My name is Kyle, and I'm a running gear addict.

Yesterday at work I received my brand new pairs of wave riders and wave creations (shoes) 2 pairs. I'm pretty excited about this, of course, because I wont have to buy new shoes for close to a year!

Well, as it turns out, I like looking at and buying running gear. Since I wont be looking for shoes for a while, I figured I'd look at some good running socks. At ten bucks per pair, its hard to pull the trigger. Odd I know, because I can pull the trigger on three pairs of shoes in one day.......

I'd also really like some new tops, and shorts.... Tops being at least 25 and shorts the same or more... Again, I can't pull the trigger.

I suspect there could be more harmful things to be addicted to.. drugs... alcohol... regular dress shoes.. among other things..

I think I should set myself a budget for running gear. That way I don't have to feel guilty if I buy some new stuff... I could set expectations, and look forward to buying things monthly. I just came up with this idea while sitting here deciding what to type up next.. but I think it might work! Wish me luck with this addiction!

Erin's first 8 miler!

Yesterday, I ran with Erin for her first 8 mile run. Not only was it a one mile personal best for distance. It was her longest run outside, in the snow. The snow makes for bad footing, and working alot harder to go the same speed or distance.

Normally I go off on my own when we go run, but yesterday I felt more in the mood to just run WITH Erin! The decision to run with her for the full 8 miles was a good one. It was a new experience for us. Running together mile after mile, talking, venting, everything. It was great!

It's funny how small Minot can start to seem while on the run. It's only 4 miles from Oak park to Rosevelt park. A person could run about anywhere in town in less than an hour. If only humanity made it more acceptable to be a sweaty mess in public! Perhaps then this obesity thing would die down! I doubt it....

210 to Boston

Someday I'm planning on qualifying, and running the Boston Marathon. I will proceed to write a book called 210 to Boston. It will outline my life up to that point. The 210 lbs I weighed when I got the spark to start running, the (will be years) it took me to be able to qualify for Boston. Including a bunch of filler material that will probably be inspirational and critical of the way the world is. Perhaps keeping this blog will give me some of the filler material! It's hard to remember what you thought and felt even a few days ago, let alone years.

Livestrong: first thoughts at a glance

I signed up using my facebook account on livestrong.com. I really like how easy it makes it to track your meals! Giving you a real target to shoot for as far as how much to eat.

For those of us who like to see results on paper, and in the mirror, Livestrong definitely keeps a good paper trail. For many, I would think that paper trail might start to include a few less burger king wrappers.

I would not take its calorie goals as the word of God however. Depending on what you select as your normal fitness level, and how closely you track your physical activity, it could be off by a large margin. For example when I selected average activity, my total calorie intake need was about 2200. However, changing it to highly active, boosted me up to needing about 3100 cal's per day.

People would still have to do the work of stepping on a scale and seeing first hand results.

Man I'm getting expensive..

At the opening of Mile One Running Shop, I decided to buy myself my very first pair of running tights. One more thing to add to my list of things that qualify me as a "real" runner. At 55 dollars they didn't really break the bank, and the extra money I'm making at the store can pay for that and well.... the other things I've purchased in the past week...

I may or may not have ordered 2 pairs of shoes with my discount from working at the store, basically 2 for 1... Still ended up being 103 dollars for 2 pairs. Then I found out that those might take 4 to 6 weeks to be processed, etc etc.. So of course I was forced to order another pair off runningwarehouse.com, with free 2 day shipping.. heh... So, that SHOULD be enough buying of running gear for ohhh.. about 6 months I would think...

Well, turns out, the tights I bought are suited for about 20-35 above zero temps, which are clearly better than nothing. So today, being a running gear addict, I may or may not have bought myself a pair of "coldgear" underarmour tights.. I took em out for a test run, and I think they should do the job in the remaining month or so of sub zero temps. And a pair of compression shorts... And a pair of green superfeet insoles... The superfeet are in hopes of clearing up what I have self diagnosed as "pump bumps", basically a small bunion on my outer heel.

I will say again that my first pay check from the running shop has paid for all of my purchases, except the runningwarehouse ordered shoes....

Olympics and McDonald's

This just irritates me to no end! I've lost 60 lbs and effectively lengthened my lifetime expectations greatly. It seems McDonald's would honestly prefer to do the opposite for Americans.

I remember the one commercial where the hockey kids (girls, i think) lost their game, get lectured by the coach saying it's ok to lose. So, in celebration of their effort (loss) they are going to go eat like olympic champions at McDonald's.

Seeing Michelle Obama just recently take up the childhood obesity epidemic, followed so closely by McD's commercials aimed at kids. Just really makes me say WHAT THE HELL.

Ready for warm weather...

First I will say that last night went well. Obviously we all need some practice when it comes to actually selling shoes, but that will come with time. I have met so many great people in the past week! I get home from the store or a run and currently, im just LOVING life! I find myself jumping around in joy.. seriously... Its sad but it's great!

Anyway.. The group run was at 8:30 this morning, the temp is about 2 above zero, maybe 10-12 mph wind. VERY cold! I was still planning on getting with the group, until I looked out the window at the driveway! No way to get out and do things till I had it cleared. By the time I finished, it was 9am. No cold group run for me... I'll now have to run outside later this afternoon by myself, or in the YMCA, on the treadmill.. One way or another I have to muster up at least 70 minutes of a run today.

Store opening today!

This is my FIRST blog ever! I'm not sure what exactly is expected of me, or if I will continue regularly, but, as of now, thats my plan!

I will start by giving a short background on my running. I started about 3 years ago, in 2006 or 2007, no specific date. I was 210 lbs, at 5' 9.5" , classified as obese. I was freaked out by this, of course. I started lifting weights and jogging small distances at a time, about half a mile was a feat! Since then I've lost about 60 lbs and am in the "normal" weight range, and getting faster by the day!

Over the past couple years, I've dropped the weights in favor of running longer and longer distances.

I work concrete construction in the summer, and am laid off in the winter. I have all the time in the world to train in the winter, and summer, almost none. This winter a specialty running store is finally opening up in my area! So, what better to do than to help them out while I am laid off!

I'm nervous about being one of the "running experts", but I think I can handle being a "beginner expert"! Wish me luck!