Predisposed to The Streak

During a recent 20 year reunion I set out for a run in Decatur, GA. I spent a terrific amount of time in this area from the early 80s forward. It was in Decatur where my friend Bill and I first decided to train for the Peachtree 10K Road Race. In 1989, we ran five miles and thought we surely would die. I'm not positive we really believed we could add another 1.2 to go the distance of a 10K during the middle of the Atlanta summer. Together we managed to make it and have run many miles since.

I haven't seen Bill in a number of years. He was one of the first people I knew who was truly committed to fitness. He worked out at the YMCA several times a week and had the physique to suggest he worked out hard. As I retraced our steps on this nostalgic run I wondered if Bill remains committed to good health. My bet is, yes. I pondered if people who knew me twenty years ago would believe I'm a person obsessed with exercise and meal choices. As I fully thought out my question I decided my 14 year exercise Streak may not come as a shock to many.

I have a tendency toward this sort of thing. For example, I had perfect attendance in school all the way through 6th grade until I had to have hip surgery. The same hospitalization broke my streak of attending church every Sunday. I went on to have perfect attendance the first two years of high school, all of college and perfect attendance at church as a young adult when I change denominations. I have been at the same job for 11 years and have only missed work for two funerals, never a sick or personal day.

Some thing is wrong with me. Very, very wrong :-)

Tom

Salsabil

Most know fitness is not the driving force of my exercise Streak. Make no mistake, I love being physically fit, however vanity is not the engine that powers my daily work outs. Disease runs rampant in my family. Paternal and maternal members have and do suffer from heartdisease, diabetes and cancer. This more than anything motivates me to work hard everyday to stave off the demons of health, which can lead to misery and an untimely death.

Salsabil is an Arabic word I like. It means somethng akin to spring or river of life. End the trend and seek a way to the spring of life, a healthy body.

Eat well. Exercise. Live life.

Tom

The Good Old Days

An hour of nostalgic exercise made me very happy. On a reunion weekend in Decatur, GA I ran routes new and old across the first hour of morning light. This is the city where I first went out for street runs. Prior to that I had only been jogging on the high school track in Clarkston. Interestingly, lots of places, roads, and buildings had undergone some sort of change, closed or were simply gone. Overall the area had improved since I used to frequent it. Yes, my stroll down memory lane was not exactly the same. Who really expects that after 20 years? I found delight in the time I had spent there previously and in the moment. With regard to the changes, I, too, have changed over all this time. I hope my change have been mostly good as well.

Run and remember.

Tom

Kind and Generous

You've been so kind and generous
I don't know how you keep on giving
For your kindness I'm in debt to you
For your selflessness my admiration
For everything you've done you know
I'm bound to thank you for it

The above lyrics come from Natalie Merchant’s song Kind and Generous. My ego never prevents me from admitting someone else can say things better than I can. Shannan and I participated in the Win the Fight Against Cancer 5K to raise money for the Winship Cancer Center. Thanks to many of you we doubled our goal and raised $1000. For that, I am deeply grateful.

Shannan’s mother, Helen, receives treatment at Winship and that led the way for us to get involved. It was a beautiful morning for a road race. The course took runners through Emory’s campus and lovely Druid Hills neighborhoods. I hadn’t planned on running as well as I did that morning, nor did I plan on the wave of emotions I experienced.

Like Shannan, I was basically raised on the Emory Campus. That place has greatly formed the man I am today. I probably never would have stepped foot on the campus had it not been for Jackie, my mother. She worked in the Anatomy Department of Emory's medical school most of my life. It was her employment that made it possible for me to attend Emory. It was also at Emory where she, too, received treatment for cancer. This weighed heavy on my mind as I ran. I ran faster than I have in years.

As I reflect on that day and Ms. Merchant’s lyrics I’m humbled. As beautiful and powerful as her words are, I don’t know if even they can get at my sense of gratitude for my mother, the life that she made possible for me, for the opportunity to take part in the Winship 5K, for Helen and for all the wonderful people committed to standing up and standing together against cancer.

Life is good. The human race is better.

Thank you.

Tom

Schedule Struggle

In the past year and a half I have completed several fitness programs that ranged from four weeks to 90 days. Currently, I'm in the midst of a 3 month hybrid of P90X and P90X Plus 90 workout routine. Just like every other program, as I reach the midway point I find myself weary of the same old thing. In an effort to keep it fresh I use the "stretch" and "rest" days to run or do other cardio activities. It's not boredom with the routine, there's something that I can't name that stalls me.


This time, like the others, I feel good and am making notable progress toward my goals. It' just like I feel blah. Not only am I having trouble articulating what plagues me, I can't get excited about today's workout. I'm sure this too shall pass. I wish I had some idea what causes this period of melancholy. I have ordered P90X2, which I expect to arrive around the end of the year. Maybe by then, I can complete a 90 day set without getting bogged down around day 40.


Be it scheduled or spontaneous, exercise for life.


Tom

Frogtown Challenge Trail Race

What a blast! Watching the sun rise over a mountain on the Garmin farm brought a smile to all who took in the sublime vision. A slight chill in the air burned off with the morning light. Eight hundred zany runners had gathered on a Forsyth County farm for a wacky trail run. Thick grass covered in dew soaked our shoes and socks. It was good to get that over since we all knew this race would take us in and through creeks and streams soon enough.

Lee and I chatted for a bit prior to the race. It was a low anxiety atmosphere. We parted ways as the four mile race prepared to start. Lee stayed firm to his resolve to run the ten miler, which included nearly a mile of running in the water. Following the gun of my race a short lap around an open field sent us into the first of several creek crossings that only gazelles could leap over. Wet feet couldn't dampen the mood. The farm was gorgeous. Once in the wooded trails the race delivered what it promised: rocks, twists, low hanging limbs, sharp turns, ravines, roots, and a horrifically steep incline up the mountain. My personal favorite was one section of stream where runners had the options of crossing on a log, plunging in the water or using a rope swing to get halfway across. I went for the rope and delighted in frolicking in the cold water like a little kid.

There was a rope wall near the end, where I sustained minor injuries. However, nature provided the most intense obstacles in the form of many fallen trees, and have I mentioned the grueling ascent up the mountain side? Race planners did a fantastic job with this one. The trail was clearly marked and the event was well organized. In my opinion, Frogtown ranks as one of the best races on the Atlanta circuit. Lots of people camped on site the night before the race. I counted more than 30 tents. Shannan and I agree that will be our plan for next year. I'm not sure about camping, but I know Lee enjoyed the race immensely as well and has it on his calendar for 2012.

For more information, pictures and video clips follow this link: http://www.christianrunners.org/frogtown/

Have fun. Run.

Tom

Men of a Certain Age

Aging. I for one tend to celebrate aging. As a powerful force of nature the process cannot be stopped. Mentally we don't have to let that reality leave us dejected. I gave in to the struggle long ago with my receding hair line by shaving my head weekly. Most recently I stopped ignoring difficulty in reading written text and procured reading glasses. Now, like many others my struggle has changed to keeping up with the darn things.


I recently received word that a life long friend needs hip replacement. Immediately that seemed terribly out of place. This guy is my age. We aren't old enough for a hip replacement. Are we? I really felt shock and said those very words out loud. The real humor is that I had the ball joint of my left hip slip out of place when I was twelve (12) years old. In a course of six months I had four steel pins placed in both of my hips.


They remained in place for five years. I rarely think of that, as you can tell from my initial reaction to my friend's impending surgery. Thankfully, my procedure has didn't leave any negative affects as I exercise daily. My hips take on a lot of the work, and don't complain in the least. I guess that is the good news. Orthopedic surgeons did a wonderful job on my hips over thirty years ago. Technological advances since then boggle the mind. I'm sure my pal will come out better than ever.


Strong hips to get us through the other obstacles of aging. Take care of them. Exercise.


Tom

Frogtown Trail Challenge

This weekend Lee and I will test our strength, endurance and sanity in the Frogtown Trail Challenge. I’m going for the four mile adventure. Lee signed up for the 10 miler. The track is self described as, “ditch jumping, log hopping, creek crossing, stream running, mountain climbing, branch dodging, trail trudging, mud meddling...absolute trail challenge!” As I understand both routes will encounter a rope wall at some point. Good times! This weekend Lee and I will test our strength, endurance and sanity in the Frogtown Trail Challenge. I’m going for the four mile adventure. Lee signed up for the 10 miler. The track is self described as, “ditch jumping, log hopping, creek crossing, stream running, mountain climbing, branch dodging, trail trudging, mud meddling...absolute trail challenge!” As I understand both routes will encounter a rope wall at some point. Good times!

Hopefully, when it’s all over Lee and I will be in good spirits and good health. Adventure racing is a bit silly as I think about it. Too late to be cautious, we’ve already paid. I passed on a half marathon on a mountain trail earlier this year. There’s no way I throwing more money away.

Run wild.

Run for a Reason

Long ago, kindhearted, intelligent folks figured out the concept of organizing road races to raise money for good causes. Like so many of you I have participated in several of them. I broach the topic today as unfortunately, cancer has stuck in our family, again. Shannan’s mother, Helen, was diagnosed with lymphoma about a couple of months ago.

Helen has family and friends rallying around her in many ways. Folks are praying, visiting, sending cards, messages and food. It’s powerful to see how people love and care for one another. We’ve plugged in as well where possible. Of Shannan would swim the English Channel if that would help. In situations like these we all want to want to find meaningful ways to do something.

 As it turns out, the Cancer Treatment center at Emory where Helen is receiving her medial care is holding a Winship Win the Race 5K October 15th. This provides the perfect place for me to plug in and do something. I’m not the best fundraiser, but I can run. I can fun for miles just for the heck of it. I can run for hours with a cause.

 I invite you to join team Ford LaPorte October 15 as we set out to Win the Race against cancer. Shannan will be walking and I will be running. If you can’t make it to the event, I hope you will contribute to the cause and support continued research toward the prevention and treatment of all types of cancer

 Run in honor of someone. Run in memory of someone. Run!

Tom