3 YEARS AGO TODAY....

3 YEARS AGO TODAY...

 
Three years ago, to the date, I was laying on an Operating Table, wondering what the future would hold for the man who weighed 400 pounds. NOBODY, including myself, would have ever dreamed that I would be where I am at today. Many of you have followed my journey from the beginning, and so, I thought it would be relevant on a day of reflection, like this one is for me, to give a summary of what the last year looked like for me...

January:
I found myself training VERY hard for my first attempt at running 100 miles in one day. My first race of the year was BOLD IN THE COLD. A 15k where I took 7th in my AG.Aside from that, just tons of miles in the cold

February:
February 6th marked my first attemot at running 100 miles in a day at The Rocky Raccoon Trail Run. I completed 76 miles and you can read the report at http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/02/rocky-raccoon-2010-rac e-report.html

At the end of February, I also ran in The Cowtown ULTRA Marathon (31 Miles or 50K). Read the race report at http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/02/cowtown-ultra-marathon -race-report.html

March:
On March 14th, I raced in my first Triathlon of the year... The ST. Paddys Day Tri. I made a promise to my son that I would try to win for him, and sure enough, I won my division for him...http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/03/st-patricks-day-triathlon-2010-race.html

On March 20th, I competed in The Grasslands 50 Mile Trail Run. It Snowed, sleeted, rained, and there was ankle deep mud and sub-freezing temps, which made for an awfully miserable day. 6 out of the 250+ that started finished. http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/03/grasslands-50-mile-tra il-run-race.html

April:
Most of April was spent training, and being asked by the folks at PLAYTRI Racing to MC their triathlons. I did my first in April and loved it!

May:
I just worked, trained, ate, and slept a little...

June:
June 17th I had Plastic Surgery to remove 11 pounds of loose skin from my weight loss. Extended Tummy Tuck, Chest Reconstruction, Pubic Lift, and Hernia Repair. The story is http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-chapter-begins.htm l

July:
I spent the bulk of July recovering and working from Southern California, and also went partially insane as a result of not excercising for so long...

August:
Again, August was spent recovering

September:
After almost 3 months of recovery, I competed in my first longer Triathlon of the season... Prairie Man 70.3. After 3 months off, I took 2nd in my division!!!
http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/09/prairie-man-703-half-i ron-race-report.html

A couple weeks after the 70.3, I found a little ULTRA to compete in... RUN FROM THE DUCKS. An 8 Hour race, on a .084 mile loop, as many times as you can. I finished almost 39 miles, and took 8th overall!!! http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/09/run-from-ducks-8-hour- run-race-report.html

October:
I flew to California at the end of October to compete in the 100 Mile Endurance Challenge (100 EC) that would start in Corona, CA and finish at The Santa Monica Pier. I finished 74 miles in 19 hours and was very happy with the race, even though I did not finish... http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/10/as-this-airplane-took- off-from-lax.html

November:
In November, I took part in Ironman ARIZONA and had an incredible experience. A Very Tough day but was able to improve my time by an hour over my prior Ironman race... http://trimywill.blogspot.com/2010/12/ironman-arizona-2010.h tml

December:
I was able to run The White Rock Marathon, along side my beautiful wife, who was running her fist FULL marathon, and was able to be there for her when she finished. Not an incredible race for me, but an incredible experience to witness my wife accomplish such an awesome thing.


So, all-in-all, I had an incredible year. Aside from racing, I had the honor of speaking at 2 Obesity Help Conventions... One in Costa Mesa, CA and one in Houston, TX. I DJ'd & MC'eed Multiple triathlons and running races, met some amazing people this year, and learned a lot about myself. Even though I was forced to take 3 months off to recover from my major surgery, I still sit here and scratch my head, trying to figure out how I still was able to squeeze in so many races. I could not be happier about where I am at today. I still have 12 pounds of skin to be removed from my back and legs, and while I want it removed, I am not sure I want to be down for several months again next year, so that is yet TBD.

I can't thank all of my friends and family enough for the continued love, support, and motivation you all give me everyday. Life is such a blessing and 2010 was an amazing year for me. I KNOW 2011 will be an amazing year for me and the family, and I cannot wait to see what is in store. I wish you all the best in your persuits, and here's to another incredible year!!! CHEERS...
 

The truth of the matter for all of us is that our lives are what we make of them.  We choose surgery, we also choose whether or not to follow through and make more of our lives.

Great job LIVING!

Linn 

Dan,
Congratulations on 3-year anniversary.  It is great to connect with people that understand the opportunity they have been given with this surgery and make the necessary changes in their head to grab their new lives.  It is not enough just to lose some weight, it is important to become the advocates and totally immerse oneself in this new life.

Good job on the last 3-years, and congratulations with your future endeavors.
Rob

3 years!  congrats!  looking over you significant accomplishments i find myself in awe that you are able to fit so much in with your work/family commitments and a major surgery thrown in to boot.  congrats on a very successful year and heres to another great year!

Awesome job Bro , and thanks for being here for all of us. You don't know how much of an inspiration you are to the rest of us !!

 Congrats!!  keep it up, your an inspiration!

Congrats, you inspire more than you know.

Congratulation on your amazing transformation and journey. You have truly inspired so many in such a short amount of time. Thank you!

Dan, you have been been such a huge inspiration to me on my journey. Congrats on achieving so much in such a short time period. In 221 more days I will attempt Ironman Louisville at less than 2 years post op just like you did in 2009. I think I have read your Louisville race report 4 or 5 times now. I just hope I don't get a cold that week.

Keep it up, and thanks for being there for everyone in this community.