Missing Time

So, I have not went on a run in over three weeks. This is not all bad. Two weeks I had a good excuse. I spent ten days in the Dominican Republic with a mission team. During those ten days, I believe I got better work outs than I would have gotten in the states. I spent the mornings and a few afternoons doing construction work. We were building a second story onto a church. The construction was all cement block and concrete. We had to haul the cement mix up to the second floor along with the sand and water. Then, we took the cement and concert in buckets to the people working on ladders. This was not light or simple. I got a total body work out without the total gym.

I had one problem upon my return, I was stung by a bug which gave me the Zika Virus. IT was not life threatening. Thankfully I am not pregnant (boy could I make some money on that) or my wife was not or could not get pregnant. So, it just left me with the reality of being tired, bad rash on the arms and sore joints and muscles. I pretty much had a case of the flu with out the upper respiratory problems. But, I was contagious to others if stung by a mosquito. I spent the next week and half inside away from insects and especially the mosquito. Add to the reality that I was exhausted and tired, there was not running.

I now need to find the motivation to get back onto the streets. I hope I can muster up some tonight and get a run in after the sun goes down a little. It is hot in Southwest Missouri. I cannot let the temps stop me.

Attempting to Keep on the Move

Last week was not the most motivational week. I did not get any running accomplished. Not that I did not want to run, but when I had the time, I found much better things to do. I am starting a new week with a whole new list of reasons not to run and I want to over come a few.

Last night (Sunday, June 5) I was frustrated enough that I had not run in a while that I took action. I really did not want to  change and get shoes on to go run. I wanted to run. I bought a treadmill a few months ago (used) to help during the rain and really hot days to run. Instead of getting all geared up, I ran on the treadmill. I learned earlier in an attempt on the mill that running on a treadmill is not the same as running on pavement. For one thing, the treadmill stays at a constant speed. I always do not stay at a constant speed. When I change a little, well, I trip and fall. The treadmill is not as forgiving as my feet would hope. But, I did get some run time. Three quarter of a mile in fifteen minutes. Not breaking any records. It did feel good.

I learned an important lesson during this run, why we have developed shoes. I decided to try from past experience on the treadmill, to run barefoot. This was not a good idea. Don't run barefoot on a treadmill. The primary reason was during the run. It felt like my feet were on fire moving along the mat on the treadmill. Then, the pressure of my body weight crushing down on each foot was not the most comfortable. There is a reason we put cushioning in shoes. Our shoes are like shock absorbs. The last problem is showing today. Shoes provide support to our ankles as well as our feet. I think I tweaked my ankle a little while running. Did not feel it last night, but I have pain during walks today. Lesson learned.

I want to get in a few runs before Wednesday. I leave that day for the mission trip to the Dominican Republic. It is kinda like getting in a few runs before heart surgery. Does a whole lot a good now. But, I think with a the extra exercise and practice, the mission trip will go a whole lot better for me and everyone on the trip. Here is to a great week.

The Why

Why? Why are you willing to degrade yourself? Why insult yourself? Why put out personal information? Why? Why? Why?

Well, first I do not think I am degrading myself with calling this the blog Fat Man Running. It is just the truth. I could use technical terms. But those terms are not the truth. I am fat. I am not completely comfortable with myself yet. I do not think I could go on TLC or another reality television show about being fat. I do not think I would be comfortable on Biggest Loser. I am not even comfortable out on the streets in running clothes. But, I have come to terms with the reality that I am fat. So, not a problem. 

The other information in the blog about depression and Bi-Polar is not really private. Yes, it is not the kind of information you just put in a conversation over small talk. I should be allowed to tell others about the life I live outside the walls of protection. I erected protective masks for a long time. I still do as a matter of fact. There are days I would rather stay home unwashed watching TV with nothing to think or feel. I still go forth and attempt to accomplish activities. Then there are times I cannot keep from racing. Again, a different mask is put on to attempt to look "normal" to others. I want to be one of the people in a position to make mental health a topic we can openly discus and end the shame.

In the end, all of this blog is an effort to be real. And, I am not really doing it for others to read. If I was than I would promote it more on Facebook and other locations. I would seek out money from sponsors (I am sure I could find a few after I got some stats). and other work. I am doing this as a way of holding myself accountable. I hope that this resource will be a ways to keep me going after the last race and looking for the next race. 

If you found this blog, you are looking in the right place for something special. I hope you will find it with God's help.

The Start

It seems like a life time ago at this point, but it was just a little less than nine months. I was going into what would be by last few months serving as interim in a church in Oklahoma, my son was going into his junior year of high school, and I had little idea what was next. Add on top of this, I was out of shape, not eating right and in a downward spiral with my depression. Things were not looking good. I put on the brave face and fake smile for the people in public. I mean the church. Let's face it, no one wants to around a sad pastor. Us ministers hid a lot of pain (sorry to my colleagues who didn't want to be outed). But, I took two weeks off from the church and saw a message from the church my wife attends, Run for God. The sponsored a program at the church that would train you to run a 5K (3.1 miles) in 12 weeks. The promo said you just start with 60 seconds of running!!!

This seemed like an answer. My son was not looking forward to the fall term. He had left football over injuries and was worried that he would put on a weight from the lack of exercise. So, I turned to him and invited him to join me in the challenge. We agreed to enter the challenge. On September 14, 2015 I went to my first ever (read life time) run group.

First Run For God Group

I did not fare well that first night. I did keep moving and never stopped. What they never tell you in the promo is you run for 60 seconds, walk for 60 seconds and repeat for 8 times. I may not have ran all eight times, but I finished the work out. During hte course of the next week, I did it two more times.

I came back for a second week and kept coming back. I missed a few meeting later in the season as I got busy in my position in  Oklahoma, but I still ran. I went twelve weeks of running and got ready for my first event. I was going to run in ,"Run through the Lights" sponsored by Carthage Nazarene Church. My son and I both ran the event. Well, he ran the whole thing and I ran just a little over half. When I say run, I mean run walk. I was not even close to being ready for a 5K. But I did accomplish a lot that day. I ran farther than I have in over 20 years. I was not forced to run as I was in high school. I enjoyed the experience. I wanted to keep running.