First_name	Larry
Last_name	Leisure Lap Larry
Home_town	Whitby
State_orCountry	Canada
Email_address	larry.charteris@sympatico.ca
Days_distance	10
units	Kilometers
Surface	Road
Years_Run	2
Months_Run
Running_Profile	I run any race on any surface
I_Run	3 or 4 time a week
Age_Group	50 to 55
Group	Male
My_Running
About_me
Running_story	MISSION POSSIBLE Date: October 2000 Mission: Operation: LEAN (Larry Eats Almost Nothing) Target: Leisure Lap Larry Age: 48 Height: 5'8" Weight: 229 lbs. Waist: 42" Other: Smoker Overview: - Cholesterol levels are sky-high despite medication. - Family doctor makes a referral to a nutritionist. - Target decides to embark on a fitness program at his local gym. It seems like yesterday when I started out with this program of getting fit. What made me decide to go through this change? I wanted to start enjoying good health and being able to keep up with my 3 sons. I can say I never saw myself as an obese middle aged male. I could feel the effects of being over-weight, no energy, couldn't tie my own shoes without huffing and puffing, and having to adjust the car seat back to almost the last notch. But again in my own mind I didn't think of myself as BIG. The only reminders of how big I was were photos and family videos. Particularly scary were the ones of me in a swim suit on the beach. To say the least these were things I didn't like to look at too often. So it began 2 years ago. I had my diet from the nutritionist and a program at the gym. Basically the diet is CanadaGs Food Guide; no special foods, easy to follow, low on fats, sensible portions. The gym program mixed cardio and aerobic activities. I had no intentions of being a runner at all. By the beginning of the summer of 2001 I was within 15 pounds of my ideal weight. In July I ran with my oldest son in a 3k fun run as part of the celebrations of the 10th year anniversary of our community centre. That took me a week of sore muscles to get over. Stairs were my worst enemy. What a disappointment after 9 months of getting in shape. Shortly after the run I talked with some of the folks at the Whitby Running Room store . They were sympathetic towards my pain and affirmed my realization that running was not just putting one foot in front of the other. They suggested the Learn to Run Clinic. My workouts continued with increased intensity as I went through the assessment programs offered at the gym. The problem was I was running out of time to complete the routines and get to work on time. I saw a fellow gym member get out of his car and off he went running! Okay I thought this is how I can resolve this lack of time problem; get the cardio done before the gym opens and then get back in time to not have to rush through the weight circuit. I surfed the web to get some tips on learning to run. Run one-minute walk one-minute, hey I think I can handle this. So began my running adventure. The first weeks seemed slow with the run/ walk routine, but no aches and pains. This was working out great. One Friday in December 2001 I returned to the Running Room store to talk with them a bit more. I was lucky to meet Running Pal Al. I told him much of what I have written here. He had me convinced I should be in the half marathon clinic (I was thinking more on 10 K at the time). It can be a bit over-whelming starting in a new group. Especially at this level of running, surely I thought to myself, thereGs no way IGll be as fast as this group. By the end of the first clinic I really felt like a runner, I felt like an AWESOME ATHLETE. I canGt say enough about the spirit and energy of our group. What's happened since the clinic ended? I ran 2 half marathons last year, 4 5K races and a 15K. I maintain my running schedule, workouts and diet. I quit smoking after more than 30 years on October 15th 2002 (the toughest thing I ever did). Next Challenge? I hope to qualify for Boston this year+.I WILL qualify for Boston this year!!! This is truly Mission Possible. Good luck to all! Current Stats: Age: 50 Height: 5'8" Weight: 155 lbs. Waist: 30" Other: Awesome Athlete L e i s u r e L a p L a r r y
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