner's nipple and finding my Inner Ninja

Who knew? As I enter Week 3 of this new running adventure I've discovered a painful phenomenon: Runner's Nipple. Not to sound like a cry baby, but man it hurts. Did a little research and will work on a solution. Runner's World is a good source of information.

It's been a busy week on the treadmill. Have broken a new goal of 4 km in 30 minutes. It's a pretty fast pace for me, but in just two weeks I can find a big difference on the endurance side. It was evident during my Thursday night and Friday morning hockey games this week - fast paced shifts, but not as winded when getting back to the bench. A positive sign.

When driving to hockey on Thursday I was intrigued and inspired by a few lines in the Classified (featuring David Myles) hit Inner Ninja. I checked my iTunes playlist and this song has been played 68 times, the most of any song in my collection. But it was only Thursday that a line, outside the chorus, really stuck in my head.

From Inner Ninja:

It's a feeling that you get in your lungs when you run
Like you're runnin' outta air and your breath won't come
And you (uh) wheezin', gotta keep it movin'
Find that extra (uhn) and push your way through it

It's a fitting theme for this Blue Nose Marathon Team Myles candidate getting ready for the big 10K race. It's just 116 days to Blue Nose Marathon Weekend and still lots of work to do to break that 70 minute or less goal.

I am extremely competitive with myself and trying to beat yesterday's goal is not the best training method. A good friend has offered running tips over coffee next week before heading into formal training with Team Myles later in February. (Jeff, the coffee is on me.)

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I've started using the MyFitnessPal App on my iPhone again to track my food intake as this weight loss quest pushes back into high gear. It keeps you honest if you live by it. It was the one tool that aided in losing the first large chunk of weight a few years back.

Speaking of the App, I had forgotten how many calories a pint of Stella Artois has. On a run you burn, on average, 100 calories per kilometre. So 2.5 kms later and one beer is covered. Over the weekend, after a two-year gap, Charlene and I, along with two Halifax friends, rekindled friendships with a couple from St. John's. It was an awesome weekend of laughs and great memories. After adding it all up I'll need to run a Marathon to cover the Stella (but it was well worth it)! (Thanks Jeff, Adrienne, Charlie and Paula for a fun weekend. Cheers until next time.)

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Looking forward to another progressive week ahead. Goals include solving this nipple issue and keeping that Inner Ninja alive and kicking. Poof, I'm outta here!

Let the race begin!

Running has never been part of my life, but the next four months will involve lots of steps (and as few missteps as possible).

I've been selected for Team Myles as part of the 2014 Blue Nose Marathon, joining a dozen or so of Halifax's non-runners in a mission to complete either the 5K or 10K races over Blue Nose Weekend (May 16-18, 2014). www.bluenosemarathon.com

Two years ago, Charlene (my wife) and I made a resolution to drop those pounds that have attached to our hips over the past decade of little activity. I was approaching 40 and too many of my friends, colleagues and mentors had, just after retirement, became ill and some passed away. It had a profound impact and we both made up our minds to get off our butts and get back in shape.

I am proud to say we have lost the equivalent of a decent sized human in the past few years. We've started down the path of an active lifestyle. Kayaking has become a passion. I started playing hockey after a 15-year hiatus. Last weekend we started cross country skiing.

We're into the hard weight now and it will take more than eating better to shed the last 20-30 pounds to reach our goals. Insert running here!

With the selection to be on Team Myles (I plan to run the 10K on May 18, 2014), Charlene has decided to take up running as well. She is planning to run the 5K at Blue Nose on May 17, 2014. Together we'll be good support to reach our running and weight loss goals - just like the combined 130 lbs we've already lost.

So this past Monday, we dusted off the treadmill and started some initial training. This blog will chronicle progress through the next four months encompassing our new active lifestyle in pursuit of the 5K and 10K goals.

To make it official my plan is to go sub-70 minutes in the 10K. Charlene wants to do 5K in less than 40 minutes. We're way off that pace right now. It should be an interesting journey. Let the race begin.