Starr Power: Couch to 5k

About 5 years ago, after I lost a ton of weight, my wife, Starr, blogged that I was an inspiration to her. Today, I can say that the reverse is true, and that I now find myself inspired by her. Over the past several months she's accomplished great things, physically and emotionally. She's gone from being unable to do more than a minute on the elliptical to going for over a half hour. She's grown from having little to no confidence in herself to being certain that she can climb any mountain.

Since my workout last Friday I've been somewhat discouraged. Back in December when I decided to compete in powerlifting, I had no expectations, or even any real hopes of being very competitive. But over the course of the months which followed, I found myself thinking more and more that I might eventually stand a chance in competition. I was left disheartened Friday, and after seeing videos of guys much lighter than me lifting far heavier than I can imagine myself ever lifting, I've lost much of that hope.

As I type these words, however, a glimmer of that hope is returning. Starr used to tell me she can't run and will never be able to. She would say she gets shin splints, pain in her lower legs preventing her from jogging even very short distances. Imagine my surprise when she recently told me she was planning to participate in a 5k this summer! Not only does she plan on participating, she intends to jog the entire thing! I'm truly amazed at the challenges my courageous wife is tackling.

I decided not only to allow myself to be inspired by Starr, but to join her. (I hope it doesn't hurt my wife when I say that I would never have imagined us jogging a 5k together.) Back in 2005, after I lost around 90 pounds, I jogged the entirely of the St. Patty's Day Dash, a 5k in Seattle. I've done little running since. To prepare for our 5k together, today I began her training program: Couch to 5k.

If the Lord lays it upon your heart, please pray for Starr and me. This would be a huge accomplishment for us both, all glory to God. Certain of Starr's friends are skeptical that she'll see this through, that she'll jog the entire thing. I can't wait to see them proven wrong.