Arbitrary? Sure but you have to start somewhere

"Wild Horses I wanna be like you

Throwing caution to the wind

I'll run free too.

Wish I could recklessly love

Like I'm longing to.

I wanna run with the Wild Horses..."

~Natasha Bedingfield

I saw this passage on a friend’s blog and it got me to thinking about my own transformation from what was once a dream to where I am today.

In the beginning, my goals didn’t seem to have substance and didn’t seem to have a clear purpose. I knew I wanted to make a change but felt like I was making my way through the fog one day at a time.


Wilson Creek heading toward the canyon

To be perfectly honest, my goals were all very arbitrary. Lose 15 pounds, lose 25 pounds, etc. In fact, my goal weight was to be in the healthy BMI category for my height. I never thought I would get there but it was a number to aim for.  When I finished training for the Boston marathon, I was in the overweight BMI category at 7% body fat (and in the best shape of my entire life).  BMI is a one size fits all measure that does not take into account frame type or percentage of body weight that is attributable to muscle. The bottom line is, BMI is not always the best way to gauge your progress.
When I started getting in shape, running was impossible for me. Over time, running has become my love and passion. Running was a wonderful way for me to take my arbitrary goals and set them in concrete. When. Where. Why. How long. What do I have to do between now and race day to be prepared?

I have had the privilege of running with great friends in some of the most beautiful country around here. I was also fortunate enough to capture these pictures during a run of a wild mare and her colt in the desert outside of town here in Idaho.

My point is, what seems impossible today is not that far out of reach. Keep working hard and stay committed to your goal.  I like to share with people one simple wish.  My wish is that I would love to be able to package the way I feel both physically and emotionally and give it to people as a gift. So that they would know all the hard times and struggle are worth every ounce of energy you put into improving yourself.

If you ever make it to Idaho, look me up, and we'll go run with the wild horses.☺

Never give up.

"You are capable and worthy of being and doing anything.
You just need the discipline and determination to see it through.
It won't come instantly, and you may backslide from time to time,
but don't let that deter you.

Never give up.
Life is an ever-changing process, and nothing is final.
Therefore, each moment and every new day
is a chance to begin anew."

~Barbara Cage~

The Worth of a $20 bill

A speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

This speaker was teaching everyone a very valuable lesson. No matter what he did to the money, people still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you don't lose your worth. You are still priceless to those who love you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by who we are and whose we are. 
You have value.  Don't ever forget your worth!

~Unknown~

17 years ago today

‎17 years ago today I was on my way to boot camp in Orlando, Florida. I remember thinking how long my enlistment seemed on day 1...12.5 years later I can't believe how fast time flies!

Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.......

Use the FORCE Luke

This has been 4 feet from my desk for exactly 3 years!  There is another one about 9 feet in the other direction too.  I am amazed somedays that I was ever able to have the strength to stay out of them!!

Burnt Popcorn

I have been having a bit of a hard time lately with my diet.  Yesterday I went to microwave some popcorn (you know, the kind you should stay away from when you are watching calories!) My problem is that I run so much I seem to give myself permission to have more than necessary. My thought process goes something like this: I am burning so much it doesn't really matter!  But it does....

Anyway, I put the Pop Secret Butter Lovers in the microwave for the regular amount of time and half of it popped while the other half burnt to a crisp and stunk up the whole office!! It was as if the heavens opened and told me to make a better food choice, so I put in the garbage and refilled my water bottle then went back to my desk.

SO, I am still on track with my diet thanks to a super duper microwave!

Critical Success Factors

After I finished my marathon 10 days ago an hour behind my goal, my friends at the finish line were a bit concerned that I would be disappointed. To their surprise, (not mine) I came across the finish line with a smile on my face and I had a great day!

My friend Christie who put on the race told me the other day that since I set nearly unattainable goals (which she is right about) it is hard to have everything go perfect every time to reach my goals (which she is right about). She also said, I am one of the most positive happy people she has ever met regardless of how things turn out at the finish line (which she is right about). Thank you Christie for reminding me!!

My point here is, keep setting goals and keep moving forward. Sometimes things don't go your way, you may hit a plateau or have trouble getting motivated.  Just make a point to take something positive from every experience and apply to your next goal.

During the time it took me to lose my weight I had many horrible days but I was always positive and tried to put the bad days behind me as soon as possible.  You can't change the past, but you can learn from it.

Lake Lowell Marathon 26.45 mi 04:12 09:30 pace

Lake Lowell Marathon DONE!! Thanks to Christie for putting on such a fun event. I think it was the most fun I have ever had at an event since I was there with my family, friends, and running buddies. It was a mini-DailyMile meet up too. It was nice to meet Amy K. and Shanda D. as well as say hi to Otto Casey D. and others. Emily B. was an life saver as a roving aid station, THANK YOU Missed meeting Mike C. (he must have kicked my butt to the finish line!)


Anyway, it was a wonderful day and my slowest marathon..which I finished with a smile on my face! I made lots of lame excuses along the way but I was just tired☺ I was the race leader for 10.5 miles through the hills. Leading the race was an awesome feeling, just me and the motorcycle cop.

Leading around mile 4

I know it doesn't mean much when the guy who passed you beats you by an hour however! I was in second place until about mile 16 I think when Dennis A. caught up to me. He suggested we draft behind the next group of people so we did. I lasted about 100 yards before they smoked me and he hung in to the end.

Goofing around for the camera at mile 15

The biggest highlight of the day was being able to cross the finish line with my wife. She did the half marathon which started an hour after ours and it worked out the we were pretty close at the end. I think I saw her way up there at about mile 22 and it took me almost 2 miles to catch her. I saw her check over her shoulder a couple of times to see where I was. She was getting reports from the other runners passing her that I was fading fast. I was hoping she was taking this as motivation to beat me to the end!! Anyway, once I caught her I told her to slow down because she was killing me! (which she didn't)

We decided to finish together which was a big thrill for both of us. My family was there taking pictures and the reception from the crowd and other runners at the finish was amazing. BTW, Michelle beat me to the finish line by a few seconds and I couldn't have been more proud.

I nominated myself for 1st place for the biggest blister, I don't know if I had any competition in this department but mine was about an inch and a half long and an inch wide. (I am retiring those shoes BTW. I ran at St. George, Boston, and Lake Lowell in them and now it's time to lay them to rest......)

The volunteers were awesome, weather was perfect, and the four hot dogs and half a bag of chips I ate at the end were just what I needed. Good times, I told Christie's husband that I can't wait til next year.

Discipline

Saw this on Luau's blog and had to share.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments - Jim Rohn