New Opportunities and Lub Dub 5k

A few posts ago, I wrote about the many different changes that took place in my life all at once. There was my first Half-Marathon! There was the 3rd degree ankle sprain, there was the Kidney Stone, there was the birth of my baby boy Blake, and now there is the recent move to familiar territory in Sedalia, MO.

I accepted a new position in Sedalia and we have already made the move. It's been a great transition and the people here have been super welcoming and encouraging. Another bright side to this move is the opportunity it brings for my fitness level to increase.

First and foremost, I have the opportunity to use my gifts and abilities in a focused forum with my new position at work. Secondly, I live right across the street from a wonderful park with a running path! That's been great already. I actually haven't run on it yet, but I have walked the path to get the exercise, taken Blake for a stroll, and have taken family walks. It really is nice to have such a luxury.

Along the thoughts of new fitness opportunities, I ran my first 5k since messing my ankle up. I still couldn't run the entire 3.1 miles without my ankle bothering me, but I did run it and finished in a better time than what I was shooting for. The last 6 months has been an up and down on my weight, but I'm not so much worried about that because I know as I get more activity in - I'll get back down to my weight.

I ran the Lub Dub 5k in 34'01" - there official time was 34:15, but as I crossed that line the clock said 34'01" (I never like the processing part if they don't have chip timing). I was shooting for 35 minutes, but that just didn't happen. I actually was carrying a 9:40 pace the first two miles, but I think it was the hills constantly in the third mile that I, specifically my ankle, just couldn't cut. That happens and now I have a time to beat in each 5k hereafter. It seems that there are 5k's every weekend here - I love that!

Also, this doesn't have much to do with those that come to my site, but Sedalia has a facebook running groupm, the Sedalia Striders, that has already been so encouraging. They are so active on the facebook page and if you can find something like that around you - you should get in touch with one.

Racing is on my Mind. It's worth it.

I've got the itch to go race!

I doubt my times would be much to brag about, or even mention, but it kicked in yesterday - it's racing season. I've only had one race so far this year and it was a virtual 5k. I enjoyed the virtual 5k, but it lacked in some areas. While there were other people doing it - there were...

...no runners in the distance to catch up to.
...no finish line with people standing around and cheering.
...no one to take either my number or official timing at the finish line.
...no old people that I thought shouldn't have beaten me that did :)
...no race swag
...no number to post on my wall
...no medal presentations
...no other exhausted people to talk about the race with
...no sometimes ugly race t-shirts (I think this is the only time we really accept ugly t-shirts and are happy about them)

I miss the atmosphere of racing. I miss the comradery that is associated with it.

It's kicked in though. I found a 5k this upcoming Saturday. My wife and I are to go pick up some friends from the airport in Springfield, MO on Saturday - so we will leave early in the morning to go do this race and leave in time from the race to go pick our friends up.

You may ask yourself?

Is it worth it to leave extra early and drive 30 minutes out of your way to go run in a race?

It is worth it.

Even if you can only walk - go participate in a race. It's addicting and exhilirating. Once you find that you can complete something - you're hooked.

The Move. The 5k. The Possible. B4 and Afters.

Is it just me or is the Summer time the hardest time to blog? It seems that I just don't have the time to blog during the Summer. Either way - if you haven't seen any comments from me on your blog recently, just know that I do visit them.

The Move.

It's public news now so I can share with you too that I have accepted another position at a different church. Carol and I are pretty excited about this decision and its something that had been prayed about for a loong time. It's cool to see things come to fruition. This news means that we are moving...again. We don't really like the whole moving process at all. Some people enjoy it and like the thrill of the move -- we like the idea of the move, but the actual move = headache.

Headaches are no fun. Hopefully though we will have a very smooth move. We've started going through things and have a pile of 'keep', 'garage sale/giveaway', and 'trash'. I think Carol is getting better at throwing things away :).

So that is the big news!

The 5k.

I have another 5k. It's tomorrow morning. I'm going to try and beat my past 5k times. If you look at the Goals/Achievements page you'll see that my PR is 26'24" in the 5k in Clinton, MO. I'm hoping to be in the 25' range tomorrow. We'll see how that turns out tomorrow! I'm pretty excited about it. There is also a couple people from the weight loss challenge I host, Seth Tyler's Weight Loss Challenge, that are running it as well. I'm pretty stoked for us all to finish!

The habit.

I'm trying to start a new habit. Cooking. I don't do a lot of it, but have in the past. Carol doesn't like to cook, but likes to bake (her pumpkin muffins are delish!). One way I figured that I can make sure we eat healthy stuff on a very regular basis is to simply suck it up and cook. It's really easy to look at the kitchen and say, "Subway tonight!". I need to cook. I think I'll get the cooking thing down, but need to make sure I look at how long the recipe says I need to prepare. I went to cook something two nights ago and realized that I was suppose to marinate the chicken overnight!

Put that in bold letters cookbookmakers!

I don't have much else for you today, but an old comparison picture to close with...

I love looking at the comparison pictures because it shows me that I can accomplish what I never thought I could.

still questioning your capabilities?

Question no more.

My First 5k! Crazy Runners. Satisfaction.

The race came and went. I was nervous about it because I had never ran an official 5k race. I didn't know what the whole environment would be like.

I thought to myself, am I crazy for letting someone put me on a bus and drive me out 3 miles so that I could just run back in?

Yes - I am crazy.

This is probably the only time that I would not be upset that someone drove me out to a spot and told me to run home -- and I did it without complaint. Ha! We runners are crazy. Some more than others.

Of course, after completing my first 5k today - it makes me reflect on what this past year has brought.

How about some 'Before' Facts?

I had never participated in any type of organized race.
I was 60 pounds heavier one year ago than now.
I ate whatever I wanted.
I gave advice to people on how to lose weight, but failed to follow that advice myself.
I got tired after one pickup basketball game to 15.
I couldn't run 5 minutes without stopping for good.
I gave up often, but disguised it as generosity to let someone else play.

I sweated in the winter.

Some 'Now' Facts.

I have placed in my first 5k.
I am intentional with my eating.
I am 60 pounds lighter.
I live my advice.
I outplay the teenagers in a pickup basketball game.
I can run 43 minutes without stopping.
I don't give up - I push forward.

I still sweat in the winter. :) (I am actually doing something now)


AND NOW FOR THE RACE RESULTS.

I finished my 5k with a time of 26'24".

In my age division - that was good enough for FIRST PLACE!! I won a gold medal in my first 5k ever! I'm pretty stoked. I know that with more competition that the 26'24" would not get me a gold -- but I am stoked about the time!

I pushed, I pushed, I pushed!

I succeeded.

Enjoy the pictures!





Thanks Jess and Ashley for sending me the awesome signs...I'll post what I can tomorrow! To all the others that wished me luck - THANK YOU TOO!