Sure, the 6-foot-tall, 27-year-old China Grove dairy farmer was happy with his life and enjoyed being a powerful presence when he went out onto the field to play softball in his spare time. And wife Laura loved him just the way he was, at about 235 pounds. But after Miller saw a picture of himself without a shirt, he knew he wasn’t satisfied with the way he looked, and he knew he wasn’t healthy.

Miller says he’s tried to lose weight in the past with different diets, but he also admits that he retained most of the weight because he thought having more weight would give him an advantage on the softball field.

“My problem was, I’d lose weight and I didn’t think I’d have as much power,” he says. But the power he really wanted was that which would allow him to discipline himself to get thin and stay that way.

“Since I’d got out of high school, I’d been up and down,” Miller says. “More up than down. So, I started jogging about three miles a day and got down to around 200 pounds. Then, when I stopped, I gained it all back, plus I got to about 235.”

He grew weary of the up-and-down weight battle and finally decided to take dieting seriously and set a goal of 190 pounds. Laura didn’t think he could do it.

Beginning a diet wasn’t easy for Miller, who has enough to concentrate on with work and helping Laura raise their three sons, Daxton, 1, Brock, 4, and Seth, 7. The key, he says, is a willing spirit.

“Losing weight is not something someone else can make you do,” Miller says. “You have to do it on your own. It’s hard to have all healthy food in here with the kids, but you have to be able to deny yourself and think ‘What’s more important to you? Eating more or being in shape and feeling great?’ ”

He used to like to eat everything, he says — especially pizza. When he dieted, he did deny himself food when he was hungry, but now that he’s at his goal weight, Miller eats when he feels hungry, making sure to avoid grease and high-calorie foods.

“I still like to eat everything, but eating’s more of a mind thing than a hunger thing,” he says.

Now that he’s slimmed down to 165 pounds — the lightest he’s been in his adult life — he might eat an egg substitute, fruit cocktail in light syrup, a piece of light whole grain bread and a low-fat bagel for lunch. But what helps him maintain his lean frame is his love of running, which he admits borders on obsession at times.

Though he did enjoy participating in track in high school, Miller’s true love for the sport of running started in 1998, after a friend told him about the China Grove 5K Challenge.

“It wasn’t really hard for me,” he says. “Then, as my weight got less and less, (running) got easier, and I got faster and faster. Ever since, I’ve been committed to racing. I gave up softball and turned to running and haven’t gone back.”

Miller began to study the art and sport of running in magazines and added that to his continuing health regimen. So, everyday, everywhere, Miller runs. To and from the Wal-Mart near his home, to and from the mailbox, on country roads bordering his dairy farm, and in races and marathons.

“It’s an addiction,” his wife says.

“With softball, I never had this drive,” Miller says. “Softball is more of a team sport, whereas running is a sport where you realize, ‘OK, when you do it, it’s you. And if you lose, it’s you.’ Regardless, you’re responsible for your performance.”

His last race was the recent Winter Flight at Catawba College, in which he placed ninth. He’s been in about 25 races, from Charlotte to Florida, since 1998.

“It’s something you’ve got to keep doing,” he says. “When you race, it’s so motivating when you come into the finish and there are people all around. It feels great. I’d always heard all my life that people who run had to run because of the peace of mind, and I never understood until I started doing it myself. It’s kind of relaxing.”

Laura, a stay-at-home mom, doesn’t mind taking care of the children so her husband can run, because she understands his dedication.

“When you run,” he says, “there’s nothing on your mind except running. It’s very enjoyable. I never dreamed it be this rewarding to me.”

He still eats pizza the night before he races, but that hasn’t stopped him from being the overall winner in two races and winning cash prizes and trophies for his speed. In in a five-mile race, he’s averaged five minutes and 40 seconds per mile.

Miller, who’s never been this thin or this serious about fitness, says he’d like to lose about 10 more pounds for running reasons and hopes to run for the rest of his life. Though he has no immediate plans to become a professional runner, he says nothing is impossible because of his confidence and devotion to his sport, his family and God.