309



A little over a year ago I weighed 309 lbs. I’m 5’10” and I was definitely obese. In November 2008, I started exercising at HealthTrac, a local hospital affiliated fitness center, and on April 9, 2009 I decided to run. When I ran that first mile that day I weighed approximately 290 -295lbs, but I was able to run to the local dam and back, about 2 miles, in approximately 38 minutes. I felt amazing. My only real goal was to feel better physically and about myself.


Since then I have been running pretty consistently. I did have to take a total of about 4 weeks off for an ankle injury and a bronchial infection, but I pushed day after day. After a while, my body had to run. The endorphins are addictive, and I very gradually got faster, more stamina and lost weight.


I discovered racing. I raced in Ann Arbor twice, Dowagiac, Niles, Concord, Nappannee, Portage, Berrien Springs, etc… I found that racing is the only true test of how well I’m doing in my daily discipline of exercise. I’ve shaved almost 10 minutes off my 5K (3.1 miles) time, and I’m anticipating a run under 30 minutes in one of my next few races.


In November 2009, I ran 71.75 miles, and my goal is to regularly hit 100 miles a month. I weighed myself after my run on Sunday, and I weighed 250 lbs.


Some of the things that surprised me:


The quickest way to gain speed in running is to lose weight.


I am now much more immediately effected by what I eat…I feel the effects almost immediately.


I feel muscles, sinews, and bones that I haven’t felt in years.


The right shoes and clothing is extremely important. It took me a long time to know how to dress appropriately.


People drive horribly. I’ve only been hit by a car once though I’ve had numerous near misses.


Running in the rain is the most incredible experience in the world!


I started off with everyone making fun of me, but now people are coming to me asking advice. Former runners are coming to me telling me that I have inspired them to take up the cross again.



I should note that my wife had been running for about 6 months before I took up the sport. She inspired me. We had a rule that we didn’t tread on each other’s hobbies, but she’s been gracious…especially since her injury and subsequent inability to run. Now I run for her.

SELF DISCIPLINE

This has been my year of least writing. This has been a challenging year for me, and it has been a year of refocusing on the important.



As I anticipate Y2K+10, I feel the need to simplify, prioritize and more than anything discipline.


So, here is what I want my life to be about next year (not in any order of priority):


Work


Running


Writing


Reading


WRWR – I believe that as I follow this formula, I will better follow Christ and be a better husband.


So, I plan on writing many more blog posts, and I plan on bringing my body into total submission.


May this be the Lord’s will!

The Devil Inside

Introspection is a tightrope between self flagellation and self pity.

What would your reaction be…I mean your real inside thoughts…about someone who was very friendly and sought your advice continually but who would exaggerate your mistakes and humorously come off as if it’s truly an act of benevolence that they talk to you at all. Now this is all done in a friendly, funny, non-threatening way.

Truthfully, it wears on me. I get really tired of it. It makes me more circumspect in my acquaintances in order to prayerfully never treat anyone even remotely like this.

Why? I’m probably self centered and selfish about it. I want people to like me, and I know how I feel pretending to like this person. Wow. I didn’t realize that until I wrote it (the pretending part).

Hmmm.

Daniel

I read the book of Daniel last night and wondered about a few things.

1. What was it like to study and prepare for three years as the Jewish captives?

2. What would have it been like to have guards show up with orders to kill you, and you have no idea why? What would my reaction have been? Would I have believed that God would tell me the dream?

3. What would have it been like to rule the kingdom for all those years? Daniel was a very old man when he was thrown into the lions den. He had basically been a very powerful man for many, many years.

4. Who did Daniel and the three who were thrown into the furnace marry? Did they have children?

5. How did the kingdom function when the king went crazy for seven years (or time periods)?

6. Did God perform any other miracles or especially gift Daniel in a supernatural way other than what was recorded?