Mark-1
Time to Laugh !!!
Laney Lou!
Laney Lou!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
We did it !!!
Sometimes the stars align and a perfect day emerges with blue skies and sunshine and where a feeling of accomplishment and gratitude prevails. Last Saturday was such a day as Becky and I and a lot of family and friends all finished the St. George Half Marathon. No one broke any speed records but this race wasn't about that, it was about accomplishment, perseverance and endurance mixed in with maybe a little stubbornness and determination to never quit. For experienced runners, it was just a little morning jog but for me, it was much more. It was only a few short years ago I was laying in a hospital bed with major heart problems. So I feel fortunate to have another chance and to work toward something significant... for now, that's just walking 13.1 miles and surviving. Maybe later, I can improve on that but I'm happy with finishing!
Thanks to everyone who came to participate or just be a cheerleader! I was so inspired by you all and your drive to finish, its hard to put it all into words...but here goes:
Becky and the "all for one" crowd did great! They ran the first 6 miles or so without stopping. This was amazing since all of their training was mostly just walking. Becky, Jenny, Kathe, Katie, and Susanne comprised this group who vowed to stick together! They were way ahead of my friend Jim and I until Jenny pulled a muscle and they all stopped to help her. They finally went on together and walked the rest of the way in. I was proud of them all and especially my wife Becky who is still very sore from running! Jim and I finally caught them and finished a few minutes ahead but only because they stuck together when one of them was hurt. But as I said, the time didn't really matter.
My Son Jon came with Katie and Lucy! I was glad to see them there and Katie decided at the last minute to run the race and stayed with Becky and the girls throughout the whole race! Way to go Katie! Jon and Lucy took pics and cheered us on!
My daughter Kristen and her husband Ben weren't able to make it this year. They are running a different kind of marathon of their own. Kristen is pregnant with a new little baby girl "Laney Lou" and is due in a few weeks. We can't wait for little Laney to arrive! Kristen didn't want to risk being away from her doctors to come to St. George and we didn't want her to risk it either. But next year, they're in with one more little granddaughter to cheer us on!
The Bradfords came and supported us and Joe, Greta and Jenny all participated and finished well ahead of us slow pokes! Way to go you guys!
My Sister-in-law Jayne surprised us all by participating! I thought she was coming with my brother Kim (aka Kermit) to be a spectator but she entered and finished! I am so proud of her for doing this and so grateful that they came. She is really taking the "Younger Next Year" message to heart and is working hard to improve her health and her life. Now if she can get Kim to participate! Actually, we love Kim just the way he is but we would like him to be around for a long long time.
Our friends the Joneses and the Ridings came to run and support us. Jim walked the whole way with me and encouraged me to keep going and keep the pace. Randy, who never trained at all, came in ahead of our whole group! Susanne and Kathe ran with the "all for one" crowd as I mentioned and they all did great!
My wonderful 74 year old cousin Marilyn finished the entire 13.1 miles! I was so proud of her for finishing! She didn't think she could do it but she never gave up! Way to go Marilyn!
For the last 5 miles or so, Jim and I kept pace with an older gentleman who ran and walked. When he walked, we would catch up with him. Then he would run a little and get a ways ahead of us. Then he would walk and we would catch him again. He finished about the same time as us and we later found out that he was 83 years old and finished in 3:05! He is a living testament that you can lead and active and healthy life well into your 80s and beyond if you follow "Harry's rules" in "Younger Next Year." I hope I can still do that kind of thing when I'm 83!
It was great to see everyone and to have some fun and laughs. My brother Randy and his wife Winnie came down from Cedar City as did their son Dewey and His wife Stacy. Their encouragement and support was much appreciated! Thanks guys! Randy said next year he will watch all of the kids while everyone else races! Winnie, Dewey and Stacy said they would like to join in next year so someone will have to watch the little ones!
The farthest travelers were Kim and Jayne who came from Klamath Falls Oregon! They flew into Vegas and drove from there! I think Kim would rather drive all the way from Oregon than take another flight! Maybe next year Kim!
My mother and sister Peggy both came from Spanish Fork and West Jordan. They were great cheerleaders also. Randall and Vicki came along with Bert, Joe and families! Randall and Bert did a lot of golfing which is a favorite thing to do while in St. George! Whatever, we all had fun even if we weren't all together!
Stopped by to see Roger and MaryLou on the way home and had a great (but short) visit. It was good to see them and Jill also who is staying there for now while they look for a house. I hope they all can make it next year!
Well, one goal down on my YNY journey! Still have many to go and this is just the beginning. Still need to go by Harry's rules and lose more weight and continue to work out and be active every day. Its getting easier and I'm actually quite enjoying it!
I've lost 2 more % of my body fat but still have a long way to go. It is a good start though! I'm still losing weight but much more slowly. I'm at 28% body fat, my lean muscle mass is increasing while my overall weight is decreasing. So, I think I'm still on a good path.
I posted some pics on Facebook if you want to go look! I'll put a few here too!
Thanks again to everyone for a great weekend and everyone's invited next year so mark your calendars and keep being active!
Bye for now!
Thanks to everyone who came to participate or just be a cheerleader! I was so inspired by you all and your drive to finish, its hard to put it all into words...but here goes:
Becky and the "all for one" crowd did great! They ran the first 6 miles or so without stopping. This was amazing since all of their training was mostly just walking. Becky, Jenny, Kathe, Katie, and Susanne comprised this group who vowed to stick together! They were way ahead of my friend Jim and I until Jenny pulled a muscle and they all stopped to help her. They finally went on together and walked the rest of the way in. I was proud of them all and especially my wife Becky who is still very sore from running! Jim and I finally caught them and finished a few minutes ahead but only because they stuck together when one of them was hurt. But as I said, the time didn't really matter.
My Son Jon came with Katie and Lucy! I was glad to see them there and Katie decided at the last minute to run the race and stayed with Becky and the girls throughout the whole race! Way to go Katie! Jon and Lucy took pics and cheered us on!
My daughter Kristen and her husband Ben weren't able to make it this year. They are running a different kind of marathon of their own. Kristen is pregnant with a new little baby girl "Laney Lou" and is due in a few weeks. We can't wait for little Laney to arrive! Kristen didn't want to risk being away from her doctors to come to St. George and we didn't want her to risk it either. But next year, they're in with one more little granddaughter to cheer us on!
The Bradfords came and supported us and Joe, Greta and Jenny all participated and finished well ahead of us slow pokes! Way to go you guys!
My Sister-in-law Jayne surprised us all by participating! I thought she was coming with my brother Kim (aka Kermit) to be a spectator but she entered and finished! I am so proud of her for doing this and so grateful that they came. She is really taking the "Younger Next Year" message to heart and is working hard to improve her health and her life. Now if she can get Kim to participate! Actually, we love Kim just the way he is but we would like him to be around for a long long time.
Our friends the Joneses and the Ridings came to run and support us. Jim walked the whole way with me and encouraged me to keep going and keep the pace. Randy, who never trained at all, came in ahead of our whole group! Susanne and Kathe ran with the "all for one" crowd as I mentioned and they all did great!
My wonderful 74 year old cousin Marilyn finished the entire 13.1 miles! I was so proud of her for finishing! She didn't think she could do it but she never gave up! Way to go Marilyn!
For the last 5 miles or so, Jim and I kept pace with an older gentleman who ran and walked. When he walked, we would catch up with him. Then he would run a little and get a ways ahead of us. Then he would walk and we would catch him again. He finished about the same time as us and we later found out that he was 83 years old and finished in 3:05! He is a living testament that you can lead and active and healthy life well into your 80s and beyond if you follow "Harry's rules" in "Younger Next Year." I hope I can still do that kind of thing when I'm 83!
It was great to see everyone and to have some fun and laughs. My brother Randy and his wife Winnie came down from Cedar City as did their son Dewey and His wife Stacy. Their encouragement and support was much appreciated! Thanks guys! Randy said next year he will watch all of the kids while everyone else races! Winnie, Dewey and Stacy said they would like to join in next year so someone will have to watch the little ones!
The farthest travelers were Kim and Jayne who came from Klamath Falls Oregon! They flew into Vegas and drove from there! I think Kim would rather drive all the way from Oregon than take another flight! Maybe next year Kim!
My mother and sister Peggy both came from Spanish Fork and West Jordan. They were great cheerleaders also. Randall and Vicki came along with Bert, Joe and families! Randall and Bert did a lot of golfing which is a favorite thing to do while in St. George! Whatever, we all had fun even if we weren't all together!
Stopped by to see Roger and MaryLou on the way home and had a great (but short) visit. It was good to see them and Jill also who is staying there for now while they look for a house. I hope they all can make it next year!
Well, one goal down on my YNY journey! Still have many to go and this is just the beginning. Still need to go by Harry's rules and lose more weight and continue to work out and be active every day. Its getting easier and I'm actually quite enjoying it!
I've lost 2 more % of my body fat but still have a long way to go. It is a good start though! I'm still losing weight but much more slowly. I'm at 28% body fat, my lean muscle mass is increasing while my overall weight is decreasing. So, I think I'm still on a good path.
I posted some pics on Facebook if you want to go look! I'll put a few here too!
Thanks again to everyone for a great weekend and everyone's invited next year so mark your calendars and keep being active!
Bye for now!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Luckiest !!!
I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
You know, I have to agree with Ben Folds, I am the Luckiest. I have the good fortune to be married to someone who supports me 100% and who puts up with me in this quest to be younger and to get into better shape. She matches me step for step and works out just as hard as I do. In fact, I think she is working harder. She goes to Jazzercise on days we don't walk. She walks/runs when I mostly just walk. She is really doing great and is looking great. We are really enjoying working out and walking together even though we go at different paces. I can't wait until summer when we can go biking, hiking and other things together to get in and keep in shape. She is also supporting me on the food front and is giving me great support and is cooking with and shopping for better and healthier foods. It is so important to have support on the home front when you are attempting a major lifestyle change. Becky supports me unconditionally and that makes all the difference. I love her enthusiasm and her drive to get up at 5:00am to go walking and to continue down the "younger next year" path. Thanks Becky! You are the love of my life and I truly am the Luckiest!
Walking one week from today in the 1/2M! I'm not expecting miracles, just want to finish in under 3.5 hours! I'm really looking forward to it and would like to invite anyone to come and participate or just watch. It should be a lot of fun!
My daughter Jennifer ran last year and challenged us to do it this year. In our process to get ready, several others have joined the adventure! Here are folks I know are going and many more might go:
Walking or Running:
Me
Becky
Jenny Brumfield Daughter (she started this adventure)
Asiel Brumfield Son-in-law
Bret & Kathy Taylor Friends
Randy & Suzanne Jones Friends
Jim & Kathe Riding Friends
Joe & Greta Bradford Nephew & Niece
Bert & Jenny Bradford Nephew & Niece
Cheerleaders:
Mama Myrl My wonderful mother
Peggy Draper Sister
Vicki & Randall Bradford Sister & Brother-in-law
Kermit & Jayne Warner Brother & Sister-in-law (coming from Oregon!)
Randy & Winnie Warner Brother & Sister-in-law
Jon & Katie Warner Son & Daughter-in-law (might make it, just getting home from Hawaii)!
Should be a party and everyone is welcome!!!
Walked 6.6 miles last night since we couldn't walk today (went to a funeral in Arimo, ID). This week we will do short walks to get rested and ready for Saturday. Should get 8-10 miles this week is all. Since I bought my new shoes the end of December, I will have about 60 miles on them before Saturday! They feel great and I'm glad I have them broke in pretty well.
Everybody have a great week!
Caio!
Mark... The Luckiest!
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?
And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you
Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know
That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
You know, I have to agree with Ben Folds, I am the Luckiest. I have the good fortune to be married to someone who supports me 100% and who puts up with me in this quest to be younger and to get into better shape. She matches me step for step and works out just as hard as I do. In fact, I think she is working harder. She goes to Jazzercise on days we don't walk. She walks/runs when I mostly just walk. She is really doing great and is looking great. We are really enjoying working out and walking together even though we go at different paces. I can't wait until summer when we can go biking, hiking and other things together to get in and keep in shape. She is also supporting me on the food front and is giving me great support and is cooking with and shopping for better and healthier foods. It is so important to have support on the home front when you are attempting a major lifestyle change. Becky supports me unconditionally and that makes all the difference. I love her enthusiasm and her drive to get up at 5:00am to go walking and to continue down the "younger next year" path. Thanks Becky! You are the love of my life and I truly am the Luckiest!
Walking one week from today in the 1/2M! I'm not expecting miracles, just want to finish in under 3.5 hours! I'm really looking forward to it and would like to invite anyone to come and participate or just watch. It should be a lot of fun!
My daughter Jennifer ran last year and challenged us to do it this year. In our process to get ready, several others have joined the adventure! Here are folks I know are going and many more might go:
Walking or Running:
Me
Becky
Jenny Brumfield Daughter (she started this adventure)
Asiel Brumfield Son-in-law
Bret & Kathy Taylor Friends
Randy & Suzanne Jones Friends
Jim & Kathe Riding Friends
Joe & Greta Bradford Nephew & Niece
Bert & Jenny Bradford Nephew & Niece
Cheerleaders:
Mama Myrl My wonderful mother
Peggy Draper Sister
Vicki & Randall Bradford Sister & Brother-in-law
Kermit & Jayne Warner Brother & Sister-in-law (coming from Oregon!)
Randy & Winnie Warner Brother & Sister-in-law
Jon & Katie Warner Son & Daughter-in-law (might make it, just getting home from Hawaii)!
Should be a party and everyone is welcome!!!
Walked 6.6 miles last night since we couldn't walk today (went to a funeral in Arimo, ID). This week we will do short walks to get rested and ready for Saturday. Should get 8-10 miles this week is all. Since I bought my new shoes the end of December, I will have about 60 miles on them before Saturday! They feel great and I'm glad I have them broke in pretty well.
Everybody have a great week!
Caio!
Mark... The Luckiest!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Countdown!
Getting closer! Walked 12 miles at the Kearns Olympic Speed Skating Oval on Saturday. Their track goes around the Speed skating track and is an oddball length but it beats Gene Fullmer where we would have had to go 192 laps to make 12 miles! As it was, I went 41 laps in the 3rd lane which is 12 miles and did it in 2 hours and 55 minutes! (not too bad for a fat man!) At that rate I hope to make the 1/2 M in under 3 hours and 30 minutes! Whoo Hooo!
Takin' it a little easier this week and next. The 12 miles was our longest pre-race walk. Now its glide into home with shorter walks. After this one, I'm going to start running a little and see if I can build up my wind and endurance. I would like to run one someday and maybe do a marathon! That's a long way out but someday!! For now, I have only one goal and that is to finish this one!
If the long range forecast is correct, it will be in the 40s and possibly raining! That doesn't sound fun at all! May need to take an extra pair of dry socks!
Well, the route has been changed and updated on the website! It looks like it backtracks on itself a bit! I'm sure I'll be passing many going the opposite way as me and they will be miles ahead! Oh well!
Jon and Katie are in Hawaii this week (temps in the 70s) but they hope to come down to St. George Friday night the 21st. I hope they can make it! It will be fun to see everyone and to walk in the rain!! We'll be there unless Kristen has little Laney at that time! Can't wait for our #6 grandchild!
Hope everyone has had a great start to their New Year! Now its to bed because we have to walk 5 miles at 5:30am!!
Adios!
Takin' it a little easier this week and next. The 12 miles was our longest pre-race walk. Now its glide into home with shorter walks. After this one, I'm going to start running a little and see if I can build up my wind and endurance. I would like to run one someday and maybe do a marathon! That's a long way out but someday!! For now, I have only one goal and that is to finish this one!
If the long range forecast is correct, it will be in the 40s and possibly raining! That doesn't sound fun at all! May need to take an extra pair of dry socks!
Well, the route has been changed and updated on the website! It looks like it backtracks on itself a bit! I'm sure I'll be passing many going the opposite way as me and they will be miles ahead! Oh well!
Jon and Katie are in Hawaii this week (temps in the 70s) but they hope to come down to St. George Friday night the 21st. I hope they can make it! It will be fun to see everyone and to walk in the rain!! We'll be there unless Kristen has little Laney at that time! Can't wait for our #6 grandchild!
Hope everyone has had a great start to their New Year! Now its to bed because we have to walk 5 miles at 5:30am!!
Adios!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year !!!!
Enough is enough! We walked 11 miles on Friday (Yes, New Year's Eve)! It wasn't too bad except we are still indoors at the Gene Fullmer Rec. Center. 11 miles is 176 laps in 2 hours and 42 minutes! That's on pace for a 3 hour and 15 minute 1/2 Marathon! I know that really sounds slow for all of you runners but for me, it feels good to be able to go that long at that pace (about 4 mph). I'm just trying to break 3 hours and 30 minutes! Probably no running this time around but keeping my walking pace at about 4 mph or 15 minutes/mile! Anyway, that last run was just too many laps and this coming weekend it's 12 miles and we're going to go to the Kearns Olympic Speed Skating Oval and use the running/walking track there. It's only 3 or so laps per mile instead of 16!!!
I did get some new shoes and used them Friday. I thought I should break them in a little and wear them for a few miles then switch to my old ones but they felt great and I ended up wearing them the whole way! They are exactly the same shoes I had before just a newer model so I shouldn't have a problem with them. Funny thing is, my old shoes wore unevenly mostly because we walked so much on the small track. We always walked counter-clockwise and my right shoe wore out quicker than my left and had considerably less tread. The shoe guy just laughed and sold me a new pair and suggested the Olympic Oval where 12 miles is more like 40 laps instead of 192!. So, it's Saturday at 6:00am for 12 miles in 3 hours at the Oval if anyone want's to join us! That's our goal anyway.
Becky's been walking this whole time too and is doing great! She's been sick with sinus infection and has still kept up on the walking! I'm so proud of her for sticking with it. She inspires me to keep going!
We're 20 days out from St. George! This week it's 5 miles on Tuesday, 5 on Thursday and 12 on Saturday! Next week it will be 5, 5 and maybe 6 or 7. The week of the race it will probably be 5 and 5 then..... Whoo Hooo!! I hope they have the route finalized and ready to go! Since much of the track washed away, they need to pick a new route!
I hope everyone can still make it! We're looking forward to seeing everyone. We're going down on Thursday the 20th unless Kristen decides to have her baby that weekend! Little Laney isn't due until Feb. 11th but who knows? If she's like her mother, she will arrive whenever she pleases!! (kidding Kristen!) Actually, we can't wait for her to come into our lives!
We had a great and quiet New Year's celebration this year! Becky and I went out to Dinner and came home and watched a movie! Actually, it was exactly what I wanted to do and it was great to be together without a lot of other distractions!
One more thing! I don't know what your New Year's resolutions are or if you have any goals this year, but, whatever they are, I hope you achieve them. I still have my YNY goals (read my other posts) but I have a few besides them too that I won't mention here. One thing Becky and I are going to do this year is get certified to do Scuba Diving! I gave her some lessons for Christmas to get certified (no, that isn't all I got her!) and she is going to give me the same package for my birthday! We're going on a Mediterranean Cruise in September/October and I hope we can take an excursion one day and do some diving! We'll see! I also don't want to miss the sightseeing since I'm sure I won't get back there too often! Anyway, if anyone is interested in going on the same cruise, or in taking Scuba lessons with us, let me know and I'll send you the info. We're leaving out of Barcelona and I believe cruising for 12 days! Should be fun!
Over the Holidays, I haven't gained any weight! I haven't lost any either but I am at about the same as before Christmas... still down about 25 lbs. from when I started in August! I have a lot more to go and am still determined to lose at least another 40 lbs. or so. Just need to take it a day at a time and stay with the program! Never give up!
May you all find happiness, joy and peace in your lives in 2011!!
Caio!
I did get some new shoes and used them Friday. I thought I should break them in a little and wear them for a few miles then switch to my old ones but they felt great and I ended up wearing them the whole way! They are exactly the same shoes I had before just a newer model so I shouldn't have a problem with them. Funny thing is, my old shoes wore unevenly mostly because we walked so much on the small track. We always walked counter-clockwise and my right shoe wore out quicker than my left and had considerably less tread. The shoe guy just laughed and sold me a new pair and suggested the Olympic Oval where 12 miles is more like 40 laps instead of 192!. So, it's Saturday at 6:00am for 12 miles in 3 hours at the Oval if anyone want's to join us! That's our goal anyway.
Becky's been walking this whole time too and is doing great! She's been sick with sinus infection and has still kept up on the walking! I'm so proud of her for sticking with it. She inspires me to keep going!
We're 20 days out from St. George! This week it's 5 miles on Tuesday, 5 on Thursday and 12 on Saturday! Next week it will be 5, 5 and maybe 6 or 7. The week of the race it will probably be 5 and 5 then..... Whoo Hooo!! I hope they have the route finalized and ready to go! Since much of the track washed away, they need to pick a new route!
I hope everyone can still make it! We're looking forward to seeing everyone. We're going down on Thursday the 20th unless Kristen decides to have her baby that weekend! Little Laney isn't due until Feb. 11th but who knows? If she's like her mother, she will arrive whenever she pleases!! (kidding Kristen!) Actually, we can't wait for her to come into our lives!
We had a great and quiet New Year's celebration this year! Becky and I went out to Dinner and came home and watched a movie! Actually, it was exactly what I wanted to do and it was great to be together without a lot of other distractions!
One more thing! I don't know what your New Year's resolutions are or if you have any goals this year, but, whatever they are, I hope you achieve them. I still have my YNY goals (read my other posts) but I have a few besides them too that I won't mention here. One thing Becky and I are going to do this year is get certified to do Scuba Diving! I gave her some lessons for Christmas to get certified (no, that isn't all I got her!) and she is going to give me the same package for my birthday! We're going on a Mediterranean Cruise in September/October and I hope we can take an excursion one day and do some diving! We'll see! I also don't want to miss the sightseeing since I'm sure I won't get back there too often! Anyway, if anyone is interested in going on the same cruise, or in taking Scuba lessons with us, let me know and I'll send you the info. We're leaving out of Barcelona and I believe cruising for 12 days! Should be fun!
Over the Holidays, I haven't gained any weight! I haven't lost any either but I am at about the same as before Christmas... still down about 25 lbs. from when I started in August! I have a lot more to go and am still determined to lose at least another 40 lbs. or so. Just need to take it a day at a time and stay with the program! Never give up!
May you all find happiness, joy and peace in your lives in 2011!!
Caio!
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