Blogging Weight Loss Challenge: Day 58 of 70
June 6, 2009 Posted by Tyler CruzIt’s hard to believe that it has now been 58 days since I started my Blogging Weight Loss Challenge: Cruz vs Volk. That’s 58 days down with only 12 days left. Uh oh…
Jonathan didn’t make an update this past Wednesday like he usually does, but when I asked him how he was doing on June 3rd, he told me he was at 184.5 which makes for a total loss of 4.5 pounds. If he still hasn’t made any improvement on that during the past few days then that means he’ll be forced to lose 5.5 pounds within the next 12 days!
Remember, there’s a $500 penalty if either Jonathan or me don’t lose 10 pounds within 10 weeks by June 18th, so there’s more than just pride on the line.
Yes, Another Personal Record!
I have now completed my 17th “run” around Westwood Lake. That works out to a total of 132 KM (or 82 miles). That’s just over 3 marathons!
The run before last, I finished with a new personal record of 58:23, beating my previous record by 25 seconds. I’m still really slow and am just briskly walking the vast majority of it, but at least I’m improving.
Most people who jog the whole trail can do it in around 38-45 minutes, so my time is still pathetic.
Doing 12KM Now
However… I started doing the entire trail twice now. That works out to 12KM (7.5 miles) each time… actually slightly farther since I have to do the parking lot twice.
Want to know what’s weird? The first time around I try to beat my personal record, with the second time just taking it easy, but my lap times are still very close! I’m pretty sure it’s because by the first 5KM mark my feet are warmed up and my body starts to feel comfortable and loose. The only thing that really slows me down during the second time around is my cardio.
I decided to time my second lap during my last run and I finished the first 6KM in 1:00:51 (it was so hot out) and the second one at 2:05:40 (total), so they were pretty equal. In fact, I almost feel like I can have a faster second lap than the first… is that normal? It seems so odd to me.
I’m doing 12KM now but I might actually increase that to 14KM to try to really shed the pounds down…
It’s Hot Out!
It’s beginning to get really hot here. Today it was 32 degrees Celsius which is 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and it’s only a few days into June! See? Canada can get hot too 🙂
That has an effect on my running times as the heat actually makes me feel kind of lightheaded during the beginning. Hopefully it won’t affect me too much as I’d much rather run in the rain than the heat.
MarketLeverage Shoes Are Helping
My MarketLeverage-sponsored super shoes definitely help with my ankle and shin pain. In fact, they basically eliminated any ankle and shin paid I used to have which I’m grateful for. However, they do hurt the bottom of my right foot, underneath the arch. This is the worst during the beginning and begins to die down over time and by the 5KM mark the pain is gone, but even at the beginning, the pain on the bottom of the foot is only a fraction of the pain that my ankles used to get, so thanks again for the shoes MarketLeverage!
Westwood Lake Time
| Date | Time | Distance | Comments |
| My 2007 Best Time | 1:00:34 | 6 KM | My previous record… |
| April 8, 2009 | 1:06:00 | 6 KM | Feet and calves absolutely painful |
| April 12, 2009 | 1:05:33 | 6 KM | Feet, shins, and calves still absolutely painful |
| April 15, 2009 | 59:45 | 6 KM | Jogged a couple extra stretches |
| April 20, 2009 | 1:00:45 | 6 KM | Off my record by a minute  Shins killed me |
| April 22, 2009 | 1:02:30 | 6 KM | Shins and calves still very painful |
| April 24, 2009 | 1:01:45 | 6 KM | Came close to record but couldn’t push near the end |
| April 26, 2009 | 1:03:30 | 6 KM | Had a very bad first 2-3 KM |
| April 29, 2009 | 59:35 | 6 KM | Had a fantastic first 2KM |
| May 4, 2009 | 59:07 | 6 KM | Had great first 3KM with lots of jogging |
| May 7, 2009 | 1:01:27 | 6 KM | Lots of pain in the feet and shins, very bad first half |
| May 9, 2009 | 1:01:38 | 6 KM | Tried hard as usual but just couldn’t set record |
| May 12, 2009 | 1:03:15 | 8 KM | Had severe ankle pain. Extremely frustrating |
| May 17, 2009 | 58:57 | 8 KM | First time trying new shoes |
| May 20, 2009 | 58:48 | 6 KM | Did several sprint stretches near end |
| May 21, 2009 | 59:34 | 10 KM | First time doing 10 KM |
| May 24, 2009 | 59:15 | 10 KM | Sprinted hard the final stretch but no new record |
| May 29, 2009 | 58:23 | 12 KM | New Record! Sprinted hard the final stretch |
| June 1, 2009 | 1:00:51 | 12 KM | Was so hot out. Sapped my energy all out 🙁 |
(Note: Times are for first 6KM only)
Weight Loss Status
| Date | Weight | Total Pounds Lost | Days Left |
| April 11, 2009 | 205 | 0 | 68 |
| April 14, 2009 | 205 | 0 | 65 |
| April 19, 2009 | 205 | 0 | 60 |
| April 23, 2009 | 204 | 1 | 56 |
| May 3, 2009 | 201 | 4 | 46 |
| May 8, 2009 | 200 | 5 | 41 |
| May 18, 2009 | 200 | 5 | 30 |
| May 24, 2009 | 198 | 7 | 24 |
| June 5, 2009 | 196 | 9 | 12 |
Woohoo! I’m 196 now, down 9 pounds! I only have to lose 1 more pound within the next 12 days! Well, actually the rules of the contest are that we need to have lost 10 pounds on June 18th so I’m going to have to keep the weight off until then.
My chances look real good though and it’s exciting to see that I produced some results. I know how everyone has been saying that losing 10 pounds within 10 weeks is ridiculously easy, but I think that’s an unfair statement. Eating a donut is easy… losing weight is not.
Anyhow, wish me good luck on losing that final pound… and keeping it off on June 18th!
Awesome job Tyler. Will you be continuing to work out after the contest is over, or will you go back to your previous ways and gain that weight back? =)
Great work Tyler! Keep it up!
I am starting to work out a little bit more. I dont think I am overweight being 6 feet tall and 175 pounds but I would like to look a little more toned. For me its not as much about losing weight as it is getting toned and get into shape! My cardio sucks right now!
Your contest is inspiring and maybe we can work out somekind of competition to keep us both going after your competition is done with Jonathan
Hey Tyler, glad to see you are making progress, and I hope you will keep the weight off beyond the weight loss challenge, because it’s very important! And also I am sure it will make your girlfriend happier too 🙂
So I am going to wish you luck to get that final pound, and go for more! And!!!!! Beyond June 18th date. Good luck bud, I know you can do it.
LOL. Tyler, how do you run with: sunglasses, headphones+musicplayer, pda and *carrying* a water bottle? That must make your workout very cumbersome. You should get a water bottle fanny pack or similar so you don’t have to carry that bottle around.
Good luck and keep it up! You’re getting slimmer already =).
That is pretty cool that you are improving yourself everytime that is half the battle. Hopefully you will stick to your running after this challenge is over and don’t go back to your old habits. Greg Ellison
I sure wished it wasn’t that hot! 🙁
I think your time would improve if you got rid of the golf shirt and put on a sleeveless one. I kid, I kid. :p
Keep it up man!
You can do it!
Good stuff. Do you have to lose and keep the weight off by the last day, or just lose 10lbs before the deadline even if you gain 1lb back?
The former.
Tyler, have you tried HIIT? High intensity interval training.
You sure are going to make this 🙂 Good one
Hey tyler, great job. I wish I could have that type of motivation lol. I can hardly get off the computer, but again I work 14 hours a day as a programmer lol.
Anyway great job and keep it up.
Congratulations on losing the first 9lbs Tyler! The last pound should be super easy. The trick now is to just keep this up even after losing 10lbs. It will make you feel better everyday. Mixing in the sprinting does get great results.
thats quiet amazing. i am running myself now for about 2 years and i am by far not running so fast or so long. but at least its not a such a torment anymore. for i like biking and swimming, i was think doing a little triathlon someday. regards
Woo hoo! Glad your shoes are helping- get some inserts for your feet and don’t forget to drink a lot of water before, during, and after your workouts.
A good continuing positive spirit can work wonders for you! All the best!
Well this was certainly an enjoyable post to read. You seemed really proud in your video when you landed that time of 58:23. It seems you are well on your way to loosing more then just 10 pounds, as you should be. Hey and it seems like you are having fun with it too, running and exercising can be pretty fun if you let yourself believe it is. For another thing, it certainly feels good when you are done.
Was that a typo or did you run again on June 1st?
Not a typo…
You ran the next day? You don’t want to over train, that will kill your results and set you back, man.
Woohoo! Only two more days! I hope Jonathan doesn’t lose those pounds in the next couple of days by starving himself!
Jay
WOW! 90 degrees is hot. Where in Canada is that? Haha it hasn’t reached higher than the low 80’s her in PA, USA and it was only in the 80’s for about three days throughout all of June and may.. its been a cold one.
-Randy
I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia… not so nice here in the winter, but absolutely beautiful in the summer…
Wow, you have done a lot of work. I might give a go, and try something like this.