OK Let the Ribbing Begin; New Pics

OK Guys, I have gotten some pictures from my brother's wife of our little group in the UKROPS 10K from last Saturday 3/31/07 in Richmond VA, and posted them on my profile photo block. http://obesityhelp.com/photos/uzone,photos/action,gallery/albumId,6681/ Not likely we will be confused for the US Olympic track team or the Ethiopians either. Stage roadies pehaps,...club bouncers maybe,... stand-ins or stunt doubles for the Pillsbury doughboy or Michelin man. Anyways, it was fun and I had a great time and wanted to share the pics.

Joe you are looking great!!! You have come so far...wow. You ran a 10k how awesome is that? I hope to be there myself one day. The pics look great...looked like you all had a great time!! Anna

GREAT JOB, JOE! You have accomplished so much and are looking great! JoAnn

Thanks Tigger, just trying to keep pace with you ladies.

Looks like you had a great time Joe! And for a good cause too! This surgery certainly produces some WOW moment's doesn't it?! Jackie

Its true, I just can't get over what a good time I had beating myself to a pulp. And how great it is to get out and feel like moving that fast that far. I still cannot believe it is real.

When I go to the gym I find it incredible that I fit in with "normal" people because i would never have gone before surgery. Now I am developing muscle tissue and I find that fun yet still strange. I can't run though - I go on the treadmill but after 1 minute if running I am pooped - I guess I need to try and build it by by doing a bit more each time. How did you train for this event? jackie

I was walking at least 30 mins and up to 1 hr post-op, trying to rebuild some stamina and endurance. I calculated I was walking 2 miles at work during lunch at 30-40 mins, times 3 is 6 miles (6.2 is the 10K) so I estimated 90 mins to do the 10K. Next I worked to find a 10K route. I upped my walking from 2 miles to 4 miles at a time and then started doing the 10K distance, all walking. The first time took me 2 hrs 20 minutes to do 6.2 miles. As I tried to get that distance in 3 or 4 times a week, I discovered I wasn't getting enough protein in, then my blood sugar dipped and another time I had really low potassium, each time I was just wiped-out exhasuted and had no uhmf. So I had to adjust my intake to have the gas to do the distance. Then recovery became an issue so I had to back off and only do 10K like twice a week and 2-4 miles at others times with a day or two, sometimes three days off per week. But I kept pushing until I startetd jogging a quarter mile, then a half mile, then the last mile of the 2 mile walk. I am currently looking to keep the 10K distance and focus on getting faster by building the ability to jog more and walk less. I startetd traininig in Jan so it was an easy 3 months to get my time down to 1:34 on race day. 1:45 is a more standard time on a regular basis. I'm going to work to get to the 1 hr/60 min mark so by next year I can keep pace with my brother in law that jogged the 10K in 1:13. My training motto was master the distance then worry about speed.

Great pics Joe! You have made such strides in your journey. You guys make a great group and looks like you had a blast. Courtney

Hey,..it ain't the perfect dress, but I was pretty juiced on adrenline or something. I haven't felt that energized in a long time. I was tired for two days after but can't wait to find another to prep for. Being registered for the event really kept me motivated to get outside and train. I think I'm gonna try the one in VABeach unless it is on a Sunday. They also have a 8K when they run the 26 mile marathon in Richmond Nov 10. I think I'm gonna be happy just getting faster in the 4-6 mile range. 26 miles is not even fathomable to me right now. Thanks for the encouragement.