2020 Fitness Goals

So, looks like I "only" completed one of my 2019 goals (officially). I did run a Half-Marathon in less than 2 hours. Kind of faded at the end with the running mileage goal. Still managed to do 1,145 miles. Not bad.

Here are my 2020 goals:

1. Run at least one marathon. Hopefully in less than 5 hours. There's really no reason why I can't do this. I just have to clean up my diet and train. I've done it before and I can do it again.

2. Finish 2020 weighing less than 220lbs. I'm normally loathe to make weight loss goals but I'm going to this year. At the present time I weigh nearly 240lbs. I'm really not feeling good about my weight. It's affecting many aspects of my life. That being said, I'm still EXTREMELY grateful for having the opportunity to get bariatric surgery five years ago. Weighing over 400lbs was not good, to say the least. If I really do things right as far as changing my diet and exercising regularly I believe I can maintain a weight around 200lbs.

3. Run/Walk/Hike/Bike/Swim 2020 total miles. According to Stava I did over 1,600 in 2019. This is kind of a fun one in honor of the year. 2020 looks as if it's going to be a tumultuous year so I definitely want to stay focused on my health and fitness. Of these 2020 miles I want at least 1200 to be running miles. And again like last year, try to be consistent, 100+ a month.

So, that's it for this year. Achievable and realistic. On the non-fitness side I definitely want to be a better person. I think I'm alright but I could use a little more grace in my life. I'm a CASA now and want to be a good mentor/friend to my little guy this year.


With 2020 being the start of a new decade I thought I'd set some '20s Decade goals:

1. Run one Full Marathon a year. This would be pretty cool if I did.

2. NEVER get above 250lbs. Obviously I'd like to not get close to that number but if I can end this decade at a decent weight I'd be really happy. When I had surgery the goal was to improve my quality of life for the long term. I want to continue to be happy and healthy.

An Open Letter to Esther

Dear Esther,

I'm so sorry I didn't get to see you before you passed. I wish I had a chance to say good-bye in person. But you always did things on your own time. I will miss you dearly.

I truly enjoyed your friendship all those years on the bus. You were the Grandmother I never had. Matter of fact, you were EVERYONE'S Grandma on the Route 15. Those few minutes I had alone with you from Hearst Castle to Cambria were the highlight of my route. I loved learning about your life and history. You were a tough, strong woman, with a big heart. Growing up during the depression and then going through World War II while some of your friends fought must have been really rough. But like so many other's of your generation, you survived and lived a wonderful life. Raising children and helping make America that Shining City on the Hill.

I hope you'll get a chance to read this. I know you're probably busy catching up with family and friends you haven't seen in ages. I love you and appreciate what you brought to my life these past several years. May peace be with you for eternity.

Love,

James

Early this morning my friend Esther died. She was a regular rider on my bus route for several years. She was born on March 6, 1926. And died today, December 29, 2019. 34,266 days. Quite a life. Calvin Coolidge was president when she was born.

She was a tough old broad. One of my first interactions with her was her scolding me for now waiting for her. She worked hard and played by the rules. She had a long, fulfilling life with a loving family and close friends. Everyone on the bus loved her. She was always so proud of me for my weight loss and healthy life changes. Needless to say, I'll be thinking of her while I train and dedicating my next race to her.

Esther enjoyed the simple things in life. I think many from her generation were like that. She loved hot dogs from Costco as well as the rotisserie chicken. And she loved her dogs, Barney and Max. She always remembered my birthday and gave me a card with money. Just like a Grandma would do. Two Christmas's ago she baked some cookies and put them on a plate for me. Above is the picture.

I'm tremendously sad but also happy that I had the chance to know her. She lived (and died) on her own terms. Esther, you'll be missed.

In Sickness

I'm sick. Legitimately sick. Today will be the fourth straight that I've taken off from work. I'm in the worst health state (overall) that I've been in since January of 2015. I don't know what I'm doing. I keep eating crap. Fast food, convenience food, junk food, sweets, desserts, candy, ice cream (yes, I know some of these overlap). I know what foods are generally "bad" for me. And I keep eating them. I don't have any good reason other than they taste good. Oh, and I'm addicted to them.

I want to change. I REALLY DO. And I know I can. After my surgery I went over three years eating relatively well. I was able to drastically change so many aspects of my health. Heck, I ran a MARATHON. I tried running yesterday and could barely muster a couple of miles. (being sick didn't help, obviously)

Maybe I need OA? Maybe I need to pray? Maybe I need a frontal lobotomy? The solutions are simple. The execution isn't easy though.

Rock Bottom?

I'm sitting in Los Osos on a work break having just ate my salad, a sandwich from Starbucks and two bakery items. With one more to go. I can honestly say this is the worst I've felt about my health direction since surgery, nearly five years ago. This feels so much like 20 years ago when I was realizing I was a compulsive gambler. I can't stop eating crap. 

Resolution Update and Current State of Health

So... I was checking out my 2019 Resolutions. Here's an update:

1. Clean up my diet - Um... not quite. I've had spurts where I've done well but overall my eating has been worse this year than it's been since 2014. It's mainly the sweets but I've let a lot of processed/snack/junk food sneak in too. Even some fast food on occasion. And with the sweets it's been A LOT of binging. Like more sugar in one night than I used to have in a month type binging. Obviously, this is still a work in progress. 

2. Run Half-Marathon sub-2 - YES! Did this in June. Admittedly, it was a downhill course but still! Clocked in at 1:58:37

3 & 4. Because of weight and diet mainly I won't be able to achieve these. Definitely will be a goal for 2020 though.

5. Run 1,200 miles. I'm right on pace to do this. And every month except October I ran 100+. I'm confident that I'll hit 1,200 by end of year. I already have a goal of 2,020 combined running/biking miles for 2020. With at least 1,200 coming via running.

There you have it. Not quite hitting all my goals but making some. Always room for improvement. I'm hoping to blog a little more in the near future. About everything from my health and fitness. To my views on current health trends, conventional thinking, health myths, etc.

2019 Resolutions

In order of importance:

1. Clean up my diet. This one is a bit vague but I know what it means. Mainly, cut out the processed/refined sugar binges that have become way too frequent in recent months. I'm better than this.

2. Run Half-Marathon Sub 2 hours

3. Run first Ultra-Marathon

4. Run Full Marathon Sub 5 hours.

5. Run 1,200 miles. And be consistent, 100 per month.

My actual weight has really fallen on the list of important health measurements. In 2019 I want to get stronger, faster and generally more fit. I feel I still have a lot of upside to my fitness.

Ep 010 - Couch to 5k! Every running podcast has to have beginning running episode.

We made it to double digit episodes! Thank you all that have been listening. The audience is growing. I talk about my personal experience of running my first 5k. And give tips on how virtually ANYONE can run/walk a 5k if they put their mind to it!

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Bariatric Runner - Episode 1