“Mid Life Crisis” or “It’s About Time!”?

Did you feel that? Something just happened! To be honest it’s been happening for about three weeks now and I’m struggling to determine if it’s a mid life crisis setting in or if I’m just to the point where I’m hitting my stride and wanting more than the status quo.

Like many who live (or die a little each day) in the ‘Corporate World’ I have come to the frightening realization that I’m a ‘technician’ just like my father before me. As a teen I remember afternoons of golf with my dad, talking about my future and hearing him say “Get an education; don’t be a dummy like your old man, don’t end up working in a factory your whole life like I have.”

I recall thinking to myself at the time “what great advice”. It wasn’t that my dad didn’t earn a good living, or provide for his family, or have pride in his work…it was that after all these years of clocking in and out at the same workstation I sensed a lack of meaning in it all.

From my dad’s perspective it was ‘education’ that was going to set me free.

So I got my education: undergraduate degree in Marketing, worked for a few years, and then earned my MBA focusing in Human Resources. I was on the right course to career fulfillment and financial freedom…my course was different than anyone else’s in my family’s history.

The thing is that I bought into the myth. Education and the right job don't necessarily free you to pursue your dreams.

Here's where the mid life crisis question comes in...you see there is creativity inside me that I’ve pushed aside for a long time, and a desire for freedom that rears its head every couple of years but won’t go back down this time. Crisis yes, but its more like "its about time" the way I see it.

For the time being I’m clocking in at the same “factory” my old man once did, the only difference being I get to sit at a nice desk for 8 hours a day and don’t go home with the smell of grease remover on my hands every night.

I’m educating myself all over again, day and night, I'm using the creative side of me and engaging my brain, I'm educating myself alright and this time its on how to set myself free, go into business for myself and make that business (and my money) work for me, not the other way around.

Stay tuned, I'm just getting started.

Until next time…keep moving forward.

Graduation by Dianne Michelle at Flickr

Head in Hands by Boogle Eyes at Flickr

Hurray for Tom and Amy!

You should be proud of yourselves. The site looks great and I know you two are the right people to provide the community the fun and engaging place to hang out, share stories & wisdom, and encourage each other.

Your Lounge Friend,

Dave

Balloon on Flickr by Shan1013

Cruising Along

Well after a couple of weeks of not sleeping and eating very well I'm down to my goal weight and am cruising along in my training. My knee is holding out after my longest run of this training course and the only nagging pain is a potential case of Planters Fasciitis in my left foot, and a right hip that aches once in a while.

My friends at Runner's Lounge are excited to be on the verge of opening the doors to their new website and I'm wishing them all the best. Go Amy and Tom! We're all pulling for you.

Until next time...keep on moving!

Week Five Recap

It's sad that my posts have been limited to just quick recaps of the week recently. Training actually takes more time away from other activities than I thought it would. In fact I've been so busy this weekend that my long run- which was supposed to be Saturday morning before the family woke up- is waiting for me as soon as I hit the "publish" button. 10 miles and then hit the rack for some much needed sleep.

Confession time...I haven't been watching my eating this week at all, and I can really tell that it's made a difference in my runs. First of all knowing that I'm not eating well has my mind telling me that I'm not doing as well. Second, my energy has been down (lack of sleep is contributing as well), and third, (but unrelated to my food choices) I've started to feel soreness in my left knee again. That soreness dogged me last time I was training for a race and it scares me that it might be the beginning of something unpleasant.

The other thing I did differently this week is run with my iPod. I've found a great new podcast that I'm really learning a lot from but what it's done is occupy my mind and take my focus off my run...am I running the right pace, am I paying attention the space around me, am I hitting the hills like I was...that's a big fat NO.

In fairness I have been also spending a great deal of time thinking through a couple business plans I hope to pursue (thus the lack of sleep). One idea I have shared with a number of you and everyone was excited for me to be moving forward with I've decided against pursuing. After thinking through the logistics and a reassessment of my passion for the whole subject matter I think I'll leave that one for others to pursue.

Well no sense putting this off...I better go lace up the shoes and pray my knee holds up better tonight.

Week Four Recap

Week four was another great week. I ran my third longest run of my life on Sunday before church and am still injury free. My left foot has started aching however but it's not injured.

I have discovered what my "next big thing" is for after the marathon. I've decided to start a home based business that will help families clothe their kids...more to share on that later.

Until next time....

Week Three Recap

I had another great week of training. I logged 20.8 miles in total and today I ran 7 miles at an 8:55 pace, and set another personal best in my first mile at 8:15.


Mile 1 - 8:15
Mile 2 - 8:33
Mile 3 - 8:21
Mile 4 - 9:06
Mile 5 - 9:18
Mile 6 - 9:12
Mile 7 - 9:40
Total - 1:01:55


I'm still sticking with the calorie watch, shooting for 2,000 per day but Saturday has become my free day (usually between 2,500 and 3,000 calories). I had my second soda in 8 weeks yesterday and don't really miss it (but it did taste awfully good.


I've found a great way to keep my pace when I've feeling like easing off a bit or when I hit a hill, I count out a cadence 'hut, two, three, four' over and over, and imagine I have a Drill Sargent prodding me along. I really works.

Running Legs by Brian Poulsen at Flickr

I Know I'm a Runner Because...

10. I no longer count mowing the yard and pushing a stroller as 'cross-training'
9. Walking up a flight of stairs doesn't leave me winded like it used to
8. I sleep better at night
7. I'm eager to log my miles or my cross-training activity for the day
6. I actually am eating more vegetables (my mom would be so proud)
5. My wife told me I don't have the mini-shelf belly that I had been nurturing along
4. My kids don't tell me I'm fat and old anymore, just old
3. My clothes fit better and I'm walking taller
2. Running up hills doesn't intimidate me anymore

And the #1 way I know I'm a runner is because.....

1. I look forward to my 5am alarm.

It's Official - I'm a Marathoner

Okay maybe just registering and paying the entry fee doesn't really qualify me as a marathoner yet but it was another step in the right direction. With a history of injuries, fee's that are non-refundable, and uncertainty as to who all might join me for the trip to Surf City... believe me this was a big step.

I'm doing well at keeping my calories under control as I work to get my body fat down. When I started the formal training I had my body fat checked at the wellness center and the nice lady told me that I was walking around with nearly 40 lbs of fat. Wow, and to think I was excited to get a new pair of shoes that cut out 10 oz's.

I was at 200 lbs (and those are not my feet) so I set my goal again to get down to 175 by race day. In 7 weeks I'm down 13 lbs (about a half a pound per week, nice a steady). As of today I have nearly 7 more weeks until my half marathon at the end of October so I'm shooting to be down to my goal weight by then.

Cutting my body fat is really my goal though and as I continue to lift I'm sure my weight will level off as I build more muscle mass. I'm just happy my pants are fitting better for the time being, and I'm sure they're happy to get a break from the stress testing they've been under.

So I won't really be a marathoner until I cross the finish line this coming Super Bowl Sunday but I'm living the marathoner lifestyle and it's suiting me well so far.

If you have any words of encouragement please send them. I may even have some encouraging messages recorded and strung between songs on my iPod for my race so I can get a little extra boost every few miles or so.

Well 5am rolls around a lot earlier than it used to so I'm going to head off for some actively rest now.

Scale by Digihuman at Flickr

Finish by Steve and Jody at Flickr

Week Two Recap

Today I wrapped up my second full week of marathon training. It's been a busy week at work and home, with school underway and after-school activities in full swing (piano, soccer, horseback lesson) and I ran more miles this week than I have run in a week for a very long time (19.4 miles).

Oh, and I booked a surprise trip to New York City for my wife's 40th birthday (by surprise I mean she surprised me by wanting to go to NYC to celebrate). I can't wait to go, so much to see and do of course, but also because we'll be there during the upcoming NYC Marathon weekend with thousands of other runners.

I'm happy to report that I set a new personal record running my fastest mile this week (8:43 was impressive for me given I usually run a 10 or 10:30/mile pace) and while I'm sore at the end of week two I'm injury free! One of the mornings I learned that even at the end of a long run I have more left in the tank than I thought being two blocks from home as it began to rain.

Foolishly, yet predictably, I was anxious to get ahead of my training plan mileage. It was all I could do to hold back earlier in the week, but after reading Tom about not overdoing it, I'm glad I didn't push too much. I'm also not as aggressive with my cross-training this time, preferring to stick to lifting and walking, rather than biking a ton of miles. I'm hopeful this will allow me to train without injury so I don't miss out on either of my planned races.

Changing topics now....this is my favorite time of the year. The humidity in Iowa moves out, the mornings are crisp and college football kicks off. With a full schedule ahead I'm hopeful for a better year from my Hawkeye's. Something very unusual is happening this fall however...it's September 1st and my Cubbies are leading the NL Central (very rare in my 40 year lifetime).

All is right with the world, at least for this morning. Hopefully the Hawks are successful in Chicago and the Cubs can sustain some momentum for the stretch run.

NYC by Captain Mayhem at Flickr
Wrigley Field by Damon Green at Flickr