After a short break, I'm back!

Hello Readers!

Let me just start by saying WOW it has been a while and for those who enjoy reading this blog let me apologize for my delay. Let me just say life has been very busy for me! In the time that I have been away from blogging, I was laid off from US Central. I knew this was coming, but I don't think I could have anticipated how difficult that day would be when I walked out the doors for the final time. Having to say goodbye to people you had spent every day with for the previous thirteen years was an emotional day. After taking a few weeks off to unwind and enjoy March Madness I started with a new company. My stint with this company was short as a different opportunity came calling. This new opportunity was with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. I am now starting my sixth week with the Fed and really enjoy what I am doing.

Since I last blogged some other positive and wonderful things have happened in my life. I met and have been seeing a wonderful girl, Kelli Dowd. Kelli is such a positive person and has been with me through the tough times of the carjacking and leaving USC, and we have had so many good times. We spent a fun filled 5 days out in Arizona and will be heading to Colorado for fun next weekend. She was my personal cheerleader in my half marathon and will be there to cheer me on in the Chicago Marathon. In this same time I became and uncle. I know I let everyone know that this would be happening, but I don't think I could have been prepared for how truly exciting this would be. I am a proud Uncle to Scarlett Katherine Kimbrell. Congrats to lucky parents. I didn't realize just how moving it would be to see Scarlett in the hospital the day of the birth and how much fun it is just to hold her in your arms. I am really going to love this being an uncle thing.

After now catching everyone up on what has been happening and why it has taken me soooo long to get back out here and blog, lets get on to the part people always enjoy hearing about my never ending pursuit of fitness. I must say with all the activity and exciting things that happened, I did gain about 15 pounds back, but don't worry it will be off shortly. I have already got about 5 of that off. I remained very active in this time when I didn't blog, but I may have enjoyed a little too much food and Happy Hour cheer. Just to show I did remain active I ran the Rock the Parkway Half Marathon, the Hospital Hill 10K, several long bike rides with the "Y" crew and my brother and lastly the KC Triathlon. I have several other events lined up for the summer season, many of them being triathlons with the culmination being October 7th in Chicago with the marathon. Training for this event has officially kicked off so in the coming weeks along with my normal activity I will be increasing my distance and stretching out the fun.

Until next time I leave you with my theory on life, "Life is Short, Live it Hard"!!

Ryan

Always be aware of your surroundings!

Hello Readers!

Wow what a couple of last few weeks it has been. I have been an interviewing animal right now. With end of February being my last day at US Central I thought I would share with people that I have had interviews with Jack Henry, the Federal Reserve and Multi Service. I feel each went very well and hopefully the prospects of me finding the next stage in my career is getting near an end with a very positive result ahead. (I am knocking on wood right now) I have been watching a ton of Mizzou basketball recently, what a ride this has currently been as well. Mizzou is having one of the best years in it's history and what a year to have it right as they exiting the Big XII. Earlier this week something very serious happens which brings me to my point of always be aware of your surroundings.

I always end my posts with "Life is short, live it hard", this saying means more to me after yesterday. Yesterday when I woke up to go to work I was carjacked in front of my house. I was warming up my car and scraping the ice off when an individual pulled a gun on me and stole my car. Luckily I was not injured or harmed I just had my car taken. This certainly made me thankful for every day that I have. This gives me a renewed rigor of taking each day, making the most of it and living life hard!

This experience also made me think we should all be aware of our surroundings. In this instance I wasn't really aware. I saw the individual approaching but really thought nothing of it. Many people cut through my yard to walk to the bus stop across the street. Had I taken more time to think about it I might have realized that there were no cars around, no other people other than him and I. In the future I will be much more aware. This can be applied to many aspects of our lives including our running and fitness. Many of us, myself included love to run trails. While trails are beautiful and offer no automobile traffic to contend with, trails may be extremely dangerous. Many trails are poorly lit and have few people on them. I implore people to alway be aware. Even though most people choose to run with iPod's or other MP3 players always keep your head on a swivel. A second recommendation when it comes to running trails run with a running partner. Running is always safer with a partner but this holds especially true on trails. Both animals or intruders will be much less inclined to attack if you run with a friends. A second benefit is company on the run. I find it much easier to put in long distance when I have someone to chit chat with.

In one last update I thought I would let everyone know it is official I did get registered for Chicago on October 7th. I will be running this marathon with my good friends Jen and Jeremy. I am also excited as my friends Brad and my brother JJ want to make the journey to Chicago so this trip will be extra special!

Let me finish by saying with even more conviction, LIFE IS SHORT! LIVE IT HARD!

Ryan

2012 Off to a good start

Hello Readers!

It has been a few weeks since I have posted. I have been an extremely busy person so far this year. Some of you are probably thinking what's new? I agree with your sentiments, somethings never change. I never really thought about it until now, but I am probably slightly OCD in the way I workout and believe in getting after life. I will let everyone know that my running is still as crazy as it has ever been, I just figure you know that I am running and don't care to hear how much I put in each week. I will let people know I have signed up for the Westport St. Patrick 4 miler. This has always been one of my favorite runs in KC. If you are a beginner to running and want to try a race this is recommended as the course is fun, but the post race party after is top notch. I am always talking about the social benefits to running and this race is a prime example immediately after the run all the bars/restaurants in Westport have specials for those who run. Hopefully I will see some of you out there. I have also signed up for the Rock the Parkway half marathon again. Last year I ran my fastest time ever on this course. Hopefully I can improve upon that time. Only time will tell.

This year I have continued with my try new things attitude. I have been playing sand volleyball for the last couple years, but this year I am on an indoor volleyball team as well. Last night the results were not pretty, but ths has been a great experience as I have met new people and am having a blast. Continuing on the theme of trying new things, I have gotten into hot yoga. For those of you not familiar with this, all I can say is this is the most intense yet therapuetic workout. It is practicing yoga for one and a half hours in a room that is heated to 105 degrees. If this sounds insane, it is! The benefit though is worth the pain and the insantiy. I have noticed in my running and swimming that I have been able to go faster thanks to the better flexibility and better breathing. If you are looking for something to try, I highly recommend it.

Hopefully everyone who set "Goals/Resolutions" for 2012 have been sticking with your goals. This is the pivotal time as most people make it about 4 - 6 weeks into the year before giving up. I urge everyone to stick with it! If you make it past that initial 6 weeks it will become routine and you will see the results you are hoping for.

Have a great week! Life is short, live it hard!
Ryan

2012 New Year, New Hope

Hello Readers!

Welcome to 2012! I don't know about you but I am extremely excited for the upcoming year. I am not a person who really celebrates the new year on New Year's Eve as I don't find it to be a big holiday, but I do get excited with all that a new year brings. I have told many people I believe that 2012 will be the best year. I have a ton to look forward to this year. With the new year comes new hopes and new goals.

If you read my new years post last year you know I don't believe in resolutions. Resolutions are something that we have an excuse to break. If we set goals at the beginning of the year, we may not achieve the goals but we have something to continually work toward. This year I start the year with some lofty goals. The first main goal is running marathon number two. I had been planning all along on Little Rock in March, but this has sold out. My friends Jen, Jeremy and I have now set our sites on Chicago in October. Make no doubt I will get registered on the day this opens so that it doesn't sell out on me. Those who remember last year know that a second goal was for me to do a half ironman. This is a goal that is on my horizon, not sure if I will have the time in my busy schedule this year but I will maintain it as a goal so that I continue to work toward it. I also vow that this year I will maintain my high level of community service as life has been good to me so it is extremely important that I continue to give back.

The second exciting thing about the new year is new hopes. This year new hopes will hold especially true. Many people who read this know that my job situation has been difficult over the past year. The situation will be even more challenging but exciting this year. I do have an official end date at my current position, which is at the end of February. So needless to say I have really been hitting the job market extremely hard to start the year. When I find a new position this will bring incredible excitement with it and hopes for what the future will have in store for me. A second great thing that is bringing excitement for me this year is becoming an Uncle. I haven't talked about this yet in my blog but in April I will become an Uncle. I am so excited for my brother and Jessica!! So as everyone can see there is a great deal of excitement ahead for 2012! Hopefully all you readers are setting your goals and hopes for this upcoming year. May 2012 be the best year yet!

Life is short, live it hard!

Ryan