Who Am I?

My name is David, I grew up in the Chicago area. I was never much of an athlete, especially since I was one who would give up on things quickly if I didn't see immediate success. I did play baseball as a child and to put in frankly I hated every minute of it. The one sport I did enjoy was swimming and did like running during baseball (go figure).

I finally demonstrated an interest in fitness in my late teens when (because of my brother being a pain about it) I took up Karate. For some reason I really took to it and enjoyed it. At this time I honestly didn’t drop any weight (bad diet). After a little bit I stopped going to Karate and that part of my fitness life was put to the side.

Enter in adult hood and father hood.

These two things happen at the same time. Fitness was a very low priority for me; I figured I’d get on track someday and drop this weight. So I spent time with my daughter and tried to be the best father I could be for her.  During this time I realized I have a little girl who will grow up and boys (evil or good) will come along. So I took up martial arts (Kick Boxing). I figured I could get in shape and hey if anything happen I could handle it.

Much like the first time I got into any physical activity I gave up after a while. Why? Well, because it’s easier to come up with excuses to not do something then it is to do something. And I wasn’t immediately good at it like I felt like I should be. So I went back to my old ways and kept eating bad and not exercising.

I eventually got tired of being over weight and there was a gym and my work. So it was a no brainier. The first thing I started doing was working out and then I slowly started to clean up my diet and I started to see results. The workout itself was nothing crazy I would run for a mile or so (10 Min Mile) and then do some strength training. Fate took a ugly turn and the company I worked for closed and with it my gym. Thankfully it was summer time. So I would take my daughter to the park and run a mile everyday. I tried to eat good even though sometimes I would use my “working out” as an excuse to be bad. Winter came and with it my motivation to work out.

Fast forward a few years

Time passes and with it my motivation to drop the weight comes back. This time I decided to work out and the gym and do martial arts. Good idea right? Please go back the too the first paragraph again. Once again Martial arts (Brazilian Jui Jitsu) did not come as easy as I wanted to said forget it. I did do my best to get to the gym and eat better. Once again I was dropping the pounds. I got down to 190lbs; this was a very big deal for me. Since I haven’t been that low in weight since grade school.

Relapsing into old habits, and the person who changed it all

Once again life has this habit of dealing me with a bad hand and I don’t deal with it well, so I fold faster then Superman on laundry day. I gave in and ate bad and basically settled for the life and physical shape I was in. I did finally try gain to drop the weight but once again fell very short. This time was not running or martial arts but P90X, I was going to get ripped. Didn’t even make it thru the first month (phase 1), of the program. I worked and ate bad food; I didn’t exercise other then going for a walk during my lunch. On Jan 6^th 2011 I weighted in and I was 260lbs. honestly this was the biggest I’ve ever been. I was depressed and almost broke down into tears when I saw that number of the scale.  My best friend and I made a packet that we were going to lose weight together. Truth is without her none of what happen next would have ever happen.

Love is a funny thing and it can make us do things we never thought we’d do. I fell in love with my best friend. I didn’t think she could ever love me and 260lbs. So I started to eat better and in a week I dropped about 5lbs, it was a start and I was excited. My job at the time they started a “Biggest loser” contest. So I of course joined in the contest and I had every intention of winning. I’ll discuss the contest a little more soon.

March 14^th I was working out and eating better and that is the day I finally asked my best friend to be my girlfriend. Up to this point she had been my biggest cheerleader in the biggest loser contest (I was in the lead at the time). Thankfully she felt the same way for me and she became my girlfriend. Had this part of the story gone any other way well, then I wouldn’t even mention it.

205LBS that was my weight in early April when I weighed in for the last weigh in for the biggest loser and I won. I didn’t use any diet pills or other nonsense just a lot of eating right and exercise.  I suppose I should really explain what my workout was during this time period. Running was not something I did; I seriously considered it but then decided against it. I realized as big as I was I wouldn’t be able to run as fast or for as long as I wanted and knew I’d get discouraged right away. So instead I set the treadmill to the highest incline and walked at about 3.5 miles an hour for hour. That was my workout, not very ground breaking I know but it worked.

Don’t get too comfortable

So I got down to 205lbs and was feeling, looking much better. Sometimes in life we have a bad habit of getting too comfortable. I let myself get very comfortable and as summer approached I didn’t work out like I was before. Thankfully at the time I was working for Chicago Public school so I had summers off. To be honest that is a double egged sword. I was able to take Malina out and stay active that way and Yasmin and I would go out a lot too. I was at least staying active but my eating habits were not the best, since I just got too comfortable. Thankfully at this time I did not gain a ton of weight but I will admit do to my getting too comfortable I did gain.

The trail

My cousin would run this forest preserve trail every Saturday and would always talk about how great it was. I’ll be honest running was not something that crossed my mind and I would get invited but never go. I was kind of in a workout limbo so to speak, not sure which way I should go. Well, one Saturday I had sometime to myself so I finally went up to the trail. To be totally honest I had to intentions of running it, I was wearing gym shoes and cargo shorts. I figured I’d walk it to get a feel for the place. Leading up the trail is 100 + stairs (sorry the exact number escapes me at this time), I got to the top and was feeling good so I decided to run a little bit of the 4 ½ mile trail. I ended up running the entire tail without stopping. I want to say it took me maybe 45 – 50 min give or take. I felt awesome after, I couldn’t believe I ran the entire trail.

Over the next few weeks I made it a point to go to the trail everyday and I would run. As I reflect back on those early runs I laugh, not at my pace but more at my wardrobe. Basketball shorts, running shoes (Not fitted or anything) and a cotton t-shirt, It felt awesome to be out on the trail though. It was a sense of freedom that I haven’t felt in a long time. I would just run and I think I was impressed with the fact that I could run the entire trail. I admit I wasn’t but I really enjoyed running and how it made me feel.

Champion Run 10k (My first race)

 So I had been running the trail for a few weeks when I explained to my cousin that I understood why he loved it so much. His next response caught me off guard, “Hey I am running a 10K in a week you should sign up”. Me run a race? I laughed at the idea. My cousins response was simple “You run the trail you can run a 10K”.  So I talked it over with Yasmin and she told me I should do it what did I have to lose. After a little more mental debate, I signed up. I figured it would be a one time thing and hey it could be fun.

So first thing I did was go to a real running store and buy a proper pair of running shoes (Brooks Ravinna 3). I was able to get a few runs in them prior to the race, since I wanted to see how they felt. It felt really good to run in them I didn’t have any foot pain or ankle pain at all. This was because I was running in shoes that were perfect for my feet.

The morning of the race I woke up later then I should have and put on my race clothes. Now my race clothing was a paid of Adidas basket ball shorts and the race t-shirt. In retrospect it really makes me laugh to think about what I wore. So I got to the race just as it was starting, as you can see I was very gung ho about this, hahaha! The other thing I forgot was my head phones, Yasmin did have her but they were pink so that was not going to happen.

So I cross the start line and I am running along enjoying the sights and just in general enjoying the race. Now really realizing that a 10k is 6.2 miles, the distance now is not a big deal but back then only running 4 ½ it was a big deal. I was running a long and at some point saw my cousin on the other side (Turn around was going back) and gave him a shout.  Around the last half mile I started to feel something in my stomach, the dreaded nervous stomach hit. This being my first race I had no idea if I could run off and use the bathroom or not. Now I saw a bathroom and saw other races running in and out. That was my sign that I could do that. So I made a mad dash to the bathroom and took care of that. I took off running again, not passing but staying with a group and feeling good. As I saw the finish line I decided to sprint for it, hey might as well finish strong right?

In the end my time was 1 hr and 11min, might have finished a little sooner if not for the bathroom break.  

Another Race?

Soon after that the 10k my cousin told me about a 5K that went thru Brookfield Zoo, I always thought it would be cool to run thru the zoo. Since this was my opportunity I decided to take it.  This was my second race and really the only thing I had to go off of was my 10k race. So I figured I’d run it with my two cousins since they’ve ran a few races already. This time I played it smart and got there early so I can stretch etc. We got into a respective corral (9 min mile or so). And once we crossed the start line I took off. I just started going, I even ran around some people who were slower then me. I had music in my ears and really enjoyed the zoo and got to see it in a different light. I finished the race in I want to say about 28 odd min. I finished before both of my cousins.  For me that was so cool since they were more experienced then I was. I was determined at that point to run one race a month till the end of the year. And it was something I was able to do. Bare in mind there was only 3 months left but hey I was on a roll.

New Year

Winter and a new year came and I did not let it deter me, I was going to drop the weight and keep running.  I had a gym membership so I made it a point to try and go everyday to the gym and run.  From Jan – March I did not run any races. Most because of the cold weather I didn’t want to risk injury. In April I ran the Bunny Rock 5k and set a PR in that race (24:41.90 came in 18^th for my age group). Side note it wasn’t till right now that I did really well at that race.  I was on cloud 9 after that race having run it in under an 8 min mile and my previous 5k time was 28 min.

Cinco De Miler

My may race was the Cinco De Miler the only 5 mile race in Chicago. At this point I was running 6 miles a day 6 -7 days a week. Interesting fact about this race 1) Yasmin was running since she joined the running club at work. Keep in mind she really hates running but was pressured into it by a co-worker and hoped it would help her lose weight. 2) the running club from her job was also running it.  So this race was a big one for me, since I wanted to beat the running club but also promised that once I finished I’d go back for Yasmin. I spotted everyone in the running club since they all had matching jerseys. As the race started I made it a point to pick them off one by one and one by one I passed them up. In the end I was running with the last member of the team who I got to say was very fast. Sadly I didn’t pass him but until we crossed that finish line I was determined to try. In the end I crossed the finish line and 38 min 36 sec. I was running under a 8 min mile for 5 miles! After I crossed the finish line I doubled back to find Yasmin. I found her around mile 3 or so and she looked really tired. In my excitement I told her the good news of my time and how I did the race. She was very proud of me. I ran with her almost all the way to the finish line and then jumped off since I didn’t want my time to be screwed up in any way.  It felt awesome to know that I did something that I never thought I’d be able to do.

My First Half Marathon

Following the Cinco De Miler I decided to run my very first half marathon. The half marathon was the Northshore Half Marathon in Highland Park IL. Realizing I’d need to up my mileage for this we found a training plan online and I followed it to the letter. It was so different to be running 10, 12 and 13 miles I had never run so far or even thought I could do so. Training for the race went very well and I felt good going into it.

Race morning we got there bright and early since Yasmin was running the 5k option. I got into my corral for the half and felt very nervous, since a couple weeks prior I was sick and not able to train. That added with this being my first half marathon had me a bit on edge. One very big fact I a have neglected to mention was this race was in June and the temp that day was 90 degrees. As the race started I decided that I was going to run at my comfortable pace and now race the other runners. Since I figured they’d probably done a number of half marathons. The one big thing I really enjoyed about this race was the course itself. It went thru the streets of highland part a suburb outside of Chicago. As the race went on the sun got hotter but the people of Highland Park are very supportive and even had water and sprinklers for us.

As the race started coming to and end the last 3 miles of the race go thru and treeless culdesac.  90 degree heat and no shade was very rough but I did not walk I kept running no matter what I refused to walk. The next thing that happens to this day is something that I don’t understand how or why it happens. At mile 11 I pulled my shoulder. I was in a lot of pain and even thought about stopping but I realized I was almost at the finish line. As I raced to the finish line I saw something amazing on the clock. I was under my goal time of 2hrs. I pushed forward at the end and crossed the finish at 1 hr 59 min 50 sec. I was so tired and happy all at the same time. I did something that in a million years I never thought I’d do, I finished a half marathon.

Now what?

After finishing the half I ran a couple of more races n August and September both were 5Ks and both had results that I am not proud of. The reason for this was because the month of July I barely ran and I didn’t know where to go next. I felt like I did a half now what. In retrospect the now what should have been to get faster. I felt like I didn’t have another big race to do. I wanted to run the Chicago Marathon but my only option was to run for a charity and I would have to raise a lot of money. So I decided against it and figured I’d keep running and get myself into shape. So I started trying to run 10 miles a day, considering I haven’t run as much a lately this was not the best idea. I was able to get some good runs in at least.

At the beginning of November I ran a local 5k option that I had run the previous year Carrera de los Muertos. I really enjoy this race since it goes thru one of the local neighborhoods here in Chicago. It was a rather cold day but I didn’t care I was going to run this race and do well no matter what. As the race started I kept going and went around slower runners. Maybe it was the fact that I was not thinking about the race and I just ran but I did awesome. I set a new PR for the 5k (PR is now 23 min 23 sec) which was 24 min 18 sec. As proud as I was for what I did in the race I did not capitalize on it. Thanks to winter coming in and me no longer having gym membership things got bad.

Falling back into bad habits

As I said before I did not have a gym membership and started a new job that made it easy for me to eat and be very lazy. Sadly thanks to the lack of working out and real effort on my part to drop the weight I started to gain again. I got all the way up to 220lbs. I had previously been as low as 179lbs and now I was back up again. Eating became a favorite past time and my motivation was at an all time low. I did finally join a gym but it was at my local park district and needless to say working out there was not all that helpful. The equipment was cheap and the room itself of too small. I did do my best to get some kind of work out in at least. I really started to try and make things right by watching what I eat and even trying this weight loss shake plan. Old habit of looking for the quick fix set in again.

I did run two races during this time one was Race to Wrigley 5k missed my pr by maybe 20 sec so not so bad. The other was Cinco De Miler, every time I think about this race I get filled with disappointment. I came in 5 min under my time from the year before. I know the reason for this was because I hadn’t been running. I was overweight and not ready to run the race and should have trained more or at least not set my sights so high. Oh well, nothing can be done about it now.

I am going to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

I decided that I was going to run a marathon and the Marathon was going to be the BOA Chicago Marathon 2013. The date registration opened the website crashed and I had to put my name into the lottery. I decided to stay positive about the process and knew I would get into the marathon. Well, needless to say I got an email confirmation that I was picked for the lottery and had to register by the deadline. I was absolutely ecstatic with getting in. Then of course the reality set in that I was going to run a marathon.

I decided to join a training team for the marathon in June I had my very first run with Chicago Endurance Sports (CES).  My first training run was tough, to say the least. Reason for this was because I was running an 8:30 pace and was not in shape to be running an 8:30 pace. During my first training run with the group I did meet a couch who would become not only a couch but a good friend. Walter had been through the same thing as I have with weight gain and he himself was not an athlete. The more I trained with the team the faster I got and in better shape too. I made a lot of good friends and found so much support in the group. During the summer of training I did run a few races and even set a new 10k pr.  I’ve had other couches on the team who’ve really helped guide my training and never let me fall and always had an encouraging word for me. There is something about being part of a group such as CES that really helped me find the love of running.

“A warrior does not give up what he loves, he find the love in what he does.”

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

I spent the entire summer training for this day and I started to drop the weight. The night before the race I was honestly so nervous I couldn’t keep a thought in my head. I had a good time at the expo for the marathon and I am so happy Yasmin supported me through the entire process. The morning of the race we got to the “race day resort” basically was what CES setup for us as a post race party. As Yasmin walked with me to the start line or rather entrance to the runner only area, I was very nervous.

It was interesting being in the runner’s area they had it all fenced off and you could see helicopters over head. Honesty I felt a little bit like a refugee, lol. I got into my start corral and stretched and just got myself mentally ready. Before I knew it the race had started and we were off. I tried to do my best to keep my pace at 9 min mile as I wanted to finish in 4hrs. I think because of all the excitement I went out way too fast. I got to the half at 1:55. I just kept running enjoying the sites and going thru all the different neighborhoods of the city. I knew I lived in a great city but during the marathon is when I really realized it.

People love to talk about the WALL. Well, I will tell you this there is no wall! I kept going no matter what sure at Mile 23 my paces slowed but I refused to stop and give up. I worked way too hard for this and I was not going to let it beat me. I crossed the finish line at 4 hrs 18min and 30 sec. I admit I didn’t hit my 4 hr goal but of the 6 friends I ran with I finished at least 10min before all of them. Running the Marathon was a great experience and something I look forward too doing gain.

The future

Since the marathon I have set a PR in the 5k (23:18), 10k (50:15) & the half marathon 1:51:30. I decided to train with CES Winter Warriors training program, I figured this would be a good way to fight off the winter. The one disappointing thing that has happen post marathon is I have gained weight. Thankfully it has been 10 pounds or so. I know if I get strict and back on track I can drop this weight.  I do have more races coming up; March 30^th Shamrock shuffle, April 13^th ChiTown Half marathon & May4th Flying pig marathon. I have a few more planned for the summer but those the next three on my list. I will try to do my best to keep this updated with training and race results.