Tomorrow Is Day One

OK, so I have decided to begin the blog as I begin this journal journey, with some trepidation and excitement. My goal...to run 1000 miles in one year and journal about the experience, life and the weird and wonderful world that is my life (and maybe lose enough weight to fit into the closet full of clothes that I have been staring at for about five years, ever since I broke my shoulder, but that is another story)

Why 1000 miles and why now? Actually, I want to relive an earlier time in my life....accomplish again what I did once before, twenty years ago. The blog...well I see it as my coach...trainer...best friend pushing me to follow through. And if anyone cares to read and follow, I hope you will hold me accountable and encourage me along the way.

You see, most of my life I have been skinny...at 25 I weighed 151 lbs....and I am 6ft 1. No wonder they called me "bird legs" in college. At a recent dinner with a law school classmate somehow the subject of my skinny legs came up as he remarked to his wife how skinny I had been and how much space there always was between my legs when I wore shorts.....I know, sounded funny to me too.

Running was the one sport that I had mastered. It provided the stress relief and the adrenaline rush I needed to combat first law school and then the challenge of the practice. I had even ran one marathon by the time I was 32. But by the time I was 35 the frequency of the running had slowed a little and the waist had widened in what I assumed was the natural girth of impending middle age.

It was at this point that I met a man who changed everything about my assumptions about aging. He was in his 70s and the owner of a small, boutique men's clothing store in Austin which was closing. I went in, lured by the prospect of half off Hickey Freedman suits. I found two in what I thought was my size. To my chagrin, upon trying them on, the pants were too tight...by a lot. I casually asked if they could be let out, laughing that I guess I would have to accept larger pants as the price of getting older. The man did not bat an eye as he told me that I was wrong. "Your problem is not that you are getting older. Your problem is that you are getting lazy." was his retort. He continued "I ware the same size pants I wore when I was 18...and you could too, if it was important to you!"

Shamed and chagrined, I told him I would buy the suits, as is, and not alter them. It was quiet an investment, even at half off. As I left the store I started doubting the wisdom of my rash act. Then I remembered the fierce determination I saw in his eyes. I thought, OK, I can do this, but how? It was February 1st. I decided to see how long it would take me to run 1000 miles. December 1st of that year I ran the 1000th mile. I have a picture of me celebrating with champagne my wife brought...I also went to my closet and guess what, the suits fit. I went on to run two more marathons before slowing down on running in my 40s when I was transferred to Kuwait....but that is also another story

So here I am, mid 50s, still 6ft 1 but weighing 220lbs. Pants have a 38 waist not a 33. And tomorrow is March 1st. I plan to get up and run before work...and keep running and writing. I plan to share my journey and my thoughts and hope those who are interested will follow me and celebrate with me when I run the 1000th mile.....What will be the result? I guess we will see...Good News Bad News, Who is to Say!

Martin aka runnerblogger.