Success--sort of. But mostly, yeah.

Day 31: INcomplete
Month of July: Complete

Morning session: 6.2
Evening session: N/A
Total distance: 6.2 miles

Milestone reached: 350-mile mark



July 1 weigh-in: 207.5 lbs
July 31 weigh-in: 186.0 lbs

July 1 measurement: 6'2 & 1/4"
July 31 measurement: 6'2 & 1/8"

Final July stats:

351.2 miles--11.33 miles/day
21.5 lbs lost
1/8" shorter *sigh*

The more I shrink, the more weight I need to lose. Crap. Plus, I'm sure I'll gain a few pounds (at least) gradually, as I ease out of my running craze. So it's hard to keep off. Most of the weight lost was in my legs, and face. I could definitely stand to lose at least another 10-12 pounds from my midsection. Easier said than done, though.

This was an invigorating experience, to say the least. I'll take a break--probably a week, at least--from running, and blogging--on here, anyway.

Really glad I set out to do this. It made me realize several things--one of which being just how far I can push myself, and another being that I could've done even more.

No top 10 list tonight. Maybe no more ever. Hope you enjoyed them while they lasted. :)

Pshaw, I enjoyed thinking them up, so I'm sure it'll make a return at some point. Be prepared for some pics (and hopefully a video) to be posted on my Facebook in the next day or 2. Heck, maybe I'll even post 'em here, too. Who knows?

In the meantime, thanks for all the support.

God bless!

D, out.

One. Day. Left. (and best sports movies)...

Day 30: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 8.65
Total distance: 8.65 miles

Yet another failed attempt at morning running. This is ridiculous. I'm standing on exactly 345 miles with one day to go. I should be ecstatic, but I'm actually pretty disappointed in myself, with the way I've wound down the month. 400 would've been reachable, and I've basically allowed myself to coast--which I told myself I wouldn't.

Watching my final sports flick now, which I mentioned last night: Victory.

I made a list of every sports movie I've watched--that I could think of--over the last 8-10 weeks. I counted the ones I watched on DVR in Wichita in June, since I had several on there.

But anyway, the list I've compiled has 71 sports movies on it, and I am now going to do a Top 15 list of the best ones--well, my favorites, anyway. So that's what this blog will basically be all about...

I say 15 partially because I said I'd make up for not having a Top 10 list last night, and partially because 71 is a lot of flicks, and 10 may not do it justice. ;)

Here goes:

**NOTE: OK, so I really tried to narrow it to 15, but it was just too hard. 20 was difficult enough. But here it is...share any thoughts at all, if ya got 'em!**

Top 20 sports movies I've watched this summer:

20. The 6th Man--basketball
19. We Are Marshall--football
18. Million Dollar Baby--boxing
17. Major League--baseball
16. Glory Road--basketball
15. Blue Chips--basketball
14. The Legend of Bagger Vance--golf
13. He Got Game--basketball
12. White Men Can't Jump--basketball
11. Bull Durham--baseball
10. Above the Rim--basketball
9. The Greatest Game Ever Played--golf
8. For Love of the Game--baseball
7. Rocky--boxing
6. Invincible--football
5. Remember the Titans--football
4. Rocky IV--boxing
3. Hoosiers--basketball
2. Miracle--hockey
1. Cinderella Man--boxing



This would not have been the first movie that popped in my head, but I just kept coming back to it as being better than all the others. I absolutely love this film. It has everything. Amazing flick that you must see, and if you've seen it--see it again.

Enjoy.

D, out.

Ah, technology. I miss the quiet already...

Day 29: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 6.93
Total distance: 6.93 miles

No morning run again. Was heading out the door when it started pouring, so I didn't end up going. Disappointing once again.

Rejoined Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Yahoo tonight. Figured I earned it--just not based on the performances of this past week! ;)

No pop, or "junk" food indulgences yet, though. Still two days left. I need to hit 350, or I'll be very disappointed--goal, or no goal. 14 miles to go. Easily do-able.

No sports movie tonight, but I'll watch the one I got from the library sometime tomorrow: Victory.

Haven't seen it yet, but it's got Sly Stallone, and Pele in it, so it can't be half bad, eh?

No Top 10 list tonight. Laptop battery dying, and I have other stuff to get to. Apologies. I'll make it up tomorrow. Maybe another Top 15? ;)

D, out.

Whoa, must be Burt Reynolds or somethin'

Day 28: INcomplete
Week 4: Complete

Morning session: 3.86
Evening session: 5.17 miles
Total distance: 9.03 miles

Early session was short, since I didn't get out 'til 1:30 or so, and it was on the humid side, to say the least. Evening session was shorter than intended, too--Cubs game at 7, y'know.

Just realized I only ran 10+ miles twice in the last 7 days. Wow, that's bad. Ah, I guess it is near month's end; I've reached my goal, and am starting to feel some extra soreness in the legs lately.

Week 4 stats:

59.06 miles--8.44 miles/day
4.0 lbs lost

July stats, up-to-date:

329.42 miles--11.77 miles/day
17.5 lbs lost

Comparison:

Week 1: 90.43 miles
Week 2: 73.20 miles
Week 3: 106.73 miles
Week 4: 59.06 miles

I'm on pace for 364.72 miles, with only 3 days remaining. But at this point, I'm kind of OK with the idea of just hitting the 350 mark. The pace fell off dramatically the last week, obviously. After nearly killing myself in Week 3, and reaching my goal on the 24th, I'm not as disappointed about it as I probably could be. Only regret I have is not having more week-to-week consistency.

Sports movie now: BASEketball.
A stupid, and vulgar flick by the creators of South Park. But downright hilarious! Probably a guy's movie, though.


After that: Happy Gilmore.

If you haven't seen it, shame on you. My best friend back in High School, Stacia and I, once recited each and every line from the movie, with the TV on mute. Classic stuff. Wow, that was probably about 9 years ago. Man, how things change...

Nonetheless, great flick!


Tonight's Top 10 list:

Top 10 coolest things I've seen/discovered this month:

10. Watching almost nothing but sports movies for a month can make time go by faster than I thought it would.
9. It's really not all that hard to motivate yourself to do something once you set your mind to it. Those who think it is--aren't setting their minds to it. Plain and simple.
8. A month without the typical technological indulgences--Facebook, MySpace, MSN, Yahoo--can actually be quite liberating. For awhile.
7. The way it can sometimes pour rain from an almost impossibly clear sky. A beautiful sight.
6. The sunrise and sunset look different every single day, and it never ceases to amaze me.
5. All the people who wave, and some that don't, on country roads. People wave more in the morning than at night. And people in trucks wave more often than those in cars. I've done the research. Someone driving a truck in the morning? They'll wave almost every time. It's awesome. 4. A loose cow being startled upon seeing me, crossing the road, and hurdling the fence to return to its penned-in pasture. Solid hops for a cow, I thought.
3. A loose cow emerging from the trees, and staring me down in the middle of the road, before running along with me for about 1/2 a mile.
2. A deer crossing the road as I ran, not 10 feet in front of me.
1. It's been a great way of finding out who my true friends are. I have a lot of really shady ones, but a few great ones, too.



Bit of an old pic, but it cracks me up every time!

D, out.

You used to be Mel Clark?

Day 27: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 6.29 miles
Total distance: 6.29 miles

No morning run yet again. Trying not to be too hard on myself, since I've already reached the 300 mark, but...this was the third morning in 4 days that I didn't run. Need to get after it tomorrow. We'll see if that pans out.

Managed to dig up a few more sports flicks around the house, and I'll check the town library to see if they have any others that I haven't watched yet this month...

Now: Rookie of the Year. It features the Cubs; what's not to like?

Speaking of which--the boys in blue are tied 1-1 heading to the 13th inning. Here we go again. They need the win to hold onto 1st place. C'mon, fellas!

But there's only a few minutes left in the movie, so next we'll have: Angels in the Outfield. Funny flick with some baseball, some silliness, and a few nice, sentimental moments, too.


**Cubs win, Cubs win! Grand slam, Alfonso Soriano! 5-1, Cubs in 13 innings. Huge, huge win!!**

Tonight's Top 10 list:

Top 10 Favorite teachers (excluding my mom) I've ever had (and what classes I had with them):

10. Chuck Killingsworth, Pittsburg State University: Fresman Experience
9. Allan Van Asselt, McPherson College: Chemistry
8. Cheryl Matthews, Pretty Prairie Middle School: 7th/8th grade English
7. Jon Johnson, Pretty Prairie High School: American History, American Government
6. C.T. Young, Pretty Prairie High School: Physical Science, Biology
5. Patti French, Pretty Prairie Middle School: 5th grade
4. B.J. Stegall, Pretty Prairie High School: Algebra II, Geometry
3. Lindsey Harvell, Wichita State University: Public Speaking
2. Chuck Ray, Pretty Prairie High School: English, Creative Writing
1. W. Stephen Hathaway, Wichita State University: American Literature, Modern American Writers, Nature of Fiction

Not sure what spurned this, but felt like it was a good use of some thought.

Side note; #3: Lindsey Harvell (aka, Linds) taught my Public Speaking class my first semester at WSU. I was a Junior, had just transferred in, and she was just starting her teaching career.
- She is now a professor at the University of Oklahoma *puke*. We became friends after that semester. Weird stuff. Cool chica, though.

Hathaway and Ray have both been very influential in my, uh, weirdness.

D, out.

Well wake her a** up; we gotta win tomorrow!

Day 26: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 6.03 miles
Total distance: 6.03 miles

No early run since I went to church, and not much running in the evening, either, since I drove to the gym. Lucky thing, too, since no one showed to play ball. Kids around here have no dedication these days. Lazy schmucks.

From 1998-2003, Sunday ball in Pretty Prairie was legit. Nowadays, it's still us old school cats spearheading it, while the High School blokes come up with a new excuse every single time. And the guys on the basketball team are the worst ones, at that. Frustrating, to say the least. No matter, got a little run in out in the country, instead. All-in-all, a bit of a letdown today in the running department.

Movie now: The Waterboy.
Adam Sandler is one funny hombre. In case you didn't know.


And since tonight's blog is short, and I may have finished my last VHS sports movie by blog-time tomorrow...

The next, and final sports flick of the month: Jerry Maguire.
The only time Tom Cruise has been, and ever will be tolerable, in my opinion. Pretty solid flick, though.


Don't feel like thinkin' too hard tonight, so this will be a short, easy one...

Tonight's Top 10 list:

Top 10 favorite sports (to watch):

10. LaCrosse
9. Futbol (soccer)
8. Hockey (NHL)
7. Tennis (ATP)
6. Boxing
5. Football (NCAA)
4. Basketball (NCAA)
3. Football (NFL)
2. Basketball (NBA)
1. Baseball (MLB)

The fact that baseball is #1 on my list would surprise those who don't know me too well. The reason is simple. I get too antsy when I watch basketball, and I want to play. Other than the Cubs, basketball is my true love. But I simply can't stand watching it being played poorly--on any level.

Also, boxing would be much higher if it wasn't dying out. We need more big-name, primetime boxers in the game today. It's a beautiful sport.

Finally...

My beloved Cubbies won today, and the hated Cardinals got thrashed by Philly. Which means what, you ask? It means my Cubs are now in first place for the first time since April 21. They were in 4th place (4.5 games back) in the division when July began...

Don't look back, fellas!

D, out.

Who Do You Play For?

Day 25: Complete

Morning session: 9.17 miles
Evening session: 6.12 miles
Total distance: 15.29 miles

(THE) Milestone reached: 300-mile mark

Yo, Adrian! I did it! :)

Not gonna lie, I'm proud of myself. I had a few people--including a good friend who's a collegiate trackster and cross country runner--tell me I wouldn't do it. That I couldn't do it. But I did. And with 6 days to spare. I know with all the hard work I've put myself through the past 25 days, I probably shouldn't say this, but...400 miles in a month is attainable. Probably not this month, with the couple runs I've taken off lately, but I'm just saying.

Moral of the story?
Don't ever freaking underestimate me.

Now, despite my achievement, I don't plan to "coast," per se, but I should probably hit the 350 mark, or so.

Had a handful of friends lobbying for me to get back on Facebook today, since I accomplished my goal 6 days early. But I did pledge to stay away from it (and various other things) for the entire month. Not to mention that I haven't reached my weight loss goal just yet--which could actually prove to be even tougher than the 300 miles.

As of this evening, I've lost 17 lbs in 25 days. I need to lose 5.5 more lbs in 6 days to reach my goal. Time to buckle down even harder than before.

Hockey movie now: Miracle.

There might not be a more inspiring sports story in American history. On that 1980 night in Lake Placid, NY, magic happened. The impossible happened. I get goosebumps just talking about the event with sports buddies of mine. Great film, and a great piece of history, to say the least.

But it's almost over (i.e. the best part coming up right now), so I'll start the next movie soon: Kingpin.

Freaking hysterical bowling flick. Laughs out the wazoo, I promise you.

Tonight's top 10 list:

Top 10 things I would endorse (if I were a celebrity, and approached to do so):

10. Spalding - basketballs
9. American Eagle - primarily for flip flops
8. New Era - baseball caps
7. Fruit Loops w/ marshmallows
6. Subway
5. Orbit gum (good gum, and their ads are funny)
4. Reese's Pieces
3. Dr. Pepper
2. G2 Gatorade - grape
1. Adidas - basketball shoes, and other apparel


And now, since I just finished watching Miracle, I have goosebumps all over my body, and a bit of a watery eye--cheesy, I know--I'll leave you with that.

Today...was a good day, my friends.

My advice to you?
Live your dreams. Fulfill your goals. Then keep going. Do everything you can. Then do more.

D, out.