Welcome to the official training blog of ulcerative colitis survivor Tom Meersman!

Weight: 169 lbs.  Getting extremely close to that glorious 170 pound mark.  That will be very exciting.  Hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to see it.

I once again missed a blog.  Too much going on.  Even though really very little is going on.  I just need rests sometimes.  Everyone is very lucky that a blog is even being typed today because I burned my finger on a Pop Tart this morning. 

Wednesday it was absolutely beautiful weather out, with the exception of the wind.  I decided that it was the perfect day to run outside for the first time ever.  So that I did.  It is a lot harder running outside than on a treadmill.  I don't know why.  The wind didn't help as I felt I was often running in place.  I liked the fresh air, but I didn't like not knowing how far I had gone.  I got in my car this morning and measured my distance: 1.6 miles.  I hope the weather remains nice so I can continue practicing outdoors because the race isn't on a treadmill. 

Thursday I decided to try one of the different workouts they have pre-programmed into the treadmills.  I did the South American terrain.  It changed the incline automatically as I was running.  I set the program to go for 30 minutes.  About 8 minutes into it I really felt like I wanted to quit, but I decided to keep going because instead of counting up like the clock usually does, this was counting down.  That gave me the feeling like I had a goal to achieve otherwise I'd be a failure.  I don't want to be a failure.  A failure like my colon.

I toughed the whole 30 minutes out, including an extra 1:09 on the cool down.  I went for 2.75 miles, climbed 48 feet and burned 336 calories.*

It was a good workout.  I enjoyed it and look forward to working out again in the near future.

*Calories burned is approximate to my weight. 

Weight: 166.5 lbs.

I failed to blog yesterday.  I am finding it harder and harder to find time to write this blog.  It's not that I'm busy 24 hours a day, but sometimes I just need some R&R and writing this blog expends energy.  I apologize when I don't get it done as I know the people, which includes you, LOVE the blog.

I have incurred a little problem the last two days while running:  Boogers.  My nose has been stuffed up and it has become incredibly difficult to run when it is.  There's way too many boogers in my nose to the point where I can't breathe out of it and so I overcompensate by breathing out of my mouth, which only leads to my lips becoming extremely chapped.  It's a lose-lose situation.  I need to clear up the congestion if I want to be a championship marathon runner. 

I have stopped early both of the past two days due to the discomfort I was feeling because of my boogies.  I ran just over a mile yesterday and a 1.5 miles today.  It's weak I know.  I should be much better than that at this stage of my training.  But boogers are such a hindrance.  I hate them.  I'd feel awkward picking and flicking them on the treadmill though, so I just give up instead.

Hopefully my nasal passages open up soon and I will be able to resume running at the championship pace I have become accustomed to. 

I did some lifting today and then a cool 1.5 miles on the treadmill.  I decided to have a light running day in the wake of my monster running from the day before. 

I really wish that it would warm up so I could do some running outside.  That would be gooder.  Stupid weather.

That is about all for today.  Boring blog I know, but I don't feel like doing one today.  So until somebody else wants to write Tom Meersman's blog for Tom Meersman, you will just have to read what Tom Meersman writes for Tom Meersman's blog. 

Weight: 164.5 lbs.

I had a very decent workout today.  I didn't have to work until 10:45 a.m. so I was able to both sleep in a little later than usual and have more than enough time to have a quality workout with no time restrictions.  I took full advantage of it.

I did my usual lifting before I ran and a little lift after I ran.  I went a very respectable 4.01 miles in 45 minutes on the treadmill today.  I felt real good afterwards too.  There were a couple times when I took my pace up to 10.2 mph.  That translates into less than a 6 minute mile.  Now I was only able to hold this pace for about half a lap before I began running on fumes, but it's a start.  I felt proud that I could even maintain that pace for a second. 

At one point I had an itch on my leg and I lifted my leg up to scratch it, but I forgot that I was on a treadmill and a treadmill doesn't stop moving just because you have an itch on your leg.  I started hopping on one leg as the treadmill continued on at 6 mph.  I don't know how I didn't fall.  Probably because I'm an athlete.  I mention it because it felt funny and I'm sure it looked funny to the people around me. 

Overall good workout.  I enjoyed it. 

Weight: 164.5 lbs.

I took somewhat of a hiatus from working out.  I didn't workout on Sunday because it was the day after my birthday and NOBODY works out the day after their birthday.  Not a one.  Nobody has ever done it in the history of the world.  I wasn't about to be the first.

I went and worked out on Monday morning.  I lifted first and had every intention of running afterwards, but when it came time to run, I didn't really have the time nor the motivation to do it.  So I didn't run. 

Tuesday I didn't go at all to the gym.  I had to work at 7 in the morning and then by the time I got home it was time for American Idol.  As mentioned in a previous blog, American Idol ruins my life.  It takes away too much of my time.  Idol Gives Back is on tonight and that is going to take up 2 1/2 hours of my evening.  Not to mention Idol will be on again tomorrow night for another hour.  My whole week is shot because of Idol Gives Back.  That is ok though because I have become very philanthropic due to my half-marathon and colitis in general.

Now that I have all my confessions out of the way I can talk about what I did do to work out.

I had a half day at work and went this afternoon to Cardinal Fitness.  It was more crowded than it usually is in the morning.  It wasn't overwhelmingly crowded though.  My sister got me an iPod armband for my birthday, so I am now able to comfortably listen to my iPod while I lift weights.  It is very nice and I love my sister.  Even though I am not her favorite brother.  I lifted weights and I really like lifting weights now.  It is fun to lift more one day than you had previously been able to do.  It is very satisfactory.

I ran for the first time since Saturday morning.  My legs were a little stiff from the layoff.  I did 1.64 miles on the tread.  I probably should've done more, but I was bored.  I also for the first time sent some text messages while I was running.  That probably isn't the best way to work out.  I really should focus on running instead of texting.  Tomorrow I hope to run at least 2 miles.  I need to crank it up a little bit.  July 20th will come faster than I think. 

For some reason I have listened to the Hollies song King Midas in Reverse 4 times in the last 24 hours.  I mention this because it came on while I was running, and I jacked up my pace a little bit while it was on.  It motivated me.  I think I like the song a lot. 

That's all for today.  Go White Sox.

Weight: 164 lbs.  New record.  Post-surgery record, not all-time record.

I skipped working out on Wednesday.  I had to work at 7, so it wasn't really an option for me to go before work, and I didn't go after work either.

Today I did 2.34 miles on the treadmill in 25 minutes 9 seconds.  That calculates into an average speed of 5.58 mph.  For the first time I ran a mile in under 10 minutes.  Now I know all of you runners out there will scoff that a 10 minute mile is nothing to brag about, but to me it is significant progress.  Having a colon makes you so much faster due to the better aerodynamics in your abdomen.  That may be made up, but still I ran a mile in a hair under ten minutes and I'm proud of myself. 

A little blog trivia for all you Tom Meersman buffs out there:  This was the first time a blog was not written on the actual day that it is about.  History.  Learn from it folks.

Weight: 162.5 lbs. 

April Fool's Day is here.  I went the whole day without playing any good jokes on anybody.  Apparently my funny bone was removed along with my colon.  No wait, I am mistaking my funny bone with my rectum, my fault. 

Mr. Cardinal Fitness welcomed me into his home this morning before work.  Did the now customary lifting and then running.  Lifting at this point seems much more rewarding than running.  It would be sweet if I could get buff.  It won't happen as I never have been in my life.  But it would be sweet nonetheless.

I hopped on the treadmill today and did 1.85 miles in 20 minutes 11 seconds which came out to an average pace of 5.5 mph.  I once again could've gone longer if it weren't for the need to work.  I know it's the same old story I've been spitting out for weeks now, but it's true.  My life could be a ton more productive if it weren't for work.  It really puts a dead spot in my day.  I can't get anything accomplished while I work.  Overall I felt good, I wish I could've done more, but I don't like to be pressed for time, and I don't want to get up any earlier because quite frankly I need my sleep.

Tonight was the first conference call with my coaches for the half-marathon.  The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation provides us with coaches that guide our training throughout.  The call took place at 7 p.m. and will continue to be at 7 p.m. until the marathon.  This annoys me greatly because American Idol is on at that time.  So initially I was annoyed to make the phone call because it meant I was going to have to delay my start to Idol.  After the call took place I was annoyed because I felt I wasted my time.  I appreciate the coaches and everybody taking time out for the call, but it simply is too long and not beneficial enough.  I hung up 35 minutes into the call because it just dragged on.  Everything that was said in the call could've just been in writing.  I think we would be much better off with a message board where we could post questions to the coaches.  The productivity of this "meeting" was severely lacking. 

We were given an itinerary to follow, I will follow it somewhat, but for the most part I think I will do my own thing depending on what I feel comfortable with.  This isn't to say I'm above the coaches or anything, or know more about running then they do, it's just easier for me to mold my training to my schedule.  It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for this race and sometimes it's a struggle to find the appropriate time to train.  I would much rather do what I feel comfortable doing when I feel comfortable doing it than having somebody else tell me what to do.  That's another reason why I am not happy with these training calls, it's just an hour of my day that could go towards doing something more productive.  Like watching Idol.  I will still participate in the calls and maybe they will become more beneficiary down the road, but tonight I was just bored to tears.  Again, I am appreciative of the time and effort it takes to facilitate a training session like they are offering us, I just would rather be my own man.  There's no I in team, but it starts with a T.

I hope everyone's April is going great.