It feels so good...

To be running again!

I threw my back out a few weeks ago shoveling snow--after snOwMG 2010. It was the first time in my life I hurt my lower back. I guess age is catching up with me. Anyway, I've been seeing a new Chiropractor who is also a runner. Well, he's actually a triathlete!

What a refreshing experience to visit a doctor that shares your passion! I learned of Dr. Geo Toomey at one of Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners races. I was volunteering at the race (one of my goals this year is to help out at more races) and someone mentioned that Geo is a doctor. When I found out he's a chiropractor, I decided that I would go to him the next time I needed adjusted, I like to support the folks in the organizations I belong.

Turns out Geo is a fantastic chiropractor! He had me running after 2 adjustments and is really helping me get a better understanding of what I need to do to become a better runner. He offers great advice on core exercises, strength training, intervals, and more. I never felt a friendship with a doctor as much as I have with Geo!

Training for the Pittsburgh Marathon is coming along a little slower than I had hoped (due to the back and the lack of motivation/ADHD) but it's back on track.

I've learned that I need to really concentrate on what outcomes in life I really desire and make sure my actions support what I want. I placed little stickers with 180 and 76.5 on my rear view mirror, stereo, and control panel of my Jeep. I want to weigh 180 pounds someday and the Laurel Highlands Ultra is now 76.5 miles (6 extra miles due to a detour for an unsafe bridge.) It may seem like 3 different places in my Jeep is a little extreme, but I see these little reminders often (I'm a salesman, so my Jeep is kind of my office) and remember that my decisions today will affect these goals in the future.

It's helped with my impulses so far!

Stay safe, keep your soles to the ground, and keep moving forward!
Brad

A very open blog entry!

The last few months have been HARD!

I've been making some poor decisions regarding my training, eating, and hydration habits. I've been eating on impulse, giving in to temptation, and allowing myself to eat unhealthy food WAY too often! I've bagged a few long runs because "I just didn't feel right." I've been a total training mess!

Well, thanks to the help of my therapist, I've discovered a few interesting things about myself. It seems that I've been trying to be someone I'm not. I'm trying to be the employee that I think my superiors want, the person I think my friends want me to be, the runner that I think others see when they look at me. All of this thinking has prevented me from being who my superiors hired, who my friends know, and who I want to be as a runner! I've been trying to live my life as someone I'm not.

Throughout my therapy, the therapist noticed a few traits in me and decided I should be screened for ADHD. My wife has been telling me I'm ADHD for years, but I always thought she was teasing me about a few of my idiosyncrasies! Well, I was wrong. It turns out I am ADHD--with hyperactive and impulsive traits!

OH, so that's why I fidget so much? That's why I misplace things, am unorganized, and have a hard time concentrating when there are the slightest distractions! That's why I buy things, eat things, and have other impulsive behaviors! I never thought I would be happy with a diagnosis of ADHD, but it's a real relief!

Losing my identity came from wanting everyone to like me for who I thought they want me to be and not who I really am. This caused me to forget the ways I've learned to deal with my ADHD for the last 36 years and my impulsive nature really flared up--thus the binge eating, run bagging, etc. Knowing that I have these tendencies is a real plus for my future!

So now, I'm going to have to learn to think about what I do before I actually do it. Before I make that late night bowl of cereal, I need to think about what I really want--to be a lean, fit, ultra runner. When I'm out for a run and decide I need to pick up my pace, I need to think about how it's going to affect my overall run (will I tucker out early, is this a hard run day, what's the focus for today's training?) My therapist and I are working on strategies to help me with everyday things that I've struggled with forever--losing things (like my keys a few days a week,) keeping focused on finishing tasks, and a few more.

I think knowing about my ADHD is going to help me use my "problem" areas as strengths. I can focus on who I really am, what I really want, and how I'm going to get there. I just may need to make some things conscious for myself that others may do automatically.

I hope this all made sense. It's an eye opener for me. I need to live by a modified version of Isaak Newton's Third Law of Motion, "for every action I take, is the consequence what I want?"

Stay safe, keep your soles to the ground, and keep moving forward!
Brad

Snow, Snow, and more Snow!

We've been pummeled with snow here in South Western Pennsylvania. Not as much as some of the country received, but 24 inches Friday into Saturday and another 5 or so inches today.

I love winter and a LITTLE snow. I don't mind 3 feet of snow if it comes in a week, but 2 feet overnight is killer. Plus, it took out our power for 4 days and 5 nights! My back had enough with the shoveling, but sleeping on the recliner in the family room (the only room with heat,) and carrying firewood for 4 days did it in! I'm having a hard time standing up straight--and I'm only 36 years old! Hopefully Dr. Toomey will take care of me tomorrow!

With all this snow leading to a very sore back, I haven't been able to run for a week. Good news for my Planters Fasciitis; bad news for my mind! I'm going threw some serious running withdrawals! Hopefully, I'll be back and running by Saturday!

The Mingo Mingle FA 50k was postponed indefinitely. Snow has the park shut down. Plus, the idea was to get a lot of folks together for a fun and exciting time on the trails--the snow would have kept the number of runners at a very small number.

BUT, we have power! And right now it feels like a luxury!

Stay safe, keep your soles to the ground, and keep moving forward!
Brad

Finally...

After 2 years of working on raising my good cholesterol, I finally managed to pull out a 42! My doc wants it 40 or higher, so I'm good for now! Bad cholesterol is 92 with triglycerides coming in at 66. Blood work is looking good!

I've been exhausted for the last few days and actually bagged a long run on Sunday. I felt that bad! This week I've managed to keep up with the marathon training schedule. Seems as though running is the only thing pulling me out of a funk.

I'm loving the YMCA. I've decided that I'm going to make the ETR (Express Training Room) my strength training workout 2 days a week. It's taking me WAY to long to get a workout in the Wellness center.

The ETR has 12 Strive machines. The idea is that you complete 3 sets on each machine with around a 30 second rest between sets. Maximum amount of time on each machine is 3 minutes. Combine the quick time on the machine with the lack of a crowd, I should be able to get a full body workout in less than 40 minutes. Looking forward to giving it a whirl!

Stay safe, keep your soles to the ground, and keep moving forward!
Brad