I not dead - just lazy

OK - Let's try this again. I'm told you need to do things for about 21 days before they become a habit. So - my goal is to update my blog at least once a week - for a month - and then see if the habit has formed.
Yes - I'm still running. I completed the Illinois Marathon in April - ran a half marathon and 10 miler in May - and plan to start training in mid June for Chicago (October) and NY (November). My idea is to chronicle my training and the running of these events. I also plan to publish an audio report - not sure if as a podcast or as contribution to existing podcasts - such as the Extra Mile. I also have a Flip Mino video camera and will try to capture some events. I'd like to include interviews with people in my running group.

My running has been going better as of late. I had an injury in late February - diagnosed as tendonitis. I'm not so sure. But it is getting better. I'm now putting in about 30 miles a week - mostly in the 8:30 to 9 minute range.

So why do I run? My most common response - and I still think my truest response - is because I can. At 56 I know the day when I will no longer be able to run is getting nearer. I regret that I came to this sport later in life - wonder what I could have accomplished had I started earlier. But I will not look back. There is too much I can still gain from this sport. I have grown to admire the runners I know - except form Illinois Gov Blago. I think of him as the embarrassing uncle we all have somewhere in the family. But in general, I find runners to be doers and believers. We have learned that we - and thus those around us - are capable of more than we ourselves believe. If I can encourage someone to start running - or just become active - I know they will come to believe that they and things can get better. But I also believe that we make a choice to change. And until that choice is made - no amount of preaching will cause a change. Still - encouragement helps over the rough patches we all have. I think encouragement can help a person to not quit at the first, second or third setbacks. Once a person has learned that they can and will overcome these setbacks - they begin to believe that life is not destined. That change is possible. Then a new paradigm begins to take shape and many things become possible.

Whoa - That's deep.

Anyway - There are many themes and thoughts I want to express. Over time, I'll try to provide more about me and my progress.