Cold, Wind, Salad, and Goals

First off, some quick reminders and link spam!
Don't forget to follow me on Runkeeper -> http://runkeeper.com/user/jjpeanasky/
Please check out some of my friends' blogs!
Christine 'Cheeks' Piela -> http://christinepiela.blogspot.com/
Sue 'Halo' -> http://sueinpuertorico.blogspot.com/
Liz 'Vader' -> http://andlearningtoteach.blogspot.com/

So Microsoft came out with it's own fitness band/smart watch hybrid, and I think it looks awesome. (http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-band/en-us) GPS tracking, 24 hr/day heart rate monitoring, pedometer/accelerometer, as well as connectivity with your phone (Apple, Android, and Windows phone compatible) to receive notifications. Microsoft also launched a powerful platform for analyzing your data, and it even links up with other health apps! (http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-health/en-us)

Honestly I've been looking into something like this. Currently I run with my phone to track my runs with GPS using the Runkeeper app. It's bulky, I have to hold it in my hand, and the GPS kills my battery. I wanted something with GPS so I could link it up to Runkeeper and keep accurate(ish) stats on my run, but a lot of the 'activity bands' (fitbit, Nike Fuel, etc.) just use a pedometer and try to guess at your distance, or require your phone to be with you to use GPS. I looked into dedicated running watches, and while powerful and full of features, they felt like a big expense for something that I would wear only for fitness purposes. Then along comes Microsoft, which took everything I wanted in an activity tracker/running watch, and threw in the connectivity of a smart watch! At $200, it's still a bit pricey, but I think I've come up with a good way to reach that goal.

Goals are important. Without goals, we're like an un-aimed arrow. While 'the un-aimed arrow never misses', it also never hits its target. Besides my weigh goal, I felt like a needed a goal based more on running. So here it is: For every mile I run, I'll 'give' myself another dollar towards the Microsoft Band. Luckily, Runkeeper has an excellent goal tracking system, so expect goal updates to become a regular part of the posts here on Josh's Unnamed Blog.

Thursday Afternoon Run

Stats:
     Distance:  1.00 mi
     Duration: 8:59
     Avg Pace: 8:59 /mi (+0:01 from PR)
     Total Climb: 177 ft

Notes:
     A quick short run on a cold and wickedly windy day. Nearly matched my Personal Record for pace, so I thought it deserved it's props. The cold wasn't what made this run bad, it was the constant wind in my face. Cut the run short since near the end I slipped on a root and felt something pop and then a quick sharp pain near my heel. This may be the end of outside running for this year, through the park anyways. On the brighter side though, ankle feels better this morning and it doesn't seem to be a serious injury. I'll probably test it with a short run this afternoon.

Goal Update



Total: 2.05 mi / 200 mi
Percent complete: 1%

Notes:
     I've got a long way to go, but I think I can do it. Right now I'm averaging around 5 miles per week. At that rate, I'll be completed in mid-August. Unfortunately, that's a long ways away, but hopefully as I get better at running, my distances will improve. I hope to be close to 10 miles per week by January, and steadily increasing from there.

Weight Check-in

Still trucking along. Hopefully I can keep this sort of progress up and not plateau. The last time I lost a significant amount of weight, I hit 200lbs and just plateaued. No matter what I didn't, I couldn't break it. Then life got in the way, I got lazy, discouraged, and unmotivated. I slacked off and gained some weight back. I'm excited to get back down to 200lbs, but I'll be even more excited when I go past that point. That's still a ways off, but I won't forget about it.