Boston Marathon

I had planned on writing a blog post tonight about my experience yesterday running the Hogeye Half-Marathon. I had planned on talking about how awesome it was, how proud I was of myself, and how I can’t wait to do another one. That was my plan until the bombing in Boston happened.

I find myself feeling like I never have when a tragedy like this has happened. The fact that innocent people were killed and they  were there to support runners, family, and friends. I had a great group of supporters helping me get through the Hogeye. I don’t know what I would do if it had been one of them that this had happened to. All I can do at this point is pray for those affected by this tragedy.

In the days or weeks to come, I will write the post about my experience at the Hogeye.

Morgan

Thursday we had to make the tough decision to put Morgan to sleep. We got Morgan shortly after buying our house in 2007. I’ll never forget the day Melonie picked him up. She sent me an email one night with a picture, and asked what I thought of this dog. I told her he was cute, but we already had Baxter and didn’t need another dog. She told me I was too late and she was picking him up in the morning. She picked him up at lunch the next day and he managed to get away from her and take off down the street. So imagine Melonie in her 6 inch heels chasing a brand new dog down the street.

I came home to find the sweetest dog I could have imagined. He would just sit there, wag his tail nonstop, and wait to be petted. Morgan definitely had more quirks than any other dog I’ve ever had. He loved to watch TV, hated car rides, and was terribly afraid of storms.

Its only been 2 days and I’ve struggled with it more than I thought I would. Thursday night it stormed and I didn’t even hear it until Melonie told me Friday morning. There hasn’t been a storm in 6 years that Morgan hasn’t head butted me, then jumped on top of me and laid on my chest until the storm was over. This morning I was flipping through the channels and Dogs 101 was on Animal Planet. That was 1 of his favorite shows to watch. I stopped instinctively like I have for the last 6 years. Each time a dog barked I could swear I heard him running into the living room and jumping at the tv. My Sunday morning routine will be completely different tomorrow as well. We always eat, then watch Too Cute on Animal Planet while Melonie is in the shower. We’ve done this every Sunday for years. Maybe Morgan was spoiled, or we’re just weird with our dogs, I’m not sure which, but it has been a very long 2 days. The house has been quiet, as Morgan was the one you could hear howling all the way at the end of the street when you left. You could also hear him as soon as you pulled in the driveway. Each time I’ve come home since I could swear I hear him howling at me.

I’m sure as time passes it will become much easier, I just didn’t think I could be this attached to a dog. Morgan is the first dog I’ve had to put to sleep since my dog Iggy when I was 16. I remember it being tough then, but Iggy was really sick and we knew he was going for a while. Morgan was fine just a week ago, and when the Vet said he needed surgery, I was sure that he’d be fine and I’d pick him up on Monday and we’d move on like normal.

It’s been really tough on Newton and Baxter too. Newton and Morgan were super buddies. Newton keeps going from room to room sniffing and looking for Morgan. Baxter today for the first time went looking for him. Newton and Baxter have never really gotten along great, and they’re trying to figure it out together now. I managed to get both of them sitting beside me earlier for the first time ever. Morgan was a great dog, who is missed immensely, we will never find another dog like him. If you got the privilege of meeting him, you understand what I mean. I’ve put a few of my favorite pictures of Morgan below from the last 6 years.

The day we brought Morgan home.

Morgans first Christmas

 

Morgan hated costumes

 

Morgan and Baxter

 

Baxter and Morgan at Christmas, my favorite picture of Morgans attitude, just accepts Baxter.

 

 

2013 Goals

I’ve always set New Year’s resolutions. They always fall apart by about January 3rd. This year I’m setting some realistic goals for myself. Lose 25 more lbs. Complete the Hogeye Half Marathon. Complete Tough Mudder in Dallas.

When I look back on 2012 it’s been pretty amazing. We spent 2 weeks overseas. I’ve lost almost 70lbs, and had to buy new clothes because of it. I’ve lost 3 inches around my neck, 6 inches in my waist, and I’ve gone from a 50R to a 40R in my jackets. I’ve run 4 5Ks. 2012 had its challenges as well, but those are under the bridge now.

I’m finally looking ahead for a new year not to put something behind me, but to look forward to something new, exciting, and challenging.

 

 

Running update

Fayetteville 5K 31:30.

Turkey Trot in Siloam Srpings, 29:15.

Run for the Grapes, Tontitown 32:00

 

Here’s an update on my last 3 5K’s. My times have gotten better each run. I’m to the point now where it’s time to step up. So I’m going to do a half marathon in April. The Hogeye!

Italy, Germany, France

In September we got to travel a little bit in Europe. We went to Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Lichtenstein, France, and 5 hours in England. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Brat in Heidelberg, Germany.

Bier in Lorrach

Amazing Brat in Lorrach.

Meat and cheese tray at Funfschilling.

Beautiful vineyards in Riquewihr, France.

Amazing lunch in Riquewihr, France.

Macaroons in France.

New wine in France.

Eli was giving us rocks at our Vow renewal.

Vow renewal.

Cafe Decker in Stauffen, Germany.

Cafe Decker.

Duomo in Milan.

$100 grilled cheese sandwich.

Lunch near the Rialto bridge.

Bridge of Sighs, Venice

Venice

Rome

Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Shape

The sermon series for the fall has been called Shape. Today’s sermon was E for Experience, it hit me today with what some friends of ours have going on. David talked there being 2 versions of how you think God handles our lives. God is either a watch maker and set the world in motion and walked away, or he is a puppet master and pulls the strings on every move of every person in the universe. Most of us fall in the middle somewhere. I’ve always been a person who thinks that God has set us in motion, lets us have free will, but is always there to help us make the right decisions. He talked about how our experiences are like stepping stones and wether its a good experience or a bad one it has led you to be the person you are today. I know that I’ve made a bunch of “bad” choice in my life, they have however made me what I am. When I look back on them I see that if certain ones hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be where I am. I would have never met Melonie, moved to Fayetteville, met other people who are very important in my life.

We’ve got friends who have been on an experience roller coaster for a while now. They are in a position where they are about to make another milestone experience. It will change their lives forever.

I’m a guy who likes to fix things, if somebody has a problem, I just want to give them the solution. These milestone experiences can’t be “fixed” though. Its tough for me to sit back and watch people go through something and not be able to fix it.

I know that God has laid out a plan and that his plan will be carried out, but it would be much easier if I could just put some glue on it and it be done with. I want to tell them that one choice is the right choice and the one they need to make. I want to be selfish about it and do what is the better choice for me. I want to fix it the way I think it needs to be fixed.

Our experiences aren’t that simple though. We have to go through them and not understand most of them. God knows what he’s laid out for us.

I do believe God gives us signs for which experience we need to have. Yet another problem is discerning these signs. Does it mean this or that, should we go this way or that way? Now they have to decide if recent events are a sign for a milestone experience, or just a normal everyday happening. The experiences you have will shape who you are, where you are, and where you’re going.

It’s been a tough day today thinking about all the experiences I’ve had in my life and how they’ve shaped me. Thinking about how our friends experiences will change them and their situation. All I can do is continue praying for them and hope that they’re able to discern what God has planned for them. I selfishly hope that God’s plan and mine are the same for them. Again I wish I could just simply give them a solution for their problems, and tell them what to do, but it’s in God’s hands.

I know this post is rambling, but I’ve been struggling with it today and needed to get it written down.

First 5K

Today I tackled what I’ve been training for since Easter. I ran my first 5K. It was harder than I thought it would be, we’ve been running 2 miles with ease. I thought I would be able to just knock the last mile out. I was wrong. I got through mile 1 no problems, then I saw the mile 2 sign, it hit me, the big mental wall. My body told me that it was time to stop because 2 miles is where we stop. I tried fighting through it, but I was just stopped. If Vaden hadn’t been there to push me the last mile I wouldn’t have made it. My entire life I’ve played team sports, if you failed somebody else was always there to pick you up. In running it’s all you against the clock. I’m struggling with that, I’ve never had to break through the mental wall. I learned valuable lessons for my next 5K. I had set a goal of 36 minutes, but I finished in 39. I was really disappointed in myself at first, but I shouldn’t be. On Good Friday I couldn’t jog to the end of our street without wanting to die. Today I ran 3.1 miles.

After the race I started thinking about why I’m tackling this whole process. I don’t want to go be the fastest person out there. I don’t want to have the perfect runners body. I want to be able to, in 15 years, play with my kids and nephews, Camden and Jakob. I want to be the uncle that is able to still run with them at 45 years old. My Uncle Ugly died at 45 years old, when I think about that being only 14 years from now it hits me that everything I’m doing today will pay off in the future. I may never win a 5K, I may never finish in the top 10, I will do everything I can to make sure I see Jakob, Camden and my kids graduate, get married, and have kids. I’ll run another 5K soon, a 10K in the spring, and tough mudder next winter. I’ll run them for my family not for myself!

Bucket List

I’ve never written a bucket list down, I’ve always had an idea of things I wanted to see and do though. After I crossed off the College World Series this past weekend I figured I should put something down on paper(well virtual paper) so here it is.

Hear Rob Bell in person.

Hear Rick Warren in person.

Travel Italy.

Travel Germany.

Travel England.

Travel Australia.

Travel Israel.

Travel to outer space.

Watch the Hogs play for a National football title.

Skydive.

Bungee jump.

Overdrive hole 9 at Northshore.

Walk through the A at a Razorback football game.

Go to the night NASCAR race at Bristol.

Watch a baseball game at all MLB stadiums.

Watch a Razorback road game at all SEC venues.

Throw out the first pitch at a Razorback baseball game.

Complete Tough Mudder.

I think this is a good starter list. As I think of things I’ll edit it and make it more awesome.

 

 

 

Fat Kid 2 months

It’s been 2 months since I began eating better and laying around less. It’s been a success so far, I’m down 28 lbs, and clothes I bought 6 years ago and never wore are now fitting. I ran 2 miles yesterday and only stopped 1 time. I would have stopped 3 times but Vaden made me keep going. I’m going to be doing a 5K on June 23rd, I’ve set a goal to complete it in under 40 minutes. For those who are 5K veterans that may be slow, however, for me that will be the most length and time I’ve ever run. I still have a goal in mind of losing 45 more lbs, and completing Tough Mudder next October. What is Tough Mudder read this. I want to be where she is. I’m not in this to be a health nut, or quit eating what I like to eat. I’m doing this so I can be around to see my kids and nephews grow up. I want them to look at me and see that it is possible to do it, but also not want to be in the position I was in to have to lose 80 lbs to get there. Hopefully I am able to keep the lbs coming off, complete my 5K, and be writing a post in 16 months about finishing Tough Mudder, wearing my orange headband, getting my tattoo, and drinking an ice cold beer.

Fat kid

As most of you know, I’m fat. I’m lazy, I like crappy food, I eat way too much. I’ve never been in what you would call good shape. Even in high school when I was involved in sports, I wasn’t in good shape. I was in good enough shape to play baseball, I cheated on all of the running we had to do. I blame Rodney for that one. I ran with him because he was slow too. He was also a senior so I could count like him and get away with it. I’ve tried to lose weight before and usually manage to succeed for about 2 weeks. Then I find a great reason to quit and give up. A month ago my mom got told she could either lose weight or go on insulin. I realized that day that if I didn’t get my fatness under control I would be in the same situation. I don’t really like the idea of going through that since I’ve seen it all my life with other relatives. So I decided I had to get serious. I started using the My Fitness Pal app, and convinced Vaden to run with me. The first day Kathleen and Vaden ran with me. To say it was embarrassing is an understatement. I was able to run about 100 feet and I was ready to quit. I’ve been running now 4-5 days a week for a solid month. I’ve lost 19 lbs as of last Friday. I managed to make it 2.75 miles in 35 minutes last Sunday. I’ve decided I’ll run my first 5K on July 21st. If all goes good this 5K will just be the beginning, Tough Mudder is calling my name in October 2013. I’ve got several goals for this whole mission. First I want to get my weight down to 180, thats only 70 lbs, and would be where I was when I moved to Fayetteville 11 years ago. I want to complete a 5K. I want to be healthy and live to see my nephews, Jakob and Camden,  grow up and maybe a child of our own one day. Thankfully I’ve got a good support system in Melonie, and a person who doesn’t hate running really slow in Vaden. Hopefully in 2 months I will write a post about losing 40 lbs and running a 5K in 30 minutes. We’ll see……