1-28-14 Oh What a Wonderful Feeling

So here I am sitting here (still coughing and clearing my throat) from running in the inversion in SLC. It was a great run (accept the inversion). As you look at my splits you can see it's even faster than my Saturday run. Yeah mile 2 and 4 where my mid range speed drills (where you go moderately faster than your normal pace instead of going all out for a shorter amount of time). My first mile was a lot faster than it should have been, but I was cold and wanted to warm up as fast as I could. When I started my second mile due to going the pace I did for mile one, I was spent, and happy I was able to push faster than mile one at all. Mile three was heaven, I was able to catch my breath in time to push it again for mile 4.

Did I mention today was a really good run? I need to make sure I emphasize how good it was. I ran close to my Turkey Trot time, which was a race. I am excited about getting better and better times as I run. I really like running, even when it's frustrating and I think I will never reach the next mile that MapMyRun tells me my total time, pace, and split. Oh yes, if you have a smart phone and run or walk, check out MapMyRun. It records everything for me so I don't need to, then from my iPhone it takes over my Facebook posts and lets everyone know how fast I have run. Which I am grateful for, because it lets people know I am keeping up with running even after my marathon.

My next race is in roughly 81 days, and I am looking forward to beating my previous half marathon time.

It's time for grocery shopping, and thank you for taking time to follow my blog.

-Riley

P.S. What type of information would my readers like to get from me, just about running, or about everything that's going on in my life?

1-25-14 First Long Run Since the Big Race

I am sitting here at my computer, and can only think about food. Which is understandable. I did just run 6 miles on a bagel with cream cheese, a banana, and a Light and Fit Greek yogurt. But I found that to be my perfect pre-run meal. It was a really good run today and I feel like me again. Doing a long run seems to wake up my senses a little more. Yeah I can only think about food after the run, but it's worth it. Because of that run I burned around 1700 calories. I kept a good pace today too. I stayed around a 13:22 average split, and believe mile 7 would have been my fastest if I would have finished running it. My lateral arch on my left food is a little achy, and my right knee is bothering me some (but I need to roll it out so I should stop whining about it).

With school right now I am trying to get accepted to the BFA program (which will allow me to apply for an MFA program for grad school). So I am reworking a lot of older pieces (like the runner I posted a while back. I understand I am not the greatest artist and struggle with getting things polished to where they should be, but I am working my ass off to get to where I need to be. I am writing this paragraph because it directly relates to running for me. Without beginning running I would still just accept sub par work, and not keep pressing on to make it better. I would not be able to keep to a schedule to work on various projects. And I would not be sleeping as well or on a schedule. I am able to wake up earlier now because I am sleeping better, which allows me to focus on my work in the morning more effectively. Running has been a great blessing in my life.

I remember in high school the distance running coach trying to get me to try cross country by saying things like, "I have had big guys run before and they did just fine, and even enjoyed it." I am now wishing I would have started then. Starting running now is definitely creating a legacy for my future family. I want my kids to run, and be active, like I am learning to in my 30's.

Again, thank you for reading, and I would love to hear any feedback or suggestions from those who do read my blog.

-Riley

1-23-14 Awesome Title Goes Here!

I have now done two work outs for my training group, and so far so good. I also just got the email today for my Saturday workout, I will be doing a 6 mile run. I haven't run further than 4 miles since I ran my marathon, and the 4 mile run was tonight. But if i focus and listen to my music as I focus on form I'l be alright. The path I'm running isn't very hilly, I'm not sure if there are any at all. Also with my run tonight, I did the 4 miles and my knee is doing fine (even without the knee brace)!

Nutrition wise I have been getting closer and closer to my caloric goals each day. Today since I worked out I was able to get under my caloric intake without an issue, and had quite a few calories to spare. I keep forgetting to weigh myself at the gym as I am on my way out.

Hey look, it's a short post!

Thanks for reading,
Riley

1-21-14 Direction With Training!

Today was the paperwork day for the training group I will be joining. It was nice, I was excited about running again afterward. I also got my first weeks workout.

Tuesday: Easy 3 miles
Thursday: 2 mile warm up, then 6x20x20 (I think she means 6 sets of 20 second sprint, then 20 second jog, so that's what I'll do)
Saturday: Either a 4 or 5 mile long run

She is giving me one easy day, one speed day, and one long day. I think I will talk to her about putting one more day in there of cross training on a bike.

My run tonight was really nice, I was at a steady pace I could have run a while at for my first two miles, then I increased my speed gradually over the last mile, and did a full on sprint for my last .2 miles. it was a nice run. Silvia came to the gym with me for this run, it's always nice to have someone to workout with, even when they are rocking the elliptical in front of you.

I have been running in my Wave Riders out of fear that my Torin are the problem for my knee. They are really comfortable, and I would give another bigger runner a thumbs up when looking at shoes and trying out the Waver Runner 16's. I also found and arm band that fits my upper arm. I'm excited to use it outside on Thursday and Saturday.

Thanks for reading,
-Riley

1-17-14 The quick post that never was

Today is going to be a short post. I still don't know what's going on with my knee, but it's bothering me again. After my run I have to take steps one at a time so it doesn't hurt. It sucks. At school all day it's fine as I traverse the stairs, but add running on a treadmill in and all the sudden things get screwed up.

My run today was good, I was able to power past the discomfort in my right knee and finish my run trending how I should be, in a decrease in time with each mile. I read other blogs about runners and see they are getting in miles at a 6 minute or 8 minute pace. It can be discouraging to read, but then I remind myself I have only been running for just over 8 months and am still hovering around 300 lbs. So I am able to not get down because of that. So if you are just starting out or have been at this running thing a while, keep in mind where you have come from. But to improve, write down where you want to be, and strive for. That's what I have to do, and it's hard, but when you finish that first race you feel great. When i finished my first big race (The Halloween Half) I was euphoric. Nothing mattered accept I ran that race to the best of my ability at that time. Even now I am looking at that metal and think of how it felt to put it on after I finished running, then how much I wanted to sit down and eat bananas and oranges. Now here I am prepping for my second half marathon and Ragnar. I look forward to that feeling again as I cross that finish line.

If you have never run a race, or have never had that euphoria after running, keep at it. It will come. Don't judged if you ran the whole thing or walked the whole thing as a defeat, the fact you finished is in and of itself a victory. My first 5k was the Wasatch wellness run. I thought i was going to fly through that without having to stop and walk. It turns out I hadn't conditioned myself to run outside yet, and I had a long way to go in my training. I now run a 5k every time I go running, and think about how I have improved. That's what I have loved about running so far, it's a competition against myself (and that person in front of me who I just need to pass). But facing down you in a run is rewarding. After I ran the 4 mile Turkey Trot as fast as my first 5k a week before my marathon I realized I had come a long way.

I know I said this would be short, but when you find something you have a passion for as you write it just comes out. Last thing, my calorie control is tough. I did good yesterday until I got home and some of Silvia's friends had brought over magic bars... They are amazing and my sweet tooth craves them periodically. I also had Taco Bell yesterday that put me up to my near max calorie amount, and it had a funny taste that I identified as regret.

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!

-Riley

1-14-13 I Have Started Non Structured Training

So I have been kinda doing a half hearted training regime since I started running again. This time it's a bit harder. I am waiting to start running with my training group starting next week. So I haven't been putting my all into my runs. I was able to push it up to an 8:34 pace while running today and sustained it for over 2 minutes. I stopped and went down to my 13:00 minute pace and struggled regaining my breath after that. The second time I started at that pace today (I was supposed to run x2 quarter mile segments at that pace), I lost control of my breath and my right knee started bothering me. I finished off that mile at a slower pace than I was aiming for. Then I walked most of my last half mile. My knee is still bothering me, it hurts to go up and down stairs (until the inflammation goes down), so ibuprofen here I come. I think cross training and strength training may help to improve what ever is going on.

I am looking forward to next week, when my training group starts, I will have someone who will help push me in my training schedule and other people to run with. I am hoping to gain a lot from this training experience.

Diet wise I am still struggling to keep in my allotted calorie amount. I know it's a shocker since Saturday nothing has changed. But today is looking good. I just needed a healthy look at the scale to scare me into line again. I have gone back over 300 lbs. Not by much, but still I am over the 300 lbs. mark and don't like it. I shouldn't be surprised since it was the holidays, finals, and a recovery period that last one week too many. I am finding that I have to plan to really be successful with getting the right amount of calories in each day. Today will be a little easier since I worked out and that gives me a handful of extra calories to work with.

On the school from I have updated my illustration blog with an assignment I turned in yesterday. I am starting the work on 2 new pieces, one is the metaphor His home was his prison and the other is an illustration on the word Search. I am going to work on the metaphor piece right now, so have a great day and thanks for reading.

-Riley

1-11-14 Eat Then Run

So I went to the gym and pounded out 3.28 miles today in the record setting time of 49 minutes (.28 was 5 minutes of that). I know I can do faster, and I tried... and tried... and did not succeed. I was running an 8 minute mile at one point for about a minute, that was awesome. But I didn't have the energy to sustain the run. I ran out of gas towards the end of mile 2. The problem was simple, I didn't eat before I ran. I just hopped in the shower (because I don't like running feeling grungy from the day before), and got ready, grabbed my water and walked out the door. I really should have eaten. It's like running a long run. Eat before hand then at about the hour mark (1:15 is my magic number to begin fueling while running), pop a gel or a waffle, and keep going, 30-45 minutes later repeat (my magic number here is about 30 minutes). So why not eat a bagel with peanut butter before you run? I should have today, then maybe I could have had the mental stamina to go longer. All that aside it was a really good run, my knee didn't bother me, as I said earlier I ran at a 8 minute mile pace for a while, and it felt good to produce liquid awesome (aka sweat). So the big thing I was reminded of today was to fuel before the run to have the gas to keep running. Also I don't feel like I sold myself short on my run today. It was 49 minutes of goodness, accept for dropping my new iPhone on the treadmill then having it hit the floor (it's fine don't worry). Not eating makes the mind weaker, your brain needs nutrients as much as your body, and that I think is one of the most important things I was reminded of today in regards to running. On a side note, I got out of the house at 9:30ish to run. I am slowly working towards becoming a morning runner. It's hard to be outside in Salt Lake and Utah county in the winter because we gets really thick inversion that builds up, and does a number to the lungs, since I have a canyon right by my house that goes up in elevation I am able to escape it, so I have no excuse to keep running on the treadmill. I like running outside more. But at the Salt Lake Running Co. they got masts that help to filter the air, and you look like Bane from the newest Batman movie while wearing it (if that isn't more incentive to run outside I don't know what is).

My nutrition, I have been following the 2500 calorie suggestion on my Livestrong app that I have on my phone and iPad. I failed miserably one day this week by topping out at 4000 calories. It was due to poor planning, and a weak will. I forgot to bring my lunch with me to school because I failed to make it the night before, and woke up at 4 in the morning and had some cereal. My lunch is around 600-1000 calories, I try to eat a big lunch so I can keep to a small dinner, like a sub at subway, or wait until I get home. I have been a little over on my non running days from 60-300 calories, but am feeling good about it so far. I am becoming a little more away of what I put in my mouth, and realize I am ingesting more bad fat and carbs than I should. So I am going to adjust that. I love rice, so it will stay as a staple for me. I also like chicken thighs over chicken breast because it is cheaper and has a little fat on it.

While I have been running, driving, and doing art I have been listening to a book called Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job. It's about following your dreams and how to do it successfully while being in a job you don't love but you can like. Right now I am a full time student and spend my time running, painting, and writing my great journal of a blog. Since I am a student I look at that as my part time job. I have liked being a student, but had always been dreaming of what I would like to be doing instead and never really being satisfied. Last semester I had an epiphany, when it comes down to it I am not the best artist in the Illustration program at UVU. I will probably never be the best artist in the program. There are those who have more natural talent that they have cultivated over the years that I decided to pursue the dream of the moment, like teaching karate, selling cars, doing massage, and being overall not the most stable guy. But these artist who have cultivated there talents are inspirational to me, and inspire me to do more, and strive to become better. Even those who are a little like me and not the greatest artist that push themselves and strive to become better. This epiphany came when I decided to associate myself more with those who strive to improve and create great things. I may not be the best, but dammit I will do all I can to be successful, and create quality work. With my degree I want to do something I did when I was younger, and make games, and illustrate them, as well as illustrate book covers, and illustrate games that aren't my own. That's the first time I have written that down, and it feels good. Back to the book now, I need to treat being a student more like a job than I currently do. I need to start pursuing my dream now so when I get to graduation I am not floundering around. I need to find a job after graduation I can like that is consistent so I can get to the point where my dream pays the bills.

If you have a dream that you are chasing I would suggest this book to you. John Acuff did not ask me to write this suggestion. He has no idea this guy who started running to change his life has read it but I have and I encourage you to as well. A lot of what he talks about are things I have learned especially from running, like planning ahead, preparing, having an action plan, make sure you have the support of your significant other, and keep pursuing it. He is a Christian author and talks about his blog a lot, and works for Dave Ramsey (who I would also suggest you look into if you never have heard of him), because of his methods my wife and I have paid off all of our debt accept my student loans, and those are next.

All of the things I am talking about have to do with waking the giant within, So I am a committing now that I will chase after my dream in a new way, that is by maintaining my illustration blog (that will be integrated into my website www.rileyhornilluustration.com). Right now I am in a digital painting class and we are participating in Illustration Friday. So I will be posting my pieces from there each week as well as some of the other pieces I work on. So here's a blog address for illustration, http://rileyhornillustration.blogspot.com.

If you made it to this point of the blog, thank you for reading it all (even if you skipped some thank you).

-Riley

1-9-14 Counting Calories

Today I did great with my run, I found my knee brace, and put it on, focused on my form as well. So as of right now my knee is doing great. My IT band isn't bothering me at all. I believe I will keep sporting the knee brace for my next few run. I also wore my new shoes again today, they were actually comfortable to run in, so I think I will keep them. I know I waffle back and forth on things a lot, but after today I think they are a good fit. I did something while running that can really successfully be done on a treadmill. My second mile if you look at my split is better than mile 1 (warm up mile), I did a .1 mph increase every .1 miles. So by the time I made it to the start of mile three I was running at 5 mph. Then I pumped it up to 6 mph until I wasn't able to control my breathing very well (about .25 miles). With a treadmill you can be more exact on numbers, which is nice and all, but I look forward to running outside again. It was snowing today so I passed on the outdoor run.

Nutrition wise, I downloaded an app that I had a long time ago for my iPad and iPhone made by Livestrong. It allows you to input your calories easily and has an extensive database of food to choose from that you have eaten. If you want to track that like I am now check it out. They have it for Android, Blackberry, and iOS devices. I downloaded it at the end of the day on Tuesday and did alright with my calories that day. Yesterday with calories was a different story, I really ate bad due to poor planning. I usually make a big dinner and have left overs... but I didn't do that Tuesday for some reason (I ate left over chili). So the moral of yesterdays caloric disaster is, plan what you are going to eat if you are aiming at losing weight, or maintain a healthy weight.

Well, it's time to do my homework, thanks for reading again.

-Riley

1-7-14 Running in Short Shorts, and Yellow Shoes

It takes a certain level of security in who you are to go outside in shorter shorts than you are used to running in, and bright yellow shoes. Last week I added to my ever increasing shoe collection a pair of big yellow Mizuno Wave Rider 16. Today is my first run in them. I am partial to my zero drop Altra's since I wear a pair every day, but I figured I could give these new shoes a try. As of me writing this I have yet to get out on the treadmill (where my run will take place today). I will include a more detailed review of the shoe when I get home from the gym. Post Gym: With the shoes it feels like I am running on my whole foot with the heel being so big, which I don't like. I may trade them in and get the Nike Pegasus (the other shoe I was considering) because it has a lower heel, and the more trail quality to the sole of the shoe. I would like to get under 10mm with my heel to toe drop, but with my wide feet it's not looking possible without getting another pair of Altra Torin.

For those who read and are interested in my schooling endeavors, I will be having another heavy semester of work, but I will only be training for a half marathon this time so the really long runs won't be happening. I am taking 3 studio classes right now which is the most students in the illustration program are supposed to take. I know that so far I have 23 paintings (15 digital and 8 in any medium) that I will be doing this semester. I also have another painting class this Friday, and I believe there will be another load of paintings there. So if all goes right I will be producing close to 50 completed pieces in the 16 weeks of this semester.

Nutrition and diet I am struggling with where to start. I found out that MapMyRun.com (which I use for some split timing) has a nutrition portion of the site, and I think I will try that out. I nee to get a journal of some sort to keep track of what I put in my mouth. I have also sent Lisa Messinger an email about the nutrition counselling she offers.

Well, I need to shower and get working on my school work so I can stay ahead and not drown when it comes to any assignment.

Thanks for reading,
Riley

If you have any suggestions about my knee or nutrition, ease let me know.

1-1-14 First Run of the New Year

Today was my first day toward the SLC Half Marathon. I am having some of the same pains in the right knee as I had in the left back in October. I believe it's IT band but I am not 100% this time. So I am going to have my wife help me out with massaging it, and I will work on my torture roller. I didn't feel like I was able to push as myself like I had been pre-marathon. I believe it's because I don't have a committed goal (a race paid for) that I am lacking that drive. The aching knee isn't helping. So as soon as I can I will get my first race paid for, and start focusing on that. I also need a workout plan. I have a rough one in my mind, but I just don't know if I can trust it. I can't wait until the 21st when I start with the training group.

Right now I have the biggest loser playing as I write this, keeping in mind the choice to get healthier. I will be doing grocery shopping this Friday for next week (we have most of it already, but the produce). I did do a sneaky thing the other night and loaded up out Prego with zucchini, onions, and green peppers. That combined with whole wheat pasta made it healthier than it was. I will be making Indian Curry and Tacos this week. Here is my curry recipe I will be following. It's one of the better recipes.
Indian Curry

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I use chicken thighs) 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup cooking oil (replace with coconut oil) 1 1/2 cups chopped onion 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root 1 tablespoon curry powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 Small Red Potato per person (This is an addition) 1 Head Cauliflower (This is an Addition)

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon water 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes 1 cup plain yogurt 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 Can coconut milk (This is an addition) I will also add more garlic and ginger

So this is my work out and what I'm going to eat this week (and don't tell my friends but they will be eating a healthier meal on Friday than they are used to.

Thanks For Reading,

Riley