Today was a pretty important run for me.
The run itself was a 10 mile run. The temps were in the mid to upper 80’s and the humidity did affect me a little, but not nearly as bad as it has been. Since it was still pretty hot, so I just ran at a comfortable pace and listened to my body, instead of pushing it.
Throughout the run, I mostly worked on how I was landing, trying to find that sweet spot with the Instincts.
My 10 miler today really meant something special to me.
It was a major milestone run.
As a result of this run, I went over 200 miles in a month for the first time since 1985, which shows how far I have come in a year.
Last year at this time I was having problems running a mile and had a total of 2.0 miles for the entire week. I needed to take almost the entire month of August off to let my knee heal some more.
This year I hit the 200 mile mark with 4 days left in the month, with at least one more long run still planned – how things can and have changed in a single year.
Last year I my goal was simply to lose 20-30 pounds and to get back into decent shape.
I never dreamed in a million years that I would be within 2 pounds of the weight I was in 1983, when I finished the Marine Corps Marathon and thinking that a 10 mile run was a medium distance run. Hell I can even get into size 30 pants without too much problem, which means over 8 inches have gone from my waist.
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The photo on the left is me on 7/27/11 out of breath and sitting down on a short hike out in Belgrade and the one on the right is from 5/16/12 and yes I have lost about 7 more pounds since then and a few more inches, but this picture really gives a good comparison of how far I have come in that year.
I would be lying if I said that it didn’t take a LOT of hard work and effort over the course of the year, but it does show what you can do if you are motivated, are willing to work hard to go for what you really want and have a great support network to help you through the tough times that did happen.
- This wouldn’t have happened without the support of my wife Mary (aka TheWife), so much thanks and love go to her.
- A big thank you to the online the Running/Fitness Communities on Twitter, Facebook and Google +, who encouraged and supported me with their positive and can do attitudes, along with the many blog posts that I have read this past year.
- I would like to give a special thank you to the FitFluential Family that truly helped me through some of the tough points in my journey, back to fitness. You offered ideas, support and examples of what I needed to do to get to this point. Part of my success in my return to fitness belong to this wonderful community of caring people.
No this is not a brag fest or love me post, but it does show how dramatic a change that a relatively normal person can do and that yes it can be done.
This certainly wasn’t the originally what I meant to write about tonight or the usual RunLog post that I do, but when you pass a milestone of this sort, well the fingers took on a life of their own and told another piece of my journey to fitness.
Also I went over 50 miles in the Altra Instincts and I usually do a 50 mile review of the shoe and I will get that out sometime this weekend.
Keep running and smiling and good things can happen 
.
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Carrie
July 27, 2012 at 10:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love this post, Harold. Congrats on your milestone! I can’t imagine going over 200 in a month. Someday…
Harold L. Shaw
July 27, 2012 at 10:50 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks Carrie – You will and I still can’t believe that I did it either
kate
July 27, 2012 at 11:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love the before and after
you can really see the change! BTW I think anyone who does what you have deserves a yay me post. It takes a lot of motivation to get up off the couch and actually put your body where your mind is, and you did that.
Harold L. Shaw
July 28, 2012 at 2:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kate – thanks
. Hopefully, I haven’t created a monster out west, but that he keeps it up. So when are you going to start heheheehee
kate
July 28, 2012 at 10:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
HAH. I will be sticking to my squats and such for now, it seems a bit more rewarding than the shin splints my husband is suffering through atm!
You really have created a monster (& I don’t buy that you were hoping not to create one!)! Today he bought new shoes for himself – like actually went to the store himself and tried shoes on :0 <- he has never done that in our entire relationship! He ended up getting the saucony peregrines (after trying on over a dozen pair at Run n' Fun and watching your youtube review 
), it was the first time he has parted ways with his money to buy something for himself in a long time (I think it was good for him).
Nope you have inspired a very healthy change in him and I think he fully plans to keep it up, which is absolutely awesome.
Harold L. Shaw
July 28, 2012 at 10:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am glad you approve and that I have led him down the path of running ruin
. I think that he really wants to beat me the next time I come out, but today I did a 5K in 22:06 – a 7:06 pace, so he is going to have to work for it or simply wait a few years for Father Time to try to catch me.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf
July 28, 2012 at 12:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Congratulations Harold!! That is a HUGE milestone and I’m so happy for you! You have made incredible progress and you’ve worked so hard. I hope to be at a similar place next year…OK maybe not 200 miles in a month but I’ll take half of that
Harold L. Shaw
July 28, 2012 at 2:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Christine – thank you! You will do it and you will surprise yourself, I never thought that I would ever run 200 miles in a month again, so I if I can you can too
I have a feeling you will.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
July 28, 2012 at 1:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow, I am so impressed! That is huge progress in a year… congrats to you! I don’t think I hit 200 miles in a month this year, you’ve inspired me!
Harold L. Shaw
July 28, 2012 at 1:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Laura – thank you – you can do it too
jules1707
July 29, 2012 at 8:46 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Congratulations! You look great
You really are an inspiration. I am so glad to have been able to share your experiences over the last few months and watch as you get better and better. Well done 
Week In Review–7/29/12 | A Veteran Runnah
July 29, 2012 at 7:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] My favorite post from the past week was: Major Milestone Run–7/27/12 [...]