i encourage you to check out some of his thoughts. here is a freebie.

“Slums may well be breeding grounds of crime, but middle class suburbs are incubators of apathy and delirium.”

touché Mr. Connolly… touché.

i decided since i am actually getting into this i would buy a pair of real running shoes. something on the cheap for sure, but at least better than the Sketchers i have been running in. i got the ones shown above (Asics Gel 105) and I also picked up a cheap Health-O-Meter scale (you’re welcome, Kris). are you seeing a pattern here? yeah, i’m cheap.

i gotta tell ya though. these shoes are soooo much more comfy than my old ones. i ran this morning for the first time since the boat trip (a post on that to follow) and it felt GREAT! i thought i would die out there but instead of huffing and puffing 8.5 minute miles i pushed out an easy 3 miles at an average of 8 min. 8 sec. per mile. i think the shoes DID make a difference but i also think taking a two week break actually helped. I even upped all the weights for chest and arm and it seemed easier.

i can feel it working… muahahahaha!

it’s a cool park with fountains, play structures, basketball and tennis courts, BBQs and an outdoor public pool. i’m more used to the indoor variety here in Portland so it was cool to see one where you could actually enjoy the sun when it makes an appearance. you can’t stay there after hours though because i heard that’s where the PacNW Vampires like to hang.

summer is almost over but all the gorram plants in my yard still want to keep on growing. i don’t wish for winter but i’m all yardworked out this year.

ME
Weight: 201 lbs. (down 7 lbs.)
Waist: 35.5″ (same)
Left Bicep: 14″ (same)
Right Bicep: 14″ (same)

K
Weight: 210 lbs. (same)
Waist: 35.75″ (down .75″)
Left Bicep: 14″ (down .5″)
Right Bicep: 15″ (up .5″)

the final stats look like this:

ME
Weight: 201 lbs. (total loss of 7 lbs.)
Waist: 35.5″ (total loss of 3.5″)
Left Bicep: 14″ (total gain of .5″)
Right Bicep: 14″ (total gain of .5″)

K
Weight: 210 lbs. (total loss of 5 lbs.)
Waist: 35.75″ (total loss of 4″)
Left Bicep: 14″ (same)
Right Bicep: 15″ (total gain of .5″)

if you want to get technical and start calculating down to the hundredths place, then i guess you could say i won. but in reality we both feel and look better. nobody lost. and the game will continue… (after we put it all back on this week whilst camping and boating).

the real question is… will kris post “On a boat…” or “On on a boat…”? the suspense is killing me.

ME
Weight: ??? lbs. (???)
Waist: 36″ (down .5″)
Left Bicep: 14″ (up .25″)
Right Bicep: 14″ (up .25″)

K
Weight: ??? lbs. (???)
Waist: ???″ (???)
Left Bicep: ???″ (???)
Right Bicep: ???″ (???)

kris is at the beach this week. i fear his huge nut sack is going to do him in.

ME
Weight: 208 lbs. (same???)
Waist: 36.5″ (down .5″)
Left Bicep: 13.75″ (up .25″)
Right Bicep: 13.75″ (up .25″)

K
Weight: 210 lbs. (down 1 lbs.)
Waist: 36.5″ (down 1″)
Left Bicep: 14.5″ (up .5″)
Right Bicep: 14.5″ (same)

see, this is why we don’t own a scale. redonk.

ME
Weight: ??? lbs.
Waist: 37″ (down 1″)
Left Bicep: 13.5″ (same)
Right Bicep: 13.5″ (same)

K
Weight: 211 lbs. (down .25 lbs.)
Waist: 37.5″ (down 1″)
Left Bicep: 14″ (down .5″)
Right Bicep: 14.5″ (same)

i totally slacked off last week. granted, i did like 4 days of manual labor but i didn’t really work out. i must say that it is nice to actually see results. time to kick it into high gear.

ME
Weight: ??? lbs.
Waist: 38″ (same)
Left Bicep: 13.5″ (same)
Right Bicep: 13.5″ (same)

K
Weight: 211.25 lbs. (down 4 lbs.)
Waist: 38.5″ (same)
Left Bicep: 14.5″ (up .5″)
Right Bicep: 14.5″ (same)

if i’m not moving backwards, i’m moving forward.

you go, muchacho! down 4 pounds and biceptual symmetry has been achieved!