Still Here...

After an all too long hiatus I'm logging back in to update my numbers and search for motivation to re-engage in my training. Since I wrote last we've celebrated Halloween, my wife's birthday in New York City (watched some of the NYC Marathon while in town and ran through Central Park - highly recommended by the way), and enjoyed Thanksgiving with family.

What I haven't been doing regularly is running...and now I have 60 days if I plan to run my marathon on Super Bowl Sunday. Every day I don't run I'm further from my goal and wrestle with rationalization, denial and self defeating thoughts. Setting goals and following through it tough stuff.

Well I'm not going to spend my night writing about what I'm not doing, I'm going to spend the night doing.

Until next time...keep moving forward.

Des Moines Half Race Day

First a word of thanks to everyone who kept me in their prayers or wished me well, who helped me with advice, and who showed up to cheer me on. This was a fun day and each of you made it possible.

I thought I would share some pictures of how I was encouraged by my kids this morning after the alarm went off this morning. I had a feeling this was going to be an emotional day but this was such an awesome way to be sent out the door.

When I got to the car I found one last sign that read "You're our champion Daddy". I put it up on in the window and plan to leave it there for some time.

As I got downtown the excitement grew as I stretched and prepared. Tom and Amy were there with the Runners' Lounge booth and I was happy to see Nancy there too. I lined up, we sang the National Anthem and were off. What an awesome feeling to run with thousands of people as we headed toward the capital building. Before I knew it I was across the bridge to WaterWorks Park and was greeted by my Aunt Mary and Uncle Denny, and their dog Lucy...screaming and cheering for me.

I found that the crowds really do make a difference and give you a shot of energy when you need it. The quiet and long lap around WaterWorks was tough because most of the way there was no music and no spectators cheering. Coming out of WaterWorks I was over to Gray's Lake I ran into my aunt and uncle again, exchanged high fives and kept on moving.

Water here, Gatorade there and a couple of pack of GU helped at mile 8, but as I was coming down the long stretch of MLK Parkway I ate a Stinger pack and boy did I need that.

At the Science Center of Iowa we turned North again and I could see the finish line. Thanks for the high five and the word of encouragement Denise. That last two tenths I was really shuffling more than running and was glad to get it over.

My wife and kids were there at the finish line to cheer me in and just like that it was over. My heart rate wasn't high, I wasn't out of breath but I was glad to be done. Turns out all those miles

of training paid off. I finished the race in 2:08:27 which was a 9:49 minute pace. I was hoping to break 2 hours in the back of my mind but am happy with this. Sure beats my 2:36 Dam to Dam time from two years ago.

There aren't too many times in your life you can say you shared your first time with 4,000 people but I lost my 13.1 mile virginity with some pretty neat friends today. Congratulations to

everyone who completed their first half marathon, full marathon, or the 5k races today.

104 days and counting now to prepare for my first full marathon.

Until next time....keep moving forward.

Confessions of a Marathoner in Training

I write this today as a man a drift, on the verge of spiraling really. Little nagging injuries are dogging me, mostly because I don't follow advice well, I don't do the little things that allow a body to maintain integrity in the face of marathon training mileage. Plantars, sore hips and a knee I've been in denial about for a week are really playing games with my mental toughness.

And then there is the busyness of life that creeps in giving me excuse after excuse not to run. To top it off the "Fat Guy" is really running roughshod over me. "Skinny Guy" has been gone for almost a month and I'm now just 10 days out from my first half marathon and am hanging on.

I'm about to run out the door for 5 miles so all isn't lost.

If you're running the Des Moines Half or Des Moines Marathon on the 21st look me up. I'd love to meet up with you at the Runners' Lounge tent afterwards or see you at the Expo.

Cub's Start Playoff Series - So What?

And now for something completely different...It's 9:25pm central time and the Cub's just finished the first inning of Game 1, NLDS. It's been nearly 100 years, that generation after generation of Cub fans have been hoping, dreaming and praying for a World Series Champion.

Will this be the year? As a Die Hard I can only continue to hold out hope and send out all the positive energy I can. Prayer however, I'll save for the more important things in life like...

• Will a very dear family member have the spot of cancer removed successfully this week
• Will...well there really isn't anything more important so I won't continue that thought

Games are games, following sports teams can be a great past time, but it's all a matter of priority when compared to the real issues in life...like sickness and health. The Cub's may lose in the playoffs, my Hawkeye's may not win again this year, but who honestly cares.

I'm praying for my family member, and if you share a faith in Christ I'd ask you to join me. If your family is experiencing similar uncertainty I'd encourage you to get on your knees too (send me a note and I will join you there).

God bless you all, and God bless the ones we love.

Until next time...keep moving forward!

Cub's Hat by spmedic at Flickr
Prayer Mosaic by kimxtom at Flickr

“Mid Life Crisis” or “It’s About Time!”?

Did you feel that? Something just happened! To be honest it’s been happening for about three weeks now and I’m struggling to determine if it’s a mid life crisis setting in or if I’m just to the point where I’m hitting my stride and wanting more than the status quo.

Like many who live (or die a little each day) in the ‘Corporate World’ I have come to the frightening realization that I’m a ‘technician’ just like my father before me. As a teen I remember afternoons of golf with my dad, talking about my future and hearing him say “Get an education; don’t be a dummy like your old man, don’t end up working in a factory your whole life like I have.”

I recall thinking to myself at the time “what great advice”. It wasn’t that my dad didn’t earn a good living, or provide for his family, or have pride in his work…it was that after all these years of clocking in and out at the same workstation I sensed a lack of meaning in it all.

From my dad’s perspective it was ‘education’ that was going to set me free.

So I got my education: undergraduate degree in Marketing, worked for a few years, and then earned my MBA focusing in Human Resources. I was on the right course to career fulfillment and financial freedom…my course was different than anyone else’s in my family’s history.

The thing is that I bought into the myth. Education and the right job don't necessarily free you to pursue your dreams.

Here's where the mid life crisis question comes in...you see there is creativity inside me that I’ve pushed aside for a long time, and a desire for freedom that rears its head every couple of years but won’t go back down this time. Crisis yes, but its more like "its about time" the way I see it.

For the time being I’m clocking in at the same “factory” my old man once did, the only difference being I get to sit at a nice desk for 8 hours a day and don’t go home with the smell of grease remover on my hands every night.

I’m educating myself all over again, day and night, I'm using the creative side of me and engaging my brain, I'm educating myself alright and this time its on how to set myself free, go into business for myself and make that business (and my money) work for me, not the other way around.

Stay tuned, I'm just getting started.

Until next time…keep moving forward.

Graduation by Dianne Michelle at Flickr

Head in Hands by Boogle Eyes at Flickr

Hurray for Tom and Amy!

You should be proud of yourselves. The site looks great and I know you two are the right people to provide the community the fun and engaging place to hang out, share stories & wisdom, and encourage each other.

Your Lounge Friend,

Dave

Balloon on Flickr by Shan1013

Cruising Along

Well after a couple of weeks of not sleeping and eating very well I'm down to my goal weight and am cruising along in my training. My knee is holding out after my longest run of this training course and the only nagging pain is a potential case of Planters Fasciitis in my left foot, and a right hip that aches once in a while.

My friends at Runner's Lounge are excited to be on the verge of opening the doors to their new website and I'm wishing them all the best. Go Amy and Tom! We're all pulling for you.

Until next time...keep on moving!

Week Five Recap

It's sad that my posts have been limited to just quick recaps of the week recently. Training actually takes more time away from other activities than I thought it would. In fact I've been so busy this weekend that my long run- which was supposed to be Saturday morning before the family woke up- is waiting for me as soon as I hit the "publish" button. 10 miles and then hit the rack for some much needed sleep.

Confession time...I haven't been watching my eating this week at all, and I can really tell that it's made a difference in my runs. First of all knowing that I'm not eating well has my mind telling me that I'm not doing as well. Second, my energy has been down (lack of sleep is contributing as well), and third, (but unrelated to my food choices) I've started to feel soreness in my left knee again. That soreness dogged me last time I was training for a race and it scares me that it might be the beginning of something unpleasant.

The other thing I did differently this week is run with my iPod. I've found a great new podcast that I'm really learning a lot from but what it's done is occupy my mind and take my focus off my run...am I running the right pace, am I paying attention the space around me, am I hitting the hills like I was...that's a big fat NO.

In fairness I have been also spending a great deal of time thinking through a couple business plans I hope to pursue (thus the lack of sleep). One idea I have shared with a number of you and everyone was excited for me to be moving forward with I've decided against pursuing. After thinking through the logistics and a reassessment of my passion for the whole subject matter I think I'll leave that one for others to pursue.

Well no sense putting this off...I better go lace up the shoes and pray my knee holds up better tonight.

Week Four Recap

Week four was another great week. I ran my third longest run of my life on Sunday before church and am still injury free. My left foot has started aching however but it's not injured.

I have discovered what my "next big thing" is for after the marathon. I've decided to start a home based business that will help families clothe their kids...more to share on that later.

Until next time....

Week Three Recap

I had another great week of training. I logged 20.8 miles in total and today I ran 7 miles at an 8:55 pace, and set another personal best in my first mile at 8:15.


Mile 1 - 8:15
Mile 2 - 8:33
Mile 3 - 8:21
Mile 4 - 9:06
Mile 5 - 9:18
Mile 6 - 9:12
Mile 7 - 9:40
Total - 1:01:55


I'm still sticking with the calorie watch, shooting for 2,000 per day but Saturday has become my free day (usually between 2,500 and 3,000 calories). I had my second soda in 8 weeks yesterday and don't really miss it (but it did taste awfully good.


I've found a great way to keep my pace when I've feeling like easing off a bit or when I hit a hill, I count out a cadence 'hut, two, three, four' over and over, and imagine I have a Drill Sargent prodding me along. I really works.

Running Legs by Brian Poulsen at Flickr

I Know I'm a Runner Because...

10. I no longer count mowing the yard and pushing a stroller as 'cross-training'
9. Walking up a flight of stairs doesn't leave me winded like it used to
8. I sleep better at night
7. I'm eager to log my miles or my cross-training activity for the day
6. I actually am eating more vegetables (my mom would be so proud)
5. My wife told me I don't have the mini-shelf belly that I had been nurturing along
4. My kids don't tell me I'm fat and old anymore, just old
3. My clothes fit better and I'm walking taller
2. Running up hills doesn't intimidate me anymore

And the #1 way I know I'm a runner is because.....

1. I look forward to my 5am alarm.

It's Official - I'm a Marathoner

Okay maybe just registering and paying the entry fee doesn't really qualify me as a marathoner yet but it was another step in the right direction. With a history of injuries, fee's that are non-refundable, and uncertainty as to who all might join me for the trip to Surf City... believe me this was a big step.

I'm doing well at keeping my calories under control as I work to get my body fat down. When I started the formal training I had my body fat checked at the wellness center and the nice lady told me that I was walking around with nearly 40 lbs of fat. Wow, and to think I was excited to get a new pair of shoes that cut out 10 oz's.

I was at 200 lbs (and those are not my feet) so I set my goal again to get down to 175 by race day. In 7 weeks I'm down 13 lbs (about a half a pound per week, nice a steady). As of today I have nearly 7 more weeks until my half marathon at the end of October so I'm shooting to be down to my goal weight by then.

Cutting my body fat is really my goal though and as I continue to lift I'm sure my weight will level off as I build more muscle mass. I'm just happy my pants are fitting better for the time being, and I'm sure they're happy to get a break from the stress testing they've been under.

So I won't really be a marathoner until I cross the finish line this coming Super Bowl Sunday but I'm living the marathoner lifestyle and it's suiting me well so far.

If you have any words of encouragement please send them. I may even have some encouraging messages recorded and strung between songs on my iPod for my race so I can get a little extra boost every few miles or so.

Well 5am rolls around a lot earlier than it used to so I'm going to head off for some actively rest now.

Scale by Digihuman at Flickr

Finish by Steve and Jody at Flickr

Week Two Recap

Today I wrapped up my second full week of marathon training. It's been a busy week at work and home, with school underway and after-school activities in full swing (piano, soccer, horseback lesson) and I ran more miles this week than I have run in a week for a very long time (19.4 miles).

Oh, and I booked a surprise trip to New York City for my wife's 40th birthday (by surprise I mean she surprised me by wanting to go to NYC to celebrate). I can't wait to go, so much to see and do of course, but also because we'll be there during the upcoming NYC Marathon weekend with thousands of other runners.

I'm happy to report that I set a new personal record running my fastest mile this week (8:43 was impressive for me given I usually run a 10 or 10:30/mile pace) and while I'm sore at the end of week two I'm injury free! One of the mornings I learned that even at the end of a long run I have more left in the tank than I thought being two blocks from home as it began to rain.

Foolishly, yet predictably, I was anxious to get ahead of my training plan mileage. It was all I could do to hold back earlier in the week, but after reading Tom about not overdoing it, I'm glad I didn't push too much. I'm also not as aggressive with my cross-training this time, preferring to stick to lifting and walking, rather than biking a ton of miles. I'm hopeful this will allow me to train without injury so I don't miss out on either of my planned races.

Changing topics now....this is my favorite time of the year. The humidity in Iowa moves out, the mornings are crisp and college football kicks off. With a full schedule ahead I'm hopeful for a better year from my Hawkeye's. Something very unusual is happening this fall however...it's September 1st and my Cubbies are leading the NL Central (very rare in my 40 year lifetime).

All is right with the world, at least for this morning. Hopefully the Hawks are successful in Chicago and the Cubs can sustain some momentum for the stretch run.

NYC by Captain Mayhem at Flickr
Wrigley Field by Damon Green at Flickr

First Official Training Week Highlights

Over the last 48 days I have really enjoyed running and getting my body used to doing more than pushing a stroller and climbing a flight of stairs or two. My 890 plan is at day 728, leaving just 162 days until I lace up the shoes for an early morning 26.2 mile run.

This morning I ran 5.2 miles, a route that I've made myself very familiar with over the last couple of years, but this morning was different. Recently I bought a new pair of running shoes, putting my Brook's Beasts aside for this Asics model saved me 5 oz per shoe and they feel great. Today on my run I felt stronger than ever, my stride was easy and the hills that I used to dread I climbed with much more ease.

All this had my mind turning toward my race and as I ran I began visualizing the course, the finish line and anticipating the sense of accomplishment I'm sure I'll have. When my wife ran the Rock 'n' Roll 10 years ago I was there to cheer her on at a couple points and the finish line. For my race I hope to have her and our two children there to root for me.

Up until earlier this week I have usually shied away from running with others out of fear of being so slow that I'd hold them back...but I discovered the perfect compromise. As we were visiting the kid's grandmother in Moline, IL I went for a run through the John Deere headquarters property (which I highly recommend, very beautiful, nice hills, two deer watched me as I circled the lake).

As I got back to the house I found the route wasn't as long as I was shooting for so I headed out again but this time the kids wanted to run with me...my 7 and 4 year olds. By this time in my run I was going slow enough for them to keep up with me for a bit.

My daughter ran .6 miles in flip flops and my 4 year old son ran .3 miles. They both commented that they could walk almost as fast as I was running (told you I was slow, but I wasn't going that slow, honestly). Anyway, bottom line was that this little part of my run was the best part of the whole thing. Running with them gave me energy and it was fun to see them enjoying running too. I'm going to try to have them go with me for short sections when ever I can.


Running Shoes by RLivsey at Flickr
Deere Aerial Shot borrowed from the John Deere Website

Music to My Ears

Yesterday morning as I headed out the door for a Saturday run I had my iPod in hand and was searching for some music to jump start my heart and run. As I scrolled I hit my patriotic play list by accident but it wound up being an awesome choice.

God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner, The Stars and Stripes Forever, My Country! 'Tis of Thee, are all awesome songs that evoke my pride in this great country of ours. I don't know about you but I'm the kind of guy that gets chocked up singing the national anthem and these songs really do get me moving.

So while I was hoping to find something out of a Rocky movie I found these songs, and I know next time I get out and run with the iPod I'll do it again.

Later that day I was driving to Kansas City for a quick visit and a strong sense of patriotism struck me once again as I kept seeing all the bumper stickers and ribbon magnets with slogans like "God Bless America", or "Support Our Troops".

Those three hours were really a great opportunity for me to reflect on how blessed I am, my family is, how blessed we all are to be citizens of the greatest country on earth and it made me mad as hell to think of those who would seek to harm us from abroad and from within.

Anyway, next time I'm out for a run not only will I be pulling up the patriotic tunes on the iPod but I'll be looking for flags, bumper stickers, men and women in uniform to thank and I'll be counting my blessings all over again.

Flag at Flickr by Yakk0odotorg
Ribbon at Flickr by Jason Eppink

Our First Foster Experience

My wife and I are newly licensed foster parents and back in March of this year we took our first placement. I'm glad to report that the young child returned home to mom recently after about four months with us.

I have to admit that going into foster parenting I held many stereotypes about parents who would behave in ways that would end up causing them to lose their children. What I learned through our first experience is that these stereotypes aren't true in every case.

I'm so glad that we had the child we did because this mom did everything she was directed to do. She acomplished a nice list of things during our time with them, she didn't miss or show up late to a single doctor appointment, she didn't show any resentment toward our family and was very thankful for our help.

I'm really thankful she was our first mom because they are not all going to be so perfect, and its during those placements that I'll need to recall our experience with her to maintain our faith in the system.

Boy on Shoulder by David Zentz at Flickr

Tools for the Journey

I have to admit I'm new to this whole social networking phenomenon, but the more I learn, the more I enjoy it, and the more time I'm spending online. An article I just read online said that "social networking is quickly becoming the dominant online behavior globally". I can see why...I'm addicted already and I've been at it for a little over a week now.

I mention this explosion in social networking because I wanted to share my excitement about a site I was referred to by some friends. If you haven't checked out http://www.sparkpeople.com/ yet you should...especially if you're interested in getting your weight/fitness back under control like I am.

It's totally free and adds the social networking component to fitness. I've tried diets or exercise plans on my own in the past and failed, but I'm really looking forward to the social aspect of the communities I have joined.

Feel free to check out my page on sparkpeople, build one of your own and keep in touch. It's tools like these that I know will keep me motivated when my tank is running low. Today I'm on a real fitness high. I ran 5k at lunch, I stuck to my meal plan and lifted/core trained in the evening. I have nearly 25 lbs to lose to get down to my goal weight and its tools like these that will make my journey all the more sweet.

Computer monitors on Flickr by Random Connections

Dumbbells on Flickr by Josh Rokman

One Mile at a Time

It feels so great to be running again, I can hardly believe that I stayed away so long.

A little over a year a go I was celebrating achieving my goal of dropping from 197 to 175 lbs through exercise and watching what I eat (not a diet by any means), I ran the largest 20k race in the US (finishing third to last in my age group), and I was feeling great.

Since then I’ve been using every excuse I could come up with to not stay on that horse:

* I was injured (true but not for a whole year)

* I had too much work to do (ditto)

* the demands of a family keep me from fitting it in (how is it that my wife can get up at 5am every day to fit her work outs in then?)

* blah, blah, blah. (Maybe you’ve been there)

Well since I’ve laced the running shoes back up three weeks ago I’ve:

* been feeling great

* got my energy back

* reduced my stress

* gotten some of the best sleep I’ve ever had

* been able to focus better at home and work

* had one person tell me I looked like I am losing weight

* rediscovered that “I’m a Runner” again

I’ll be updating my miles walked, ran and biked on the left side of my blog under “890 Progress”. I’m nearing 1,000 miles (the equivalent of driving from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.). I’m planning on participating in two races in the coming months so I’ll be posting on my training progress as well, with the big race being on my 40th birthday, Super Bowl Sunday 2008 in Huntington Beach, California.

Finally I want to give a special word of thanks to my friends Amy and Tom at Runners’ Lounge for encouraging me daily and being the voice of the running community.

I'm going to take it one mile at a time, enjoy every one of them and visualize myself crossing the finish line strong.

Man Running on Flickr by Sansartore

Finisher on Flickr by Sosidesc

Plea to Adoptive Parents

As I mentioned in previous posts I was adopted at birth by two of the most wonderful people God has ever given breath to. There hasn’t been a single day that I didn’t feel loved and supported in every way by either of them, but I want to share my perspective and experience in case there are adoptive parents considering doing what my parents chose to do.

They kept the fact that I was adopted a secret from me.

I didn’t find out until I was trying to enlist in the Air Force in high school, and I was told sitting in the recruiter’s office at age 17. There had been clues throughout my childhood that never occurred to me to be credible so I didn’t question it, so finding out this way hit my like a brick.

I had a couple really important conversations with my mom and dad that day, and it took me about 2 days to snap out of the disbelief, but the point I kept coming back to was that knowing I was adopted didn’t change anything. If anything I felt more loved knowing that I had been chosen. I may have been an ‘accident’ to some other woman, but to my parents I was a gift from God.

My advice to adoptive parents is simple…
* be up-front with the child
* raise them to know about their history
* celebrate the fact they were adopted

They won’t love you any less and they won’t be any less committed to you…so don’t fear the notion that some day they may want to search for their birth-mother (which they may do, and I’ll save my story about this for another time)...because even if they do they are still your child.

My mom will always be my mom and my dad will always be my dad, and the fact that we don’t share DNA has nothing to do with that. Period.

Holding Hands on Flickr by Jedi Andy

Blessings in Disguise

Yesterday my seven year old daughter read my tribute to my dad and saw his Marine photo on the internet. Being impressed with the uniform and how handsome he looked she asked why I was never a Marine. I love it when she asks good questions.

I come from a long line of military men on both sides of my family, mostly Navy and Marine men, all of whom served with honor. The VFW hall was an important gathering spot during my bringing up years and so when I was in high school I decided I wanted to serve as well, but in the Air Force (rebel I know).

I met with a recruiter and initiated the process and was sent to Des Moines to be processed, poked and prodded and prepared for enlistment following graduation. The only problem was that for the previous 6 years or so I had suffered from debilitating migraine headaches. So sitting across the desk from the doctor as he reviewed my medical records I was asked "How often do you get these headaches?" to which I replied “Just 2 or 3 times per year.”

As he reached in his drawer and pulled out a big stamp he said "That's 2-3 times to many son.", and with that he stamped my file "Rejected", handed me the file and told me to follow the colored line on the floor that lead me to be discharged. A bus ticket was issued and I was on my way back home.

Clearly it was not God’s plan for me to serve in the Air Force and I’m thankful because of how different I’d have to guess my life would have been. I wouldn’t have gone to college right away, I wouldn’t have started dating my wife and wouldn’t have the great kids I have today.

I explained to my daughter that even though I was disappointed at the time I realize that it was the right decision because had I been in a situation where another persons life was at risk and I had been stricken with a headache I would have put that person further at risk.

The lesson for my daughter was that it's okay to not always get what you want, when you want it, and that with a little patience we usually discover that it turns out for the best. This lesson isn’t easy for a 39 year old to come to grips with, let alone a 7 year old, but it will be one I can come back to over the coming years as she grows.

Ten More Minutes

Okay, I wrote about my hero last week and mentioned at the end that I wish I had paid homage to my mom before she died. I have very few regrets from the first 39 years of life but this is truly one of them. So, today I’m pondering what I tell my mom if I had just ten more minutes with her.

· I would ask the most important question any person can answer. Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ and have you accepted Him as your savior? I came to Christ after she passed so this is a conversation that never happened. This side of glory I will not know the answer.

· I would tell her how thankful I am that she and my father chose to adopt me as their son, giving me a great childhood and teaching me so much. Heaven only knows how different my life would be today had they not, and I will forever be grateful.

· I’d tell her how sorry I am that I was such a self-centered teenager. The cases are too many to mention.

· I would tell her how sorry I am that I was not there to hold her hand as she passed away. I mentioned I have few regrets in my life but this is at the top of the list. I wish I had that summer to do over.

I guess my bottom line in writing these out is to emphasize that life is short, you won’t always have tomorrow to tell those you love all there is to say. I know my mom was proud of me and loved me, but it’s painful to think that she may not have known that I felt the same way about her.

Tell them today, call them now, write them, get in the car and drive over to them…right now. Turn the computer off, the radio off, the TV off and go do it.

Mommy is smarter than Daddy!

Recently my seven year daughter old made a bold statement about her intelligence which, in the end, left me feeling all the "dumber" and motivated to run at the same time. Her simple claim was that she was smarter than her four year old brother because she “can read and he can’t”.

Here’s how the conversation went, and how it went down hill for me:

Mom speaking to Daughter: “Honey you can read because you’re older, not because you’re smarter.”
Dad speaking to Daughter: “If you follow that logic honey you’d have to conclude that your mom is smarter than I am”. I said with a grin of disagreement.
Daughter: “She is smarter than you dad because she works out, and that’s smart, and you don’t, and that’s not smart.”
Son: “Yeah dad.”
Dad: “Ouch.”

From there I spent 10 minutes trying to come up with some way these two smartallecs would have to agree that their dad was smarter than their mom. Years in school? No, I lose by 2. Degrees earned? No, I lose by one, plus she's a lawyer. Languages spoken? No, but in my own defense Pig Latin shouldn't really count.

With the respect of my dear children fading I gave up and said "Well I can still run faster, and lift more" to which she said "Yeah but she can run further". I still lost.

All joking aside the kids should be very proud of their mother. She is the smartest person I know, and we're all smarter because she's part of the family. I hope they both end up with her brains and her work ethic...but I'm here to tell you that I'm closing the "intelligence gap" every time I go for a run or a walk or get on the bike.

If you're struggling with a lack of motivation when it comes to getting out and moving your body just remember that "exercising is smart, and not exercising isn't."

My Recent Journey

It was about two years ago that I was complaining to my wife about how I had no energy and how this and that was aching, and in a way that only she can, she looked at me and said "Don't you think you should be in the best shape of your life when you turn 40 years old?

She was right, and that night laying in bed a hatched a plan. An 890 day plan that would end with me running my first marathon on my 40th birthday....SuperBowl Sunday 2008. Being fairly sedentary at that point I started slow. I walked and cut out a few foods without really dieting. Then one day I decided to just run a block to see how I'd feel and to my surprise I felt great.

Long story short I set a few goals and tracked everything I ate, every mile I walked, ran or biked, every sit up and push up I did. It worked great, sort of. I ran a couple of organized races and lost 22 lbs overall, and got my body pretty close to high school shape.

Looking back I didn't set the right goals though because once I hit my weight goal and ran a few races I started losing interest. It's been a number of months that I've been off my 890 day plan and shamefully I have to admit that I've put all the weight back on and my pants are tighter than ever.

I've learned that for me to sustain long term success the goal can't be a number (goal weight or miles run, or goal pace - those are great milestones and reasons to celebrate but not much more), it has to be a direction. I've been back on my 890 plan for a week now, and I'm starting over again slowly. The test of my success this time isn't going to be if I finish a marathon (http://www.runsurfcity.com/site3.aspx) on February 3, 2008, it will be the next week when I'm sore and feeling proud and not so motivated to run in Iowa winter weather.

I know I'm not alone on this journey (I do have friends supporting me http://blog.runnerslounge.com/ ) and I'm hoping that by stepping out into the bloggesphere I'll meet others I can encourage. If you're training for your first marathon please write and let me know how you're doing, I'd love to visit your blog and share in your journey as well.

My Hero

For more than thirty-nine years my father has been my hero so I thought it fitting to use my inaugural blog entry to obey the fifth commandment and honor my father.

He and my mother adopted me as a new born, and there hasn't been a day in my life that I haven't felt worthy of his choosing.

In many ways he's an average mid-western American father, but the likes of him are becoming more and more rare.

I recently presented this note I called "Semper Fi" to him, I hope he wouldn't mind me sharing it with the world.

“Semper Fi”

A Marine is above all else…”always faithful”.
My Dad is a Marine, he’s always been a Marine.

As a boy, his faithfulness was born on the farm,
as a teen, his faithfulness defended our nation,
as a man, his faithfulness clocked in year after year,
as a son and nephew, his faithfulness was to the end,
as a brother, his faithfulness always encourages,
as a husband, his faithfulness found a solemate,
as a father, his faithfulness always instructs,
as a grandfather, his faithfulness carries on,
as a great-grandfather, his faithfulness yet abounds.

Five generations have been changed because of
my Dad.

I’ve never been a Marine, but I’m glad he is.
My Dad is the perfect example of what it means
to be faithful, and there is no greater gift a
man can give his family or his nation.

I’m proud to call you my Dad,
May God always bless you.

Semper Fi

If you have stories you'd like to share about how you have honored your mother or father I'd love to hear them.

If you haven't made the effort to honor your mother or father, I encourage you to do so. Don't wait, do it today. I wish I had been wise enough to do so for my mom before she passed.