Well first off thanks for reading again and secondly I apologize for not having finished part 2 of the Pushing the Absolute Limits post, but I've been having some issues with that one however I can assure you (fine readers of my blog) that I will finish ASAP.
With that out of the way, I wanted to give a small update on my training as of now...well there is no training. Not because I said f*** running, but that hamstring issue of mine has gotten to the point that I would possibly risk further injury and possible surgery. So I've decided that I would rather take the time to heal instead of being a stewhead and trying to run through the pain. So I've been icing my hamstring for several hours throughout the day and (fingers crossed) it seems to be working okay so far. The swelling has subsided a tad and the pain isn't as annoying and sore as it had been. Still not exactly sure what caused it to begin with, but I'm leaning towards a certain pair of shoes that were not like the other 3 pairs. Either way I should hopefully be back on road again within a few weeks (hopefully) and back to training.
I'll be completely honest I was pretty fearful that I may have to take off several weeks if not months in order to rehab and heal completely but with the intense icing I've been doing hopefully that will be cut down to a matter of weeks. Because I originally thought I may not be on route to train for a marathon in November because of the time missed and after 2 weeks usually you're running form and fitness begin to decrease (well I know I read that shit somewhere). So I hope I'll be in top form by the time the Peachtree Road Race rolls around in July.
Anyhow thanks again for reading and hopefully get back to running soon...very soon
Showing posts with label fat boy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fat boy. Show all posts
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Gearing Up For a Long 2014
Once again I'll start this off by saying thanks to everyone that has taken the time to read this blog, onward we go. So I'm writing this as I'm nursing a slight hamstring strain, which sucks because it sort of sets me back a little in my training. Now it looks like the Georgia Half Marathon may not be an option at this point, depending on how my leg heals. I definitely don't want to really set myself back by trying to be a bad ass and injure myself further by trying to push through this. I had something similar to this happen back in August, but after about 2 weeks or resting it and icing it, it wasn't too bad.
Well since I began to write this post a few weeks ago, my hamstring felt good enough for me to go run on, which felt great, to run again that is. So I'm just really trying to ease back into things, and not re-injure myself or make things worse. With that said, I can definitely tell that the time I missed really didn't help out, but I would rather miss time now than in August and September when it's really down to the nitty gritty in terms of marathon training.
So being that it's only the beginning of the month of March, means that this is going to be a long and arduous journey to prepare for Las Vegas and my first crack at 26.2 miles. I'd like to apologize for taking so long with this post, but I can assure those that read this, that I will do a much better job in the future. With that said, I'll be updating on training as well as upcoming races, the biggest of which is the 2014 Peachtree Road Race on July 4th this summer. I was initially unsure as to whether I would actually sign up again this year, but after reading a book about the race and its illustrious history, I began to think what an honor it is to run in a race that featured running legends such as Finnish icon, Lasse Viren, American marathon legend Frank Shorter, and Don Kardong. I don't plan to take this run as seriously, to me it's more of a fun run, rather than a race to set a PR. The reason being, is that with 60k people, it's really really tough to run and maneuver amongst the hoards of people and not get worn out quickly.
Well I appreciate your patience and look forward to keeping everyone updated.
Well since I began to write this post a few weeks ago, my hamstring felt good enough for me to go run on, which felt great, to run again that is. So I'm just really trying to ease back into things, and not re-injure myself or make things worse. With that said, I can definitely tell that the time I missed really didn't help out, but I would rather miss time now than in August and September when it's really down to the nitty gritty in terms of marathon training.
So being that it's only the beginning of the month of March, means that this is going to be a long and arduous journey to prepare for Las Vegas and my first crack at 26.2 miles. I'd like to apologize for taking so long with this post, but I can assure those that read this, that I will do a much better job in the future. With that said, I'll be updating on training as well as upcoming races, the biggest of which is the 2014 Peachtree Road Race on July 4th this summer. I was initially unsure as to whether I would actually sign up again this year, but after reading a book about the race and its illustrious history, I began to think what an honor it is to run in a race that featured running legends such as Finnish icon, Lasse Viren, American marathon legend Frank Shorter, and Don Kardong. I don't plan to take this run as seriously, to me it's more of a fun run, rather than a race to set a PR. The reason being, is that with 60k people, it's really really tough to run and maneuver amongst the hoards of people and not get worn out quickly.
Well I appreciate your patience and look forward to keeping everyone updated.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Lesson Learned
So hello again to everyone out there reads the blog and I thank you once again from the bottom of my heart, now with that said on to the first race of the new calendar year and my goodness did that shit suck...I mean bad. Now for those of you who know me well enough, you at least know that I don't like to whine a lot about certain things and races being one of them. I'll be honest I just would rather let other people talk about that stuff for me, I guess in my head it makes me seem like a bad ass or something, but gee whiz that was the roughest course I've endured.
Now for those of you familiar with these "gimmick" races and I use the word loosely, because I can't come up with another term to accurately describe these type of races. This race happened to be like one of those electric runs or those color races and so on and so forth, this was called the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k because of the free chocolate and hot cocoa that they give out before, during and after the race. So I decided to do this on a whim that I'd get to run another race with the lady, but I also wanted to impress her sister and mother by doing the 15k rather than the 5k (also because I'm training for longer distances). Unfortunately they were done well before I finished so I didn't get to spend time with them, but that wasn't the part that really peeved me and I'll admit shame on me for being more prepared for the race itself because this race course was a motherf...well you know.
I normally have a bit of a pregame ritual where I eat before I leave for the race and then I just listen to music and stretch while I get into a mental zone of sorts(yes I know), but this time was a little different. I didn't get to have my normal pre race snacks because I was in a hurry to get there in time to see my girlfriend and her family start their race. That sort of threw things off, but this one of those easy ass "gimmick" races where people show up and eat chocolate and run/walk a 5k/15k. No big deal. Well I go through my usual pre race ritual where I isolate myself and stretch out and listen to music and did that for about 15 minutes before my race started. After all that it's time for me to join my corral and get a good spot for the start, then it hits me, what the hell am I doing in the fastest group? I mean I was a schlub in a sea of fit individuals and I'm sure they too were wondering what the hell I was doing there too. As my 7th grade track coach used to say anytime someone got outrun by someone, "You got doo doo on your legs". That's precisely what happened next and not say I'm a blazing fast runner, I'm not, but I've never been left behind by so many people, which really demoralized me.
So not only was overmatched, but on top of that the course was brutal. I kept thinking about how much I hated the person that designed the course while having to deeper maybe than I've ever had to. (Sighs) yeah shit was terrible, but I managed and survived the ordeal and was pissed off pretty much the rest of the day. Quite the humbling and miserable experience.
With that said it was a humble reminder that you're maybe not as good as you think you are and that you shouldn't underestimate any type of challenge be it great or small. So thanks for listening to my whinefest and happy running.
Now for those of you familiar with these "gimmick" races and I use the word loosely, because I can't come up with another term to accurately describe these type of races. This race happened to be like one of those electric runs or those color races and so on and so forth, this was called the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k because of the free chocolate and hot cocoa that they give out before, during and after the race. So I decided to do this on a whim that I'd get to run another race with the lady, but I also wanted to impress her sister and mother by doing the 15k rather than the 5k (also because I'm training for longer distances). Unfortunately they were done well before I finished so I didn't get to spend time with them, but that wasn't the part that really peeved me and I'll admit shame on me for being more prepared for the race itself because this race course was a motherf...well you know.
I normally have a bit of a pregame ritual where I eat before I leave for the race and then I just listen to music and stretch while I get into a mental zone of sorts(yes I know), but this time was a little different. I didn't get to have my normal pre race snacks because I was in a hurry to get there in time to see my girlfriend and her family start their race. That sort of threw things off, but this one of those easy ass "gimmick" races where people show up and eat chocolate and run/walk a 5k/15k. No big deal. Well I go through my usual pre race ritual where I isolate myself and stretch out and listen to music and did that for about 15 minutes before my race started. After all that it's time for me to join my corral and get a good spot for the start, then it hits me, what the hell am I doing in the fastest group? I mean I was a schlub in a sea of fit individuals and I'm sure they too were wondering what the hell I was doing there too. As my 7th grade track coach used to say anytime someone got outrun by someone, "You got doo doo on your legs". That's precisely what happened next and not say I'm a blazing fast runner, I'm not, but I've never been left behind by so many people, which really demoralized me.
So not only was overmatched, but on top of that the course was brutal. I kept thinking about how much I hated the person that designed the course while having to deeper maybe than I've ever had to. (Sighs) yeah shit was terrible, but I managed and survived the ordeal and was pissed off pretty much the rest of the day. Quite the humbling and miserable experience.
With that said it was a humble reminder that you're maybe not as good as you think you are and that you shouldn't underestimate any type of challenge be it great or small. So thanks for listening to my whinefest and happy running.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Almost Game Time
So today is a joyous day for me, yes for those that know me, today happens to be my birthday, but I'm actually referring today being less than 2 weeks away from my first half marathon. Although I'll be honest, I'm a little afraid about it but at the same time I've been trying to bust ass in preparation for it.
I have been able to steadily increase my speed and distance despite a hamstring that keeps bothering me. In fact since I bought my new pair of shoes (which is actually a half size shorter than what I normally wear) it forced me to alter my running form. Instead of running on my forefoot, I began running on my heels and although it feels a bit odd I'm actually able to run at a brisk pace at longer distances. Although running longer distances isn't easy to get used to when you've been running 3-6 miles.
It's not easy running longer distances, mainly for me because it can be tough to maintain that focus but I like to think of long distance runs as a road trip. Weird I know, but for whatever reason it helps me maintain my focus and think towards the end of the run, like the destination of a trip. Plus I just really enjoy road trips, because it allows me to think about life and lots of other subjects, a really good time to contemplate.
Well happy running guys. I'll be posting my half marathon playlist soon as well.
I have been able to steadily increase my speed and distance despite a hamstring that keeps bothering me. In fact since I bought my new pair of shoes (which is actually a half size shorter than what I normally wear) it forced me to alter my running form. Instead of running on my forefoot, I began running on my heels and although it feels a bit odd I'm actually able to run at a brisk pace at longer distances. Although running longer distances isn't easy to get used to when you've been running 3-6 miles.
It's not easy running longer distances, mainly for me because it can be tough to maintain that focus but I like to think of long distance runs as a road trip. Weird I know, but for whatever reason it helps me maintain my focus and think towards the end of the run, like the destination of a trip. Plus I just really enjoy road trips, because it allows me to think about life and lots of other subjects, a really good time to contemplate.
Well happy running guys. I'll be posting my half marathon playlist soon as well.
Friday, September 20, 2013
A New Attitude
Starting a blog that follows my running exploits has been on my to do list for a hot minute to say the least. Well ironically enough I begin this excursion during the most non productive running period I've had in some time, but nonetheless there's never a bad time to start, amirite? With that said, let me give some brief information about myself.
My name is Fernando Rivas and I am a fat ass. I don't mean to be so blunt, but honestly it's the truth (I also would like to apologize up front for the foul language that may occur in the future) However, I used to be an even bigger lard ass a few years ago and because of my unhealthy ways I had an embarrassing situation that made me realize that I needed to change something, thus leading me to start running again. Running to me had always been a safe haven of sorts, it provided me the high I needed, the time to be alone with my thoughts, and provided the greatest outlet for all the trials and tribulations in my life. However, for whatever I reason I'd gotten away because of the usual numbskull shit that college students do but unfortunately as I got further and further away from running I just became a giant schlub (which I still am, thus the title of the blog but anyhow...) I drank all the time (which I do still occasionally get drunk), ate lots of fast food (which I still struggle with), and smoked Black and Mild cigars (which were smooth as eggs).
Well unfortunately, this lead to that faithful day back in 2010 when I had to be taken to the emergency room by my cousin, Sebastian, and subsequently endured an embarrassing fiasco, not from service of hospital attendants but from the fact that I had allowed myself to get to such a poor state. Needless to say, long story short I needed to start running again and honestly I had no clue how terrible of shape I had gotten. Well as the cliche goes, with hard work, perseverance, and forcing myself to run when I didn't want to or didn't feel good or the weather sucked, there I was chipping away. I started out close 290 lbs and recently got down around 238 (Well unfortunately a recent trip back to Texas and mom's home cooking made me gain some back, but anyhow). Well after awhile I started to wonder about running races for fun and entered my first race, a breast cancer awareness 5k (well you know the one) and it's been on since then.
So I started to run races for the hell of it, and then I started to become a little more competitive and started to really push myself to get better and improve, and now here I am a few years later in Atlanta, Georgia sitting on my ass because of a damn pulled hamstring (now also a bruised quad). Well guess there's no better time to start a blog not necessarily documenting my running exploits, but more importantly trying offer advice and encouragement to other folks with honesty and wit. So hopefully you guys will allow me to humor, entertain, and educate you on the trials and tribulations of being a schlub runner.
Fernando
Atlanta Track Club
West Texas Running Club
My name is Fernando Rivas and I am a fat ass. I don't mean to be so blunt, but honestly it's the truth (I also would like to apologize up front for the foul language that may occur in the future) However, I used to be an even bigger lard ass a few years ago and because of my unhealthy ways I had an embarrassing situation that made me realize that I needed to change something, thus leading me to start running again. Running to me had always been a safe haven of sorts, it provided me the high I needed, the time to be alone with my thoughts, and provided the greatest outlet for all the trials and tribulations in my life. However, for whatever I reason I'd gotten away because of the usual numbskull shit that college students do but unfortunately as I got further and further away from running I just became a giant schlub (which I still am, thus the title of the blog but anyhow...) I drank all the time (which I do still occasionally get drunk), ate lots of fast food (which I still struggle with), and smoked Black and Mild cigars (which were smooth as eggs).
Well unfortunately, this lead to that faithful day back in 2010 when I had to be taken to the emergency room by my cousin, Sebastian, and subsequently endured an embarrassing fiasco, not from service of hospital attendants but from the fact that I had allowed myself to get to such a poor state. Needless to say, long story short I needed to start running again and honestly I had no clue how terrible of shape I had gotten. Well as the cliche goes, with hard work, perseverance, and forcing myself to run when I didn't want to or didn't feel good or the weather sucked, there I was chipping away. I started out close 290 lbs and recently got down around 238 (Well unfortunately a recent trip back to Texas and mom's home cooking made me gain some back, but anyhow). Well after awhile I started to wonder about running races for fun and entered my first race, a breast cancer awareness 5k (well you know the one) and it's been on since then.
So I started to run races for the hell of it, and then I started to become a little more competitive and started to really push myself to get better and improve, and now here I am a few years later in Atlanta, Georgia sitting on my ass because of a damn pulled hamstring (now also a bruised quad). Well guess there's no better time to start a blog not necessarily documenting my running exploits, but more importantly trying offer advice and encouragement to other folks with honesty and wit. So hopefully you guys will allow me to humor, entertain, and educate you on the trials and tribulations of being a schlub runner.
Fernando
Atlanta Track Club
West Texas Running Club
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