#22 - Ski a Bowl

Item #3 crossed off the 30 before 30 list!

And to be honest, this is the one that scared me the most.

My brother and I headed to Crested Butte for a day of skiing.  This is my first ski day in a little over a year, and my brother's first time ever skiing in Colorado.  After a run that included a couple solid blues, we hopped on the lift for our second run - straight for the double black diamonds.

"You ready for it?" I asked.
"Yea. Let's do it!" my brother replied.

We made our way over to the North Face lift where nothing but double blacks between us and the bottom.  Before this run, I would have told you that I'm a pretty solid skier, and Michael would have said he's really good, but that attitude changed over the next half hour.

We had to make our way through some trees to get to the run we wanted, which included some hiking.  Even before we got to the end, we were regretting this decision a little.

The trees finally waned and we made it to the top.  Our legs were already tired and we were exhausted from the hike, so we just sat and chilled for a bit before we would take on the run.  We watched a handful of people come and head down the slope - so we came up with a game plan, mostly trying to avoid the rocks and cliffs.

Spellbound Bowl

We started down the steepest ski run I have ever seen.  We slowly... and I mean SLOWLY meandered back and forth as the run turned into small moguls.  The powder made it impossible for us to maneuver, and we quickly realized we got in over our heads.  The highlight of this run came about halfway through.  Michael led the way, and as he turned, he had a little bit of a spill.  As he was getting back on his feet, it was my turn - I made my way around a mogul, and my ski stuck in the powder.  My body turned so I was facing backwards and instantly my skis stopped.  But my body kept going.  I wish I could describe how huge this wipeout was.  I literally launched about 15 feet straight down the mountain... backwards... and landed square on my back/neck.  As Joe Dirt would say, "luckily, my neck broke my fall."  The powder made for a soft landing, and after I brushed off my jacket and my ego, and I continued down.  We made our way to the bottom, where Michael let me lead the way, where I proceeded to ski into (and get stuck in) a giant dip in between a few of the runs.  As I saw the banks around me crawl way over my head, I yelled back to Michael to make sure he didn't follow me into this trench.  So after I got super warn out from the first bowl, I had to march 150' in thigh-high powder.  With every step I was getting more and more tired... and we were only half way done.













Phoenix Bowl

Now we knew what we were in for, but it didn't get much easier.  More of the hardest skiing we have ever done.  We slowly but surely made our way down, taking a few spills along the way, and the REAL expert skiers bounding by us, putting us to shame.  The last part of Phoenix turns into the steepest part of the entire run, and by this point, our legs were gone.  Finally, Michael finished the final stretch and waited for me at the bottom.  I made my move to make the final descent.  But this journey would not be complete without one last graceful wipeout.  As I headed down, my ski caught an edge and just popped off.  Sweet.  With only one ski on, the inevitable happened - I fell to the ground.  My body turned sideways and I thought I was going to stop.  But I didn't.  I kept turning and the steep incline pulled me down.  So I slid on my back head first.  And slid.  And slid.  Not very quickly, but I kept going.  It was like I was moving in slow motion but I couldn't do anything to stop it.  I finished the last 100-150 feet of the run slowly sliding backwards on my back.  I even had enough time to look around and yell to my brother (and some other guy who was waiting at the bottom) when I was about 3/4 of the way done sliding "Well... I guess THAT'S one way to get down..."

If I can't ski it well, the least I can do is provide a little entertainment.

Sigh.

But after a grueling ordeal, we made it.  Michael actually did a decent job, considering this was his second run ever in Colorado, and he was able to keep his street cred.  But me... not so much.  Not one of my finest showings, but I'm glad we did it, and I'm glad I put it on the list.

Because now I know to never do that again!

#20 - Bring Kristen to Disney World

My girlfriend Kristen has finally been to Disney World.

Last week we spent an unforgettable week in the Sunshine State, and after we took an obligatory visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to appease my favorite HP fan, we spent two wonderful days at the happiest place on earth.

Day 1 was EPCOT.  We started the morning off with a bang with some of the rides and attractions on the front end of the park.  After we spent a little bit figuring out how the new FastPass system works, we were off to explore!  After lunch, we headed to the countries around World Showcase.  After a jam packed but wonderful day, we were able to make it to everything we wanted to, lines were short, and it was an awesome day.  

K's Highlights:  Attractions:  Test Track & Soarin'.  Countries:  The American Adventure, Mexico, & Japan

Day 2 was Magic Kingdom.  No first trip to Disney is complete without a visit here.  It was slated to be our first theme part stop, but because of the weather not cooperating with us for a day and a half, we decided to make it our grand finale to our Florida trip.  And what a wonderful decision it was.

When we walked into the park, the instant smile on Kristen's face became bigger as she stared up at the castle.  Everyone else on the planet must have been waiting for the amazing weather, because this was one of the busiest Disney days I have ever experienced, but we found out that the park would be open until 1AM, so that became a relief that we wouldn't have to rush through everything with the wait times not working in our favor (despite the fact this old man can't really make it til 1AM any more...).  So I had to be strategic, do a few things we really could have skipped (I'm looking at you, Country Bear Jamboree), and do things like grab some Dole Whip to brave the hour long Jungle Cruise line.  But it ended up being great, because it forced us to take our time and really enjoy the experience, and because of the late closing, we waited until after the fireworks to crank out things we couldn't hit during the day like It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and the new Belle attraction.  It really was a magical day!

K's Highlights:  Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, the Electric Parade, and the Celebrate the Magic/Wishes Night Show

It's no secret that I have a deep love for Disney (maybe to a slightly unhealthy level), and I have since my first trip when I was 4 years old. A long time ago, I drank the Disney kool aid.  My two years spent living in Florida helped build an even deeper appreciation for it.  So needless to say, I was a little nervous about how much K would like it.  But as we came out of every ride and attraction (minus a small handful), her eyes gleamed and she talked about how much she liked it.  She said she had to consciously dig deep to let her little kid out, but once she was able to do that, she really fell into the magic.  And that's what Disney does to all of us- it makes the kid inside all of us shine for the day.  She even kept bringing up the "next time we come," and talked about her excitement to bring kids there once they're old enough to remember and appreciate Disney.  So although she may not have completely drank the Disney kool aid like her boyfriend, she definitely took a sip.  And as I watched her take in the experience and walked alongside her first Disney adventure, it was amazing to me to be able to watch her feel the magic.

Gasparilla Half Marathon

I traveled to sunny, beautiful Florida to conquer 13.1 miles with a friend of mine from grad school, Alyssa.

I have named this race "Proud Disappointment."

In the weeks leading up to the race, my training was struggling.  Not hitting all the runs I needed to with snow, slush, cold, and laziness.  I went into the race unprepared, but knowing that I would take this race easy.

I made it to Florida, headed to the expo, and got ready for the race.  The next morning, the alarm sounded at 4:15AM.  Alyssa and I headed to downtown Tampa and made our way to the starting line.  With bag checks a couple blocks away at the convention center, and with just a few minutes to go before race start, we had to hurry up and get ready.  Even at 6AM, the humidity was awful - I was sweating before the race even started, as we hit the starting line almost 10 minutes after the race started.  Because of the huge race size, there was still a steady flow getting started when we did.

The race course was beautiful - a five mile loop of Davis Island before the sun rose, and a four mile out-and-back stretch along Bayshore, a road that follows along the Tampa Bay.

Alyssa and I made it to the halfway point with relative ease, but then I started getting overheated.  The switch from zero humidity in Colorado to sauna was getting to be too much, and with every step, I was fading more and more.  At about mile 9, I had to stop to take a walk break.  At about 9.5, I started to feel the beginnings of some cramps.  The rest of the race was just that.  Run for a bit, walk for a bit, legs tighten up for a bit, repeat.  Lots of time to think about how much torture it was.  When we rounded the final corner, saw the finish line, and trudged our way toward the end, I don't think I've ever been more excited to see a finish line.  When it ended, it became one of the worst races for me, being my slowest half marathon by about 20 minutes.

My friend Alyssa and I are smiling because it's over!

But the race was more important to me for a different reason.  Three years ago when I started running, it was on that same route in Tampa.  So as I was running, I was thinking about the journey I have been on since then.  Down 60+ pounds, running almost 1000 miles, 47 races- including 5 half marathons, a Tough Mudder, and a marathon.  I have found a love for running, and it all started across the bay in St. Petersburg and along the exact route on Bayshore.  I kept thinking about the dozens of runs I had along the route when I couldn't even run two miles.  For me, this was my full circle run.  To return to the place it all started with how far I have come meant the world to me.  And as I crossed the finish line, I said a quick prayer of gratitude, not only for surviving the humid torture run, but for the journey I have been on these last 3+ years.  I am the person I am today because of the sweat that was poured on that concrete.  I am stronger.  I am faster.  I am more resilient.  I am better.  And because of everything I am because of it,

I am proud.

#24 - Complete certification that will help my career

Well ladies and gents, I have officially completed the first item on my 30 before 30 list.

This past week, I spent a couple days in Oklahoma City to participate in the ATIXA Title IX Investigator Training & Certification Course.  The course was centered around what to do in the instance of sexual misconduct claims, how universities need to respond, and how individuals should investigate.

These cases are tricky because of the sensitivity and volatility of the situations.  There are often times criminal proceedings that coincide with the university's adjudication of the case, not to mention the potential humanistic impacts of all parties involved, making each and every decision by the university extremely critical.  For years, schools have gotten it wrong, often trying to treat these cases like every other student conduct issue that crosses our desks, trying to cover up details to save face, and making many missteps along the way.  As a field, we've been trying to do the right thing, regardless of what that means down the road.  In cases of rape (or sexual assaults of any degree), there is one shot to do the right thing.

We learned about court cases that have shaped the current laws and policies that we have in place, the huge role that the investigator plays, how to treat all people involved with equity and be a neutral entity, and how to ensure the integrity of the process, regardless of what the outcomes are.  Insert a lot of graphic stories and examples, and a lot of nuances and subtleties to different situations, and it was a really heavy but informative weekend.  Unfortunately, we live in a world where this is a critical skill that higher ed administrators need to possess, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend.  I learned A LOT, and will be able to use this certification to be a better professional in my field.

30 Before 30

February 1st, 2014 - my 29th birthday.  One year until 30.  As I get closer to that milestone, I wanted to do something that will keep me motivated.  So I made a list... of 30 things I want to accomplish by my 30th birthday.  

Some of the things are big.  Some are small.  But all are important to me one way or another.

One year.  

Ready GO!

30 Before 30

1.  Read the Bible

Something I've never done, and I finally feel compelled to.  I can't wait to see what I discover inside.

2.  Run marathon #2 - sub- 5:00

In June I ran my first marathon, but it didn't go as well as I had hoped.  Time to do number two and be satisfied with how I run.

3.  Go white water rafting in CO

I live in a white water rafting paradise and I have not been since I moved here.  That needs to change.

4.  Visit Mesa Verde National Park & the 4 Corners

The last National Park in Colorado that I need to visit, and a really interesting place.

5.  Publish or Sell a Photograph

Taking a hobby of mine to a new level.

6.  Land a flip

I am scared to death of doing a flip.  Time to conquer the fear.

7.  Dive into a swimming pool

When I learned how to swim, I never learned how to dive right, and now it's a phobia.  

8.  Hike from Gothic to Aspen

To get from Gothic to Aspen, it's about a 6 hour drive around the mountains.  Or a 9 mile hike through them.  

9.  Take my family out to dinner

Something I've never been able to do in my financial state, and a small symbol of my appreciation for them.

10.  Get Baptized

Over the past year, my faith has emerged from the depths, and I'm ready to take the eternal plunge.

11.  Be Debt Free

Car.  Credit Cards.  Loans.  I want them all paid off.

12.  PR in 3 race distances: 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon

I have specific time goals in mind, but it's more important to me that I beat my current best times.

13.  Visit Kristen's parents in Idaho

We've explored Colorado and other states together, we've made the trek to Minnesota to see my family, and now we need to visit the place her parents call home.

14.  Complete a triathlon

Swim.  Bike.  Run.  I have the last one down, now it's time to focus on the other two and take on a new challenge.

15.  Go camping in the mountains

Nothing but a tent and the night sky.

16.  Climb the Manitou Incline

Here it is in all its glory.

17.  Get below 200 pounds

I did it once in high school, and now it's time to show myself I can do it again.

18.  Read the entire Harry Potter Series

Ok, my boycott of HP has lasted long enough... time to see what the craze was all about.

19.  Climb Combo 14ers 

What's better than climbing a 14,000ft mountain?  Climbing 2!

20.  Bring Kristen to Disney World

My girlfriend has not been to the most magical place on earth.  That's a travesty, and I won't stand for it!

21.  Do a pull up 

I've never done one in my life.

22.  Ski a Bowl

I'm a pretty good skier- nothing special, but I want to have one crazy run of my life.

23.  See a mountain lion in the wild

...then proceed to crap my pants.

24.  Complete certification that will help my career

I'm not ready to go back to school... again... but I'm ready to learn something new.

25.  Rock Climbing

...and I mean REAL rock climbing.

26.  Ride in a hot air balloon or ride in a helicopter

2 dreams of mine for as long as I can remember.

27.  Denver Outlaws Lacrosse game

The last professional sporting event in CO that I have not been to.

28.  1 Second Every Day Project

Inspired by this TED Talk, capturing one moment every day.

29.  Complete something else off of the “life list”

You call it a "Bucket List," and I have one.  This is a chance to accomplish something else from that list.

30.  Do something unforgettable

This is intentionally vague, but I want to experience something truly once in a lifetime that will stay with me forever.       


Here's to a year of adventures and memories, and I hope you follow along!

Back On The Wheel

I am a runner.

If you look at this blog for 15 seconds you could figure that out easily.

For the majority of people that read my blog or follow me on facebook, you see the joys and successes of my running.  The races.  The medals.  The PRs.  The miles.  The weight loss.  So many amazing things have been attributed to my life as a runner, and I am so proud to call myself one.

But there's another side to the story.

I have a confession to make.

I have a motivation problem.

Maybe it's because as a middle and high schooler I ate and drank so much junk food and pop that eating healthy foods seems like a chore.  Maybe it's because I'd rather sit on the couch than head out for a 5 mile run.  Or maybe it's that I let everything else in my life become a higher priority and my health and fitness slides down the scale.

Whatever the reasons, I've been in a health rut for the past 6 months.  Off-and-on levels of motivation have led to ups and downs- physically and mentally.  I am one of those people that when I am doing well and running consistently, a 5 mile run feels simple and free.  But when I am not doing well, a 2 mile run becomes a battle.  Every workout seems like a drastic chore, and it's not that I don't want to work out, but it's more so that the results and successes seem so impossibly far away that it isn't worth it.

Right now, I am in caught in an in-between. Mentally, I have every desire to work hard, focus, and achieve my goals of living a healthier life.  So I've been trying to trudge my way forward regardless of the voice inside saying it's easier to give up and be complacent.  But I feel stuck.

#suedle by Sue Caulfield

So this is my agreement I am making with myself.  It's time that I just suck it up and push myself.  It's time that throw the excuses out the window and make my health a priority.  And it's time that I love the journey again.

It's time that I love me again.

The drawing above is an original #suedle by the amazing Sue Caulfield.  Check out her blog at suecaulfield.com

2013 In The Books

As we ring in 2014, I feel that it's important to take a look back at the last year and see how I did with some of the things I want to accomplish.  Every year, I set a number of goals made to help me reach, grow, and discover.

Stay below 230 pounds - NO
In 2013 I finally got below 230, below 220, and even spent a little time below 210.  But after my marathon, I let myself go, and that number rose.  I spent Oct-Dec above my goal weight.  Shoot!

No McDonald's or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - YES
I said goodbye to my two biggest problem foods.  And honestly, I didn't really miss them.

Run a race every month - YES
3 years & counting, and some amazing new experiences along the way.

Run a marathon - YES
June 2, 2013 - Rock n' Roll San Diego Marathon - 26.2 miles of glory!

Run under the following times - NO
5K: 26:00  10K:  57:00  Half Marathon: 2:00:00
I didn't even come close, but set a new PR in the 10K
Run 3 destination races - NO
San Diego gets a point.  Moab gets half a point because I've done it before.

Visit 5 new places - KIND OF
I made it to some places I have never been, but many of them involved exploring my amazing CO

Read the Bible - NO
Bits and pieces here and there, and read more of it I have in my life.

Increase savings accounts to undisclosed amount - NO
The first half of 2013 was a struggle financially, but the second half got the ship back on course.
Have zero balance on my credit cards - NO
Close, but no cigar
Volunteer - KIND OF
I did a handful of one-day volunteer things, but I was hoping for a consistent outlet.

Discover/Rediscover a creative outlet - KIND OF
I spent more time drawing & painted a couple things this year, but not to the consistent level I was hoping for.  

Smile and laugh a lot - YES
And made a million memories along the way.

I accomplished some great goals, and a lot were left unfinished.  And that's perfectly ok with me.  I believe if you accomplish all of your goals, then you're not aiming high enough.  

For 2014 I'm switching it up.  I am putting the finishing touches on my 30 before 30 list - 30 things I want to accomplish by the time I turn 30 (Feb 1, 2015).  I will unveil it on my 29th, and I'll have a year to conquer the list.  Game on!

Happy New Year, everyone!

What are you going to do to make 2014 spectacular?

3 Years of Running

It was a crisp December evening in Saint Petersburg, Florida.  There I was, pacing back and forth, trying to get my nerves to calm down.  The time got closer and closer, and I inched closer and closer to the start of my first race.

I had no idea how it would go because let's face it... I was unhealthy.  Years of living a stagnant life and eating whatever I wanted left me standing on a scale two months earlier staring at a number.  The number staring back at me was the highest it had ever been.  I refused to let this be my life, so I decided to make a change.

I laced up my shoes and went for a run.  I made it a quarter mile.  As I walked back to my apartment, all I could feel was defeated.  But in that moment, I realized just how long this journey would be, and what I needed to do.  So I went again the next day.  I kept at it.  I ran a 1/2 mile.  Then 3/4 mile.  Then a mile.  Then 2.

On December 8, 2010, I ran my first 5K.  The nerves I was feeling at the start quickly turned to adrenaline.  I chugged along the course mile by mile.  And when I crossed the finish line, I was hooked.

I signed up for a race in January, and made a goal to run a race every month.  I didn't think this would last long, but I needed a way to hold myself accountable.  So I ran another 5K.  And another one the next month.  The weight started coming down, and my happiness started rising.  

I moved from Florida to Denver and stuck with it.  Once I adjusted to the altitude, I needed to keep pushing myself, so I signed up for my first 10K.  My distance kept going up a little bit.  My weight came down a little bit.  My speed went up a little bit.  The one thing that stayed consistent is running a race every month.  Month after month.  Race after race.

3 years later, that streak is still in tact.  

Each of the three years have taught me something major:

Year one taught me that the first step is always the hardest.  It is so much easier to lay on the couch than to head out for a couple miles.  Going from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one is a whole lot harder than most people give credit.  Setting new habits takes a lot of will power, and bouncing back from setbacks is key.  I've always loved the quote "Showing up is half the battle."  With running, getting out the front door is half the battle, and if you can least get yourself there, the rest falls into place.  Every time.  The first step is the big test.  Are you willing to take it?  I'm thankful I was.

Year two taught me the importance of pushing myself.  I was content to run a bunch of 5Ks, until I started meeting more people in the running community.  Those people kept encouraging me to increase distances and find ways to challenge myself.  I completed a Warrior Dash in Florida.  I placed 3rd in my age group in a race.  I ran my first half marathon.  I became a Tough Mudder.  I set PRs.  I never stopped pushing myself, and it was a nice reminder of how much fight I have inside of me.

Year three taught me that anything is possible.  I've been told all along that I shouldn't be a runner.  Too big.  Body's not built for it.  Previous knee surgery.  I love it to much and I'm too stubborn to listen to those voices.  But there was one feat that I thought was impossible for me.  I never thought I would attain it.  But in June, I became a marathoner.  It was an incredible way for me to realize that hard work, determination, and a little bit of crazy going a long way, and that nothing is impossible.

Here I am, 44 races later.  It has been an unbelievable journey over these past 3 years, and one that I would have never expected looking back at 25-year-old me.  It has taken me so far (literally and figuratively), and the person I am today is better as a direct result.  

Through running, I have learned what it means to be healthy and how fitness can lead to a better life.  I have gained confidence and tested my limits, gained new skills (tangible and not) and learned that when I set a goal, I won't stop until it's done.  I have learned that runners are some of the most driven and all-around best people you will meet, and being a part of the running community has been a giant blessing.  I have learned that the only thing standing in the way of accomplishing most things in life was the person staring back at me in the mirror.  Once I learned that, I knew that I could conquer anything.

And it's all because I was willing to take a first step.

Diet Bet is Over

A month ago I posted about a challenge I was doing this month:  DietBet

The challenge is to lose 4% of your body weight in 4 weeks.  You put money down to enter, and all winners split the pot.

I entered 3.

The first one was sponsored by Jillian Michaels, it had over 7,600 participants with a pot of over $238,000.  Wow!

The second one was a random one I found on the site.

I started a third one, and got a handful of friends to enter.

The Jillian weigh in was about a week ago, right after I got back from a week in New York.  Bad timing - I lost by a few pounds.

I still had a shot at the other two, but it was going to be tough!  I buckled down the last week and put everything into it.  I would also need a lot of luck to make it happen.

When the DietBet ends, you have 48 hours to weigh in.  My random one and my DietBet ended a day apart, so with each 48 hour window, there was a day overlap - my hope was that on that day, I would hit my goal, the weigh in would count for both, and I'd be a winner.

That overlap day was today.

Yesterday, I woke up a few pounds away.  I ate minimally (not the greatest idea), went for a run after work, and stepped on the scale before bed.  I had a shot, but it would depend on how my body processed the next 24 hours - I could see it going either way.

I woke up today and stepped on the scale - my target weight was 222.5.  The scale read 223.0.  So close!  I went for a run, which usually knocks off a little bit.  I got back on the scale when I got back home- 222.4!  I did it!  I ran to grab my camera (you need to submit a couple photos as proof), and when I got back, the scale read 222.6.  I got off and back on.  222.6.  I tried again.  222.6.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

So, I hastily bundled back up and headed back outside - did a quick couple of sprints and jogged back.  I approached the scale for one last try.

222.0.  Snapped a picture for weigh-in 1.
222.2.  Snapped a picture for weigh-in 2.

I uploaded the photos I needed, hoping that they would be officially accepted, because I knew next time I stepped on the scale I would likely be back over the .5 mark.

Then, I got this email:

I made it!  Barely, but I did it!  9 lbs down in a month - and I can't wait to see what my winnings from the two are!

Boom!

Falling in Love with Running All Over Again

Since I ran my marathon in June, my motivation has been gone.  Since I moved to Gunnison and its 7700'+, it's been hard to run.  The last few months have been brutal.

I have tried to keep running and get back into the swing of things.  I've gone running several times, ran a few more races, and just kept at it.

Real Talk:  I didn't like running any more.

For me, when running is a chore, when it's hard to get out, and the miles are a challenge, it just isn't fun.
I ran a 10K this past weekend.  Somewhere in the middle of mile 4, I fell in love with running all over again.  The miles came easily - my feet were gliding on the pavement.

I was free.