Whale of a Run....

What a great weekend...On Saturday morning, the family...which for the weekend included our good friend Melissa from Iowa headed to the Whaling Days Run...The family ran the 1 mile, while I ran the 4 miler...

Felt really good during the race and finished in 34 minutes...The winner...Shane...I won't attempt to spell his last name won the event...With a time of 20 minutes...Shane will be a senior this year at CK high and is considered one of the best distance runners ever to come out of the state of Washington....I would not be surprised to see him in the Olympics in 2012..No joke...Sunday I woke up at 6 am and headed out for my 12 miler...The run was great, the weather was beautiful, and I found a lost wallet...No kidding...Wallet w/ 60 bucks, credit cards and some keys...The cop I saw driving by a few minutes later was pretty surprised when I turned in the wallet with the money...felt right, and helped me feel good the rest of the run...

After the run it was Free day on the eating habits...So what did I have..Pizza and Pizza and then attempted to have Ice Cream...Honest to God...Could only muster a few bites...Guess thats a good thing...

So after 9 days on the eating right lifestyle...I have lost over 10 pounds...Feeling really good..and getting stoked that my 36's are within reach...

Enjoy the pics..

8 Days and Counting...

8 Days ago I stated on my post that it was now time to get serious...I was kicking it into gear for both the marathon training and the nutrition side of things...

Here we are 8 days later and going strong...Granted it has been tough, but I am already seeing results and feeling great...Little Brother Tim had told me that there would be tests along the way...and ohhh was he right..The "Body for Life" lifestyle...I call it a lifestyle because it is something I want to do on a permanent basis not just for a "diet"....started last Thursday...I had sat with Tim on the internet going over my goals and immediately upon hanging up I started my plan in place...

3 meals a day + 3 supplemental meal shakes a day + marathon plan = SUCCESS...

1st Test came on Saturday night...Emma and I had spent the day in Seattle watching our first MLS game...it was awesome...We brought our lunches and my shake mix and had a wonderful time...Upon our return to Bremerton we went to our friends the Warthens house for Supper...Low and Behold the first test...Tony's Pizza...Not just any Tony's pizza, but Meat and Spice...For all that have come out and enjoyed it and those yet to do so...This stuff is the shiznit...guess what...its not in my plan...so instead i enjoyed a wheat tortilla w/ lettuce and ham...mmmmmmmm.....

2nd Test came on Sunday afternoon...we made the jaunt down to Olympia to celebrate our friend Olive's 2nd Birthday...Dip, Chips, Cake, Ice Cream, Steak Kabobs, Chicken Kabobs...the works....Not for me...I stuck to my plan...Sure I could have had the chicken or steak...but it was not at my time...

3rd Test...Went to the mall last night and watched Emma eat an entire Ice Cream Cone...Usually she has trouble with cones and ends up leting parts melt and it starts to drip..Nope, not last night...It was as if she knew that Daddy could not help her, so she finished the whole freaking thing...

4th Test...This week at work...Everywhere I turned it must have been bring a dozen donuts to work day...a fritter here, a jelly filled there, and what's that...oh just a chocolate glazed....

It is not going to be easy and I look forward to implementing a free day into my week in the next few weeks...but I have to say I feel great...

I of course could not do it with out some important people:
*My co-workers who I have enlisted to watch my eating and to make sure I do not grab a donut.
*Emma who reminded me tonight that my flabby belly is getting smaller..
*Coach Tim, who has inspired many with his Triathlons but has pushed me to strive to be smaller and better..
* and Vanessa who though may tease me with a cookie across my nose or a comment on how good the cake tasted has started to adapt our suppers to meet my plans..Thank you honey.

What's next? The next 8 days...

Now we get SERIOUS!!!

Hard to believe it has been two weeks since I last wrote...I guess thats what happens when you go on vacation for 2 weeks..

The family and I left on the 28th of June(Day after the Seattle Rock n Roll) and flew to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We spent a week in Swisher(My Hometown), which included running the CR 8K...This was a great race...I did it in just under 44 minutes...This is hilarious because back in 2003 I did a 5K in 45 minutes...On the 4th we had a great time as my parents held their annual 4th Bash around the pool..This year included an 80's Cover Band...The HS kids were great...

Just after the start of the 8K


The Kasparek's

On the 5th we headed over to Winterset...Vanessa's home town and the birthplace of John Wayne and the home of the Bridges of Madison County...Spent a good week with the in-laws and then headed to Spencer, Iowa and helped Joe Parker and Jessi Kenyon tie the knot. Met some great people that have become great friends...

Gotta say that I am pretty happy with the running I did on vacation...Ran almost everyday, and took in some great scenery...even if it was just corn and rolling hills...Running through my hometown brought back many childhood memories...

Then yesterday we arrived back in Washington...and now it is go time...Go time in the sense that I am now full in to the Marathon Training for the Marine Corps Marathon...Not only am I full in, I have enlisted the help of a coach...One that many of you are familiar with...My little brother Tim...The IronMan that he is has agreed to lend me his support and expertise...more for my eating...but support that I need none the less...

Today started that plan....I have till October 25..the day of the race to try and lose 40 pounds...or try to get down to 200 or less pounds..The funny thing is, I have no idea how much I weigh right now...It could be anywhere between 230 and 240...My lowest was right before we left Japan when I was at 220 for the first time since Senior year of HS...and not knowing usually would bother the living shit out of me...right now..it doesn't..which in itself is a huge victory...

My other motivation for the race and one that I will be asking all of your support shortly on is a charity that I have decided to run for...I have decided to run for "Team Hole in the Wall" This is the charity that Paul Newman started that sends children with Serious Illnesses to Camps around the world...I am required to raise $1500.00 dollars...My goal is $5000.00....You can link to my Team Hole in the Wall Web Page and donate via the following link(also listed in my favorites to the left)...or send a check directly to me which I will then deposit into the program...I have worked with children my whole life...and this gives me that much more incentive during my run....

http://www.teamholeinthewall.org/netcommunity/manwichmantorunningman
(Once on the site, click on the Support Chris Link located above the picture of hands)

So there it is...the offical let's get serious...Below are some pics from the last race as well as vacation...Enjoy and thank you ahead of time for all of the suppor that you will provide me...You always do....