30 Days: Day 4, 5-Miles 

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I didn’t grow up with my father, but one memory that sticks out in my head is him teaching me how to play basketball. I must have been around 8 or 9 We ran around to different points on the court and he’d pass me the ball so I can shoot and attempt to score. Although I don’t remember much about that time I do remember it was a normal thing for him to go out and play basketball with the guys.  Every time I missed a shot I remember him telling me I shouldn’t give up, every time I missed a shot.  While basketball never developed into a sport I was any good at, I do go back to it from time to time staying until I make all the shot I set for that day.

I often think ahead to the memories that my children will have of their time spent with me. Will they remember the time they spent running with me fondly?  Will they look at the challenges that they face when trying to accomplish a goal as just a barrier to overcome? Only time will tell.  All that I can do is be the be the example and show the behaviors that I want to develop.

I have gone back and forth trying to decide if I want to  write about my experiences while running. Now that I’ve I finally decided to do it, I am at my lowest  point of my running journey.  A few months ago, I started feeling was in pain in my leg, and not running as much.  But, I actually think this was a good place to start as, it captures my journey as I am going through a barrier that I must overcome to meet my goals.

Sometimes pain is your body’s way of telling you to stop what you are doing.  It is a warning sign letting you know that something is not right. But in my case, the doctors are playing 20 questions and have come up with no diagnosis.  So, why can I not do the same and try to figure it out on my own?

For me, this journey is not about getting fit. I never really had a problem there. It is about personal achievement!  It’s about setting a goal and achieving that goal. It’s about overcoming obstacles that get in the way of success. It’s about realizing that sometimes, you have to take a step back in order to move forward. It’s about knowing that taking that backwards step is ok.  It is ok to fall!  But what you do after you do fall is what defines the kind of person you are destined to be!

So running serves as a reminder to me that life is a journey. The only way you’ll get to the finish line is by putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.

30 Days: Day 3- Another run in the books

Monday’s are a busy day. Getting back into the swing of things at work as well as maintaining the fitness momentum from the weekend is one of my problem areas.  I’m usually moving from one task to another with little to no break in between.  Typically, I’ll get home from work, I’ll have time to grab a quick snack with my son, and there is just enough time left to make sure he has everything he needs for his Boy Scouts meeting.  Not to mention Trying to get prepared for the very time intensive I reading and course work for the class that I am currently  enrolled in.  Time never appears to be on my side.  Time management courses, instruct you to keep a schedule. Try to do things at the same time every time, in order to make it a routine.  This week I made such an adjustment in my schedule. I decided to go to the gym after work, right  before my son’s scout meeting starts.  As long As I got out of the office on time, that would give me 45 minutes to workout, then get back home to shower, and be ready to leave with my son.

Today, by the time I arrived at the gym I only had enough time for a 25-minute run. So, I ran to go as far as I could within that time.  Over the past few runs, I averaged 2-miles at my 25-minute point.  Today, surprisingly, I surpassed my own record and ran over 2.5-miles during my allotted time.  My TomTom Sports watch tracked me at running 2.6 Miles in 25 minutes.   And more importantly, it was a pain-free run.

The first truly pain-free run since May!  Too early to tell if these new Saucony Omni 15, was all I needed but and 1 day for running pain-free doesn’t constitute winning a battle, but, it is a step toward that goal.

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30 Days: Day 2


After yesterday’s run, I decided to go shopping for new sneaker options. The GoRun store representative was as baffled as I was by my entire ordeal. But, he did his best to try to fit me in a pair of running shoes that work with my feet.

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After trying on and trying out different pairs and brands of sneakers, I decided to go with the Saucony Omni 15 and was surprised when the representative simply exchanged my used sneakers for the new ones.  I walked out of the door paying only $10, way less than the $130 I anticipated spending when I walked in.  I chose these for two reasons. With a few adjustments to how they were tied, they felt best on my feet. And after my 5 minute run in them on the store treadmill, there was no pain.

With new sneakers laced up and a new determination to reach my goal, I woke up this morning and did, what someone I used to work with called, a stay moving 1.5mile run. For me, today was all about getting a feel for how the new sneakers will perform.  I also grabbed my wife’s puppy, Bailey, as I walked out the door.  She was so excited to be outside running that she pulled me the entire run. So I didn’t have the wits about me to gauge how I was running or how my legs were feeling while I ran.  I simply ran, trying to hold her at my pace.

I had to stop once, not because I was tired or in pain, but because, as all dogs do when they go for a walk, Bailey had to stop. I took a moment to build back my momentum and finished the run just over the time I was shooting for.  I did feel a little pain toward the end of the run, but with the new shoes, it truly is hard to tell why.


All in all, I would call it a good run!  Tomorrow will be a true test for how well these new shoes perform.   If only I can sneak out of the house before the puppy sees me.

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