Signing Off

     To those that still follow my blog, I appreciate you holding on with the expectation that I might be able to continue writing with any regularity.  To be frank, I just don't have any time I can devote to it and in my opinion I really don't have anything else to say that I haven't already.  I barely have enough free time to spend with my wife, running or any of my hobbies, let alone sit down and type about it.

I thank you all for the support and the interest in my struggles and triumphs in my running and weight loss journey.  I still hang out on Facebook and Instagram, so feel free to hit me up on either of those if you feel like connecting.

Also, to anyone who comes across this blog in your search for help or inspiration in your weight loss journey, I hope that even though I no longer provide updates on my current situation what I have written here will help you when you may need it most. Lastly, please remember that it takes time and determination.  If you asked me the day that I took my first strides on that track that I would have run multiple marathons I would have told you you are fucking crazy.  Everyday of my journey was a different challenge and while I gave in to temptation once and awhile, I didn't let it ruin all the other days.  Remember Only the Strong Survive!  So be strong and take it day by day!

God Bless

Dean

Even One Dollar Can Help

     With the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon only a couple of months away I thought it would be a good idea to share with you some of the great charities that benefit from this awesome event.  The best way to help is always to volunteer your time, but when you don't have enough of that to donate the next best thing is a monetary donation.  Below is a short description of all the charities, just click on the description to be taken to their donation page.  If you only have one dollar available to donate, that is a dollar more than they had yesterday.  

Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity — Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity works with low income families in Lucas County, Ohio to provide new or rehabbed housing, critical home repairs, clean-up and exterior maintenance.

Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism — The Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism works within the community to promote awareness of Autism as well as collaborates with community partners to provide programming, services, and support for those affected by autism…

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo — Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo serves more than 41,000 people of all faiths and backgrounds in 19 counties of Northwest Ohio by providing food and shelter, adoption services, pregnancy support, guardianship for the elderly, jail and prison…

Toledo Community Service Center, dba Family House — We provide services and programs to over 267 homeless families every year, at an average cost of $1700 per family served. With $10,000 we will be able to shelter, empower and re-house 6 families who find themselves in a homeless crisis…

Goodwill of NW Ohio — Goodwill Industries, a household name that evokes images of thrift stores, donated goods and workers with disabilities. We improve the lives of people with disabilities or other disadvantages through employment training and job placement…

Girls on the Run — Girls on the Run is an after school program meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-15 girls. The program teaches life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. Running to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong…

Racing for Recovery — Our mission at Racing for Recovery is to prevent all forms of substance abuse by promoting a lifestyle of fitness and health for all those affected by addiction. Racing for Recovery works to save lives and improve the quality of life for addicts and…

Mercy Children’s Hospital — A regional resource for advanced pediatric care located in Toledo, Ohio. Since 1999, Mercy Children’s Hospital has brought together a broad spectrum of physicians, researchers, educators, nurses and allied professionals specializing in the unique needs of children. Mercy Children’s Hospital has become the leading healthcare resource in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Money donated to Mercy Children’s Hospital goes to support the Mercy Autism Program, Mercy Hippotherapy program, Mercy Family Care Team, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Inpatient Child Life program, along with equipment and other needs within the hospital…

Hannah’s Socks — Restoring dignity one pair of socks at a time. It’s a simple premise really. Giving a person a brand new pair of socks. What many take for granted by opening their drawer in the morning to get ready for the day, is not possible for…

Partners for Clean Streams — Striving for abundant open space and a high quality natural environment; adequate floodwater storage capacities and flourishing wildlife; stakeholders who take local ownership in their resources; and rivers, streams and lakes that are clean, clear and safe…

Serenity Farm — Our Mission: A professional team providing growth and learning opportunities through the use of equine-assisted therapy to improve the quality of lives. Our Vision: A nationally-recognized organization giving persons with physical and behavioral disabilities a journey of therapy that enriches their lives through the bond of affection with the respect of horses…

Harvey House — is a drop-in center, community center, and safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies…

Veterans Matter — The Mission of Veterans Matter is simple: House as many homeless veterans as we can, as fast as we can today, while preventing even more from becoming homeless tomorrow…

Compassion Health Toledo — The Mission Compassion Health Toledo is to provide Christ-centered, integrated, affordable and quality health care to those who need it most…

National Youth Sports Program — University of Toledo — Mission: A. To expand the opportunities for disadvantaged youth to benefit from sports-skill instruction, engage in sports competition and improve their physical fitness B. To help young people acquire good health practices, to help them become better citizens and to acquaint them with career and educational opportunities by using the personnel and facilities of institutions of higher education C. To enable institutions and their personnel to participate more fully in community life and in the solution of community problems. D. To provide a combination of employment and on-the-job training in sports instruction and administration. E. To serve disadvantaged areas in the major metropolitan centers of the United States and other areas of need, within the limits of program resources…

Thank you and God bless!

Takin' A Look Back At 2017

     2017 was a long stress filled year with A LOT of changes in my life.  I received a promotion at work the led to relocating to a new city.  With that came the stress of finding a place to rent that would accept 3 dogs, selling the house, barely seeing my wife and moving all of our shit to our temporary home.  On top of that putting in long hours at shop, sometimes being there till one in the morning, all while training for and running three marathons.  The hardest part for me really was my eating habits.  There were days and weeks where fast food was my only nutrition choices and despite training for three marathons, my weight has crept up almost 20 fucking pounds and I am not happy about it. 

     The first marathon was the MercyHealth Glass City Marathon that was my first full marathon after my hip surgery, so I had no agenda and just went out and ran it for the fun of it.  That also led me to be interviewed by Matt Fitzgerld for a book he is working on.  

     The second marathon was my return to the Columbus Marathon which was the first marathon I ever ran.  While training, I cut across the yard at our apartment complex and managed to find a rut and twist my ankle with just about a month till race day.  I put myself on crutches for a few days, iced it and even drove two and a half hours to Toledo to have my physical therapist take a look.  Race day I had a plan of what I wanted do that I threw out the window after going out way too fast in the first mile.  I felt like I could do a sub 4 hour marathon again even though I really wasn't ready prepared for it and managed to blow myself up around mile 18.  I did a ton of walking with some running mixed in to grind it out through it to a 4:23:33 finish.  I totally learned a lesson, the hard way, on race nutrition and pacing.

     The third was the Savannah Rock n Roll Marathon while I was visiting my parents.  This time I followed my nutrition and pacing plan, which led to a 4:23:40 finish.  Despite finishing seven seconds slower, I felt great throughout the entire race only to be slowed way down in the last two miles because of the scorching sun and heat I had to deal with.  Don't get me wrong, I was tired, but because I paced properly I was able to walk the mile and a half to the car and run the 5K and 1 mile remix challenge races the next day.

     The minute I got back from Savannah, Mandy and I closed on our new home, and began the stress filled process of working 6 days a week while trying to move from our townhouse to the new house.  Add to the mix that we offered to host Christmas for my family a month later, so we had to paint, move in, organize everything, decorate, clean the townhouse and prep for what turned out to be a wonderful family Christmas.  all while we both work full time jobs.  We managed to get it done and had a wonderful time with my family for Christmas.

     The casualty in all this since I got back from Georgia was my running and strength training.  When people say they don't have time to workout, it usually is a bullshit excuse, I know I used to say it myself when I was 300 pounds, however this time it was true.  All that moving and long hours my body just wasn't having it and what little free time I had was used to rest my sore body.  November 5th was the last day I ran until I hopped on the treadmill December 9th.  Since then it has been like pulling teeth to get me to go running, and that has me worried considering my spring marathon training started this week.

     During all this time I was blogging less and less, which I am sure any of my long time readers noticed.  As you read earlier, I really just didn't have the time, however I was also feeling like my posts were getting redundant and boring, so I decided to just take a break from it.

     Now that my time has started to loosen up some I decided I wanted to try getting back into it, but I felt I really needed a change and what better way than a little re-branding.  I wanted a title that was much shorter and that was still running related, but wasn't completely about weight loss.  Don't get me wrong I will still continue to write about my struggles with my weight, but I wanted something that fit more of me and my personality.  I came up with a few ideas, but most of them were garbage or were already taken in one of the social media venues, and after a couple of weeks it finally hit me The Tatted Runner.  I mean I love to run and I love getting and looking at tattoos so the name seemed to just fit.  I know their are other runners out there currently with more tattoos, and I don't claim to be the guy with "the most tattoos" or even the "coolest" tattoos, but tattoos have been a love of mine since I was in grade school drawing on myself with permanent markers.  So with this change I feel like I don't have to concentrate on just running and weight loss, even though I will continue to write about both.

     That was my quick year in review and I look forward to a great 2018 in a lot of areas of my life.  I turn the BIG 40 this year and I have something I am working on that I personally think will be a fun challenge and great way to celebrate 40 years on this planet!

Thanks for reading!