Sometimes you've got to take the bad with the good

Today I am 190.2 pounds of rolling thunder.

Sometimes my back and I have serious disagreements. Other times, we just hold discussions on how the day is going to go. Usually, the issues are more a matter of discussion than serious disagreement.

So today things are a little balky. I should have seen it coming, but the week of running had gone so well it was hard to imagine things would end this way.

It was a good week of running. I made my usual 5- and 6-mile loops without any walking. In fact, I was able to climb all the hills without so much as one walked step. I was also able to accelerate just a bit on a few of the climbs, which normally does not happen.

But yesterday, the wheels started coming off. I wanted to do a timed 3 miles to see if I had made any progress, but just a few strides into my first hill climb I knew it wasn't to be. The strength in my legs and lungs just was not there.

I walked and ran up the first half-mile hill, stretched and then hit the road. I slogged through a mile in pretty good time, but when I made the turn, I decided to shut things down. This dog would live to fight another day.

But that day won't be today. Balky back and I are in negotiations. Tylenol and other meds are involved. Hopefully it's just a discussion and not a serious disagreement.

Wish me luck!

Every Dog Has His Day

Today I am 194.0 pounds of rolling thunder.

It's been a long, long time since I've had a day like today while I was out running. Seldom are my lungs, legs and body all in agreement and we can move forward without one or a couple of them disagreeing with the process, which means more walking and less running.

But today something was different. For the first time in forever I was able to scale the three peaks -- OK, large rises -- that are on my 6-mile loop without walking. In fact, except for a couple of very brief stoplight breaks, I was on the move running for all of the loop without taking a walking break.

Maybe it was the cooler weather. The temperature was down about 10 degrees but still warm enough to run without a shirt. And the humidity was normal for this time of year.

Maybe it was the day off I had yesterday from running because I pulled a double shift and worked from 8 a.m. until after midnight. The old fresh legs theory at work, obviously.

Or maybe, I'm finally getting into some sort of running shape. The fact is, my last three runs have been fairly good. I've noticed an increased ability to run up hills and to extend to longer distances. On Sunday I ran a timed 3 miles, and while the time was embarrassingly slow, the promising part is I did it with wrist weights on and didn't have to walk at all.

So I'll take small victories where I can get them!

I'm sure as the world's slowest runner it won't be long and the hills will be calling my name again But for one day, I made the loop without a stop, and I'll take that to the bank.

Good luck my fellow runners. Be safe. Pray for some rain. And give me a wave if you see the world's slowest runner out on the streets.

Some weighty issues for world's slowest human

Day 53, Sept. 30, 2012

Today I'm 188.4 pounds of rolling thunder.

And after all the junk I ate yesterday to stay awake on the late shift, it's amazing the scale didn't register 208.4 pounds.

I'm going to start my day with a tip of the hat to a family friend who underwent successful surgery on Friday to have a brain tumor removed. There's no hill, or wind or weather that I could face on the road that requires the kind of courage and determination this kid and his family need to face this ordeal. Our thoughts and prayers are with them on this odyssey.

Today I did something I haven't done in forever. At least not as a part of my daily running regimen. I strapped on a pair of 5-pound ankle weights and hit the road.

I originally bought the weights to use while cycling on a stationary bike indoors. But all that shaking with each pedal stroke usually just resulted in ankles that were rubbed raw and little benefit.

Back in the day, my first taste of wearing ankle weights was as a high school freshman. We'd strap them on and then wind tape around them and wear the weights for our two-hour practice every day. The theory being that if you worked out in weights you'd be able to run faster, jump higher and eventually leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Now there are all sorts of theories about how beneficial or detrimental working with weights can be. And over the years, I've subjected myself to ankle weights, weighted vests, wrist weights and even carrying simple dumbbells while I run.

Generally, I've had good results. In high school, I could actually touch the rim of a standard basketball goal, and I suffered few ankle or joint injuries.

But I've never really stuck to a workout program using weights other than in high school.

So for whatever reason I strapped on my handy weights and hit the door. Maybe it's my new-found energy. Maybe it's the success I've been having with wrist weights. Whatever it is, I decided to take the plunge.

So I hit the door at an even more plodding pace than normal. I gave myself the benefit of a slight downhill as I rolled out for an hour-long jog. I set my sights on a neighborhood ramble that included several hill climbs. I made all the climbs with little problem.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well it all went. I made my loop, eased down the hill and caught the end of the Chiefs loss to the Chargers.

I'm not sure when I'll crack the weights out next, but if you see the world's slowest human plodding even slower than usual, give me a wave.