Author: Langdon

Living in the Hudson Valley of New York State, at age 40 (almost 41), I had a health scare and had to make serious changes in my eating and exercise habits. This is the story of how, I went from Morbidly Obese to being a Marathon Runner and ran 12 marathons in 12 months. After I ran several more, I did something I never imagined possible: I am an Ironman.

Hawaii

I started walking in the summer of 2013.  Walking was all I could do.  I took my first serious runs outside (meaning more than a few hundred yards!) in March of 2014 in Hawaii.  Nobody knew me so even if I looked downright silly I didn’t care.  By that point I was down about 100 lbs so while still overweight it wasn’t a disaster.

Now, back in Hawaii for my third trip there, I had 16 marathons done and running was a part of my identity.  My flight was around 6 AM out of Newark, direct to Hawaii.  I stayed up all night, got a (VERY) early run in on the treadmill to get part of my steps in, then headed to the airport.

We had a week booked at Marriott’s vacation club at Ko Olina, right in front of the path where I took my first serious runs.  I landed about 7 hours before my wife and kids (who had been vacationing in California for a bit before).  I got the rental car, drove to the hotel, threw my bags on the bed, put on some running gear and went out for a quick few miles on that same path.

One great thing about trying to get a step count and going to Hawaii is you pick up an extra 6 hours in your day.  So I more than finished my step count having slept most of the plane ride, went to the airport and picked up the rest of the gang.  I’m sure there are some places on earth that beat Hawaii, but I haven’t found it yet.

This is beautiful Ko Olina, Hawaii.  The hotel on the right is Aulani – a Disney property.  the jogging path goes in front of the hotels.

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144 LBS

The scale doesn’t lie.   For my annual physical, stepping on the pressurized square that read nearly twice that high three years ago, I couldn’t help but smile.  I was pushing to break 145 and did so by .2 of a pound.  FullSizeRenderd did That meant I dropped just under a pound in the past year, which is fine with or without my weight history (weight stability in your 40’s is an accomplishment in and of itself).  The good news though was that my pants were looser than ever – so that means my body weight is shifting around in a good way.  So it was a good weigh then!

 

A couple more marathons

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Not that running a marathon isn’t a “big deal”, but I’m not going to post each one.  Since the Kingston Kiwanis race though I was able to knock off two more – those are numbers 15 and 16.  The first was the Rhinebeck Hudson Valley Marathon by “Fit Feat Adventures”.  I also ran this one in 2015. It was small – just 29 completers (not competers or competitors but “completers” – we really cheered each other on).

This year’s was substantively larger but the race organizers did a great job.  I commend the race to everyone’s attention in 2017.  The scenery on the two loop course is great – from farm fields and back country roads to small towns and a great view of the Hudson River.  For more information:  http://fitfeetadventures.com/rhvmarathon/

On June 12 I was able to again run the Walkway Over the Hudson Marathon – between Dutchess and Ulster Counties.  My wife’s and my longtime friend Dr. Michele (not going to share her last name, privacy reasons) ran it with me.  She and Allison and her husband and I all went to college together.  She’s a former family physician who teaches now.  Always great to have a real Doctor on a run though!  Michele had been the person who got me through my first 20 mile run – when I nearly collapsed due to poor hydration in the fall of 2014.  Now it was my turn to help.  This was her 4th marathon but she hadn’t broken a particular time limit.  Together, we pushed through and beat the goal by 6 minutes.  It was a very relaxing run for me, but good karma to run with a long time friend who helped me get started and help her crush what might not have been a “goal time” (the goal is to finish with heart beating); but at least a better time than she had ever had.

It was a great feeling and you actually cross over the Hudson River so, enough said! (www.WalkwayMarathon.org)

Hoping to make Marathon 17 sometime in July.  Eye-balling the Mad Marathon in Vermont.

 

 

The Graduate

IMG_3242Very happy to have my oldest get through his middle school graduation.  He is such a nice kid and so smart.  Adults frequently tell me how kind and caring he is, and they are correct.

I know as parents we all want to hear nice things about our kids, and certainly the world is full of insincere praise.  However, when you constantly hear nice things with the same words used again and again “kind” “considerate” “caring”; and you combine it with the top science grade and top social studies grade and generally overall good grades; throw in some outside leadership activities, and I’m pretty lucky.

10k plus 5k with my favorite partner

For the second year in a row I ran the Middletown Classic 10k.  This year I finished the 10k in 48:15.  I’m satisfied with the time.  The course is tough for a City race.  Very hilly.  The 10k though was for a time; the reward was the 5k that followed.  Allison (who is much more attractive than the photo above shows!) and I ran the 5k together afterward.  A more relaxed pace but “quality time” with your spouse is never a bad thing.  She did great.  While I joke with her about the speed differences we have, the reality is she lets me (or at least tolerates) run and exercise in order to continue my focus on health and fitness.  I could never have had the health related success I have had without her significant tolerance for allowing me to spend time on exercise.  Plus, running or walking with her is a great joy.

ADDENDUM TO THIS BLOG POST:  For those couples that run, or just those couples who are couples, I strongly recommend reading this column: http://www.runnersworld.com/remys-world/midday-runs-with-my-wife

Mount Royal – Montreal

We last visited Montreal in the mid to late 1990’s.  A lot has changed since then – marriage; two kids; and the ability to “conquer” Mount Royal.  Last weekend, we went back to Montreal and I couldn’t have enjoined our trip to Mount Royal more.

For those not familiar with Mount Royal, it provides sweeping views of the City but it is a hike/run/bike ride up.  17 – 20 years ago when we last went, we contemplated hiking it.  Alas, it was not to be.  While not having yet “achieved” the lofty goal of morbid obesity, I was still not in any shape to hike back then.

Now, years later, I was able to run up the hills to get to the top without even breathing heavy.  Health is liberating in so many way.

FINALLY . . . UNDER 4 HOUR MARATHON

IMG_2646They say a picture is worth 1,000 words.  I know the following: this blog picture is worth a 3 hour and 58 minute finish time in a marathon.   My first goal in my first marathon (October, 2014) was to “finish with my heart beating”.  That remains my goal.  However, as my times got shorter, having a finishing time that started with a “3” instead of a “4” was a big goal.

In 2015, my fastest marathon was in Ulster County – the Kingston Kiwanis Marathon.  This year, I took 20 minutes  off my time and finally beat 4 hours.  I never have to do it again.

I took up running for health and weight loss.  The competitor in me pushed to hit a time.  While I hope to beat 4 hours again, I’m fine not doing it again for a while.  I don’t care if it is just by 90 seconds – under 4 hours is under 4 hours.

Chicago-Bound

My iPhone dinged with a charge on my AMEX card – $195.  YES!  On this morning it could only mean one thing:  I got into the Chicago Marathon for October.  I quickly checked my email and there it was – coming in at 6:19 AM:  “Congratulations!  You have received an entry into the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.”

I got up and, hearing the shower water running told my wife, who was getting ready to head to school (she’s a teacher) “We’re going to Chicago”.

I truly could not imagine being so happy that I was being given the “privilege” of traveling hundreds of miles for a long weekend in October to run 26.2 miles with 30,000 or so other people but I sure was.  I reflected on the last time I was in Chicago – around the fall of 2012.  We didn’t run anyplace – I sure could not have done that.  We quickly hit a couple of the city highlights and moved on.  Now I would be back, not morbidly obese, to run the Chicago Marathon.  Insane.

urban-chicago-spotlight

 

BACK AT DISNEYLAND

So when I started my diet in 2013, Allison and the kids and I were at Disneyland.  I asked, “Can you diet in Disney?”  The answer was “yes”.  We go to Disney far too much (the kids and Allison actually go a lot more than I do), but here the kids and I are back on “Hyperspace Mountain” in 2016, nearly three years after my diet started.

I love this picture for lots of reasons – my oldest is having fun; my youngest is being his typical goofball self (he also has the highest GPA in his class so his goofiness knows its boundaries). The best part though is the kid in the back of the picture.

Three years ago I would have to squeeze into Space Mountain seats.  Now it’s just a lot of fun to go with all the energy I need to enjoy my family. IMG_2416

 

Bluffton Polar Bear Run: 22.35 5k

OK, so I’m from New York – the Catskill Mountains (Hudson Valley now).  The concept of running a race called the “Polar Bear Run” sounds intimidating.  However, when you run on January 1 in Hilton Head (Bluffton, SC) to be precise, it’s not exactly freezing cold.

It was a bit rainy though, which makes it slippery.  I was able to finish 2nd in my age group and was given a nice Christmas Tree ornament.  Hilton Head is a great running and biking community and I encourage you to visit it if you get a chance.

http://georesults.racemine.com/Charlestowne-Road-Race-Services/events/2016/2016-POLAR-BEAR-RUN/results