An Introduction

Hey everyone! I thought I would try keeping a blog, updating it about once a week just as a fun way to add some extra thoughts to my running log.

First I should say that I'm fairly new to the passion of running. I have had brief bouts of running enthusiasm, but they rarely lasted but a few months and then I would fall back in line with the herd and schedule my day around making money, food and...other things.

My first experience with running was in junior high school in California early 1970's. The Viet Nam war was still on TV at my P.E. teacher's house every evening and so I think he got the idea of giving us 13 year old boys an early boot camp 5 days a week. Apparently in preparation for the day when we would be drafted. I don't remember playing any sports during those 3 years, but we did do a lot of "calisthenics" and negotiated the obstacle course. No kidding an obstacle course! And we ran. Alot.

Needless to say I walked out of junior high clutching plenty of negative P.E. baggage in each hand. Yeah, the coach spared me the simulated machine gun fire, but it was a long time before I cared to lace up the old shoes and start running laps again. Actually over thirty years passed before I become the runner that was looking for the chance to come alive. As I said, I sometimes ran for a short stints but I never was able to make the connection and be reborn on my own. My weight made it up to 204 lbs. My optomotrist told me that the discoloration in the white part of my left eye was actually a build up of cholesterol. I was 45 years old and needed to make a change.

Luck, or good karma or something was on my side. I started working with a guy name Bob. Bob is an ironman. Bob works with wood, enjoys tying knots, bakes bread and sails his own boat. He likes running but loves swimming. He's a philosopher. And he's my savior.

He got me running some very tough track workouts. Some were "restoritive", as he likes to call them, but most of them KICKED MY ASS. I ran hard, and for me, I ran long: 3 to 7 miles at a time. I looked forward to everyone of them even though I knew what was coming. It was awesome to push so hard. 20 pounds dropped off my frame almost immediately.

Today I've run a few short races, 3 half-marathons and last October I ran my first full marathon in Portland. I didn't train very well and my time was lousy. But my goal was to finish and I did. The picture above is me with Bob holding our celebratory Douglas Fir trees and roses just after the race.

This year I have been using the Runner's World marathon training plan to get ready for the Portland Marathon in October. I still hook up with Bob for some long runs in Portland's Forest Park a few times every month, but we no longer work together.

My plan is to stay active for the rest of my life. I believe the answers to the big questions are to be found within each of us. Answers that have presented themselves to my fellow humans throughout time and only when they choose to turn inward on a journey of self-discovery. That road is long and life is short. So let's go for a run!