Michael, Author at Run Mi 5k

August 29, 2020September 4, 2023

Manistee

Manistee County Run

First view of Lake Michigan heading South on M22.

View from the south end of Arcadia Lake, really close to the big lake!

View of Arcadia Lake through the trees in the parking area.

Such a cool path that goes up to Lake Michigan on the south side of Arcadia lake.

I does open up a bit the farther you run.

Then turns into a “normal” dirt road. Such a great day!

Some of the many deer tracks on this road.

Looking toward the small lake on the south east side.

The water butts right up against the road.

Road on the north side of the lake heading west. Very nice houses!

Heading to a campground so I can take a shower before the wedding.

They said “I do” and it was a great day!

Planned run around Arcadia Lake in Manistee MI.

Today is my Nieces wedding and before I go to celebrate with everyone, I think I’ll try to check Manistee county off the site. The wedding is in southern Benzie County, but it is extremely close to Manistee. Visited Arcadia last year and loved it so I thought this might be a good place to run. Also considered bear lake, but because I’m going alone (on the run) it will have to be an out and back run. Lisa is already at the event setting everything up. So I will do my run, then take a shower at a campground. then go to the wedding. Hope all goes well!

Manistee County

Arcadia
Bear Lake
Brown
Cleon
Copemish
Dickson
Eastlake
Filer
Kaleva
Manistee
Maple Grove
Marilla
Norman
Onekama
Pleasanton
Springdale
Stronach

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!

August 22, 2020September 19, 2022

Thoughts on running shoes

I just bought a new pair of running shoes, and I’m reasonably sure that it was long overdue.

Experts recommend you replace your running shoes every 500 to 750 kilometers. That’s roughly every 300 to 500 miles, which equates to approximately four to six months for someone who runs 20 miles per week.

In the last nine months, I have run 9-12 miles a week and purchased my last pair in October of 2018. I didn’t run at all in the winter of 2018. I started running in April of 2019 and was about 9 miles a week in October 2019. That winter, I ran all winter on my treadmill, mostly barefoot. Still, with the number of miles I’ve done from April 2019 -Aug 2020, I’m sure to put me over that 500 miles.

Since I don’t run in shoes during the winter, I figure once a year would be a suitable replacement for somebody that runs as much as I do. The above graph shows that I buy shoes about every other year, but this was when I wasn’t running consistently. So I’ll plan on buying a replacement in Aug of next year.

Below: Are the old/vs new running shoes that I just purchased. Identical shoes, but the ones on the left have higher mileage. These were long overdue for replacement.

When I got the new running shoes, I went for a run and was happy with how they felt and pushed it a little faster than I usually run. It turns out I ran my second fastest 5k time in about six years. (my most rapid in the last six years was the Blue Ribbon Run last year 31:46 – my fastest ever is a 27:06 – but that was when I was training for a half marathon and probably ten years younger).

I was pleased with my last time and was very glad to see one 10 minute mile, but another goal is to get back to being able to do 30 min 5ks. That amount of time is perfect (in my opinion – at this size) for a training run.

August 21, 2020September 19, 2022

My struggle and success with Diabetes running plays a part – a small part

Diabetes running – My story with Diabetes (type II) is that I discovered this issue in 2015 at my doctor’s visit. Since then, I had been taking Metformin to battle this disease. My doctor said I was high with my A1C. I think it was around nine, and he told me I could fix the issue by losing weight. I thought, no problem, I’ve done this before. At my next visit, I had lost 10 pounds and expected a pat on the back.

My doctor didn’t give me a pat on the back. He told me my A1C had gone up (was over 10), and I would possibly have to take insulin. I asked him to give me one more chance to fix the problem independently, and he agreed. I read about 3 or 4 books and started exploring other ways of diet.

I explored many things but decided I would limit my carbs and follow a close to Keto diet. Wow. I lost a bunch more weight quickly. It was 30lbs more with this type of diet and running. I was training for a 5k race at this time, and it was easy. My next A1C test was down to 6.3. My doctor was amazed and cut my Metformin intake in half.

I asked him if I continue to get my A1C down could I get off medication. He said yes. I continued to do the same diet and running a 5k every other day, and three months later, my A1C tested at 5.6. He took me off my medication entirely, and that was the best news.
He said that he would also take me off my blood pressure medication Lisinopril if my next A1C is still low and unchanged. I am close to that visit now and hoping that I can get off all medications. I still take fish oil pills, one a day vitamin, and a Calcium-Magnesium-Potassium tablet to help from items I’m missing from a lack of carbs.

Honestly, I don’t think running plays as big a part in this success as diet does, but I could be wrong. The most remarkable thing about Keto is the lack of hunger. If you don’t eat carbs, you aren’t hungry. I’ve also done spells of intermittent fasting, and I’m amazed at the ease of doing so. I’ve fasted for more than 24 hours multiple times. Fasting would be impossible in my prior carb-filled life. Many days are 16/8 (16 hours of not eating 8 hours of eating), but I don’t keep track because doing so is just the new normal. And if I end up eating early because of meeting up with someone else, that’s no problem.

If you or someone you love is struggling with Diabetes, please know that you can fix it if you limit your carbs and sugar. I’m proof. I do miss many of the things I used to eat. However, I love not having to take medications for Diabetes. Please let me know how I can help or if my story has helped you in any way.

Books:

- - The Obesity Code (this started me on the Journey) This book changed my life.
  - I was reading this one when my doctor recommended it.
  - Keto Clarity
  - Paleo Diet

Also, I should mention Audible, so many resources for anything you are interested in, and a runner; So many hours of listening to books while running.

Youtube Channels:

- - Thomas DeLauer is Great clear, I learned a lot from his channel
  - KetoConnect (Megha and Matt) Love Matt and Megha and love the recipes and personalities
  - Beat Diabetes! (Dennis) This guy understands Diabetes
  - Serious Keto Again, dig the recipes and like the personality
  - There are so many others that helped me too,(Diabetes running) but above are the channels that helped me the most.

Podcasts:

- - Six Miles to supper
  - About intermittent fasting

August 16, 2020September 4, 2023

Mecosta

Mecosta County Run

There was farm country and forest all around this area. This was the pre run photo. I need a shave.

No lake it sight but lots of farmland and road.

One of the few driveways heading toward the lake. I was surprised on this run of the driveways going toward the lake. I’m Thinking I only saw maybe 6 total, lake side.

The west road was a dirt road. Very quiet and almost no houses.

This whole run, I was either going up a small hill or going down a small hill.

This was the first sign of water on the west side of the lake, but this is the creek that connects to the lake.

Each road I ran a single mile on for the first 3.

Back to a paved road heading south. Another mile run.

Another one of the few lakeside driveways.

Amazing country looking towards the lake.

Past Strong cemetery Sheridan township. This was not lake side. This is one of the few sights that was not forest, farmland or road.

This road I only ran .1 mile on to finish up the 5k. I stopped Strava right around here. That farm was not lakeside, but one of the very few houses I saw on this run.

A closer view of the farm. Some cows talked to me as I walked by.

This was the ONLY view of the lake on the whole run. you can’t really see it in the photo. But I could barely behind those trees. Notice the Gate with a no trespassing sign. This business must have felt that other people would use their location to try to get a sight of this lake, so they fenced it off.

5k done… I think I’ll walk the rest of the .9 miles. (there were a few hills on this road and I did run up those although it’s not recorded, only because I was pressed for time getting back. I went back to Lake Station to spend time with both sisters and my folks.

Was another none lakeside house with a little berry sale station. Loved seeing this.

Was amazed by the county on this run. Fantastic.

So this plan is a last minute thing. I’m down spending time with my sister Lisa. We went for a hike today and had a great time. Tomorrow I will spend time with her later in the afternoon. But early I plan to hit this county. This is the route I’ve planned.

This lake reminded me of a lizard. It looked like it was about a 5k. It turned out to be 4 miles. Maybe I’ll run the whole thing or maybe just a 5k. Whatever it will be at LEAST a 5k. I’ve been to this county many times but more on the west end, around Big Rapids. Will be cool to explore this side of the county.

Mecosta County

Aetna
Austin
Barryton
Big Rapids
Chippewa
Colfax
Deerfield
Fork
Grant
Green
Hinton
Martiny
Mecosta
Millbrook
Morley
Morton
Sheridan
Stanwood
Wheatland

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

August 15, 2020September 4, 2023

Missaukee

Missaukee County Run

Heading to McBain on S Morey Rd. saw this barn and had to take a pic. I love old barns.

Close to town two bikers in front of me.

Parked at a gas station. This was across the road. Looks like they handle grains.

Started running the direction from which I just came.

Across the road, I saw a substantial gate.

A lot of corn in this area, but here they are watering something else. Also notice to wind power towers in the background.

Almost to the road that heads back to town.

You can see the town far in the background.

Heading back north toward the main road. Very nice homes in this area.

Ran across the school, maybe McBain High School. The foot ball field was just to the right.

Heading back toward the gas station. You can see the grain elevators in the top left of the photo that were in one of the first images.

The flowers down the sidewalk in this town looked great. This photo was taken after my run was complete. Was a very good run. Seemed like a pretty good time considering how many times I stoped to take a photo.

This may have been the southern county, but I spent a lot of time on this dirt road in order to get back to M115.

There really wasn’t much of a plan for this county. I considered running a 5k at the north end. I mapped it out on “mapmyrun.com”, and I also mapped a route in Lake, but McBain was closer to my sister’s home so I decided to knock this one out. Also, I’ve been to Lake before. I don’t ever remember going to McBain. Was cool to see a new place.

This was for sure in the country!

Missaukee County

Aetna
Bloomfield
Butterfield
Caldwell
Clam
Union
Enterprise
Forest
Holland
Lake
Lake City
McBain
Norwich
Pioneer
Reeder
Richland
Riverside
West Branch

Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)

Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.

Author: Michael

Manistee

Manistee County

Thoughts on running shoes

My struggle and success with Diabetes running plays a part – a small part

Mecosta

Mecosta County

Missaukee

Missaukee County

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