Couch to 10K

I mentioned in my opening entry that one of the reasons why I had signed up to participate in the Underwear Affair was to get myself into better shape. I’ve done the lifestyle change before and for the most part had stuck to it, but just like anything else, it requires practice, practice, practice.

I stopped practicing for a while. And then the weight started coming back on. At my heaviest I was 170lbs. While that’s certainly not obese for someone of my height (5’6”), it certainly didn’t make me feel good. There’s also the health risks associated with gaining too much weight. So it was my objective to not only conquer this 10km run, but also get myself into better shape.

I’ve never been a fan of the gym. I’m someone who resists and avoid at all possible. So I had to find a way to make this challenge stick. I found a great program called “Couch to 5km”. The point of the program is to get people off the couch and in nine weeks of interval training to get them running a 5km run in 45 minutes. A little more digging unearthed a modified “Couch to 10km” run on someone’s blog. The 10km version has me doing interval training three times a week for thirteen weeks. With my love for yoga, I got myself running three times a week and bending and breathing myself through one to two sixty minute yoga sessions a week.

It’s also about the healthy eating too; less processed foods, more fruits and vegetables. Portion sizes and frequency of eating as well. I rarely eat junk food, and I keep out of the house to avoid the temptation. I still indulge from time to time, but I’m finding I’m more careful about my choices, and am aware of how often I eat it.

Overall, committing myself to the Underwear Affair has forced me to take a good look at how I’m living my life. I’m eating better, working out and a few weeks ago hit my goal weight. I’m a leaner, fit version of myself. With a little luck, some hard work and advances in medical science, I hopefully will never have to face cancer in my life.

Couch to 5km
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Couch to 10km
http://dailyburn.com/workout_programs/345751-Couch-to-10k-Running-Program

Who's this Mike Guy?

My name is Mike Cullen and I am a first time participant in the Underwear Affair. I have taken part in various cancer related runs for the last ten years or so, but felt that this year I needed a change of pace. When a friend suggested the Underwear Affair, it seemed like just the crazy type of event that I should take part in. I set up an ambitious fundraising goal of $1,000 and vowed to family, friends and colleagues that if I raised that amount, I would run the full 10km course in my underwear. As of July 2010 I have raised over $1,100, have the special undies picked out and I’m anxiously waiting for the day of the run.

I’m not just doing it for the change of pace though. I’m also taking part in the Underwear Affair for personal reasons. I’m passionate about cancer research and the dream of one day finding a cure for a disease that touches virtually every life. Whether you’ve experienced cancer for yourself or have seen a friend, family member or coworker go through this battle, it is almost impossible to find someone who hasn’t gone through it; and there’s no reason for it with our medical advances.

My participation in the Underwear Affair is for other reasons as well. As someone who lives with an autoimmune deficiency disease, I am at an increased risk for colon, prostate and small bowel cancers. I don’t live with a dark cloud over my head, but realistically having Crohn’s Disease increases the chance that I may face one of those three cancers in my lifetime.

I’m also taking part to get into better shape. I used to be one of those people who religiously went to the gym three to four times a week. I started slacking off about a year ago, and I noticed the changes; not only the weight gain but the feeling rundown all the time, susceptibility to illness and general bad lifestyle choices. I took this opportunity to get back into shape. This will be my first 10km run, and I plan on running it all. I now run three times a week and try to do yoga at least once a week. As a result, I’ve dropped about twenty five pounds since April, improved my lifestyle and in general feel a lot better about myself both physically and mentally.

Lastly, I’m doing this for a friend who recently lost her father to a battle with Colon cancer. He fought until the very end, and his courageous face on approach to his illness inspires me to not only cross that finish line, but to keep running until cancer has been beaten for good. Big D Palvetzian, this one’s for you!