Inspiration from a quote...

It's day two of my quest to write 30 posts in 30 days.  Today, I am in search of a quote and to use it as inspiration.

One of my favorite quotes (okay, running quotes - because if it was movie quotes it would be "I'll be back!" - Arnold) is from a guy that wrote the Penguin Chronicles in Runners World, John Bingham.

He said, "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

I read this one day and I was like, "No way! Other people feel this way too?".

The hardest part for me was to get up the courage to face my weight issues.  It was so easy to just keep thinking that this was a bad patch I was going through and I would slim down sooner or later.  Or I was just a big guy and I actually looked pretty buff (seriously, I thought this at one time).

At least I wasn't like all those fat guys at the beach walking around without a shirt (ah man, that was me).

I had so many excuses, because its scary knowing that you have to face something that is not just going to go away.  Its terrifying to finally realize you have a problem.  And yes, I do have an eating problem.

I'm strong enough now that I know I still have an eating problem and I will have to work on it for the rest of my life.  But its something that I can deal with now because I am facing it and it just does not seem as scary as it used to be...

So yeah, finishing a race or anything you start feels pretty good.  But having the courage to start something or face something feels freaking amazing!

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Why I write about my health...

So this is my first of thirty blog posts as part of the National Health Blog Post Month (no pressure here).

Basically, I was given thirty topics to write about each day this month.  I'll give it my best shot; but there is an election, my birthday, Veterans Day, Button Day, World Peace Day, Thanks Giving, and my trip to Vegas for the RnR Marathon!

Big Noah, Little P

Alright, by now I have lost most of the wannabe MooreOns...

Why I write about my health...  Ummmm...  Well, I really write about what my life is like now that I am living a more healthy life style.  So this title should be "Why I write about all the stuff I can do now that I started living a healthy life style".  Not as snappy, but a much better description.

I actually started writing this blog as a running journal.  My running coach wanted to keep track of how I was doing and thought this would be a good way for both of us to follow my training.

Hold on a second!  Running journal, coach, training???

Seriously, sometimes I crack up when I'm writing this stuff.  Those are words I would have never written a few years ago.

Six years ago I was sitting around trying to play with my little boy and could not even play catch with him without being completely out of breath.

Once I was down it was hard to get up

I remember laying in bed one night thinking that I was not going to be able to see my son play sports, go to school, date, or even graduate from high school and college.  I remember the emotions I felt at the time and the tears that I could not control.  I'm sure my wife was freaking out that I was losing it!

My doctor had been telling me for years that I needed to drop a few pounds (he was kind of nice about it).  He even prescribed some weight loss medication.  I dropped a few pounds and then put them right back on.  I still can't believe I took that stuff even after I read how dangerous it could be (I guess I was just really desperate)...

I watched my father die, the prior year, from so many health problems I don't even know which one killed him.  He had several heart attacks, he was a diabetic, he had kidney problems, etc...

Rewards!

When my doctor told me that my acid reflux was destroying the lining of my stomach, that I was at risk for diabetes, and that I had a fatty liver (I don't even know what that means, but it sounded pretty messed up) I knew I had to do something.

The thing I don't always say in this blog is how hard it was.

It's not a quick fix.

You do have to work at it, but the rewards are incredible!

Heading out for a running adventure

When I finally made the decision; when I finally dedicated myself to this change, that is when things started to turn.

I guess that was my rock bottom...

And I guess, I just want to share this incredible gift I was given with everyone that will listen.

So that is why I write about my health.


If you have not had enough and want to ready more about My Story, just click on the link.

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The Big Picture(s)

My New ID (edited to protect me from stalkers)

Recently, I was given a new ID at work.

When I looked at the picture it actually felt strange.  Even though its been over five years since I lost most of my weight, I still think I look the same.

So I keep writing this post (the fat guy picture post), adding some of my "big" pictures to it and then I delete  the whole thing.  

What's the point?

I mean, I don't like how I let myself go all those years.  I'm really the type of person that likes to focus on the present and the future.  I tend to stay away from reflecting on the past.

But the other day I was looking over my blog and realized a few things.

I write about how things are now.  I write about my family and what we just did or are about to do.  I write about my adventures, races and running partners I have today.  I write about this stuff because it's what makes me happy and keeps me going, but I don't write much about how things were.

And then I thought, what if someone who is looking to make a change in their life just happens to run across my blog (okay, I know they could find some better things to read).  But what if Google just happens to send them my way?

If all they see is some guy that runs a lot, I'm not sure that's going to help.  I don't think it's going to help anyone see the true value of what they have and can have if they just take the first few steps.

My wife, Jen, told me a while back that it might help for people to know that I first started walking to lose weight.  And that I was a complete ass (her words, not mine) for weeks when I started eating better (and less).  That there's no quick fix, no magic pill.  That it was tough, but it was worth it...

So I guess that's the point.

It's worth it.  I mean, I started to see that my body and my overall health had value.  It's not just something to be careless with or thrown away.

I also realized that it made no difference how I looked when I started, just that I started.

That doesn't mean that I was not self conscious as I walked/ran down the road or when I showed up for my first group run or when I went to get my first pair of running shoes.  It just means that at that point I knew that my health was worth the risk of starting.

So why share my fat guy pics?  This is where I usually stop and delete this post.

I guess, because it helps to see that you can start from just about anywhere.  That it's not too late.  That it is worth it!

So there they are.  I have a ton more (no pun intended - okay, it was), but its actually hard to do this.  It's hard to look back at where I was.

I try to remember the things that I really loved.  I loved my twenty minute walks around the neighborhood; I loved finding out that I liked new foods; and I really loved the feeling of my clothes getting loose.  

Man! I really hope someone gets jazzed up today and just gets out and starts walking!

Find more pics and other stuff on my Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/mooreonrunning or follow me on Twitter @mooreonrunning

Army Pics from the Past

Me and my buddy Robert - he hated to run more than me!

This being Memorial Day weekend, I thought I would share a couple of my old Army pics.

A few years ago, well - way more than a few, I was in the Army.  

I was in pretty good shape (other than the mustache I was trying to grow) and even exercised regularly.  Although, I remember hating every time we were forced to run!

  

I loved being in the Army and had some of the best friends a guy could ever have.  

I do remember dreading the physical fitness test more than anything else.  

The APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) consisted of doing as many push ups and sit ups in two minutes as you could do and a two mile timed run.  

I mean, who in the world runs two miles (in the same day)???!!!

This was when Humvee's were new!

So I just checked and for 17-21 year old males you only have to run two miles in 13 minutes to get a perfect 100 score!  

I am not joking, I used to think that was some unattainable time that only professional athletes could run...  

Oh how I wish I knew then what I know today...

I hope you all have a safe Memorial Day weekend. 

To all my friends I served with who gave the ultimate sacrifice, I salute you and will always remember you.

Me and some of my buddies at Fort Knox, KY

It Just Doesn't Seem So Silly Anymore...

I was in bed reading a book and I could not get this thought out of my head (so now you get to read it).

When I finally decided to start exercising, I kept thinking how silly I must look walking around my neighborhood listening to books on tape with my old Sony Walkman (actually my wife's).

But each day I kept going out and walking a little more.

Eventually it just didn't seem so silly anymore...

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Disney Recap – It’s not about your time, it’s about the time that you have...

What an awesome weekend! I had such a good time running this race…

Our group (Jen, Cathy, Annie, and I) left Charleston (SC) at around 8:00am (we were shooting for closer to 7:00am, but coffee and pickle juice called our names - more about the pickle juice later).

Oh - one thing about driving to a race with a bunch of runners is that everyone is trying to stay hydrated,
so everyone has to pee all the time (including me)!

We drove to Orlando and got in pretty early (I think it took us about seven hours). We stayed at
Disney’s Pop Century (they put us in the 80’s building - nice). Not much to say about the hotel, it was inexpensive compared to the others so it was fine with me.

Perfect hat for Jen!

As soon as we checked in we went over to the expo at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. The expo had a ton of people, but was really well organized. We were actually looking for some Hammer Gel, but it looked like GU had the monopoly on the gel market so no luck (we had enough, just wanted an extra one or two for emergencies)…

Cathy, Annie and I were doing the Goofy Challenge (Half Saturday and Full Sunday) so we actually got three shirts in our bag (sweet)!!! Not much else in the bags, but the shirts rock! Jen, my wife, picked up her bag and I could see a little nervousness in her smile (this was going to be her first Full Marathon!).

FYI - the real challenge of the “Goofy Challenge” is trying to get enough sleep. The races start at 5:30am each day! Not only that, but we had to be on the bus to the starting line no later than 4:00am! I woke up at 3:00am on Saturday and 2:45am Sunday! Crazy, I mean Goofy!!!

Oh! As we were leaving the expo to get dinner, Cathy was interviewed by ESPN Latino! The best part was when the reporter asked her what she thought of the race “curse”. She looked shocked and asked “what curse?!” In fact, we all looked at each other trying to figure out what curse he was talking about. Finally, the reporter noticed her confusion and said “what do you think of the race COURSE?”.  We had a lot of fun with Cathy after that!

After we finally pulled Cathy away from the cameras, we headed out for dinner. We ate at a nice Asian place in Celebration, FL, and then headed back to our rooms to try to go to sleep. "Try" is the key word. I tossed and turned all night thinking that I was going to oversleep and miss the race (and I had to get up a million times to go pee!).

Fortunately Jen did get a chance to sleep in while we were running, but she woke up when I was getting dressed. She looked at me, half awake, and said “I have been running all night! I’m done!”
It was too funny!

Good thing we picked up throwaway sweat shirts!

Anyway, after I got dressed I walked with Cathy and Annie to the lobby to catch the bus. The line was crazy long, but went fast and the bus trip was pretty uneventful.

We stopped at a port-a-let and then dropped off our bags (very well organized). Then we walked for about 20 minutes in the dark to the start!

This part was really strange, you are basically following a bunch of people who you hope know where they are going. Luckily they did and when we got to the start it was well worth the walk.

The start was so cool (oh, it was a little cold out too, but not cool that way, the other cool way)…

We got settled into our coral and then waited for Donald Duck to count us down. Fireworks went off for each wave start (who does that?!) - it was awesome!

It was a good thing we decided to take it easy on this race (our pace would be slower than our training long runs). It was so packed that there was no way to get a fast pace going anyway.  Luckily, this race was about finishing the challenge not setting a new PR.

The course took us around Epcot and then the Magic Kingdom (did I mention this was my first time
at Disney?). I was like a little kid looking at everything. We stopped a few times to take pictures
(something I had never done in a race before this one).

We really just kept an even pace and took it easy (until the end)…

With about 2 miles left, I jokingly said we should race the last .1 miles. We laughed about it and decided
we would be "Goofy" and hold hands as we went through the finish (I really think this was to keep us all honest). Anyway, as we came through the finish line we held hands and raised our arms in victory!

And then it happened…

I could see Annie start to make her move! We were about to cross the actual finish line and she was
going to try to beat us! I took off at full sprint! Cathy started to sprint ahead as well and I cut her off (that’s right – I cut her off at the finish line…).

Cathy almost ran into the photographer! We were laughing like crazy as we made our way to get our medals (can’t wait to see those pictures from Disney)…

The ride back to our hotel was super fast and easy. Disney knows how to move people!

That day we walked around Disney Downtown and had a late lunch. We were all trying to stay awake for the whole day. We tried to stay hydrated and fueled and then we were back in bed (after peeing a million times)!

I slept a little better, but decided to get up at 2:45am (we cut it a little close the day before). As soon as
I saw the smaller line for the bus, I knew we could have slept in longer…

We all peed in the woods this time and then headed to the corals (Jen was only starting two back from
us). I kissed Jen goodbye and wished her luck. I was really excited for her, but nervous too.

I remember my first race and how hard it felt. I also remember the emotions I went through as I made it to the finish. I actually thought about running this race with her, but everyone I talked to said it would be harder on her. I get the reasoning (it was her race, she might try to run at a faster pace than she should, etc…), but if I had it to do over again I would have run with her...

The start of the Full Marathon was just like the Half (other than it was Mickey counting us down this time). I was still really excited though! I had no idea I would be such a kid about this stuff .

Oh! We ran with another runner this time. Stephanie of See Mom Run. Cathy actually ran with her during her amazing Rock n’ Roll Savannah Marathon (PR). Stephanie fit right in with our group (although we actually lost her for a few miles when we stopped (to pee!), but somehow among all those people we found her again!

When we got to the Magic Kingdom we stopped to take pictures (we were testing pickle juice on this race so we made a toast!). I know, you should never try new things on race day, but we were really taking it easy.

The Full was a lot like the Half, but we did get to go through Animal Kingdom and Disney Hollywood (both very cool, but Animal Kingdom was kind of a letdown – not many animals out - I guess they had better things to do).

The support on this race was nothing like I have ever seen! The volunteers were amazing (I know people say that to be nice, but I mean it! They were incredible). There was water and PowerAde at every aid station. They had bananas and even chocolate! There was a GU station. And there were more medical stations than I have ever seen!

I really wanted to pick up the pace, but I was still worried about my calves cramping as we got to mile 20. If you have followed my blog you know I have a problem with my calves cramping around this point.

We kept the pace even until mile 24. That’s when Annie got super excited and decided we needed to drop the hammer on the pace!

I was still worried about my calves cramping, but they actually felt great!

The one thing I was thinking about was an article I had read about what doctors thought could be causing men to die at the finish line of marathons. One of the things they were looking at was the sudden increase of speed or adrenaline at the end of marathons.

So, knowing that Jen would kill me if I died during this race, I backed off a little and ran through the finish right after Annie, Stephanie and Cathy (next time I'm cutting them off).

After we finished, we picked up or medals and bags.  I knew Jen was a little ways behind us so I checked my phone for the Disney Tracker (another very cool thing about this race - and it was free!).  She was about an hour back, but I could tell her pace had slowed after the 20 mile mark.  I had a feeling she might be hitting the wall.

I found a spot at the finish line and waited (Annie and Cathy stayed near the bag check so they could find her as she came through - they are so awesome!).

A few minutes later my phone rings (it was Jen!).  She said, "It's going to be a little while, you guys go ahead  and go back to the hotel and I'll see you later".  Now I knew she was bonking!

I said "Shut up! We're not going anywhere!  We'll be right here when you finish. Put one foot in front of the other and keep going forward!"  I told her I loved her and was so proud of her and said to call me as much as she wanted.  She never called back, but she finished!!!

It was awesome to be there as she ran through the finish line!

I could tell she was hurting and dehydrated (later I found out that she was only drinking about 2 oz of fluid every other mile).  I gave her a kiss and she walked over to get her medal (her Marathon Medal!).

There was another medical tent at the end and they iced Jen's knees (love that picture).

I still can't believe the race is over...  It was such an incredible weekend.

People have asked me about my time for the race and all I can say is I had a great time!  This race has nothing to do with your time, it's about the time that you have...

My 40th Year

Forty!?!  Are you kidding me?  How can I be forty???

Okay, its not really that bad and I'm actually forty-one now...

I didn't even complain (that much) when I turned forty :)  I actually love how old I am and how great I feel!

Yesterday my wife gave me my birthday present (I actually turned forty-one on November 6th, but it wasn't ready yet).

My present was a quilt made out of thirty of my t-shirts.  Not just any t-shirts.  My first XXL Boot Camp shirt is in it; my first marathon race shirt is in it, my first Ultra race shirt is in it; and my first 200 Mile Relay race shirt is in it!

It's freaking awesome!!!

Looking back on my fortieth year now is a little strange...

I wanted my fortieth year to be a big one and it was.   I started and ended exactly the way I wanted, running a marathon on my birthday and running a marathon on the last day!

So in true running blog form - here is my recap of the Big 40...

Oh! I'm now in a new age group.  Really not that great as there are some super fast 40-44 year olds, but it sure is nice to be one of the young guns in the group :)

Okay...

November 6th (my birthday) I ran the Monumental Marathon in Indianapolis, IN (new PB - 3:59:47).

November 20th (two weeks later) I ran the Valley of Fire Marathon near Las Vegas, NV (after spending a week in Las Vegas for my birthday!).

January 1st I became a TrySports Ambassador (would never have thought I would be on a team of athletes at forty or any other age).

January 15th I ran the first annual Charleston Marathon in Charleston, SC.

March 12th I ran the Citadel Bulldog Challenge with my three awesome running partners (Cathy, Annie and Ninja Stuntman) - 9th place.

March 26th I ran the Rugged Maniac (not very hard, but cool to say Rugged Maniac).

April 2nd I ran the Cooper River Bridge Run 10k (new PB - 48:02).

April 7th and 8th I ran the Palmetto 200 (27 hours and 49 minutes - 8th place!)

April 16th my family ran the Krispy Kreme Donut Run as team Moore Ons Running!

April 19th I took my son on his first White Water Rafting trip!

May 16th I was part of a Dragon Boat team (what?)!

June 6th my wife and I ran the Floppin Flounder 5K on Sullivan's Island (first time we have ever run a 5K together).

June 25th I ran my first 50K - the Ultramarton Pre Deti 50K (5:02:20 - 2nd place overall).

October I became a RRCA Certified Running Coach!

October 15th I ran the USMC Ultimate Mud Run with my running partners - team SAY SOMETHING!

And on the last day of my fortieth year...

November 5th I ran the Rock n' Roll Savannah Marathon with my wife (it was her first Half Marathon)!

In addition, my son completed his 100 Mile Kids Ultra Marathon and helped raise over $1,700 for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund!

So now I move into my forty first year (already set a new 5k PB - 22:59).

I am a lucky man; I have an amazing wife, an awesome son, great friends, a wonderful job and I am in the best shape of my life!

Bring it on forty-one!  Let's see what we can do this year!

Update: for some reason I can not get the comments section to work on my blog right now.  So, if you really want to leave me a message (I really do like feedback) go to my Facebook Page and leave it there (plus I like my little Like number to go up).  www.facebook.com/mooreonrunning