I just noticed how much into the running thing I am getting.

Every year around my birthday I try to take a few days off to visit family and kind of take stock of all that is good about life. I have found over the years that it is a healthy practice amidst the stress of jobs, family, friends, and all of the other stresses of daily life, to not only take time to smell the roses, but to take the time to appreciate their sweet scent.

This year as I was looking at the dates around my birthday I did it with my laptop out and the schedules of various fun runs and such going on in the areas I usually travel. Yes, I am in fact basing portions of my vacation planning on the opportunity to run.

For a fat guy, that previous to a few months ago, had never run when not being chased, this is a huge change of mind set. I started running with the singular goal in mind of completing a marathon. With the rewards of training and having that small piece of time each day to myself, I have found that running is much more than one goal. Running has become the enjoyment and achievement of each of the steps up in distance along the way as well as that all to brief slice of time each day that I have all to myself, to my own mind.

Running has become a very cleansing experience. I look forward to each new day and the challenges they bring more than ever.