Warrior Dash

First race of 2012.

Dirtiest race of 2012.

I took a trip down to Florida to see some friends and get some Disney back in my life, but the reason why I went when I did was for a little race called Warrior Dash.

For those of you rookies who don't know, Warrior Dash is approximately a 5K race filled with lots of obstacles and even more mud. Only true warriors survive... (Insert dramatic tones here)

Ready... GO!

The massive group started running on the trail until we reached the first obstacle - mud. And we're not talking soggy dirt, we're talking sink to your knees quicksand mud, everybody getting stuck, losing shoes, and trudging their way through. In a couple sections. For about 10 minutes. Easily the most exhausting part of the race, and it came within the first few minutes.

Then came Barricade Breakdown - a series of fences to hop over and barbed wire to crawl under. This was my favorite obstacle of the race!

Then came the Teetering Traverse (up and down balance beams), A junkyard filled with tires and cars to get over...

... giant walls, dirt mounds, ponds, streams, cargo nets, tightropes... all in the name of dirty fun.

The race was difficult, but so much fun! The obstacles were a blast - they gave me a rush that I haven't had since high school football workouts. So many people were timidly approaching each obstacle, eeking their way through. Not me. I went all out and conquered each one, considerably faster than most people. It also became apparent as I tuck and rolled face first into the final obstacle (pictured above). This got a lot of cheers from the crowd! An amazingly memorable day with my great friend Amma.

And yes, at one point my shirt was white.

"Today I will do what others won't

so tomorrow I can do what others can't"

Excuse Me

As I wrap up the first week of 2012, I have been thinking about how rejuvenated I feel. Over the past week, I have gotten back into running routines, reading routines, and had enough time to do some of the the things that I love. Things that escaped me a bit during the latter half of 2011.

As I springboard into the new year, I have chosen the following phrase to live by for the year:

I have realized more and more that I succumb to excuses when things aren't ideal. Here's a few examples:

Fitness: I am a HUGE sufferer of the "my diet starts tomorrow" illness. So if I am not giving my all, I slip up, believing that I can just turn a switch on. To an extent, I can... but it gets harder and harder every time. It's so easy to watch a movie rather than go for a run. It's so easy to run to McDonald's late at night rather than cook dinner or fix a snack. And when I got banged up a bit toward the end of 2011, I was content to just take it easy rather than to find other ways to stay healthy. I've always had this all-or-nothing mentality that seems to trip me up.

Reading: I am "too busy" became my excuse. Granted, I have a lot going on, but if this is something that is truly valuable to me (which it is), I should find consistent time to do it. I have restarted the early morning/late at night routine that allows me to start and end most days with some quality books.

Work: Something I rarely (if ever) write about on here. I noticed as I started this position, I found myself to be content with letting things happen and taking things as they come. There has been some frustration with figuring out a new position and my role in it, and when things haven't been ideal, I was quick to blame outside things. The best thing I realized over the past few months was how much my attitude affected my work, my happiness, and my life. So I made (and am continuing to make) a shift in my attitude, and it has made a huge difference. Instead of taking things as they come and rolling with the punches, it's time to make things happen.

This has become a growing trend in my life, and something that I am not used to. I have never really let excuses control my actions, and this recent string of them has taken its toll.

So as I start the new year on a positive note, I realize there is only one way I can be successful and ride this momentum. And that is by finding the joy every day, and putting all of myself into everything that I do - and not letting things get in the way. No Excuses will become my mantra that I live by. So that way, when either the world ends or we welcome in 2013, I can look back on this past year and truly feel that I did everything I could to make this thing called life a little more special.

12 for '12

Last year, I wrote down a bunch of goals for myself for 2011.

I accomplished some of them, I did not accomplish others. I'm ok with that. But what it did is cause me to intentionally think about the things I was doing. Not just in January, but throughout the whole year. As I look back on last year's list, the only thing I don't like is how a few of them were simply items to check off. One-time events that crossed off just like a day on a calendar.

Not a bad thing, and most of them were pretty monumental moments of my life, but for this year I want something a little different. So each item is something that takes a lot of time to complete, if not the entire year. So when I look back at this time next year, I can truly be proud that I spent an entire year working at each of these things.

1. Get down to 210, then never get back above 220. I started 2011 at 270. Shortly before that, I peaked at 284. I ended 2011 at 235. This has been one of the biggest focuses of the past year, even with off and on consistency. I am sick of feeling unhealthy, and this is one of the best ways I can do that. To me, the number isn't as important as how I feel and what I can accomplish physically, and this is the first step in accomplishing some of the things I want.

2. Run a race every month. I made the race-every-month goal last year, and the best thing it did is keep me accountable. If I had a bad month, I still got out and ran. And each time it didn't go well, it was a wake up call. Each time it went well, I got more and more motivated. I have to up it from last year's intention to run a 5K every month. For 2012, I want either 5 mile or 10K to be the standard. I will run 5K's only when I want to try for a new PR, it is a really AWESOME race, or (most importantly) I get my friends to run with me, especially if it is their first time.

3. Run a half marathon. If it goes well, run one in spring, summer, and fall. This is to me the most ambitious one. When I set lofty goals like this, they usually happen more slowly than I anticipate. So the official goal is one. Unofficial goal is 3. We will see.

4. Climb 5 14ers. Because once you climb one, you just can't stop.

5. Ski Keystone, Breckenridge, A Basin, Vail, and Beaver Creek. Hit each mountain of my ski pass at least once. Because I can.

6. Go to a Broncos, Avalanche, Rockies, Nuggets, and Rapids game. Sports are my life.

7. Join a sports league. Because they're fun, and there's nothing I'd rather do every week than play a fun sport with my friends.

8. Present at a professional conference. The transition from grad school into year one of my job made it more difficult to participate in conferences and other student affairsy things. I miss it. This technically is a goal for the 2012-13 school year, but let's try to make it happen in 2012!

9. Discover or rediscover a creative outlet. Spend more time doing things that challenge me and I enjoy. Right now, I'm thinking this could be artistic like photography, drawing, or painting, as well as musical, like guitar or piano. Things that I love that I have struggled to dedicate my time to. Better now than ever.

10. Read 50 Books. Same goal as last year. I read 30 1/2. Not even close, but I read a whole bunch of amazing books. Same attempt. Probably same results.

11. Visit 5 new states/countries. The more places I go, the tougher it gets, but it's always exciting to think about new adventures.

12. Smile and laugh. A lot. Because that is what life is really about.

Yes, 2012 is going to be a good year...

That is, until the world ends in December.

What a year...

2011 truly was an amazing year!

As each year comes to a close, I like to take a look back to see the adventure that has been.

In January, I set a bunch of goals (see below) to help me accomplish some of the things I was looking for in my life. I spent several days at Disney. I ran a couple of 5K's and discovered that running was more than just something to do - it quickly became a hobby, a passion, and a way of life. I continued on my grad school adventure, graduating in May.

I packed up everything and crammed it into my Pontiac G6, and set off for a new adventure in Denver, Colorado. I finally broke the 30 minute 5K. I started a new job. I played A LOT of volleyball. I played in the mountains. I lost a bunch of weight. I ran my first 10K. I took some great trips.

And I met some of the most amazing people in the world.

Not a bad way to spend a year...

Here's a check in for how my goals for 2011 went:

1. Accomplish (as much as I can of) the Florida List - Made some great memories on the way out

2. Earn another 4.0 spring semester - It was easy, but it still felt good :)

3. Become a Master (graduate from grad school) - You're looking at Jeff Parker, M.Ed.

4. GET A JOB - Sweet home Colorado

5. Read 50 Books - I was on pace through June, but then moved to CO and started my new life there. That whole reading thing didn't keep up. But in 2011 I read 30 1/2 (mostly) amazing books

6. Run a race every month (mostly 5K, some 5K w/ obstacles, & hopefully a 10K+) - I ended up running 13 5Ks and 2 10Ks

7. More running goals- Run 211 miles, run for 10 miles, sub-7:00 mile - 162, 6.2, 8:30 - nope, but on my way!

8. Complete P90X (I was 0/4 in 2010) - Not even close

9. Lose 50+ lbs. - I've lost 50 total, but only 35 in 2011. I'm ok with that.

10. Visit 5 new states/countries - Oregon & Colorado, but lots of new experiences in states I've already been to. A great year for travel

11. Smile and laugh. A lot. Always

1,000 Words

While at home in Minneapolis, I was sent yet another email wanting me to order pictures from a race that was... 9 months ago. I looked at it again, and just laughed.

I asked my brother, "Is it possible to have a picture taken during a race that looks good?"

Clearly the answer is no.

Here's a look at a few of the images that were captured for all of eternity.

Maybe my goal for 2012 will be to learn how to run more attractively.

Why I Run

I've been reflecting on why I run, why it matters to me, and why I've missed it while I've been out of commission for the past month and a half.

When it came time to explain it as part of a Christmas present, here is what came out:

Running has been a big part of my life (off and on). The very first time I chose to go running was in high school when I weighed 275 pounds and was suffering from depression. I needed to get my life together, so I took a step. Then another. And slowly, it became my way of life. When I felt lost, frustrated, angry, or scared, I would lace up my shoes and head to the road. The paved trails became the place where I would clear my head and reflect on my life. The wooded trails became my solace. At this point in my life, running was my way of finding myself.

Then, over the years, I lost touch with it. I was so inconsistent – two months on, six months off. Five months on, a year off. So on and so forth. My weight fluctuated, and although I lost a ton of weight in high school, I gained it all back. Until in grad school, I stood on a scale and the number that stared back at me scared me. 284. I went home and cried. And for the second time in my life, I turned to running to get my life back on track. One step at a time, I trudged my way to ½ mile, to ¾, to a mile, to 3, to 5+. Running has served two purposes during this phase of my life over the past year. First, to drop weight and become healthier. I have lost over 50 pounds, and still have a ways to go before I’m totally happy. I remember walking up a flight of stairs in Florida and being completely out of breath by the time I hit the top. I couldn’t live like that anymore. So I pushed myself to make that change. The second purpose came when I ran my first race last December. It struck something in me, and ended up changing my life. It hit my competitive spirit like few things ever have, and it became almost an addiction. Something that I will continue to do for a long time. The funny thing is, I don’t even call myself a runner... I just do it for two reasons: to find myself and push myself. The challenge of pushing yourself to run farther and faster is amazing, and with every race, I feel an incredible sense of accomplishment every time I cross the finish line.

Like nothing or nobody can stop me.

Stepping it up in 2012

This year (and the end of 2010) has been an amazing chance to rediscover my love for running.

I went from not being able to run a mile to running a 5K every month to running 10K's. I went from huffing and puffing and feeling like I want to die after a half mile to feeling energized after 6 miles. I went from 284 to 233 as I write this. Tears of agony and defeat turned into feeling inspired and motivated.

2011 was about running for fitness, for weight loss, and to get my life back on track. I ran a 5K every month (with a few 10K's sprinkled in toward the end) so I could have consistency and accountability in my life. Even when I would have a crappy month, I would still push myself, if even for a day.

2012 will take this momentum to the next level. It will be about running to push myself to my limits. For the love of running. To see what I am capable of. And not to run races just to run races - to find ones that I will remember for the rest of my life.

My race schedule for 2012 is already filling up. Here's what I've committed to so far.

January - Once my credit card turns over to next month, I am booking a flight to Florida and doing the Warrior Dash

March - I will be running the Canyonlands 5 Mile race in Moab, UT surrounded by the beauty of Arches National Park

May - Today, I just signed up for my first half marathon. Colorado Half Marathon in Fort Collins - named the most scenic and fastest race in America. Training starts in February.

June - I will be doing the Tough Mudder - a 10+ mile race up the side of a mountain with crazy obstacles.

2012 is going to be a big year for my running. Hopefully my body got the memo and can keep up. I'm looking forward to the adventures...

...one mile at a time

Listen to your Body

Disclosure: I am the type of person who never listens to his body. When I hurt myself, I usually hurt for a while, because I continue to do the things that I did to get to that point without letting myself heal entirely.

Here's just a few quick examples:

-I hurt my tricep playing volleyball in the spring of 2010. I can still feel it when I tweak it just right a year and a half later.

-My shoulder has hurt for about 3 months now from playing volleyball. Too much. Do I let it heal? Unless playing 5 hours of volleyball per day a few times a week counts as healing...

-About 2-3 months ago, I jammed my toe playing volleyball. It hurt a lot. This constant pain, but not enough to get in the way of anything I was doing. So I kept running. I kept playing volleyball. It kept hurting a little. Turns out it was broken the whole time. (See below)

In case you can't tell yet, I am smart.

On November 6, I ran a 10K. Aside from the butt kicking I took as a result of the course, my body felt fine. My legs felt fine. November 6th was good.

November 7, not so much. My right foot started throbbing. Like, difficulty walking throbbing.

November 8, more of the same. Something is seriously wrong. I'm going to go get it checked out if i don't feel any better tomorrow.

Each day after, things got progressively better. So naturally, things were ok in my book. I played a basketball game. Fine.

I went running. Foot hurt for 3 days. Uh Oh. Time to listen.

So, for the first time in a decade, I went to a chiropractor. Aside from the "used-car salesman" vibe I got from him, I got some pretty good information. But after 2 trips, I decided to try going to someone else.

My new doctor is freaking amazing. 1. He knows his stuff. 2. He is blunt, sarcastic, and we spend our sessions joking around. Done!

Then came the x-ray consultation.

Wake up call.

Some of my vertebrae have lost the separation that is normal.

I have a bow in my spine. Both my lower back and upper back curve to one side.

My hips are misaligned. One is a little crooked and .82mm higher than the other.

And that toe injury I've had for 2-3 months was fractured. Officially.

All of those things combined, it has thrown off my neck, back, hips, knee, ankle, and foot. Hence the throbbing foot.

They both suggested 2 visits a week for 6 months to a year.

A few quotes from the chiropractor:

"This is what I call an LLC - Looks Like Crap"

"This didn't happen overnight, this is at least 10 years in the making"

"You're 26, you shouldn't look like this..."

But 2 of the best quotes I received when I went yesterday:

"This is mostly fixable"

"I need you to start running again, so I can see how your knee reacts"

So I've been listening to my body, taking it easy, and getting it checked out. And although it's not the greatest, there's plenty of optimism.

Now, it's up to me to do the little things to help my body make this turnaround:

-Work on my posture

-Wear a lighter backpack

-Ice and stretch after workouts

-Start taking yoga classes

-Wear an insole to lift my foot

So many things that lead to living a healthier life.

Ok, body... I finally hear you calling.

Sorry it took me so long to listen.

525,600 Minutes

How do you measure a year in the life?

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of when I started this blog.

To me, it was no big deal. Just a fun way to document some of the things that have been going on in my life. A sort of virtual scrapbook to keep track of the important things, and maybe a chance for friends and family living across the country to be updated.

I never expected it to be anything more than that. Yet some of the feedback I have received has been overwhelming to say the least. I have had friends tell me that it inspires them to do things they wouldn't normally do. I have had friends tell me that it encourages them to take risks they wouldn't normally take. It has sparked some conversations that I will remember forever. This was even included in an email from an amazing friend:

Also, I wanted to mention your blog. I think the world would be a much better place if more people looked at life like an adventure and appreciate all the little things in life the way you do. I still remember one post you made about your doubts with creating a blog because no one would read it or be interested in it. But trust me, your blog is worth reading. I admit, I have gone back and read some of your old posts, and they are just the boost I need to stop being lazy, grab life by the horns and make things happen. Like your running stuff…I started running like 2 years ago to get into shape and I sucked at first, but I’ve been trying to get better because I actually enjoy the “not being able to breathe, my legs are burning, and I have so many cramps I can’t keep going” feeling…haha, it somehow always feels worth it in the end. I got so inspired by reading your blogs about your struggles and up and downs with running that I have been training all summer so far…and my roommate said she would sign me up for my first 5K once school starts!!! I’m nervous because I know my time will not be good because running just isn’t for me…but I’m working to get better, and well, I have to start somewhere…so I’m looking forward to it :) So keep updating your blog because I will keep reading it!! :)

I have been floored by some of the responses I have gotten.

Several times, I have questioned why I should even bother... but those responses are why.

Let's take a look back over what the past year has included:

-I saw a couple of the best concerts in my life

-I was in my first wedding

-I ran my first 5K. And 10K. I ran. A lot.

-I finished grad school.

-I went to Disney. A lot.

-I moved to Colorado.

-I lost 50 pounds

-And so many other unforgettable experiences

And for the few people I inspired, there were countless more that inspired me. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing my journey with me :)

The Human Experience

Last night, I watched one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen.

The Human Experience is an incredible film following two brothers and some friends in search of finding meaning in their lives through having different experiences and perspectives. One of their main premises is that you are unable to understand someone's situation until you take the time to understand. To live it. To be it.

A film asking the ever challenging question: What does it mean to be human?

Their experiences take them to different parts of the world: NYC, Peru, and Ghana, and they encounter people from so many different walks of life. Many of their experiences involve interactions with survivors - homeless, abandoned children, lepers - many of whom simply try to make it from each day of the next. What do they have to live for? What is their purpose? What makes them wake up in the morning?

One of the biggest things I took away from the stories shared in the film is how special life is. Having suffered from depression, there were several times in my life where I was unable to see this, and I still find myself searching for my own purpose. Through these stories, you are reminded of a more primitive purpose that many of us forget - that every day and every life is special, and as long as there is life, there is a life worth living. So many of the people featured have nothing - no home, no families, many with diseases or deformities, and have been all but thrust out of society - yet they believe that every day they wake up, they have a purpose.

So many times, we get so caught up in ourselves that we lose sight of each other. We get so bogged down in the day-to-day and the here-and-now that we forget the bigger picture. No life is more valuable than anyone else's. There is no better or worse, only different. We are all connected in some way. We all a story to tell. Once we remember that, the question then becomes

do you take the time to listen?

Trailer for The Human Experience

Go watch the movie now.