Author: Zombie

Legacy of an athlete

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I’ll start out by posing a question to you all. What is it that you want to be remembered for? What is that you do, or who you are that you want others to remember you for? I know, deep question, and sometimes I feel the need to ask them to open discussions.

One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write, was an assignment in my college writing course. I was asked to write my own obituary. While the knee jerk reaction was a snicker throughout the group, when you sit and stare at the paper, or computer screen, something changes. Who am I and what have I done that I want to be remembered for? I found that during this assignment I’d gone through several pieces of paper and suddenly found myself stuck. I surely didn’t want to tell the world of all my greatness that I’d achieved as a boy growing up. I didn’t want to lie, or put forward something that would misrepresent who I truly am. I passed the assignment, but after reading my obit, the instructor sat down with me and said, “I wasn’t feeling any passion, and I think you were selling yourself short”. I replied that, I guess I feel that I’m just an ordinary guy, and kind of forgettable. We went on to discuss it further, but I won’t get into all of that right now. I think now I understand what he was trying to say, and again, I feel that itch inside to write it down and share it with others. So here we go.

First and foremost, I’m a husband, a brother, a friend, a boss and a co-worker. I consider myself an athlete, a runner and hopefully through my writing, an inspiration. I’ve learned through my running, yes, it always comes back to running, that I can reach people and at times, maybe make their lives better. Sharing my struggles lets other know that they don’t sit alone, that they don’t sell themselves short. We all want to be seen, heard and cared for.

What does this all have to do with running? Well, running has been the most powerful force in changing how I see myself and others in the world. Prior to that, I really didn’t care…about anything. I found growth in running, happiness and a reason to breathe. Once I found that, I wanted to share it with the world, I just wasn’t sure how. So here I am, throwing raw emotions out there for people to read. I find myself being hopeful that when I tell my running stories, it will plant a seed in someone. Whether it’s one person, or many, the satisfaction that I receive is the same. Knowing that the seed will grow and then flourish is satisfying to my soul.

While you’re pondering my original question, know this. I want to be remembered for being someone that inspired. I love the sound of that, kind of gives me chills just thinking about it. That perhaps I touched someone’s life and made a difference, for the good. That is what I’ve learned through my running…some things are, and should be greater than myself. Perhaps that’s why when I wrote my own obituary it was such a struggle, I didn’t want to write about me. Now I understand that by writing about myself, I can reach others. I also do my best to write with passion, because I think about my discussion on that day in writing class all the time. “Don’t sell yourself short Robert”. Those were his parting words at the end of the day. I get it now.

When all is said and done, I’d also like to be remembered for my passion. My passion for life! My desire to be an inspiring athlete. Someone that cared deeply and gave everything of himself. That will be my legacy to leave for those that have found something they could keep from reading my writings, sharing conversations or just running on the road with me. I’m a simple man, but one with passion, and I’m forever an athlete. Thanks for sharing my journey.

I’ll see you on the road…

Zombie

Overtraining? Who, me??

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I wanted to devote some time to the subject of overtraining. Some folks in my orbit and myself included love to push it right to the edge…take a look around, and then push it some more! If you find yourself in this category, let’s have a chat, shall we.

It’s true that I enjoy waking at 3 a.m. to start my day when I’m on day shift. I’m usually out the door by 4 a.m. going to the gym or on the road, running. I find that if I get after it first thing in the morning, it cuts down on my stress level throughout the day, and generally makes me feel better. I also love the fact that so few people are out there during these hours doing the same thing. I’m not completely anti-social, but I will admit, I enjoy my “personal space”. I keep this regiment at least 5 days a week, in some cases 6. I try to make myself take at least one full day off from everything, but I’ve found that on these stretches of pushing, I can eventually get tired, lethargic, and even slightly irritable. There may have been a moment in my not so distant past that I came home from work and just fell asleep right in my chair with my work clothes still on, holding my cell phone. It’s good for a chuckle, but the underlying theme here is that my body is trying to tell me something…ease up!

I’ve gotten better at taking cues or signals from my body. At times they’re subtle or gentle reminders. Other times, it’s a full kick in the ass! The body is an amazing machine that knows how things are supposed to run, even when you think you know better. Believe me, I’ve thought, on more than one occasion that I knew better. If you take a moment and just listen, your body will send you messages on a regular basis, but be careful to pay attention to the body, and not get the signals crossed with that evil shit that hangs out in your brain, trying to send it’s own set of signals. “Run more miles, run them faster, lift more weight, do it everyday of the week!” When those start coming through, stop and question them. Take a moment and really evaluate what’s going on with the body. Are you tired, like really tired, to the point of fatigue? Does everything in your body hurt and you just don’t want to move? Yeah, those are the moments you need to derail that evil shit and get things back in order.

I was recently chatting with my dietician about my body. Where I’m at on my weight, how I feel etc. She put things into perspective when I was stressing about the numbers on the scale. “Robert, in order to perform at the level that you expect your body to perform, you’re going to have to be at a certain weight. You can’t be completely shredded down to nothing, and think that you’ll perform your best…that’s just not how it works. Professional athletes set time aside to rest, eat more calories and just be, in order to perform at the highest level when the time comes”. Wow…she’s right, and a wonderful voice of reason. She also commented on my falling asleep in the chair, in my work clothes, with my phone in hand. She said, “I think that’s a big wake up call from your body saying dial it down”. Yes, “dial it down”. That’s exactly what I did, and the results were immediate. My time in the gym became more productive, my runs were quicker and heart rate was more efficient. I decided to be gentle with myself. Yes, I know I talk about pushing the limits, and I still do. I also found that resting, stretching, getting enough fluids, and just taking time away from my training puts my body back into balance, and then the performance takes off!

Like I said, the body is an amazing machine and it knows what needs to happen. “Trust the process”. The process is to eat well, (feed the machine), get rest, drink plenty of water, and take a day or two off. You can still make it an active day off and go for a nice walk, or a slow paced bike ride. Take the time to breath! The end result is you’ll be happier and your body will pay you back in spades! Oh, and the evil shit sending all the noise, well, the noise still comes, but you know who to listen to and what to do now. Just shut the noise down.

Whatever you’re going through, and wherever you need to be, your body will get you there, just remember to be gentle when it begs for a break. This my friends is a true story!

I’ll see you on the road…

Zombie

Who are you when no one is watching?

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I suppose we all have it. That certain someone that we all wish we were, or superhero that we wanted to be as a kid growing up. So many of us grew up in the days of comic books and Marvel characters. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and so on. So many days of running about the neighborhoods imagining you had super powers! Oh how cool that would be! The things you could do and just the ideas of what you could do were endless.

Fast forward to present day. Comic books have kind of slid from mainstream, but the desire to be something “special” never left. Those super powers, well, you may not be able to pick up vehicles or fly through the sky, but the amazing things that you can do are there. Sometimes untapped, waiting. Waiting for you to release them. So I’ll ask, who are you when no one is watching? Hold that thought, we’ll get back to it.

I wake at pre-dawn hours when I have to work a day shift at my job. I know that if I don’t set that crazy early alarm (3:00 a.m.) I probably won’t get my workout in for the day. I’ve found over the years that I’m a very slow starting when I wake. I need ample time to just get right with the world before I can actually perform. Whether it’s a gym day, or I’m hitting the road, I need a minute to get my brain together. Once I’m out the door, it all comes together though. These are the moments that no one sees. The dark room, the warm bed and perhaps like me, the snoring pups! These are the things that I have to part from in order to get my training done. There’s no easy way to do it, and it’s hard to do every single time. I can think of a million excuses to stay in that bed, and only one to climb out. The climb out usually wins.

When I’m at the gym, moving the weight, “picking up the heavy shit” as my sis and I like to call it, I’m sweating, talking myself through tough sets and pushing my body to the limit. No ones watching, no one cares what you had to go through to reach the doors. They all had to do similar things to reach this same point.

Running down the road at 4 a.m. with not a soul around. Street lights glimmer and lead your way through a deserted city. It’s kind of post apocalyptic on some mornings…lol! There’s a certain kind of beauty to it though. No fear of what’s out there, just the peaceful sound of your cadence as you move along through the dark. No one is watching, no one is wondering who you are or why you’re out there.

I believe that I’m my own superhero now that I’m grown. I have my own super powers that I unleash when the time is right. I’ve found that in order to be that superhero we dreamt of being, we must first put in the work. Do the hard things, the uncomfortable things. We need to push our body and mind to it’s limit. I swear there are moments that I couldn’t take another step, or push out one more rep, yet it happened. I moved through that moment and became the superhero that has always been there, waiting. I’ve learned that the best work is done without fanfare, usually in the shadows, and alone.

So, who are you when no one is watching? I see a superhero in everyone! You don’t need to be in a gym or wandering the streets predawn like I do to find it within yourself. Just unlock your hidden potentials, set that hero free! Do the hard things, the uncomfortable things, and it will pay off in the end. Whether it’s taking on a new job, or position. Perhaps going back to school or raising a child. Do the work, don’t look for others to be watching. A superhero doesn’t need such things. They just do what needs to be done.

If you’re wondering why this topic, it was residual from yet another conversation I had recently. These topics have a way of sitting in my brain until I’m ready to act on them. I just wanted to provoke thought by using something from most of our childhood. I wanted to let people know that I struggle each day, and finding a way to get things done is hard some times, but I get it done. Do the hard things, the uncomfortable things, and hold onto the superhero that lives inside of you.

I’ll see you on the road…

Zombie

I See You

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I love to get on my blog and just hammer away on the keyboard in hopes of perhaps making a change in someone, to touch, or inspire. Yes, I love talking about my running and upcoming races, but I also feel the need to touch on subjects about life.

A friend of mine reached out recently after my last blog posting to share some of her feelings. She wanted me to know that she enjoyed my writing and wished, so much that she could go out and enjoy the same feelings that I do on a run. She’d even stated that she would love to be able to just walk a 10K. You see, my friend Dawn is fighting several different diseases that affect her on a daily basis. She said, “Each day I wake up, I just wait to see what will happen next”

This strikes a cord with me. This is also why I stay humble in what I’m doing. “We don’t have to run, we get to run”. That says it right there. Running is a gift, one that should never be taken for granted. I find that when I run, and think about the many people that can’t enjoy the sport that has changed my life, it drives me even more. I want to carry them with me, on each and every run! I want them to have the feelings that I do, or perhaps see some of the beauty that I’ve witnessed out on the road. Hazy sunrises in the park, or huge green pastures with the most adorable cows running along with me! Star filled skies in the middle of the night, and all of God’s creatures, great and small, have at some point, crossed my path.

I think that perhaps I’ve carried on with my RunZombieRun theme all these years because this is my way of bringing a piece of my world to all of them. To Dawn and all of the many out there that struggle, “I See You!” I see you every time I lace up, every time I type out a new blog posting, or sign up for an event. You all are what make this so special.

“Run with purpose.” I find that running with a purpose makes the distance that much sweeter. It makes it about more than just about myself. I have been gifted the responsibility to see others, and to care. It’s something that I cherish…always. I’ll be running for my friend Dawn in the upcoming Toledo River Run on July 1st. I’ll carry her name with me so that she will know she matters, that I see her, that I hear her while I’m on the course. It’s important that we recognize everyone, and understand the struggles that others go through just to get up in the morning. I want this event to be dedicated to my friend Dawn. I’ll be passing on the finisher’s medal to her once I’ve completed the race because she’s the true warrior. She deserves to be recognized. Yeah, I see you Dawn, and I’m honored to lace up for you this July 1st. Thanks for being my friend all of these years, and for never giving up! I see you my friend.

I’ll see you on the road…

Zombie

“Why do you run?”

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“Why do you run?” This is one of many questions that I field on a regular basis. My initial response is usually with humor, “why don’t you run?” I thought that I’d review the age old question and take you back to when it all began. This will save those who don’t know my beginnings from digging through tons of blog entries…lol! We’ll just call it a “review” of sorts.

Interestingly enough, I started running in this very month (June) of 1985! We’re talking 38 years of roaming park trails and roads, both here locally and across the country. If I see a spot, or a road that just makes me want to throw my shoes on, well, that’s exactly what I do! Anyway, I was never much of a runner in the early part of my life. I participated in several sports growing up and of course you “had to” run, whether it was for conditioning or paying the price for missing a tackle, running was a part of all of that. I always muttered to myself if I had to do laps. It’s safe to say that I was not a fan of long distance running back then.

Many things went on in my young life, but we’ll skate past those, as they’re a conversation that can just be for now. Once I graduated high school, I felt lost. Searching for meaning to my life and unsure what I was going to do with myself. It was probably at the lowest point, that I got into my car and went out to the local Metropark (Pearson park). I decided I’d take a walk and ponder my existence in the world. I found myself somewhat sucked into nature. The park was such a freeing place to be and I was enjoying the walk. I then got the great idea to give running a shot. That wasn’t the best feeling in the world…lol! I stopped running and switched back to my walk and finshed the 3 mile loop. When I returned home, I felt compelled to keep trying the running. While it hurt, it seemed to jar something in me and made me want to give it another go. I returned to the park everyday that week, and started working on my running skills slowly. I’d attempt going a little bit further each time I went. “I’ll go from this tree to the tree up around the bend”, I’d tell myself, and so on. I’ll tell you that by the end of that Summer of 1985 I was not only going around the 3 mile loop once, but twice! I’d dropped weight, felt confident, and all of a sudden felt like I could accomplish just about anything. I’d taken something that I felt was torture, and made it my best friend. It’s a very true statement that running saved my life.

Next Wednesday, June 7th is Global Running day/National Running day, whatever works for you. This is something I was never aware of back in 1985 when I hit the trails and started my adventure. Now, I celebrate it like it’s my Birthday! My Rebirth if you will! The month that I became alive, and full of possibilities. Now back to that “why do you run?” I think that I’ve set up the ground work with my beginnings, but there are other reasons that I lace up on almost a daily basis. I run to clear my head of anything negative in my world. I run to make my body feel alive, to kind of become one with everything that’s around me. I know, it sounds kind of silly, yet it’s true. I’m never more at peace than when I’m in my running shoes, going down the road. “Are you running away from something?” It’s not running away from something, it’s just finding peace, perhaps an inner peace. I can go out with a head full of my job, or a rough conversation that I had with a friend or co-worker, and all of that just floats away as the miles go by.

I share this part of me because I think that it’s important. I always want to share what I’ve learned and the zen that I’ve found from running. The difference that it’s brought into my life just by changing my mindset. The feeling that I can accomplish anything, be anything, and be a happy human being. I want anyone and everyone to know that even when you have the darkest days in your past, or present. There’s a tool available. “The road is a great listener.” I love to share that with people. It wants to know your pain and show you that there can be a better tomorrow. It wants to clear your head and make you feel whole again, and it wants you to find happiness. I challenge anyone to go out, lace up and give running, or walking a serious try. Take this month, hell start on June 7th and join the globe as we all lace up and go on an adventure. Allow yourself some time in the day to breathe. I promise you, it will give you everything you need, just as it did for me. “Running never takes more than it gives back.”

I sit here typing this with great fury…lol! It’s something that I wanted to get out today. I wanted the people in, or around my life to really understand what this whole running thing is about. It’s not just running races, no, it’s much more than that. I’d say that my response now would be, “I run because it’s who I am, it’s who I want to be, it’s everything!” Don’t you want that in your life too? Don’t you want to feel cleansed from a hard day, or a tough childhood? I think the answer is yes, on all counts.

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 is a great day to start a new you. If you want a friend to hop along with you, I’ll put myself out there. You never have to be scared to say you’d like a friend to come and assist you in changing your life. I’m always down for a run…fast, or slow, I’m down…it’s just who I am.

Thanks for the listen and as always…

I’ll see you on the road!

Zombie

Next Level Athlete

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Hey there everyone! In this blog entry I’m going to go over what I like to refer to as the “Next level athlete.” On one of my many walkabouts through the city, I was thinking about being an aging athlete, how I feel, what keeps me motivated and what makes me still competitive. So I’ve coined the phrase “next level athlete” rather than referring to myself as aging athlete…lol! There’s another reason for this term, the fire that burns inside of me, and many other “aging” athletes.

Once again, while having a discussion with my Ironman teammate, and friend Tim, who as I stated in my previous blog entry is a 69 year old multi-time finisher of Ironman competitions, we decided that our drive has not wavered as we’ve aged. We also feel as though now that we’re older, we have something to prove to the younger athletes that are out there…we’re still a threat on race day! Whether it’s in the gym lifting heavy shit, walking at a pace that some people run at, or riding a bike for hours on end, we strive to be the best! Why you ask? I think because we feel that we have a small chip on our shoulders. Just because we’re silver haired, doesn’t mean we can’t compete. I think back to when I was a kid and wished for the day when I’d have gray/silver hair so that I’d gain more respect, and not be looked upon as just a kid. What I found out is that the silver hair didn’t bring what I thought it would, but that kid is still raging inside…lol!

Now I don’t want you all to think that it’s all about competition, that’s a part of it. It’s also about the drive to work through the daily things that come with this aging body. The extra effort that has to be put in to keep everything moving. More stretching, closer tabs on the diet, even naps are required at times now. I don’t want to say that we work harder than the younger ones, but we have to be smarter. More has to be put into our effort to achieve what we once achieved 30 or 40 years ago. I’ve even taken up things that I never thought I would. I hired a dietician, started going to yoga classes, and have even switched away to walking, rather than running every day. All of these things matter and become important as time goes by. I want to keep the body moving, and never quit!

I find myself constantly thinking of ways to bring about change to my body, for the better of course. It’s all too easy to fall into the world of “just don’t do it.” Keeping active and even signing up for challenges are key to motivation for me. I like to have short and long term goals. I need that instant gratification, so it can be as silly as signing up for small goals on my Garmin device. When I achieve that goal, my watch does some cute little Star Wars themed things that just make me snicker. Yes, I’m a Star Wars nerd and yes, I’m still that raging kid inside. I also like to sign up for running events, all distances. Some of which I walk rather than run. I do it because it keeps my need to compete satisfied and again, I’m still moving!

So when you see my hashtag #nextlevelathlete, you’ll truly understand what I’m referring to, and perhaps if you fall into the category of an aging athlete, switch that up and become a “Next Level Athlete” along with us! Be proud of the fact you’ve made it this far in life because as my sister always says “getting old ain’t for the weak!” Find that fire inside and harness it! Whatever it is that will keep you moving will surely make you feel better and who knows, you just may find the beast that’s been inside of you the entire time, and crush goals that you set for yourself.

Ironman Ohio is coming on the third weekend in July. I think it’s safe to say that Tim and I will show up on race day and give the young folks a “run” for their money! We do what we do because we both love our sports, but we are also driven athletes. Don’t let the silver hair fool you, beast mode will be engaged on that day in July…you can count on it!

With that, I’ll sign off! I want to thank everyone for checking in on me, sending positive vibes and constantly being my cheerleaders. Doing these blog entries has also kept me fired up. I love to share what’s going on and hopefully inspire others to take charge of their lives and move more. Find happiness in themselves. Come on and join in the fun, be your own Next Level Athlete!

I’ll see you on the road!

Zombie

Stay the course

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Hey there everyone!

I’m another week into my training and another week closer to my goals. I’m finding that I still have demons that like to creep back into my thoughts in the area of food. I’ll tell you that growing up with little makes for some strange habits and ways of thinking about food when you become an adult. As I stated in my prior entry, I hired a dietician to assist me in getting my life back on track with food. A part of it has to do with wanting to be the best version of me so that I can tackle my athletic challenges coming up. I also want to make sure that I feel good on the inside, that would include my brain. Alexa is well seasoned and doesn’t get rattled when I share my feelings about food during a day or week. She keeps me on course and focused on reality, and advises me to lean more that direction while working through the fuzzy thoughts. I believe in sharing these kinds of things in my blogs because I know that there are others out there that have gone through the same or worse when it comes to food. Talking about it and sharing ways to correct these behaviors is important. I say it all the time “we could all use a little counseling in our lives.”

The training in the gym has really ramped up! I’m actually excited about being in there. That’s something that kind of faded, and really hit the back burner during the pandemic years. I missed the feel of Iron and picking up “heavy shit!” I go in with focus, hit it hard and get out within an hour’s time. If I’m doing better in the gym, it’ll help to protect me for the beating I give the body when I’m out on the road. Everything is connected and they all serve one another in some fashion. The eating helps the training, the training and the eating help the brain! You see where I’m going with this?

Ahhhh….Yoga! I never thought that I’d find myself on a yoga mat. At least not actually doing yoga poses…lol! Perhaps laying on a mat staring at the ceiling when doing ab work, but nothing more. This is what I’ve learned already. Yoga is the real deal for working out the body. It not only helps you become more flexible, but works the muscles to become stronger! Then there’s the mental clarity that it gives you. I feel relaxed and refreshed. I’ve already been sharing the website for the place I’m going to with people from work. Lord knows we could all use a little in the stress department there! https://downtownyoga419.com/ Downtown yoga 419 is my place of choice. I want to see the Downtown area continue to grow and supporting small businesses is important to me. If you’re local to this area, get on the website, grab some classes and show up on the mat. You’ll thank me for it later.

I’ll keep getting on here regularly and sharing whatever silliness I’m going through, and of course try to share what motivates me. I’m planning on a long walk tomorrow in the sunshine. That’s always good for my soul. I took a few days off of running to let some body parts do a little healing. Nothing major, and I’m addressing them with yoga and some help from my massage therapist. I’m hopeful that all of you are getting out and enjoying what this planet has to offer! Spring has definitely sprung! Baby birds, rabbits and other creatures are popping up all over the place. That always makes me smile. Not to mention I love the sound of all the birds singing in the early morning hours. Sigh…

Alright, I’m heading out and I’ll chat with you all again soon!

See you on the road…

Zombie

The Fire Within

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Hey all! I’m back and doing more crazy shit. I know what you’re thinking, did you ever really stop doing crazy shit? Well, I did take a pretty good break from lifting, and due to a knee injury, I had to take time away from my beloved running. That’s all changed now. I’m back to the gym on a regular basis working on getting all the necessary muscles firing again so that I can take on my next challenge. If you’re ready, I’ll share what that is.

A good friend, and neighbor of mine stopped me one morning while I was walking my dogs and posed a question that has changed my focus for this year. He said, “how would you like to do the Ironman Ohio with me this year?” I kind of snickered and said that my swimming was not the greatest and I’d probably die…lol! He said “well, they have a relay team that we could sign up for. I can do the swimming and bike, but due to my knee replacement, I can’t run…that’s where you’d come in.” My eyes lit up! Run, in an actual Ironman competition, Oh Hell Yeah! That, my friends is where the fire was lit!

We started chatting more about a team name and threw around a few different ones. His wife came up with the idea “The Silvermen”! We’re both aging athletes and have silver hair, so it was perfect! The Silvermen it is. I have to share this, as I feel it’s very important for this blog posting. When I say we’re both aging athletes, that’s for real. I’m 56, turning 57 this year, and Tim is 69, turning 70! Yeah, and he’s the real deal athlete! I share this info because I hear so many dismiss doing things in their life because they feel that they’re too old. I say the same every time. “You’re never too old to learn something new or take on a new challenge.” Don’t shy away from something because you sell yourself short. Dig deep and find that fire within!

The idea of doing any part of an Ironman competition is intimidating for me. I questioned if I would “fit in”. Do I really even look like I should be at the starting line of this competition? So many things were rushing through my brain. I decided to take the approach that I need to evaluate myself honestly and make the changes that will make me both happy and healthy. First order of business was to get my diet in order. I hired a dietitian to take a look at my nutritional needs and short falls. She specializes in athletes, so it was a great fit! We formulated a game plan and put it into motion. My goal was to make sure that my insides felt good, so that I could perform everything I needed to do to make the outside better. I’ve been weight training for months now after a long dry spell, and have never stopped walking. I needed to get back to running again, and it scared me a bit. After my last knee surgery, the doc said I needed to consider doing other things. I know that my running career is in it’s twilight and that eventually I’ll have to step out of the sport or cut it down drastically. I had to find a way to bring my miles back up, but not put too much stress on the body. Next part of this journey. I decided to take up Yoga. I found a fun local place called (Downtown Yoga 419). Owned by a wonderful instructor, and full time happy person Holly. Holly shares the love for running, so for me it was a no brainer to start hitting her classes. Flexibility and stretching have never been my strongest, but it was time to change how I train and think.

This is where we’re at right now. I’m down 5 lbs., which was needed. My insides are already starting to feel better, and I’m excited to train again. The Ironman is in late July, so I have time to reach the goals that I’ve set for myself. I have smaller goals that I set along the way to keep my brain happy and challenged. My current short term goal is to get this whole Yoga thing down. I’m kind of a hot mess in class, but driven to become good at it. I will succeed!

Whatever it is that you want to do, don’t waste time, get after it! We humans are so good at wasting what is most precious, time and talent. Yeah, I read that on the internet somewhere…lol! It’s a very true statement though, and we need to keep changing for the better. I’ll continue to do updates on my training, and do my best to keep you all entertained along the way! It’s time for me to go to the gym and take a walk. Yoga tomorrow morning and then another quick run before my work day happens. By all means, feel free to reach out, ask questions, make comments about anything that grabs you in my blog. I respond to everything and I’m always willing to share information. That being said, I’ll close this out and go get busy!

I’ll see you on the road…

Zombie

The purpose driven runner…

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I know that it’s been awhile and I always promise to get things out sooner. For some reason, life always gets in the way. The job is insane right now and everything is back to moving at light speed. When this happens, I like to find my purpose and stay focused on what’s important to me. You just know that it includes running!

I’ve been lucky this year and managed to make my way into both the Boston Marathon (the virtual version). I’m just never going to be fast enough to qualify…lol! I’m also taking on the challenge of running for Team For Kids and doing the NYC Marathon this November! I’m so excited to be going back to the streets of New York and taking in all that it has to offer. It’s bitter sweet going this time, as the last time I went there, my sister was hospitalized and had gone through a double lung transplant. I ran with a heavy heart and upon my return, handed my finsher’s medal over to her. She was the one working through so much, and battling for her very life. I was honored to share the medal with her.

My sister passed away earlier this year from complications with the transplant. I’m not sure how to express the feelings that I have and always struggle saying the right things to family members about it. So I turn to what I know and what has always helped me deal with tragedy. Running…

I’ve joined the Team For Kids and have stated that I’d raise funds to assist their cause. Team For Kids takes this money and works with youth to give them a positive way to deal with life, sets up and assist with running teams and coaches. It’s a very positive way for at risk kids to find outlets that can make their lives better, to give them hope for the future. That speaks to my soul. Coming from a very poor family and being an at risk kid, I totally understand the set backs that can occur. I tell people all the time that running saved my life. That my friends, is a very true statement!

I thought of my sister when I was looking for a team to join up with. She was always about giving back and caretaking. Probably what drew her to becoming a nurse and staying in that career her entire adult life…all the way until her passing. Running is always better when you have a purpose. You feel those that are counting on you and want to finish your journey knowing that you made some kind of difference. I think it’s safe to say that doing this would make my sister proud of me.

If you are at all interested in assisting me in raising funds for Team For Kids, I’m listing my link for donations at the bottom of this blog. It’s a secure link and funds will go directly to the Team For Kids. Feel free to look on their website for more information on what they do and how special these people truly are. Kids are the future!

I want to close this out by telling you all that I plan on running my very best this year in New York. The marathon distance is truly a life changing event and while I enjoy the challenge that it brings, it’s always a struggle to complete. I know in my heart that those I have lost will travel with me…I just feel it! I want to achieve great things with my running and I want to show everyone that even one small town runner can make a difference in the world. We have the power within us to bring about change for the better.

Thank you for always following me and cheering me on! Thank you in advance for any and all donations that you share with my Team For Kids!

I’ll see you on the road!

~Zombie~

Link to my personal page with Team For Kids is: runwithtfk.org/Profile/PublicPage/87630/52381

Reflection and the path forward

/ Zombie / 4 Comments

I always find myself reflecting on past events when I’m facing a big race. I think it’s because I think through so much while out on a run. I was even going through my past blog entries and enjoying pictures from previous races. Some were very hard to read through because of the loss of loved ones. Reading of my father’s passing and my sister Gini’s struggles with a double lung transplant. While we all remained so hopeful, my sister passed away at the beginning of this year. She was an amazing person, full of life and talents. I miss her daily 💔.

What is it that makes me do this you ask? It’s the power of the road. That’s where I leave everything, or at least go to heal myself. My sister always thought I was a bit off with my running. She, along with others, would often ask “what are you running from?” The answer is, I’m not running from anything, I’m going to a place that helps me makes sense of the world. I go there to heal from my sister’s loss, to find beauty in the world again. I sweat out the toxins from everyday life…physical and mental . The road is a great listener, never judges and is always open.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll once again stand at a start line of a marathon. The distance I’ve continually swore I’d never run again, yet for some reason, I’m drawn to them. This one is special, it’s my home town, and the city I’ve always loved. In my 36 years of running, I’ve never done the full marathon here. I guess it’s time!

Emotions will be running high. My older sister Leanna will be at my side, and my sister Gini will be in my heart. I’ll think of her with each breath I take. Yeah, this one’s important.

I plan to celebrate afterwards with family and dogs! To share feelings from the day and to make new memories.❤️ My path forward is paved. The answers I seek are out there. I’ll continue to run and heal…mile after mile.

I’ll see you on the road!

~Zombie~