A night in the E.R.

I went and played some basketball on Sunday night after church. It had probably been a year and half since I played an actual game against other adults. With my job, I play pick-up games and such with students all of the time but to play against adults is a bit different.

I was sore when I got home. Not that it was rough play, but running up and down the court is a lot different than running long distances. Anyways, I got home and was sore but didn't think much of it because I just played 2 hours of basketball. I went to bed at 11 something and woke up around 1:00am with some crazy intense pain in my back and right below my stomach. No matter what position I was in, if I tried to massage the pain away, no matter the amount of muscle rub applied - nothing was working to get the pain to go away. I put up with the pain for 4 hours before deciding to go to the hospital. After they did some tests, they believe it was another kidney stone. At about 6 something, my pain went away for the most part (and I didn't have any pain meds). No stone or abnormality showed up on the x-ray either. They believe the stone passed from the kidney to the bladder (which is the hardest part). I'm praying that the hardest part is over! I wouldn't wish kidney stones on anyone. They are not fun and they disrupt your activity level.

I took yesterday off from work and tried to sleep as much as I can, but I am not one that is able to sit or stay still for too long. My body will begin aching if I choose to do nothing. I woke up this morning with a little pain in my lower back, but I do believe that it is because of the amount of time I laid down between yesterday and last night.

I have changed my diet to be more of a kidney stone prevention diet since the last stone, but maybe it wasn't enough. I've decided that I am going to be more strict with the preventative diet because that pain is not fun and if I can do something to prevent it - then I need to.

One thing that I've been working on already is going most of the week without meat. Meat isn't the cause of the stones primarily, but does play a factor due to all of the animal protiens. It is okay to eat meat if you get kidney stones, but I don't suggest to overdo it. I really don't mind not having meat in my diet as long as I get my protein and such from other sources and vegetarian dishes are actually pretty good.

Another thing that I've decided is that I must get my activity level up. Being sedatary for such a long period of time with the ankle issue and the last kidney stone (one I had to have surgery for) probably hasn't helped with my body being able to fight or break up any stone formed. Hopefully, that was the last stone that I'll ever have.

I need help vegetarians!

I'll just say it.

I enjoy sitting down at the dinner table with my little family to a meal full of chicken/venison/beef or some other kind of meat as the main course(sometimes the only course). That doesn't happen as much anymore though. I

 am very interested in the vegetarian diet, but not all the time. Since having the kidney stone, I choose to have meat only 3 days a week due to the extra stuff that meat has that helps form stones. I did see an initial change in weight dropping off but am unsure if it was the stoppage of eating meat or an increase in activity. What I am sure of is how my body felt the days that I don't have meat. I usually feel better.

I've decided to try a different kind of vegetarian diet of my own. It's the '6 day vegaterian'. It's not a special diet - it's just a vegetarian diet for 6 days of the week. My wife and I like to go out to a buffet after church on Sundays to a nice meal and I thought Sunday would be a good meat day (especially since I can barely stomach the thought of spending the same amount of money on a meat dish as a non-meat dish).

Here's my dilema. My wife and I run out of/exhaust the vegetarian meals that we know we like. There are tons out there, but many of them aren't for the novice vegetarian. I think vegetarianism is a science and one that takes a lot of study (and money). I figured some of who visit my site are vegetarians and so I have some questions for some of you.

1. How does being a vegetarian affect your activities (specifically running)?

2. How do you make up for the nutrients lost that was from the meat?

3. What store do you go to to get the best quality of food?

4. We like organic foods, but is all lost when vegetarians don't use only organic?

5. What is your favorite vegetarian dish?

Also - I think I'm doing another HALF-MARY in the early Fall.

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.

Storm Chasin from my computer

screen pic from http://stormscapelive.com/chasers/michael-phelps live stream

Tebow Time...only in God's time

I'm a sports guy. I'm also a minister.

With that said, I wrote an article on my thoughts on Tebow Time, Our Time and God's Time on a site I created for my youth group. I'd love for you to stop by and read it! I think it applies to anyone rather than just those that are Christians. Granted, it will be God based.

GO HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ TEBOW TIME...ONLY IN GOD'S TIME

Exercising. Walking. Losing. Trader Joes.

I have been pretty excited about being able to go to the Y and get some fitness on. It had been so long and it feels great to be able to do that. Since the 3rd degree ankle sprain which was followed by the ginormous kidney stone - I was out of whack on my fitness.

So, to continue my rehabilitation of my ankle - I have been hitting the eliptical. Mind you, that happened in October and just last week I started the exercising again. It had been quite some time. So, what I've been doing is re-introducing myself to longer periods of movement. Just 2 - 3 weeks before my ankle ordeal I ran a Half Marathon. My body was used to the longer distances of continuous movement and that is what I'm trying to get back to. So - onward and forward.

I've also been walking at the beginning and end of each workout to further progress my progress. It's nice to be moving freely!

Losing. yes, I'm a loser.

I've been losing weight in an awesome fashion. Since knowing I had a kidney stone - I changed my diet to a preventative type of diet for kidney stones. In another post, I'll tell you what exactly I am doing, but for now - know that I am losing and it's in a crazy healthy way! No pills, no extras - just discipline and hard work.

Lastly, I love Trader Joes. I had never been to a TJ's before a couple weeks ago and the prices were reasonable and they had the stuff that we wanted that other "Super"centers did not.

So, There ya go. keep moving and stay focused people!

this is my latest challenge upload photo

Always good in the bad

These past few months have been a little rough on me. There is light at the end of the tunnel though.

Let's recap:

October 23rd, 2011 -- 3rd degree ankle Sprain

October 29th, 2011 -- My baby boy Blake was Born (YAY! such a blessing); the hard part was that I had a 3rd degree ankle sprain and my poor wife had to not only take care of Blake, but help me out too. Thank God for family, they really helped us out.

November 13th, 2011 -- go to doctor for back flank pain, crazy pain. (pain ends up going away after a day or two!)

December 23rd, 2011 -- go to doctor for same reason and blood in urine.

January 5th, 2012 -- see Urologist...says I have a large kidney stone.

January 10th, 2012 -- Kidney Stone surgery to remove stone -- surgery failed, stent placed - ouch.

January 20th, 2012 -- Kidney Stone surgery again to remove stone -- success! Stone was 1cm -- (cut the tip of your pinky finger off at the back of fingernail..that's how big). Stent placed - still ouch.

-upcoming- January 31st, 2012 -- scheduled to have stent removed! YAY!

So, yes, it's been a rough last few months.

There have been many blessings though and I'd be a fool to not mention those!

-- October 29th - My firstborn Blake arrived!

-- January 4th - had a CT scan that only found one stone and the rest of my organs look good! :)

-- January 20th - went to my first Trader Joe's and fell in love with the place.

-- Since January 4th -- completely changed my diet and trying to vegetarian type of meals - only eating meat three times a week.

-- Since starting my latest weight loss challenge, I've lost 15.8 lbs. Feel pretty good about it.

-- My ankle has been through physical therapy and I have the go ahead to workout and start introducing it to maybe a little running (once the stent is out).

-- Met my brand new niece Poppy!


So, in all the bad...there is always good!

Its more than just a run...

There is a huge difference between those that are “running to get in shape”, “running because everyone else is doing it”, or even “runners who only go for medals” – they all differ from the runner who runs simply because he/she loves running.

There is a connection from the other “categories” I put down to those that simply love running, but it takes time to get to that point I think.

I think I get lost sometimes. I started out running because I was fat, out of shape, and due to an ankle break – I was itching to do some kind of activity and running was the only thing that my newly healed ankle would do. It was then that I learned of my love for running. I am re-living that ankle thing right now with a 3rd degree sprain. I am so close to be able to get to a light jog though - I can't wait!

Running may seem pointless to some. I've heard it said, "why run, you're not going anywhere!". That's not always true, but when you do go out to run and end back up at the spot you left from - all you did was run, right?!

Wrong! It's more than just a run.

I don't know how many times I have solved problems, came up with awesome ideas, and even written a blog post out in my head when I'm on a run. There's also those times where you... [this is going to sound a bit tree-hugger like]... feel one with the outdoors. There can be cars going by you or people in your way on the sidewalk [if you run on sidewalks, I don't typically], but still you can see the world with a different perspective. Maybe it's because I'm going at a slower pace than when I'm in a car.

Being outdoors opens you up to creativity, but that is still not my point.

I run because I love to do it. Of course I enjoy the occasional medal, the race swag, the commradery, but even without it - running is freeing.

It is hard work, but so are most things that I encounter on a day-to-day basis. It takes time, but so does watching t.v. or playing xbox360. It requires discipline, however, running may have taught me discipline.

Now that I'm this far in the post - I don't even know if I've made sense, let alone make any point.

So here is my point.

Running for me, and probably some of you, is more than just "going out for a run". It's a time for me to think, create and learn. By the time I get back from my run, no matter the distance, I have accomplished something for the day already. Most people feel as if they accomplish nothing day-in-day-out - not the runner. Running exercises not just the body, but the whole self. Discipline, positive self-image and thoughts, follow-through & execution, a sense of accomplishment, self-perspective, the ability to push yourself past pre-set limitations, and an ability to listen to your body -- these are all benefits of running.

It may be scary for some of you though, running in many cases - is a solo activity. It may require you to be alone with yourself. Some people are probably more scared of being alone with themself than the actually running part. In those times though, knowing and figuring out who you are can lead you to discovering who you can and were meant to be.

So, while some may say it's nothing more than a run - it's actually much more than a run. As cliche' as this may sound...

It's more than just a run, it's a way of life.

I cannot wait to get back to running. So, until I come up with some more running and fitness posts - I will provide my life posts.

Here is the cutest little boy I've ever seen...and yes, he's mine :)