Fast Foward/Dam to Dam

Ok. I'm tired of doing the whole "Getting Started" catch up posts. I'm just going to go through it really fast.

I was overweight then decided it needed to change so I have been fixing it with exercise and proper diet. I started a little over 265 pounds and weighed in this morning, about six months later, at 220 pounds.

Everyone caught up? Good.

Tomorrow is the biggest mile marker I have yet to make in my journey. I've set up several random ones since starting out. A few months ago, I really wanted to hit 250 pounds and I did that. I later wanted to be able to run twenty minutes without stopping or walking and I did that. Tomorrow, I am running in the Dam to Dam 5k race in Des Moines.

I know many people who are running the 20k tomorrow but I am more than satisfied and proud of a 5k considering just six months ago I couldn't run for a full minute without feeling like I was going to keel over and die.

A program I highly recommend and stand by is the Couch to 5k running program (www.c25k.com). It was designed for people just like me to go from complete inactivity (couch) to being able to run a 5k in nine weeks. As a former baseball player, I've never been a distance runner but after completing the program, I feel more than ready for tomorrow.

I'm incredibly thankful for everyone who has supported me as I've prepared for this race. I know countless people have prayed and offered encouragment via various means whether that was facebook or texts or what have you.

I would like to specifically thank my coaches. Zach deserves thanks for keeping me accountable with my cardio and diet as well as lifting with me. Stephanie for answering my countless questions and offering advice and help every time I asked. I also, of course, never would have gotten started without Steph. My step mother, Julie, has earned credit for telling me about the C25K program. Josh Boersma has answered a ton of questions I've asked him as well. Lauren Schrock has spent countless hours praying for me.

I know many more of you have helped and/or offered encouragment so I hope you know you're all appreciated! Confidence is something I've always struggled with. Your encouragment, prayers, thoughts, well-wishes, etc are all important. Thank you, all!

Part of me feels silly making a big deal over 3.1 miles when I know that thousands will run way more than that tomorrow. The other part of me thinks, hey, screw it! I will make a big deal out of this because a few months ago I was almost 270 pounds! And now I'm actually running a 5k tomorrow!