Mark runs ... through life

What Happened???

Before last week,  in my most recent , 5K race I ran in 23:15.  Last Saturday I ran a  5K in 42:39.  Last year I was bench pressing my weight.  Today, I struggled to do 6 push-ups.  A year ago I weighed 173.  This morning I got on the scale and registered 207.  Two years ago I ran 3 marathons and 6 half marathons.  Now, I haven’t ran in almost 10 months.

What happened?

Yes, I’ve been injured, but that’s no excuse.  I could ride bike until I could run again.  I’m involved in a Christian ministry for runners.  What kind of example am I setting?

My ego’s writing checks my body can’t count. I’ve been living in the past.  I had convinced myself that even though I haven’t been working out I was still in pretty good shape.  After all, isn’t there a thing called muscle memory?

Good habits die easily. I was at the gym every day either running or lifting weights.  If you miss a day, it’s easy to go back.  Miss a week, you can tell yourself you’ll start back next week.  It’s no big deal.  Miss a month and you might as well give up your gym membership.

It’s diet and exercise. Not running and working out doesn’t give you an excuse to eat like a pig.  To paraphrase Perry Noble, we tell our children to have self-control but can’t walk by the buffet without stuffing ourselves.

What’s next?

First, I’m going to stop beating up on myself.  I’ve made some mistakes.  What’s new?  That’s just human.  It’s time to repent and sin no more.

Second, I’m starting over.  It’s going to be a while before I’m running fast (in my mind), but I’ll get there.

Third, It’s a new day with new habits.  It’s time to lace up the shoes and hit the road.  I’ll throw the gym bag in the car and stop by the Y on the way home.

Fourth, I’m giving myself some respect.  My body is a temple.  It’s time to clean house.  No more ice cream for me (at least for a while).

Fifth, I’m setting the goal of running the Marine Marathon on October 31^st.  It will be a lot of work, but I need big motivation which requires a big goal.

Sixth, I’m going to make myself accountable to friends, family and you.  I’m going to post it to my log and my blog.

My daughter Anna ran the same 5K I did last week (beating me by almost 10 minutes).  She’s training for the Country Music Half Marathon and I told her I’ll run it with her.  She’s doing great.  I’m a proud papa!