A Year in Review

Well it is now four days into the new year and I've been thinking back about last year and everything that I accomplished and things I wished I had been able to accomplish. So this is my retrospective mumblings.

Last year I reduced my weight 27.4 lbs which is a tremendous accomplishment. I went from 216 at the beginning of last year to 188 at the end of the year. My goal weight mainly to get back into the military is 168. So 20 more lbs and I am golden. It will be the healthiest I have been since 1994.

Last year I completed four half marathons including one with my sister, the Air Force half. She actually ran the full marathon but we finished within minutes of each other which was cool. My first half was the Reno Rock n River half in which I finished in 3hr7min. This time would elude me for the next two halfs; the Steamworks half in Durango (elevation 9300 feet) and the Gold's Gym half (elevation 4300 feet). Both of these halfs seemed like such work for me and I was absolutely miserable running them so I had little hope for the Air Force half. But man I love running at lower elevation. I rocked the Air Force half coming in 17 min faster than my best half marathon time. The Air Force half took place in Dayton OH at Wright Patterson AFB with an elevation no greater than 2000 feet but more like 500 feet. I came in at 2hr50min. So my new goal for a half marathon time wise is 2hr30min.

Last year I also completed numerous 5k and 10k runs such as the Highlands Ranch 10k in April, Children of Hope 10k in June or July, Rim to Rim 5k in Oct, Galloping Goose 5k in Oct, Scream Scram 5k with Kaleb in Oct, Turkey Trot 2mile in Wichita in Nov, Turkey Trot 5k in Grand Junction in Nov, and the Jingle Bell 5k with Kaleb in Dec.

Last year I started an ambitious project of returning to college. I decided that I truly enjoy working with veterans who have disabilities such as amputee, TBI, some sort of paralyzation, so I decided to pick up a BS in Kinesiology at Mesa State. This would give me more options when I go pick up my PhD (for those of you who knew me in High School ain't that a kick in the pants) other than just social work. I took 7 credit hours in the fall of 10 and received two A's and a B. If grandpa were still around I'm sure I would have earned at least $25 dollars of pocket money for those grades.

Let's see what else, oh yeah I had to be pulled off a mountain by search and rescue. That was quite the little adventure that really shook me confidence. Since that little incident I've been rather hesitant to even go snowboarding. Speaking of snowboarding last year was my second season in the sport and I rock. I was able to go probably at least 16 times last year and have advanced my way up to running powder on blacks or slowly running moguls on blue's.

I had my first crown and next week will receive my second crown. As much as I hate dentist's I really enjoy the one I have in Grand Junction. He barters for service, no not sex, but I traded him a snowboard for some work he did on my teeth. He is a really awesome dentist.

Over the last year I've also been able to come to terms with some of my demons from the past. I have worked through the military thing enough to pick up the courage to try to return to the military. That is truly a work in progress.

My New Year's resolution is to continue my journey to a healthier lifestyle, to live my life to the fullest, to continue to realize my potentials, follow my dreams, and be a good friend and family member.