Race Day Saturday

It's been, well, only about 20 months since I started running again - and not from someone - just running. It's nothing like when I had to run back in high school for cross country. Running in Wisconsin during the late winter, early spring when the high temperature is about 24 degrees, doesn't really instill the urge to "just do it." In fact, I can't remember if I ever ran one training run in it's entirety - in fact, I know I cheated every single one of them - sorry coach, but if you put a corn field between me and the finish line, and by cutting through said corn field it will cut off over 3 miles of a 6 mile run, consider that bad planning on your part.
Back to 2009. I started running, seriously, again just after my Father-in-law passed away unexpectedly - we were all taken by surprise by his passing and we, and by we I especially mean my wife, struggle with it each and every day. He was, and still is, an incredible man with a spirit that lives on in almost everything we do - from grilling steaks to putting air in my daughter's truck tires (which was her Papa's) to flipping through television shows that feature unidentified flying objects - he was a well rounded wonderful guy and will forever be missed.
Now with this running thing, I guess since I was in St. Louis, MO, and I was away from my wife, I also just needed something to occupy my time - working at the MUNY is great fun, and Forest Park is absolutely beautiful, but there are 24 hours in a day! Besides, I was now old enough to appreciate "a walk (or run) in the park." I also would ride my bicycle around the 12 mile park loop - that was easier, but for some reason, running just really worked for me on a completely different level. The strange thing is, I've had my right knee rebuilt (ACL) and have had back surgery (years of stupidity and heredity) - I really wasn't the optimal candidate to be running what started off as about 10 miles a week. But, I couldn't really stop. Then, upon returning to Fayetteville at the end of the MUNY season, I just, to quote Forrest Gump, "just kept runnin'."
Well, like I said, almost 20 some months later I have completed 3 half marathons, a full marathon, an 11K, a 10K, and a number of 5K races. It's not a record by any stretch of the imagination, but it is something that is not only great for me physically but emotionally as well. I actually stop (or I guess I should say, GO!) long enough to gather MY thoughts.
While running may not be for everyone, it's really working for me - and on some strange level, I think it is making me a better teacher, designer, and husband - now if I can just get started on editing this damned book.

Cheers!