Joseph A. Darmiento

Well its been a while since I did any updating to Couchtogym. I’ve been in a kind of writing funk for the last 2 months. It’s amazing how fast the time flies. I’m hot and heavy into the marathon training. Twelve weeks in to be exact and eight to go. Its getting tough that’s for sure. Last weeks 16 miler was an adventure to say the least. I’ve always ran alone which for the most part has been fine. To me, running is such a personal thing, but I would have to say that a little companionship might be helpful on these really long runs. I have always said that I’ve always been my own best company, but after 10 miles I can really get on my own nerves!(LOL).

As far as injuries go, I’ve been pretty good for the most part. I am dealing with a Big Toe issue (yes funny I know),But it’s not getting better. Basically I need to stay away from the hills for a while. I’m thinking of skipping this Sundays run since it’s a Bi-week, meaning no long run.

My diet, well anyone who knows me know that’s always an adventure. Last week I had White Castle twice and enough pizza to feed a small village! Lets not even talk Ice cream. I’m the only person who can work out six days a week and still put the pounds on! My goal is to lose a 1/2 pound a week and that’s not really happening. When training for a marathon losing weight too fast is not the best thing. If anything extra calories are needed to maintain energy and to keep injury free. Well I’m the best man for the job! Calories are my middle name…. Actually it’s Anthony..

Stories You May Have Missed

Exercise doesn’t always have to be 60 minutes of cardio at the gym. Sometimes, it can just be little things in the middle of our day that get us moving. So try 1 or 2 of these a day and you might surprise yourself with the results:

1. How about exercising while sitting down. Always keep a couple hand weights by the couch. While watching television or movie you lift, curl or whatever you can think of. Once you start, you’d be amazed at how creative you can get in finding ways to work different muscles while not even getting up.

2. Brushing teeth and build stronger legs. Instead of just standing there with that toothbrush, do 10 squats, lunges, or wall-sits. That’s better than just looking in the mirror staring at yourself. (more…)

I can remember as a child waking up bright and early on that Sunday morning. I was so excited to start the day, even more than usual because well, it was Easter! It was going to be a day of celebration. Full of candy, family, more candy and of course a delicious ham with all the trimmings. When I first walked down the stairs I looked over at the table in the kitchen in wonder of all the magical colors of the holiday. The peeps, candy eggs and other colorful treats all wrapped in bright green grass nestled in those all too familiar wicker baskets. The same baskets that throughout the year I would trip over when I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing down in the basement.
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Many people are unaware of the benefits of milk let alone chocolate milk. Studies have been done separately on each milk and chocolate, but never in combination. It wasn’t until recently that scientists began to delve into the benefits of chocolate milk versus water or sport drinks after a workout. Studies now show that chocolate milk aids the body in recovery, most importantly the muscles. (more…)

There’s was a time when things were simple. Days that never ended and nights that were full of lightning bugs. The word exercise wasn’t in our vocabulary and it didn’t need to be because well, we were kids. I’d wake up on a summer morning, throw on a pair of shorts (that were actually quite short) and a pair of red and green stripped tube socks pulled up to my knees. I’d ru out the front door while listening to a voice yelling “Be home for dinner!”
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It was at mile 10 I believe when my legs started to turn to mush. I had trained for this race for 16 weeks and this was my first Half Marathon. Starting the race I knew I was ready. So why now at mile 10 was I not so sure? I kept on moving with barely enough strength to keep my head up when in a distance I spotted what appeared to be a robed figure on the sidelines. It was a priest holding his hand up waiting for me. I came upon him and with a high five he said “you can do this son I know you can”. As I passed him I looked at the runners that were near me and they seemed to have not even seen the high fiver let alone come in contact with him. What I do know is I kept going. I ran for 2 more miles and as mile 12 came up on me, once again I was hurting big time. I knew things would get better if only I could find another priest. That just wasn’t going to happen. Then as I started to climb a hill to the final stretch of the race I hit the shuffle button on my iPod and my mind was awakened to the theme song of the movie Rocky. At that point I went through the scenes of the movie in my head. He had the courage to go the distance and take the punches over and over again. That song brought me to the finish line that day and I wore my medal proudly. But besides the medal I took something from that race that I will always have, a lesson. I learned a few things about myself. I learned that if you have a challenge (who doesn’t) in your life and you lift your head and you look hard enough you’ll find that encouraging high five. And if you listen hard enough you’ll hear the words of determination and you will cross that finish line.