Run from it or learn from it. I can do both, right?

Flashback to 2009. First trip to Colombia, South America. I ran maybe 3 times a week (no swimming, very little cycling) while I was stateside. 30 min 5ks. 150 lbs. Craziness.

Fast forward to 2013. I run 3-5 times a week. Plus swimming, cycling, and weight training each twice a week. 24:09 5k time. 135lbs? (I haven't gotten on the scale in a while).

Interesting to look back and see how much life has changed in only four years. And I had typed out a long story about how I thought I had life figured out, got sick, saw how wrong I was, blah, blah, blah. Then blogger freaked out on me and deleted the whole thing. I don't even remember what all I wrote. Ha. So we'll skip ahead to the good part.

YOU SHOULD NEVER THINK YOU HAVE LIFE FIGURED OUT. I've learned God doesn't like to keep us in our comfort zones for long. After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? I knew change was coming when I was in Colombia last in 2011. Didn't think it would be cancer. Didn't think it would be a rethinking of the missions calling. Didn't think I'd ever be fitness crazed. Didn't think that after working with Dad for 6 years in the family business he started 20 some years ago that we would think about completely changing our careers.

My dad started his weight loss journey in 2008 and has kept off 70 Lbs by running and eating right. If you've kept up with me on Facebook you know I've been working on losing the weight I gained during treatment, staying healthy, and have become a triathlete. We have talked for months about becoming personal trainers and we have started to take steps to make it happen. We're figuring out all the ends and outs of the business and are working on getting certified. Hopefully we'll have that up and running soon (Get it? Running?). We're going to test this out for a year and cut the carpentry business back to just playgrounds while we get the new business rolling. Should be interesting. *Fingers crossed*

On top of all the planning we've been doing for this new business venture we've been gearing up for RAGNAR TENESSEE!!! I've just gotta run 34ish miles next weekend (In 6 short runs instead of 3 long ones now). No biggie. I've also got to finish my race schedule for next year in the midst of all this other planning so I'm ready. I know I want to do Knoxville Half Marathon (March), Storm the Fort Olympic Triathlon (August), and Atomic Man Half Ironman (Sept) for sure. Then there are some little races that I could do if I wanted. Look at me, 10ks and sprint tris are now little races.Speaking of little races. I can taste a 22 min 5k for Buddy's Race Against Cancer this year.

And can we be real for a sec? I'm tapering (lowering my mileage before a race). And no, just because I run all the time DOES NOT mean I can eat whatever I want whenever I want. All things in moderation. But one would hope that your appetite would lower with lower mileage. WRONG. I've got a serious case of the runchies all the time. I need to remember: Keep it healthy! There will be much experimentation with vegetable chips in the near future.

But God...

I've realized that in writing a blog where you talk about your life you sound a little full of yourself. I hope you all realize I use my life as a testimony. And I'll be honest, complements are nice, but that's not my goal. My goal is to show the grace of God in my life. Which brings me to my first topic: But God...

That should not be read as a complaint. "But God... why?" It should be read after a problem and before a story of grace. I was planning on writing about this anyway. But then the teaching at church was very similar and got my gears turning. Take Joseph's story in the Bible. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers who then sold him into slavery. Then we fast forward a bit, BUT GOD made him second in command of Egypt because Joseph kept trusting in God's plan.

Another honesty moment: It is hard to keep sight of God's plan when life isn't going your way. But if you can keep focus, God will do His part. Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer. BUT GOD made her stronger and healthier as a cancer survivor. Why do I make health my focus? Because it's my "But God".

My "But God" has gone from cancer survivor; to needing to get back into shape after treatments; to wanting to be a swimming, biking, and running machine. I ran 30 miles this past weekend in case you missed that on Facebook and Instagram. ;) Anyway, I remember thinking during treatments, "After this I need to focus on my health. But I don't want to turn into one of those health freak survivor's who are all 'FOOD IS FUEL!'" Whoops. Ha! But I want to make something clear: I believe food is the slowest form of poison or the best medicine. BUT I do not live in fear of being sick again. If you are going to eat anyway, why not use it as fuel and not sabotage? Eat for health, eat for performance. Although I do enjoy milkshakes from Cookout and New York style pizza every once in a while. Moderation is key.

Tapers are key, too. And thank God for them. I've built up to my 30 miles and it's time to bring it down. I may throw in added long runs between now and Ragnar. But nothing more than 18. I've also reworked my training schedule for after Ragnar. There's always a rest day, but this new plan has two mornings and two evenings off. My body says, "Yesssss", my addicted mind says, "You're gonna skip FOUR TRAINING OPORTUNITIES?!?". Yeah, we'll see how that goes. Ha.

And switching back to "food is fuel" for a sec, look at this beautiful loaf of sweet potato sandwich bread I made! I used to be terrible at making breads. And considering I winged this recipe I'm quite pleased.

1 cup Sweet potato puree
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar (or honey)
1 banana
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs

Mix wet ingredients together, that includes sugar and the banana. Mix dry ingredients. Then combine the two. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Sprinkle some oats on top if you'd like. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Ta-Da!