Where Do I Go From Here?

So I have finished my first triathlon, my first marathon, and my first full year of weight loss.  So where do I go from here?  What do I do now?  Of course we all know the answer.  The answer is to "Keep on Truckin'..."

I have spent much of my life starting things but never really finishing or following through.  I was always good at starting things, but always seem to fall flat when it was time to continue. Well, not this time!  The stakes are far too important.  This is my life we are talking about and I am not about to let my past dictate my future!  I will continue on with my plans to complete a half ironman, ironman, and ultramarathon. And after that, then I will find something else, something to keep me looking forward in life rather than behind me.

I am sure many of you are probably saying "why is he making such a big deal about this?" Well, it's because I have to keep realizing that I have a new life to live and sometimes, I feel that if I dont make a big deal out of how my life has changed, maybe I will get lazy and fall back into a the "old me" way of thinking. 

Therefore, I am getting focused and prepared for my next four events that are in June and July.  They are the Southern Indiana Triathlon, Warrior Dash, Bluegrass 10K, and the Buckhead Border Triathlon.  I have also updated my Google Calendar to reflect my upcoming races and events for the remainder of the year.  Its time to get motivated and start pushing myself again!  I also signed up to be a volunteer for the Louisville Ironman at the end of August.  I can't wait and will defintely be motivated for that event!

Anyway, I have not only found something that I hope, once and for all, that I can stick with, but also something that I can push myself to get better at.  I am loving the new life that I have and loving the chance to do things that I never even thought possible.  You  have heard the saying, "Dream the impossible dream."  Well, that is really what the last year has been for me... An impossible dream. But I now am starting to realize that maybe it wasn't so impossble after all. This new life has been here waiting for me all along, just counting the time it would take for me to step up and find it. 

The great thing about losing this weight and trying to stay healthly, is the people you meet along the way.  I don't mean the triathletes, endurance runners, cyclists, fitness instructors, coaches or anything like that. Those people are absolutely great too, but I am talking about the people who have also stood in the same shoes, and have done the same things I have.  I am talking about the other people that have changed their lives by weight loss.  I have met people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and even 60's, that have lost over 100 lbs. and changed their life.  Even though there may be a large age difference between these people, there is always one thing we have in common and it's the way we look at life now.  Everyone I have met looks at life as if, for the first time, they just started living.  Their value of life is so much diffferent; you get to do things that you have never been able to do before.  It's not like saying that you used to run only a couple miles, and now you can run a marathon.  It's completely different, it's like saying I used not even be able to walk, and now I run until I say to stop.  It's amazing to meet people that have overcome such obstacles to get where they are now.

So for those of you who think that a new, healthier way of living is beyond you, or if you think your "prime" years are behind you...think again.

So, today, I am officially taking one of my first breaks of the Spring 2012 season! I am getting organized, motivated and prepared for what is in front of me. 

It's also Mother's Day and for all of you mothers out there.  I wish you a very happy, healthy, and relaxing Mother's Day! 

I am here looking forward, staying true to myself and my goals, and tomorrow, I will be running again...

WHEW!! What a Month April Has Been!!




 

The NEW Me at the Heart and Sole Tritahlon

 

The OLD Me.  Lucky to get off the couch...



 It all started January 10^th, 2011.  A very, very large man was looking through his Christmas 2010 photos. While he was looking through them, he saw someone he really didn’t recognize anymore.  He saw someone who was headed for a probable “abbreviated” life.  During the previous year in 2010, this guy was asked to exit an amusement park ride because the “extend-a-belt” (aka. fat boy belt) wouldn’t even fit over his stomach.  He even got winded after walking two flights of stairs. He had to get a belt with a small belt buckle because the belts that had a big belt buckle would leave a painful mark on his overlapping stomach. His idea of shopping for clothes consisted of elastic waistlines, and stretchy materials to hide his huge stomach and enormous love handles. He didn’t want to go to water parks because the site of him without a shirt was too horrific for even him to fathom. Does this sound ridiculous, sad, gross, or even pitiful? Well, it was all of those until he (me) decided I needed a change; a new life, a better life, an “un-abbreviated” life. 

Sure we can’t determine exactly when or how we will go, but we can certainly do something to try to make our life healthier, more enjoyable, and more rewarding.  That’s what I think I have done; I have made my life have more than just a beginning and an end. My life feels like it has meaning again, like I have a fresh slate at life. At 171 lbs. total weight lost, I feel amazing!  I have been taken off all medication (high blood pressure and cholesterol medications) because I have lost the weight and am eating right.

I just finished two weeks of some of the most challenging and rewarding times in my life.  I finished my first triathlon and my first marathon in back-to-back weekends.  I am sure some of you say “big deal,” but for me it has been an eye opening experience of how much fun my life has become. I like to do these races not just because they are fun, but mostly, because I now know that I can.

I finished my triathlon 27^th out of a little over 100 people, and also finished my marathon in half the pack of over 2000 people.  While I am not burning up any speed records, I have been having the time of my life.  I go to spinning and bike classes and I smile, because the endorphins kick in and I know I can push through any pain if needed.  I run hard for miles because I know I have some endurance. I swim laps upon laps in the pool because I know I can take it. I do pushups till it burns, and then I do more, because I know it is possible.  I have learned self-discipline because that is what it takes to change your life.  I am by no means saying that I can do anything at will, but I know I can do a lot more than I did last year at this time, and next year, I want to say the same thing, and so on and so on.

I know I will never stand on a podium and finish as a top triathlete, runner, swimmer, or cyclist, but I know I will have fun chasing those who do. So, for those of you who are podium finishers and top athletes, be aware, I am behind you, probably miles and miles behind you, but don’t stop, because I will always be there, pushing as hard as I can.

Chasing new goals, new dreams, but always pushing and running...