So here is the first point in my story arc. I finished the first week of my new diet and exercise plan. My near-term goal is to get back to where I can fit into my Adventure Pants.
Started the week at 230 lbs, ended at 227.2 lbs, two week rolling average is 229 lbs. Completed three days of 1-minute runs, eight reps, 3 minute walking recovery. This morning I did a Long Slow Distance…an embarrassing 1.55 miles in 20 minutes. Barefoot. Or practically barefoot…I’m trying a pair of Vibram Five Fingers instead of running shoes.
This Week’s Struggle
Blindness. It’s early out when I run and I can’t see the sweep secondhand on my Swiss Army watch. So I switched to my dress watch (Timex is as dressy as I get) with the Indiglo backlight. Fail. The secondhand is no wider than a flea’s whisker, I still couldn’t see it. So for the time being I’m running with my GPS receiver because I can at least read the elapsed time.
Tell Me Where It Hurts, Son
I’m having some pain and swelling in my left knee. In the past it’s been my right knee. I went to an orthopedist who says that there’s no damage or indication of arthritis. If I run “through the pain” I tend to feel better. But the next time I run…ouch. This is why I’m trying barefoot running. And the reason I’m trying to get back into running at all is because there is some evidence that running actually promotes knee health.
So here is the dramatic tension…can I keep this up for another week? Will getting “unstuck” in the body weight department help me get “unstuck” in other parts of my life? Tune in for more…