This past weekend was a tough one. I have been sick since Friday and I still am today. It pretty much put me out of commission for anything I wanted to get done this past weekend. That’s okay I will recover, I hope I am feeling up to it tomorrow. I figure it’s a 4 miler on the schedule so I should be able to tough that out. I’m feeling weaker than normal right now but that’s normal when you are sick.

One of the biggest reasons I wanted to blog today was because of, well, what you are reading right now. If you hadn’t noticed, the blog format is a little different. Now instead of just reading my blog you can get involved as well with your own comments. Hopefully, if you feel the need you will take the time to put in your two cents as well. I’m excited about it, I know things were always more fun when I was able to participate. Also instead of just posting once a day, I can post as many times as I need to during the day, for example on a race day. This is great.

I’m in bed now resting up so I know lack of sleep won’t keep me from my workout tomorrow. I’m sure it will be a tough one tomorrow due to how weak I will be but I have a fairly long run on Saturday that I would like to be ready for, 15 miles. It will be inside because I don’t want to be sick longer than I need to be. Hey…15 miles is 15 miles.

Whoaaaa!!!! I was super tired this morning! I thought I went to bed on time but when my alarm rang at four there was no chance I could make it to the gym this morning. That just means it has to be an afternoon session today. The cool thing about that is I have a day off tomorrow. It started snowing out here again so that just means running inside again for a little while, no big deal, it won’t be that long. The winter is almost over.

I haven’t done much blogging lately but there is a reason for that. Currently my website is getting a little overhaul. There are going to be some changes here and there to the website. One of the biggest changes will be the blog. Everyone will be able to subscribe and be notified when a new blog goes up; you will also be able to comment on the actual blog entry for the day so I don’t want anyone to be shy when that time comes. There will also be other changes that come over the next couple of months such as the way the videos are set up and categories to click on. Hopefully the new blog format will be up within a week or less. Change is good, isn’t that what I am trying to do? I’m really excited about all of these changes. It will be interesting to see how many people subscribe. Time to go to work…

Today I had a long run of 8 miles. To be honest with you I really love a long run like that. Why can’t marathons be 8 miles long? I’m not saying this because it is super easy or anything like that but I think 8 miles plays differently on your mind than say 13 or 15 or even 10. Whatever the case I got it done today, I was a little late because for whatever reason I decided to be up half the night so I slept in. My family makes it back tomorrow so it will be nice to not be a lonely hermit anymore, now I can be just a hermit. It was a nice and slow 8 miles today, I didn’t push it at all. I think that happens to me when I don’t do my runs bright and early in the morning and they don’t start until mid morning. I don’t even like 8 o’clock race starts, they seem too late. Not much to write about today except that I don’t have many aches and pains and I feel like things are going well. It is also starting to warm up here a little, at least for a few days. I am hoping it melts the ice on the road in my neighborhood. If so I am headed back outside earlier than expected. That can only be good. As long as the temperature is not below zero and there is no ice there is no problem. It isn’t often where you hear people happy about going outside and enjoying the weather at 40 degrees Fahrenheit but that is us right now in Wisconsin.

I have to say reducing my mileage is working wonders for me, at least in the first full week back. I am heading into the weekend and I don’t feel overly tired or anything. The crazy thing is that it is only a mile hear or there but I guess it adds up over the week. Today is my day off but I figured I would write something as I woke up feeling like I could go get some miles in instead of feeling like I needed to take a day off. Maybe it is because I am getting the right amount of sleep. I have also incorporated my protein shakes back into my diet. I had gotten away from them for a while but they work wonders as I use them as meals in between my meals. It helps keep the calorie count down and keeps me going strong throughout the day. I also have to say salmon and chicken breast is the way to go and for a guy like me (that can’t cook) it is about the easiest thing you can do. If you can’t tell this week while my family was away I focused on the little things, which are actually pretty big things if you really think about it. I have a great feeling this year is going to go very well, I don’t know why but I am feeling extremely positive right now. Tomorrow I have an 8 miler and I was debating whether to sleep in and go do it or wake up early and get it done. I think I will wake up early because then I have the whole day to relax after that.

Two days ago on the 4th my daughter turned 10, happy birthday Benie!!!! I still can’t get over the fact that she is 10 already but she is away on a trip for her birthday and with it the camera. They will be back on Sunday night and that means the return of the videos. I will have a lot to talk about because some people don’t read these blogs but I am looking forward to posting the videos again, it’s been long enough. Time to go to work…

Today was my first “official” day back on a schedule and boy did I feel it. It wasn’t anything that a couple days won’t clear up but luckily I have done enough over the past few weeks to where I don’t feel like its cold turkey. I went to bed a little early last night to prepare for the early morning rises, which worked out well as I was ready to go at 2 am. I had to force myself to lie back down and go to sleep for a while. Today’s schedule consisted of some resistance training (which I am not cold turkey on either) and 4 miles. I cut my miles over the next 15 weeks to help with recovery time and hopefully the pounding on my body as I continue to shed the pounds. After the 15 weeks I will reevaluate and see how I feel with doing more mileage or if I need to stay where I am for the time being. I’m looking forward to going down to Dallas and getting a good run in. I have a goal of 3 hours for that one, yes that right, 3 hours. My family is out of town for the week so I am my own motivation this week. I told my wife that my goal was for her to say I looked like I lost weight when she got back so you know I’m on it. I’m looking forward to my “running season” to kick off in April; it will be pretty busy from April to July and then a little break until the last couple of races until September and October unless things change. This year is going to fly by and the weight will go with it. Here we go….