Baby Steps

Days like yesterday are hard. I want to run but, my brain gets in the way. My calendar is full with work and home obligations and on top of that it is super hot and extra humid. If I don't get up early and get out the door before work the chances of getting that run in goes down considerably.

Additional I am not a big fan of waking up early. So the baby steps start the minute the 5:30 am alarm sounds. I am just gonna get up and have a cup of coffee and check out what has been happening on Facebook and twitter. That is what gets the foot on the floor. I just think about the coffee. As I am sipping the coffee and perusing the Internet I start thinking about my running clothes. I lay them out the night before.

All I have to do is get dressed. All I have to do is put on my headphones. All I have to do is get out the door, down the block and oh look...I am running. How did that happen? Usually the first half a mile keeps me tricking myself. Go slow warm up if you don't feel better in 5 minutes you'll turn around. Well the bottom line is that once I'm out the door the run will get done. It

Isn't always pretty and a lot of times it isn't fun, but tricking myself by taking baby steps gets it in the books and I can forget about it again until the alarm sounds again tomorrow.

Commitment Renewed

Wow it has been awhile since I’ve updated you and for that I’m sorry. But rest assured I’ve been putting in the training miles.

What has prompted this return to the page you ask? Well a combination of things really but the forerunner is it has been 1 year since my friend Ben died of Cancer. I can’t believe it has been that long. It seems like yesterday. This last year has gone by in a nightmare for his wife, parents, sisters and his best friend (my brother Jay). I’ve stood by and provided a listening ear and a hug, but otherwise have felt pretty helpless. I suppose that is why I committed to running a marathon and raising money to fight against cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation program gives me a way to fight back. I can never help Ben. But maybe the money I raise can fund lifesaving research and keep other families from having to wade through the grief and loss that Ben’s family and friends has had to.

Additionally running for Ben has helped me drop nearly 30lbs. I’m not mentioning this so you can tell me how great I look the next time you see me (but of course please do if the spirit moves you) It is to point out that physical activity and eating healthy will help protect me from cancer and a whole host of other ailments that genetics has potentially thrown in my way.

So I’m planning to update you more often so you can train with me. I’ll need all the help, motivation and DetermiNation I can get.