tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63608091364291872092024-03-13T13:32:43.645-04:00Re-Dan-imationDeleting an old lifestyle...Creating a new mandanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-35634490567220838872017-05-01T20:19:00.000-04:002017-05-01T21:21:18.701-04:00WTF happened to Re-Dan-imation?!For those of you that have followed me previously, you might be thinking..."WTF?!" or "Where has the blog been?!" Well......it's been on a bit of a hiatus, just like my fitness goals. Be prepared...this post is a little all over the place. As a reminder...anything in orange is a clickable link to visit a website or previous blog post you may not have read.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObyextGTSzbc3XMlZvzAlTyAdD6yPNuWLTNA4Z0Lcwpui0p8fHEd_pUVagucrmNOHRnA3oSJlcMXFHeYdv-KN_e1egmDmhOolcmHii9nYSDT_UrQCh-mPSUwYrO5O-8PlvODfdPq5pf-v/s1600/where-have-you-been.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObyextGTSzbc3XMlZvzAlTyAdD6yPNuWLTNA4Z0Lcwpui0p8fHEd_pUVagucrmNOHRnA3oSJlcMXFHeYdv-KN_e1egmDmhOolcmHii9nYSDT_UrQCh-mPSUwYrO5O-8PlvODfdPq5pf-v/s1600/where-have-you-been.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's get caught up shall we? The last blog post I wrote about the Drumstick Dash (click <a href="https://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2016/12/being-negative-drumstick-dash-recap.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a> to read it) was the last post I wrote in general. At that point, I was down to writing about 1 post per month on average. That is not where I wanted this to be at that point. To be honest, I was hoping to have reached my weight goal by this point in my Re-Dan-imation efforts. To put it mildly, I haven't even come close. The only thing I have come close to is my original starting weight. I never reached it though...thank goodness. Here's what did happen.<br />
<br />
Last summer I was pumped about having finished my first half marathon in May. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation and myself were making another run at IVF which resulted in an extended stay in the hospital (you can read about that experience <a href="https://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2016/07/124-hours-in-hospitality-room.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>). Going into the hospital that morning I weighed in at 264.3 lbs. That was 30 pounds lighter than my starting weight. I felt great about myself, but even at this point I hadn't been running much and was 7 pounds higher than my lowest weight. After waiting a couple months for the Mrs. to completely heal we tried implanting a fertilized embryo, this time that had been genetically tested as was considered healthy and viable with no abnormalities. The pregnancy test two weeks later revealed the news we didn't want to hear. No pregnancy. For those of you that donated to our GoFundMe account, this means that yes we did try again, but sadly no it didn't take. We are still unbelievably grateful for those of you that gave in an effort to help. We will never be able to repay you for your gifts, thoughts, and prayers.<br />
<br />
The last event I had run in was the <a href="http://www.run317.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Run(317)</span></a> Broad Ripple event (which you can read about <a href="http://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2016/06/run317-broad-ripple-race-recap.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>). I had registered for a Run(317) 3 race series originally. The second race in the series was turned into an untimed fun-run because of extremely high temps and I skipped this race. I then skipped the second half marathon I had signed up for followed by skipping another Run(317) race. As we move on to October I did run <a href="http://www.thegreatpumpkinrun.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">The Great Pumpkin Run</span></a> (read the recap <a href="http://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-great-pumpkin-run-race-recap.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>) as I had signed up with a large group of people to participate in this race and didn't want to let them down. I had never run off road and was discouraged by the fact that I walked about 1/3rd of that race. I "re-focused" my efforts and ran the Drumstick Dash on Thanksgiving and was proud of myself for running the race in negative splits until I saw my time was still slower than the previous year. <br />
<br />
<br />
At this point I started to get a little down on myself. The weather was beginning to turn, the holidays were near, and large meals were a necessity. The treadmill we had purchased less than a year ago was sitting vacant, and the recliner was always full. In the back of my mind I was always thinking "why don't you just get on the treadmill to watch that video?" But, I didn't. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-dEcQW8MluJB-0GF1qRLLWhsyjZB8c-4iRtMuAz08QJQ25bFYt4f3GDSK_PxrP48Yj2-OBGp-m0-IJIoE1qoMDcRPDe1FBYM_KIRWprpUvhYMOuuy-WB51nMmGbenq4XQ8YT_hJq2M5y/s1600/10299737_800656666692060_1120209812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-dEcQW8MluJB-0GF1qRLLWhsyjZB8c-4iRtMuAz08QJQ25bFYt4f3GDSK_PxrP48Yj2-OBGp-m0-IJIoE1qoMDcRPDe1FBYM_KIRWprpUvhYMOuuy-WB51nMmGbenq4XQ8YT_hJq2M5y/s1600/10299737_800656666692060_1120209812_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although, it doesn't quite look like this. It was sitting there empty just waiting to be used.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Wanna know the worst part? It was around this time that people were telling me about reaching their weight goal or talking to me about really getting interested in running. I sat there and was truly happy for them and willing to talk to them about strategies and which races to run. I felt like a con man. I FEEL like a con man. I feel like a food addict. I feel like a failure. But you know something...I also feel like a fit person on the inside. I feel like I know the right decisions to make. I feel like I can do it. And THAT is why I am back to the blog. <br />
<br />
In my blog about the Drumstick Dash, I created a short video (watch it below) to entice people to join me in the race next year. I decided making videos is something I was interested in so I spent the next few months watching YouTube videos about video creation and live streaming and will begin a broadcasting club at my elementary in the fall after managing to find a way to purchase the necessary equipment on a slim budget. This is how much of my time was spent in that recliner. Watching YouTube videos while I could have been watching the same things and at least walking on the treadmill. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J9OimE_BRtI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J9OimE_BRtI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
In April, I was again responsible for chairing the Frankfort Jaycees Spaghetti Run and I felt like a liar again as I touted running to my community members even though I hadn't done it in a while myself. The run went well. We timed the race ourselves and were even asked by another community organization to time one of their races. So I guess there is always a silver lining.<br />
<br />
So, let's get back to today. Today is May 1, 2017. The <a href="http://www.indymini.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">500 festival Mini Marathon</span></a> is this weekend and I didn't even sign up for it. The Run(317) series is coming back around and I didn't sign up for that either. BUT...today is the day to get back at it. Spring is a revitalizing time for everything in Indiana. It might as well be mine. Today I will be registering for the <a href="http://www.millracemarathon.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Mill Race Half Marathon</span></a> that is held on September 23, 2017 in Columbus, IN. I will also be signing up for the 2017 Drumstick Dash and will again begin my fund-racing campaign for that race that provides so much good through Wheeler Mission. I also applied to the be named as a Drumstick Dash Ambassador...cross your fingers...I'll let everybody know what I find out. <br />
<br />
Since it has come to my attention that I NEED a goal and a plan or I won't stick to either, I will set them right now. <br />
<br />
<b>Goal #1: Participate in the Mill Race Half Marathon (It would be pretty sweet to win the Cummins Diesel they give away at the after party).</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Goal #2: Set a Half Marathon PR by at least 12 minutes and 5 seconds (finish in under 3 hours)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Goal #3: Surpass my previous low weight of 259 lbs. before Labor Day.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Goal #4: Raise over $1,000 for Wheeler Mission through Fund-Racing page (found <a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/dan-miller---drumstick-dash-2017/fundraiser/danmiller7?utm_source=&utm_platform=eml&utm_device=desktop" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>).</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Plan: Use MyFitnessPal DAILY with fidelity to monitor daily caloric intake. Complete training program for Mill Race Half using Under Armour Run Trainer Run/Walk training program (missing 0 long runs)</b><br />
<br />
I will continue to blog, although I have a new goal for that as well. I will NOT be forcing myself to complete one blog post every week as I sometimes felt as though they were being forced and I wasn't sharing anything valuable. If I have something to share every week, I will. If I don't...I won't. I will talk again to all of you soon. Until next time... Food...Feet...Water...Repeat.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 108px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 108px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-17980548622627602162016-12-03T15:02:00.000-05:002016-12-03T15:40:30.405-05:00Being Negative! A Drumstick Dash RecapDid I get your attention with that title?! Don't worry...negative isn't a bad thing here. Come with me as I take you through the past couple weeks and what's been going on during that time.<br />
<br />
After my last weigh-in, I did some looking back over the numbers. Turns out that was the most I had weighed in at least 12 months. That's as far back as I wanted to look. However, I Wasn't discouraged at that fact. In fact it made me realize how completely out of shape I was when I started this blog. Even at this weigh in I was still 15 pounds lighter than when I started a year and a half ago. There has to be something positive to say for that. I didn't let myself get all the way back up to that same spot and I am easily in better shape physically than I was then. <br />
<br />
With that being said, I still feel that I am making an impact on some of the people around me. I often find that people are sharing their successes with me regarding fitness. The first coworker to share something with me sent me a message on Facebook telling about their longest run in quite a while. She said that even though the distance wasn't what she wanted that she felt good when she had completed it and was looking forward to doing even more. I am trying to get her to sign up for the Mini so she has a goal to look forward to. We'll see what she does.<br />
<br />
The second person has FAR surpassed me in her weight goals. She decided over the past year or so that being there for her son for as long as possible is the MOST important thing in her life. She vowed to lose a considerable amount of weight with a goal being to do so by Thanksgiving. Let me just tell you, she worked hard for that goal. She stopped eating most of the sugar in her diet, significantly increased her water intake, and most important of all got moving. She walks every morning and evening. During the time I was aware of her efforts she has had the strongest will power of any person I know. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving she stopped me in the hall to tell me she had reached her goal! She had lost 100 pounds and you could see the absolute joy in her face to be able to share not only the news, but the realization that she absolutely could do what she had set out to do. Here's the takeaway. Set a goal, focus on that goal, put in the work, and you WILL reach it. I want to thank both of these people for being open enough to share their stories with me. I am not mentioning their names because I am not trying to exploit them. I simply want to congratulate them and share their story. Plus, I know they both read this blog so they know who they are.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNJ_weAo_if1w197MbZtnd05jf2IN0TEzrHcipDC97UtihsdnVGMwbU6bv9VcAZ2GY9UHf6Wt2pEa-geKXiPOVZKIdEZ2as0WO2oqpGeFDG4O7jmksFpOQlQiGFHvAFy68KLf8S2CRk_c/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNJ_weAo_if1w197MbZtnd05jf2IN0TEzrHcipDC97UtihsdnVGMwbU6bv9VcAZ2GY9UHf6Wt2pEa-geKXiPOVZKIdEZ2as0WO2oqpGeFDG4O7jmksFpOQlQiGFHvAFy68KLf8S2CRk_c/s640/IMG_0681.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's switch over to the Drumstick Dash. First of all, I want to thank all of the people that donated to such a worthy cause and helped me to again achieve the honor of being labeled a top 10 fund-racer for the dash. This year I was able to turn over $550 to wheeler mission through the help of all of you. All of that money goes directly to the organization to help feed the homeless of Indy. <br />
<br />
The expo day was great, minus the fact that it was raining a little. I would much rather it rain on expo day than run day. I was able to easily pick up my packet and check to make sure my bib was functioning. I also visited the shirt exchange since the lost weight hasn't quite been where I expected it to be when I signed up for the race in April. I took some photos and some video to use later. I headed home and grabbed some food on the way before heading to a local basketball game. Early to bed wasn't really in the cards, but I got enough sleep to be ready for the next day. Before I headed to bed, I made sure to set out all of my items that would be needed for the next day. Here's Flat Dan!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMy2izafNcm0xhSERTU8Y1DRTTwptGbbxDlrrEr4lIFuivcY2iLibyvhGAYrrNthVFwv8vbDNjNezbfgfKlIXX2Vky8Lhp8vQmFRpqeFEhKSYWQ8Z729KHYSAWYwdp-5icR69Alh8SUWN/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMy2izafNcm0xhSERTU8Y1DRTTwptGbbxDlrrEr4lIFuivcY2iLibyvhGAYrrNthVFwv8vbDNjNezbfgfKlIXX2Vky8Lhp8vQmFRpqeFEhKSYWQ8Z729KHYSAWYwdp-5icR69Alh8SUWN/s640/IMG_0687.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Race day started out nice and early and we were both ready to leave the house within a minute of scheduled time. That's unusual for us...there's always something extra to do before we leave. We headed down to Broad Ripple in the dark and got to see the sunrise on the way. We arrived at the parking area about 7:50 and headed over to our call spot for the race. I stretched out a little and made sure everything was ready to go with my Garmin. I was in my corral at about 8:45 and the race started at 9. The beach balls in the air and the 20,000 strangers help to take away those preface jitters. Just after 9:00 I crossed the start line, hit the start button on my Garmin and got into my zone.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxXOBOhihocr3rV2OTPoEfXKu5IsByL-Lfc5vQxtwWWUybGfaOKZonrt-Vr1UozVJpujdVh484z_7cqZ-zGUDebf8xPMRyii-XhgDjp5bASOQNMSZcI2lxf5tdPLESSPPWnN-0UJI4Vj8/s1600/15241320_735459529955761_8536566028206580031_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxXOBOhihocr3rV2OTPoEfXKu5IsByL-Lfc5vQxtwWWUybGfaOKZonrt-Vr1UozVJpujdVh484z_7cqZ-zGUDebf8xPMRyii-XhgDjp5bASOQNMSZcI2lxf5tdPLESSPPWnN-0UJI4Vj8/s640/15241320_735459529955761_8536566028206580031_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.DashIndy.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had set a goal in my mind of pace for the day and my plan was not to deviate from my strategy. For the first mile I was simply dodging people and trying to focus on sticking to my pace strategy. I spent a lot of time looking at my watch and focusing on my breathing. When I hit the first turn to head south on Keystone Ave, I was surprised by a tap on the shoulder. A friend of mine from high school realized it was me and we wished each other good luck on the race and as well to have a Happy Thanksgiving. You never know who you are going to see in a race and it was a pleasant surprise to see her. When I hit that first mile, I realized my pace was about a minute faster than I had anticipated. New goal in mind immediately...beat the original goal and never run a slower mile (this is known as running negative splits). I tried to enjoy the scenery a little more while I was at it and watched people cheering each other on, stopping to take selfies, and overall being in good spirits. Just after the 1 mile mark, I passed the group of firefighters walk in full gear. They were given a 20 minute head start on the race. I made sure to clap for them the entire time I passed them. They are always an inspiration to me and are also one of the largest fundraising groups for the day.<br />
<br />
Miles 2-4 went exactly as I had planned them (after updating my plan at mile 1) and I was running with negative splits. I received a text from my brother around mile 2 to let me know they were tracking me online. That always lights a little fire under me to not let people down that are watching me. For the first time in a race, my Garmin was matching up exactly with the mile markers through the first 3 miles and mile 4 was less than a tenth of a mile off. However, after running this race previously I knew that it actually runs about a tenth long at 4.6 miles. When I hit the split at mile 4, I wasn't so sure I was going to be able to finish that last 6 tenths at a faster past than the previous 4 miles. I was definitely using what I had in the tank to push through. Last year, I was cheering the people around me to finish strong. This year, I was cheering myself in my head to do the same thing. When I crossed the finish line, I knew I had come close, but I had to actually check the splits to realize that I had made my goal of BEING NEGATIVE. I had run the entire race in negative splits even though I went out a little faster than I had expected. Although I ran the entire race roughly 3 minutes slower than last year, I feel my actual race plan was better this year. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF041kuotmMPIT8wUgy5JgkwQGMHfb9wEI5IpvDmvuA9O5YnWdp0wQeJCc0R-ryAZ4699cYXJ9ggn59vqbRUIBY16DIBjtfF6yzERSDtHaUqyzHntHGdUmpvO2XueAgvbhbtqzDJCDJXe/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1a65.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF041kuotmMPIT8wUgy5JgkwQGMHfb9wEI5IpvDmvuA9O5YnWdp0wQeJCc0R-ryAZ4699cYXJ9ggn59vqbRUIBY16DIBjtfF6yzERSDtHaUqyzHntHGdUmpvO2XueAgvbhbtqzDJCDJXe/s640/fullsizeoutput_1a65.jpeg" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
I followed the lines through the the recovery area to grab a banana, a bagel, and some chocolate milk and then found Mrs. Re-Dan-imation to head back to pick up my gear and return home. She was proud of me and then informed me that even though she texted me during the race that she wouldn't be able to get my picture at the finish line that she was able to find a way there. I obviously knew because I saw her when I finished and tried to give her a good smile. I was happy she could do it and I always like it when she is able to see me finish. We spent the rest of the day eating with her family and "enjoying" some football. It was good to relax after the rush of the morning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzFMtRYAUGqWEQva61f0srnLan1ljxSI6AI1kcCJtfjjPS7nUhyXVMi0uZ2ddFgmUu5Rfn8omeDjFU4TvjMobMVMdzZ0OXWd0HehLE8nZ6d5aBK4VBnbY15QwLcFRvMYHVHvhP9mz7x0q/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzFMtRYAUGqWEQva61f0srnLan1ljxSI6AI1kcCJtfjjPS7nUhyXVMi0uZ2ddFgmUu5Rfn8omeDjFU4TvjMobMVMdzZ0OXWd0HehLE8nZ6d5aBK4VBnbY15QwLcFRvMYHVHvhP9mz7x0q/s640/IMG_0705.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
I had decided before visiting the expo the day before the dash that I wanted to make a video about the dash experience. However, some of the clips I took the morning of the run didn't quite match up with the overall feel of the videos I shot at the expo, so I instead focused the video on good Wheeler Mission does and how many people are involved in the Dash itself. I have shared the video below in case you didn't get a chance to see it yet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J9OimE_BRtI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J9OimE_BRtI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
Because I am posting this at a random time of the week, I am going to include the most recent weight info I have. Over that time I have lost 2.5 pounds I don't really consider it a loss, I consider it a return to where I was. Progress is progress. I am not down on myself about it. As a matter of fact it makes me happy that I was able to even do that. One day I will achieve that goal of mine and I will celebrate like nobody can believe. Until then...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-40692005311657395362016-11-14T19:21:00.000-05:002016-11-14T19:50:01.336-05:00Back in the Game!I know, you were probably thinking I had quit completely and you were never again going to read one of my honest and hilarious blogs. Guess again!! I'm back and ready to hit it hard.<br />
<br />
Since the lsat time we spoke, I have had a lot going on. First, Mrs. Re-Dan-imation and myself went on a little fall break vacation up to Michigan, I helped with the Jaycees Halloween party to benefit a local program for adults with special needs, the Cubs won the World Series, we held a presidential election, and my team competed in the Lego League competition this past Saturday. Needless to say, there has been a LOT of things take place. Let's tackle them a little at a time.<br />
<br />
Michigan was a blast. The weather was basically perfect for fall break. Although some people may not consider that to be true. We were able to relax and enjoy the scenery at the John Ball Zoo and the Frederick Meijer Gardens. We visited with our friends that moved to Michigan recently. I had a great beer every day (Grand Rapids is known as Beer City, USA), we did a little outlet mall shopping, had some great food, and even went out to Lake Michigan for about 15 minutes through a cool park. I would definitely go back if for no other reason than to get another bowl of Grand Traverse Whiskey Fig ice cream from Love's Ice Cream. Hands down the finest cup of ice cream I have had in my entire life. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintLrZP1hUuh9-05v7UJMfmgffykbD_j11QHRhhv4Eci-tIZkvwfweWo_-1bvBdN9NdZe3kKvzlWBuulj6L78sZZGNpvIHMJRvIhK-tygOuXIMiBN7GK-vJ3yU53OClE1I1tSiFWpUDowa/s1600/IMG_0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintLrZP1hUuh9-05v7UJMfmgffykbD_j11QHRhhv4Eci-tIZkvwfweWo_-1bvBdN9NdZe3kKvzlWBuulj6L78sZZGNpvIHMJRvIhK-tygOuXIMiBN7GK-vJ3yU53OClE1I1tSiFWpUDowa/s640/IMG_0643.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the fun things we did in Grand Rapids, Michigan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Since those wonderful days in Michigan, we have been quite busy around the Re-Dan-imation household. The Halloween party is always a fun event to hold and this year was no different. Although I didn't dress up this year, I still had a great time! If you ever get a chance to participate in something like this I highly suggest you do it. For that matter, if you ever get the chance to be a part of some sort of civic organization, you should totally do it. Giving back to your community is a great thing to do and leaves you with a great sense of pride. One of our next events will be shopping for needy families for the holidays. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluAXCIoaHteVRoL0WWeb04qYPzaNOfR8BnUfX1Rsgp5PAIcYlsmOLHOcdFNRRKzhmwEbY0pjRdJg3b3Do1-Hs9CsetwNRC6ymaqg3K0Cs8Fha_wIFU9BOyzybCZQnS0Zj8tHLX8az_eDR/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluAXCIoaHteVRoL0WWeb04qYPzaNOfR8BnUfX1Rsgp5PAIcYlsmOLHOcdFNRRKzhmwEbY0pjRdJg3b3Do1-Hs9CsetwNRC6ymaqg3K0Cs8Fha_wIFU9BOyzybCZQnS0Zj8tHLX8az_eDR/s640/IMG_0539.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The decorations on the table I was stationed at for the Halloween party.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was quickly followed up by that crazy election we just had. I'm not gonna get on any political high horse here or even share my opinions on the election as a whole. What I will say is that regardless of who you voted for and whether or not they won or lost, the recent violence at protests and hate mongering through vandalism is unacceptable. As Forrest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about tha-at."<br />
<br />
This past weekend a group of 7 students that I help coach participated in their Lego League competition. Although the scores didn't quite fall the way we had hoped, the kids had a great time and were super proud of themselves. Every competition is a learning experience for both the students and the coaches and we will come back next year just a little bit stronger than we were this year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKoL9sQhkYCBeJTfxQNR290WYzsb-OMmC8yU2qoLO-wDJiVpvMnsnKyAPhtJYNpQwKGB8UDIaCyQbLnn-SWYt7zzDlp4s6-DBf6Yv78b7T2Ne6AtFoYKD6-I8mqioSyebqDb1LGZdchTk/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKoL9sQhkYCBeJTfxQNR290WYzsb-OMmC8yU2qoLO-wDJiVpvMnsnKyAPhtJYNpQwKGB8UDIaCyQbLnn-SWYt7zzDlp4s6-DBf6Yv78b7T2Ne6AtFoYKD6-I8mqioSyebqDb1LGZdchTk/s640/IMG_0618.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we get to this point, I am sure you are wondering whether or not I am going to tell you about my progress towards my fitness goals. Well, here we go. Last Monday, I stepped on the scale for the first time in a while. It showed 279.8. That means that I have gained back roughly 15 of the 30 pounds I had lost in the last year. I am looking at it from both directions. It is unacceptable that I let it creep back up on me. It is also good that I caught it again before it got to the point where I was right back where I started. Having seen that, last week I got 2 runs in and monitored everything that went in my body with MyFitnessPal. And then...I forgot to get on the scale this morning before I ate breakfast...D'oh! It's ok. I will check back in next week (before Thanksgiving) which is right before I began my self inflicted plateau last year. I have a little better feeling going into the holidays this year. Last year, I thought they were going to be no big deal because I was getting in my workouts and didn't think I really had to worry about a couple days. This year, I am well aware of the impact that the holidays can have and I will be prepared.<br />
<br />
I am again doing the Drumstick Dash this year to benefit Wheeler Mission. If you remember last year I was super pumped and all of you helped me to raise an additional $600 to benefit the mission. I am trying to fund-race again this year and at this moment sit at $260. I would absolutely love to hit $1000 and be able to provide 444 meals through the kindness of all of your hearts. I have included a video as well as a link to my fund-racing page right <a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/Dan-Miller---Drumstick-Dash-2016/fundraiser/danmiller7" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">HERE</span></a>. It is also linked on the right side of this blog page. Please consider giving even if you think it is a small amount. Every $2.25 that is raised provides 1 meal for a homeless person. I can't think of a better thing to support for the Thanksgiving holiday. With that being said...until next time. Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zFnSh8EYAiE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zFnSh8EYAiE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-7685479533130571622016-10-16T21:18:00.000-04:002016-10-16T21:18:45.700-04:00The Great Pumpkin Run Race RecapWell, I did it. I completed another event that I signed up for. This would be the first race I have run since June. October 8th, I participated in The Great Pumpkin Run that was held at Dull's Tree Farm. This was definitely a new experience for me. This is the first time I have run on any kind of terrain other than pavement or a treadmill. The course went over harvested corn fields and gravel roads. The tracks left from the tractors provided for some very uneven ground. I even almost went down at one point when I lost my footing. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW7fP3Km7JxW2qeorGkyR1QLEBT8Ql4TKnb8T2e9LpTRx8gRk9y7Tf5hnXto3cPHZuN-twzPIqVaorSJ0g0vmrK0ZRA0KOZ0aJnp4J_UuWQyMUQkgKLwSzMQAu6RkYr1GVGbtnBpoleRO/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW7fP3Km7JxW2qeorGkyR1QLEBT8Ql4TKnb8T2e9LpTRx8gRk9y7Tf5hnXto3cPHZuN-twzPIqVaorSJ0g0vmrK0ZRA0KOZ0aJnp4J_UuWQyMUQkgKLwSzMQAu6RkYr1GVGbtnBpoleRO/s640/IMG_0155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This was another race that was signed up as a large group. Myself, Mrs. Re-Danimation (her first 5K) and her parents, along with a group of friends. Many of us also participated in the additional challenge of carrying a pumpkin for the entire 5K to earn an extra medal if we could complete the entire distance with the pumpkin in our arms. I'll admit, I chose a pretty small pumpkin as I knew the distance and terrain were going to be my main concerns. I did finish with the pumpkin and earned both medals. We spent another little while walking around the pumpkin patch and tree farm and then headed home to prepare for our evening plans. This is the first time in quite a while that I have seen over 20,000 steps in one day. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxaW52wiY2SMkEfE0FQRNR9wUV8udJmA_LEfkGKwEoC97ecSEeoXQ82HXmNlBleAjz8Fs_IYaRfDeImnv9Ov3mGXh0JYzUcWtfZhp57FDFOeQlhTPdx9ciY0BG1-h2q4VN_4hkZDBDfob/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxaW52wiY2SMkEfE0FQRNR9wUV8udJmA_LEfkGKwEoC97ecSEeoXQ82HXmNlBleAjz8Fs_IYaRfDeImnv9Ov3mGXh0JYzUcWtfZhp57FDFOeQlhTPdx9ciY0BG1-h2q4VN_4hkZDBDfob/s640/IMG_0127.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Speaking of steps, I have switched platforms from FitBit to Garmin. When my FitBit Charge HR died completely recently I chose to pick up a Garmin activity tracker that also gives golf yardages. I was under the impression that the steps would sync with my FitBit account, but soon found out that only recorded activities and not daily steps transferred. Oh well. I chose to switch and I am sticking with it. I can't wait to use it for the first time during a round of golf. It should be pretty nice to just look at my wrist for yards to the green instead of having to wake my phone each time. Not that I am good enough to need exact yardages, but it's not like anything could make my golf game much worse.<br />
<br />
After finishing our 5K many of use were involved in hosting the first Oktoberfest in Frankfort in about 20 years. The Frankfort Jaycees and Frankfort Main Street put on the event. Myself and many of my buddies in the Jaycees were responsible for the admission gate as well as the most important part...the beer. We spent the remainder of the evening having a great time listening to Polkamotion and serving all the beers we could handle. The event seemed to go smoothly and we are looking forward to only make it better in the years to come. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrKoxdrJsKdXcw1cbWQkEpNMj68oV9DB_9KF0oAhEk2rRh_5sEBawJ10KLetHbYPN0H3bEh80vuAnttz8fTDdiTgP7CCWNfniiOzZTkJ4c-8R0xmpOUUsmOWJ-Gw3H-VAhwsEwK1ANLYC/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrKoxdrJsKdXcw1cbWQkEpNMj68oV9DB_9KF0oAhEk2rRh_5sEBawJ10KLetHbYPN0H3bEh80vuAnttz8fTDdiTgP7CCWNfniiOzZTkJ4c-8R0xmpOUUsmOWJ-Gw3H-VAhwsEwK1ANLYC/s640/IMG_0156.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
As I write this my wife and I are enjoying a much deserved short vacation. Since we were a little busy with the hospital in the middle of the summer, we were unable to take our vacation we had planned then. I love the fall and feel like these type of short trips sometimes end up to be my favorite.<br />
<br />
On another note, I am participating in the Drumstick Dash for the second year in a row. This year I am again Fund-racing. This means I am raising money to help feed the homeless in Indy. You may not live in Indianapolis, but helping those less fortunate than yourself is helping mankind no matter what your location. Wheeler Mission does what it can to help those that are struggling more than we are. I am begging you to do what you can to help this worthy cause. You can click on the Fund-racing link located directly on this page. All of your donations are tax deductible. <br />
<br />
Seeing as I am on vacation currently, I am unable to accurately check my progress regarding my weight. I will do so soon and update you at that time. Also, I would like to say good luck to my brother and his wife as both of their bands will be competing in Semi-State this coming weekend. Best wishes to all F. J. Reitz and Castle Band members. Until next time....Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.<br />
<br />danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-89781779099646616212016-09-15T18:00:00.000-04:002016-09-15T18:00:02.178-04:00Big Fat LiarYep! That's about how I feel right now. I feel like I have talked the talk and even walked the walk, but that right now I am completely dragging anchor. I have been told many times by people that they like to read my blog because it is "real." It's definitely real. It's my life. It's my struggle. It's my way of maintaining so-called accountability. <br />
<br /><br />
Let's see where that accountability has gotten me recently. I'm almost positive this is the first post to be released on a Thursday. It has been two and a half weeks since my last post. I haven't lost a pound in the last month. I have skipped two races recently, one due to heat and the second due to lack of training. I am about to skip a third because there is simply no way I am prepared currently to run another half marathon. I am down on myself and I am pissed off.<br />
<br />
I am mad that I let myself back into old habits. I'm mad that sometimes I have even been ok with it. I'm mad that I have been able to play multiple rounds of golf the last few weeks, but I haven't stepped foot in my running shoes to get on the treadmill or head outside. I'm mad that so many people have been proud of my efforts and for the last few posts I feel like I have been letting not only myself down but them as well. I'm mad that I have only run twice since I started coaching cross country.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="456" src="https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14212560_10210282755566500_6777351654085331339_n.jpg?oh=bfde19169e7fe865ef590e00d727153e&oe=587E2037" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After our nice float down the White River for Labor Day weekend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm happy that I have been able to spend times with friends floating down the white river. I'm happy that my golf scores have continued to drop little by little. I'm happy that I have been helping my wife get things done at school. I'm happy that I had one of my cross country runners sign up for the Indy Mini-mini 2 mile run and finish in the top 10. I'm happy for many reasons, but they aren't covering the fact that I spend too much time sitting on the driveway talking to people and waving to passers by when I could be working on myself. <br />
<br />
You know what really makes me mad! I signed up for these races with the true intention of lowering my times for those respective events. I'm mad that I love the feeling of finishing with the crowd no matter how long it takes me to complete it. I'm mad that I have talked to many people into doing things regarding their health and then I sit back and do nothing with mine. I'm mad that I am a giant hypocrite!<br />
<br />
I just hit reset on my run planner for the Monumental Half-Marathon in November. I have got to focus on it. I've been told that it is a nice flat and fast course. If I don't finish it in a few less minutes than it took me to finish the Indy Mini I'll be a little disappointed. But, not as disappointed as if I don't make an effort at all.<br />
<br />
I've learned a lot about myself recently. I've learned that I EASILY fall into complacency. I easily fall into the trap of focusing on things outside of my true focus of myself. I've learned that I like to relax and that my self doubt can overtake any progress I have made in the past. I am still roughly 20 pounds below where I started when I began writing this blog, but if I don't fix it now I am going to be right back where I was when I began...and probably worse. <br />
<br />
I am not looking for sympathy, and to those of you that have read my blog from the beginning, please don't say "Oh, you'll be ok." That's not what I need. I need a good swift kick in the seat of the pants and a push out the front door. I need an alarm set an hour earlier in the mornings to attempt to get the runs in before school if possible. I need a lot. But, what I need most is to focus on the mantra I put out every time I write this post. FOOD. FEET. WATER. REPEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-28855507046497419712016-08-29T18:25:00.002-04:002016-08-29T18:25:38.246-04:00Finding Shelter in the Storm!The last couple weeks, I have been much more active. I also had an interesting weekend this weekend and said goodbye to some friends that are moving away. <br />
<br />
I have gotten in a couple workouts over the past couple weeks and I have also mowed the lawn three times. That may not seem like a lot, but I sweat more mowing the grass yesterday than I did running for 30 minutes another day. <br />
<br />
I have started building up some endurance again. But, I have a LONG way to go before I am ready for another half marathon. This is one part of the storm I am working to find shelter from. Races are bearing down in me that I am not truly prepared for. I am trying to decide whether to continue with those races at a much slower pace or to focus on races I have farther down the road. I will soon come to a decision but I am hoping that completing my upcoming half is something I am capable of even if I do not attend my race this Thursday. I am straddling the fence over whether this race would be a good training run for the half or whether I should do a different training run here at home. Like I said, I'll get it figured out. As for the workouts, they have been going well. I said hello to the treadmill again and it wasn't that mean to me. This week, I will be increasing the time amount for sure.<br />
<br />
This weekend was definitely an interesting experience. I had plans to go to Indy and take a ride on the HandleBar followed by going to the OAR concert. As we headed down to Indy the sky started to darken. While we were in our uber headed downtown it started to rain. We hoped it would last a short time and hopped on the HandleBar for a trip around town. The rain did not let up and we rode the entire time in the rain. About halfway through we stopped at 9 Irish Brother on Mass Ave. to grab a beverage and the skies really opened up to the point that we stayed there for about an extra hour. When the rain finally let up we hopped back on the "bike" and headed back downtown. Unfortunately by this time our concert had been cancelled so we headed out to a local establishment for the remainder of the evening. It was a great time even though I was still soaked to the bone. Unfortunately, the night before this event, one of our friends had some limbs down on their house and her power was out...the house where we were staying. When we got back we helped move some furniture in the basement to keep it dry and make sure that the sump pump was on a working battery. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsxd9z3PRDvsNUQqiMp0R9eTgcN-85lggRryDTx-BIEp3vEnygoYEl5pMOGoX-9LgOstF6QN4Oh0ZoA4bxCNCWCbhfh5tIThiSwBVFFgINjQepQkHdmBGaxL_FRRavWy6spkeQ4X_LZdc/s1600/IMG_3167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsxd9z3PRDvsNUQqiMp0R9eTgcN-85lggRryDTx-BIEp3vEnygoYEl5pMOGoX-9LgOstF6QN4Oh0ZoA4bxCNCWCbhfh5tIThiSwBVFFgINjQepQkHdmBGaxL_FRRavWy6spkeQ4X_LZdc/s640/IMG_3167.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our stop in 9 Irish Brothers! Just a few drowned rats in there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yesterday was a rough day for the family. We were sending some family friends off on their journey back home to Michigan. Although they won't be leaving until this Saturday we made sure to spend some time together this weekend as a goodbye. We were able to go out for dinner and then came back to my in-laws house to hang out and give some going away presents. It was a sad day for everybody involved, but we know we will be seeing them again soon. We can't wait to visit them in Michigan at some point. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn-6UoY9c2zZ3GX5K4cCVxupeNTmeVxUkKVCjpEISIYch86WdChCFjyKWK618LTdKUUj1D8VX9ESC6p03fkSwU3ePygnkfOi7P-R5oYEeLVLS-vh_pfRzXh8yp9DwZM71vtY8cYU0DWnR/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn-6UoY9c2zZ3GX5K4cCVxupeNTmeVxUkKVCjpEISIYch86WdChCFjyKWK618LTdKUUj1D8VX9ESC6p03fkSwU3ePygnkfOi7P-R5oYEeLVLS-vh_pfRzXh8yp9DwZM71vtY8cYU0DWnR/s640/IMG_3166.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As for my weight. It am still headed in the wrong direction. As we have discussed on here before, the drinks this weekend didn't help. But, the snacks I have been having in the evenings aren't helping either. The fact that my training has started to pick up again will definitely help. Until next week. Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oGpswDI7j1YItw0EpkcA-gpe_Au_xJ3iMnzFAek5L1e_ZUVsB7umYO21SQoklUEIl_oSsZMuD65rqXviUNChoLLRJN2NR4w35xTe7dJdBoEquw5vphCwrJn1bHjkqgKvo-gZ6ZInvS91/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oGpswDI7j1YItw0EpkcA-gpe_Au_xJ3iMnzFAek5L1e_ZUVsB7umYO21SQoklUEIl_oSsZMuD65rqXviUNChoLLRJN2NR4w35xTe7dJdBoEquw5vphCwrJn1bHjkqgKvo-gZ6ZInvS91/s640/IMG_3163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-65107926943993488902016-08-15T18:50:00.000-04:002016-08-15T18:55:59.501-04:00Back to School MadnessWhat a busy time of year! It has been even busier this year as Mrs. Re-Dan-imation has picked up a full time position as a kindergarten teacher!!! Most of our free time the past two weeks has been spent getting her classroom ready and buying additional materials. Yet again, my training has taken a back seat to something that needs to be done first. I am not complaining in the least, just stating the facts. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Why not focus a little more on what I have enjoyed helping with over the past couple weeks? I thought it would be fun to share some pictures from decorating her classroom as well as the bulletin boards outside of my classroom. We decorated her classroom with a beach theme as you should be able to tell from the pictures. Also, a thank you goes out to her family and friends for helping out as well. Many people donated things to help her or came to school to help her get things organized. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-fRyN2lLESJcYy6s_I796x238HEM9JAWvn-AT6_1Q8G7B2OSjkJztnJCmcQkIc-OhW-4dohc_19vlqwEWUSu-d_9UM3hgLybfku6p-rFrp9j1eGc4hyrpQdDDllzoi-vWjYaytnYAbg6/s1600/IMG_3065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-fRyN2lLESJcYy6s_I796x238HEM9JAWvn-AT6_1Q8G7B2OSjkJztnJCmcQkIc-OhW-4dohc_19vlqwEWUSu-d_9UM3hgLybfku6p-rFrp9j1eGc4hyrpQdDDllzoi-vWjYaytnYAbg6/s640/IMG_3065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those workers!! Even the small ones!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLnUL04FUgccLbZvhcueJ2VpQ5e1XdniIx5rHbMaUMVK_DVv9_NOqNuqnjTPmeUzSmzzgeiyP3u3cX24JtdMxGXmwDDhX3G6afSku-ePkEnfOXyyoTIyfQs_Bwv1hIK4_f003U0nNdZPb/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLnUL04FUgccLbZvhcueJ2VpQ5e1XdniIx5rHbMaUMVK_DVv9_NOqNuqnjTPmeUzSmzzgeiyP3u3cX24JtdMxGXmwDDhX3G6afSku-ePkEnfOXyyoTIyfQs_Bwv1hIK4_f003U0nNdZPb/s640/IMG_3066.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole classroom, matching bulletin board, and the trip to Once Upon a Child!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had to do a little work to my own classroom and one of the things I tend to pride myself on is the ability to come up with clever ideas for bulletin boards. Here are the two I started the year with. If you don't think they are clever, well...too bad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyLn30T9mtRMgTz1Y7k9cqZF_90N8m7VcgilWVskrxbLXdLn1aY8IxrmO97PpBZAQNKCRAmVHCjUIEzI6hlOqT5hkWR2H10Dc3ZcpyiARhiQTO95wKdRW-BtEcbtIbGZUh0nG5SjDdo7b/s1600/IMG_3049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyLn30T9mtRMgTz1Y7k9cqZF_90N8m7VcgilWVskrxbLXdLn1aY8IxrmO97PpBZAQNKCRAmVHCjUIEzI6hlOqT5hkWR2H10Dc3ZcpyiARhiQTO95wKdRW-BtEcbtIbGZUh0nG5SjDdo7b/s640/IMG_3049.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85PgPpQrM9adb0nI0SuUMOE1GM5q1l8_phhQxauzguF6nwrIWmSpRnKSLhOf0y9VES9prhnIGTod9YBlZ6emDS_jGrzHqDJ9akYmd6_NQIzivfn8l_uzxrKbHddt0ls0pACRLMZu5R3FY/s1600/IMG_3050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85PgPpQrM9adb0nI0SuUMOE1GM5q1l8_phhQxauzguF6nwrIWmSpRnKSLhOf0y9VES9prhnIGTod9YBlZ6emDS_jGrzHqDJ9akYmd6_NQIzivfn8l_uzxrKbHddt0ls0pACRLMZu5R3FY/s640/IMG_3050.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
With all of this work, I have been eating fast food on a consistent basis. We finally went grocery shopping this week for what seems like the first time since we have been back from the hospital. Obviously this hasn't been good to the diet. I'll be honest...I am starting to get a little concerned with the fact that I have another half marathon coming up in September. I am just going to take it one day at a time. I may just have to use this as a learning experience. I most likely won't set a PR at the Mill Race, but I have good feeling about the Monumental Half Marathon in November. <br />
<br />
Last week, I weighed in at 271.5 lbs. That puts me higher than two weeks ago. For the first time since I started this journey I forgot to get on the scale this morning before I ate breakfast. I decided that I would much rather skip the weigh in than see an even higher number on the scale. As always, I am not discouraged, I am just letting you all know how it is. As we continue getting our head back into school, I am also working toward getting my body back into fitness mode. It WILL happen. Until next week...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-7745881718397377742016-08-02T22:28:00.000-04:002016-08-02T23:56:46.675-04:00Improvement for the Mrs.....and MeI am sure many of you are wondering where I have been. This is the second time in a row I have gone two weeks between posts. I don't want you to think that I have given up on the process. As a matter of fact, I am getting ready to head back to school and I am certain my eating and calorie counting will improve as I head back. I am still here and I am still on the path to health. <br />
<br />
But, what I am sure you are all even more concerned about is the health of Mrs. Re-Dan-imation. As the title of the post lets you know, she is definitely improving. After we came home from the hospital, it was a battle between her having to eat a "liquid" diet and what she really wanted to eat. The medicine she was given for her esophagus has really helped with her eating. The only real problem still lingering around her eating is that she coughs when she eats because the food is irritating her throat a bit when she swallows. That should continue to get better. Also, she has lost 18 pounds since she returned home!! That may sound like a lot for her little body, but she was holding so much fluid and it has finally left her system so her weight is actually back to normal. She is feeling a LOT better about the fluids she was holding and she totally does not feel like she looks pregnant anymore. <br />
<br />
After returning home and getting things back to normal for a few days, we got a call from the fertility doctor's office. Since we have had complications in the past and she has not been able to remain pregnant for a full term, it was our doctors suggestion that we have our embryos genetically tested this time to absolutely make sure they are good to go before they are transferred back to her. Here is where the whole process gets really interesting. If you remember from the <a href="https://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2016/07/124-hours-in-hospitality-room.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">last post</span></a>, the doctors removed 46 eggs from her. After the embryologist fertilized all the eggs, 33 actually became fertilized. Of those 33 eggs, the next test was to see if they made it to the 3 day mark. 26 made it to the 3 day mark. The next mark is becoming what is called a 5 day blastocyst. We had 15 make it to the point of 5 day blastocyst. That means that in the olden days of IVF (the 1980s) we would have had 15 embryos to implant at some point. <br />
<br />
Well, with modern medicine comes much more accuracy. Of our 15 blastocysts, we had 10 biopsied and then frozen and had the other 5 frozen without being biopsied. It's an expensive process so testing the extra 5 was just not in the cards. Now for the results. Of the 10 that we had tested, 5 were deemed as non-viable. This means that implanting them would result in pregnancies that would not make it (they were all missing/had extra chromosomes). Of the other 5 that we tested, 1 would be a viable pregnancy but would have Turner Syndrome meaning that it would be a healthy person but would be sterile. That will definitely not be an embryo we will be using as Kristy could never live with herself knowing ahead of time that her offspring could never have a child. That leaves us with 4 perfectly viable and healthy embryos, but wait it gets cooler than that. The embryologist informed us that of those 4 embryos, 2 are boys and 2 are girls. HOLY COW!!! Didn't even think about them knowing that, but obviously since they are checking for abnormal chromosomes they would know. We have decided though, that when we do implant one, it will be randomly chosen by the embryologist and we won't know whether they have chosen a boy or a girl until after. If everything turns out healthy and great, I am sure we will choose to have the other implanted the next time. We're working on one thing at a time here. <br />
<br />
Since, Mrs. Re-Dan-imation was feeling better and I had already planned a golf weekend in Michigan, I got to head up North. I headed out on Friday with friends and clubs in tow. The plan was to play 18 holes on Friday and 36 holes on Saturday. It just so happens that weekend was the hottest weekend of the summer so far. Surprise, right?! We did manage to get in all 3 rounds, and also enjoyed hanging out in the pool at one of my friend's brother's house. Thanks Mike for letting us stay at your place. I even had my best round of the summer at what was easily the nicest course we played. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8yBScp3Clnvd1r_liuT043GMXlJk4mq7nkdlP8_fXmdM783Q2W7BSDKpVaC4V9eMwtJvkJwe_I5nQQbRahOx2-xzWqf-UFKdCl2l5HnlioRUMUqgbGcFna2_wDsyYCpMXmVVNYRu8qW0/s1600/IMG_3034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8yBScp3Clnvd1r_liuT043GMXlJk4mq7nkdlP8_fXmdM783Q2W7BSDKpVaC4V9eMwtJvkJwe_I5nQQbRahOx2-xzWqf-UFKdCl2l5HnlioRUMUqgbGcFna2_wDsyYCpMXmVVNYRu8qW0/s640/IMG_3034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Last week we had more big news come our way. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation accepted a 2nd grade position here in town at the end of the school year. She was obviously excited about the opportunity, but sad to leave her friends and coworkers at the building where she spent almost every day last year. Well, a kindergarten position opened up and after the principals talked, they contacted her to see if she would want to switch. She spent the evening thinking about it and discussing it with me and then chose to go ahead and make the move. This building and grade level are both where her heart truly lies and both principals knew it would be the right fit. I guess you could say it was lucky she had been sick, because she hadn't set up her room completely so it was a quick move of her stuff across town. Since then, we have been spending most of our free time getting her room set up. <br />
<br />
However, this weekend was the Frankfort Main Street Hot Dog Festival. My mom decided she was going to have a booth at the festival this year to sell the wooden and canvas signs that she prints and paints herself. I was pretty pumped about the idea. On Thursday, I helped her set up her booth and then Friday and Saturday we spent literally every waking minute at the festival. I had a great time, even though it was pretty sweltering in the booth because they get pretty stuffy. She was pleased with how she did and is looking forward to having booths at other festivals in the future. I can't wait to help her again. You should check out her stuff <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JosJoys/?fref=ts" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a> (she can make custom orders if you are interested).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24Sma0zKPm233-hQECnA9nXqc-0kenBnQH85wOd7aHop7GtFkG1_D3PfaNr6ml6pJkhoNucCmPaZaRnVn34ZOCtQgWUSrkl3HV_jw3RjLYrNW56KLEwoC_LOxY-AHWiLli8MA8vP2nHp5/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24Sma0zKPm233-hQECnA9nXqc-0kenBnQH85wOd7aHop7GtFkG1_D3PfaNr6ml6pJkhoNucCmPaZaRnVn34ZOCtQgWUSrkl3HV_jw3RjLYrNW56KLEwoC_LOxY-AHWiLli8MA8vP2nHp5/s640/IMG_3016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
That brings us up to this point where you are probably wondering about my weight over the past couple weeks. Well, not being able to eat the same meals as my wife the first week really put me in a bad spot. I ballooned up to 271.1 lbs. That's what happens when you eat fast food all the time and stay inside not doing anything except keep an eye on somebody that just needs to rest and recuperate. This last week, I did much better and my weight went back down to a respectable 267.7 lbs. I am still not down to my "high" mark of having lost 30 pounds, but I will get back there soon. I am looking forward to continuing the journey and sharing it with you. Thanks to all of you that read and commented on my last post (it has had over 2200 views...about 1800 more than any other post I have written). Mrs. Re-Dan-imation was truly touched by all of your support and still gets asked around town about how she is feeling. I hope that many of you that viewed that post keep following me on here. You can subscribe by submitting your email at the top of this page. I would love to have more of your follow me. With that I will leave you for the week. Until next week...Food, Feet, Water, Repeat. danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-21651735504611337002016-07-18T14:28:00.002-04:002016-07-18T16:38:17.134-04:00124 hours in a HOSPITALity RoomYou may have noticed that I did not post an update last week. That is the first time I have skipped a post completely since I started writing this blog. There is definitely a good reason and you can probably pick up on it a bit from the title. Be prepared for a long post today as there is a lot to catch you up on. <br />
<br />
You may or may not be aware that Mrs. Re-Dan-imation AKA Kristy and I have been trying to have children for 5 of the 6 years we have been married and that the process to this point has not been successful. That is where the story starts this time. Recently we have started the process of IVF again from scratch. We have been through this process before and knew what to expect going in. So after multiple doctor visits, daily and sometimes multiple daily belly injections, and even more doctor visits we were to the point of egg retrieval. Let me start there.<br />
<br />
On Friday July, 8th we went to our Fertility Doctor's office in Castleton. Kristy was nervous and excited at the same time. She was nervous about the anesthesia she would be under during the process but I had been reassuring her all morning that all would be fine. After the procedure the doctor came in to warn us that Kristy's ovaries were what is called overstimulated. This means that the ovaries were significantly enlarged and as a result they removed a whopping 46 eggs from her that day. That may sound like a good thing, but it also means that her abdomen is full from her ovaries instead of anything else. The doctor prescribed her some pain meds, some shots to shut down her ovaries, and instructed her to drink fluids non stop to prevent dehydration.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to Friday evening. Kirsty is in considerable pain and has taken two doses of her pain meds. She was able to eat and is doing her best to stay hydrated. Saturday gets worse for the pain and she is starting to feel nauseous. Saturday night she spends a lot of time in the bathroom getting sick. She is having trouble holding down fluids. Sunday gets worse and we contact the fertility doctor for suggestions. He tells us to come in Monday morning to get checked out and go from there. Kristy does her best to make it through the night and control the pain and the nausea. (By the way: Sunday was our 6th anniversary and we were supposed to leave for Hilton Head Island on Saturday for a family vacation with the rest of her family. Her parents had already left on Thursday and her brother was waiting to leave with us. )<br />
<br />
Monday morning Kristy is so nauseous that she can barely walk, but we manage to get her to the car so we can make it to Castleton to check in with the fertility doctor. After they do a quick ultrasound check on her ovaries they see that one of her ovaries is 8cm long and the other is 10cm long. Normal is somewhere less than 3 cm. They also can tell she is significantly dehydrated so they tell us to head across the street to Community North Hospital. I wasn't quite expecting this, but I should have been.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVlZATK0o5gk4ysAgmdg83sL4x5U2kCP14XJZjahtnUQRI417a8CMAa8iOxNbXnRfay3ApNObWhkBMcP7i7PVqPTg5krt39yGd6VdGNE_Qu4EreNqpthESAGOARaWtr6oqO6IUjWmQfcY/s1600/IMG_2932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVlZATK0o5gk4ysAgmdg83sL4x5U2kCP14XJZjahtnUQRI417a8CMAa8iOxNbXnRfay3ApNObWhkBMcP7i7PVqPTg5krt39yGd6VdGNE_Qu4EreNqpthESAGOARaWtr6oqO6IUjWmQfcY/s640/IMG_2932.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our home for the next 5 days!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our next stop was the ER where we registered and waited just a few minutes to get into a room. After blood was drawn and an IV was hooked up we waited to hear results. After a couple hours, the doctor came in to explain to us her condition. Kristy was SEVERELY dehydrated and this dehydration had caused her to go into acute renal failure (kidneys not functioning correctly). Normal levels for functioning kidneys is 0.5 on the test and hers was at 3.5. Her electrolyte levels were also way off so they started to work on getting those back in line as well. By the way, I did weigh in Monday morning and was at 264.3 lbs. That was pretty good, but probably because I was staying up trying to help her and I wasn't eating a ton because she couldn't hold food down and I felt bad eating when she couldn't. After 6 hours in the emergency room Kristy was finally moved to a room in the Progressive Care Unit which is a step down from Intensive Care. Basically, she was considered pretty sick.<br />
<br />
I informed family, told my brother in-law to head to Hilton Head without us and asked my mother to bring me some dinner. Kristy was basically trying to sleep and manage her pain and nausea. For the next two days the only times she was really awake was when the nurses cam in to check her vitals or give her meds. All I could do was sit there and explain to the doctors and nurses what we were going though to help them with identifying how to treat her. Her Critical Care doctor had never dealt with a case of Hyperstimulated Ovarian Syndrome and spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the fertility doctor to understand the condition. To give you an idea of her pain amount, check out the picture of the medication area of her board.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIPLaWMd66E7-qvAnikKTxm5bqFECJOeZK06B9lejz-15AAnKCkparQiN20MD-usB-Q6yXoKIKDn4zlQxm9qP0av9gCvWa34j3eHOPUpIp_M31aBUYvLvHHhcbXwUsYb94aTkplBaMu5_/s1600/IMG_2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIPLaWMd66E7-qvAnikKTxm5bqFECJOeZK06B9lejz-15AAnKCkparQiN20MD-usB-Q6yXoKIKDn4zlQxm9qP0av9gCvWa34j3eHOPUpIp_M31aBUYvLvHHhcbXwUsYb94aTkplBaMu5_/s400/IMG_2908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally on Wednesday, she was starting to level out on her electrolytes and was able to hold a little longer conversation with the nurses. I could tell she was getting back to herself. The pain was still pretty good and her stomach was pretty swollen. This is because her enlarged ovaries were pushing against blood vessels and not allowing them to hold all the fluids they were pumping her full of. Today they would do what is called a Paracentesis. This is a process where they stick a needle into your abdomen and extract the extra fluids to relieve the pressure. They removed 2 liters (a full size pop bottle if you have trouble picturing it). and then sent her back to her room to try to eat some dinner so we would have the all clear to leave on Thursday. Woohoo!<br />
<br />
But, wait a minute, when she tried to drink or eat she was in excruciating pain. They gave her what is literally called "Mary's Magic Potion" thinking that yeast had gotten in her throat when she wasn't using it for basically a week and this would clear it up. Two doses later and no change. Doc informed us we would not be leaving on Thursday, but instead Kristy would be having an Endoscopy to check and see why it hurt so bad to eat. Her endoscopy happened around 3:00 on Thursday and the results were that she had basically had the world's worst case of Acid Reflux. Apparently she had already been having some reflux prior to the weekend, but she wasn't aware of it. Then the vomiting followed by lying flat with no food in her stomach resulted in the acid just sitting there eating her esophagus. She was diagnosed with LEVEL D esophagitis (The worst you can have) for the bottom 10 cm on her esophagus. Basically her esophagus was one giant ulcer. She was prescribed some medicine to help fix the ulcer and also numb the throat so she could eat. Back to the room again. <br />
<br />
She was still having pain Thursday night so we dealt with that through pain meds again. She also was yet to eat anything but a popsicle so heading home was not an option. Friday was spent in the room still dealing with back pain (not walking around and lying in bed all week wasn't helping with this) and trying to get her to eat something from her prescribed fluid diet. Friday night, her condition was finally downgraded and it was determined that we would be moving rooms at some point so people considerably more sick than her could get a room in the Progressive Care Unit. She even did a couple SLOW laps of the hallway to try to loosen up her back. Around 10:30 we were moved down the hall to a different unit. The room was twice as big and I could actually walk around. Kristy even did a couple laps. <br />
<br />
Saturday morning we ordered Kristy some fluid breakfast AKA Cream of Wheat and she was able to eat that much better. We were informed that the doctor was going to be discharging her and that we should prepare to head home. Here is how excited she was to be leaving the Community North!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLsMSFrzNLfK8jsAYZarpjjzuf2hd4Jr_gyw98sF-A8ErFZ3BQLKX05uOyZRXgxdXr6hT4TL8YnWlfxLy9KOUgPdRtZeEmHwskpCjjTF654fWitRRrMnckD8YumCxczlR5mhHtGtsLmQC/s1600/IMG_2930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLsMSFrzNLfK8jsAYZarpjjzuf2hd4Jr_gyw98sF-A8ErFZ3BQLKX05uOyZRXgxdXr6hT4TL8YnWlfxLy9KOUgPdRtZeEmHwskpCjjTF654fWitRRrMnckD8YumCxczlR5mhHtGtsLmQC/s640/IMG_2930.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
After 124 hours in the HOSPITALity room we finally headed out the front door, got Kristy in the car, and headed home. She still looks like she is 5 months pregnant because she is retaining fluids. Her ovaries have not completely shut down but that will happen soon. She just informed me this morning that her back pain is basically gone. She is still on pretty much a fluid diet cause it hurts to eat anything with rough edges. But she has improved to the point that she has ZERO nausea and can hold down any fluid or food that she eats. As her fertility doctor told the hospital doctor...this condition makes the patients feel like they are literally on their death bed. Kristy would agree. But, I will tell you that she is the STRONGEST person I have ever met. Her brother called her a badass and said that she has too much of her father in her to let the pain win. I have seen this woman be at a level 7 on the pain chart and still ask nurses about their lives, children, job, etc. She is a hero. We want to thank the following people for being there to help her through this process. They may never see this post, but we feel better knowing we have thanked them. Kristy's Doctor at the hospital Dr. Nunez. The following nurses Hannah C. (PCU), Julia (PCU), Sarah S. (Resource Team) Dana D. (PCU) Stacey (PCU), Chrystyne (PCU) and Kyle (MEDSURG). And also the following Patient Support Techs Shannon (PCU) and Shawna (PCU). Without these great people Kristy's experience may have been less enjoyable. She literally did not have a person come into her room that she did not appreciate or enjoy talking to. We are forever grateful. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIObeLveFzfZ8tTupGE9jDW4r5jBhzGLKWQht48ha9S0B-gHgvYAqOD62-8-EPYxpNa3A-dNfCRFt9n1MSvKuK7dfhD3nxJipwN_tKJyUM-iEHzMMzjJ1c3HmiTzxMfbmZFGqVkrx6O6QB/s1600/IMG_2934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIObeLveFzfZ8tTupGE9jDW4r5jBhzGLKWQht48ha9S0B-gHgvYAqOD62-8-EPYxpNa3A-dNfCRFt9n1MSvKuK7dfhD3nxJipwN_tKJyUM-iEHzMMzjJ1c3HmiTzxMfbmZFGqVkrx6O6QB/s640/IMG_2934.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed home finally!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I again stepped on the scale this morning to see 266.8. Let's just say I didn't eat particularly well in the hospital and the only exercise I got was walking back and forth to her bed to make sure she was ok. I didn't care one bit what my weight looked like today. Until next week. Food. Feet. WATER!!!!! Repeat. Gotta stay hydrated, right?! On a side note: Kristy is not currently pregnant, we have not implanted any of those harvested eggs, and we are not sure when it will be happening just so you are all aware.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-16128603299878549942016-07-05T16:43:00.001-04:002016-07-05T16:43:46.580-04:00My Yearly Adrenaline Rush!!What a great week! A lot of fun things to talk about so I hope you have a few minutes to read through this one. <br />
<br />
To start off the week on Monday, we were invited to have a pool day with some family friends. Obviously, we took them up on it. After heading down to their house we gathered everything and headed to the water. Being that it was a high of 93 that day, the pool was a bit more crowded than they expected, but we still had a great time. We headed back to their house afterwards, cooked out, and relaxed. The ride home was a bit chilly as the great weather had allowed me to take all the doors and part of the top off of the Jeep. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation was huddled under a couple sweatshirts in the back, but she didn't complain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-G1lI7rLnEgIxFBEuMtyqNhrr_BF-I7vU-ndabrTg2D8ztjzI1ZQ78f8O7t0K0pDbtRMTsC4hIUWenFKMMys08_84UewKOiR9ZqBpX5UlZ_jRgPR4Jj38xaqkGC0VV_16ePeMN7rsM5O/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-G1lI7rLnEgIxFBEuMtyqNhrr_BF-I7vU-ndabrTg2D8ztjzI1ZQ78f8O7t0K0pDbtRMTsC4hIUWenFKMMys08_84UewKOiR9ZqBpX5UlZ_jRgPR4Jj38xaqkGC0VV_16ePeMN7rsM5O/s640/IMG_2888.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Wednesday and Friday were yard work days. I have been in a constant battle with my backyard since we bought our house a few years ago. The previous owners had it professionally landscaped and they were able to keep up with it because at least one of them was retired and enjoyed pulling the few weeds that popped up every day. We; however, are not retired. So the backyard has become something of a well maintained grassy area mixed in with nature preserves where the landscaped areas existed. Needless to say, not something I am proud of, but it is what it is. This year I managed to clear, level, and plant grass seed in one of these areas and it is looking great. So instead of continuing to fight these areas I have succumbed to the wishes of the Mrs. and we cleared out two more areas and planted additional grass seed. We also took down a pine tree (fun with the chainsaw) and planted seed where it was as well. Here's hoping it grows even though it is a warmer part of the season.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8iHHGo52q5hZbmd1-uRtSzvP2ocLKSy9FKUqH6CoxQQNybLBR4N6t55E-cdgOy9oLDAfLgLs4VrZBa0pU32Ed2XBJF5fTF8Gk1bgruzlknRtH7eBBBP5xXcWCG3ql6AYV5N8_NabsLqi/s1600/IMG_2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8iHHGo52q5hZbmd1-uRtSzvP2ocLKSy9FKUqH6CoxQQNybLBR4N6t55E-cdgOy9oLDAfLgLs4VrZBa0pU32Ed2XBJF5fTF8Gk1bgruzlknRtH7eBBBP5xXcWCG3ql6AYV5N8_NabsLqi/s640/IMG_2889.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is when the real fun of the week begins. Wednesday evening we began really getting set up for the Frankfort Indiana Jaycees (follow us on <a href="http://facebook.com/FrankfortIndianaJaycees" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Facebook</span></a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/FrankfortIN_JCs" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Twitter</span></a>) 4th of July Fireworks. This fireworks show is the largest hand fired show in the state of Indiana and if you haven't watched it recently it is truly a spectacle. If you don't know what this means, it means that we are loading 3", 4", 5", and 6" shells (fireworks) into mortars (the tubes they shoot out of) and lighting them with large road flares for the most intense 24 minutes of our year. On Wednesday, our goal was to sort all of the shells and prep them by removing plastic wrap and rubber bands. We then place them in large plastic tubs and sort them according to the number of minutes for our show. A lot of effort goes into making sure this part is done particularly well, as we don't have time to fix shells the night of the shoot. It also helps keep us safer knowing things are ready to go for us. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UNuclmGlwnM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UNuclmGlwnM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Our original goal was to set up the actual firing site on Sunday night to allow us more time with our families on Monday, but the weather dictated otherwise. So, Monday morning we were out swinging sledgehammers and tightening down wire to hold the mortars tightly in place. The last thing you want is a rack of mortars to fall over with live shells in it pointing at yourself or the crowd. Safety remains a priority for us and we take our time to make sure everything is right. Luckily, Mother Nature decided that the Frankfort Jaycees needed to have their fireworks display and she pushed the rain well south of us. We began our show at 10:10. Hard hats, ear protection, safety goggles, long sleeves, and jeans are all required to participate. It was definitely still humid after all the rain we received and although the temperature had dropped below 80 it was still pretty hot under all those layers. I managed to sweat through both my sweatshirt and jeans. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkZaNiC0-iO4IsYYdj1LaHJ_gah4DopSIGYCkFYny6VSftFSCOCGVn-lHWwV5ccJ27YB0MbLTS43RUIegQ2IsHWxmy2F_ps2CtNz9GpKGPJ7aoN2mCwjhRUM4J8Z55RlkWWNWu6CQzN_H/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkZaNiC0-iO4IsYYdj1LaHJ_gah4DopSIGYCkFYny6VSftFSCOCGVn-lHWwV5ccJ27YB0MbLTS43RUIegQ2IsHWxmy2F_ps2CtNz9GpKGPJ7aoN2mCwjhRUM4J8Z55RlkWWNWu6CQzN_H/s640/IMG_2890.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After a quick count down from our lead operator we began the show. The next 24 minutes is always a blur. It is amazing how quickly it goes when you are actually taking part in it rather than watching it from the crowd. It seems like about 5 minutes as opposed to almost half an hour. You are either running back and forth from the tubs to the mortars, brushing embers of other people, or watching shells fly out of the mortars next to you. IT IS INTENSE! I may have already mentioned that though. After it was all over, we had set off every shell, and considered it a success that not only were we right on time according to the music being played on the radio, but also maintained safety with zero injuries. Celebration time was in order.<br />
<br />
I did still remember to get on the scale Monday morning. I was happy to see 267.0 lbs. That puts me at a loss for the week of 0.4 lbs. With all the manual labor involved during the week, I was expecting a little more, but it's still a loss. Onward and upward (or maybe downward it should be). Until next week...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-57415232292204307952016-06-28T18:45:00.001-04:002016-06-28T21:58:46.166-04:00Always HonoredThe first thing I did this week was play a round of golf with a few friends. Although i finished last, which I am used to, I sure had fun. Time on the golf course is never time wasted unless you are playing with the wrong people. A few hours in the sun attempting to force that little white devil down the fairway provided plenty of frustrations and laughs...maybe even occasionally a "good shot" from the group. But most of all it's a time to catch up with friends and commiserate over your misfortunes on the course.<br />
<br />
I only got in two other workouts this week with one of them being mowing the lawn in 91 degree heat. I'll be honest, it's weird the times you can actually tell when you are in better shape than the past. There have been times in the past where mowing the grass was a struggle in heat and humidity. This week, not only did I complete it without the self propel that has been broken since last summer, but after a short break I proceeded to organize the peg wall in the garage and then removed the doors from the Jeep. <br />
<br />
You are probably wondering why this week's post is titled Always Honored. Early in the week I received a Facebook message from a friend. Turns out my old band director, Chris Day, was being introduced this weekend at a conference for Edward Jones. I have spoken about Chris before in <a href="http://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2015/04/truly-inspired.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">this post</span></a> and you should be able to tell why this Facebook message brightened my day. His wife asked me to write a little something about him as she has read my blog and remembered I had mentioned him as an inspiration before. Without blinking an eye, I told her I would be honored. As you and I were not invited to see him introduced at his work function I decided that including it on here would be appropriate. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuuaHjxW_McNsFmwNOlIDVPHq5_mlS5EgfmjhFXiYVbczrVFFrkj_dt2zz5i_nrG9ym5CmtyLBFRyYJofxA2LqJDKXHE1NRdJhySZF5LEyUsLsq2Q2UA__IzWueLfJRBTLXI1Q8Ayhu_T/s1600/badge-of-honor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuuaHjxW_McNsFmwNOlIDVPHq5_mlS5EgfmjhFXiYVbczrVFFrkj_dt2zz5i_nrG9ym5CmtyLBFRyYJofxA2LqJDKXHE1NRdJhySZF5LEyUsLsq2Q2UA__IzWueLfJRBTLXI1Q8Ayhu_T/s1600/badge-of-honor.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
"<i>Dedica-spiration! Although not technically a word, it’s
still the one I am going to use to describe him. From the fresh faced band director my final
two years of high school to the man I know today, I couldn’t think of a better
way to characterize him. As a band
director his was goofy and over the top and it organized a group of kids into a
true harmony of effort. We would do
anything for him. We couldn’t believe it when he decided to change gears to
work for Edward Jones but none of us could do anything other than support
him. Turns out it was one of the best
decisions of his life (besides marrying Molly of course). </i><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>As his dedication to his job took hold he spent many hours
at the office and you could tell in his pictures. Then something clicked and he decided to begin
running. I had no idea until he shared a
blog post one day chronicling in just a few paragraphs what took him a year to
complete. The man had lost 100 pounds
and turned his life around physically.
How could you not be inspired by that?
He didn’t stop there though.
Since, he has finished countless 5Ks, half marathons, marathons
(including the Boston Marathon when his attempt would have caused any sane
person to call it a day) and longest, but not least a full Ironman
Triathlon. Not to mention that all those
people he inspires everyday voted him into a sponsorship from Team Chocolate
Milk so he could help spread his love of the sport with so many others. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Most recently he was named an Ambassador for the 40<sup>th</sup>
running of the 500 Festival Mini Marathon.
He made the cut the first time they even had the ambassador
program. I can’t say I am
surprised. This race was my first half
marathon and I have to say that listing him as my Ambassador was nothing less
than an honor. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I consider this man to be one of the finest I have met in my
life. He inspired me to be better as a
youth and still inspires me to be dedicated in everything I do as an
adult. He inspired me to start my own
blog as I venture down my journey of weight loss through running. He is a terrific husband, father, teammate,
or any name you may know him by. Knowing
that the word Advisor is attached to his profession seems to fit him supremely
well. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Chris Day. </i>" (Show Chris some love and check out <a href="http://iadviseu.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">his blog</span></a> too)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thinking about his inspiration on my journey had made me consider my dedication to my journey. I am spending too much time in my summer living like a college student rather than an adult that still has 80 pounds to lose. What do I mean by that? Well, being as though I don't yet have children, I have the ability to stay up late and sleep in as well. I am always looking for ways to improve and this is going to be my next stop. I will no longer be sleeping in as late. I have written before about trying to get up early and get in my workouts in the morning. This HAS to start soon. It's not just about setting my fitbit to wake me up early in the morning. It's about actually adhering to that wake up call and being productive as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, How did I do on my weight this week? Well the scale says I lost half a pound (267.4). Like always, I'll take it, but I wish it was better. The goal is to get every workout in this week as well as do some yard work in between preparing for the fourth of July and our upcoming vacation. I also have to get in a little school work time this week as well. Wish me luck. Until next week...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.</div>
danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-82588117915156980432016-06-20T16:51:00.000-04:002016-06-20T17:09:58.510-04:00Run(317) Broad Ripple Race RecapWelcome back...I decided actually posting on Monday this week would be a good idea. A lost has gone on this past week including running my first race of the Run(317) 3 race mini-series that I signed up for. I have lots to share about that as well as updating you on my progress for the week.<br />
<br />
Let's start with the race recap. On Thursday myself, my brother in-law, father in-law, and 2 friends all participated in the Run(317) Broad Ripple race. I have been looking forward to this race as it is the first one I have taken part in since the mini marathon in May. With this race taking place at 7:00 in the evening in Broad Ripple the schedule for the day was a little different than a normal race. I have done many training runs in the evening but never a race. I wasn't exactly sure what my preparation should be like for this race, but I have learned a little about that from this event.<br />
<br />
We started out by meeting up around 5:00 to head down to Indy. We tried to take a different route to avoid the traffic on I-465 during rush hour. Turns out it didn't matter and we got stuck in traffic on Keystone anyway. I could tell at this point that my nutrition for the day was going to be enough to set a PR for the day. However, I did bring a GU Roctane Gel to take before the race so I figured I would be ok. We parked about half a mile from the start of the race and walked to the start line as a bit of a warm up. Hitting up Chipotle for a quick bathroom break was a great idea. When we got to the start line we made sure we were all ready to go. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation wished us all good luck and headed to a good photo vantage point. While we were waiting for the race to start, I was looking for water so I could take my gel, but none was to be found...so no gel because I didn't want to cramp up because of it. Oh well. We listened to the Jennifer Hudson version of the National Anthem (turns out the scheduled singer was also stuck in traffic) and I snapped the picture below.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSYr_cE78iOD8IFplHLDzxZ_0T38H02xtPimyZ3W5cn3j_zktBlZRsLFaOrBUecSucB3nSXMXQ1zZfEVLZ_9MzkAQmSPX2jrbdnSbzFW20OxjVrzs4vfLKrMR4zpLHPOuyVMe21AVjN8j/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSYr_cE78iOD8IFplHLDzxZ_0T38H02xtPimyZ3W5cn3j_zktBlZRsLFaOrBUecSucB3nSXMXQ1zZfEVLZ_9MzkAQmSPX2jrbdnSbzFW20OxjVrzs4vfLKrMR4zpLHPOuyVMe21AVjN8j/s640/IMG_2797.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the home of the brave!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We all made sure our devices were switched on and ready to go and I got into the zone with my headphones. From this point on, all I ever hear is the music in my ears and my breathing. I kinda like it that way. I did hear the count down to the start though because the speakers were rockin' and the crowd was counting down too. Here's us crossing the start line.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpDNCKntO_c1SegU5WqaGyobk1MuPQI9bMPg6up5Wh4l877fMs0Sarr6Zi8-drZW7we5X-fgbSDxWybNvivA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
As I started the race, I was a little surprised at how quickly the first turn came up and how narrow it was. I should have been prepared for this because we were running through Broad Ripple. After the second turn like this, the roads opened up a little and we were on our way. My in-laws started to pull away from me which honestly didn't surprise me. My father in-law is in much better shape than he thinks. I found myself settling into a pace and could definitely feel the heat getting to me. I decided after the first mile that my goal was simply not to walk at all during the race. I could tell I was not going to set a record today by any means.<br />
<br />
The water table was setup right at mile 2 and I was definitely ready for it. The cups were overfilled a little and they appeared to be out of gatorade. I grabbed a cup and squeezed it to a point so I wouldn't spill any. A lesson I learned after the mini. I held on to the cup a little longer than normal so I could get a little extra water in the system. <br />
<br />
The last mile went better than I expected. Coming into the finish I could tell I was spent but I tried to push it a bit and finished strong. My finishing time was nothing to write home about, but I didn't walk at all so that was a small victory for as hot as it was. It could always be worse. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation managed to get a picture of every one of us finishing. She's good!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCymrL_TFQV_dPbHrg0WA7P9uWwO59_ME9bZ54L3cgdD8VBsVogypTO7L3eeGdwzrAoqEOOQm997KK5gNiaOxd_AEfGBpyVGPeftFuZMWliT9XJcf6s8A4zM1yxyTKSEm8Zg4l7hGnSTM/s1600/IMG_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCymrL_TFQV_dPbHrg0WA7P9uWwO59_ME9bZ54L3cgdD8VBsVogypTO7L3eeGdwzrAoqEOOQm997KK5gNiaOxd_AEfGBpyVGPeftFuZMWliT9XJcf6s8A4zM1yxyTKSEm8Zg4l7hGnSTM/s640/IMG_2833.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing Strong!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finished the race with an average pace of 13:28 per mile. As I said, I wasn't blisteringly fast, but I finished. I still have a LONG way to go. But I am maintaining my training for my next half marathon in September. I will be looking forward to see if I improve at the next Run(317) in July on Mass Ave. Hopefully I take some time off this total. Anything is an improvement, but I am hoping for quite a bit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0mvEQ3z4HqXopPL5jW8En0vhrNbsJBqLsUniVer7jLoh2vCeq7tzHwuiB1gF8C9xCD_-fLqobPsXTD1TrAugG7gpm4ov2OCnhk1nGF5MRb3b2mkvirNbeidl5R64_lpcS3086RhNM4E1/s1600/IMG_2834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0mvEQ3z4HqXopPL5jW8En0vhrNbsJBqLsUniVer7jLoh2vCeq7tzHwuiB1gF8C9xCD_-fLqobPsXTD1TrAugG7gpm4ov2OCnhk1nGF5MRb3b2mkvirNbeidl5R64_lpcS3086RhNM4E1/s640/IMG_2834.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As for my weight this week. There isn't much to say about what went down on the scale this morning. When I looked down I say 267.9 lbs. That's an increase of 2.6 pounds this week. I have no idea where that came from. My eating wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't terrible either. I was a little weak when ice cream was in sight, but I still think I did much better than a two and a half pound increase. I'm not going to be mad or aggravated about it. But, I am going to do my best. I had a family relative tell people the other day that I am too worried about weight and to keep doing what I am doing and the weight will follow. I agree with that statement, but my dedication to eating healthy has to fall in line with my dedication to completing each run. I will get there. Until next week. Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.</div>
<br />
<br />danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-2110727271264680672016-06-14T20:31:00.000-04:002016-06-14T21:31:02.634-04:00In the AftermathBefore, I get into my blog this week, I want to take a quick second to share my thoughts about the terrible events from this weekend. The only thing I think of when I hear the word Orlando is the happiest place on Earth. I have been lucky enough to visit this city on three separate occasions. Twice in high school we traveled to Disney and once on our honeymoon when we traveled to Sea World. I only think of happy times when I think of this city. I will not let one person ruin a wonderful place in my memory. Jimmy Fallon, one of my favorite celebrities put it a way that I like the most. He said...<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: red;">"As you certainly know by now, early Sunday morning there was another senseless shooting, this time at a dance club in Orlando, Florida.</span> <span style="color: #e69138;">A dance club. </span></span><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">It left 49 people dead, which is the largest loss of life due to a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I know everyone is angry right now and doesn't know how to react, and this is a time when people are looking to us as a country and how we will react.</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">This country was built on an idea that we don't agree on everything; that we are a tolerant, free nation that encourages debate, free-thinking, believing, or not, in what you choose..."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: lime;">"Maybe there's a lesson from all this. A lesson in tolerance. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: lime;">We need to support each other's differences and worry less about our own opinions. Get back to debate and away from believing or supporting the idea that if someone doesn't live the way you want them to live, you just buy a gun and kill them.</span> <span style="color: blue;">Bomb them up. That is not OK. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: blue;">We need to get back to being brave enough to accept that we have different opinions and that's OK, because that is what America is built on. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: blue;">The idea that we can stand up and speak our minds and live our lives and not be punished for that, or mocked on the internet, or killed by someone you don't know.</span> </span><span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">This was just one bad guy here. 49 good people and one bad guy, and there will always be more good than evil. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">When I think of Orlando, I think of nothing but fun and joy and families. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">If anyone can do it, you can. Keep loving each other. Keep respecting each other. And keep on dancing."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">-Jimmy Fallon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYliH4MeX-91-jTAdPIQeVjN8tuvuvcLvupOdYydzRQvsSoXtvfMyYSnUPPs3uHROVS0ufhTizEaRsOjxLEq-Er41rq5fDrcBivjvl8Ny37vb1mL1NdQQEZ_HYC5-QDDDA50KL3AVoh2i/s1600/pulseribbon01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYliH4MeX-91-jTAdPIQeVjN8tuvuvcLvupOdYydzRQvsSoXtvfMyYSnUPPs3uHROVS0ufhTizEaRsOjxLEq-Er41rq5fDrcBivjvl8Ny37vb1mL1NdQQEZ_HYC5-QDDDA50KL3AVoh2i/s640/pulseribbon01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Last week was a blur. I spent the entire week teaching children how to build, operate and program EV3 Lego Robots. This is my second year spending a week teaching students these skills during the summer. We even got to take a tour of a portion of the Purdue Robotics Lab and meet a robot named Darwin that is dedicated to his fitness as well. Check him out in the video playing a little soccer. Having spent so much time with these kids during the week, you may wonder whether or not I was able to get in my workouts this week.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0GLuHX7TMF3h0qStQugOqbqzymsKNC9rTzijbs3S1wWW00LCVo-7uOQuBMivv7zbRvH0sjAiX9auZl_7Vrw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
If you follow me on twitter you will see that I got in at least one workout this week as I mentioned that it was a little rough. Wednesday was a little chilly but I finished it up. Thursday, Mrs. Re-Dan-imation and I got our workout in as well. As for Sunday, well the humidity kicked up a bit and the temperature was up about 10 degrees from the Wednesday run.<br />
<br />
Sunday was supposed to be an easy 1 hour run. Well, I started out strong, but I could tell the humidity was playing games with me. I managed to get my second mile down a little faster than my first one, but as I got about halfway through mile 3 I could tell I was beginning to struggle. As I finished mile 3 I decided to take a quick walk break and take a drink of the water I decided to bring along today. Gotta love my SPIBelt H20! I'll still promote them here, even though I applied to be an ambassador of theirs, but sadly wasn't selected. Maybe next year. After walking for a quarter mile I felt I was ready to get back into my run and I finished my hour with 4.15 miles. <br />
<br />
The fact that I was working all week actually meant good things for my nutrition. I was required to wake up early, eat at least 3 meals a day, and spread out my calories. I enjoyed some great fruits, veggies, and hummus. I still went over my calorie allotment a coupe days, so I wasn't really sure what my weight had in store for me at the end of the week.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPHpluU8x5SOF9Dr81nZgEW2nAYNE2SDQLvOizwy50tBPP48N66OA_nKHC7n7kWUxfdFrya4CRO-82TE5Qf4QajDfLybytO1JwfCRPMeNlUsPjstj66X-l-ZO4IP4Nvj3JJtKvefpVrXO/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPHpluU8x5SOF9Dr81nZgEW2nAYNE2SDQLvOizwy50tBPP48N66OA_nKHC7n7kWUxfdFrya4CRO-82TE5Qf4QajDfLybytO1JwfCRPMeNlUsPjstj66X-l-ZO4IP4Nvj3JJtKvefpVrXO/s640/IMG_2788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temp may have been 90, but still a great day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On MondayI woke up and stepped on the scale to find 265.3 lbs. That's right folks....up 1 tenth of a pound. I would rather be even. I hate that I got in ALL of my workouts and my stupid eating (especially in the evening) caused me not to lose a single ounce of weight. Such is life I guess, right? Oh well, I still celebrated by taking the doors off the Jeep on Monday to drive around in the wonderful weather. It took a while for Mrs. Re-Dan-imation to grow accustomed to the slight breeze, but it was a great time. This week I will be participating in the Run(317) Broad Ripple event with family, friends, and even my father in-law participating as well. I'm looking forward to having a big group of people there. Also, tomorrow my brother and his wife will be heading to Seattle to enjoy a vacation planned around them both running a full marathon. I am so excited to hear how it goes for them! Lots of great things to look forward to this week. Especially Food. Feet. Water. Repeat! danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-14288059293172725802016-06-07T17:42:00.000-04:002016-06-07T17:58:38.014-04:00Another Year OlderThis past week, I celebrated my 34th birthday. I had a nice small celebration but nothing super exciting. I did have more than one meal away from home to celebrate including my first visit to IHOP in quite some time. <br />
<br />
Other than that quick bit of information I only have a couple short things to add to the blog this week. I know right?! Boooooorinnnng! You'll get over it. The first thing I want to share is that I got both of my assigned runs in this week for the first time since I ran the mini! That's right, I finally busted out the Run Trainer app and scheduled the workouts for my next half marathon. It's always nice to see the little green checkmarks in the app after I check off my assignment for the day whether it be a run or a rest day.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2Anx_5j8-NHNdlCQTiM4E9WSTRQDrWWgfBdNJHMv2ygqAVJz1syuxWdeh2M23Sw0N7BwddNhc2ZJ_jTYxnIfG4D73UMeeeK5RLbR6SgimD5iMX6ESZMGe1kjQEePLf4YfogCG31IVGOD/s1600/IMG_2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2Anx_5j8-NHNdlCQTiM4E9WSTRQDrWWgfBdNJHMv2ygqAVJz1syuxWdeh2M23Sw0N7BwddNhc2ZJ_jTYxnIfG4D73UMeeeK5RLbR6SgimD5iMX6ESZMGe1kjQEePLf4YfogCG31IVGOD/s640/IMG_2771.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Morning!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second thing I would like to share is that I finally got in my first pre-work morning run in. I have been wanting to try running in the morning on days besides race days for a while. So, since I am teaching a one week summer class this week, I thought why not try it now. Monday morning I woke up early, having already set out my running clothes the night before, had an energy gel, and headed out the door. I'll be honest, it was a little different for me but it wasn't that bad at all. Literally, the hardest part was getting out of bed early again. I got my run in and showered with plenty of time before I had to head out the door. I plan on trying it again on Wednesday and Thursday with my scheduled workouts. We'll see how those go.<br />
<br />
Coming up on June 16th, a group of my friends and my father in-law will be taking part in the Run(317) Broad Ripple edition. It will be cool to have a big group of people involved. My father in-law has even tried out some new running clothes for the day. I will make sure to allow you all to follow my progress on that day as well. Be on the lookout for the link. <br />
<br />
As for the weigh-in this week...it went surprisingly well. I looked down at the scale this morning and saw 265.2 lbs. That's a loss over the week of 1.6 pounds. I was pretty happy with that. Until next week...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-75358123861388016652016-05-30T17:39:00.000-04:002016-05-30T18:00:42.160-04:00Getting my Carb Fix!This week provided me with my "final" work days of the year. I managed to scan 11,000 books (with a little help from Mrs. Re-Dan-imation) and get all of my end of year items finished up. Then the fun began. Here's how it went down.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Od1v7bjd4RD3w6TU5DQoERR3xELO4vEFAy3g1giNkleQmIl4Cgdab1Gx9Ty6AJkzA5knbzVZsEN_0u9yfyObc8YY-1asjWqeGGWnEgqGfeGiahvEZmya-jCHrg3GC394hcFmATI5jWbd/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Od1v7bjd4RD3w6TU5DQoERR3xELO4vEFAy3g1giNkleQmIl4Cgdab1Gx9Ty6AJkzA5knbzVZsEN_0u9yfyObc8YY-1asjWqeGGWnEgqGfeGiahvEZmya-jCHrg3GC394hcFmATI5jWbd/s640/IMG_2719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Thursday, although it was the first day out of school, I got to play a round of golf with the guys from the school building. One of them had either never played before, or it had been easily 10 years since he last played. Either way, it was fun to get him out on the course. It was more fun to enjoy all of the laughs and the GREAT weather. We were originally worried we were going to get rained out, but instead we played the round almost entirely under a nice cloud cover that kept the heat in check. I won't reveal scores, but it definitely wasn't my greatest round. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK8xwcv-zArcosVVcKtT8p02xJ4m5YgwZ_37SB0IFFkQqOMjTXcKXu6RBs_NAl-RbC6vYSVvBEJEFz8U8Bpwl8FnhvZsPqcvv9HWqgbVqB_Zyzg9q0D9fYUgHkI24QlCp3gxWKNFFMWpC/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK8xwcv-zArcosVVcKtT8p02xJ4m5YgwZ_37SB0IFFkQqOMjTXcKXu6RBs_NAl-RbC6vYSVvBEJEFz8U8Bpwl8FnhvZsPqcvv9HWqgbVqB_Zyzg9q0D9fYUgHkI24QlCp3gxWKNFFMWpC/s640/IMG_2713.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Friday...a day I had been looking forward to since the determination that no additional school days were required. That's right.....I WENT TO CARB DAY!!! This is my first experience at Carb Day, or at least that I can remember (<--not intended as a joke). I woke up at normal school time and headed down to Indy to gather with friends before hopping in an Uber to head to the track. We had a FANTASTIC time. I mean what can go wrong at what is essentially a gigantic tailgate party with screaming engines surrounding you and Journey playing to finish out the day? I ate way to much, drank a fair amount, and had a ton of fun. I managed to take enough precautions to not get a single hint of a sunburn and didn't drink too much and make a fool of myself. I got to catch a few of the practice laps from inside turn 3 (see below). I also did a fair bit of walking. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOncff8M-KbAJsy9LodcKEASmXKZEKmO2pC8koemMHCnKHN5H7wrl6ojq03y1O85YWvRIKdCHxBSUmh2vRek298beh_AUuL-ck85LEf3-5stVYbDsQTGU6SxUMapzPfkbvtCrvslSuX1l/s1600/IMG_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOncff8M-KbAJsy9LodcKEASmXKZEKmO2pC8koemMHCnKHN5H7wrl6ojq03y1O85YWvRIKdCHxBSUmh2vRek298beh_AUuL-ck85LEf3-5stVYbDsQTGU6SxUMapzPfkbvtCrvslSuX1l/s640/IMG_2723.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Saturday was a recovery day. I stayed around the house for a good portion of the day while the Mrs. went to a few graduation open houses. She enjoyed some food and company and I enjoyed some piece and quiet. In the evening we caught up with some friends on the driveway and enjoyed the beautiful weather.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3SL7lV0o179yvdkqBi5sjfHkalltGQMpgJpoE1qEXR2Ma_vyYHb0Yc92dD6Pb-3KlMwTCK7dqvfWWGFKZLIwpG89-cV2izO5pSkuEzLPzrLbWwhnpEPjD5bhodspVyFCUK6ObBsjrWMb/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3SL7lV0o179yvdkqBi5sjfHkalltGQMpgJpoE1qEXR2Ma_vyYHb0Yc92dD6Pb-3KlMwTCK7dqvfWWGFKZLIwpG89-cV2izO5pSkuEzLPzrLbWwhnpEPjD5bhodspVyFCUK6ObBsjrWMb/s640/IMG_2730.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out my Brother in-laws sweet Indiana State custom corn-hole boards!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sunday was basically our Memorial Day celebration. We went to my in-laws and watched the Indy 500 on their nice BIG tv. We again got to enjoy the weather, play some corn hole, visit with other friends, watch the friends' kids splash in the kiddie pool and have a great time. We ended the evening with some time by the fire pit and then headed home. <br />
<br />
As you may have been able to tell, running was not it my plans this week. I am actually ok with it. I HAD to get some things done at school and needed to enjoy these first few days of relaxation. As for all the crap I ate over the weekend, I had only gained 1.1 lbs when I stepped on the scale this morning. I would say that isn't too bad at all. As I move into the days where yard work and physical activity take over in importance I am imagining these pounds beginning to melt of as they did last summer. I am curious to see what I will be down to by the time I complete my next half marathon in September. There are a lot of things I am looking forward to. For this week, it was relaxing, for next week, it will be my birthday, and who knows what my focus will be the next week. For right now, I will focus on Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-23971603592176694552016-05-23T19:03:00.003-04:002016-05-23T20:33:02.246-04:00Bringing it Home!When it comes to finishing a school year, things start to get pretty hectic. My job as a media specialist proves to be a endurance race of its own kind. I have spent the last week hunting down books in classrooms, scanning in all my materials, and helping other teachers with finishing up their testing as the days quickly vanish. Needless to say, exercise hasn't been the top thing on my mind this week, but my steps have been showing up due to my laps around the building. <br />
<br />
I also haven't been eating the greatest. I think pizza may have been my staple of choice last week. I did try to spread those pizza calories out over the week. I did manage to make it to a student's graduation open house on Saturday and had some GREAT authentic Mexican food. The only workout I managed to get in this week was a single lawn mow and one run on Sunday. I feel like if I had done this week differently I may not have even survived this last push. <br />
<br />
However, the lovely Mrs. Re-Dan-imation was willing to help me out at school over the weekend and helped me get a jump on the rest of my responsibilities for the end of the year. I hope she knows how much I appreciate her. The rest of the week was spent simply getting enough sleep to move on with the next day's activities. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac_oij-MWeYXSQVYkAriGSAHnlEXuGqmrVW6SpxYHBJ1bE-5ZiXcTOK4K9ou6LMJc70lcbKAi5w2rpVGucEkF_an8UnR6nYBdKhD_S60nlpxFWzjU96rIIvTvHPX-wp5DqRMqRXtbzat3/s1600/Runchat_Logo_2013_large-e1405194045245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac_oij-MWeYXSQVYkAriGSAHnlEXuGqmrVW6SpxYHBJ1bE-5ZiXcTOK4K9ou6LMJc70lcbKAi5w2rpVGucEkF_an8UnR6nYBdKhD_S60nlpxFWzjU96rIIvTvHPX-wp5DqRMqRXtbzat3/s640/Runchat_Logo_2013_large-e1405194045245.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have taken the time recently to participate in a couple Twitter chats. If you have never done this, I highly suggest it. The chats I have participated in both revolve around running, but there are chats about more things than you can even imagine. I have recently participated in the #runchat and #bibchat. Basically, you hop onto Twitter, search for the appropriate hashtag and join in. They are usually scheduled and if you don't know the times for the conversations you can find them when you search for the hashtag. The next one I will be participating in is at 8:00 on Tuesday. This is a #bibchat and is sponsored by SPIbelt this time. They chats usually vaguely revolve around the product being featured, but they are about running first with that item being figured in. The chats usually consist of 6 questions asked over the period of an hour. You answer the question and then read all the answers of others. Sometimes it can be intense to follow when the answers are rolling in, but remembering you can go back to read others answers after the fact helps relieve the stress. Give it a shot sometime and maybe you'll see me on there. Don't forget to follow me on twitter (<a href="http://twitter.com/danmiller0710" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">@danmiller0710</span></a>). These chats are also a great way to find new people to follow on twitter. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkKJhHicp2R0XGTCc0baB0glUj1-JufH06Q3uIMLKd6iKqe6Mqup57d3GEHqv2Ws0KKJehuqTcjtRNF6i3JmpnqIj-kjSHpkVf2eI-YuyFPrvTCZF1B1X7OYhi9nJ12YCX9VXSzrWXyf/s1600/BibRave_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkKJhHicp2R0XGTCc0baB0glUj1-JufH06Q3uIMLKd6iKqe6Mqup57d3GEHqv2Ws0KKJehuqTcjtRNF6i3JmpnqIj-kjSHpkVf2eI-YuyFPrvTCZF1B1X7OYhi9nJ12YCX9VXSzrWXyf/s640/BibRave_Logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#bibchat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, how did it go this week in the weight area. Surprisingly, I weighed in this morning at 265.7 lbs. That's a loss of 1.8 pounds over last week! I didn't see that coming. I guess sometimes you deserve a surprise. I'll take it! As I move into the next week, and with school ending I expect that the summer will only bring good things for my process. Also, please remember to donate to my fund-racing page for the Drumstick Dash this November. Until next week...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-30048447281962435812016-05-16T19:54:00.000-04:002016-05-16T20:24:24.711-04:00What's next for Re-Dan-imation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Well, I have truly achieved a goal I never thought I would conquer. Not in my wildest dreams did I think about running 13.1 miles before I began this journey! I have watched my brothers do fairly well in running through their careers and have gone on to continue to stay in shape. My middle brother will even be completing his first full marathon in July. With all this being said, it's kind of interesting to try and decide where to go from here. So, here's what's in store for me.<br />
<br />
First and foremost...I WILL be running more races. I have found some events that sound interesting and work well with my schedule. I figure what better way to share them than by putting them out here for everybody to read and join in if they would like.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gtkM230hbBo6s3ibnoUrjfVse5NGaOlD_4XtXXjvXMBlWSQFEojdIQtJpGVklG9CCcHXi6I57mdzetNeYbdJE97Uhyphenhyphenhq6cn7P8IEm8ULTYNKFul3sYjZpNspox5pzZlFNkaA48-xg1YQ/s640/blogger-image-709346799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gtkM230hbBo6s3ibnoUrjfVse5NGaOlD_4XtXXjvXMBlWSQFEojdIQtJpGVklG9CCcHXi6I57mdzetNeYbdJE97Uhyphenhyphenhq6cn7P8IEm8ULTYNKFul3sYjZpNspox5pzZlFNkaA48-xg1YQ/s640/blogger-image-709346799.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But first, some news from school. I had to wait until it was approved by our school board, but I will be the new co-coach for our elementary cross country team. That's right I will be sharing this role with another person as we begin the program at the elementary level for our corporation!! Can you imagine this former couch potato coaching a sport he has only watched in the past?! I'm pretty stoked to get into it next fall. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2GkVIGakOwaN1TR0S8L1QJ4vlyalxxTeBEQH3wYKt7dZRh666jzf5h4RsU0hsSVoA-gGnN5h6BSmmq-4WjoUE-uvLT_IgCvnStQ2BNfntISP8tyaHeidqQuJEwHmTI482MtngC0Ae-Yr/s640/blogger-image--830946766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2GkVIGakOwaN1TR0S8L1QJ4vlyalxxTeBEQH3wYKt7dZRh666jzf5h4RsU0hsSVoA-gGnN5h6BSmmq-4WjoUE-uvLT_IgCvnStQ2BNfntISP8tyaHeidqQuJEwHmTI482MtngC0Ae-Yr/s640/blogger-image--830946766.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, here come the races! The first race I will be taking part in is actually a series of races. The series is called Run(317) and each race is held in different areas of Indianapolis...hence the 317. Also each race is 3.17 miles instead of the normal 3.1 (again to fit with the area code). I have to admit that the swag for these races doesn't hurt as you get something related to beer at each event. If you are interested in this event I am participating in the June, July, and September events to be held in Broad Ripple, Mass Ave, and the Carmel Arts District. Click <a href="http://www.run317.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a> to find more information and to sign up. The complete series consists of 5 races but I signed up for the 3 race mini-series. I have also talked some friends and my father in-law into joining in for the June 16th event to be held in Broad Ripple. We would love to have more people sign up and join us!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ83DCPty4l-N3gz2kIhy6wo6imKt1HogjnfS7y1liBfKnbrdfWLaSTMuTBUtO2utRs47-wmRnZprocaOuCa5iemhqXS33c73VeA9esAnnMWI4EbYNw3dgeFCWRXNNDiUBACkLVyczOZdB/s640/blogger-image-1056321019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ83DCPty4l-N3gz2kIhy6wo6imKt1HogjnfS7y1liBfKnbrdfWLaSTMuTBUtO2utRs47-wmRnZprocaOuCa5iemhqXS33c73VeA9esAnnMWI4EbYNw3dgeFCWRXNNDiUBACkLVyczOZdB/s640/blogger-image-1056321019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The next race is one I have heard good things about online. This is the Mill Race Marathon in Columbus, IN. I will again be running a half marathon at this event. I still want to beat that 3 hour goal I set for the mini and I think with a little better speed work, plus some more long runs that I might be able to do just that. Plus, a totally cool side not about this race is that every finisher of the half and full marathon are entered in to a contest to win a brand new Dodge truck with a Cummins diesel engine. Cummins is the title sponsor. Not that I plan on winning that...but wouldn't it be cool?! For more information, or to register for this race...click <a href="http://www.millracemarathon.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg160G7WczrxG_dO8OpL49-FuZCX8dgKvGsbsnlS6bNXFSpKpo8BkFP-U2FF83sZrQG-qRXD3tDnjlvTPLgnbnlQ96bq_xfOJwbQYYPLW7NAUUQyWWB9ubU0QxSLidsv1W0BblLn25uZE0I/s640/blogger-image-1515986250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg160G7WczrxG_dO8OpL49-FuZCX8dgKvGsbsnlS6bNXFSpKpo8BkFP-U2FF83sZrQG-qRXD3tDnjlvTPLgnbnlQ96bq_xfOJwbQYYPLW7NAUUQyWWB9ubU0QxSLidsv1W0BblLn25uZE0I/s640/blogger-image-1515986250.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Recently, I was approached by one of my friends to participate in The Great Pumpkin Run in October. I actually almost signed up for this race last year and was super glad she suggested it. This year we signed up as a team and a few of us even decided to try the extra challenge where you carry a pumpkin through the entire 5K and earn an extra medal for your efforts. Oh yeah, this will be the first 5K participation for Mrs. Re-Dan-imation. I am super excited that she agreed to join in on the fun. This event is on October 8th and will be held at Dull's Tree Farm in Thorntown, IN which is just down the road from us!! If you want to sign up as a member of our team let me know and I will give you the info to sign up as a team member. More information can be found <a href="http://www.thegreatpumpkinrun.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ylyxgPbLpHEImNwErhS_BClVQtALw6Z031jakyImvOcwCajyMFAKNnygFbg0MHAPWMONBIAHNVs6pxknN30VJ3efxYbWGarbTBdtuNK5TKMGUR8oKmS2pdQvCoq9JKnbKuN2RI94dSmA/s640/blogger-image--2107219535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ylyxgPbLpHEImNwErhS_BClVQtALw6Z031jakyImvOcwCajyMFAKNnygFbg0MHAPWMONBIAHNVs6pxknN30VJ3efxYbWGarbTBdtuNK5TKMGUR8oKmS2pdQvCoq9JKnbKuN2RI94dSmA/s640/blogger-image--2107219535.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The next race I have registered for is another half marathon. This one is to be held on November 5th and is called the Monumental Marathon. This is another half and full that gets great reviews. I love downtown Indy and the route for this race takes you by some great features. It also fit pretty well on the calendar. I am pretty excited about this one as it is the longest goal I have set for right now being that it is roughly 6 months out. If you are interested in this event, more information can be found <a href="http://www.monumentalmarathon.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a>. Also, apparently this race sells out every year, so if you are actually interested in signing up, set that goal now and register early. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-ZRvF_izU44S6cQFEGCegoh5GfEs7EaAwEt5NuVC0lHlZ89Dh7Ix5n1doMMQLzXufHbCBXdlWvOMSsaMp4sRZlTWxy3rB2iluC2CYfImNVRSlr77CLn_BDjRZeVow_45v0N-2WJJv1gq/s640/blogger-image--736814252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="581" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-ZRvF_izU44S6cQFEGCegoh5GfEs7EaAwEt5NuVC0lHlZ89Dh7Ix5n1doMMQLzXufHbCBXdlWvOMSsaMp4sRZlTWxy3rB2iluC2CYfImNVRSlr77CLn_BDjRZeVow_45v0N-2WJJv1gq/s640/blogger-image--736814252.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The last race that I have currently signed up for is the 2016 Drumstick Dash. This race, although not my first race, is the one that really got me into the sport. Seeing 19,000 people, on Thanksgiving Morning, at the start line last year and actually going to an expo for an event really got me amped up to participate. I also was a fund-racer for this event last year and I will be doing the same thing again this year. Last year, I was able to raise $600 for the Wheeler Ministries to help feed the homeless of Indianapolis. This year my goal is to raise $1,000. I think I have started early enough to achieve that goal and then some. You may have noticed the donate area on the right side of the blog. If you would like to make a donation please use this area to head directly to my donation page. All donations are tax deductible and each $2.25 that is donated will provide a meal for one person in need. If you would like to sign up for this race simply click <a href="http://www.drumstickdash.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">here</span></a> for more info.<br />
<br />
I am sure I will probably sign up for at least one race in December, if not more. But, those are yet to be decided upon. If you have any races you have signed up for and would like to share please do so below. I have definitely been lacking in the comments on the actual blog, so any would be welcome. Also, like always, don't forget to sign up to "follow my progress" above and to the right. Simply put in your e-mail and you will get an update every time I post to the blog.<br />
<br />
And finally, for my weight this week. Exactly the same as last week at 267.5 lbs. I did get a couple short runs in this week along with some grass mowing and yard work, but I ate nowhere near as well as I should have. I am back on the plan and have a feeling this number will improve next week. Until next time. Food. Feet. Water. Repeat!!danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-69195614272563095012016-05-09T16:58:00.003-04:002016-05-09T17:49:20.232-04:00Post IndyMini...State of the Weight<br />
So, So, many of you read my race recap post...like 260 of you or so...and that's awesome! And although that post got a huge number of views it didn't have any information about the state of my weight. So I thought I would update you on my eating and gains/losses over the last week.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJoRHOkM72fgxZUbUpTobtVAbN-v8bcZjUqRZ68PfBzE7ACJ-8g232w2yCg_TUCczbRV95SwjXjECoab63tk84oSu9I1-4KjKgNPvisDO6XeWTrg7Vzwzll6cUL19ODDXsZ_zI9AO1Mh6/s1600/IMG_2592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJoRHOkM72fgxZUbUpTobtVAbN-v8bcZjUqRZ68PfBzE7ACJ-8g232w2yCg_TUCczbRV95SwjXjECoab63tk84oSu9I1-4KjKgNPvisDO6XeWTrg7Vzwzll6cUL19ODDXsZ_zI9AO1Mh6/s640/IMG_2592.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell how I was feeling about almost reaching the finish line?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last week my goal was to slowly carb up for the Mini. I did this by switching breakfast a couple days to one of my favorites...english muffins with Nutella and banana. We had some frozen pumpkin spice english muffins and those are fantastic with the Nutella.<br />
<br />
You may have seen the picture of me last week with a few other teachers in ties. We were valet parking for the staff in our building for staff appreciation week. Along with things like that we were also provided with a couple lunches last week as a sign of appreciation as well. Wednesday we had wraps from a local eatery and on Thursday we had a taco bar for lunch. They were both good lunches but the only thing helping with the slow increase in carbs were the tortillas included. <br />
<br />
Thursday I began the real load up. When I helped my brother move a few things out of his apartment at Purdue we headed out for dinner and I had some great pasta complete with chicken and mushrooms. Friday we headed down to Indy for packet pick up and hit up The Old Spaghetti Factory. The Garlic Shrimp Fettuccini was so good! I think you should take a look at the tastiness that was this meal.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0WFK4O2X_6seNPHFxhGJJA3zo9JbiFMkMx3ETLwOlbTS8MQ_X8nlBLh7rFv0ujPMyhX5oq-nPGRVHFjhYvlo6RS7uzBlHptnffkx1gJ61iOTsBL5EB4RdnA02Id7yQweQdWSmvzDBFsT/s1600/IMG_2547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0WFK4O2X_6seNPHFxhGJJA3zo9JbiFMkMx3ETLwOlbTS8MQ_X8nlBLh7rFv0ujPMyhX5oq-nPGRVHFjhYvlo6RS7uzBlHptnffkx1gJ61iOTsBL5EB4RdnA02Id7yQweQdWSmvzDBFsT/s640/IMG_2547.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the race on Saturday, I was pretty sure if I didn't eat quick bad things were going to happen. I grabbed the banana and some cookies from the volunteers. I followed those up with a nice cold chocolate milk. It doesn't really get any better for post race recovery than chocolate milk. Honestly, look it up. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After we headed back to my mom's house we decided going out to dinner for Mother's Day was in order. We looked around and though Houlihan's sounded appetizing. We ordered a couple appetizers. If you haven't been to Houlihan's recently might I suggest the "Stuffed 'Shrooms" and the "Spicy Chicken Avocado Eggrolls." Both of them were fantastic, but I could have eaten the egg rolls literally all day long. I followed this up with a fantastic BBQ pork cheeseburger. It was great. I may have been a little biased based upon the fact that I was running on empty but I would definitely order it again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sunday we went to my in-laws and then headed out for another Mother's Day dinner. This time I had a chicken club with cheese sandwich. Again, it wasn't too bad, but I felt bad for my brother in-law as he could have fared better than when his bowl of rice came out in the bag it was cooked in. Needless to say the salmon didn't quite fill him up. I'm just glad mine came out all right. Sorry man. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Side note...my father in-law has pledged to participate in a couple 5Ks with us this upcoming summer and fall and also stated that he would be participating in the IndyMini next year. That's right. He is going to complete his first half marathon at 68 years old!! You know you want to join us now. Follow <a href="http://www.indymini.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">this link</span></a> to make your commitment now and hold yourself accountable to an attainable goal. If I can do, it so can you. The early registration closes on Wednesday and won't reopen again until September when the prices go up. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13tdKa0HanZOK60MRs18cumusLB2snTxJBlJU_brECUST6vHoN4fwRZ7wuhRXLqLq57sTUsUOF3Naw2OMbnjsa_pAzWwzjYdV7w8GaG43E0vBXTIL81JOqbiho2_MAg479Y07yyyJVV1C/s1600/Ch8BU2BWkAQ9Get.jpg-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13tdKa0HanZOK60MRs18cumusLB2snTxJBlJU_brECUST6vHoN4fwRZ7wuhRXLqLq57sTUsUOF3Naw2OMbnjsa_pAzWwzjYdV7w8GaG43E0vBXTIL81JOqbiho2_MAg479Y07yyyJVV1C/s640/Ch8BU2BWkAQ9Get.jpg-large.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With all this being said, I thought the 35,000+ steps I picked up on Saturday would negate the effects of this week's food. However, with the run, recovery, and amount of water I have been drinking I weighed in this morning at 267.5 lbs. That put me at a total gain of 1.4 pounds for the week. I'm not even mad. I'm just glad I survived 13.1 miles. So, with that being said. Until next time...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.<br />
<br /></div>
danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-8015951433436757222016-05-08T15:03:00.000-04:002016-05-11T10:02:14.870-04:00500 Festival Indy Mini-Marathon Race Recap!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDLQYjZzQgQKxwveFVH5p7RacSNHEm_LsMtXlc7Tl1amthNOmkaFmyXLG3PP-44lGBrWuva5etaSifFgzehB7WRKihjBGGtLqZrfGP_L0hWaBmM5kPuM7og8C7gucU_IsYvUTRqm5_OPK/s1600/IMG_2617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDLQYjZzQgQKxwveFVH5p7RacSNHEm_LsMtXlc7Tl1amthNOmkaFmyXLG3PP-44lGBrWuva5etaSifFgzehB7WRKihjBGGtLqZrfGP_L0hWaBmM5kPuM7og8C7gucU_IsYvUTRqm5_OPK/s640/IMG_2617.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my Hardware!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here it is! Everything you wanted to know about how Saturday May 7, 2016 went for me. Let's get started and delve right in to what SOO many people followed and commented on. <br />
<br />
To begin with, I did a LOT of prepping on Friday. As many of you know, I took Friday off and headed down to the Expo with my brothers. That was great and we got to spend a couple hours just hanging out and looking around at different runs and items from running shops. I decided on Friday that I was going to purchase the little 13.1 sticker for the back window of the Jeep as well as purchase a "Finisher" shirt. That's right, I was putting the cart before the horse a little, but there was only one way I wasn't going to finish the race on Saturday and that was if I got injured during it. We met my mom and she helped us carb load by taking us out to The Old Spaghetti Factory. I had some garlic shrimp fettuccini and it was FANTASTIC! It was my first time eating there, I know blasphemy since I am from Indy, but we'll move on from that. Then I headed home, made sure all of my race clothes were ready, post race clothes were ready, and everything was charged. 9:30 call time for bed and then I was out.<br />
<br />
Saturday began with a 5am wake up call. Yeah, that part sucked, but honestly I was ready to be up and getting everything in order. Bathroom duties taken care of (including applications of one of God's greatest creations, Body Glide, and some nipple band-Aids) and I was ready for breakfast and double checking my bags. Breakfast consisted of an English muffin covered in Nutella and banana slices with water instead of milk. We packed up the car hit the gas station and were on our way to Indy at 6:11. Not too bad honestly. I also got the following card from the wife as a bit of support.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayyzUuD51eJHUKEZy4CPJRPupyrcupiCOkrSVIT5eTzMz6DEwcMOPZ48JVwA9_TiNES_QVXt2TIWO1TS-l0bzXtIhZ0_cNS-js-Lao0_AmNhBWJ44IQ_dQQAjfPNQ6Wr2vWAadndw5gpd/s1600/IMG_2597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayyzUuD51eJHUKEZy4CPJRPupyrcupiCOkrSVIT5eTzMz6DEwcMOPZ48JVwA9_TiNES_QVXt2TIWO1TS-l0bzXtIhZ0_cNS-js-Lao0_AmNhBWJ44IQ_dQQAjfPNQ6Wr2vWAadndw5gpd/s640/IMG_2597.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The ride down was pleasant. We listened to some tunes, watched the sun come up and didn't really discuss any race stuff. I could tell the Mrs. was still waking up a bit. When we got to Indy, I had pre-planned to park in a lot we often use when we go to Colts games. I pulled into the lot with the pay gate already raised (BONUS) and started to look for a spot. Let me just tell you, people who don't know how to park or don't care really piss me off. I passed at least 15 spots in this lot that I would have parked in but I wouldn't have been able to exit the vehicle because jack-bags decide to park crooked, in two spots, or so close to each other I would have to crawl out of the back. We finally found a spot as I was getting ready to pull out of the lot and find somewhere else. We hitched up our gear, and started heading towards corral U. Everything is working out so far.<br />
<br />
On the way to the corral I made a quick stop at the porta-potties. Here I ran into both of my brothers headed to do the same thing. They told me where my mom was and we headed over to talk to her for a few minutes. The music was playing along the corrals and and people were stretching and hydrating. I kept sipping on my water and looking around at all the people. People watching at this point is pretty cool. My brothers caught up to us and we talked for a few minutes and grabbed a quick picture, but they were beginning their day about 30 minutes ahead of me so they headed to their corral and got ready to start. Turns out they actually had to jump the barriers because they were a little late to their area. Haha....oops.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwtvMDImNBwK8lGo_0H_NEQa_Orkx_CFwiKMa6PrPF9RWS4xt-PrXc3CX4uE850GrlY7LNuMq4zm-W6qGtN8g7kO-L-CvlX_fnM2luow3BzJG0eVTDxLo1bv1flwaj9ceJC54TEqDkG80/s1600/IMG_2599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwtvMDImNBwK8lGo_0H_NEQa_Orkx_CFwiKMa6PrPF9RWS4xt-PrXc3CX4uE850GrlY7LNuMq4zm-W6qGtN8g7kO-L-CvlX_fnM2luow3BzJG0eVTDxLo1bv1flwaj9ceJC54TEqDkG80/s640/IMG_2599.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<br />
I decided to make one more trip to the port-o-let. Good decision. Turns out my stomach was a little nervous and this gave me an opportunity to relieve the nerves. I got back to the corral area literally as they were trying to lock me out. I didn't have to jump the rails, but I did have to slide in as they were closing it. As soon as I got in we began the SLOW march to the start line. We still have about 2-3 blocks to walk before we could get there. At this point, I plugged my phone into the external battery in my SpiBelt, started it charging, and turned on my LiveTrack. At this point I put in my headphones, watched the people around me and started to get focused. <br />
<br />
As I got close to the start I could feel my nerves ramping up. Was I gonna finish? Am I gonna run my race? Am I gonna get hurt? How many steps am I gonna get today?! Is my phone battery gonna die? Here it comes...and begin. I gave a smile at the start line and made sure to look up so the cameras could catch me and then started my Garmin (God, I hope my LiveTrack is working) and I started across the line. I made sure to pretty much immediately look down at my watch to make sure I could fall into the appropriate pace. No way did I want to go out too fast today. When I saw a 14:00 pace I knew I was good. Time to enjoy the ride. I ran under the giant American flag draped between fire trucks and saw the first musical performers from a high school band. As we crossed over the river on the way to the zoo a train pulled by us doing a little quicker pace than us. I saw people on rented Pacer's bikes cheering on their families. Take a right on White River Parkway and we are immediately cheering on the elite runners getting ready to head to the finish. That's right. I saw the leaders heading to the finish, just after I finished my first mile. <br />
<br />
One water stop in and I am feeling great. I took a cup, downed most of it, and kept right on moving. A left on Michigan street and we were on our way to miles 2 and 3. Nothing exciting here except the fact that some guys were cheering us on with Big Head and when I saw Ron Burgundy I made sure to yell "Milk was a bad choice!" He gave me a thumbs up even though I am sure he had heard it a thousand times already. At this point I was looking at pretty consistent times. Just after mile 2 I had my first GU gel and grabbed some water with it at the next water station. Meb passed me right after mile 2 with his crew in their bright green tanks. It was pretty cool to see them blowing past people. I am still curious how many people he passed. Miles 1, 2, and 3 were 14:21, 14:39, and 14:35 respectively. I'll take that as consistent. At this point I knew if I had any chance of staying under 3 hours for a total time I had to keep EVERY split under 15 minutes and they needed to be close to 14. At the 5K mark I saw Sheltered Reality playing off to my left and I made sure to yell at a student and his parent playing with them. They were pretty surprised to actually see me. Here's hoping they got a good picture. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaJqZiiugEJ6oilDVWuvhQIij2VROFDsWnIJGYbC6zv4p4TlEwS3bAJH54bR3iKP5PiMSarMbvC-j3c7UgyRKOAsioKiDApowmqfqW1Z423qb8KJCRiGwE9gjXcGnwr_E2PfZ5kwgwI56/s1600/IMG_2607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaJqZiiugEJ6oilDVWuvhQIij2VROFDsWnIJGYbC6zv4p4TlEwS3bAJH54bR3iKP5PiMSarMbvC-j3c7UgyRKOAsioKiDApowmqfqW1Z423qb8KJCRiGwE9gjXcGnwr_E2PfZ5kwgwI56/s640/IMG_2607.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Right to head north on Holt and then a left on 10th street. We again got to see runners ahead of us. The runners having already exited the track and getting ready to hit mile 10 were turning the direction opposite us. Mile 5 brought us into downtown Speedway. We ran right past Sarah Fishers' new Speedway Indoor Karting. It looks pretty cool. Here is where I saw a couple of the best signs I saw all day. The first was a young kid holding a sign saying "I trained all week to hold this sign." The second one I saw didn't really relate to me, but was definitely getting some good reactions. It said "Smile if you peed a little!" I can see the track now and am starting to get nervous. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2BpN0BCTMyYI3skf4aCZiW1dAgr1_3XfSPXS0T_xhxgSS2o0itxCkBdakNsHCXpqr2U9f-tFkB-blXtPVKuEkxwiGvND8_gih0uUyWTSM13nxL58OKs-9u5U-02s581H2vHux_f4WuQT/s1600/IMG_2606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2BpN0BCTMyYI3skf4aCZiW1dAgr1_3XfSPXS0T_xhxgSS2o0itxCkBdakNsHCXpqr2U9f-tFkB-blXtPVKuEkxwiGvND8_gih0uUyWTSM13nxL58OKs-9u5U-02s581H2vHux_f4WuQT/s640/IMG_2606.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
THE TRACK!!! On the way into the track, I grabbed my next gel pack and had some water. I knew the trip into the track was gonna be a nice steep incline so I relaxed heading down the ramp and tried to maintain effort going back up. The IU cheerleaders welcomed us to the Indy 500 Museum. We turned right and headed towards the fencing. Here it comes, the wide open expanse of the track. The most nervous part for me. And then it was there, I am on the back stretch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Literally the smoothest paved surface you will EVER be on. I tried to stay in the same area of the track and focus on maintaining my pace. It's pretty hard when it feels like you aren't going anywhere. Into Turn 3 and the "short chute" and then I hit mile 7 in turn 4. Then it starts...RAIN! It begins with a slow mist, and moves on to a very light drizzle. Still maintaining my pace of under 15 minutes, at this point I have decided that the goal of coming in under 3 hours was out the window, but finishing without walking wasn't yet. Just past mile 7, I grabbed my next GU and although I considered it sacrilege I disgraced the track by dropping the wrapper on the speedway. I know, there are volunteers there to help with it, but I still felt like I was tearing out the heart of car guys everywhere.<br />
<br />
It was at this point that I finally realized that my Live track feature was working. I finally looked at a few messages on my watch to distract me from the monotony of the track. I thought I was in a side conversation but it turns out a group of guy friends were keeping track of me via the live track. I was actually getting kudos from them. I got one Facebook notification even though I had them turned off and I got a few messages from my wife, family, and friends. I picked a good time to bring up my spirits. Prior to Saturday, the longest distance I had run without a walk break was 7.3 miles and I had just passed it on my way to the yard of bricks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LkxaVN_OkBaURB_6xemdr3N8ccNklGMZU6ZFA7WakfGkus0iR_-hzv4twcUpd7RZJBwMl9x1ikxqpgr6CZ0HQC88zawgDQPelRVY-RQNNOmw9SprbYQqsAQeNPJs2cygH_07cp7DJxid/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LkxaVN_OkBaURB_6xemdr3N8ccNklGMZU6ZFA7WakfGkus0iR_-hzv4twcUpd7RZJBwMl9x1ikxqpgr6CZ0HQC88zawgDQPelRVY-RQNNOmw9SprbYQqsAQeNPJs2cygH_07cp7DJxid/s640/IMG_2605.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
Although the rain had stopped at this point, I have kissed the bricks before on a field trip and decided that stopping to do it today would ruin my pace and possibly my legs. I hopped between two people and just kept motoring. Here comes turn 1, mile 8 and then turn 2 and now the rain has really started to come down. Big cold drops. It's a little refreshing and I totally don't mind it at all. However, I am pretty thankful that it quit after I left the track. Followed by a quick exit off the back straight towards the Brickyard crossing golf course I head back out onto 16th street. Just before I turned left on 16th a colleague patted me on the shoulder. She gave me some kinds words, told me I had this, and I kept moving. I saw her one other time just past mile 9.<br />
<br />
After taking a left on 16th street, I knew mile 10 was coming where they would be hanging out CLIF Gels. I had decided I wasn't going to eat one of these because I hadn't yet tried them and water to stick with the GU gels I brought. I did however, grab a couple and put them in my pockets. That's at least $2.50 back in my pocket ;) I had my last GU once I passed this area and grabbed a water. Just a 5K left and I know I am gonna finish. Pass mile 11 and I am heading back towards the White River. I'll be honest I was looking forward to this part because I knew this landmark meant I was closing in on the finish. Plus running next to it is pretty peaceful. The only hard part is that you can see the bridge heading back to military park well over a mile away and it doesn't seem to be getting any closer. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtMjI7i_ueazx2MJPMWimS-cCmSj-6GKtezF-3NHLzb2f2oqsRce5zxgI8qaJbWM_BsTWn_lsM9MlseGfF4eMOXYKykGXn2TzFYVjJ86TE4SPVDLpQnHNf4zlpprNCRVHss-V8YR8WQXR/s1600/IMG_2604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtMjI7i_ueazx2MJPMWimS-cCmSj-6GKtezF-3NHLzb2f2oqsRce5zxgI8qaJbWM_BsTWn_lsM9MlseGfF4eMOXYKykGXn2TzFYVjJ86TE4SPVDLpQnHNf4zlpprNCRVHss-V8YR8WQXR/s640/IMG_2604.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
The final turn. Left on New York and we are on the home STRETCH! The last strip of pavement is over a mile, but the black and white checkered flags start showing up about 3/4 of a mile out. I kick up the pace a little to see what I have left in the tank and manage to get my last mile in at 14:08. My second fastest split of the day. With just a tenth remaining I see my wife and mom off to the right. I head their direction, give them a thumbs up and attempt a smile, but I am BEAT. I do everything I can to finish strong and then it's there. The finish line. I head under the finish line and stop for my medal. My legs feel like jelly. I DIDN'T WALK A SINGLE STEP OF THE ENTIRE 13.1 MILES!!!!!!!!!!! I grab a banana, some snacks and a water and gatorade. I get my picture taken with the finisher background and head to the after party to find my family.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_h65OIl8klvd1rGis_fK_Q-p1A-z-GZn07Ozaka9_jwVMi8T1ZnYddkhQxRPEuab9SkfenhXXreE1MYmPqjiEpuwHW7nqD0f5TUrUvnllyQx7Blnf_4V5mo-_TEb08aYxLJR4v6LQeKL/s1600/IMG_2593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_h65OIl8klvd1rGis_fK_Q-p1A-z-GZn07Ozaka9_jwVMi8T1ZnYddkhQxRPEuab9SkfenhXXreE1MYmPqjiEpuwHW7nqD0f5TUrUvnllyQx7Blnf_4V5mo-_TEb08aYxLJR4v6LQeKL/s640/IMG_2593.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I promise that is running and not walking!!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We took some pictures, headed for the chocolate milk area, and then I proceeded to go find my second medal. Since I finished the mini as well as the training series, I got an extra medal with a 32.1 on it describing the number of miles included in my long run trainings as well as the mini mileage. I was pretty pumped to get this one. We then headed over to the PR bell. I knew I was going to be close to the right time for a certain special guest, but MEB literally showed up when I was about 10 people back in line. I got to meet him, get my picture taken, and ring the Personal Record bell all on my first outing. They definitely find ways to get you hooked on these things. After this I was truly done so we hit the merch tent and I grabbed a Ran with Meb shirt and we headed out. The walk back to the car seemed to go pretty quick considering my quads were, well, a bit tight. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation drove back home and then it was time to relax. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi650r7oJOngrmFsfEdv_-XkAu3vFkWHHGMWYDm7WyW5yf7dvcx8EdLomiNueYyqwoeK3q1khdmcw4Yz6imApDohMCGZEHi32IhDQ-ZEB4FP7Fi8-B0XtFvbIKnKskFqhzD_rDL2IOAZf58/s1600/IMG_2594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi650r7oJOngrmFsfEdv_-XkAu3vFkWHHGMWYDm7WyW5yf7dvcx8EdLomiNueYyqwoeK3q1khdmcw4Yz6imApDohMCGZEHi32IhDQ-ZEB4FP7Fi8-B0XtFvbIKnKskFqhzD_rDL2IOAZf58/s640/IMG_2594.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20JqGjTJqnghA8DTKK-z7kDJA8k9zTmhV66GbUYPqw4FuHGCD9cxAMQWmX461i3gMHGZUrN1g0Jec_yA5ZL5YXkBcOoJZr-dk5kOyHXCDFxPReLi7Db-D4ujlCP3Z25Cm87E4WQ7QjF-X/s1600/IMG_2566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20JqGjTJqnghA8DTKK-z7kDJA8k9zTmhV66GbUYPqw4FuHGCD9cxAMQWmX461i3gMHGZUrN1g0Jec_yA5ZL5YXkBcOoJZr-dk5kOyHXCDFxPReLi7Db-D4ujlCP3Z25Cm87E4WQ7QjF-X/s640/IMG_2566.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddxCdrRq3Li1AykbzHRAUQ5mtKntDSB6u9aGdrMjGwtI2GO9XJg7u7rkYJmLOfW4DQcLPLc-fhMtjun3Cito9WPg6x-k2MrD8_4wIGg12f109TPhc1fEumUWSQfNbK7uLb-4w0d-oWBwd/s1600/IMG_2600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddxCdrRq3Li1AykbzHRAUQ5mtKntDSB6u9aGdrMjGwtI2GO9XJg7u7rkYJmLOfW4DQcLPLc-fhMtjun3Cito9WPg6x-k2MrD8_4wIGg12f109TPhc1fEumUWSQfNbK7uLb-4w0d-oWBwd/s640/IMG_2600.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0_vUcnpPMEMifDDHgmJzM2phlZlDSJvwoDz3EYPc15vSzd8N6cPw6cGLfVzfo2LBkxNTha63jBvOR6zoLEKxlRjd1nwl1Q-NXxz7dyJMnR_zMzS3Nbx55TZHv6mUmktI4aL8akhr5hx7/s1600/IMG_2575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0_vUcnpPMEMifDDHgmJzM2phlZlDSJvwoDz3EYPc15vSzd8N6cPw6cGLfVzfo2LBkxNTha63jBvOR6zoLEKxlRjd1nwl1Q-NXxz7dyJMnR_zMzS3Nbx55TZHv6mUmktI4aL8akhr5hx7/s640/IMG_2575.jpg" width="568" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I want to thank every single person for the kind words they sent me through Facebook and text messages. I have tried to reply back to all messages or at the least like them on Facebook. If you have made it this far through this post, thank you again for sticking with me the whole time. This could have been much longer believe me. If you are interested in joining the IndyMini next year...see below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifegDjJcwgnwqt2e5eCs1IJnQ3pM9Y15fTlmu6P35AftGvvQ9z7m9650oGmmC5082-8GsFNuJssoD0l8T2B8gvjNNNJd-ukUk1o8PWyn4o1A62bhpECrONbfYmWjAJVh8KVDh-HdO-pJ-e/s1600/Ch8BU2BWkAQ9Get.jpg-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifegDjJcwgnwqt2e5eCs1IJnQ3pM9Y15fTlmu6P35AftGvvQ9z7m9650oGmmC5082-8GsFNuJssoD0l8T2B8gvjNNNJd-ukUk1o8PWyn4o1A62bhpECrONbfYmWjAJVh8KVDh-HdO-pJ-e/s640/Ch8BU2BWkAQ9Get.jpg-large.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-5192458599797450132016-05-02T20:09:00.000-04:002016-05-02T20:53:04.750-04:00IndyMini Week Has ArrivedHoly Crap!! It's here! On Saturday, I will be running 13.1 miles! Those of you that remember me starting this blog know how much of an accomplishment this is. Let me get into my week heading up to this so you can understand my emotions at the moment.You have a long way left before the end of the post :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FFzGZZ9TEtFjBRQpG80I54gLB0ATS5LR4aMkrpAg67ZEsCbO5gkvo08SMY8M6IejPw_MrNnYMEw_MicR-CuMOHHPwpfGphVuw7bgj2BWcxeiIX_gyRioKCr53bCOvj4UmEsa1aI_NUsF/s1600/10686782_827489747271197_5732603273379454249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FFzGZZ9TEtFjBRQpG80I54gLB0ATS5LR4aMkrpAg67ZEsCbO5gkvo08SMY8M6IejPw_MrNnYMEw_MicR-CuMOHHPwpfGphVuw7bgj2BWcxeiIX_gyRioKCr53bCOvj4UmEsa1aI_NUsF/s640/10686782_827489747271197_5732603273379454249_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Wednesday, I did a training run on the treadmill. I wanted to go outside, but the timing wasn't going to work out for me as I had other things to do that evening, so the treadmill it was. Including warm up and cool down I did just under 4 miles in 55 minutes. This was an easy run and I ran at a pace a little slower than I expect to run for the Mini.<br />
<br />
I also posted another recipe last week. I took some great pictures and got a couple nice compliments on it. However, I won't be posting a new recipe this week because I have quite a bit going on with planning for the weekend and then heading to the expo on Friday. You can expect more of these in the future. They may be intermittent, but definitely keep an eye out. I won't share it unless I think it is good.<br />
<br />
This Sunday, I ran my final "long" run for my preparation. This run was <u>only</u> an hour which has gotten to the point where it seems like little to nothing. What 260+ pound guy says "Oh you know, it's only an hour." Never in my life did I think I would say that. The run was to be set as 30 minutes easy, 20 minutes goal marathon pace and 10 minutes easy. I did the first 30 easy...kicked it up to 4.7 mph for the 20 minutes, but for the last 5 minutes cranked it up a tenth each minute resulting in a 5.1 at the end before i turned it back down for the last easy 10. I know, I was flying right? Just kidding, by no means is that an all out sprint, but after 45 minutes I feel like it was pretty good and I easily had plenty left in the tank. With a sporadic as my training may have seemed during some points (i.e. February and March the most important parts) this made me feel like I will definitely accomplish my first goal on Saturday, which is to finish.<br />
<br />
You may be able to tell by this point that I am pretty pumped about the 500 Festival Mini Marathon! I hope you have the same feeling. I have spent quite a few months preparing for this and it is all coming together. I have been spending quite a bit of time looking at FAQs on the Indy Mini website and checking out road closure times and etc to try and plan my time leaving the house on Saturday. While doing so I have made a few discoveries.<br />
<br />
The first discovery is the way that the LiveTrack feature works with my Garmin. If you are 100% interested in following my progress please either leave your email in the comments below or send me a direct message through Twitter or Facebook. If you do so, you will receive a link in your email from me on Saturday morning when I start the feed. You will literally get to watch me head through the entire course at my actual speed. It probably won't even look like that dot is moving on your screen, but I promise it will be. I will also be sharing that same link on my Facebook account and through Twitter, but if you don't follow me for some weird reason or if not enough people like it/share it on Facebook you might miss it. I know you all care about me and my progress so send me your emails. You can even do it by signing up as a subscriber to my blog. I will have your email listed there as well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9LKKt1Vs6a2ZvAmUVT_VzfbNnEsl1PRVZED3fotXwCmZNLwBgAWlrIyJ_HYl2-TQGfjVDvqAVkKRFMxbRut_JZy1nvZcme1a00uGiW92mYVIyKDYM-EU5-i8TDpRMN4nptUNt6bU_b62/s1600/IMG_2510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9LKKt1Vs6a2ZvAmUVT_VzfbNnEsl1PRVZED3fotXwCmZNLwBgAWlrIyJ_HYl2-TQGfjVDvqAVkKRFMxbRut_JZy1nvZcme1a00uGiW92mYVIyKDYM-EU5-i8TDpRMN4nptUNt6bU_b62/s640/IMG_2510.jpg" width="359" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is what the app user screen looks. Click on Tracking and Results</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second discovery is the IndyMini App and how useful it is. If you download this wonderful app and you aren't able to sit and watch me or one of your other friends online you can set it up to get notified when people pass certain points in the race. It will send you push notifications of SMS Text messages right to your phone. I will have both of my brothers (my middle brother signed up this morning because his Saturday was available unexpectedly...don't worry he is actually training for a full marathon) sent as texts to me because I will be able to see those on my watch throughout the race and will be interested in how well they are doing.<br />
<br />
This past weekend, I spent a lot of time perusing other runs in the near future. I am trying to stay planned ahead as I want to maintain the feeling of having a goal to look forward to. So, On Saturday, I talked with a few friends and we decided to sign up for one of the RUN(317) races to take place in June. I am pretty pumped to take part in this series as I honestly thought about signing up for one of them last summer, but I missed the boat. This year I signed up for the Mini-Series. That means I will be running 3 of their races. These three races will take place in Broad Ripple, Carmel, and Mass Ave. District in June, July, and September respectively. The swag seems pretty nice...mostly glassware of sorts ;). It will be fun to include a couple other people in my "runtourage" and running through different parts of Indy will be fun. If you are interested in taking part in this series use <a href="https://raceroster.com/events/2016/8268/2016-run317-series-3-race-mini-series?" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">this link</span></a> to sign up or click on the picture below. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://raceroster.com/events/2016/8268/2016-run317-series-3-race-mini-series?" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmj4sl87nyxssAk8YIBaQDk1Wp_dmhK7W6oa3DWHa7x4v2AsjnAPs21LeFT1gA4RAjDL6_E1CV7ICHWdSjDQJw3QA6HEJQhgJkrDG-myebln_gnO8AEVMRlenROzHT-xBH3g-q7LSubMS/s1600/Tvn5s7QW.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Also this week, I finally cracked Mrs. Re-Dan-imation!! She is going to sign up to participate in a 5K with myself and the same friends that are going to run the 317 series. This will be The Great Pumpkin Run and will be taking place in October. She recently took a hiatus from running, but last week fired back up on a Couch to 5K reboot. I am so pumped that she has decided to join in. We will be starting a team for the event. If we decide to open up the team to others we will be sure to share the code on here so you can join...If we don't I promise it is not because we are trying to be jerks about it and will probably be a case where we just want to keep it a small group of close friends. This is another race that I almost signed up for last year, but I am glad I waited because it is being held at Dull's Tree Farm this year, which happens to be about an hour closer than last years event.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aYpTh8mjKSR-h6Wb51b_SmQaJ-9_uDcYsY6icmQS28oz_psHjVsfu6juOG-4TWqVsUPHCoRkin4gBNwStTVjCy1GLp7PkgSf_-XH9xsTEGtPM_V3i23SED03hm2_H37EKjB5j6bTeGOF/s1600/great+pumpkin+run.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aYpTh8mjKSR-h6Wb51b_SmQaJ-9_uDcYsY6icmQS28oz_psHjVsfu6juOG-4TWqVsUPHCoRkin4gBNwStTVjCy1GLp7PkgSf_-XH9xsTEGtPM_V3i23SED03hm2_H37EKjB5j6bTeGOF/s640/great+pumpkin+run.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The last discovery I made is that when I put my mind to something I truly can accomplish it. I had my doubts when I signed up for this race that I would put in the effort to actually train for it. Well, I have done that and now all I have to do is complete it on Saturday. As for my weight this week, well, I went up 0.8 lbs for a weight of 265.1 lbs. I am ok with that. I figure I will gain a little more weight this week until Saturday. The plan is NOT to gorge myself after the race so that I can actually recover decently and be able to walk at school on Monday. Next week I will have the recap of the race for you to read. If you think this post was long, I hope you have a few extra minutes next Monday as I plan on spending a good part of Sunday doing the write up so I can get it right. Until next time...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat. WISH ME LUCK ON SATURDAY!!danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-13130127757779364072016-04-28T18:23:00.000-04:002016-04-28T18:23:11.297-04:00Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Overnight OatsI've said it before and I'll say it again. I have a sweet tooth. It has gotten me in trouble late at night with snacks like peanut butter cups and bite size chocolates. However, this time I am using it to actually satisfy my hunger in the morning.<br />
<br />
As you all know, I have recently become obsessed with Overnight Oats. They are quick, easy, and honestly taste delicious. So I decided to use some fresh Driscoll's Raspberries and my favorite type of chocolate chip to create a breakfast to fill my craving and my stomach. Here it is!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Uho9-9rT8n6FtsaU7cCciCOaiLzTy2u-3fl5mxufQJiHM_98Ppmx3qI2Vyoy749138uMgkoF06PmxhUGTTkGbclAuDi99Paho4EnpmCcRP0gT01B_tiqZFn3yKi2duSzw5oB57stB49u/s1600/_MG_8464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Uho9-9rT8n6FtsaU7cCciCOaiLzTy2u-3fl5mxufQJiHM_98Ppmx3qI2Vyoy749138uMgkoF06PmxhUGTTkGbclAuDi99Paho4EnpmCcRP0gT01B_tiqZFn3yKi2duSzw5oB57stB49u/s640/_MG_8464.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I have been wanting to try a couple different things in my oats and I gave them a shot for this recipe. First of all, I have been using honey as my sweetener and wanted to try some 100% maple syrup this time. I also wanted to try to leave out the vanilla extract as I was beginning to feel that I was tasting it more in some recipes than anything else. I have listed the recipe below. Give it a shot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE OVERNIGHT OATS</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Wet Ingredients</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 Tablespoons 100% Maple Syrup</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/3 cup Fresh Raspberries</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Dry Ingredients</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 Tablespoons White Chocolate Chips (1 now, 1 later)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Directions:</u> Mash the 1/3 cup fresh raspberries in the bottom of a bowl. Combine with almond milk, yogurt, and maple syrup. Stir with a fork until completely smooth. Add oats, chia seeds, and 1 Tablespoon white chocolate chips and stir again until mixed completely. Cover and let sit overnight or at least 4 hours. In the morning split the bowl into 2 servings, throw on some extra fresh raspberries and the other tablespoon of white chocolate chips and ENJOY! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhyphenhyphenW9lkqI5cwlog8oJEh3KBHDoHGrPLtjSIZWoV3TCQYMkZyOuKwHUVUulLGqNx9UvZLzoPBYk1dadEYAfA5RZ2zHvIeBxZsF9h8Apg807ZZqv79exYTXhIlx6DTbw-UBMoahjjtJ86xR/s1600/_MG_8489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhyphenhyphenW9lkqI5cwlog8oJEh3KBHDoHGrPLtjSIZWoV3TCQYMkZyOuKwHUVUulLGqNx9UvZLzoPBYk1dadEYAfA5RZ2zHvIeBxZsF9h8Apg807ZZqv79exYTXhIlx6DTbw-UBMoahjjtJ86xR/s640/_MG_8489.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As always...if you try this recipe or have one of your own you would like to share leave it in the comment section below. Until next time...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.</div>
danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-45367538652060976772016-04-25T18:44:00.000-04:002016-04-25T18:44:38.294-04:00Take me out to the Ball Game!This week has been quite active! It definitely helps that the grass is growing! I mowed the grass twice this week. I had forgotten how hard it was to push mow the grass with the powered wheels no longer providing assistance, while still providing weight. I try to make sure to actually "push it" a little when I am mowing to keep my heart rate up. All the rain lately has truly greened the grass right up and it looks great when it is freshly mowed.<br />
<br />
This weekend the weather was B-E-A-Utiful! On Saturday, My brother-in-law and I headed down to Franklin College to watch the Grizzlies softball team take part in their conference tournament. One of his former basketball players plays for the Grizzlies and we went down to watch her play. It was a fun atmosphere and it definitely helped that they won over Bluffton 2-0. It was a great day to watch a ball game. We probably would have stayed around to watch the second game if we didn't already have more plans for the day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEwbbVo6ZBXfq-Qg8n-JP2pPMlqY-TFwqMvArfnBpp9FdmoRVXe9vbWphGHkvdsp8apnSFJqmBjqB4OcRGGE0Cj3n3KXzjbY-rcSQ7YXBDUEeh5iUG3p2hGfdyPbvb9DllUSbdhUsgx2P/s1600/IMG_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEwbbVo6ZBXfq-Qg8n-JP2pPMlqY-TFwqMvArfnBpp9FdmoRVXe9vbWphGHkvdsp8apnSFJqmBjqB4OcRGGE0Cj3n3KXzjbY-rcSQ7YXBDUEeh5iUG3p2hGfdyPbvb9DllUSbdhUsgx2P/s400/IMG_2479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I forgot to mention that last week I was finally able to try my Garmin Forerunner 235 outdoors. Although it wasn't during a run, since I used it on the Monon during my bike ride, I did get to try a couple features out. Auto pause worked great, but the feature I was really wondering about was the live tracking function. With live tracking I can send out a link, and by using the Garmin in conjunction with my phone, anybody with the link can click and find me wherever I happen to be during my workout or race. I can't wait to use this during the Mini. That way anybody that is friends with me on Facebook can follow me and track my progress during the race no matter how slow that little dot might be moving. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation was able to track my progress on my bike last week just by checking her e-mail. Speaking of e-mail. Don't forget to subscribe to this blog by putting your email in the box up to the right. That way you won't miss any of my updates if you don't happen to see it on Facebook or Twitter. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jb0yeLZnE7Go0X5GWqmrryXOWa5nJML509ulMKF16x4DTR-8s7c0ZrtdxhCHUm-t5JpOEwEhr1fDhuilZbmXEcUyTYKI3N0q1GZXmZ8yttROczP7VDf7J95IALf-Wa-RVNkajVL8bLP4/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jb0yeLZnE7Go0X5GWqmrryXOWa5nJML509ulMKF16x4DTR-8s7c0ZrtdxhCHUm-t5JpOEwEhr1fDhuilZbmXEcUyTYKI3N0q1GZXmZ8yttROczP7VDf7J95IALf-Wa-RVNkajVL8bLP4/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
After the ball game we hopped back on the highway and headed straight for Broad Ripple. Nope, not another bar crawl. This time we were going for fitness. Yep, Kreg had decided that he would head out on the Monon Trail with me for a ride. After finally finding a parking spot we unloaded and headed for the trail head. I had decided that heading south was a better idea as the views from the trail tend to be a little more interesting. It's fun to head past some of the murals, the state fairgrounds, and all the way down to 10th street underneath the I-65/I-70 split. After heading back our trip calculated right at 14 miles. Not bad for a days ride, especially when we are taking our time and making it more of a scenic ride than a hard workout. He seemed to enjoy himself and just like earlier, the weather was still great.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkyoe8aSeuPYbVruD8TZttZy5yHTCpAATnsJPFoaA60avnClStAWRP0hhsK3vIkzl_72d_7xUUd3XjA6-OJyiyQeFAs_MKOyqty5u-MisgiUpdao7nQUrjiG94oVKOzdtifBNewft0hc8/s1600/IMG_2478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkyoe8aSeuPYbVruD8TZttZy5yHTCpAATnsJPFoaA60avnClStAWRP0hhsK3vIkzl_72d_7xUUd3XjA6-OJyiyQeFAs_MKOyqty5u-MisgiUpdao7nQUrjiG94oVKOzdtifBNewft0hc8/s400/IMG_2478.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably not the way this officer wanted to spend his shift.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Last week I introduced my first stand alone recipe post. I was eager to see if anybody would read it. According to my stats on blogger, it got about half the views of a regular weekly post of mine. If you read it, and especially if you tried it...let me know what you thought. You can leave a comment at the bottom!! Hopefully the rest of you are able to take the time to check these out once I get more of them up and going. I am also working on a way to add a page to the top of the blog that leads directly to recipes. So far it hasn't worked out exactly how I wanted it to, but I am working on it. Trying to find some code to put in that I can adjust just the way I want it. <br />
<br />
You may have noticed I haven't included any runs in my posts these past two weeks. I plan on remedying that this evening. After my last long run on the treadmill I have been wanting to do my runs outside as 10 miles on the treadmill was torture. I have done a couple treadmill runs since then, but I have been having the itch to head back out. I really need to do some training runs with my Garmin to get it acclimated to my stride as well. That way I know it will be as accurate as it can for the Mini.<br />
<br />
Speaking of the Mini. I received my confirmation e-mail this week. I will be starting in Corral U for the race at approximately 8:15. For the seeded corrals I am next to last for runners...yep, I'm slow. I'm cool with that though. Here's the way I look at it, every person I pass during the race is a victory. My GOAL is to finish and every person that I finish in front of is just icing on the cake for me. If you haven't already...you should download the <a href="http://www.indymini.com/p/mini-marathon/309" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">IndyMini app</span></a>. You will be able to enter my Bib number (33227) and follow me based on when I cross at certain points during the race (5K, Yard of Bricks, 11 mile, and finish line) if you don't want to follow me via my Garmin live tracking (or in case my battery runs out). I seriously hope that if you are the least bit interested in reading this blog that you will be interested in how I finish on May 7th. I also took May 6th off from school because I want to be able to go down and completely enjoy the Mini Marathon Expo without feeling rushed while also allowing me to get enough sleep the night before and still get up to make it down around closed streets and traffic.<br />
<br />
So how did the scale treat me this morning? Well, I stepped on and it said 264.3 lbs. EXACTLY the same as last week! At least it didn't go up. I feel better than I did last week and I have been constantly on the move. Who knows? But, I didn't gain and that is good enough for me. I am done with yo-yoing like I have been pretty much doing since November. Be on the lookout for another recipe this week. I haven't decided whether I am going to share another overnight oats recipe or a dinner recipe. Let me know what you think. Until next time...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-61334385721593588482016-04-20T17:23:00.000-04:002016-04-20T18:31:00.457-04:00Overnight Banana NutellOats! I have been talking a lot about overnight oats. I have recently become a huge fan of this wonderful breakfast. It's filling. It's tasty. It's easy to prepare. Best of all...It's ready to go in the morning with zero preparation! It's even easier than pouring a bowl of cereal.<br />
<br />
Having shared a couple recipes recently from Fit Foodie Finds, I thought that I would share my reaction to them as well as show how I updated one of them for a flavor that I really enjoy. One of the flavors I mentioned recently was a <a href="http://re-dan-imation.blogspot.com/2016/04/best-to-be-busy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Blueberry Muffin</span></a> flavoring. It was pretty easy to make and involved FRESH blueberries and some lemon zest. I do have to say though, this was probably my least favorite of the kinds I have tried. I think the citrus from the zest overpowered the blueberries and made it kind of tart when I took a spoonful. If you like to pucker when you eat, you could give it a try. I think I will make a switch in the sweetener next time and try to make them taste like blueberry pancakes. I'll share the recipe if I end up making them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWq9Z2ZyL7pWMki99VRpP-8BdPDktEOCLt-STKb2yT58xRdN_xIaQTdtsliZgrueLxw3vohIPetuQN4ZBVfymeR4b45G8lcb5kfsiEgDkJC8-e8nM0zMFxJAeGgiZVBFpZbH-lRvQ7xui/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWq9Z2ZyL7pWMki99VRpP-8BdPDktEOCLt-STKb2yT58xRdN_xIaQTdtsliZgrueLxw3vohIPetuQN4ZBVfymeR4b45G8lcb5kfsiEgDkJC8-e8nM0zMFxJAeGgiZVBFpZbH-lRvQ7xui/s640/IMG_2436.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
The next flavor I tried was Chocolate Chia. This was fantastic. It tasted like a bowl full of chocolate milk with just enough texture to make it filling. The oats and the chia seeds definitely help in the filling department. I recently learned that chia seeds expand to 8 times their original size when you eat them. How's that for filling your stomach?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mrs. Re-Dan-imation even decided she was going to make some for me one night this week. She looked up a peanut butter chocolate chip recipe. Let me tell you. This one was excellent and tasted pretty much like a Reese's Cup. It came out pretty thick in the morning, but just adding a splash of almond milk made it good to go.<br />
<br />
So, after trying a few recipes I decided to switch one up a bit for a flavor that I absolutely love. One of my favorite things to eat is <a href="http://www.nutella.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Nutella</span></a>. When I saw a recipe for Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats, I knew what my first recipe of my now was going to be. It's time for "Overnight Banana NutellOats!" That's right. I even came up with a clever name although Mrs. Re-Dan-imation doesn't like it. HeHe. If you have never mixed these two flavors, you need to try it NOW. Take a spoonful of Nutella and spread it on a banana. So how do you make it? Grab the following ingredients and follow the steps below.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">Overnight Banana NutellOats</span></b></div>
<br />
<b><u>Wet Ingredients</u></b><br />
Banana- 1/2 for mix 1/2 for topping<br />
Almond Milk- Unsweetened- 3/4 cup (I use <a href="https://silk.com/products/unsweetened-original-almondmilk" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Silk</span></a>)<br />
Greek Yogurt- Vanilla or plain- 1/4 cup<br />
Vanilla Extract- 1 teaspoon<br />
Nutella- 2 Tablespoons<br />
Honey- 1 Tablespoon<br />
<br />
<b><u>Dry Ingredients</u></b><br />
Rolled Oats (Old Fashioned)- 1 cup<br />
Chia Seeds- 1 Tablespoon<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dr7wyeu_PvIjMN1snqTWeEf1tU37g-cWmQLa-XaiYwhu8DA8L3qSLaLnvj353LIBvgsN02MC46EwXil5Ys0Nr8azVB7SLpdUE71jRDj8BtlszBtA30VMgp5jnVuXfBQ8gstd1-ad05q6/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dr7wyeu_PvIjMN1snqTWeEf1tU37g-cWmQLa-XaiYwhu8DA8L3qSLaLnvj353LIBvgsN02MC46EwXil5Ys0Nr8azVB7SLpdUE71jRDj8BtlszBtA30VMgp5jnVuXfBQ8gstd1-ad05q6/s640/IMG_2451.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u>Directions</u></b>: Begin my mashing half of a banana in a bowl. Then mix the rest of the wet ingredients with a fork until they are smooth. Make sure to mix it until everything has been completely mixed. You don't want a clump of honey and chia seeds sitting in the bottom of the bowl. Then pour in the dry ingredients and mix again until smooth. Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge. Overnight Oats need to sit at least 4 hours, but I ALWAYS leave them overnight. In the morning, slice the other half of the banana and place it on top of the oats with an extra tablespoon of Nutella in the middle. The toppings definitely help top off the flavors. This recipe makes 2 servings so split if with someone or save the rest for the next morning like I do. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP7KDqV8G2j9N0orUTqIj9moFMRo6MbJ65mzRVTgACrKv7Jx7KQcjIMgnb6yWS1PUq5a13GoLswHmnpSFvRzUwdarCuchSefoS_ka8rbX2v20XE-eyzdX2fLE2OL18W4tecbJWBz1CH3r/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP7KDqV8G2j9N0orUTqIj9moFMRo6MbJ65mzRVTgACrKv7Jx7KQcjIMgnb6yWS1PUq5a13GoLswHmnpSFvRzUwdarCuchSefoS_ka8rbX2v20XE-eyzdX2fLE2OL18W4tecbJWBz1CH3r/s640/IMG_2452.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously GOOD!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I hope you enjoy this recipe of mine. I know this is something new for the blog, but I thought maybe you guys would like to try something that I find is really helping me. If you have tried these before or try them with this recipe let me know in the comments. I would love to hear your reaction to this recipe. Also, don't forget to subscribe to the blog by putting your email in the box above and to the right. If you have a favorite overnight oats recipe feel free to share that as well. Until next time...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6360809136429187209%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6133438572159358848%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KFLfEupuvZc%2FVxZCe4aEJ4I%2FAAAAAAAAJow%2FjnpQXUmQTOkCx-gMqAd6BqtyzIEUQogkwCLcB%2Fs640%2FIMG_2452.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=y1MNMavZddUD&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 33px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2331px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6360809136429187209%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6133438572159358848%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KFLfEupuvZc%2FVxZCe4aEJ4I%2FAAAAAAAAJow%2FjnpQXUmQTOkCx-gMqAd6BqtyzIEUQogkwCLcB%2Fs640%2FIMG_2452.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=y1MNMavZddUD&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 33px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2331px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6360809136429187209%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6133438572159358848%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KFLfEupuvZc%2FVxZCe4aEJ4I%2FAAAAAAAAJow%2FjnpQXUmQTOkCx-gMqAd6BqtyzIEUQogkwCLcB%2Fs640%2FIMG_2452.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=y1MNMavZddUD&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 33px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2331px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6360809136429187209%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D6133438572159358848%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dallposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dallposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KFLfEupuvZc%2FVxZCe4aEJ4I%2FAAAAAAAAJow%2FjnpQXUmQTOkCx-gMqAd6BqtyzIEUQogkwCLcB%2Fs640%2FIMG_2452.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=y1MNMavZddUD&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 33px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2331px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-6079101061580940412016-04-18T14:22:00.002-04:002016-04-20T12:06:32.631-04:00The GREAT Outdoors!Finally, the weather has broken!! We have been waiting for some weather like this for a while now. The winter was rather warm, but early spring has been relatively miserable with low temps, rain, and driving winds. This week we were lucky enough to enjoy some warmer temperatures, little rain, and a calm wind. That means I was finally able to get back outside. I may not have gone on an outdoor run, but I still got my workouts in other ways.<br />
<br />
I have also been enjoying many more overnight oat recipes and even altered one of them to make my own style. I'll share that with you later. What I have discovered about these overnight oats is that I am not overeating on cereal in the morning because the amount I make is only for two servings so I know exactly how much to eat without measuring. Also, I haven't been hungry before lunch one time since I started eating them. It's great to know I am getting some good nutrition and not going overboard on calories.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbLRFRf0MxEu99z5lS0TpmwL-s4UPAHPMJLiUkb0zMOao2Texu253vB5UUkWu3dbpMR_ekde4afWxOSY9pO8H9GbclrpmSlPjV0Ts37QMnM5VGT0PDwcxP-5B9FjtIzR0V45yZRXp3n1H/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbLRFRf0MxEu99z5lS0TpmwL-s4UPAHPMJLiUkb0zMOao2Texu253vB5UUkWu3dbpMR_ekde4afWxOSY9pO8H9GbclrpmSlPjV0Ts37QMnM5VGT0PDwcxP-5B9FjtIzR0V45yZRXp3n1H/s400/IMG_2444.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory Selfie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The warm weather in the winter also caused a benefit in another way. The scheduled snow make-up days in our school calendar were not used so I was lucky to have a 3-day weekend this week. What a great weekend for this to happen! It gave me even more time to be outside soaking in that Vitamin D. I used that day to play a round of golf on Friday. Let's just say I am glad the weather was nice because my game was horrible. It was my first round of the season, so hopefully I will get a little better as the weeks and months go on. It was great to hang out with friends, joke around, and occasionally even make a good shot or two. It was also good to hear one of my friends say "I may not have a blog about it, but I am down 11 pounds." Whether or not he blogs about it is cool with me, but maybe reading about my struggles and victories has helped him a little. <br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">On Saturday, I decided that the <a href="http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPR/Greenways/Pages/Monon%20Trail.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Monon Trail</span></a> was where I wanted to be. I took a solo trip down as Mrs. Re-Dan-imation was already planning on watching some family friends play soccer in Lafayette. This is one of my favorite places. I really enjoy spending time here. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFvpQIgwsB2U2-Hjibnm-zwlDlsnyHxB-mrhSuruJlq0OpDLXfEBh6dXU0MwYp3nz1hqNDLaKBFtbeCrFZLbhIGNTxXbCPt37_PVQ5fea_22PEMjRrA4GCnC14C9ZpG4XoULuYMfwqAe8/s1600/IMG_2445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFvpQIgwsB2U2-Hjibnm-zwlDlsnyHxB-mrhSuruJlq0OpDLXfEBh6dXU0MwYp3nz1hqNDLaKBFtbeCrFZLbhIGNTxXbCPt37_PVQ5fea_22PEMjRrA4GCnC14C9ZpG4XoULuYMfwqAe8/s640/IMG_2445.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I like to start in Broad Ripple as the area is really eclectic, always provides something interesting to watch, and provides a friendly crowd on the trail. You could tell a ton of other people had the same idea as me. I didn't mind the crowd...it was just a bunch of other people out trying to be fit just like I was. I rode for about 12 miles and could have probably done some more, but I had decided to complete a loop and didn't want to retrace my "steps" again. I thought getting home for dinner would be a better idea anyway.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW03_1rGb1uOj-myE5usLx2MdJE3zoEx_kP_8_pnPRibXEPObrAGfU2kQpOM22RAe7ylF27VojpGIY4JTrS32Rr8TQGGU36O5os1BSSbCIhT4_JlqD7cLL_vr78F8nBIvaLoE-KS-NbIpq/s1600/IMG_2443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW03_1rGb1uOj-myE5usLx2MdJE3zoEx_kP_8_pnPRibXEPObrAGfU2kQpOM22RAe7ylF27VojpGIY4JTrS32Rr8TQGGU36O5os1BSSbCIhT4_JlqD7cLL_vr78F8nBIvaLoE-KS-NbIpq/s640/IMG_2443.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like I said...something interesting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While I was away riding on the Monon I received a picture from Mrs. Re-Dan-imation. It was a packet and inside was the finisher's medal, bib, and t-shirt for completing the Miler series of training runs for the <a href="http://www.indymini.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Indy 500 Festival Mini Marathon</span></a>. I was pretty pumped to receive this as I have put in quite a bit of work towards this feat. The next event I will be running in is the actual Mini. I will go more into my preparation in the coming weeks, but I think I am going to actually finish, which is my goal for the year.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzpM-PPhz-3pz1huyLrVBBKME_o7V8nvdODWPNbPSs7x_bGirSwbJZgS8-rkFB4LBoCJSz_qxjPkwkM_JmHVsA5Xa0-At4nEzPgjxZnyB_HFqcPfQ6ZEYMu6Xafrse0CRGxOnxvpjFm2D/s1600/Miler+series+goodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzpM-PPhz-3pz1huyLrVBBKME_o7V8nvdODWPNbPSs7x_bGirSwbJZgS8-rkFB4LBoCJSz_qxjPkwkM_JmHVsA5Xa0-At4nEzPgjxZnyB_HFqcPfQ6ZEYMu6Xafrse0CRGxOnxvpjFm2D/s640/Miler+series+goodies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunday was yet another opportunity to get outside. Mrs. Re-Dan-imation and I thought a little yard work would be a good way to spend the afternoon. We bought a couple plants and put them in the ground, cleaned up a flower bed or two and piled up the sticks from our trees. It may not sound like a lot, but we were definitely getting our sweat on. We still have a ton of work to do, but with the weather looking great for many more days this week I think we will have plenty of time to get a jump on it.<br />
<br />
I could definitely feel my spirits going up this week. I think it helped with my weight as well. My calories have to have been better during breakfast and there haven't been very many late night snacks. When I stepped on the scale this morning it showed 264.3 lbs. That's a one week loss of 2.0 lbs. I am finally back down to an official total loss of 30 pounds since I began. I'm sure that not going on a bar crawl this week may have helped a little too! I expect to spend more time outside this week and maybe even make another trip down to the Monon again next weekend. Keep an eye out for the Overnight Oats recipe later in the week. Maybe it is something you would actually like to try. Until next week...Food. Feet. Water. Repeat!!danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360809136429187209.post-47775541092143821272016-04-11T19:19:00.001-04:002016-04-20T10:29:11.091-04:00Best to be BusyThis past week has been pretty busy. To begin the month, we had the Spaghetti Run 5K/10K! The event went great and everybody was happy with the results. We managed to make enough money from sponsors and registrations to help fund some other projects during the year for the Frankfort Jaycees. We love to give back to our community and this is just one more way that helps us do that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0pzUMSz6_JZsdl_oM_Q67No48F9GS1KgQe3SB4NBfCj7ZiV_l9k5-h_UswVVwLG6WdQY8ci9etgh_IwRAdJR-8gkSRGsabkCLDFAss5BQRvSrXR-rqIoRkIWAss-Yy6uWraor196DgGt/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0pzUMSz6_JZsdl_oM_Q67No48F9GS1KgQe3SB4NBfCj7ZiV_l9k5-h_UswVVwLG6WdQY8ci9etgh_IwRAdJR-8gkSRGsabkCLDFAss5BQRvSrXR-rqIoRkIWAss-Yy6uWraor196DgGt/s320/IMG_2404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Throughout the week, I have been reestablishing my love of looking at the blogs of others. I really enjoy the recipes I find on the blog <a href="http://www.fitfoodiefinds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Fit Foodie Finds</span></a>. They are easy to make and almost always taste great. I have also been researching how well she does for herself in writing her blog. I never expect to get to her level with this blog. However, I am going to learn some tips about making this blog better. I need to work on the photography that I put on here. I think looking at better photos will make me more excited to write this every week. I also think it might entice you guys to read it a little more than simply seeing a treadmill snapshot on Facebook. I've got to get my DSLR back out and get back into the phase or retraining myself not just how to use it, but how to use it well. I miss taking as many pictures as I used to. All it takes is getting the camera out of the bag and putting it to work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc62VF807FRw_2sYCLDTzvqr_vF528rYx8t1rxPY5d1juqo1wUmXzY4pgg0dGf7LLFTNKZ-56BmVcj08tn8yj0Ve-zoKEY_XAELmjKO8CVUGlvXjEQyUqYZ2szIFJz8gWrWE6zExTkw_Qz/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc62VF807FRw_2sYCLDTzvqr_vF528rYx8t1rxPY5d1juqo1wUmXzY4pgg0dGf7LLFTNKZ-56BmVcj08tn8yj0Ve-zoKEY_XAELmjKO8CVUGlvXjEQyUqYZ2szIFJz8gWrWE6zExTkw_Qz/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ALOHA!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last Friday, the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/frankfortindianajaycees" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Frankfort Jaycees</span></a> helped another local organization, the Frankfort Rotary, to hold the Italian Buffet (the original namesake for the Spaghetti Run). We were able to help cook, serve, and make an overall great experience for the people that attended. I spent my night baking breadsticks and had a pretty good time. Our hard work paid off and we were all rewarded with a free dinner as payment. After all the cooking it was nice to be able to sit down and have a nice dinner with Mrs. Re-Dan-imation. If you are from Frankfort, or the surrounding areas, and have not attended this meal in the past you should definitely mark it down on your calendar for next year. If for nothing else, you get to see a lot of people from town you don't get to see everyday. Don't forget to say "Hi" to me when you stop by. <br />
<br />
This past weekend, I participated in an event in Broad Ripple called the <a href="http://crawlforcancer.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Crawl for Cancer</span></a>. This bar crawl lead groups through town to 5 bars and then culminates with an after party at The Vogue. Let me just say...this is the second time I have taken part in this event and this year turned out MUCH better for me than the last time. I didn't have to stay at a friends house and was the designated driver for everyone. I am so excited to say that I am part of a team that ALWAYS has a theme for the event. This year we planned a Hawaiian theme (little did we know it was only going to be 40 degrees on the day of the crawl). In the past we have gone as TEAM USA and last year was an 80s theme. Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" is considered our group theme song and we have it played every year at The Vogue during the after party. The year we went as TEAM USA we played it immediately in every bar we walked in to. If you are old enough (and enjoy beer), you should totally look into participating in future years. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6o6L0B-DgX8Z5UWJgaRuBjj8T9q4BnO84q9xxvHH1kTIabVGc4BCjUpVBjE3QoirwUw3HHWE6pmjDOkMv3eLVUWMz_2pMrxInlisHzJmVEhgaKiq35oJ8ojtFJnF9PRX2Uac8605P_C2/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6o6L0B-DgX8Z5UWJgaRuBjj8T9q4BnO84q9xxvHH1kTIabVGc4BCjUpVBjE3QoirwUw3HHWE6pmjDOkMv3eLVUWMz_2pMrxInlisHzJmVEhgaKiq35oJ8ojtFJnF9PRX2Uac8605P_C2/s200/IMG_2432.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that healthy stuff!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Speaking of <a href="http://www.fitfoodiefinds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Fit Foodie Finds</span></a>, I decided that overnight oats was something I wanted to try. Last week she celebrated overnight oats week and put up a new recipe every day for seven days. I figured that <a href="http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2016/04/blueberry-muffin-overnight-oats/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">blueberry muffin</span></a> was the one I wanted to try, since the <a href="http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2016/04/chocolate-chia-overnight-oats/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">chocolate chia</span></a> recipe hadn't been released yet when I made my choice. I purchased the ingredients which are all healthy obviously. Check out the picture or the recipe I attached earlier. I was interested to try the almond milk and the chia seeds, neither of which I had included in a recipe before. When I tried them this morning I decided I had added a bit too much lemon zest, but they were good enough to eat the rest tomorrow morning and get excited about making the chocolate chia recipe next time. You should give them a try. Your brain may be expecting warm oats, so you have to get over that, but I wasn't remotely hungry before lunch today and I only ate the recommended amount.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr06pJWub-LPCsvvzVpkSsy9D_RS6A3G7mVr2in2mUOlVE_K1n3-ODiZo6WioJfJSh0FHwiM5RuyttUwPS1EG7jAP-dR8WmNyoPCOaPGyP3t0nLvRI7WthWpMYdmFmGxBp3iNwui5DzW3/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr06pJWub-LPCsvvzVpkSsy9D_RS6A3G7mVr2in2mUOlVE_K1n3-ODiZo6WioJfJSh0FHwiM5RuyttUwPS1EG7jAP-dR8WmNyoPCOaPGyP3t0nLvRI7WthWpMYdmFmGxBp3iNwui5DzW3/s200/IMG_2436.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With the crawl taking place this weekend, I had a bad feeling about my weight going into this morning. I was right and I tipped the scale at 266.3 lbs. That's an increase of 1.3 lbs for the week. I'm not too mad at that. I managed to get in my three runs last week and even got to mow the grass on one of the few days that it wasn't raining. It REALLY needed it!! I am totally looking forward to the weather this week finally breaking a little. Maybe we will get to see of that sunshine stuff and feel some warmer temps. I can't wait to get back outside again. Until next week. Food. Feet. Water. Repeat.<br />
<br />
<br />danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02122772179348859692noreply@blogger.com0