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Running Man

January 15, 2013 By 4 Comments

I have no idea what I have gotten myself into.

Sometime in the past few weeks I have decided to run a half marathon.  At the time I thought it was a great idea.  Now after two weeks of “running” I’m not so sure.

I have never been one to go out for a jog.  In fact I hate running.  I have always looked at people who run like they were idiots.  Certainly there are better ways to get from Point A to Point B than running. I don’t like it because my knees hurt, my feet hurt, and after even the shortest of jogs I can’t walk for about a month.  What the hell is going to happen after I run 13.1 miles?

But the truth is I NEED to run.

Muscle man? Maybe in the future.

It’s not some sort of New Year’s Resolution, but I did realize that the only way that I was going to get in better shape was to have a goal somewhere in the future.  Every year it seems I say something along the lines of, “I need to get in better shape.”  But what does that really mean?  It’s just nonsense words if I don’t have a goal set out in front of me.  What has the goal been in the past? I can say generic things about how I want to live longer for my kids or be in better shape so I can chase them around.  But realistically those aren’t concrete goals. You would think that would be enough to get motivated, but we all know that it’s not.  With just a simple “get in better shape” pledge, all my fitness goals in the past have failed.

My goal date this year is May 5th and the Long Branch Half Marathon.

I have never run more than two miles in my life and now I am going to run HALF OF A FREAKING MARATHON.  I don’t know if it is something that I am going to be able to accomplish, but I am certainly going to try.  So many people, it seems, take up running around my age and I never understood why someone would knowingly put themselves through that kind of torture to run in a race that they have no chance of winning.  But now I get it.  If it wasn’t for something like this race, I don’t know if I would have the motivation to get in shape.  Doctors can tell me I am fat, people could could mock my presence, my kids could run circles around me, but without May 5th I would most likely taper off any fitness program and return back to my sedentary lifestyle.

I never thought that I would be, but I am slowly turning into a running man, although I won’t be putting any of those stupid “Runner Dude” or “13.1″ bumper stickers on my car.  I still think that running is dumb, but to get from the point I am now to the point I want to get too, it seems like the best way possible.

-JW

 

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About Daddysincharge

After 15 years as a News Photographer in the fast paced world of television news, I am now knee deep in Legos and laundry as the stay at home dad to to little boys. It was my choice to stay at home, so don't look at me like I am some kid of freak show. We're all parents just trying to raise our kids the right way. Some might be better at it than others, but if our kids love us for who we are, who cares.

  • ppmd

    Good luck!

  • AskAGreatDad

    Sounds like me and my running habits. I don’t think I have run more than two miles at once in my entire life. Other then running to the car to beat the stadium traffic home, I can’t tell you the last time I actually ran for an extended period of time. The last time I played basketball I could barely walk for the next two weeks. I pull the same thing every year and say this is when I get in shape and it never happens. Maybe we can keep ourselves motivated by pushing one another. Good luck, & who knows maybe I will see you May 5th

  • James Hudyma

    Good for you. We’re about the same age but the running bug has not bit me… yet. I also hate running.

  • http://www.readbradthedad.com Brad the Dad

    Nobody likes running, even runners. Keep at it, listen to music, and run a few sanctioned 5ks beforehand. Event races are fun.

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