Not quite the end of the week yet, but as we get hammered again by a winter storm I figured I would actually be a good lil blogger and get my posts in for the week early as the weekend will be a baking, tree decorating, last minute shopping ball of chaos as we creep ever closer to the most wonderful time of the year. 
I cant quite put my finger on it, but I am def in the christmas blahs mood, trying to keep up when I am around others and the kids, cause i dont want to be that guy, and its not bah humbug, like i dont wish an ill christmas to others, just not sure what piece is missing for me right now. On the up side, I am really positive about the running. Not really any chance to get outdoors with the constant battering of winter storms, but on the treadmill, so far this week, things have been awesome. Looking to get in one more run this weekend. Sitting at about 28km so far, would really like to get up past 35km for the week.
Have really been working on intervals this week and to try and get myself to a higher pace per mile for short amounts of time and then once comfortable increase the time. For example, starting out for the first 15 min doing 5 min sets of 4.5; 4.6; and then 4.7, walk for a minute then do another set of 15min at 5 min sets of 4.6; 4.7; 4.8 walk and keep doing that for 60 minutes, so 4 rounds. Then the next run alternate 15min of 5min sets, with 15min of 3min sets so I dip into higher speeds throughout the run. 
On the last run I was getting up into 5.3 and 5.4 for 3 min. For me that is huge. Nicely Huge! Looking to keep this up for the next couple weeks then try a run at whatever the top speed I was able to comfortablly run and take it as far in regards to distance as I can. 
I have pretty much let go of the swimming and biking for now in regards to triathlon training. I can pick up the swimming anytime, and to be honest not to excited to be wet and leaving the pool into the -30C weather we have going on right now. Biking in the gym on a stationary bike is also not exciting me right now. I figure I need to get on the bike and back in the pool by March to be ready for June/July, so lots of time. Really digging the running for the time being and I am getting back to where I was a few years ago, just need to keep staying healthy.
On the additional up side work is almost finished for the calender year. It has been an extremely busy 8 months so I are really looking forward to slowing down a little over the next couple of weeks. One of the things on my son's christmas list was to have more family time so I am happy to try and give him that. This might be it before Christmas, so the best of holiday seasons to you and yours, I hope you all get to have a small break in your busy schedules to take a breath for yourselves. 
Happy Holidays
​Sean 'BigBoyRunning' Ryan

Well Movember is over officailly this week. This was truely one of the best campaigns I have seen theU and StFX run in quite some time specific to Movember. Our team accomplished many of our goals around fundraising and programming for the month, and attendance and spirits were very high throughout. All 4 Movember captains of our team raised over $1000 each for the month which I dont think has happened before. 
Our MOVE Project was absolutely the best one we have done, having over 80 registered participants and 30+ activie particants each week. The goal of course was to run 100km in the 30 days of November. Many succeeded, but more important collectively we ran over 2900kms in 30 days. I am still blown away by that. 
For me it has really re-ignighted my love of running as I have seen my treadmill pace per mile increase and my distance increase both our and in doors. I have been keeping up with it too I am happy to say, and am really starting to think about what it would take to get back to half marathon distance races again. 
Full discloser I am mssing our little FB running community. There was something so satisfying and uplifting when making a post on the days you got out there. The support from everyone liking and making a quick, way to go, post was great. I feel like I want to do something like this again, and sooner then later.
I finally went to the doctor about a couple of issues that have come up in the last couple of weeks and hopefully on the path to better health.
Also full discloser I am not full vegetarian mode anymore, but I will say my diet is predominately vegetarian, like if there is 21 meals a week, I am probably at 18 meals vegetarian. So still keeping a very meat-reduction focus, and happy to report very little to no gout issues while doing that. 
The toughest part of the year is nearly upon us though. Christmas season is so full of food goodness and "cheer" i dont know about you all, but for a fat guy, this is weight management hell haha.
Discipline is so key, I am trying to get myself ready for it, and I use my diabetes alot as an excuse not to indulge, and sugary treats I am pretty good to avoid, but the dips and bread, cheese platers, chips, and lil apps are the killers for me. I think its the mental game more then anything, if I start to make mental justifications then I am sunk. Like well you ran today, and you should run tomorrow so its okay to eat......everything haha. I feel like sometimes it would just be best if I was outfitted with a shock colar like some 80's sitcom, and everytime i reach for a nacho or spinach dip I have someone across the room send me a high frequency zap so I put the chip/bread/cracker loaded with more dip then it can physically hold back down and walk away slowly.
One trick I have used alot over the years and learned at a diabetes living session, was whenever you start to get that salivation going in your mouth for something, eat a mint or go brush your teeth. The mint flavor deadens the receptors in your mouth for the various flavors you may be craving. This works most of the time, except if you crave alot you may brush all the enamale off your teeth haha. 
Happily I still have some enamale left, see how I do over the next month though, may just have nubs by January haha.
​Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan