V.F. Memorial 5k results & Pics.

I'm #3!

Yeah, I know that's not something that someone is usually excited about, but I'll take 3rd place! I was able to snag another medal and take 3rd place in my age division. I think I finished around 12-13 overall.

I did beat my old personal best time, but was unable to hit my goal of 25 minute range. I was 10 seconds off of my goal. That's okay though, I think I'll manage :) I've come so far from where I was 70 lbs ago - I'll take it every time.

I finished in 26'09"

Yesterday, I took some time to make a playlist that would help me while I'm running. Sounds weird, maybe - but it worked. My second mile is always my worst mile, but not today. I was pretty happy with each mile that I ran. I made sure that I had some pump me up music in the middle of the playlist. The right playlist can make a world of difference!


It was a lot of fun, as usual, and I still have my 25 minute goal to shoot for. I will tell you though that after running this race -- I was spent!


...but I am fine now. It was a cold race too, but not something that a little coffee couldn't take care of!

Self-Concept - the secret killer

Self-Concept can be a positive and a negative thing. When someone has a positive perception of themself, they have a confidence that can be undone by nothing. On the flip side however, when one has a negative perception of who they are, what they look like, what they can do, what worth they have, and of their ability - life won't look to bright for them.

If you look at what "self-concept" is...

self-concept: "the idea or mental image one has of oneself and one's strengths, weaknesses, and status,etc.; self-image." [def. found here]

It correlates well with what perception we have of ourselves.

I went to run the 5k race course yesterday and while I was running I met an older guy doing the same thing. We briefly chatted about the course and I took off again. He had already finished two miles [the course comes back on itself] and I was just 1 mile into it. For some reason - I started thinking about my self-concept. I thought about how I viewed myself and also what he thought of me as a runner. He was a veteran runner.

When I was first starting out with my weight loss, was I really 'just another fat guy trying to be skinny' -- or was I more?!

I'll admit that what I ate and how much of it did define my eating habits, my self-esteem, my self-discipline and control, but it did not define who I was. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and when I forget that...my self-concept goes down the toilet.

I kept thinking about how others see me now and how my self-image lacks. I still think of me as being fat and slow, but know that my body reflects a different image. There were times that I didn't want to look in the mirror knowing that my belly was going to be sticking way out. I still criticize my body because it isn't where I want it to be. I'll be honest. This is probably the stuff that people don't want to talk about in the blogosphere, but it's truth.

I'll tell you now though, I don't mind looking in the mirror. I like what I see - I should have liked what I saw last year, but I was blinded my a negative self-concept. Yes, I was fat, but that did not make me inferior, ugly, or unworthy of happiness.

Today - I challenge you to go in front of the mirror - take a picture - and be proud of who you are [not defined by a number, not defined by the world, not defined by a negative self-concept] knowing that you are taking the steps in becoming a healthier YOU.

Go take and post your UNAFRAID picture!

It's all in your head...my own running cartoon.

During my run yesterday, I spent some time thinking.

Isn't that what you do when you run? I guess it wasn't like that in the beginning when I was running. It was more like a...

"huff, cough, clear throat, cough, stop, walk, cough, pant, and stop again"

but that changed after a little while. I eventually was able to at least make it to my goal of finishing...despite how beat up I felt.



...but at some point - it all changed in my head from "when does this end - I can't do this - running isn't my thing" to...

...who knew?

we constantly tell ourselves that we can't do it, that it won't happen, that we don't deserve it...but you can, it will, and you do.

Running, weight loss, fitness - much of it is in our heads on whether or not we can succeed. At some point, if you stick with it (and sticking with it is a key to success), you'll have a point in time where you'll think to youself...

"oh, i did it."

Success is around the corner - are you willing to work for it?

New Home. New Job. Challenge Control Center.

New Home.

As you know, we're moving. We signed a lease on a house on Monday and my wife took some pics of the place. I thought that I'd show you around a little. Actually, I'm just going to direct you to my wife's blog because she is a better showyouarounder . Check out the New Home here!

New Job.

We are moving because I have taken a job as youth minister at a church roughly about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away. It makes for a move, but we are excited about getting into the new position and for the future of it.

I'll only have about a 10 minute drive to work - that is not that bad. I live closer to work now, but I won't mind the extra bit!

Control Center.

Also, another thing that I have done is created a control center for my weight loss challenge. Past winners have branched off and started their own challenges and I thought it would be good to have a central location for all of them to come together. Please, go and be friends of the new site. We need love there too!


Seth Tyler's WLC Control Center!
As of right now, there are three total challenges. I am looking for others that want to start their own weight loss challenge in their own neighborhood. Are you interested in that? If so, email me at:

stylerwlc [at] gmail [dot] com

What is one thing that you will accomplish today!

Weigh In picture. A gain.

I'm keeping it short today. I gained at my weigh in. This is the first gain, excluding my vacation week, that I can remember in 38 weeks. I have either lost or maintained each of the other weeks. I'm okay with that though - it happens. It's time to change up how I do things. I thought I'd give you the weigh in picture.




also, I'm looking for a couple guest posts to take place during our move next week. Do I have any takers??!

5k Race Results. Bug Swallowing. Weigh In Picture.

5k Race results.

On this past Saturday, I took part in my 5th 5k of the year. My goal this year was to do three 5k's -- it just keeps growing. Saturday's 5k was suppose to be my best time, but I couldn't get that new PR. I travelled pretty slow, but there was nothing left in the tank. That's okay though.

I was pretty stoked at this 5k because two people that I believe I have influenced in the weight loss/get healthy/running areas participated as well. They finished 3 seconds apart (I think) somewhere in the 33 minute range! I'm proud of both of them.

It wasn't my PR, but it wasn't all bad news for me.

I placed in my age division again. I got 1st and came 20something out of about 90 runners. I finished with 26'52". That is my 2nd fastest actual 5k time. I am planning to find another 5k on October 2nd and then do a half marathon on October 30th in Warrensburg, MO. October 2nd will produce my PR in the 5k. My mind is set. :)

Swallowing of the bug.

As you can probably sense, I wasn't satisfied with my time at the 5k. On Sunday, I set out to set a new unofficial PR for my 5k time. I was at pace to do what I set out to do...until a bug flew into my mouth and lodged itself in the back of my throat. I started choking, gagging, and I needed to throw up, but just couldn't. After all of that (which took place at an intersection), I couldn't get my pace and breathing back. This happned 13 minutes into the run. Not happy!

It happens though :) On a bright note, I have been able to see noticeable changes this morning in my physique. I've been able to crawl on walls, fly, and can hear really well!

Weigh in.

Also, here is the second weigh-in picture from Seth Tyler's Weight Loss Challenge #4. It's a small loss, but it's a loss. I'm going to be changing my eating habits and workouts up to get some sort of confusion in my body. I think it needs it.


What has been your favorite part of your daily routine lately?

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.

Doubt Kills the Runner...

If you think about it - the one thing that kills the run, the runner, and the runner's time....is doubt. Metaphorically that is for all of you strictly literal people :)

Let's give this theory a little thought.

I grew up fairly athletic. I played each sport that was offered. There were times when I would get injured though. One time I was playing in a baseball game and the outfielder slid under me while I was catching the ball and tore all the ligaments in my ankle. I played Superman and acted like it was nothing and tried to get back in the game. The injury didn't stop my mindset of finishing what I had started.

Living in the MidWest, there tends to be several stormy days. Sometimes, those stormy days amount to several consecutive days of rain in a row. I remember though earlier this year when it was raining that I completed a PR to that date on the one mile run. The elements didn't stop my mindset of finishing what I had started.

I started running as a way to aid in weight loss. I was a heavy man that hadn't really run long distance before. You could have found me slogging (slow jogging - thanks Louis) around Clinton knowing that I'll hit my goal. Those goals were a lot less than what I have now, but my weight didn't stop my mindset of finishing what I had started.

but doubt...

doubt will stop me in my tracks everytime if I let it's ugly face show...

doubt is to a runner as kryptonite is to Superman -- it's detrimental.

I think I had doubted my running ability up until last night. I knew I could run, but could I run the longer distances. Could I do the Half Marathon? I questioned myself and my ability to do so, until last night.

I hit what I consider a milestone for my running. I ran 10 miles straight with no stopping. It was at a slow pace -- but for me to go that long, it'll be a slow pace :)
10 miles is a big number for me. I ran for nearly 2 hours. Up hills, down hills, 2 miles of gravel, and rickety bridges. It was a 11'13" pace that I am proud of.

No more doubt, just belief.

I am success.

What has been your Kryptonite?