What is the best accomplishment of your life so far?

I worked up the nerve to post on LetsRun

I won a 3200 when I was a sophomore in high school at a Frosh/Soph meet.

Leaving out the canned answers of "raising my kids" ...

For me I think it would be losing 110 pounds at age 35 in a year, all by diet and exercise, and a year after that running a series of half marathons that would not have believed possible just two years prior (127, 130, 128, 126). At my starting weight of 284 pounds, I barely managed a sub 10 minute 1600 meter time trial (about a 9:52 if I recall).

My first thought was my job, but the more I think about it (and it has been on my mind lately), I believe I sold myself short. Can I change careers at age 46? Not so sure now.

Wow that much weight lost is impressive

It hasn't happened yet, but I'm on track to be financially independent by 45. Paid off half of my mortgage by age 30 and had no other debts or loans at that age. If I don't like my work at 45, I can literally tell everyone to f*** off with no consequences.

Next best accomplishment would be running an electronic sub 12 100 as a distance runner. It took 2 years of sprint training for me, but it can be done.

Oh Please wrote:

Leaving out the canned answers of "raising my kids" ...

For me I think it would be losing 110 pounds at age 35 in a year, all by diet and exercise, and a year after that running a series of half marathons that would not have believed possible just two years prior (127, 130, 128, 126). At my starting weight of 284 pounds, I barely managed a sub 10 minute 1600 meter time trial (about a 9:52 if I recall).

My first thought was my job, but the more I think about it (and it has been on my mind lately), I believe I sold myself short. Can I change careers at age 46? Not so sure now.

Dang dude, that's some amazing weight loss. I'm impressed you had that much self motivation to lose that much that quickly. Usually people that let themselves get into the obese/morbidly-obese range have lost all will to care about themselves anymore and could never do what you did. They'd lose 10lbs and call that an achievement!

My running achievement would have to be becoming a scoring runner on a Div I National qualifying team. In HS I thought I could do that easily but once I got to college and saw face-to-face how talented everyone was, it became more of a longer-term goal.

Sub 20 5k mofos.

1) Marrying my wife.

2) Having my two kids.

3) Running Boston.

4) Finishing an Ironman.

5) Seeing the Grateful Dead's last shows at Soldier Field.

Oh Please wrote:

Leaving out the canned answers of "raising my kids" ...

For me I think it would be losing 110 pounds at age 35 in a year, all by diet and exercise, and a year after that running a series of half marathons that would not have believed possible just two years prior (127, 130, 128, 126). At my starting weight of 284 pounds, I barely managed a sub 10 minute 1600 meter time trial (about a 9:52 if I recall).

My first thought was my job, but the more I think about it (and it has been on my mind lately), I believe I sold myself short. Can I change careers at age 46? Not so sure now.

Sold yourself short how?

Low expectations are good, man. It is mostly politics at the top.

More money, more problems. Responsibility increases more than linearly with better careers.

I once won an argument on the internet. Of course the guy I was arguing with didn't know I'd won, but I'm okay with that.

1 week meditation retreat. 18 hours a day, no speaking. Super difficult.

Getting into medical school was good, too.

A Registered Handle wrote:

I once won an argument on the internet. Of course the guy I was arguing with didn't know I'd won, but I'm okay with that.

No, you didn't win. I did.

My wife and 2 daughters. Couple Olympic medals come after that.

Won a few Supreme Court cases and a few marathons.

Hog wrote:

My wife and 2 daughters. Couple Olympic medals come after that.

Dafaq? I've never even come close to getting in the Olympics, and I'd rate my running accomplishments over any (hypothetical) wife and kids. I'd even consider it a negative accomplishment since you're losing your time, money, and freedom.

As for me:

1. Earning 100K a year before 30

2. Buying a house by 25

3. Graduating from college loan-free

4. Summiting Aconcagua

5. Running a sub 2 800

6. Flying across the country in a single engine Cessna

7. Writing a program that plays grandmaster-level chess

8. Visiting all 50 states

9. Getting in the local news a few times

10. Being able to understand 4 different languages (would have rated this higher if I was very fluent in all of them)

Single and Proud wrote:

Hog wrote:

My wife and 2 daughters. Couple Olympic medals come after that.

Dafaq? I've never even come close to getting in the Olympics, and I'd rate my running accomplishments over any (hypothetical) wife and kids. I'd even consider it a negative accomplishment since you're losing your time, money, and freedom.

As for me:

1. Earning 100K a year before 30

2. Buying a house by 25

3. Graduating from college loan-free

4. Summiting Aconcagua

5. Running a sub 2 800

6. Flying across the country in a single engine Cessna

7. Writing a program that plays grandmaster-level chess

8. Visiting all 50 states

9. Getting in the local news a few times

10. Being able to understand 4 different languages (would have rated this higher if I was very fluent in all of them)

Yikes man. See the handle.

It’s pretty clear that you’re one of “those” guys. Trashing someone else to try and bring yourself up.

Work on that for your next big accomplishment.

Running accomplishments, even mediocre ones, are more impressive than a wife and kids.

Anyone can get married and knock someone up. But not everyone can run a 15 minute 5K or even a 20 minute 5K.

Single and Proud: I was simply stating what were 2 of my best accomplishments. There have been others, but not better than those already mentioned

My first BJ

Will never forget that taste