I want to do something exceptional...

I want to do something exceptional with my life! I know that is a bold statement, but seriously I'm tired of just living day to day, and getting through those days. I want everyday to be an adventure! Is it to much to ask to live life? I heard a statement once that went something like we're not Human'beings' but Human'doings'. I want to get out and live life to the fullest everyday. Running has been my outlet for that lately and I'm glad to have it. I want to keep pushing myself to go harder and farther every time out. Besides my goals of running a half and a full marathon one thing I'm really looking forward to this summer is going on a runabout. Basically I'll pack a light pack with some food and water and head out running early in the morning and run all day through the country side. Spend an entire day outside in nature, I'm really jonesing for warmer weather already.

A Runners Blog #2

So I finally experienced the so called runners high, or as my training partner calls it 'a glory run'. Yesterday on our run we set out with the intention of running about 6 miles. We devised that if we took our normal 4 mile course (2 out and 2 back) and added what we assumed was another mile roughly, we would have no choice in the matter and thus not be able to cut the run short and just power on through, if we only knew then...

It started out fairly well with a good pace but not too fast with both of us sensing and realizing the fact that we were going to try and push ourselves a little today. After we made the turn around we both acknowledge the fact that we felt strong and that's when I first got the feeling that something awesome might be brewing. I began to figure out course altercations to prolong the run and hopefully push past previous barriers. After reaching our previously designated finish line we both agreed to one more mile. Our pace remained steady and even picked up a bit. After quickly reaching the end of the next mile an unspoken acknowledgment to 'one more' was made. I was feeling great at this point, I was now running in uncharted waters for me, prior to yesterday the farthest I had ever run was 7 miles at the Bix in July, we were now fast approaching mile 8 and I was quickly running out of deviations to my previous course outlines, I have never had a training run in excess of 5 miles, hell, previously I would get tired if I had to drive more than 5 miles let alone run it. So I improvised and just ran, I figured in my head and later confirmed with the odometer in my car that we had traveled roughly 9.5 miles in 1hr 18min, which was equal to my training partners, and one minute faster than mine, Bix 7 this year. I have never experienced such a feeling from running, it was exhilarating to do something I previously thought wasn't possible. I have had my doubts about running a half marathon but after yesterday I realize that I have the capacity and with the proper training will be able to achieve that goal as well as running a full marathon.
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A Runners Blog #1

So I have really gotten into running lately, which is weird, seeing as how for the first 32 years of my life I absolutely despised running. Oh I ran when I had to, say if I was cashing down a pop fly, or running on the football field to make a play, or if wild animals were chasing me and my favorite as some form of punishment or conditioning (who are we kidding, conditioning is just a coaches word for punishment). Running has always been something I had to do, either for sports or weight loss recently, but now I find myself actually enjoying it. I have begun to understand what people mean by a "runners high", and I like it. What I like most about running is I can do it whenever I feel like. I don't have to wait for a specific class time, I can go for as long as I want or as little. I have a treadmill in my basement that I can use on rainy/cold days if I want or if I want to feel the elements I can go outside. I ran the Bix last July and that is where I think I first found the enjoyment of running. I set a goal that I never thought would be achievable (running the Bix) and I did it. Not only that but I did better than I had hoped and it felt great. Now my goal is to run a half marathon 13.1 miles, that would be officially 6.1 miles farther than I have ever run in my life. Prior to the Bix I had never run more than 5 miles and less than a year ago its safe to say I had never done more than 2 miles at any one given time. Eventually I would like to do a full marathon and then maybe a tri-athalon and someday maybe an Iron Man.

The thing I like most about running is there is always something more you can get out of it, distance, time, whatever. Running has become almost a spiritual event for me, I think a lot about my life and what is going on and sometimes I just let my mind go completely quiet and just let my headphones drown me in whatever music is the flavor of the day. I have been inspired by Dean Karnazes and his book "The UltraMarathon Man, confessions of an all night runner" he runs these 100+ mile races in extreme conditions, he has run 250+ miles on more than one occasion and I'm now starting his book 50/50 about his quest to run 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days in 50 states. The guy is absolutely amazing and yet he thinks of himself as just a regular guy. I want to follow his lead and just keep pushing myself to new extremes, and be an example to my 2 boys that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I know if I set the example for my kids of a healthy active lifestyle than maybe they won't have some of the same struggles that I have had with my weight and health. They need a role model, everyone needs a role model to help keep them pushing new limits and I want to be my kids role model.