“Run, Fat Ass, RUN!”

First off, if you are somehow managing to read this…thank you! Thank you for taking the time read this story, I hope you get something from it. I also hope that you will follow this blog and get all the content that is to come!

I’ve never been a particularly “small” guy. Throughout my youth and young adult years-aside from a small period when from the ages of 19 to 21-and into adulthood I have struggled with weight. About two years ago I reached my turning point; something had to change and that change had to come from within. Fast forward two years and the impetus for this blog occurs.

“Run, fat ass, run!”

Those are the words I heard from a kid hanging out of the passenger side window of an old, tan Mercedes that seemed to only be running by stubborn German willpower. At that time I was definitely a “fat a**”, heck…I still am. But, when this latest bit of fat shaming happened I was in a different place. I had just eclipsed the 75 pounds of weight loss mark. I had been commuting on bike or foot for six months, being able to count my car commutes in that time period on two hands. I had contemplated recording my journey somehow (I even bought a GoPro) but never got around to it.

So, kid in the Mercedes, thank you! You gave me a push that I needed. I smiled and waved at you because my other option was to get mad and flip you off. And then, while processing what had just happened, the idea for runfarun.com was born.

Over the last two years, since the birth of my daughter, I have lost roughly 80 pounds. About 55 of those pounds have been in the last year, with the majority of that weight coming off in the last 6 months. While this is a great accomplishment, there is more to go. When I am talking to others and trying to protect myself I say I have about 30 more pounds to go. When I am being honest with myself that number is more like 50. There is plenty of work to be done, and the good news is that I have plenty of time in which to do said work.

Coming up next will be a 12 mile run/hike tomorrow (09/04/2017) with a good friend. We will be doing the Wasatch Crest Trail from Guardsman’s Pass near Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Big Water Trailhead in Millcreek Canyon.

The picture on the left is of me right about the time I knew I needed to change. On the right is me 75 pounds later (and my awesome wife who is on her own, unique journey.)