The Skinny on "Skinny".

I'm not sure if there's something in the air or what, but I can't tell you how many times this past week I've got to hear about how skinny I am or how much weight I've lost. And all without asking for any one's opinion. I guess it's fine to point out someones change in weight with somewhat of a look of concern, maybe even disgust on your face when the lb's are going down. Just don't mention it to someone with an expanding waistline in the same manner or you may end up getting hurt.

Actually, it doesn't really bother me as this is just one of many choices I have made in attempt to be more competitive in my racing. As my wife Gina explains it, I have brainwashed myself. No desserts, no fried food, no fast food, not drinks other than water, tea, coffee, skim milk, V8's and sports drinks. To be honest, the less "bad" food I eat, the more I thrive on it. This is my 3rd week of no Diet Coke. I quit cold turkey on 2/18 and haven't had a sip since. Before that I was drinking 6-7 cans a day.

It's rather crazy as I think about it as most of my life I have struggled to gain weight. Hours in the gym lifting weights, eating until I literally puked and then eating again. Protein powders, weight gainers, I've done it all. Not anymore. I religiously stand on the scale every morning to monitor my weight. Any fluctuation in the wrong direction gets me to think about what I ate the day before and how I will address my meal plan for the day. As of today I was 159lbs. About 16lbs down from where I was when I started my quest for Boston 2 years ago, but I've been in the 160-165 range the last year and just recently went under 160lbs. The scary thing is that I'm starting to look like a runner.

So what is the skinny on skinny and just how will it affect me? My goal time is 2:49:55 or better for Boston. Based on calculators I use from http://www.runningforfitness.com/, the following shows how a few pounds can affect my overall time. Getting down to 155 on race day without sacrificing strength could gain me 3:39, a huge difference in time.

Weight (lbs) Predicted time Time difference

155 lbs....2:46:16.....-3:39
156 lbs....2:47:11.....-2:44
157 lbs....2:48:06.....-1:49
158 lbs....2:49:00....-0:55
159 lbs....2:49:55.....0:00
160 lbs....2:50:49....0:54
161 lbs....2:51:44.....1:49
162 lbs....2:52:38....2:43
163 lbs....2:53:32....3:37

And by the way, where did "the skinny on" originate? Well a quick Google told me it means news, information, gossip. This use of the word is said to have originated in the armed forces in the 1940s and might be jocularly based on 'the naked truth' as in "getting down to the skin" of a story, beneath the flourishes and frippery. Now I know.

So there you have the skinny on "skinny". If you want to get me riled up, tell me I look like I've gained a few pounds the next time you see me.

On a personal note, my last living grandparent passed away this last Saturday. My grandfather on my Dad's side lived to be 100yrs old. His life was an ultramarathon and he ran it as well as anyone could. I'll be running the Dallas Rock 'N' Roll 1/2 Marathon this coming Sunday and I will dedicate this race to him and hope that the strength that carried him through life will be with me for 13.1 miles. This will be a cutback week in terms of mileage to taper for the race. Sunday's performance should give me a good idea of where I stand as far as fitness for Boston.

Last weeks workout:

2/1 - Rest
2/2 - 12.1 Miles MLR
2/3 - 12.4 Mile MLR
2/4 - 9 Mile tempo run on treadmill with 3-8 @ 6:04 pace, 3% decline
2/5 - 6.3 mile Recovery run
2/6 - 16.2 mile LR
2/7 - 6 mile Recovery run

62 Miles Total

Thanks for contributions this week for MCRC! Really appreciate all of you. Take care and have a great week!