Wednesday, May 13, 2020

This Spring in Running - May 2020



Current Mileage: 616 (as of 5/12/2020)


Updates on Running

Well, with Coronavirus in full swing it has left the racing season in total disarray.  As of mid-March there hasn't been a race to be done.  All my planning and pre-registering at the start of the year went down the tubes.  Initially, I had had hopes that the race season would resume in mid-May.  But I was wrong.  As I write this now, most races are canceled clear out to the summer and I have my doubts whether there'll be fall races.

Most of the races I had lined up offered very generous deferral policies.  So I've already got a full plate lined up for next year.  I think I've only lost out on one race.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you'll notice I do a lot of my training on the Jordan River Trail.  Around late March I made the realization that it was just too crowded to run there any more.  Utah had fairly relaxed quarantine restrictions: more or less don't congregate and things were okay.  

But most people took their families onto my stomping grounds and made it -- at least in my opinion -- unsafe.  So I've had to switch up to sidewalk / street running.  I miss my bike trail and not having to worry about cracks / bumps in the sidewalk.  On the plus side, I am seeing less than a dozen people on any given run versus 20+ on the bike trail.  Plus it is easier to move out of the way given the few people I do see.



It is nice to get a change of scenery and explore some new areas.  It also gives me more hill variation, as the bike trail tends to be fairly flat.  It also makes me appreciate my bike even more. 

With summer heat soon arriving, I'll be able to jump on the bike trail again, albeit at 4:30 AM.  I am hoping there shouldn't be any runners out at that hour.

Also with no racing on the schedule, it allows me to dial in my training.  Weekends consist of a long run or a 5K time trial.  And also midweek I usually can knock out a hill workout.  So far, the results are promising.




Weight Loss


Fortunately, I am still employed and am working from home.  I was never super happy with the idea of working from home -- especially all the time -- but I am quickly finding it has some advantages.  Now, I move my car -- at most one or twice a week -- and two, I am saving a lot of money on not buying lunches at restaurants.  As a side effect, I am losing a lot of weight.



My old routine at work wasn't too different from what I am doing now... with the exception that I would pretty much go out to eat every day.  I wasn't eating burgers and fries and soda pop but I was eating high calorie lunches - Chinese food, buffets, pancakes.  So it wasn't too unusual for my lunch to consist of 1000 calories.  In addition, I was running to the office pantry nearly every day and inhaling 2 - 8 finger-sized candy bars.  I figured maybe a pair were 50 - 60 calories. 

I was astounded when I found I was taking in about 125 - 175 calories per pair.

So with the work from home routine going on my ability to snack and over eat has gone WAY down.  I eat a normal breakfast.  I try to have a small snack mid morning consisting of fruit or nuts.  Once in a while I'll grab ONE cookie.  I'll have a normal homemade lunch followed by a mile or two walk around the neighborhood. 

After work, I'll run or just go for another walk.  And then finally for dinner, I'll have a sensible dinner.

I am still eating chips, sugary pop and the occasional cookie, but I am definitely eating less.

Also, I am no longer eating massive buffets at the casinos.  In fact, I haven't had restaurant food more than once in the past 2 months.

The results:  Before the quarantine I was pushing 190 pounds.  I had a feeling I was going to see 200 pounds before too long.  Within the first few weeks I dropped about 5 pounds.  I suspect that was mostly as a result of anxiety (I don't eat when I am nervous).  But with the smarter eating, I checked in at 178.6 this past weekend.  And best of all, it is all off my gut.

I am hoping this translates to some faster times.  I feel stronger and I don't feel like I am walking around with a spare tire around my waist.  It has motivated me to really focus in on my training so that once racing resumes, I can impress myself and others with some decent times. 

In Conclusion

Let's hope that the Coronavirus wraps up soon so we can get a sense of normalcy.  I miss seeing my running friends as well as having something to look forward to on the weekends.

Stay safe / healthy gentle reader.




Upcoming Races

07/24: 2020 Alien Midnight 10K - Farmington, UT (Confirmed)
08/01: Ruby Mountain Relay - Lamoille, NV (Confirmed)
08/15: 2020 PC2PG Race 10K - Lindon, UT (Confirmed)
09/26: 2020 Witch Run 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)
11/07: 2020 Snow Canyon Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)
11/15: 2020 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)
03/27: 2021 Havasu Half Marathon - Havasu, AZ (Confirmed)
04/XX: 2021 Eggs Legs Race 10K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)
04/XX: 2021 Salt Lake City Half Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed)
05/XX: 2021 Ogden Half Marathon - Ogden, UT (Confirmed)