We're Going Bowling!

For most Tennessee fans the past week has been unbelievably exciting.  Our Vols are heading back to a bowl game for the first time since the 2010 season.  Bowl trips are something my family did ever since I was a kid.  My first Tennessee game ever was when I was 3 years old in the Peach Bowl, I literally remember nothing from it, but I was there.  Then you fast forward to 4 years of bowl games while in the band at UT.  Just like the Peach Bowl when I was 3, I don't remember much from it but that was for different reasons!

This year as Jenn and I head to Jacksonville it is crazy to think that 10 years ago was our last bowl trip.  A lot of things happened on that bowl trip, many stories that live in legend, but there is one picture that has stuck out for me on that trip.  It was New Year's Eve in Dallas, TX and I weighed in at a robust 425ish pounds.


Check out this picture.  It is glorious.  I am all sweaty, don't fit in my suit.  I honestly have no idea what was going on with that shirt either.  Needless to say, I was in a bad place.  But when I returned home from that trip, for whatever reason I decided to make a change.  By the time I got married 3 years later I had dropped over 125 pounds.

Since then I have several college friends do the same thing.  A number of us run our races together, and several of those folks will be doing the Spartan Weekend with me in March.  Having that group of friends helps make the work easier, but that doesn't mean we all aren't going to eat our weight in seafood in Jacksonville in a few weeks.  Just have to run a little more when we get back!

<--- 2006 OUTBACK BOWL 

2010 MUSIC CITY BOWL --->

TRAINING UPDATE
CURRENT WEIGHT: 315.2 (-3.2 through 2 weeks)

This week was insane with work, but still managed to hit my runs and the circuit workout.  I did miss the 2 strength workouts, but that may have been for the best.  After week 1 my hamstrings had been on fire from the RDL's.  Moving into week 3 I am switching the Monday and Friday workouts to try and help keep my legs fresh.

Everything is working, we are on pace and I have lost weight 2 weeks in a row.  Can't complain.  Now to get through Christmas!

A How To Guide In Convincing Your Friends to Do Obstacle Runs

In 2011 I did my first 5K.  In prepping for the first race a boring ol' 5K to benefit the local moose lodge did nothing for me.  Just running seemed boring, and I can tell you with confidence after a few half marathons that running is in fact very boring.  So when I heard about Warrior Dash that spring I decided that was the route to go.  Obstacles, more challenges, mud, and at the finish line I get beer AND a turkey leg AND a goofy hat?!?!  This was a no brainer.

But for me to make the trip to Charlotte I could not do it alone.  At the time Jenn was not anywhere close to being on board with climbing walls and crawling through mud so I had to look elsewhere.  Luckily after some swift selling I convinced John Monroe to convince his wife to join me for a boys weekend that would start a series of nonsense over the next several years.

HOW TO CONVINCE YOUR FRIENDS TO RUN AN OBSTACLE RACE.

Step 1:  TALK UP THE AWESOME-NESS OF THE RACE.  Luckily this isn't too far of a stretch.  These races are awesome.  It is an excuse to go do manly things for a weekend, you more than earn the beer and terrible food you are bound to eat on a guys weekend, and brings the folks closer together.  Plus you get bragging rights at work for being awesome and enduring a 10,000 volt shock at the finish line of a 10 mile race.

Ignore the bad stuff, don't remind them of the 30 burpee penalties and the week or 2 of bruises/cuts/scratches.  Don't bring up the death waiver you may or may not have to sign or how much it hurts sliding back down a plywood half pipe for the 3rd time in a row.  Remember........beer, turkey leg, goofy hat.  Those things will overcome all concerns.

Step 2: QUESTION THEIR MANHOOD.  Typically you won't get a yes on the first go around unless your friends are crazy.  In this situation simply call them soft.  "Dude, It's ok, we know you're soft but we thought we'd atleast offer since the rest of us are going to head down there for beer, turkey legs, and goofy hats.  While we are proving our manhood that weekend let us know how your spin class is before you head to Bed Bath and Beyond."

........80% of the time, it works every time.

Step 3: RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE.  Once you have 1 teammate on board it is like a snow ball going down hill.  Have your buddy call another buddy, go back to step 1 and repeat the process.  Its just like one of those business models where 1 person tells 2 people, they tell 2 people, etc etc.  Not a pyramid scheme though, not even close.  But the more people on the team climbing walls, being tazed, rolling in mud, swimming through swamps and filth the better the weekend.  But more importantly the more you will enjoy your beer, turkey leg, and goofy hat.

With that said, Spartan Race is coming March 7-8 in Atlanta.  Who's on board?

WORKOUTS THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY WAS RUN DAY!  With this being my ramp up week I only did 30 minutes.  Covered 2.86 miles in 30 minutes pacing ~10:30 minute mile.

Wednesday was a different story.  Focusing on circuit training and for the next 5 weeks will be doing the Spartan Beginner circuit.  On paper it looks like nothing, but I was sweating like a mule on the last circuit.  It will continue to ramp up, but this was a solid starting point.

Fat Guy In Running Shorts

Typically you have heard from Jenn on this blog, but for the next few months we are going to change things up a little bit!  You get to hear from the other half of our racing family, Ben!  2014 was a crazy year on the race front.  We picked up 9 new medals and a few Tough Mudder headbands.  Had some awesome trips with great friends, and have a few more surprises that came from a race on the way as well!

As we lead into 2015, a guys only weekend has been booked in March.  We are still building the team, but training has to get going!  March 7-8 the gentlemen of the Party of the Southland hit the course at Spartan Race.

Normally I wouldn't public post details of my training, but I need some accountability on this one.  I ran my first Tough Mudder 2 years ago, and while I have ran many races since then and had faster times I have still put on almost 30 pounds since that initial race.

So now it is time to get into race shape.  And I am going to post the details on here.  If you want to follow along with me, bring it on.

The schedule is simple.  Total Body lifting schedule on Monday and Friday.  Circuit Strength Training on Wednesday (boot camp style stuff for you house wives and Adam Clark, cross fit for you cool kids with disposable income).  Then Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are my running days.

The goal by Spartan Race is to get myself down 30 pounds, be ready to conquer the race, and have my damn suits fit better.

DECEMBER 1, 2014

WEIGHT: 318.4

BMI: 38.7

12/1 WORKOUT - TOTAL BODY #1

WARM UP - 10 minutes on elliptical

**do these in groupings of 2 exercise alternating sets.  4 sets x 12 reps each**

LEG PRESS - 360 LBS

INCLINE BENCH - 145 LBS

HAMSTRING CURL - 100 LBS

LAT PULLDOWN - 120 LBS

HAMMER CURL - 25 LBS each hand

LAT RAISE - 10 LBS each hand

HIP ABDUCTION - 185 LBS

ROPE PRESSDOWN - 50 LBS

Knocked this workout today, and actually felt really great to lift.  As we prepared for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon at Disney during most of the fall I had transitioned my non-running days to circuit training instead of lifting.  I was afraid I would lose a lot of my strength, but still felt very strong today.  The 4th set makes the biggest difference.  I had done this in the past as 3 sets, but didn't feel like I had done enough.  Today's was perfect.

This work out is actually part of a program a fantastic trainer here in Nashville made for me in 2007.  Payton Young is one of the best trainers in Middle Tennessee, and is the person who taught me proper technique, proper nutrition, and how to put together a work out program.  The nice thing is whenever I need to get back to basics I can pull up some of those workouts and know I will get a solid work out.

It was a great day 1!  Countdown to Spartan Race Continues.