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Introduction Text 2011 Race Schedule (idea copied from Laurie5658!) 2/19 Rockwell biathalon DONE 2/26 Freezefest 5k DONE WEEKS AND WEEKS of MARATHON TRAINING DONE 5/1 8.8 mi Mall to Mall DONE 5/15 Green bay MARATHON DONE DONE DONE!!!!! 6/11 7 mi Cedar rapids Flood Run 6/26 Stugis Falls half marathon(Canceled) 7/2 Montezuma 10k DONE 7/4 5th season 8k DONE 7/23 Shed your treads 10k elkader 7/30 BIX!!!!! Davenport, ia 8/13 Sweet corn fest 10k 8/20 Watermelon Stampede 10k Muscatine 8/28 Amana Dualathalon 9/4 New Bo fest half marathon 9/17 WARRIOR DASH!!!!! 9/25 FIRST TRIATHLON!!!!! 10/16 Des Moines IMT half and SPARKMEET!!! 10/22 Muddy monster 15k 11/13 Rock and Roll Half San Antonio!!!! Bout time I updated this 12/2/2010 My name is Aaron, and I'm a spark addict...I've been on a weird journey that started May 20th 2005. I was on a ladder at my work when the ladder broke. When I woke up I was on the floor, left foot turned sideways in a lot of pain. At the time I was a LEAN 190lbs and honestly in the best shape of my life. I had just met my new girl friend a week earlier and life was looking incredible!!! Over the course of the next couple days I found out that I would most likely never walk without a cane again once I learned to walk again. I was couch bound for the next 9 months, eating all those horrible fast foods that make you feel great for 5 minutes, then leave you in a depressed slump and make you feel tired. I did eventually learn to walk without the cane, but was always in pain one way or another. At 270lbs my weight didn't help matters at all... Winter of 2007 I was at a 10 year banquet for a social group that Tara ,my now wife, were members of. In TOTAL denial of my current weight I put on my generic black suit, not realizing that I was many sizes too large to wear this suit. I was uncomfortable for the entire night. The suit was so tight on me that I couldn't button the jacket and I was pretty sure the pants were going to give way at some point. Later that weekend I saw a picture that someone had taken of my wife and I....and that was it, that was my moment. I realized how truly over weight I was and how far I had let my health go. I was in tears... The very next day I took a stand. I was willing to do anything, any cost to lose weight. So I started with some very light weight training and found it suited me. We purchased an elliptical, which I found I could use for 20 minute intervals and my foot pain was manageable with heat and ice. Tara and I agreed that if I could keep this up for 3 months then the expense of P90X would be justified. P90X changed my life forever....period. Let me tell you, those first couple weeks are a SORE-A-THON....Those of you who have done p90x know exactly what I mean, those first 2 days of plyometrics will show you exactly how out of shape you are. But you keep going. As the weeks went on I was actually getting use to the intense workouts, I actually desired putting that DVD in everyday!!! About 6 months later my wife noticed something, I was walking without a limp...I hadn't even realized it. When you're use to chronic pain you kind of forget about it. I was walking normally...And that was another milestone in my life, this idea got in my head, this insane idea that maybe I could run...My doctor laughed when I told him my plan, not realizing I was serious. 9 months into p90x I ran my first quarter mile. I remember everything about the run. I was checking my pedometer every 10 seconds to see if it was over yet. I remember the route and thinking how embarrassed I was running with my gut and everything else bouncing back and forth, but I didn't back down. The further I went, the easier it got. I had a friend who had started running as well and she REALLY wanted to run a race but was afraid to. We agreed to both run the 2009 7 mile Flood Run, we even signed up right away so there was no backing down. Me run a race??? Here's what I can tell you about running: 1.Running is hard work, it never really get's easy, but you get use to it, start to enjoy it, then crave it. 2.Running is 10 times more rewarding than any other exercise I've ever done. It works EVERYTHING. 3.We were all built to run, some people have physical limitations that make it very difficult, but almost everyone can do it with a little bit of training. Today is Dec 2, 2010, the day before my birthday. In the last year I have run TONS of races, 5ks, 10ks, Warrior dash, 7 miles, 10 miles and 4 half marathons. I have lost 40+lbs, 5 inches off my midsection. I am a disabled runner. All things are possible if you want them bad enough, if you're willing to sacrifice ANYTHING to achieve your goals.

I realized fitness is not just about the scale...it's about feeling good physically as well as mentally. That's what I want!!!

I have run too many races to count anymore, I love the challenge of racing. I love the mental battle that wages on the race course. I am training for my first full marathon May 15 2011 in Green bay!!!

I'm from Cedar Rapids, ia. My wife and I currently live in Marion with our Daughter Gwen and dogs Teddy, Malcolm and Lucy-fur.

I love to read. The wife and I go to the movies whenever possible. Find me on facebook: Aaron Thompson

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