THIRTY MILES!

Sometimes I set out for a walk and I leave with the goal of walking 5 miles minimum. Sometimes I set out for a walk and leave with the goal of walking a bit more. I think that yesterday was one of those days. The weather was spectacular, and kept chugging along until I had walked 30 miles. I was convinced that this week, a week where I was well aware that I hadn't eaten too well, that I would  show weight gain when I stepped on my scale. I think I might have erased a pound or two yesterday. My Saturday weight was 239.2 lbs. I lost a half pound from last week. Considering how poorly I ate this week, I am actually happy about this.

My 30 mile hike only registered as 28.8 miles on my app, as I had to 'save' the workout as my iPhone battery was about to  die. Just so there is no dispute about my claim that I walked 30 miles yesterday, I took an additional 2 mile trip to the grocery store with my daughter late last night. Now that it is Saturday morning, me thinks me legs are a bit sore.  

My hike included a visit to Northerly Island

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, December 1, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	4
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	100	25	0	0	167	25
	500	113	6	8	1,407	29
L U N C H
Philadelphia Roll - Sushi	300	60	14	14	120	0
	300	60	14	14	120	0
D I N N E R
Taco Bell - Soft Taco, 4	760	68	36	36	2,000	4
	760	68	36	36	2,000	4
S N A C K S
Roasted Seaweed Snacks	320	60	6	0	760	4
	320	60	6	0	760	4
Totals	1,880	301	62	58	4,287	37
Your Daily Goal	6,629	828	221	332	2,300	248
Remaining	4,749	527	159	274	-1,987	211
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 4,699 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 180 lbs in 5 weeks.

Yesterday, I earned my second 'genie shoe' badge from fitbit. I had earned my first one on October 11, 2015.  On that day, I had mirrored the path of the Chicago Marathon coupled with some additional walking on that same day.

BAD PARKING SPOT

This picture is one type of bad parking.  My 'bad' parking spot yesterday morning was nothing like this.

Yesterday morning, before my appointment, I wanted to buy  coconut water at a Walmart in the suburbs. I parked my car and I walked three miles before I entered through the front door. One might think that I had found a particularly bad parking spot. That was not the case at all. I simply found a way to squeeze in a three mile walk before I crossed through the front door of the store.  As it turned out, this mini three mile suburban hike was my longest walk of the day, so I was glad to have squeezed it into my schedule.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line - but  that's no way to accumulate steps on your fitbit.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, October 20, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	300	66	5	6	930	3
	300	66	5	6	930	3
L U N C H
Mostaccioli w/Meat Sauce	350	51	9	16	728	9
Shrimp - Cooked, breaded and fried	250	12	13	22	355	0
	600	63	22	38	1,083	9
D I N N E R
Shrimp Spring Rolls	250	26	13	6	647	1
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	270	66	0	0	450	66
	520	92	13	6	1,097	67
S N A C K S
Colby & Monterey Jack cheese	160	0	14	10	260	0
Dark Chocolate Almonds	220	17	15	4	0	12
	380	17	29	14	260	12
Totals	1,800	238	69	64	3,370	91
Your Daily Goal	2,597	324	86	130	2,300	97
Remaining	797	86	17	66	-1,070	6
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 667 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 219.5 lbs in 5 weeks     

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SATURDAY - WEIGH IN

238.0 lbs

underwhelming progress for the week, but progress nevertheless.

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I am down 24 pounds in the last two months. This is a testament to how far backwards I had gone. The good thing is that I finally reversed course and I am now skiing downhill!

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IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have walked as much as I did last week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have accumulated as many steps as I did.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have lost 3 pounds in one week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have been so confident.

Last week, I walked....92 miles

...17 miles on Saturday
...12 miles on Friday
...16 miles on Thursday
...16 miles on Wednesday
... 7 miles on Tuesday
...11 miles on Monday
...13 miles on Sunday

Last week, my total steps as recorded by my fitbit 229,176
The last time, I stepped so much was the week that ended November 26, 2016 when I hit 231,085.

I do not aspire to walk this much all the time. There were weeks during the past summer where my urban hiking was zero. Somehow, I had lost my desire to traipse through Chicago neighborhoods seeking some level of fitness. I am glad that I have recaptured the desire in recent weeks. Walking is good exercise, it contributes very little when it comes to weight loss, but it sure doesn't hurt.

Compared to some of my more recent jaunts, my hike on Sunday was a low key affair. It was just 7.5 miles. This particular urban hike was with my 15 year old daughter, and I always enjoy when she joins me.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 24, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 4 package	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
L U N C H
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
365 Organic - Water Crackers, 4 crackers	70	12	2	1	50	0
Here - Beetroot dip, 2 oz	70	12	2	4	230	0
Vita Coco - 100% Pure Coconut Water	240	60	0	0	148	60
	765	130	25	12	1,618	85
D I N N E R
Hot Dog with Bun, 2	600	45	37	21	1,640	6
	600	45	37	21	1,640	6
S N A C K S
Whole Foods Wasabi Rice Crackers	250	52	3	4	177	0
	250	52	3	4	177	0
Totals	2,015	315	71	45	4,675	91
Your Daily Goal	3,042	380	101	153	2,300	114
Remaining	1,027	65	30	108	-2,375	23
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,112 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.3 lbs in 5 weeks 

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AFRICA

All 'fitbitters' know that as one accumulates 'lifetime' miles, one will be rewarded with imaginary 'badges'. Apparently on October 8, the day before my 33 miles of accumulated miles walking, I earned the 'AFRICA' badge for the accomplishment of walking 5000 miles since I purchased my fitbit on September 3, 2015. I suppose it would be fairly simple to find out how many more miles I must walk to earn my next badge, but it is fun to be surprised.  So, for the time being, I will remain in the dark.

I had been convinced that yesterday, which was one day after my 33 mile day on Sunday would be a day of complete rest. In fact, it was. Nevertheless, I did join my family for an extremely leisurely walk downtown which added up to six miles by the time I returned home. There is no doubt that I have influenced my family over the past couple of years. Two years ago, we regularly would take the subway or a bus to travel as little as even one mile. These days no one in my family unit would suggest such a mode of transportation to travel such a short distance. 

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, October 10, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 6 packet	600	132	0	12	1,860	0
Post - Great Grains	400	72	11	10	286	15
	1,000	204	11	22	2,146	15
L U N C H
Quaker Rice Cakes White Cheddar	630	112	14	14	1,400	0
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	930	177	14	19	2,900	40
D I N N E R
Epic - Pub Burger, 1.0 burger	600	38	34	34	0	0
	600	38	34	34	0	0
S N A C K S
Powerbar - Harvest Energy Chocolat Bar	210	23	9	10	110	15
C2o - Pure Coconut Water 16 FL OZ	100	26	0	0	150	24
YOGURT ALMONDS	300	30	19	5	27	26
Whole Foods - Vanilla Granola	400	69	12	8	127	33
	1,010	148	40	23	414	98
Totals	3,540	567	99	98	5,460	153
Your Daily Goal	3,305	413	110	166	2,300	124
Remaining	-235	-154	11	68	-3,160	-29
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,375 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 216.4 lbs in 5 weeks.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, October 10, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
LEISURELY 6 MILE WALK	91	1,044
Daily Total / Goal	91 / 30	1,044 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	91 / 210	1,044 / 4,130

Usually when I take a walk with my family, they have trouble keeping up with me as I naturally walk a bit quicker even when I am not in 'workout mode'.  After walking 33 miles on Sunday, I had trouble keeping up with them on Monday during our extremely leisurely stroll in downtown Chicago. My wife and I stopped to take a photo on the State Street Bridge.  Our daughter was the photographer.

CHICAGO MARATHON 2016

Most people who run the Chicago Marathon, or any marathon, plan and train for months and months in advance. Regular readers of this blog are aware that I am not most people, besides I do not plan to ever run the Chicago Marathon, or any marathon, ever. I like to walk. I can easily be convinced to walk a marathon. In essence, I train for such an endeavor year-round. As midnight approached on Saturday night and I was reminded that the Chicago Marathon would be the next day, I came to the conclusion that this would be a good idea, that is, to walk the Chicago Marathon, again. Last year, I stumbled on the marathon as I was taking a two hour morning walk, and simply decided to walk along the sidewalk of the racecourse until I had logged 26.2 miles. That is precisely what I did one year ago. This year, the only change, was that I walked out my front door 'knowing' that I was going to travel 26.2 miles. I logged nearly 4 miles in nearby Lincoln Park before 'joining' the marathon route from the sidewalk. Just like last year, I did not take a single cup of water, or half a banana or even a cheer from the sidelines that did not belong to me. As far as anyone is concerned who might have seen me, it would appear that I was moving to get a better vantage point to view the event. I was moving along the course for a bit more than 20 miles until my mapmywalk application confirmed that  I had traveled 26.2 miles. I was racing only against myself. I admit that I was a bit perturbed to discover that last year, I completed 26.2 miles four minutes quicker. Let's face it, last year I was a young man of 57 years old, this year, I am now 13 months shy of my 60th birthday - so I am happy that I was able to complete my task. I am one of those people who never knows when enough is enough. As soon as I 'ended' my workout at 26.2 miles, I started a new workout and walked an additional 7 miles to a grocery store near my home and met my family there for a celebratory early dinner.  I walked 33 miles on Sunday. I am a person with an unusual hobby - and I love it.

I joined the racecourse before the elite runners came barreling by at their blistering 5mph pace. This photo shows the police escorts on motorcycles who are insuring that the path is clear for those elite runners who will practically finish the race before some of the thousands and thousands of runner behind the starting line actually get started.

I took one picture to try to show the 'zillions' of runners that were passing me all day long.

In my 25th mile, the crowds of runners behind me have thinned out, mostly because so many runners have passed me and  crossed the finish line.

This is the smile of man who has just walked 26.2 miles in  5 hours, 43 minutes and  32 seconds.

This was the second walk of the day. Once I completed my 26.2 miles, I took a more leisurely urban hike 7 miles to Mariano's Market to meet my family for an early dinner.  My pace when I was trying to go as fast as possible during the marathon was 13:06 minutes per mile.  My pace when I was really trying to go much, much slower was still under 16 minutes per mile. 

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, October 9, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 4 packet	400	88	0	8	1,240	0
Apple - Braeburn, 3 medium apples	220	59	1	1	0	44
Quaker - Chewy Granola, 2 bar	180	38	4	2	160	14
	800	185	5	11	1,400	58
L U N C H
Spicy Salmon Maki	350	39	16	14	278	0
Pineapple Melon Mango Grapes Fruit Salad	750	175	0	13	125	163
Bai Antioxidant Cocofusion Coconut Lime	10	18	0	0	70	2
Vitamin Water (Lemonade) Zero	0	12	0	0	0	0
	1,110	244	16	27	473	165
D I N N E R
Polish Kielbasa Smoked Sausage	170	2	15	7	570	1
Enriched Hot Dog Bun, 1 bun	110	21	2	3	220	2
Post Great Grains (Raisins, Dates & Pecans)	800	156	15	15	514	50
	1,080	179	32	25	1,304	53
S N A C K S
Hersheys Dark Chocolate Bar	500	28	38	9	100	11
	500	28	38	9	100	11
Totals	3,490	636	91	72	3,277	287
Your Daily Goal	7,455	932	248	373	2,300	279
Remaining	3,965	296	157	301	-977	-8
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 5,525 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 174.4 lbs in 5 weeks.

Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
26.2 MILE MARATHON HIKE	344	5,141
7 MILE URBAN HIKE	112	1,131
Daily Total / Goal	456 / 30	6,272 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1071 / 210	15,405 / 4,130

CHICAGO BANK OF AMERICA 2016
MARATHON RESULTS

Top 30 Men

Finish	Name	Town	Age	Time
1	Kirui, Abel (KEN)		34	2:11:23
2	Chumba, Dickson (KEN)		29	2:11:26
3	Kipketer, Gideon (KEN)		23	2:12:20
4	Lonyangata, Paul (KEN)		24	2:13:17
5	Sambu, Stephen (KEN)		28	2:13:35
6	Ayele, Abayneh (ETH)		28	2:13:52
7	Fukatsu, Takuya (JPN)		28	2:13:53
8	Estrada, Diego (USA)	Flagstaff, AZ	26	2:13:56
9	Gokaya, Koji (JPN)		28	2:14:34
10	Kibet, Elkanah (USA)	Fountain, CO	30	2:16:37
11	Young, Tim (USA)	Fredericksburg, VA	29	2:16:43
12	Epperson, Andrew (USA)	Golden, CO	25	2:16:54
13	Overall, Scott (GBR)		33	2:18:21
14	Matsuo, Ryoichi (JPN)		25	2:18:50
15	Migliozzi, Tony (USA)	North Canton, OH	27	2:19:39
16	Anderson, Tom (GBR)		26	2:19:52
17	Wallis, Daniel (NZL)		28	2:19:56
18	Kogo, Micah (KEN)		30	2:20:03
19	Puskedra, Luke (USA)	Eugene, OR	26	2:20:18
20	Mott, Jonathan (USA)	Babson Park, FL	29	2:20:22
21	Nilsson, David (SWE)		29	2:20:25
22	Chu, Meng-Tsung (TPE)	Colorado Springs, CO	34	2:21:02
23	Dandena, Kiya (USA)	Flagstaff, AZ	27	2:22:14
24	Carrera, Mizael (USA)	Chicago, IL	25	2:22:25
25	Ishida, Kazuya (JPN)		32	2:23:02
26	Morrison, Travis (USA)	Hoffman Estates, IL	24	2:23:28
27	Mcmillan, Connor (USA)	Provo, UT	20	2:23:28
28	Emerick, Dustin (USA)	Evansville, IN	27	2:23:58
29	Eustance, Tyler (USA)	Binghamton, NY	24	2:24:07
30	Wells, Clint (USA)	Boulder, CO	41	2:24:10

Top 30 Women

Place	Name	Town	Age	Time
1	Kiplagat, Florence (KEN)		29	2:21:32
2	Kiplagat, Edna (KEN)		36	2:23:28
3	Kipketer, Valentine (KEN)		23	2:23:41
4	Rionoripo, Purity (KEN)		23	2:24:47
5	Melese, Yebrgual (ETH)		26	2:24:49
6	Baysa, Atsede (ETH)		29	2:28:53
7	Burla, Serena (USA)	Stafford, VA	34	2:30:40
8	Mierzejewska, Agnieszka (POL)		30	2:32:13
9	Crouch, Sarah (USA)	Moorehead, KY	27	2:33:48
10	Gray, Alia (USA)	Boulder, CO	27	2:34:00
11	Knowles, Laurie (USA)	Charlotte, NC	38	2:36:01
12	Ross, Freya (GBR)		33	2:37:50
13	Philbrook, Lauren (USA)	Auburn, AL	29	2:38:00
14	Chrisman, Caitlin (USA)	Mountain View, CA	30	2:38:47
15	Heckert, Kristen (USA)	Bolingbrook, IL	29	2:39:37
16	Polley, Emma (USA)	Seattle, WA	26	2:40:56
17	Scott, Amanda (USA)	Boulder, CO	28	2:42:45
18	Roman-Duval, Julia (USA)	Columbia, MD	34	2:42:49
19	Andre, Stephanie (USA)	Bixby, OK	33	2:43:07
20	Sawyer, Julie (USA)	Cardiff, CA	33	2:45:25
21	Ino, Mitsuko (JPN)		33	2:46:23
22	Ryan, Sophie (AUS)		29	2:46:56
23	Bauer, Caroline (USA)	Columbia, MD	33	2:47:17
24	Mendoza, Salome (BOL)	Cochabamba	27	2:47:40
25	Anderson, Mallory (USA)	New York, NY	25	2:47:41
26	Snyder, Kati (USA)	Chicago, IL	33	2:48:12
27	Drynan, Allison (CAN)	Toronto, ON	40	2:48:50
28	Kelly, Harriott (USA)	New York, NY	29	2:49:19
29	Maranzano, Jennifer (USA)	Washington, DC	44	2:49:21
30	Selert Faraud, Kir (USA)	Brooklyn, NY	29	2:49:30

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The weather in Chicago for the marathon was spectacular.  It is hard to believe that the elite runners who started at 7:30AM were crossing the finish line by 9:41AM.