Sept 15-Oct 15 "Daniel's Running Formula" Book Club (Page 3)

Me:

I'm actually relatively new to all of this running stuff. I've been running about 2.5 years now. 

I was a pole-vaulter in High School and played some hockey in college.

After college, and even during, I gained weight and become pretty inactive just trying to figure life out. I probably gained 35 lbs or so (Right there with ya Matt ) I was also really depressed and I just seemed to have all this negative energy wound up inside. I started working out, without much effort or direction. A friend of mine talked me into signing up for a triathlon. I did that (which also brought me to BT) and found that I really liked the running part. I definitely didn't do things correctly in the beginning. In 2011 I  randomly won entry into a HM and ran it the next day. With minimal training I ran something like a 1:42 so, I decided to run a marathon. The running was/is totally my therapy. I love doing it. I don't know what changed, because I used to dread running. Now, it quite simply makes me a better person.

I've decided I really like the marathon distance and have made some pretty big long term goals. In the meantime I have decided to do things better. I joined a competitive running club and read everything I could get my hands on, including "Running Formula." I'm doing more periodization, planning to run track in the summers for speed, cross country for strength in the fall, build base and ramp into the marathon in the spring. The running club I am part of definitely runs the practices using his principles, so it is a double win.

My PRs are:

5K 19:12

10K 40:50

HM 1:27:26

Marathon 3:13:16

Now that I have some nice and easy miles under my belt, I am ready to start leaning into all of this and pushing hard. I want to understand exactly what I am doing and why. I know for a fact "Running Formula" will help with that but I think being able to discuss it with all of you fine folks will really drive it home.

What I really like about JD is that it provides an excellent foundation for a program, giving all the science and technical data to make good decisions. 

Additionally, I know there is an art to running and that is the part that I am good at. I am really looking forward to blending the two.

My PRs are:

5K 19:12

10K 40:50

HM 1:27:26

Marathon 3:13:16

Our times are so similar 

5k 19:01 (I still lose sleep over this one)

10k 39:51

HM 1:29:39

This marathon I have coming up will be my first serious one.  

I think you get the pants first, then you get fast 

and our collegiate weight gain  Boooo yaaaaah!

Do you have a before and after picture?  You show me yours and I'll show you mine

Yeah, I can dig a before and after up. I don't know if people mind them being posted here of if they should go elsewhere? 

Nice transformation, Salty!  As promised:

Me the day of my college graduation:

The pic to the left is during a 15k I ran two months before my first half.  The right side is the same race after my first tri season (one year later):

My avatar pic is me in a sprint tri.

Lastly here's what I look like in normal people clothes now:

These are AWESOME! 

That is a big change.  Did you purposefully alter your diet, or did the weight just come off with running?

p.s. you still fancy Herr DID!

p.p.s. I can't believe you've only been running for 2.5 years.  It is truly remarkable.

OH YOU FANCY, HUH?

Yeah, I started with the diet. I just started eating real food. I learned what a portion was. Not rocket science but some of this shyte is all convoluted with fads and whatnot. Cooking nearly all my own meals (and making enough for lunch) was probably the most effective thing I did once I knew the general ins and outs of nutrition. 

Yeah MATT! 

That's some super strong work. Lookin good in and out of the street clothes, btw. 

 I mean that in the best, non-creepy, older woman kinda way.

I also like that you are wearing the same color shirts, it adds to the before/after effect 

and I also want to make a comment about Elesa being a creeper but nothing is coming to me right now. That is all.

Ahhhh nice work, man!! Very freekin' cool. And I can most certainly appreciate what it takes.

We've got a lot in common, eh?????

Thanks!  And so it seems!

I personally didn't do a whole lot to my diet.  I did stop drinking soda as much.  I used to be able to put away some Mountain Dew!  I still eat fast food occasionally.

Hahahaha, I suppose so! I don't mind if you want to pretend to deny it a little longer though. Secret safe with me.