2012 Charleston Marathon

“Hey Dad…you know we might as well go ahead and run a full marathon now….”

Last weekend was yet another milestone in my son’s quest to see how far he can push his “old man” (and for the record, I am still convinced he is trying to kill me!).  For those of you who may not know, this journey started with our decision to train for and run the 2011 Cooper River Bridge Run.  I talked about that race here.  Then, we set our sites a little higher, taking on the 2011 Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, which I blogged about here.  So, last Saturday, we attempted our first full Marathon:  The 2nd Annual Charleston Marathon.  It was an experience that I will never forget, and quite frankly, even after a week to ponder things I am having a difficult time finding the words to adequately describe the experience.

By Charleston standards, it was a cold start for the race (32°F and breezy), but the sun was out and our adrenaline was high when the gun went off at 8am.  Our goal was to run a steady pace of around 12 min/mi for the entire race.  We were hoping to finish under 5 hours 20 minutes, but ultimately our goal was to just finish.

Because there was no pace group for our target time, we ended up running the first 10 miles or so with the half marathon 2:30 pace group.  This should have put us running about an 11:40 min/mi pace, which was a little faster than our plan, but tolerable.  In actuality, they ran way fast.  Our average pace for the first 10 miles was just under 10:45 min/mi!  Even so, we were still feeling pretty good at that point.  Later in the race, we would find that took a lot out of us.

After we split off from the half marathon runners, we slowed a bit, and found a good groove, running about 12:15 pace and feeling great.

By about mile 16, we finally got warm enough to shed our “throw-away” sweats and the cool air hitting us gave us a bit of a physical and emotional boost, but it was not to last.  Things really got tough during miles 19-21, our pace slowed and we took a few extra walk breaks to try and get ready for the final 5 miles.  That seemed to work, and we picked the pace back up and set our sights on the finish line.

As always, the last few miles are the toughest.  When we hit the 24 mile mark we turned into the wind, and it was demoralizing.  We were tired, dehydrated and that 8-10 mph wind made the 45° air feel like 30°!  The last mile, I had nothing left.  It was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other, and praying for the finish line to hurry up and get to me!

We had a couple of false alarms where we turned a corner and thought we’d see the finish line but instead, only met disappointment.  When we finally turned that last corner, and saw the finish about 150 yards ahead, I was unexpectedly overcome by emotion.  At the time I couldn’t explain why, but I knew I was on the edge of weeping.  I held my composure for the sake of having a decent finish photo, but hearing my name called out, crossing the finish line, seeing that we beat our goal time and having that medal put around my neck was too much. I totally lost it for a minute or two.

And that is the part that I have such a hard time putting into words.  The excitement and pride, the highs and the lows experienced during the race was a large part of it for sure.  However, I know it was much more that that.  It was also all the emotions from the months of training and hundreds of miles my son and I have run together, the sore ankles, strained muscles, the great conversations we’ve had and the friendship & respect we have forged with each other, all for the sake of just getting to that finish line…it all came back at that single moment.  It was indescribable.

I wish that everyone could share that experience…and the fact is…you can!  If you are reading this and thinking you could never do something as extreme as running a marathon or even a half marathon, please read this post. You can do it!  You should do it!

So, what’s next?  Well, believe it or not, my son and I have now started training for our final leg of this journey extreme running journey.  We are running the SweetH2O 50K Trail Run in April.  It is going to be epic…I hope I survive!

2011 Myrtle Beach Mini-Marathon

Back in April, my son Christian and I completed our first official race, the 2011 Cooper River Bridge Run.  I wrote about it here.  That race was the culmination of a year long training cycle for us.  It was also the starting point for a new challenge: Finish a half marathon.  A few weeks ago, we  loaded up in the car to drive the 2 1/2 hours from Summerville to Myrtle Beach to achieve that goal.

Actually, with the addition of my two daughters, Michaela and Johahna, we ended up making an entire weekend adventure out of the event.  It was a GREAT weekend.  I introduced my kids to one of my favorite pizza joints: The Mellow Mushroom (they are now fans as well).  Michaela and Johahna completed their first 5K fun run, 34:17 and 34:20 respectively (great job girls!).  We had the 1st annual Palmer Putt-Putt Invitational (I dominated), followed by a cut-throat game of high stakes Uno.  Then, of course, there was the 1/2 Marathon for Christian and I on Sunday.

Neither of us slept well Saturday night, due to the excitement.  Nonetheless, we were up and out of the hotel by 5:45 to catch the shuttle to the start.  the shuttle was running a little behind, and we didn’t get on the bus until about 6:15, which had many of the runners getting pretty anxious since the race started at 7:00.  We arrived at the start about 6:30, and saw the last 10 minutes of the Medieval Times exhibition, which was pretty cool), then made our way to the corral, grabbed some water, popped a GU and got ready to run!

Our goal was to finish in 2:11 or better, which translates to a 10 minute/mile pace. We have been training, using Jeff Galloway’s Run-Walk-Run method and we set out using a 4/:45 run-walk ratio (4 minute run/45 second walk).  The weather was perfect at the start of the race:  50 degrees and sunny.  Christian and I started out feeling strong and were running about a 10:15 mile pace when we reached mile two, so we picked up the pace a little to try and get on track for our goal.

We reached mile 6 at about 58 minutes, putting us right where we wanted to be, but Christian had started having some GI issues.  He had a stomach bug earlier in the week, but thought he was over it.  However, we were forced to stop at the port-a-potties at the 1/2 way point.  We lost about 3-4 minutes there, and when Christian cam out, he said he would have to stop again, but we could go on for now.  We were able to get back on a good pace, and hold it for the next few miles, but at mile 9 1/2, Christian was in trouble again.  After another visit to the port-a-potties, we were off again.  He said he felt better, but I could tell he was struggling a bit with stomach cramps.

At mile 11, we passed our hotel, where the girls were waiting.  True to form, Christian put a smile on his face, bowed out his chest and put on the “gun show” for his sisters with the camera.  At that point I knew he was going to finish strong.  We ran together to the 12 mile marker and then, Christian told me to go ahead and see what I had left.

At that point, I was not sure where I was at with regards to time, but I decided to give it all I had to finish strong. I turned off my GymBoss, and “dumped the tank” for the last mile.  The only negative thing I had to say concerning the race was about the final stretch leading into the finish line.  It was on the boardwalk, and the path for the last 600-800 meters was too narrow and curvy to sprint.  I was having to weave in and out of other runners, and it really broke my stride near the end.  I probably lost 30-40 seconds due to that.  Nonetheless, I finished in 2:15:03.  Considering the fact that we lost about 8 1/2 minutes at the port-a-potties, I was very pleased with this time.  As soon as I got my medal, I turned to see how Christian was going to finish.  To my surprise, I found that he was less than a minute behind me, finishing in 2:15:47.  Apparently, he couldn’t stand to see his old man leaving him behind!

So, as always, I have to stop and think about what I have learned from this experience.  There are many, but here are a few:

• 13.1 miles is not impossible as I once thought it was.
• I love spending time with my kids.
• Jeff Galloway is a genius (Run-Walk-Run works people!).
• I still don’t drink enough water.
• Changing from “heel strike” to “mid-foot strike” was the best running decision I have ever made.
• My son has more tenacity than I sometimes give him credit for.
• Marathon runners may not be as crazy as I once thought they were (or I am getting more crazy the longer I run!).
• I still can do more than I think I can do.

All in all, I don’t think I could have asked for a much better experience on my first long distance race.  We had some challenges, but both finished strong with smiles on our faces and hunger to do another race soon.  The entire weekend was a blast!  Speaking of that, we are still training for our next race: The Charleston Marathon in January. Come run with us!

If you’re interested (and why wouldn’t you be?), you can see more pictures from our weekend here.

Afternoon at Isle of Palms

Had an awesome time this afternoon with my wife, kids and the dog on the Isle of Palms!

We got to see a pod of dolphins feeding.  It was amazing. They were actually working as a team, circling the fish in the harbor, driving them into the shore and then attacking them.  It was a true “Wild Kingdom” moment happening about 15 feet in front of us.

We also found some cool sea shells after Irene stirred up the waters off the cost of Charleston, and finished our day with some great food from Home Team BBQ!  Here are a few pics:

       

    

She’s Awesome, I’m Lucky

Most of the content of this post was originally posted a couple of years ago here, but couldn’t help putting it up again!

I think words like “amazing” and “incredible” are way over used in today’s culture, but I don’t know of any other words that come close to describe my wife of 16 years.  By the time I had met her at the age of 19, Tania James had already led an amazing life.  She had traveled around the world as a missionary, smuggling bibles into China and doing orphanage work in the Philippines & Haiti.  She had toured the U.S. with a ministry team called “The Olive Branch”, as a singer and dancer.  She had even traveled internationally as a professional ballet dancer.  At 17, she was the youngest dancer ever to be asked to dance at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.  She plays guitar, mandolin and piano.  She paints, and makes beautiful art with clay.  She even designs and sells children’s clothes.  All of that rolled together (and the fact that she’s drop dead gorgeous) is why I immediately fell in love with her the day I met her, but none of that is why I love her so much today.

Since we have been married (16 years today) Tania has shown me what “amazing” and “incredible” truly mean.  I cannot imagine anyone being a better wife and mother than Tania.  As my wife, she brings out the best in me.  I don’t always appreciate it at the time, but she definitely challenges me to be a better person, and yeah, I’ll say it, She Completes Me .  As a mother, forget about it.  She is, hands down the best.  I have watched in awe as she has modeled great parenting with our four children. From handling preemie twins, to having three under the age of 2, to a surprise #4, she has handled it all (and the immense challenges that came with them) in stride.

The most amazing part of it is that she has done this, all the while battling severe chronic health issues of her own.  A year of so after we were married, Tania was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and for whatever reason, she has not responded to any of the treatments medical science has offered.  We both believe in the power of prayer and that God is going to heal her, but over the years, her pain and fatigue have steadily increased.  How Tania has stood steadfast in her faith for so long, with seemingly no answer is both humbling and inspiring to me.  Every day she shows me what Paul meant in Ephesians when he said, ” …and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore…. “.

Baby, you are truly AMAZING , and I am forever thankful (and “Lucky“) to be your husband.

Happy Anniversary!

Before and After

I was looking through some files on my PC the other day and came across some beach photos from a couple of years ago, a couple of months after I decided to make some lifestyle changes to get healthy again.  I was shocked!  In  that picture, I was at my heaviest weight ever – 244 lbs.  I have to admit, I’m a bit embarrassed by the “before” picture, but I am proud of how far I  have come.  I am now at 202, and will probably be to my target weight of 190 by the fall.

The main reason that I am posting this, however, is not to say “Look at what I’ve done.”  What I want to say is: “Anyone can do this!”  Right now, I am the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life, and I got there without spending tons of money on equipment or diet plans, hours/day in the gym, or starving myself half to death.

I am convinced that practically anyone without severe physical limitations can do what I did.  I have flat feet, arthritis in my ankles and a C7/T1 bulged disk.  I work a 50-60 hour/week job, and I have a wife and 4 kids that I love to spend time with.  I didn’t have to compromise that to do this.  The truth is, it is simpler (and cheaper) than most of the health gurus out there want you to know to get into shape.  Here’s what I did:

1. I bought a few things:
• An e-book (Eat Stop Eat – $40)
• A cheap mountain bike from Target (Triax PK-7 – $130)
• Another book (1/2 Marathon – You Can Do It! - $11).
• A good pair of running shoes (2010 version of these MR770 by New Balance – $85)
2. I changed my eating habits, slightly but permanently based on the Eat-Stop-Eat book.
3. I started riding my bike or running 30-40 minutes two days/week, plus about 1-2 hours on the weekend.
4. I registered for a 10K (almost 1 year in advance).
5. I stuck with it!

So, I spent under $300 and 2-3 hours a week to make a 1000% improvement in my quality of life.  To be sure, #5 was the hardest part. Having my son join me about a year ago helped tremendously.  Also, telling others about what I was doing gave me more motivation to keep at it.

Now, this has become my lifestyle.  I don’t see that ever changing.  I actually look forward to running, and even eating healthy meals (although I still have my vices – in moderation).  I’m running my first 1/2 marathon this October, and plan to run a full one sometime early next year.

So what do you think?  I think YOU CAN!  If you decide to, make sure to register for a free account at dailymile.com and shoot me a friend request.  I’d love to follow your journey!

15 Things I Learned From Running the Bridge

Last May, my son came to me and said, “Dad, we need to do something ‘athletic’ together.”  After some discussion (and against my better judgment) we agreed on running, set a goal to run the Cooper River Bridge 10k Run this year and started running together about 3-4 times each week.

Well, April 2nd was the big day.  It was crazy, but great.  We finished in about 62 minutes (for the record, I finished 6 seconds ahead of him), which put us in the top 38% of about 35,000 finishers, and although our goal was to finish in under an hour, we were pretty happy with how we did.

Looking back, there are several things I have learned from this experience:

1. 6.2 miles is longer than I thought it would be.
2. MotrinIB is good.
3. Aleve is better.
4. I am slightly OCD about tracking my workouts.
5. Good running shoes don’t last as long as I think they should.
6. Good running shoes cost more than I think they should.
7. Jeff Galloway is a genius.
8. My son is a pretty cool kid.
9. I don’t drink enough water.
10. Music is better to run to than podcasts (sorry Matt & Erwin…Thanks Toby).
11. I am more proud than I should be that I can outrun a 12-year-old.
12. I will probably not be able to outrun my son much longer.
13. Public parking in Charleston cannot adequately handle an additional 40,000 people on a Saturday morning.
14. It feels good to be in shape, and “in shape” is a relative term.
15. I can do more than I think I can do.

All in all, it was a great experience for both of us.  Now, my son has talked me into training for a 1/2 marathon in October.  I think he’s trying to kill me.

NoShavember…Who’s in?

Well, it’s that glorious time of year again:  NoShavember.  The name says it all.  It’s November. There’s no shaving. It’s brilliant.  So who’s in?  Ladies, although not necessarily encourage, are welcome to join in too!

Go to the NoShavember website (http://www.noshavember.com) and sign up.

You can also join in on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/noshavember) and twitter (http://twitter.com/noshavember)

Here’s the theme song for this year:

God, Bless Me with Discomfort

I read a Franciscan Benediction on Michael Hyatt’s blog this morning that really moved me.  I’m turning it into a prayer that I plan to pray often:

God, bless me with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that I may live deep within your heart.
Bless me with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that I may work for justice, freedom and peace.
Bless me with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that through me, You may reach out your hand to comfort them
And turn their pain into joy.
And bless me with enough foolishness
To believe that I can make a difference in the world,
That through You, I can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen

My New Favorite

This guy is blowing my mind right now.  I first found Andrew Peterson through Donald Miller’s blog, and I haven’t stopped listening to him since.  Here’s a sample:

Get the full album here.  You’re welcome.

Evolving In Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans

“Knowing all the answers isn’t as important as asking the questions.”

I’ve  just finished reading “Evolving in Monkey Town” by Rachel Held Evans. This book was a great read. In fact, I read it twice, and I found myself challenged during both readings.

The book chronicles Rachel’s spiritual journey from her early years in Birmingham, AL, to her teenage and college years in Dayton, TN (home of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial and Bryan College), to her current life as an author, speaker & blogger. This is a story of faith. A faith tried and tested, but ultimately strong enough to ask the most difficult questions…the ones without answers.

Rachel’s story is well written, funny, poignant, insightful, challenging and unfinished. If you are looking for a book to answer all of life’s tough questions, this book is not it. However, if you are looking for a book the will help you ask the right questions, you should definitely read this book!

Similar to Plan B, this book doesn’t end with everything tied up in a nice little bow. To be totally honest, although reading “Evolving in Monkey Town” has helped to strengthen my belief in some areas, I probably have more questions now than before I read this book. Strangely though, there is a greater peace in the line of questions I am asking now than in many of the dogmatic answers I have been so desperately trying to hang onto for years…and my faith is stronger for it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers in exchange for publishing a review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”