This week 7 weight loss and running journey didn’t go quite as planned. I started with good momentum but ran into fueling questions, humidity that sapped me, and finally an ankle tweak that forced me to skip my last run. On the weight loss side, too many events backloaded into the weekend meant another round of food and drinks that left the scale barely moving.
Intermittent Fasting & Nutrition
Weigh-in: 301.5 lbs
- Starting Weight: 320.3 lbs
- Last Week: 302.0
- This Week’s Change: –0.5 lbs
- Total Lost: 18.8 lbs
- Pounds Till Goal: 81.5 lbs
I had another rough weekend. A team party on Saturday meant quite a few alcoholic beverages and way too much food that didn’t fit the plan. Add in a restaurant meal Friday night and a heavier-than-expected dinner on Sunday, and the result was only a small drop from last week’s weigh-in.
I’m not panicking though. We don’t have anything on the calendar next weekend, and with cleaner eating I expect a bigger drop. One off-weekend doesn’t erase everything I’ve built.
Takeaway: Big events can derail a weigh-in, but the long game matters more than one weekend.
Run 1: Empty Tank, Hard Wall
Conditions: 67°F | 96% humidity | 64° dew point
Distance: 3.43 mi | Pace: 14:33 | Elevation Gain: 119 ft
Avg HR: 142 | Cadence: 130
Splits: 12:39 | 14:45
I started out quick, feeling comfortable, but halfway through the second segment I hit a wall. My heart rate wouldn’t drop back into what I thought was Zone 2 (before realizing my true Zone 2 actually starts around 130 bpm). I ended up walking the rest of the run, locked in at about 130 bpm.
The problem may not just be pace — it could be fuel. I’ve been running on an empty stomach, and this was the first time I really questioned if that’s holding me back.
Takeaway: Running fasted might not be the answer. It’s time to experiment with fueling before longer runs.
Run 2: Zone 2 Warmup, Cannonball Intervals
Conditions: 67°F | 100% humidity | 66° dew point
Distance: 2.98 mi | Pace: 14:21 | Elevation Gain: 79 ft
Avg HR: 139 | Cadence: N/A (Apple Fitness app)
Splits: 14:07 (.6 warmup) | 11:07 (.3) | 13:01 (.3) | 11:33 (.3) | 14:07 (.3) | 15:24 (.6 cooldown)
Armed with the right Zone 2 numbers, I tried keeping the warmup and cooldown in Zone 2. That meant some walking in the warmup but not much. Then the intervals hit: the first one was explosive, like being shot out of a cannon. The second I tried slowing down to save energy, then blasted out of the cannon again in the third. By the fourth interval, I was wiped and had to walk parts of it.
The cooldown turned into a lot more walking than planned, another sign that fuel might be an issue. I’ve ordered some Stinger Waffles and Sport Beans to test on future runs.
The bigger story came at the end. On the last running segment, I rolled my ankle. It didn’t hurt at first — I finished the run without issue and woke up the next morning feeling fine. But by Saturday evening, I noticed pain when walking.
Takeaway: The intervals showed progress, but the ankle scare was a reminder how fast one moment can change things.
Run 3: Canceled
Sunday morning I was limping. By Monday, it was better but still noticeable. Tuesday morning I could still feel it, so I skipped the run. With just a week and a half until race day, the focus now is on recovery. I’d rather go in undertrained than injured.
Takeaway: Sometimes the best run is the one you don’t take. Protecting the ankle now gives me a shot at lining up healthy on race day.
Final Thought
Week 7 felt like a mix of small progress and new challenges. The scale barely moved, the runs raised questions about fueling, and the ankle forced me to shut it down early. But there’s also perspective here: I’m learning what my body needs, I’m adjusting my fueling strategy, and I’m listening when something feels off.
The goal isn’t a perfect week — it’s staying healthy and moving toward the start line. Race day is coming fast, and even with setbacks, I’ll be ready to toe the line.
Catch up on all my other post here.
