Hope Next Exit Three Winners

So the winners were drawn on Sunday night as promised. The video is posted below.  Forgive the camera angle of my phone. I was instructed to hold my iPhone vertically which looks silly but, hey, I listened. You will also notice I introduce my wife to the right when she is to the left. I was not drunk for this drawing which is a guarantee because I do not drink (except for sips of very expensive wine now and then).

If you take the numbers above and apply them to the list below, you will find that these are the winners (note: I added an extra prize):

Avatar DVD Set: Charles Antis

$25 Gift Card: Michael Burke

$50 Starbucks Card: Sean Savitt

HP Calculator: Tim Weston

Punk Rock Racing Gear: Lisa Williamson

Lexmark Printer: Charles Sooter

HP Printer: Justin Anderson

Kindle Ereader: Dave Floyd

Kindle Touch: Michael Burke

Beats Solo Headphones: Patricia Harris

Kindle Fire HD7: Bob Crisman

Acer NB: Michael Burke (Hat trick)

Beats Pill: Rick Leeson

HP Spectre XT:  Charlene Levy

Thank you again!!!!  I am leaving the original post unchanged below

On Sunday night June 30, 2013, I will pull the winners for the Hope Next Exit 3 raffle which raised $9,330 to fight cancer.  It has been a fun journey and I am grateful to everyone for their support. In total, I raised just over $21,000 which brings my life to date fundraising over $130,000. Those totals are not testaments to me but testaments to all of you for I am nothing without support.  Below is a list of those that contributed to the raffle. If you see your name is missing, please let me know ASAP. The list was built off a download out of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society database so I am confident it is accurate. To draw the winners, I will videotape my children pulling the raffle tickets and post that video here as part of this post.  The raffle tickets only have numbers which will correspond back to this post.  You will see some tickets assigned to Anonymous.  I am listing the name in case it was an accident and the owner of the $100 donation comes forward. You will also see my name. If I win, the prize goes back to charity. Good luck to all and thank you all so much!!!!!

Adam Heiser	50413
Adam Heiser	50414
Adam Heiser	50415
Alfred Quiring	50014
Anonymous	50395
Anonymous	50396
Anonymous	50397
Anonymous	50398
Anonymous	50399
Anonymous	50400
Ariel Nahmias	50143
Ariel Nahmias	50144
Ariel Nahmias	50145
Bethany Chaney	49948
Bethany Chaney	49949
Bethany Chaney	49950
Bethany Chaney	49951
Bethany Chaney	49952
Bethany Chaney	49953
Calvin Lin	50404
Calvin Lin	50405
Calvin Lin	50406
Carolynne Fargey	50015
Carolynne Fargey	50016
Carolynne Fargey	50017
Cecily Sweeney	50164
Cecily Sweeney	50165
Cecily Sweeney	50166
Cecily Sweeney	50167
Cecily Sweeney	50168
Cecily Sweeney	50169
Charlene Levy	50036
Charlene Levy	50037
Charlene Levy	50038
Charlene Levy	50423
Charlene Levy	50424
Charlene Levy	50425
Charles Antis	50192
Charles Antis	50193
Charles Antis	50194
Charles Antis	50195
Charles Antis	50196
Charles Antis	50197
Charles Antis	50198
Charles Antis	50199
Charles Antis	50200
Charles Antis	50201
Charles Antis	50202
Charles Antis	50203
Charles Antis	50204
Charles Antis	50205
Charles Antis	50206
Charles Antis	50207
Charles Antis	50208
Charles Antis	50209
Charles Antis	50210
Charles Antis	50211
Charles Antis	50212
Charles Antis	50213
Charles Antis	50214
Charles Antis	50215
Charles Antis	50216
Charles Antis	50217
Charles Antis	50218
Charles Antis	50219
Charles Antis	50220
Charles Antis	50221
Charles Sooter	50449
Charles Sooter	50450
Charles Sooter	50451
Charles Sooter	50452
Charles Sooter	50453
Charles Sooter	50454
Chatty Arrieta	49942
Chatty Arrieta	49943
Chatty Arrieta	49944
Chatty Arrieta	49945
Chatty Arrieta	49946
Chatty Arrieta	49947
Christopher Wilno	50066
Christopher Wilno	50067
Christopher Wilno	50068
Christopher Wilno	50069
Christopher Wilno	50070
Christopher Wilno	50071
Christopher Wilno	50072
Dashiell Nash	50353
Dashiell Nash	50354
Dashiell Nash	50355
David Blaszkowski	50021
David Blaszkowski	50022
David Blaszkowski	50023
David Rodman	50426
David Rodman	50427
David Rodman	50428
David Rodman	50429
David Rodman	50430
David Rodman	50431
David Rodman	50432
David Wolpe	50223
David Wolpe	50224
David Wolpe	50225
David Wolpe	50226
David Wolpe	50227
David Wolpe	50228
David Wolpe	50229
David Wolpe	50230
David Wolpe	50231
David Wolpe	50232
David Wolpe	50233
David Wolpe	50234
David Wolpe	50235
David Wolpe	50236
David Wolpe	50237
David Wolpe	50238
David Wolpe	50239
David Wolpe	50240
David Wolpe	50241
David Wolpe	50242
David Wolpe	50243
David Wolpe	50244
David Wolpe	50245
David Wolpe	50246
David Wolpe	50247
David Wolpe	50248
David Wolpe	50249
David Wolpe	50250
David Wolpe	50251
David Wolpe	50252
David Wolpe	50253
David Wolpe	50254
David Wolpe	50255
David Wolpe	50256
David Wolpe	50257
David Wolpe	50258
David Wolpe	50259
David Wolpe	50260
David Wolpe	50261
David Wolpe	50262
David Wolpe	50263
David Wolpe	50264
David Wolpe	50265
David Wolpe	50266
David Wolpe	50267
David Wolpe	50268
David Wolpe	50269
David Wolpe	50270
David Wolpe	50271
David Wolpe	50272
David Wolpe	50273
David Wolpe	50274
David Wolpe	50275
David Wolpe	50276
David Wolpe	50277
David Wolpe	50278
David Wolpe	50279
David Wolpe	50280
David Wolpe	50281
David Wolpe	50282
David Wolpe	50283
David Wolpe	50284
David Wolpe	50285
David Wolpe	50286
David Wolpe	50287
David Wolpe	50288
David Wolpe	50289
David Wolpe	50290
David Wolpe	50291
David Wolpe	50292
David Wolpe	50293
David Wolpe	50294
David Wolpe	50295
David Wolpe	50296
David Wolpe	50297
David Wolpe	50298
David Wolpe	50299
David Wolpe	50300
David Wolpe	50301
David Wolpe	50302
David Wolpe	50303
David Wolpe	50304
David Wolpe	50305
David Wolpe	50306
David Wolpe	50307
David Wolpe	50308
David Wolpe	50309
David Wolpe	50310
David Wolpe	50311
David Wolpe	50312
David Wolpe	50313
David Wolpe	50314
David Wolpe	50315
David Wolpe	50316
David Wolpe	50317
David Wolpe	50318
David Wolpe	50319
David Wolpe	50320
David Wolpe	50321
David Wolpe	50322
David Wolpe	50323
David Wolpe	50324
David Wolpe	50325
David Wolpe	50326
David Wolpe	50327
David Wolpe	50328
David Wolpe	50329
David Wolpe	50330
Deborah Kazlowski	50018
Deborah Kazlowski	50019
Deborah Kazlowski	50020
Dena Grablowsky	49988
Dena Grablowsky	49989
Dena Grablowsky	49990
Dena Grablowsky	49991
Dena Grablowsky	49992
Dena Grablowsky	49993
Diana Fisk	50357
Diana Fisk	50358
Diana Fisk	50359
Diana Fisk	50360
Diana Fisk	50361
Diana Fisk	50362
Diana Fisk	50363
Diana Fisk	50364
Diana Fisk	50365
Diana Fisk	50366
Diana Fisk	50367
Diana Fisk	50368
Diana Fisk	50369
Diana Fisk	50370
Diana Fisk	50371
Edward Schober	50372
Elisabeth Waller Scott	49954
Fern Oliner	50060
Fern Oliner	50061
Fern Oliner	50062
Fern Oliner	50063
Fern Oliner	50064
Fern Oliner	50065
Gary Palenbaum	49998
Gary Palenbaum	49999
Gary Palenbaum	50000
Gary Palenbaum	50001
Gary Palenbaum	50002
Gary Palenbaum	50003
George Manor	50373
George Manor	50374
George Manor	50375
George Manor	50376
George Manor	50377
George Manor	50378
Glenn McDaniel	50222
Hale & Hale DDS	50054
Hale & Hale DDS	50055
Hale & Hale DDS	50056
Hale & Hale DDS	50057
Hale & Hale DDS	50058
Hale & Hale DDS	50059
Heather Gonzalez	50416
Jackie Laine	50170
Jason Liszewski	50401
Jason Liszewski	50402
Jason Liszewski	50403
Jennifer Zenuch	50388
Jennifer Zenuch	50389
Jennifer Zenuch	50390
JoAnn Beluch	50011
JoAnn Beluch	50012
JoAnn Beluch	50013
Jody Del Vecchio	50433
Jody Del Vecchio	50434
Jody Del Vecchio	50435
Jody Del Vecchio	50436
Jody Del Vecchio	50437
Jody Del Vecchio	50438
Jody Del Vecchio	50439
Jody Del Vecchio	50440
Jody Del Vecchio	50441
Jody Del Vecchio	50442
Jody Del Vecchio	50443
Jody Del Vecchio	50444
Jody Del Vecchio	50445
Jody Del Vecchio	50446
Jody Del Vecchio	50447
John Floyd	50091
John Floyd	50092
John Floyd	50093
John Floyd	50094
John Floyd	50095
John Floyd	50096
John Floyd	50097
John Floyd	50098
John Floyd	50099
John Floyd	50100
John Floyd	50101
John Floyd	50102
John Floyd	50103
John Floyd	50104
John Floyd	50105
Judy Williamson	50455
Judy Williamson	50456
Judy Williamson	50457
Judy Williamson	50458
Judy Williamson	50459
Judy Williamson	50460
Justin Anderson	50039
Justin Anderson	50040
Justin Anderson	50041
Ken Chastain	50152
Ken Chastain	50153
Ken Chastain	50154
Ken Chastain	50155
Ken Chastain	50156
Ken Chastain	50157
Ken Chastain	50158
Ken Chastain	50159
Ken Chastain	50160
Ken Chastain	50161
Ken Chastain	50162
Ken Chastain	50163
Laurie Hayden	50042
Laurie Hayden	50043
Laurie Hayden	50044
Laurie Hayden	50045
Laurie Hayden	50046
Laurie Hayden	50047
Linda Kumagai	50004
Linda Kumagai	50005
Linda Kumagai	50006
Loreen Fujinami	50048
Loreen Fujinami	50049
Loreen Fujinami	50050
Loreen Fujinami	50051
Loreen Fujinami	50052
Loreen Fujinami	50053
Lori Jomsky	50171
Lori Jomsky	50172
Lori Jomsky	50173
Lori Jomsky	50174
Lori Jomsky	50175
Lori Jomsky	50176
Lori Jomsky	50177
Lori Jomsky	50178
Lori Jomsky	50179
Lori Jomsky	50180
Lori Jomsky	50181
Lori Jomsky	50182
Lori Jomsky	50183
Lori Jomsky	50184
Lori Jomsky	50185
Lori Jomsky	50186
Lori Jomsky	50187
Lori Jomsky	50188
Lori Jomsky	50189
Lori Jomsky	50190
Lori Jomsky	50191
Lulu Zadoyan	50349
Marc Wishingrad	50146
Marc Wishingrad	50147
Marc Wishingrad	50148
Marc Wishingrad	50149
Marc Wishingrad	50150
Marc Wishingrad	50151
Marina Vargas	49994
Marjorie Wilno	49924
Marjorie Wilno	49925
Marjorie Wilno	49926
Marjorie Wilno	49927
Marjorie Wilno	49928
Marjorie Wilno	49929
Marjorie Wilno	49930
Marjorie Wilno	49931
Marjorie Wilno	49932
Marjorie Wilno	49933
Marjorie Wilno	49934
Marjorie Wilno	49935
Marjorie Wilno	49936
Marjorie Wilno	49937
Marjorie Wilno	49938
Marjorie Wilno	49939
Marjorie Wilno	49940
Marjorie Wilno	49941
Matthew Barnette	50331
Matthew Barnette	50332
Matthew Barnette	50333
Matthew Barnette	50334
Matthew Barnette	50335
Matthew Barnette	50336
Michael Burke	49958
Michael Burke	49959
Michael Burke	49960
Michael Burke	49961
Michael Burke	49962
Michael Burke	49963
Michael Burke	49964
Michael Burke	49965
Michael Burke	49966
Michael Burke	49967
Michael Burke	49968
Michael Burke	49969
Michael Burke	49970
Michael Burke	49971
Michael Burke	49972
Michael Burke	49973
Michael Burke	49974
Michael Burke	49975
Michael Burke	49976
Michael Burke	49977
Michael Burke	49978
Michael Burke	49979
Michael Burke	49980
Michael Burke	49981
Michael Burke	49982
Michael Burke	49983
Michael Burke	49984
Michael Burke	49985
Michael Burke	49986
Michael Burke	49987
Miriam Sandy Hopkinson Sr	50027
Miriam Sandy Hopkinson Sr	50028
Miriam Sandy Hopkinson Sr	50029
Molly Chance	49995
Molly Chance	49996
Molly Chance	49997
Nick Gardner	50337
Nick Gardner	50338
Nick Gardner	50339
Nick Gardner	50340
Nick Gardner	50341
Nick Gardner	50342
Nick Gardner	50343
Nick Gardner	50344
Nick Gardner	50345
Nick Gardner	50346
Nick Gardner	50347
Nick Gardner	50348
Nina Jack	50410
Nina Jack	50411
Nina Jack	50412
Patricia Harris	50106
Patricia Harris	50107
Patricia Harris	50108
Patricia Harris	50109
Patricia Harris	50110
Patricia Harris	50111
Patricia Harris	50112
Patricia Harris	50113
Patricia Harris	50114
Patricia Harris	50115
Patricia Harris	50116
Patricia Harris	50117
Patricia Harris	50118
Patricia Harris	50119
Patricia Harris	50120
Patricia Harris	50121
Patricia Harris	50122
Patricia Harris	50123
Patricia Harris	50124
Patricia Harris	50125
Patricia Harris	50126
Patricia Harris	50127
Patricia Harris	50128
Patricia Harris	50129
Patricia Harris	50130
Patricia Harris	50131
Patricia Harris	50132
Patricia Harris	50133
Patricia Harris	50134
Patricia Harris	50135
Patricia Souder	50356
Paul Partaine	50461
Paul Partaine	50462
Paul Partaine	50463
Peter Conlon	50033
Peter Conlon	50034
Peter Conlon	50035
Peter Woflflein	50136
Rachel Yonda	50392
Rachel Yonda	50393
Rachel Yonda	50394
Richard Leeson	50137
Richard Leeson	50138
Richard Leeson	50139
Richard Leeson	50140
Richard Leeson	50141
Richard Leeson	50142
Robert Crisman	50464
Robert Crisman	50465
Robert Crisman	50466
Robert Crisman	50467
Robert Crisman	50468
Robert Crisman	50469
Robert Crisman	50470
Robert Crisman	50471
Robert Crisman	50472
Robert Sandiford	50007
Robert Sandiford	50008
Robert Sandiford	50009
Ron Harvey	50073
Ron Harvey	50074
Ron Harvey	50075
Ron Harvey	50076
Ron Harvey	50077
Ron Harvey	50078
Ron Harvey	50079
Ron Harvey	50080
Ron Harvey	50081
Ron Harvey	50082
Ron Harvey	50083
Ron Harvey	50084
Ron Harvey	50085
Ron Harvey	50086
Ron Harvey	50087
Ron Harvey	50088
Ron Harvey	50089
Ron Harvey	50090
Ronald Kaloper Eldridge	50024
Ronald Kaloper Eldridge	50025
Ronald Kaloper Eldridge	50026
Samuel Smeltzer	50030
Samuel Smeltzer	50031
Samuel Smeltzer	50032
Sandra Turco	50010
Sean Savitt	49955
Sean Savitt	49956
Sean Savitt	49957
shawna Smeltzer	50391
Stacy Sooter	49920
Stacy Sooter	49921
Stacy Sooter	49922
Therese Soltis	50379
Therese Soltis	50380
Therese Soltis	50381
Therese Soltis	50382
Therese Soltis	50383
Therese Soltis	50384
Therese Soltis	50385
Therese Soltis	50386
Therese Soltis	50387
Timothy Weston	50407
Timothy Weston	50408
Timothy Weston	50409
Traci Mcmurray	50448
Trisha Choate	50417
Trisha Choate	50418
Trisha Choate	50419
Trisha Choate	50420
Trisha Choate	50421
Trisha Choate	50422
Wagner Tejada	49923
Williamson	50350
Williamson	50351
Williamson	50352

A Lesson From Jackie

I went to see the movie 42 today with my son. He really wanted to see it and I was hoping to expose him to the lesson(s) that could come out the story of Jackie Robinson.  After seeing the movie, we sat and talked and I am confident I made the right decision to take him.  I am writing this short post to my son Jaden….in case he finds himself in life needing a reminder…… and to anyone else that might be listening.

I sat through this movie mesmerized.  I love any movie about baseball but this was for very different reasons and honestly my mind was a blur.  I started wondering about the type of person I am today and really hoped that, had I lived during the time period when Jackie Robinson entered major league baseball, I would have been the guy that befriended Jackie Robinson and was accepting of change.  I would like to think I would have been the guy speaking his mind about how the world should work and the guy that stood up against racism.  I really believe I would have been that person. Growing up, while equality among color had made great strides….the world certainly was not perfect.  I was always the guy that tried to make friends with and stick up for the guy/girl on the outside……..be it for color or any number of reasons.  I was the guy that wanted everyone to feel accepted and fit in.  Even later in life, albeit somewhat silly, I remember buying a t-shirt from Timberland in Chicago that read “Give Racism the Boot”.  I wore that shirt proudly and in places that might have been considered risky.  Many times I came close to getting my ass kicked but not by white people…..by African Americans because from afar they just saw a white dude wearing a shirt that had the word ‘racism’ on it.  They assumed the worst until getting closer and actually reading what the shirt said. We would usually just laugh, exchange some words and move on but every one of those many instances broke down the color barrier a little more.

I am thankful today, that my children do not understand racism.  Each of my children has friends of every race and religion and that is all they know.  I have mentioned this before but I literally think my 5 year old daughter is color blind. She does have some African American friends who she thankfully only knows as ‘friends’.  It is quite remarkable but if you ask my daughter to describe these friends, she will talk about what they wear or their sense of humor or how smart they are but she will never ever say they are ‘black’.  Ask her 20 different ways; the color of their skin will never ever be included in one of her replies. It is the way things should be and I hope she applies this to everything in life from color to religion to sexual preference.  We are all just people and if we unite as one, we can make the world a better place.  I really think this is a big part of the message of the movie……for my son and for all of us.

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives”

Jackie Robinson

The story of Jackie Robinson tied to racism in the world but if you step back it is really tied to one man helping to change the world.  Look at how far we have come since 1947 when Jackie Robinson entered major league baseball.  Look where the world was then and look where it is today.  After the movie, that is what I sat and told my son. One man made a difference.  One man changed the world.  You are one man, you can do exactly the same thing. Today, the world is not perfect.  We have made great strides in some areas of injustice but there are still a lot of improvements to be made.  There is disease, there is suffering and unfortunately race issues still exist as we have seen by recent events.  We can all as individuals jump in and lend a hand.  We can all as individuals make a difference.  We can all as individuals make the world a better place and, as I have said many times, if we as individuals come together as one with this mentality, changing the world is a certainty. My fight is against cancer.  What is your fight against? There is plenty of room for change in this world.  It is just waiting for you to jump in and make it happen.

To my son and my daughter, may you always treat everyone equally, may you fight for those that are treated less than equal and may you always know that within you is the power to make a difference.  

April 15, 2013

As most people, I have been struggling with the attacks on the Boston Marathon for the past few days.  On 9-11 I fielded a phone call from my Mom who was very concerned of my whereabouts. I was in Los Angeles but was traveling a lot at the time so I could have been anywhere. On 04-15, I fielded a call from my wife who directed me to the news and as before, I sat teary eyed and stunned in front of the television.  Horrible people doing horrible things………….cowardly attacking the innocent in an attempt to put us in a place of fear.  April 15, 2013 was a bad day for the entire world……..for the human race.  As a runner and as a coach for Team in Training, it was a particularly bad day because they attacked one of the most sacred places in the world………..the marathon finish line.

So many people have shared beautiful words about this over the past few days.  I have shared those words via social media but also want to put my own words to paper for two reasons. Someday there is a lesson for my kids coming out of these attacks and I want my words to be here when they are ready.  My wife and I shielded them from the news of the Boston attacks.  My 5year old daughter is far too innocent and I want her to maintain that innocence as long as humanly possible.  My 8 year old son is aware of the 9-11 attacks but is too young to really grasp all the tragedy that came from that horrible day and I did not want to risk the same about Boston. In a selfish way, I also did not want my son to be afraid to come watch his Dad at his next big race.  Secondly, I want to put my words out there to those I run with and those I have coached. While I have seen a lot of runners respond to the Boston situation from a position of strength, I have also read the posts of folks that express fear and concern of going to their next race and I believe it is critical we move forward not only for ourselves but for the future of running as well…..for that person sitting on the side lines waiting to buy their first pair of shoes…..that person that watches us from afar waiting for the courage to jump in and change their life.

I will not be long winded here.  My thoughts are clear and concise and are as follows:

•The reason we must go on is the same reason that we run and the reason we ever toe the start line of any endurance race.  I have said this so many times……..my favorite part about endurance sports is staring fear in the face and shoving it aside. What happened in Boston is horrific. It is angering.  It was meant to insight fear and I do not want us as a community to give in to that fear.

•Running helps to show us all that we are capable of anything.  Every time we put on a pair of shoes….every time we log another mile…..it changes us.  Every finish line crossed is the culmination of an amazing journey.  I would be saddened to know that any of my friends lose their grip on this and let this part of their life slip away. I have shared the finish line with so many people. As a coach for Team in Training, I have shared hugs and tears at Mile 26.1 of so many races and watched as my teammates hobbled that last glorious 0.1 miles to see their lives changed. I want to see more lives changed because in the end it makes the world a better place.  Runners do amazing things.  The world truly is a not the same without us.

•Endurance sport finish lines truly represent all that the world should be.  It is a place where people from all over the world unite as one.  The finish line knows no race or religion.  It does not care if you are overweight or skinny.  It does not care if you are fast or slow. Whether you finish the marathon in 2:10 or 6:10, you covered the same distance as everyone else on that day.  At mile 26.2, we are not black or white, Christian or Muslim, we are just marathon runners.  Coach Dave Gold, a remarkable Team in Training coach put good words to this earlier this week when he said “We’re all the same at mile 26. Bones and muscle, heart and soul.”

•For all of the reasons above, we must continue to go on for those that have yet to experience what it is we know about the finish line.  It is a glorious place on so many levels.  We know this but there are many yet to lace up their first pair of running shoes.  I have seen people begin to run for every reason in the book from meeting people and losing weight to fighting horrible diseases, honoring loved ones and gaining the strength to get off the couch after seeing their spouse murdered in front of them. Whatever brings someone to the doorstep of the running community, they cross the finish line a different person capable of so much more than they were before. This may sound melodramatic but I believe it with all that I am. As I said in my last post SMILE BIG, there are people on the sidelines watching us runners.  They watch and slowly build the courage to jump into the mix.  I have done this myself.  While I did not run very fast, I just finished my first 50 mile ultra marathon. If you had asked me years ago whether I would ever run that far, I would have told you I had no interest. Truth be told, that answer would have masked my fear of actually covering the distance but I sat and I watched as Colin and Billy and Sally and Josh and Ron and Michael and Emily and many others all covered the distance and over time I started to believe I could do it too.  I wont lie, my fear at the start line brought tears to my eyes but I took that first step and ultimately crossed the finish line.  I am different now.  I am more confident about what I am capable of.  We owe this same experience to those sitting and watching us so I beg you to please carry on.  Put on those running shoes and hit the streets and hit the trails and sign up for those races.  You need it.  I need it.  The world needs it.

My prayers go out to everyone impacted by the horrible events in Boston. 

Smile Big

I could not decide what to title this post.  It could have been one of a million things. The Little Things also came to mind but I have given myself 10 minutes to spew some thoughts onto a page so there is little time to waste worrying about the title. This post was inspired by today’s workout.  The workout itself is meaningless but for informational purposes it was a 50 mile bike followed by a 13.1 mile run off of the bike.  It was the things I noticed during the workout which were of importance.  They were reinforcements to why I love endurance sports and it was a personal reminder of all the things I try to teach.

My bike ride came first and I am not usually one to look around and take notice of my surroundings while working out but today everything seemed to be going in slow motion.  It was a HR1 workout, which I hit minus some steeper climbs.  I let myself stay in zone 1 without any regard for the pace……….truth be told I removed the pace completely from my watch to make sure I just chilled out.  What I noticed were a ton of people out walking and running and biking.  There were young kids.  There were old people like me (tough to admit this!) and there were folks probably greater than 80 out making it happen.  Some were fast.  Some were slow.  Some were barely moving but that is the beauty of what we do.  Running and biking means something to everyone with complete disregard for pace.  Endurance sports shows no bias.  Everyone can get out there and set a personal record.  Everyone can push farther today than they did yesterday.  Everyone can push through their struggles and injuries and doubts and get in the miles.  It is a beautiful thing.

Now to the run. I am a sappy dude. If you have followed any of my writings you are crystal clear on this fact.  Today was an emotional run for me.  It was amazing.  I have been dealing with foot pain. It has put some doubts in my head about how long I can continue to run long.  Today off the bike I had a 12 mile run.  I was sore tied to a 23 mile run yesterday and tied to the bike ride and, of course, this nagging foot pain.  The run was a zone 1 workout like the bike, which was a good thing as it was starting to get fairly warm.  I was not sure where I was going to head today and, for whatever reason, it took all I had to take that first step. I began running through the neighborhood near my house.  I can run switchbacks through this one section that lands me at 6 miles.  I did this as part of yesterdays run and I actually do it often when I do not feel like dealing with traffic. Out and back would get me to my 12 miles but I figured I would mix it up when I got to the 6 mile mark.  Little did I know one special needs adult would change my plan.  The picture below will show the switchbacks I ran.  

Running straight through the middle of these switchbacks is another road……it would be the one mile shortcut to my turnaround (i.e. I am never more than a mile from my house with this 12 mile run).  While I run a mile (basically an out and back), someone could just walk one block to get to the same place.  Anyway, early in the run, I noticed this guy standing on the corner of the block down this middle road.  He would rock back and forth a little bit tied to whatever condition he is dealing with. I would keep going to the end of the switchback, make my turn down the next road and there he would be waiting at the corner.  He looked like he was trying to act as if it was a coincidence every time but I decided to go a different direction.  Every time I got to him, I would wave and say ‘hey buddy’.  He would just give a shy smile and we would part ways for another mile.  I kept thinking this would stop soon and I was not sure how far he would get from his house…..was his comfort zone 2 blocks or 10 blocks.  I also had no idea how he knew what I was doing other than I run here all the time and have done so for years.  Maybe he noticed.  Anyway, I was tired.  My feet were sore but as long as this guy was going to make the effort to get to the next block, I was going to make the effort to run that next mile.  I hit the half way point and made my turn for home.  I was wondering if he would know to turn and go the other direction but I should not have had a doubt……..one mile later he was there…….’Hey buddy’.  I felt like a had a fan and I was not going to let this one down.  Amazingly I stayed in HR1 through mile 11.  It was then that I decided to pick it up a bit and extend my workout to hit 13.1 miles.  I saw him with about 2 miles to go and I told him…..”almost home”.  At mile 12 I told him ‘Last One. Thanks buddy. You saved me today’ to which he gave a huge smile. He also finally said something but I am not sure what it was.  13.1 miles off the bike in 1:51.  More importantly, I think I had a positive impact on someone’s day and life and I hope he knows he touched mine.  It was a simple moment but it spoke volumes.  I always tell people to ‘smile big’ when out pounding the pavement.  Obviously in the middle of a tough workout that is difficult but the point is that folks are watching you.  There are folks sitting on the couch that want to get up and make a change.  There are people overweight that want to know there is a better way.  There are kids that wish they could be out running but instead have to live through those of us that can.  Smile big because when you are out on the streets you are making a difference and have the ability to impact lives.  It doesn’t matter if you are fast or slow, tall or short, skinny or overweight…….people are watching.

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” Scott Adams

My 10 minutes are up.  This was not as coherent as I would have liked but hopefully a little of my point snuck it’s way into the post.  Thanks for reading. Now get out there and make a difference.