I will try to do anything to keep from running in the morning. Everything inside me screams..."Stop doing that! It hurts! Just walk will ya?" Today I motivated myself by imagining I was Forest Gump when he ran the football for the University of Alabama. Forest just kept running and running... I completed 2 miles in 16:14. That's my record so far. I know I'm not ready for the Colfax Marathon but I felt great by not giving up.
When you join the Army you have to pass a PT test that includes a 2 mile run, situps, and pushups. You are given points for how well you do in each category and must receive at least 60 points in each category. For example: a 30 year old guy like me will earn 60 points in the 2 mile run by finishing in 17:00 minutes. So....technically after several months of training I'm over 60 points... My goal is 16:00 or less. Many of the people I talk to say that training in Colorado is great because when you get down to South Carolina the thicker air will help. (This all sounds really funny to be talking about because I was the guy who liked to cut corners in gym class when you had to run a mile for the "Presidential Fitness Award.")
I am thankful for my friend Ryan Carson. Each morning he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to meet me at Addenbrook Park in Lakewood to help me keep going. He's been a great blessing! Sometimes the only thing that makes me get up in the morning is the thought that if I don't go Ryan will be sitting there waiting for me. Thanks Ryan!
When I first went to M.E.P.S. last summer (Military Entrance Processing) I flunked the weight portion of the test! M.E.P.S. is like a 7 hour physical in which every portion of your body is tested to see if you are fit enough for service. I had no idea of what I was getting into. I got up at 4:30 a.m., drove downtown to a huge building, parked my car in a lot, and walked into a group of 100 18-20 year old recruits (I'm the old man at 29 at this point!) getting ready to go through the same experience. Instantly I was aware that becoming a chaplain would be an adventure. We were yelled at for about 20 minutes and put in line to begin the most complete physical I've ever experienced. (At this point I very nearly decided to turn around and run back to my car. "David, what are you doing?")
To my surprise the day further confirmed how much I loved being around the young men and women serving our country. When the other recruits heard that I was trying to become a chaplain they really opened their hearts...they were so scared, homesick and worried about the future. At the end of the day we were placed in a room, about 20 of us in our underwear waiting to be tested and weighed. The doctor came in and made us duckwalk, test our reflexes etc...(That was a funny picture I'll always remember!)
Finally we approaced the dreaded scale. (It's not fair to be compared to 18 year old guys getting ready to graduate high school) I stepped up to the scale and weighed in at 223. Even after being taped for body fat I failed!!!! "Come back in when you've lost weight!" That was embarrasing. I was one of only two guys in the group who failed the weight that day. I thought I was doing well...I had been at 237 just a few months before.
I believe this was a turning point in my life. I knew I had to change. I came back in two weeks and weighed in at 210. That was enough to pass the tape test!!!! Praise the Lord.
After months of training and healthier eating I'm down to 195. 42 pounds of Dave are missing!!!! I owe a lot of thanks to my wife for encouraging me to change my life in little ways...There have been many bad eating days but God has gently given me the strength to keep moving forward. My goal is to step on the scale when I get to camp and be able to pass the weight test without being taped for body fat. Keep praying! I'm just about there...(A 30 year old guy at 5'11.5" can be 194 pounds.)
Have a great day and thanks for your prayers and encouraging words! I couldn't do it without great friends and family. (And remember not to let a setback in life kill your dreams...I not only failed the weight test that first day; as I walked with my head hanging low to my car I saw a parking ticket on my windshield. :)
When you join the Army you have to pass a PT test that includes a 2 mile run, situps, and pushups. You are given points for how well you do in each category and must receive at least 60 points in each category. For example: a 30 year old guy like me will earn 60 points in the 2 mile run by finishing in 17:00 minutes. So....technically after several months of training I'm over 60 points... My goal is 16:00 or less. Many of the people I talk to say that training in Colorado is great because when you get down to South Carolina the thicker air will help. (This all sounds really funny to be talking about because I was the guy who liked to cut corners in gym class when you had to run a mile for the "Presidential Fitness Award.")
I am thankful for my friend Ryan Carson. Each morning he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to meet me at Addenbrook Park in Lakewood to help me keep going. He's been a great blessing! Sometimes the only thing that makes me get up in the morning is the thought that if I don't go Ryan will be sitting there waiting for me. Thanks Ryan!
When I first went to M.E.P.S. last summer (Military Entrance Processing) I flunked the weight portion of the test! M.E.P.S. is like a 7 hour physical in which every portion of your body is tested to see if you are fit enough for service. I had no idea of what I was getting into. I got up at 4:30 a.m., drove downtown to a huge building, parked my car in a lot, and walked into a group of 100 18-20 year old recruits (I'm the old man at 29 at this point!) getting ready to go through the same experience. Instantly I was aware that becoming a chaplain would be an adventure. We were yelled at for about 20 minutes and put in line to begin the most complete physical I've ever experienced. (At this point I very nearly decided to turn around and run back to my car. "David, what are you doing?")
To my surprise the day further confirmed how much I loved being around the young men and women serving our country. When the other recruits heard that I was trying to become a chaplain they really opened their hearts...they were so scared, homesick and worried about the future. At the end of the day we were placed in a room, about 20 of us in our underwear waiting to be tested and weighed. The doctor came in and made us duckwalk, test our reflexes etc...(That was a funny picture I'll always remember!)
Finally we approaced the dreaded scale. (It's not fair to be compared to 18 year old guys getting ready to graduate high school) I stepped up to the scale and weighed in at 223. Even after being taped for body fat I failed!!!! "Come back in when you've lost weight!" That was embarrasing. I was one of only two guys in the group who failed the weight that day. I thought I was doing well...I had been at 237 just a few months before.
I believe this was a turning point in my life. I knew I had to change. I came back in two weeks and weighed in at 210. That was enough to pass the tape test!!!! Praise the Lord.
After months of training and healthier eating I'm down to 195. 42 pounds of Dave are missing!!!! I owe a lot of thanks to my wife for encouraging me to change my life in little ways...There have been many bad eating days but God has gently given me the strength to keep moving forward. My goal is to step on the scale when I get to camp and be able to pass the weight test without being taped for body fat. Keep praying! I'm just about there...(A 30 year old guy at 5'11.5" can be 194 pounds.)
Have a great day and thanks for your prayers and encouraging words! I couldn't do it without great friends and family. (And remember not to let a setback in life kill your dreams...I not only failed the weight test that first day; as I walked with my head hanging low to my car I saw a parking ticket on my windshield. :)
3 comments:
You are one good looking guy! :) I love you and I am so proud of all your accomplishments!
You use to be my big brother. Now you are my little brother. Keep up the good work! Love you man.
Wow - what an encouraging story! Anything IS really possible... Way to go Dave. Keep on keeping on!
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