It's Time to Get it Back....

This picture was taken as me and my bride finished the Warrior Dash in Mississippi. It was 4 years ago. We had a really great time doing this race, but as I look at this picture, I think to myself...what happened to me?

I mean for one, look at that left quad muscle! My legs were so lean and cut back then, and four years ago I was 40 years old! So yeah, I was quite proud of that muscle.

And I want it back!

Not really sure how it happened, but I went from die hard triathlete, to a "well I still could if I wanted to" triathlete, to a dude that has trouble getting out the door.

(As I sit here sipping a Dr. Pepper and eating sour gummy worms, that should give me a clue right?)

It is so weird how you can want something in your mind so clear, but yet you have so much trouble getting out there physically. I am reluctant now to even say I did an Ironman because it seems so long ago, and I am not referring about time, but a long time ago from where I am now. I literally feel like I am almost starting over.

And that is why it will be so glorious when I finish my next 70.3 in October. I think I have finally gotten the bug again. I am not sure if it is the warmer weather, the fact I weighed in at 199lbs the other day or what, but I can honestly say that I want to start training again and getting back into shape like pictured above. I won't expect it overnight and it will take some time, but I am going to get back where I should be. I am also going to be updating this blog more often, I really think that helps, documenting it all and everything.

I Want Others to Love Running Also!

As you can probably guess, I have a passion for running and endurance sports. I know I gripe about it a lot, but I really do enjoy it. I love the freedom it gives me. I enjoy the the way it clears my mind and the time it gives me to think. Sometime I can literally get lost in my run. I have even had moments where I miss mile markers, and that is a great feeling. You know we must love it or why else would we get up at dark thirty in the morning to do it?

So with this love of running, I of course want others to love and to see the value of it. Many people understand, others don't get it and many want nothing to do with it, and that is fine, but I have been looking for a way to share this love and hopefully get others off the couch and moving, and this is how it started.

I have never had a problem training  I am very meticulous about it and I can tell what I am going to be doing 3 weeks from today. I also make time for it, sometimes getting up as early as 4:30 AM just to get my miles in. I had a good balance between my family, my work and my training schedule, but one thing I was leaving out was my spiritual life. It never really fit in, I mean I went to church and all, but that was the extent of it. And that's when I realized that I needed to get that area of my life in line.

So a few months ago, I saw an ad for a program called Run for God. It is basically a Bible study with running wrapped around it, basically a couch to 5K running plan with a focus on God.  So I brought it to the attention of one of our pastors at church, and he suggested I lead it. Whooaaaaaaaa!!!!  I am not what I would call a teacher, so I was scared to death to commit. The more I thought it over and prayed, the more I felt led to lead the group. We start Saturday.

So far there are 25 people signed up for this 12 week class. 25 people that have decided they want to grow closer to God and to also start running, it is going to be a beautiful site to watch their progress. I know I have the running part down, but I pray that I also will have the leading part down as well. My wife and friends are going to help. I have some great people with great life stories lined up to help as well. I am hoping for it to be a special time.

In 12 weeks, I am hoping to have 25 people run a 5K that might not have believable it was possible before! And I will cheer them all on, except for the ones in my AG, they are on their own!!