My Better Me than You Log

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

Suits? The accountants I know -- and I worked in a building full of them -- wear sweaters, chinos and docksiders. During the summer its a blue oxford, chinos and docksiders. You are entering a hip profession my friend. Suits are passe.

Well, the suit is pretty much for the interview process. Depending on the client, business casual does seem to be the norm. However, that still calls for me revamping my closet.

[GG300]

Since when did Dockers become hip? I agree with Jeff as far as all of the accounting people I know dress very casual. The only people in my business that dress more casual are the IT folks. Jim you are right about the suit, they are still the staple for interviews. Too bad about the date hopefully you get another chance with her.

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by GG300

Since when did Dockers become hip?

Summer of 1983. I think the trend lasted about two weeks.

I was, of course, just joking. Have a good suit or two in the closet is always a good idea and don't forget good shoes either. Don't think people don't notice the shoes because they do.

On the flip side you'd be set if you went IT. My title says "executive" but I'm currently wearing a long sleeve t-shirt, jeans and chucks.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Jeff- you crack me up. Accountants are cool! I went out to Applebee's last week with my accounting club and we were making accounting jokes all evening! We had to sit evenly on each side of the table to keep debits and credits balanced. That kind of stuff proves we rock!

Gregg- As far as the date, it doesn't bother me. I'm not so hung up on getting dates like some people on the forum. I find it really easy. Almost too easy. (It can get expensive!) In fact, I get asked out quite often, so if one doesn't work out, there are a lot more. Especially in college!
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29JAN07

scheduled: 9 miles easy run w/ 10ea 100 meter strides

actual: 10 miles
1:17:57 (7:48 avg pace)

mile splits:
1 - 7:50
2 - 7:45
3 - 7:55
4 - 7:47
5 - 7:44
6 - 7:46
7 - 7:43
8 - 7:48
9 - 7:52
10 - 7:43

Oops. As I was running I couldn't remember if today was 9 or 10. I knew one day this week was a 10 miler. It turns out it's Wednesday. Oh, well. I'll just do 9 then. I did sprinkle in several sprints during the run today. I don't remember how many and doubt they were as long as 100 meters. For some reason my legs, especially my quads, are really fatigued this evening. Both my knees are more sore than normal too.

tomorrow: NROL FL1 workout A4; 5 mile recovery run.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

30JAN07

scheduled: NROL FL1; 5 mile recovery run

actual: NROL FL1 Workout A4

Superset:
Squat – 3 x 12 x 175 (+10)
Cable Seated Row – 2 x 12 x 130, 1 x 12 x 140 (a different weight stack this time, I really don't know how this compares with last time.)

Superset:
Supine Hip Extension/ Leg Curl – 3 x 12 x BW (no change)
DB Push Press – 3 x 12 x 45s (+5 ea)

Superset:
Rotational Lunge – 3 x 12(e) x 30s (+5 ea)
Swiss-Ball Crunch – 3 x 12 x 40 (+5)

5 mile recovery run on TM
44:53 (8:59 avg pace)
---------------------

I didn't really feel challenged today, but 10 hours later my legs are fried!!! I have to say that these slow-ass recovery runs on the TM really, really suck. Oh, wait. I've said that before? They really suck when I have a million other things I need to be doing and I'm slowly watching the time tick, tick away as I try not to gouge my eyes out from sheer boredom. However, I'm going to follow this Plan as near to the letter as possible.

Tomorrow: 10 mile easy run. Maybe I'll only do nine because I did that extra one on Monday.

[jruck37]

I'd love to run 5 miles at that pace.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

31JAN07

scheduled: 10 mile easy run

actual: 10 miles
1:20:13 (8:01 avg pace)

I went ahead and did the scheduled ten even though I did the extra mile on Monday. No big deal. I felt pretty good today. I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm starting to creep up in mileage and am continuing to lift which I didn't do for my last marathon. I think the fact that this program has me gradually building up over a longer period of time is key.

I made an entire month without missing a single workout, though I may be starting February out on the wrong foot. I have an incredibly hectic day planned tomorrow and unless I drive back home or to the other campus to lift I will probably not have time tomorrow. It also needs to be said that my monthly mileage for this month was my second highest ever coming in at 178.76 miles. After the next few months that number will seem low. What needs to continue to get lower is my weight. I lost approximately 6-10 pounds in January depending on the scale, so that is going well. I weighed in at 181 on Monday. If I can keep losing 3-5 pounds a month I'd be happy- and I'd be down to 165-170 which is what I want to be at for the marathon.

[K-Court]

Originally Posted by twinsavsvikingsfan

It also needs to be said that my monthly mileage for this month was my second highest ever coming in at 178.76 miles.

Jeez, Jim, that's like running to Windsor, Ontario and still having 13 miles to spare!! Good work, man, on all fronts - running, lifting and dieting. Definitely a great start to '07.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Good work, man, on all fronts - running, lifting and dieting. Definitely a great start to '07.

Thanks, Rob! I didn't make it to the gym today, so I've missed my first workout of the year. However, I did have a very productive day. In fact, one of the most productive I've had in a long time. I spent an hour and a half with my advisor planning out my next few semesters of classes as well as going over some internship possibilities. She seems to have more confidence in my abilities and potential than I do! I also had a great meeting with a career services counselor to go over my resume. One thing about going back to school after working for several years is that I have a lot more to put on a resume. He gave me some tips and also some advice for my upcoming interview. He also said he'd put me in contact with a couple more CPA firms to interview with.

tomorrow: 5 mile recovery run and some good ol' quality time with the munchkin. I miss her.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

02FEB07

scheduled: 5 mile recovery run

actual: 5.31 miles
47:13 (8:54 avg pace)

Freaking cold and windy and snowy. The wind chill was -3*! Tomorrow's supposed to be worse with up wards of 12" of snow. I'm not sure how I'll get my long run done.

[kmwest]

Originally Posted by twinsavsvikingsfan

Though I can probably keep wearing my Chucks.

Good choice.

[BamaDave]

Looking good, Jim!!! Do you think the Fat Loss workouts are accelerating your weight loss, or are you being really anal about your diet and calories?? I'm always amazed by how much my weight DOESN'T drop when I start ramping up the running miles.

Those intense, fast-paced weight routines combined with all the running have to be tough.

You could always become an accounting teacher and work in a University like I do. Then you don't have to upgrade from your race t-shirt and jeans wardrobe. :p Mine quickly reverted to that when I left the business world and went back to the academic one a few years ago.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Thanks, Dave. I think I'm just losing that holiday weight I put on because I was just so careless with my eating and not running so much. Now, I am paying a little better attention to my diet (though it is nowhere near reined in) and my running is obviously ramping up. I just hope I can dial my diet in better and not go on binges when my running gets up into the 50-55 mpw range and I'm really hungry. It never ceases to amaze me that my weight went up the more I ran.

The workouts don't seem to be affecting my running all that much. I'm pleasntly surprised. I hope that continues. I really would like to continue lifting twice a week up until my taper.

I'm really bummed right now. I was supposed to do 17 miles today but we are having a major lake effect snow blizzard right now. It's hard to tell haow much snow we've had because the 25 mph winds are just drifting it. I'm sure it has been close to a foot, though. Plus the temperature is about 7 and that makes for a -11 wind chill. Not a day for running outside. That said, I made my way over to the gym this morning to attempt to get a long run in on the TM. Yes, I was going to try to do 17 miles on the TM. However, THE FREAKING GYM WAS CLOSED!!!!!!! DAMMIT!!!!!!Of all the days it should be open is one that it is absolutely too shitty outside to be outside. Bastards. I hope I can get something in tomorrow morning. At least some sort of long run even if it isn't 17.

As far as teaching, I have no patience for it. If I did, I would have decided to major in History and done that. I'm worried about having to try to explain things when I start tutoring lower level accounting students. Of course, that does have a little to do with my confidence level. But, even trying to explain things I'm totally comfortable with to people, drives me nuts. Teachers are amazing people. I just know that I wouldn't be very good at it!

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

My lower back is kind of feeling it tonight. I spent about an hour shoveling because I was making myself sick just sitting around doing homework and eating so I had to get out and do something.

I'm running tomorrow dammit. The wind will still be up there (25-30 mph ) and the temps in the single digits (it's 4 right now and won't be much warmer during the day tomorrow) but hopefully there won't be as much snow coming down. Of course, it won't matter if it's coming down or not. The drifting will be pretty bad. So, I hope the gym decides to open. (We do live in Michigan- it snows here. It's not like Alabama where they close things for a week because of a predicted snowfall :p ) That way I won't have to run around my block 17 times, but I will if I have to.

[UpNorth]

We're experiencing the same sort of weather here. You are one tough character for getting out there and running 17 miles in this! Keep a close eye on your exposed skin, fingers and toes.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

04FEB07
scheduled: 17 mile long run

actual: 9.02 miles TM
1:15:00 (8:19 avg pace)

I'm so unhappy that I didn't get my total mileage in for the week. I had to cut this short because we're about to go to a birthday party. Not only that, the freaking gym opened 20 minutes late- there's 2 miles.

Oh, well. Next week doesn't look much better. I'm busy as all hell again. It will be a chore to get all my miles in again. What happened? I was doing so well until I had to say something about it.

[MissDee]

No run for me today. My gym is closed. I was going to run outside, but my husband had a fit. I wanted to join the "more miles than degrees" club