Since this is my first post, I thought I'd start at the beginning.
I was never someone that I would consider an athlete. I played sports at different levels growing up, none of them particularly well. I was always preoccupied with something and never fully committed myself to a sport, or anything for that matter. Once I finished college in 2002 and all the beer and pizza had really caught up with my belly I started running and lifting to get in shape. I ran off and on for years, and form 2007-2009 was up to 8-10 miles a day 6 days a week, but I never raced. I didn't really understand racing, I only thought you'd sign up for a race if you had a chance to win. After some health issues in 2009, followed by my mom becoming terminally ill, I stopped running, stopped being active, let life overwhelm me and got lazy. In 2010, I started working out again, but not running. I tried Insanity, P90X, and the like, but was never really into the programs and always got mediocre results because of it. In early January 2013, I decided I was going to get back into running. Some people at work had been talking about the Pittsburgh Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay runs coming up in May, 2013. I thought a race sounded intriguing, and a way to keep me on track and give me a goal to work toward. On January 13, 2013, I threw on an old pair of gym shorts, some beat up basketball shoes, and set out to do something I hadn't done in almost 4 years: run 1 mile. It was terrible. It took 15 minutes, I couldn't breathe, my quads were on fire, I threw up, and sat on the sidewalk in tears when I was done. And I loved it. For one of the first times in a long time I didn't quit, I pushed myself as hard as I could, and I accomplished my goal. After that I signed up for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, along with 5 other half marathons, the Philadelphia Marathon, and the Disney World Dopey Challenge, all without ever running a race. The voice of doubt in my head that always told me I couldn't do things had been replaced by a voice that said I could do anything. Since that first run last January I have run over 2000 miles and 27 races including 3 full marathons. In that time I have met and been inspired by so many people both online and off and accomplished more on these two legs then I ever thought possible, and this journey is only beginning. I am currently beginning my 3 year goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. There are a lot more miles to run before then. There is no finish line. Mike
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AuthorEvery day, every minute, every mile. Make them yours, no one else is going to do it for you. "There is no finish line." Archives
April 2015
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