First 26.2!

I spent the last week in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a nice change considering my home in Utah was still in the dead of winter. When I left Salt Lake, it was 21 degrees. I arrived in Phoenix and immediately experienced the warmth that spring had to offer.

I had gone to Phoenix to run my first full marathon. I decided to go down a few days before to become acclimated to the warmer weather without the horrible inversion that I had become accustom to. This was not a mistake, as I was able to experience a spring training baseball game and spend time with family and friends.

Leading up to race day, I had been fighting a chest cold. I was really concerned with how my body would perform with the minor illness. I was taking multiple doses of Zinc, Vitamin C, DayQuil and Sudafed. As race day neared, the coughing became dry, but was still very present. The night before the race, I took cough syrup and hoped that it would go away. It decided to stay.

I woke up the morning of the race questioning my sanity. I had completed five half marathons in the past, but I had never imagined that I would ever be interested in running a full marathon. I boarded the bus to the start line and continued to wonder if I had become mentally ill. I had no idea how my body would react and I was full of anticipation, and quite possibility a small amount of fear for the unknown. As I looked out the window, I thought to myself, "self, there's only one way back". I knew at that point, my fate had been decided.

The bus pulled to the start line and I got off. I was amazed by how many people were there. It was refreshing to see so many people getting ready to endure as much pain as I assumed I would be. I was filled with pride as I stood by and listened to the National Anthem and watched the morning fireworks that would bring in the official race start. A voice over the intercom asked for everyone to go to the starting line and prepare for the official start. As soon as I heard the gun shot, I activated my iTunes playlist and moved my feet.

The first half of the race was a breeze. I felt great. I was able to maintain a pace of 9:28 through mile 18. Two hundred feet before the mile 19 marker, I discovered, what so many runners had warned me about. I hit the wall. My body literally shut down and came to a stop. I started running again and felt cramping beginning to set in in both my knees. I stopped, rubbed my knees, and continued moving my feet. My time increased to 10:40 per mile over the next few miles, but there was no doubt in my mind that I was finishing the race. As I neared the finish line, I was overcome with emotion. Thoughts came rushing through my mind about how far I had come. Memories of being nearly 100 pounds heavier and sitting on the couch wishing I could run more than a mile and a half without feeling like I was going to die flooded my brain. I felt my eyes begin to tear as the realization hit me. I completed the race. but I achieved so much more. I achieved the impossible.

Rockin' in Vegas!

On Sunday December 2, 2012, I had the opportunity to run in the Rock and Roll Vegas Half Marathon. It was truly a remarkable experience.

The weekend began when I pulled into the Venetian Palazzo parking terrace. I needed to get to the Sands Expo Center to pick up my race packet. When I entered the Expo, I was greeted by a friendly staff of volunteers who were very helpful in getting me to where I needed to be. After I retrieved my race materials, I made my way into the Brooks running area. There were many products on display and company representatives were giving away free swag. I was able to get out of that portion without spending any money, but I could not say the same for the rest of the Expo. I was moverwhelmed by the amount of vendors that were on hand. There were vendors from all over the country who specialized in every aspect of running. The Expo was worth my time and I was not disappointed as I left with not one, but two bags of free goodies!

The next phase of the weekend came in the form of Rock icons at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Since I was a registered race participant, I was able to get a pretty amazing deal on Aerosmith tickets. I had never had the opportunity to see Steven Tyler live before and I never imagined that watching him engage in a unique relationship with his microphone stand would be so memorable. This was a standout concert experience.

The final evolution of the weekend was the race itself. 13.1 miles of scenic Las Vegas at night. The strip was shut down at one o clock in the afternoon for the race. The race began at 4:30 for the half marathon participants, which was just before dark. The race began south of Mandalay Bay and traveled north to Fremont Street, through some off strip streets, then back to the finish line at The Mirage. The most incredible part of the race was the spectators. So many people came out to support their loved ones, each with a different story and a different struggle. I found myself becoming emotional as I read signs of mothers who had beat cancer and soldiers who had overcome war related injuries. I had my own story to be told. I was running to prove that anyone can achieve their dreams of transforming their life. I was ninety pounds lighter than the lowest point in my life and accomplishing what I never thought possible. I was going to finish a half marathon with an average pace of 8:30 a mile!

As I crossed the finish line, I had a realization. It took only two years to gain my life back. Yes, it took work, and I experienced pain and suffering along the way, but I was a different man. A stronger man. I am proud to look at myself in the mirror and I am never going back. Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me through this struggle. I hope that I can be an inspiration to others as so many have been to me!

Fighting at 178!

I walked into the Pete Suazo Athletic Center on 09/08/2012 knowing I was going to make weight, however I did not expect to be hit with emotion when I did. I stripped down to my spandex shorts and waited for my turn to get on the digital scale. Less than three weeks before, I committed to making the 178 pound mark which classified me as a light heavyweight.

The fight organizer called my name and I climbed on. I waited until "177.8" turned up. All the hard work had paid off. I was no longer a heavyweight, I had lost 92 pounds in two years and I weighed as much as I did when I graduated from High School ten years prior. As I stood there, my smile felt bigger than it ever had been. I felt accomplished and whether I won or lost that night, I was truly a winner as I had accomplished, what I thought was, the impossible.

Going into the fight that night, I was 0-2 in two weight classes. My coach had two goals for me. He wanted me to get the first punch and he didn't want me to back down.  I was confident that I was
going to win, hell, I just made weight! I met my opponent standing in line for the doctor. He seemed like a nice guy, even though in a few short hours, we would be knocking eachother around. I shook his hand and wished him luck.

Right before the fight, my coach told me to go out and do what he asked of me. I climbed into the ring and my stomach dropped. Obviously I was nervous, I was about to fight! I was introduced and called to the center of the ring. I touched gloves with my opponent before going back to my corner.

I waited for the bell to sound signifying the beginning of the fight. As soon as I heard it, I darted across the ring and hit my opponent in the face as hard as I could.. That is where my game plan turned. When I was going through the fight in my head, I forgot to take into account that since I was in a new weight class, the punches were going to come a lot faster! Punches were traded for the first thirty seconds of the fight then I got hit with an unsuspecting uppercut. I was not dazed or confused, but the referee still felt the need to give me a standing eight count. I put my gloves up to let him know I was okay. Punches were traded, once again. My opponent must have seen an opening as he took the opportunity to land a perfectly placed right hook on my face. I was knocked down and the referee stopped the fight. I was not knocked out, but the fight was lost.

As I sat in the corner after the fight, my opponent came over to shake my hand. While I was disappointed with the loss, I still had to hold my head high. I had accomplished something that many people could not. I set a goal to lose weight and transform my body and for two years, I never lost sight of that goal and I had finally hit it. Secondly, my I did everything my coach asked of me. How could I hang my head?

This is only the beginning of my new life. I am now at my weight class and in less than 11 months, I will be fighting for my country and the career I love in Ireland at the 2013 World Police and Fire games.

Only Protein

I remember the day clearly. I wasn't feeling well so I went to the doctor. My Father's body stopped producing years ago and I was worried mine was doing the same thing. I stepped on the scale that morning at 270 pounds. I told the doctor all about my fatigue, my constant colds, and generally just not feeling well. I asked the doctor to see if my testosterone levels were normal. When the doctor returned, I had no clue that what he was about to tell me would change my life.

The doctor sat down with the results and told me that my testosterone levels were normal. The doctor then told me that I was Pre diabetic and that if I did not lose weight, it would be full blown within a few years. That was the day I decided I needed a change.

I started boxing a short time after that. I fell in love with the sport and I also started losing weight. I lost thirty pounds in eight months and thought that I looked great. I wanted to continue my progress, but a knee injury set me back. I had surgery and was out for three months. When I returned, I wasn't
the same even though I didn't gain any weight while being on the shelf. I continued boxing, however, the competitve drive that I had when I started wasn't there anymore. I was still losing weight but not 
in the rapid manner as I had a few months before. That's when I entered the second phase of my 
journey.

I realized that I needed to do something different so I began running long distances. Well, 3 miles at first, but eventually worked my way up. I didn't care how slow the mileage was, just as long as I didn't walk. Within six months, I dropped fifteen pounds and decided to run my first half marathon. It was an incredible experience even though my body felt the effects for days after. One month later, I had the opportunity to run in the Vegas half marathon. I was pleased with my performance and I had even lost more weight. I finished the race in 2:08, a feat that would. Never have been possible at 270 pounds. I weighed 210 pounds on race day. Unfortunately, I allowed the 2011 holiday season to get the best of me and gained 15 pounds in two months.

In March 2012, I started training for the Canyonlands half marathon in Moab, Utah. At the end of March,  I completed the run and felt great. With three half marathons under my belt in six months, I knew my body needed a rest. I decided to get back to the boxing gym and, this time, be more competitive than ever before. I started going to Boxing is For Girls in May 2012 and weighed 215 pounds. I also discovered Only Protein at the same time and began using it as my primary protein supplement.

I am training with one goal now, to be the best boxer that I am able to be. I will never give up and I will never lose sight of my goal. I remember where I came from and now know that I will never return.

I am now 185 pounds and only seven pounds from my goal. Only Protein has helped me reach my goal and I am so thankful that I started using the product. In future posts, I will be more specific about shake recipes, meal replacements, and workouts that have helped me with my weight loss. I am in no way a fitness expert, however I know my body and what has worked for me. I hope that there are people out there who can find hope through my success.

Feel free to follow me on my journey. Together, we can achieve the impossible!

Heroes

As I write this, a group of my friends are fighting for their lives. My friends are heroes who sacrifice themselves day after day to protect society from its own evil. My friends don't do this for the money (God knows it's not that). They don't do it for fame (their deeds will likely go unnoticed). My friends do what they do because they know that if they don't, nobody else will!

Most of society are sheep. Society roams the streets aimlessly, not even truly aware of what reality exists beyond their own lives. Wolves take notice of this and they begin to prey on the sheep. Luckily the heroes are there to protect. However, in today's day and age, my friends are not regarded as heroes. They are looked at as meter maids, traffic hounds, revenue builders, pawns in a corrupt governmental society, and inferior. They are a necessary evil in the modern age. Many people complain that all police do is write tickets and harass the public, yet, when someone breaks into your house, they don't show up fast enough.

Allow me to educate. The police officer has been there with your daughter, after she was beaten so severely that she needed medical attention. The police officer told her that she was safe. The police officer was there with you after you had your home burglarized. The police officer looked at you and said, "it's okay, we got them". The police officer has talked your suicidal daughter out of the bathtub on Christmas night so that she could get the help she deserves. The police officer has gone into a burning building before the fire department arrived to rescue your son, who was trapped inside, and lives with the guilt that he didn't get there in time.

My friends do what they do because it's the right thing to do. Society will continue to harass and abuse the police officer, and they will still get up the next day and be prepared to lay down their life so that you may have another chance at yours. Police Officers are real heroes and I wish that they were treated as such.

I was recently asked why I believe in God. The answer is simple, but shows its truth at this moment more than ever. I choose to believe in God because I hope. I hope that there is something good beyond this world that makes all the struggles worth it. I hope that there is somewhere beyond this world that appreciates my heroes. Gentlemen, God bless, my prayers are with all of you.

ES

Nice tie in, Mr. King

For the last couple weeks, I have been Slowly thrust into the world of 1958 Derry, Maine. I have been reading Stephen King's newest novel, 11/22/1963. I'm only 129 pages into the 850 page tale of time travel, but I'm hooked. The characters are so vivid and the narrator is phenomenal.

The story begins by introducing the audience to Jake Epping, a High School English teacher. Jake talks about his life changing as he read an essay from one of his adult students. The essay causes Jake to feel sadness for the student and sets up a lunch meeting for the teacher and pupil at Al's Diner. Later, Jake returns to the scene of the lunch where he is exposed to a hole in time. Al explains the "rabbit hole" and urges Jake to enter. Entering the portal causes Jake to travel in time back to 1958.

When Jake returns, it has only been two minutes in real time. Al explains that the real reason for showing Jake the portal was so that he could stop the assassination of JFK and change history. Reluctantly, Jake accepts and once again enters the portal.

This story is different from what King is known for, however, I was drawn in from the first chapter. My favorite aspect so far is the tie in that Stephen King made with "IT". Well played, Mr. King, well played.

The Secret Society of Fiends

This afternoon, I came home after a fun filled weekend in Las Vegas for the Rock and Roll Vegas half marathon. As I arrived at my residence, I was welcomed by a white box with red and blue tape around it. I giggled with joy as I recognized the familiar "USPS" tag on it. Could it be? Had my hoodie finally arrived? I knew it was true when I read the sender's name, "Eric Pigors".

I briefly referenced Pigors in my previous post about Dienzo. Dienzo and Pigors work well together and you can see it in their work as many of the characters are similar. Dienzo has a dark approach that is reminiscent of a world in the mind of Tim Burton, while Pigors takes a different approach and brings you a landscape which could be found in a Rob Zombie music video. When I first viewed Pigors' work, I immediately thought about the Beavis and Butthead acid trip in "Do America". Unlike Dienzo, Pigors' creations are cartoon like and have a ... Disney feel? Well if Disney was a saw blade wielding damsel with large boobages and fishnet stockings, that is. And speaking of Disney, some of his characters look oddly familiar.

Based out of Southern California, Pigors, or "Unkle Pigors", is a dominant force in the horror art genre. His career spans over 18 years, where a large portion has been spent spent at Walt Disney working on many projects with them. In 1999, he created "Toxic Toons". Toxic Toons is a company created by Pigors which includes a clothing line, masks, toys, and much more. Pigors has created many designs and posters for musical powerhouses including, but not limited to, Metallica, Dragstrip Demons, Psychocharger, and The Murderdolls.

The art of Unkle Pigors art can be viewed and purchased online at www.toxictoons.com and viewed on facebook as well. Add him as a friend, you will not be disappointed. Upon his acceptance, you will be exposed to his wall of loyal subjects, or his "Secret Society of Fiends". All fiends have a great appreciation for what Unkle Pigors is trying to create. Have I said too much? Absolutely not! Too much can never be said about the work of this great artist.

I have been a friend of the horror genre for many years in all aspects of art including film, literature, as well as visual works. The art of both Dienzo and Pigors is by far my favorite. Their works, whether combined or apart, take on lives of their own and bring the viewer into a new world, sometimes frightening, many times comical, but every time mesmerizing. I challenge all who read this blog to continue venturing into the minds of these truly amazing artists and support their work. Until next time, take care. I'm going to put my new hoodie on. It's only 17 degrees out tonight!