Howdy fitness freaks. Today marks the 30 day countdown till my long awaited TT surgery. Damn I'm excited. To Celebrate, I'm going to spend the next 30 days doing something I've never done before.....I'm going to run 100 miles in the next 30 days. Certainly other people have done it...even people on this forum have done it. But it will be my biggest monthly total to date. I never ran a step voluntarily until last year. Since then, my life and body have changed so much.....I can't imagine not having this great gift I've found. To me running is like a newly found super power....one that I never thought I'd have.

So I'm going to run 100 miles total between now and my surgery date of 9/30. If anyone wants to join me...walk, run, hike, bike .........whatever you can do.

BTW Laura-Ven has agreed to do the 100 miles with me.....so I'd appreciate y'all's help in making sure she does it. She needs your "motivation".

I ran 4 miles yesterday in the morning, but also did an unconventional contribution to this challenge: helping my SIL move. Lifting heavy furniture and walking about 3 miles worth over 5 hours with hill. Up and down. Up and down. Let me tell you, I was drugged tired yesterday evening. Maybe low on electrolytes, carbs or both, but all I wanted to do was go into a deep slumber at 5 pm. Still sore today. I guess moving uses a lot of new muscles. dunno, felt like a lot of squats, deadlifts and biceps curls to me. I ran 4 miles this morning and will be going to crossfit this afternoon.

I have been doing cross fit for about 8 months and am fairly competitive in nature (at least against myself). Love the sport. My question for you' date=' as a former athlete: what constitutes an athlete? This is purely asked for my own benefit. I have never been an athlete before as spent most of my life obese.

Does being an athlete mean:

1. It is a profession?

2. That you have a coach and train almost daily?

3. You participate in sanctioned events?

4. ?

I can run 5k and 10k with very respectable times ( 18 min and 45 minutes, respectively), although not in sanctioned races. I run on my own.

I can Rx the cross fit WOD consistently.

I have a personal cross fit coach / trainer.

I train almost daily ( am training for cross fit regionals next summer, cross fit games after that and American ninja warrior after that))

I can squat 300 lb, bench 250lb and deadlift 350 lb. lifting heavy is not my forte, but I have been working at it as part of my athleticism in cross fit training.

Yet I am a software developer for a large multinational company for most of my waking hours.

Should I consider myself an athlete? Just wondering from someone who is a former athlete.[/quote']

Hey Fiddleman,

Yes to all of your questions! I've played a lot of sports: soccer, rugby, basketball, baseball, softball, track broke records in school, rafting, rock climbing, boxing and so much more...I've compeated in most of them. Soccer was my passion, had a scholarship but didn't go to that college. Later in life I was a trainer at 24º fittness also coached and refd soccer for the boys and girls club. I would never label myself as a pro.

My obesity came later... 4 pregnancies in a row and 2 miscarriages. My body just never recovered. I was used to spending a couple hours working out and with young babies I just couldn't, not enough time, my diet got worse and in a downward spiral I went.

But now I feel like myself again. I'm only 17 days out and I can't wait to pound the pavement again, go to the gym and just be out of the house. I have no problems getting my water or protein in and am very optimistic of my capabilities in the near future.

As for you... congradulations on all your success! You are amazing and I would love to compeat in cross fit and I love American ninja worrior that would be awesome to do... almost all the women on there never seem to get that far, still exciting to watch!

Walked 4.5 miles on Sunday and 6.5 miles on Monday for a total of.....68 miles

Well' date=' today has not been an active one. Since my "nap" extended from 2:30-6:30! Ha! Have only managed a mile or so today. Gonna try to kick out a couple more but with the one that outs my total since Monday at 29.5.

I'm quite proud of that since I have been walking an average of 2 miles 4 times a week!

Good work,all! Think of all those calories burned!!![/quote']

I love a good nap! I think you're doing great...keep up the good work.

Hello everyone' date=' I picked up a fitbit flex today. Does anyone else use this? I am excited to give it a try.

[/quote']

I love, love, love my fitbit flex! Congrats!

Walked 4.5 miles on Sunday and 6.5 miles on Monday for a total of.....68 miles

You are amazing ! You will reach 100 this week!!

Ugh I'm afraid I'm terribly behind... I managed a sluggish 8 on Sunday (bike) and two this morning on the treadmil

I need to look at my total and update.

Edit; ok up to 35.7 miles

Everyone is doing so awesome by the way!!

Ugh I'm afraid I'm terribly behind... I managed a sluggish 8 on Sunday (bike) and two this morning on the treadmil

I need to look at my total and update.

Edit; ok up to 35.7 miles

Everyone is doing so awesome by the way!!

That's terrific. You're right on schedule to get 100...do you realize that? Amazing!!!

Okay...I'm SUPER behind!!!! Had a 3 day girls weekend (does dancing count?) and I came back with a bug that included headache, fever, coughing, sneezing, runny + stuffy nose, and the chills. I'm going to try 5 miles in the am, and another 5 in the pm. I'll see how it goes. Still at 20

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Okay...I'm SUPER behind!!!! Had a 3 day girls weekend (does dancing count?) and I came back with a bug that included headache' date=' fever, coughing, sneezing, runny + stuffy nose, and the chills. I'm going to try 5 miles in the am, and another 5 in the pm. I'll see how it goes. Still at 20

Sent from my iPhone using VST[/quote']

Oh, in your state of health definitely don't overdo it. Drink plenty and focus on rest, no matter how much you want to get out there and run. The challenge will still be there when you are feeling yourself again. I hope you feel better soon.

I have fitbit one, am totally into it lol. MUST get all my smiley faces every day!!! :-)

I'm at about 50mi now, maybe a little less. Thanks to my wee fitbit/conscience, at least half of that must be from climbing stairs! I work on 7th floor, live on 4th floor (diff buildings obv lol) and I've been climbing up to both a lot. Makes me bum sore :-D

Ran another 3 miles at cross fit putting today's total at 7. If I added up right, my total is 72 so far of running /walking.

Today I did a little better! I walked 1.2 miles and rode my bike 3.67 miles for a total of 4.87 miles today. My grand total is 20.17 miles. 21 days left...we can do this! Good job everyone!

Total to date. 38.1. One week today.

Add 5.5... As of 9/9/13, 37.2 miles!