The Beginning of the Journey

How can you wait until you are almost 40 years old to start running?  How many people can say they have heard that question? Or hear something similar.

Here I am going to share with your the beginning of my running journey. The process that leads me up to today. I am not ashamed to say that my whole life up to starting the journey I was not very big into running. I like hiking. So covering a fair distance on foot is not my issue.  After all, I was an Eagle Scout in my youth, so yeah, my legs had do some work.

It’s true, like many this journey started after a doctors appointment. I have always been a bigger build, husky, big bone, chunky, lots of love, full figured, ‘man size,’ dare I say “fluffy” kind of guy my whole life. Like most kids, I did sports and was active in my teens and 20s. I stayed fairly active until my early 30s. By this I mean I went to the gym regularly and didn’t mind going for walks. (Yes I said walks, no running people.) I had periods at this point where I would walk up to 3 miles in the late spring and summer. I figured I lived in a nice area. The neighborhood and a few parks around were nice. My soon to be wife like to explore some the parks around, so we do a little romantic walks and picnic in the parks when ever we had free time. It was cool too, got meet some of neighbors. Learn about the houses and schools in the surrounding area, where we may want buy a house.

The Seeds Planted

Then the fall before we were getting married I loss my job. I still had a part-time job, which I did get to help pay for the some wedding expenses so we would not be cash strapped. And I had to admit, my part-time job was fun. I even said, I never looked at something I did a the “fun job” until then. The experience was almost like I got paid to hangout with friends, which I made many, over the short time I was there.  Back to walking. So that fall, with having more time on hands during the day than I would like, I walked in the trail at Tookany Creek Park everyday. I walked 3 to 6 miles, while listening to the news and various podcasts at that time. My idea was I could not just look for jobs all day. I had to get out and clear my mind. Enjoy things other than going o the office everyday.  And of course continue the job hunt.

I met a lot of nice people during this period just walking the trail. You see the same people everyday and eventually you get to talking. I was found of the recent retirees who liked seeing me out there more often, getting my exercise in. They wished the did the same when they were my age.

I also had a friend who managed a fitness store. He would invite my over often to keep my mind focus on the upcoming wedding, and also get me to try out new equipment all the time. It was better than going the gym to me, because if did not walk a lot that day, I got a really good work out in while having some laughs with my boy. In retrospect, I did like walking everyday. At the time it was just a routine I did to keep the non-working full time monkey off my back.

The Doctor

We got married that winter. I got a full time job shortly after. All in all, I was unemployed 5 months. To a person who has been working full time hours since they were 18. Unless I was in college, not working full time has never been my strong suit. I have always been one of those people that likes working. Thats just how I am wired I guess. But I digress, let’s fast forward several years. My wife and have started our family. We have a home and life is normal. I go to my family physician for my annual physical.  Now since we haven’t too long had our second child, I am expecting my doctor to once again get on my case about my weight. But every time I have gotten this talk, I find myself winning because all my tests come back normal. No high cholesterol or blood pressure, stress levels are fair, no diabetes, no major health issues. So to me, I am just a guy who has a little more weight than the doctor would like, but in my mind, I am still active. I have to chase my kids around and I am not out of breath. I think this year, I’ll get another slap on the wrist and walk out saying I told you so. 

This time was straight different. The doc opens up my test results and screams with jubilation, “Finally, I Got You!!!” Now some people would have been offended, but my doctor and I have a really fun relationship. We make each  other laugh. and he never got too much on my case, unless I got a bad test back. We have a mutual respect for each other. On this day, the tests said my blood pressure high. It had been high for a couple of visits. We talked and it was time for me to take it serious. I started taking blood pressure medicine that day. I hate taking any kind of medicine. Period end of story. So besides attempting to modify my diet, I had to figure out what I could change in my life-style that would work.

Now I Start Crawling

At this point its 2017, and I work at company that expanding their well-ness program. I signed up for Group Boot Camp with a few of my co-workers. The idea for the program is, if they carved out a meeting block two times a week, during working hours, would we do the group work-outs. I was like, finally a meeting that I can just put my sweats on and pump some old fashion iron. Sign me up. That was not exactly what the class had in mind. There was various cross training exercises, mixed with stretching, some yoga, agility drills, and of course weight training. Mike suggested to me join him with running Sarcoma Run that August. This was a 5k foot race for charity. Now I have never ran any real distance other than a couple of blocks at this point in time in my life. And even then most of those came with a purpose, food and fun. A bunch of people we worked with were already signed up for a 5k race called the Color Run that was in June. We all happened to be in the same Boot Camp. I said to Mike, “Lets do the Color Run. And if I don’t die, I’ll join you for the Sarcoma Run.” I did my own couch to 5k training prior to the race. Still had no idea what I was doing. But Mike was also training for the Sarcoma race. He is a Sarcoma survivor and this race was not only redemption, but it was his way to prove physically he was back. Mike and I did the Color Run together. He introduced me to intervals, the walk-run, technique. And I have to say I didn’t die. 

As a man of my word, I joined him on Team Never Quit for the Sarcoma Run Philly.  Mike, Tricia (boot camp trainer and friend), and me started this race together. Tricia job that day was help Mike and subsequently me, on pace. We all started together and it was great. But there is  thing about races, when you start some sections get all bunched with people. I am not  fan of crowds, so I maneuvered through so I could have some room. Let’s say after the first mile, I looked around and those two were no where to be seen. I lost them. I just kept running the race. And when I finally so that finish line coming down the stretch I took-off running. I was flying because I just wanted the race to be over. I joined the rest of the team, avid runners, and checked to see if Mike and Tricia where both sitting just waiting for me to finish. Come to find out, they were the last ones left to that needed to finish for our team. I promised my friend we finish the race together, so I went back after him. I did not have to go far, by the time I reached him, he only had about the last half mile to the finish line. And we had a really good, heart felt, inspirational chat down the home stretch. That is correct, course words all around. That how we roll. Sorry Hallmark, you can’t use any of those phrases. 

Mike finished that race in one of the best fashions I have ever witnessed. Not only did he finish strong, but there were tears shed and warm hearted moments. Until, his son went over with his mom, and while he was drinking his water he and I started again. Just like an old couple bickering over whether one them likes crackers with their soup. We had a lot of fun that day. 

Now I Start proverbial Walk

Shortly after the Sarcoma Run,  said to my wife maybe there is something to this running thing. I signed up to do Stomps Cancer 5k in West Chest that September through my job. We helped raise many for Bring Hope Home foundation, ran around West Chester University, and had a bunch of laughs afterwords for a good cause. I really enjoyed this race. I think besides the cause, I was with a great group that had fun with it.

At this point I figure, if I am going to keep running, I need to keep having fun. So I keep training and learning along the way. I get myself a better pair of running shoes. I join my old partner Joe and Jim that October at the Runner’s World Run Festival. I decided to just do the 5k distance. I am still fairly new to running overall. And I am a little out of my element being at Runner’s World. But the day starts off kinda cool. On our way after getting our bibs Joe and I get meet the legend himself Bart Yasso. 

I never in my life thought I would be a) running b) walking into Runner’s Wold headquarters c) meeting Bart Yasso! Up to this point I had read several articles, need it be in sporting magazines, or even business articles about the man, his passion for the sport, and how that influence became a business, but that was a jaw dropping moment. I did 

and work my way into doing the Rock Run that November. This annual event is held near the Philadelphia Art Museum. Now, in my mind the first couple of weeks in November are not that cold. The temperature is not normally lower than 40 degrees so I’ll be good to run. Plus, I called this the run for me. I did several races with friends, but I wanted to end the calendar year with one I was doing for myself. Needless to say, when I started the Rocky Run it was 20 degrees outside. Good thing I had on my thermo sweats. 

Now I Run

I keep up my running and training the winter of 2017. I run at least 5k every Sunday. If I cannot run outside, I use the elliptical in my house. Funny thing about the elliptical. My wife and I got it to stay in shape before we started our family. We both had days that we worked a little later than one may want, and the elliptical was a practical purchase to use instead of feeling like you had to rush to the gym. Then it was almost like a piece of “art” I guess collecting dust for a little while while the girls were tiny. Then the running phase kicked in and how it has new life again.

Roll around to March 2018. Joe talks me into signing up for the Love Run. Joe is doing the Half Marathon. I on the other hand signed up for the 5k distance. I am starting to feel comfortable at this point with this distance. Besides I found out that Herby was going to be at the race. I really wanted to take my photo with Love Bug. Call me nostalgic, or just say, I still love cars. I was motivated to finish this race so I can get my photo with Herby the Love Bug.

It may have been the weather, or maybe at some point in the back of my mind I start thinking that “I got this.” Or maybe it was the fact that I was meeting someone for breakfast while Joe was finish the Half Marathon distance. Well no matter what it was, I finished this 5k really strong. I had a few people approach me after I finished the race saying things like, “I saw you out there, Keep it up Homie, My man was no joke coming to finish, Homie you were moving,” etc. I took all this as great words of inspiration. I really appreciated hearing that from all the other runners.

For months, I have been training. I am starting to get comfortable with running 5ks. I am not fast but I still get the job done. What is my ultimate goal? I had secretly entered the lottery for the Broad Street Run. This race is 10 freaking miles. Up to this point most I have ran is 6 miles. And that was for fun one morning, instead of running my 5k, I got lost in my audio book and boom 6 miles.

I digress, so yup, I won the Broad Street Run lottery on the first try. That does not happen to many people. Best 40th birthday gift I could give myself.  So training starts February to the first weekend in May. I use one of the recommend programs for first timers doing a race of this distance. I had to say, the 10 week plan was really good. 

Race day comes. I get up, I think I am ready. Do my morning breakfast routine for running. Eat pancakes and granola. Go over to get Joe and head down to the race. We meet up with some friends and park by the stadiums. We take the subway up.

This is my first race of this distance. Everyone else this is at least their second 10 miler. But the upside is, that the course is mostly flat and after about 2.5 miles its all totally down hill. Besides, I went college at Temple. I'll get run past my old dorm. Plus after almost 20 years, I can say for my folks I finally ran up and down the street without partying.

I stick with Barb for the start of the race. We are in the same coral and I can pace with her as far as I can. We made a pack that after my nerves calm down, I would just let her do her race.

Well when we start, it really not my nerves so much as its I half to go the bathroom. I made sure I drank plenty of water before the race so I would not get cramps in my calves. I spend the first couple of miles I keep searching for a line that is short in the port-a-potties along the course. After a couple of miles I tell Barb to just run. Ill find a bathroom. That took about 5 miles before I found a short line. After running around City Hall, and shaking hands with the former Govenor/Mayor Ed Rendell. This is at mile 6. Side note, the Gov was surprised to see me running. He was like what?! T, you are running... 10 miles?! I have known him since I went in college. This brings our relationship full circle, because I know there was running joke of things we could not see each other doing. Running this race was on the list. No time for photos, I am chasing the clock at this point. I headed the final 4 miles to finish the race.

 I just stayed in my lane and ran my own race. And like in the previous races, when I got down in the home stretch I ran as fast as I could to the finish line. Over the crowd, I did hear my buddy Matt scream my name. Also I may have heard him say finally, he was buying. Matt has never bought a round.  That's motivation. I finished the Broad Street Run in 2:22:43. No bad for this kid.

After months of training and getting out of my comfort zone I had successfully reached my goal. It took some time for me to reflect on all the good words everyone shared with me over the journey to this point. It wasn't until I looked back at recent photo’s, that  I realized I earned #bighomieonthemove: