Fear the Crab

I managed to finish the Great Aloha Run without collapsing into a fluid pile of twitching muscles and blistered feet. The official time recorded was 1:51:37, which averages into a 13:43 mile. I placed 9453 overall out of over 27,000+ entrants, 5528/10903 in my gender group, and 644/1125 in my age bracket.
Continued ~

Maile signed us up for the Great Aloha Run, scheduled for Presidents’ Day. I have never run any type of long-distance race, so I classify the GAR almost the same as a marathon. A marathon of 8 miles, yes, so while it’s not quite at the level of a Honolulu Marathon, I think ten steps into either would leave me collapsed on the pavement wishing for unconsciousness.

The sponsors of the GAR hold free training sessions every Sunday starting this week, where I am supposed to learn how to prepare for running and condition myself to maintain the course. Each session has a run of distances from 1-2 miles in the early weeks, gradually increasing to the full 8 right before the GAR itself. If I can dedicate myself to showing up every Sunday morning, I’m pretty certain I’ll handle the event.

Of course, on Monday I had just returned to a routine of weights and exercise, and a set of squats for the first time in months has left my legs in a state of perpetual burn and stiffness. This is a classic case of delayed onset muscle soreness that hopefully will go away as I keep up the pace.

Yesterday I went to the local high school and ran (technically jogged) 4 laps around the track, which I am led to believe is one mile. I was winded, but I wasn’t fully exhausted, so I gained some confidence that I can really do this.

Then maybe I can consider the Honolulu Marathon.

I’ve decided to create a new page to keep track of my workouts. It’s called Fear the BIG MAN! It is titled so because The Kosomot relayed some workout advice by a good trainer: When asked during his own workouts how he managed to get so strong, the trainer answered, “Pick up something heavy, and yell, ‘BIG MAN!'”

Of course, this advice was meant to get people to stop bothering the trainer when he wasn’t training somebody, but ever since then, Kos and I just keep yelling “BIG MAN!” every chance we get.

Even though it’s never whilst working out.

I didn’t lift today because I visited the doctor to see about a sleep study.  I believe I do suffer from some of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Among the typical signs of loud snoring and not breathing, I’ve experienced bouts of waking up in a sweat, headaches in the morning, problems with memory and concentration, and drowsiness during the daytime, particularly whilst driving.

I never really considered the latter as possible results of sleep apnea. I’ve always figured it was just because of a long day’s work, or the monotony of rush-hour traffic. In fact, I used to attribute my lapses of memory to just getting old or having too many details to memorize.

Perhaps it isn’t related at all, but it’s still good to check out. I don’t know when the clinic will call me to schedule a sleep date, but hopefully it will be on a weekend so I don’t have to miss work. And since I’m not very good at sleeping right away in strange and unfamiliar environments, the doctor prescribed a sleeping pill that I should take shortly before my appointment.

That single piece of sleeping agent cost me over $9.00. Even the pharmacist was a bit surprised that I was paying that much for one dang pill.

Ab Crunches
Cardio

It’s been one year since the big festivities that ushered in the new aspect of my life. Suffice to say, a lot has changed. I’ve used that time to work out a reasonable budget for day-to-day living, and I think we’re doing okay despite the weak economy. We’re not able to set aside as much money as we’d like, but we do what we can. I’ve also established a routine for going to work, handling the chores, and taking care of the general house. Not to say that I’m doing the domestic thing solo, but I try to do my part when I can.

The one thing that I’ve made less progress in is my exercise. I first started serious training back in January 2008, but after bowing out in late June due to prohibitive costs, I’ve tried to make do at home. I bought a small set of dumbbells ranging from pairs of 5 to 30 pounds, and used an inflatable exercise ball as a bench. With those I could do most exercises targeting specific areas, so I was happy. I also started working my way through a 100-pushup program, but really, I wasn’t making much progress.

This past February, I purchased a weight bench and barbell set. I’ve been hitting those weights pretty hard since then, three days a week, with rest in-between. I focus on specific areas on those different days; upper body one day, legs the next, back and abs the day after. Combining the dumbbells with the heavier weight plates really broadens my regimen, and I use the different exercises listed on Exrx.net for ideas and instruction. I don’t actually do all the exercises listed, but focus on the so-called “standard” series of core routines: bench press, squats, deadlifts, etc. I also like Stumptuous.com for further form instruction and inspiration.

Since late March, I’ve expanded my workouts to include a 5-day/week program of weighted ab crunches and 10-lb. sledgehammer swings with my Shovelglove. The crunches are meant to strengthen my core, of course, which is something that has been sorely lacking in my life. The sledgehammer is a mix of cardio and light strength-training, since it’s more about mimicking the activities of… well, shoveling, and chopping wood, and pounding fence posts, and cutting down trees. I figure, when the apocalypse rears its four ugly heads, I’ll be quite prepared in shoring up my home defenses.

Also since March, I’ve been taking the dog for a walk every weekday. I try to up the pace to a light jog, and towards that end I bought a new pair of Saucony running shoes. I started with a warm-up walk, jogged on the flats, and walked up and down the hills in my neighborhood, with the intent of building up to a full jog. Today, I was able to jog most of the way. I’m fairly certain the dog doesn’t mind the speed. Eventually I hope to go farther, on a continual run.

In the interest of maintaining this workout regimen of weights thrice a week, I’ve decided to post my progress here. This is by no means an indication of a new direction with this blog, but rather a new direction in my life of trying to be healthier and, ultimately, stronger. I’m tired of being a weak no-can-do-nothing, and hopefully there can be some accountability if I know that other people might be monitoring my progress.

Bench Press: 140@12, 145@10, 150@5
Dumbbell Fly: 30@10, 30@8, 30@8
Barbell Shrugs: 140@12, 150@10, 140@12
Sledgehammer Swings
Weighted Ab Crunches
Cardio

Yeah, the weight may not seem like much when compared to most men my age, but I basically started from nothing over a year ago. I couldn’t even do one pushup. Now I think the most I am able to do in one sitting is 50. That’s saying something for a year’s worth of on-and-off workouts.

Maile and I have been going to a personal trainer, to get in shape. Primary impetus was the wedding, of course, but hopefully we’ll learn a few things that we can do beyond that date. The first session left me swollen and sore as my muscles tried to adjust to the new workout. I could barely lift my arms to dig my nose. And this left me with the question of what to do when I had to poop.

Of course, by the time the second session rolled around, I had gotten a lot better, and could easily number-two with the best of them.

On Sunday we have an appointment with the photographer, to take engagement photos. Contrary to what people might think, these aren’t the photos where we are dressed in our finery. Rather, it is a collection of shots in our normal dress, in a location that “hold special memories” for the two of us, as the photographer might say.

There aren’t a lot of picturesque locations for Maile and me. I’m not having any photos taken at HHV, nor will we be at Sunflower Lounge. So it just leaves the university, which has a few spots that are scenic, yet familiar. And since it’s on a Sunday, there is less of a chance it will be crowded.

Running into a spot of trouble as far as the video is concerned. I’m not content with a soft-focus, slow-motion re-enactment of the pre-bridal preparation to be shown during the reception, mostly because that’s not really who we are. Yet to do anything else as a substitute would require a significant chunk of change, something which is quite painful for a budget already in the red. Either I need to stop eating, or content myself with sappy scenic lovey-dovey scenes that will make anybody familiar with the two of us scratch their heads in bewilderment.

I’ve been using my bicycle more and more, and have made a couple of journeys of over 12 miles (one way). It takes me approximately an hour and a half to get from my house to the uni.

Speaking of the uni, I seem to be on the cusp of acquiring a full-time job there. I applied and interviewed for a programming job in my old department, and was “recommended for the position.” Apparently, the department staff submits their recommendation for the job to the Board of Regents, who then approves the hire. Since the position I applied for isn’t considered a very important one (to the BoR anyway), Human Resources will make the decision on their behalf.

Everyone tells me this is just a formality, and I’ve pretty much got the job. I don’t like claiming something that’s not true, though, so based on a technicality I really don’t have the job. Who knows? Maybe one of the HR staffers’ daughter’s heart was broken because of me.

I hope to get the job. It’s in the field I studied for, and in the department I used to work for, and it pays me more than any other job I’ve ever had. Plus, it will let me ride my bike on more frequent long-distance journeys.

Anyway, I have peach cobbler, so I’m happy.

Worship the power of bulleted lists!

• Graduated with degree in computer science
• Looking for job
• Continuing to work part-time for dental lab
• Started using a bicycle to get around

Out of all that, I think the bicycle thing is the most exciting. I mean, graduating is fine and good and all things pleasant, yes. The diploma looks nice, too.

But not as nice as my bike!

So far I’ve just been pedaling to and from work, to and from Maile’s house, which is only an area of roughly 4 miles between everything. Already I’ve had two flats, one in each tire. So far things have been good, and I’m able to take the hill up to my house with relative ease (at the lowest gear, of course).

The real challenge will come on Friday, when I will journey far and beyond my norm and head to Ala Moana during morning rush hour. I will brave the traffic congestion of cars, the broken sidewalks, the throngs of bus stops, and the poorly-timed traffic signals, just to get a haircut.

According to MapQuest, the distance is approximately 12 miles. MapQuest also says that the total driving time is 18 minutes, which is correct if one is driving at 3 in the morning and is lucky enough to catch all the green lights. I figure it should take me about 2 hours, give or take 15 minutes, for me to traverse that distance. I’ll probably leave the house 3 hours before my appointment to account for red lights, pedestrians, and minor equipment malfunctions.

Hopefully I’ll survive.