The journey continues dear Running of the Pink friends.

As of 2/9/2020 I'm at 187 pounds vs goal of 180. Three mile slow jog, 34 minutes on my treadmill, three sets of 22 pushups. At least my fat will be hard.

I have found that while getting started can be tough mentally and physically, it doesn’t need to be. I have learned that the trick is: Incrementalism. Sure our goal is to do three or six miles, but pick a reasonable start. I decided to start my six mile goal with a three mile start (one mile works just as well). Don’t run three miles, wear yourself out and miss the next week exhausted. Slowly jog and go ahead and walk every time you feel like it. I do recommend an inexpensive watch that shows your pace, time and distance. I like a Garmin, because I don’t need to carry my phone for it to track me with GPS.

Write down your time and distance on the legal pad that you are going to proudly display on your fridge or bathroom door. You will find that goals that are measured will improve. Without pressing it, you are going to find that most of your jog/walks are going to improve. You will be walking less and just by repetition, your jogging will be slightly faster. Once a week you will have a down day, but often my next jog moves wonderfully forward. I would not add additional distance until I was jogging most of my initial short runs. There is lots of time to add miles; we just want to start a habit with a recorded plan. One of my favorite quotes is that “A goal without a plan is just a dream”. We are making a plan here that will fulfill that dream.

Don’t forget, I want to have you cost me my full $10,000 match at JRMC. Send them a donation labeled Running of the Pink and I will match it.

Yours running truly,

Casey

Hello again Running of the Pink Friends:

I think it would be fun to get a few prospective runners to consider getting in shape to jog either the 5K or the 10K this spring at The Running of the Pink at R. M. Stoudt’s on June 6^th. I will tell a little about my struggle to get in shape for the 10K and I hope that some of my process will help you as well.

I am starting this process with two big problems. I was 205 pounds on day one and at 70 years old, that is way too much baggage to haul around on my old knees. I have had success in my distant past with Atkins and exercise combined. While Atkins has valid critics, I have found that I can lose nearly a pound a day if I am steadfast and exercise as well. As I write this, I am down to 187, still too much, but good progress.

Please get medical advice before you launch any diet and follow their advice rather than mine. What I am doing is limiting my carbs to 20 per day. This can be easy by eliminating bread, potatoes and sugar. The reason it works for me is that I don’t need to think. Salad with chicken breast and ranch dressing for lunch, salad and or a lean cut of meat for supper. If you are a sinner, several beers are under 3 carbs and water works even better for you smart ones. While it might be monotonous, winning by a pound a day on the scale is continuous instant gratification.

I have learned to post my progress with exercise openly so that I stay motivated and can’t hide my fall backs. It really helps to have your household buy into your goal. A house filled with ice cream and pizza at 9PM will kill your best intentions.

See you on June 6^th.

Casey

Dear Running of the Pink friends,

I feel fortunate to have just turned 70 with only the modest challenges that age can bring (other than my stylish haircut). My long held wish to celebrate my birthday is to get into good enough shape to limp my way through the 10K instead of the usual 5K at the 2020 Running of the Pink scheduled for June 6th.

Because this is going to take extra miles of preparation on my tired out old knees my first step is to lose 25 pounds, so that I have less to haul around (I am down 16, so I have a chance). I have walked and jogged several 4 mile practices, so I hope I can fulfill this questionable goal. See you at the run on June 6^th.

To celebrate this foolishness, R. M. Stoudt is putting up a $10,000 match for all gifts made to JRMC with a notation referencing the Running of the Pink Challenge. Please make your check out to the JRMC so that you get the credit and the deduction and so that we get to spend our whole match.

This is just the beginning of an incredible journey for not only myself but for our beloved #RunningOfThePink as we continue to help fight the good fight against Breast and Cervical Cancer locally.

Stay tuned……..


Thank you,


Casey Stoudt