My name is Matt and this is my blog.
I'm designing a vocational program for adults with developmental disabilities at a non-profit in Plano and my wife teaches at a daycare in Las Colinas.
I enjoy reading, writing, and thinking.
I run. A lot. Like Forrest, only I shave.
I like bacon, coffee, and peanut butter.
I love Jesus, His Church and my wife.
This morning my pastor, Caleb Southerland, shared more about the four week of fasting our church family is embarking upon. More details can be found here, but for accountability purposes, I’m sharing how Rebecca and I will be participating. The four weeks are broken down between food in week one, time in week two, noise in week three, and unnecessary spending in week four…more details on that link I shared previously.
Here’s how we’ll participate:
Pray for us and our wonderful church during this season of letting go of the world and pressing into the person of Jesus.
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Upcoming Races…
Also in the more distant future…Turkey Trot (8 miles), Santa Run (3.1 miles), and the New Years Double…back-to-back marathons on NYeve and NYday.
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It’s time for a race report! Looking back, I’m still blown away at what God has done in and through me in less than a year exercise-wise.
The exercise leg was the final leg in my “race” to get healthy and fit. By the time I started running, I had lost about 40 pounds (288 to under 250) by diet alone. The diet was the easy part, I never thought I would be able to run…hated it as a kid in school, and didn’t like the idea of a 250 pound bearded wonder running through the heat of summer 2011. But run I did…
Long story, short…I kept a healthy diet, regularly exercised (5-6 days a week, no less than 30 minutes a day), and began to compete in running races to keep things interesting.
My first “official” 5K was run in 41 minutes…but good enough for third place (only three guys my age!!). I kept running, the distances kept lengthening, and the times kept running. In fact, December 2011 I ran a 5K in 23 minutes and have since run that distance (not in races) in just under 21 minutes.
In March, I ran my first marathon while battling IT Band Syndrome in 5 1/2 hours. March is also when we moved into our apartment in Valley Ranch and shortly thereafter purchased a used Trek road bike for $200. I had only hoped the bike would keep be fit while rehabbing the ITBS…little did I know what was just a few months a way.
I check Running in the USA everyday, specifically for races around Irving to get to know people in my running community. One day I noticed a Triathlon and thought, “Why not?”
So two weeks ago (Memorial Day), I started swimming. I continued I run and bike, knowing these two legs would be of no concern come race day. My form in the water is terrible, but I kept a fairly respectable pace, had an open water swim under my belt, and had the fitness that’d make up for the rest…I was ready!
So, on Sunday, June 3rd, I jumped in the water with all the My First Tri participants to swim 300 meters, bike 12, and run 2 miles. The gun went off and so did I…
I finished the swim in just over 7 minutes, the bike in just under 40, and the run in 15. My transitions were quick, and my final time was 1:08…good enough for ninth place.
The atmosphere was electric, the course was hard but fun, and finishing in the top ten was a nice bit of icing on the cake. But that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was having my lovely wife by my side the entire time cheering me on, encouraging me to give it my all, and making the entire event seem like one long date with the one I love. I am so thankful for her support while I’ve gotten healthy…she’s been by my side every step, and I most certainly couldn’t have done it without her.
Up next? Olympic distance triathlon, followed by a half Ironman, and then an Ironman. Also, swim lessons. ;)