Tuesday, September 11, 2012

In Shape and Out of My Mind

So now that I've reached my final goal weight, I'm able to do a lot of stupid things that I always had a pretty good excuse not to do when I was fat.  Saying "no" to authentic New York pizza comes immediately to mind.  Not that it's easy to find New York style pizza in Southern California, but I think you get the drift.  Come to think of it, there is a great place about fifty miles from where I live called NYPD (New York Pizza Department) that can whip up an outstanding pepperoni pie (comes in two sizes -- BIG and BIGGA), virtually indistinguishable from the culinary masterpieces available at Ray's Pizza in midtown Manhattan or Mr. Assante's in Green Brook, NJ.

But I'm not here to talk to you about pizza.

No, today we'll be discussing the other ill-advised things the "new and improved" me has decided to subject myself to.  For example, walkjogrunning.

walk-jog-run-ning [wok-jah-GRUN-ning] verb: Moving forward at varying speeds while remaining upright, usually done by someone trying to run full speed but who is not in good enough shape to pull it off.

Every year, our little community has a weekend-long festival, including a parade, carnival, and all sorts of fun events.  There's also a 5K run (jog-walk) for anyone to enter, regardless of age, fitness level, or apparently intelligence.  Well, a bunch of folks from my workplace decided it would be a good idea to sign up as a group and go for it.  So we did.

Now, I know darn well that if I just show up on the morning of September 22nd having not trained even a little bit, take a three-point stance at the starting line and take off down the street, I'm going to look pretty foolish.  Mostly because the 5K run is scheduled for September 15th, but also because I'd probably develop shin splints (whatever those are) sometime during the first half-K.

So naturally I've started "training."  I measured off a 3.1 mile course (that's the real world equivalent of five kilometers (or kilometres) for those of you in Canada (or maybe Europe) and now it seems like I've gone and let the parenthesis get away from me.  Hang on, while I count back.)))

There.

Okay, I measured off a 3.1 mile course and gave it a go.  The first night was heavy on the walking, light on the running, and I turned in a time of 44:28.  Clearly, no one is going to mistake me for Sebastian Coe.  But since then (a week ago) I've been able to get my time down to under 35 minutes, jogging almost the entire way.  So now I'm probably ready for the big day, coming up this weekend.

At least, I should be able to avoid the hospital.

But wait, that's not the only stupid fitness-related endeavor I've signed up for.

Later this week, I'm headed off to glamorous Burbank, California (about a 90-minute drive) to interview for the hit insane television show "Wipeout."

For those of you unfamiliar with this mass-media menagerie of masochistic mayhem, the premise of the show is to take about a dozen unsuspecting saps and run them through a variety of obstacle courses designed to kill them.  From bouncing off gigantic red balls, to getting punched out by a wall of boxing gloves, it's a no-holds-barred one-sided pummeling.  The good news is, if someone manages to survive this gauntlet, they win $50K (or about 30 miles).

My interview (along with my teammate -- we're auditioning for the "Bosses and Employees" episode) is scheduled for this Thursday night.  I've already completed the online questionnaire, which in itself was a blast, so it's on to the "meet the producers" portion of the competition.  Who knows where it will go from there, but it'll be fun to give this a shot.  If I don't get massacred.

And just think, a mere eight months ago I got fatigued just going from the couch to the refrigerator to grab another slice of leftover New York pizza.


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16 comments:

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Congratulations, Knucklehead! Impressive! I'll be watching for you on Thursday!

Chris said...

No no, I'm not on the show yet . . . Thursday is just my interview with the producers. If I actually get on the show I'll be sure to let everyone know.

SherilinR said...

big fat congrats on reaching your goal! how much did you lose? i'm only 4 lbs away from my goal of 70lbs, so i feel ya.
i liked your pronunciation key for the walkjogrunning. i've been working on some of that heart pounding action myself lately and i don't like it one bit.

Chris said...

Hi Sherilyn! I've lost 99 pounds since January and my wife has lost 97. We're finally DONE. Now it's just a matter of keeping it off.

Keep working hard, your goal is in sight!!!

Suldog said...

OMG. I always wondered what sort of idiot was willing to go on that show. Now I know.

But, really, $50K (and that was an excellent joke) doesn't sound too idiotic. Here's hoping you make it!

Suldog said...

I also have to congratulate you on your mastery of the parenthetical (which I am the leading practitioner of, as you know.)

So. Cal. Gal said...

Hmm??? Oh! I stopped reading after 'NYPD'. Where is it exactly?

And congrats on losing so much! I just began swimming after 3 years. I'd like to lose 30 lbs. but I'd have to swim continuously to see even a little progress.

SherilinR said...

holy crap! you guys are weight loss rockstars! now you can finally buy clothes you actually like and you won't be outgrowing/shrinking them in a month. congratulations!

IT (aka Ivan Toblog) said...

$50k... so those are metric dollars... how much is that in U.S., and, after taxes, how much would you get to keep?

Unknown said...

Hope you make it on to the show!

Chris said...

SoCalGal: NYPD is in Corona, Ca. Take I-15 south (unless you're coming from the San Diego area, get off on Cajalco Rd. and it's in the Stater Bros. shopping center.

So. Cal. Gal said...

Thanks Chris! Next time I go to Tom's Farms, I'm there!

pusat baju muslim murah tanah abang said...

Great post,I really like your article

Anonymous said...

Keep it going, my man! I started running 2 years ago when I couldn't run 50 yards without turning blue. Last week I turned in a 22:42 5k. At the tender age of 45, I'll take it. As for the interview, I'd rather run a 50k than have anyone bounce me off someone's big red balls (or something along those lines) for a mere $50k. Good luck, though.

ReformingGeek said...

Yes, indeed, along with the weight, your marbles are gone. Crazy stunts for money? Yeehaw. Good Luck!

All kidding aside, that weight loss is fantastic news. And that $3.10 race....er....the 5K? Awesome.

Jo ~ said...

I've seen this show. Did you make it on the air? inquiring minds wanta know.

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