What 10 Miles Will Get You

If you ran 10 miles today you probably burned about 1,200 Calories. Just to remind you, here are some "break even" foods:

• Whopper with fries (1,250 Calories)
• Large popcorn at the theater... withOUT butter (1,160 Calories)
• Two 64 oz Cokes (1,200 Calories)
• 12 inch Subway tuna club and a large Sprite (1,200 Calories)
• 3 frappachinos from Starbucks (1,140 Calories)

There you have it. 10 miles down the drain with a few quick bites.

Up and Down, Round and Round, the Weight Changes of a Marathon Runner

I am pretty sure I'm not the only one that goes through this. Every winter as my mileage drops down due to weather conditions and lack of motivation, my weight does the opposite. The problem with runners such as myself is that we are always eating to keep the calories up. On many days I will run 10 miles before work and then walk another 10 at work because I have a job that requires me to be on my feet. Here lies the problem. During the winter I only average 4-5 miles and I sit all day at work. Of course my food intake doesn't change and thus the 20-25 pound weight gain every year. It is an amazing transformation.

There is not much I can do about it, other than heavy dieting. I never cross that 25 pound gain limit because if I do I put myself on a mini-diet. In about 2 weeks I start the transformation because the weather will start to warm up and work has started to get busier (I own a nursery/garden center). The guys I run with certainly put on a few pounds but nothing like I do. Some would say that this isn't healthy but I've done it for 20 years now. The difference is in the three years I've been running the weight is from 195 to 170 each time (I'm 6'0), with each year the upper and lower limits dropping by 2 or 3 pounds. This year I will probably get down under 170.

Before running, I would go from 225 to 200. My health has been great and I have only been sick once in 16 years so the weight doesn't seem to effect the immunity at all. The other organs I don't know but I feel great. Especially at the 170 range. It also makes me feel so much faster. Imagine dropping a 25 pound weight off your back and then running. That's what I feel like in the summer. Of course the winter feels like the complete opposite. I feel slow and heavy but in the back of my mind I know what's ahead. Anyone else go through this each year?

Caffeine: I Gotta Quit Chu

My "7 Diet Cokes a day" habit is just not going to cut it. I am a slave to the fizz and it rules my life. There's nothing wrong with drinking a coffee or having a soda but I have to have one in front of me all day, and that can't be healthy. Here's a list of possible effects from excessive caffeine consumption:

• increased anxiety and hypertension risks
• decreased liver performance
• tooth decay and weakened bones
• addiction and dependence
• cycle of hyperactivity and/or inability to focus, followed by subsequent crash
• disrupted sleep habits
• decreased libido or sexual performance
• may interfere with weight loss and has been linked to hypoglycemia
• financial costs to support caffeine purchases

Combine these with the fact that aspartame is going to give me cancer, and I've now established that I need to take it way down. The problem is, like with any addiction, there are withdrawal symptoms. In the case of caffeine these can last up to two weeks and include:

• headaches
• fatigue
• lack of concentration
• poor motor skills
• flu-like symptoms

Today is my first day of detox and I am experiencing all of the above. I had to have 3 diet cokes just to stay alive today. After realizing that I can't quite cold turkey, this is how I plan to kick it:

1. Decrease my consumption by 1 drink every 3 days. In three weeks I will be down to 1 or 2 sodas a day, about my desired state.
2. Substitute for soda with sparkling water and fresh lemon or lime. I love the fizz and the tang. Carbonated water with some heavy lime gives me the same feeling.
3. Accept that I am going to need about 2 extra hours of sleep while I detox. I can barely stay awake right now at 9 o'clock.
4. Find another energy source. I'm thinking fruit.

There are surely numerous health benefits to this but I am doing it to improve my running. I have had calf cramps in every marathon despite the fact that the rest of my body was completely hydrated. I unscientifically concluded that caffeine is causing my calves to be dehydrated. Yes, just my calves. Don't mess with me I'm irritable right now.