Book review: Marathon Journey, An Achilles Story

Disclaimer: I was approached by Stephen Balsamo, the author of Marathon Journey, An Achilles Story, to read and consider his book for our book club. This one sounded inspiring, and I agreed to add it to the club. I was given a copy of the book to read and review. All the opinions and thoughts expressed below are mine.

The Walking of the Many Painting by David Kumcieng, aged 15, Sudanese, Kakuma refugee camp.

"We wanted to run, but we had to walk because we were tired and so hot and hungry. In my picture the people are wearing clothes, but of course we didn't have any clothes. We saw people dying, it was always the young ones, the hungry ones, and the old ones." 

Credit: One Day We Had to Run!: Refugee Children tell Their Stories in Words and Paintings (pbs.org)

In the early 1990s, government troops and rebels of the Southern Sudan attacked villagers, leaving many orphans in their wake. Nicknamed "the Lost Boys of Sudan", many of these boys were placed with families in the US. The main character of Balsamo's book, Adamu, was one of those boys. He was placed with a couple in Oregon. Eventually, Adamu and William find a mutual love for running. Together they decide to run the New York City Marathon. William approaches his former college cross country coach to prepare the two of them for this task.

Dick Traum
source: newsroom.blogs.cnn.com

Balsamo weaves the Achilles running club into the story, when the 2 fictional characters meet Dick Traum, the founder of Achilles International, at the marathon expo. Traum, himself an amputee, was the first amputee to run the New York City marathon in 1976. Achilles International is an international organization that helps disabled runners achieve their goals. The coach in the story also talks about the myth of Achilles and how the term Achilles heel has come to be known as an "indication of vulnerability". He also sums up the purpose of the organization:

"The Achilles team reminds me of an ancient Chinese saying I learned a long time ago, Perseverance in weakness will lead to strength."

Adamu adopts this saying as his mantra for the marathon.

He also adopts a mantra from the Frank Sinatra song, New York, New York, saying "if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere."

I won't spoil the rest of the book for you except to say that for me, the ending was somewhat improbable. With the mix of real life events in the story, I actually thought it was a true story, and was somewhat disappointed to discover at the end that it was a work of fiction. What a great story this would have been if it were true! Regardless, it is a good story full of inspiration and really helped me learn more about this wonderful organization.

The book is organized into 26 chapters (get it? mile markers!), which was clever on the author's part, but I wonder if that limited how he was able to organize the story. The book really doesn't gain momentum until the main characters head to New York City, and then it's hard to put down. Still, it was a quick, fun, and inspiring read.

I was glad to learn about Achilles International. Before I read this book, I never had heard of this organization. Last year when I ran Chicago, I ran alongside a visually impaired runner and his guide. I never really thought about disabled runners until then, except for the wheelchair athletes at the start of the race. I wonder now if that runner was a part of Achilles International. The author did a nice job incorporating the organization into the book, even having the character Adamu join the group as an ambassador and helping his brothers who were left behind in Sudan.

An Achilles athlete crossing the finish line of NYCM with the help of volunteers.
Photo courtesy of achillesinternational.org

I wonder what has happened to the Lost Boys of Sudan. According to Wikipedia, many of them are returning to Sudan to help rebuild their country and provide support to those left behind.

If you want to learn more about Achilles International and/or Dick Traum, here's some links to chase:
http://www.achillesinternational.org/
http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/rw-hero-of-running-dick-traum
http://www.minutesformemories.org/heroes-of-hope/2015/1/3/oh4pqm14xxw1kvjmt71rvgt5nfldpl
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/dick-traum-disabled-veterans-athletes_n_917202.html


Have you ever heard of Achilles International? Would you consider leading a disabled runner through a marathon? What's your mantra?

Be sure to link up your review below! And if you don't have a blog, feel free to post your review in the comments. If you do link up, you know the rules: link back to this post and be sure to read everyone else's posts! Sharing is caring. Thanks so much for participating!

And join us for next month's book:

You might not be an ultra runner, but there's plenty of inspiration in this one! The author has agreed to participating too, so please let me know if you have anything you want to ask her! Thanks again for playing along!

An InLinkz Link-up

Book Club interview with Stephen Balsamo, author of Marathon Journey, An Achilles Story

I'm happy to share with you this wonderful interview from the author of this month's book club book! The author's answers provide some great insight and background for the story. 

TTLWH: Are you a runner? If so, what races have you run?

SB: Yes, I am a runner.  I have participated in races of varying distances primarily in New York City and New Jersey.  I ran five marathons (three New York City Marathons and two Philadelphia Marathons). 

One of my favorite races is the Long Beach Island 18 Mile Run which is held every October in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.  It is a great training run for people who are planning to run either the New York City or Philadelphia marathons which are both held in November.  The organizers, volunteers, and spectators of the Long Beach Island run (and the great pre and post race meals) are incredible.

TTLWH: I’m so curious how you used the story of a Sudanese refugee to write about Achilles International. What inspired you to write this book?   On whom, if anyone, did you base the character of Adamu? How did you first learn about Achilles International?

SB: My earliest thought, which led to my writing the story, was how I believed that it was entirely possible for a runner in a marathon to achieve the result that the Adamu character in the book achieved.  

During my long and lonely marathon training runs, I would often think about it and I started creating a story around that idea in my head.

I saw a great news piece by Bob Simon on 60 Minutes about some Sudanese refugees who were part of a larger group of refugees known as "The Lost Boys of Sudan."  The piece profiled a few young men who were placed in the United States.  I was struck and moved by their experiences and their genuine good nature.  They had been through so much, but they maintained such a positive outlook and were so appreciative of what opportunities they had despite the losses they suffered.  

Thereafter, I read many books about the Lost Boys of Sudan and saw a great documentary about them called "God Grew Tired Us" which reaffirmed my impressions from the 60 Minutes piece.

So, in an effort to keep myself more or less entertained during my training runs, I started to create a story around the Adamu character with the goal that the story would conclude with his achievement at the New York City Marathon.

My wife was the first person who told me about Achilles International and we would see, and be inspired by, many of the Achilles athletes participating in the races we did in Central Park. 

To those who may not know, Achilles is a running club that was founded by Dick Traum who is the first person to run a marathon with a prosthetic leg when he ran the New York City Marathon in 1976.  Mr. Traum inspired Canadian hero, Terry Fox to run his "Marathon of Hope" across Canada.  Terry Fox, in turn, inspired Mr. Traum to create Achilles where the mission is to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in athletics in order to promote personal achievement and to enhance self-esteem. 

As I learned more about Achilles and Mr. Traum, another and vital storyline started to materialize. 

One of the things I learned was that Achilles had a worldwide reach.  Achilles has chapters in many different countries and Mr. Traum and Achilles have often helped people in need in those countries by, in part, providing prosthetics to them.

So, I created the character of Kirabo, a young amputee who Adamu meets in the refugee camp in Africa, with the idea that, even though Adamu left Africa for the United States, through Dick Traum and Achilles, Adamu would be able to find a way to help his sad friend who had little hope in his heart. 

Because of the fact that Achilles has actually helped people in need in other countries, utilizing Achilles as a real-life the solution of sorts in the story to the seemingly hopeless situation with Kirabo was more than plausible even though Adamu left Africa for the United States.

TTLWH: Did you travel to Sudan? Interview any of the Lost Boys about their experiences?

SB: Unfortunately, I have not travelled to Sudan and I did not get a chance to interview any of the Lost Boys.  I did reach out to one of the Lost Boys with the hope that I could learn more about his experience and with the hope that he would write the Foreword to the book, but we were unable to finalize anything.  I do regret that I was unable to get a Lost Boy to write the Foreword for the book as it would have been an ideal way to inform the reader about the experiences of the Lost Boys---and it would have served as a good bookend to the story along with the Afterword written by Dick Traum of Achilles.

Lafon Hill, Sudan.
source: sites.google.com

I feel compelled to add that, while I did not travel to Sudan, during the course of researching the book I saw an incredible aerial picture of Lafon Hill in Sudan in National Geographic magazine which was a great inspiration and made me feel like I was there.  The photograph was taken by a very talented and adventurous photographer named George Steinmetz, who takes pictures from a motorized paraglider.  After seeing the photograph, I worked Lafon Hill into the story.  I was fortunate enough to be able to give George a copy of the book and to tell him how much the photograph influenced me in writing the story.

TTLWH: Do you work with Achilles International and if so, what do you do?

SB: I do not work with Achilles, but my wife and I have supported the organization and we have participated in their annual "Hope and Possibility Run" in Central Park over the years.  One year, I ran the New York City Marathon as a charity entry in support of Achilles and it was truly an incredible experience to be able to wear the Achilles shirt during the marathon and to be part of the team. 

2014 Hope and Possibility Run
source: achillesinternational.org

The support for Achilles athletes along the course of the New York City Marathon is absolutely amazing.  In the story, I include a quote along the lines that "the Achilles athletes get big cheers along the course, sometimes even bigger than the winners" to acknowledge that fact.

I am so appreciative that Dick Traum, who I met and spoke with on numerous occasions while writing the book, liked the story and provided me with tremendous advice and encouragement along the way.

On a fairly regular basis, I am fortunate to see or read incredibly moving profiles of athletes with different types of disabilities accomplishing great things in a running event, in a pool, on a basketball court, on a ball field, or on a bike.  I believe that if you trace back the origins of the development of people with disabilities in athletics, Dick Traum would surely be one of the most influential pioneers.

So, while I don't work for Achilles I hope that I could be considered to be at least a small part of the team.

TTLWH: What are some of the messages of the book that you are trying to convey?

SB: Beyond hoping to pay homage to the plight of the Lost Boys of Sudan in a respectful way and trying to spread the message of Achilles, I hope to convey the value of perseverance in tough times or when trying to achieve a goal.  Along with that, I hope the story conveys the message that taking some type of constructive action towards reaching that goal or resolving a tough situation (and associating with good people) can lead to positive developments.  

The main characters in the book all faced obstacles along the way, but they continued their journey despite their losses, pain, or lack of motivation and came together as a team.  Their perseverance and collaborative efforts allowed them to accomplish something together---but even more importantly allowed them to improve and enrich their respective lives. 

Coming together with good like-minded individuals---whether it be on a running club, a team, or congregating on something like your blog can help to increase the chances of achievement and enjoyment of life. 

In the story, I have the character who coaches Adamu tell him that “perseverance in times of weakness can lead to strength.” I think it is a true statement and one of the main messages of the story.  Invariably, we will all face obstacles in running and in life, but if we persevere, and if we are fortunate to be surrounded by good people, it will lead to strength and good things.

I also hope that I was able to convey that running is a positive, constructive, and healthy activity that can serve to enrich a person's life in a very unique way---well beyond the pride of earning a medal in a race.

I view the highest point of the story not to be Adamu’s New York City Marathon achievement, but instead to be how Adamu found a way to help his friend Kirabo.  To Adamu, his marathon finish was a distant second place to the love, support, and loyalty of true friends and family.

Thanks to Stephen Balsamo for taking the time to answer my questions!

***********************************************************

Have you read the book? Do you have any questions you would have wanted him to answer?

Stay tuned for my review and the link up tomorrow! Thanks again for playing along. Here's the link up logo for your post!

Initiative

Initiative.

What a perfect word for my marathon training.

My marathon training is so different from what everyone else is doing. And I'm hearing about it. Mostly about the lower mileage I'm doing.

In the past when I trained for my first marathon, I followed a high mileage plan. I trained using a plan developed by a famous runner. And what happened? Mentally, I wasn't prepared for the distance. And I fell apart. Physically, I got through the race, but ended up with a stress fracture and battled plantar fasciitis for over a year. I never quite bounced back from that bad race. My confidence was rattled. I said I'd never do another marathon after that one. For the next couple of years, I continued to run, and I continued to battle injuries. My pace was slowing. I didn't like what was happening.

So I took the initiative, and I sought out a coach to help me get back on track. At first, I went the obvious route and talked with a running coach. But I didn't hear her say anything that sounded different from what I was already doing. I was looking for something different. And so after consulting with my friend, who owned a CrossFit box, I ended up with Becky, a CrossFit coach and corrective exercise specialist. I figured that it wouldn't be any worse than what I was already doing, right?

You know how this story ends. Last year, I let her train me for Chicago Marathon #2. The naysayers told me that I wasn't training the right way. The doubters told me I was breaking the cardinal rule of marathon training. I wasn't running a lot. There wasn't a 20 mile run on my plan. But the workouts she had me do were hard. Physically and mentally.

What's so magical about 20 miles anyways?

The naysayers are quiet now. There's more than one way to run a marathon.

I'm training for Chicago marathon #3, with my eyes on the prize. If you had told me last year that I would be running strong enough to even think about a BQ, I would have told you that you were crazy. But here I am. Back at it again. And then some.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't....

But I'm sure having fun trying. Does your marathon plan include anything besides running?

It's time to think outside the box. If your training isn't working for you, then maybe it's time to try a different approach. Stop listening to everyone else. Do what works for you. Take the initiative. Step out of your comfort zone.

Nothing great ever happens there anyways.

I'm linking this post with DebRuns, who hosts Wednesday Word. I just love stretching the limits and writing a post based on a word prompt! Be sure to check out the other posts!

Hey Sole Sister...

It's no secret. I love my sole sisters. Since starting this blog and my Facebook page, my circle of sole sisters has widened. I truly believe that my vastly improved running is due to the support of my wonderful running friends. I'm lucky to have a local group of sole sisters, whom I write about a lot. We don't see each other as often as we'd like, but we sure keep in touch. Our group chats are pretty funny. We also meet up at races and try to do lunch or dinner when we can coordinate our schedules. Even as we speak, Marcia and I keep having to reschedule our lunch date--something keeps coming up!

I also have my virtual sole sisters, the ones who live far. I've gotten to meet a few of my distance sole sisters, and I've got some big plans to meet a few more. But even though most of us haven't met, I feel like I know them well. We've shared triumphs and disappointments. We message each other on our Facebook pages, Instagram, and privately too. Last winter, when I had the problems with my son, I was touched and amazed by several of my virtual friends who reached out to me privately to share their stories and support. Ladies, it is an amazing thing we have here!

So when Gone For A Run, asked me to do the Sole Sisters 7 mile virtual run, I was really excited. I posted it on my Facebook page, and immediately, 3 of my distance friends signed up! So we are running virtually together!

I received the race packet this week, and the swag is really amazing:

Check out the medal!

I love the shoe charm!

The dates for the run are 8/28-8/30. I've got mine scheduled for 8/29. I hope you will run this one with me! Anyone who signs up and runs, I'd love it if you'd send me your finish photo so I can add it to my recap post. It's all about the sole sisters!

Are you doing this one? If you're interested, click here for more info! GFAR limits the number of entries and these races do sell out!

Marathon training week 3: KIckstart My Heart

Maybe you all read about my mini-health scare--if not you can read it here. After I got the all clear on Monday, I resumed my training with newfound vigor. I'm back, baby!

Monday: I had a 6 miler at race pace on the plan. I won't lie to you, this one was really tough. I ran on Saturday and Sunday, and this was my 3rd day in a row. I don't normally do that, but with work and CrossFit, I've had to make some adjustments. I was still really tired from that tough long run the day before. But the yoga and foam rolling I had done really helped a lot, and I was pleased with the pacing for this one on tired legs. My plantar fasciitis started to act up though. Sheesh.

Tuesday: I worked out with Becky at CrossFit. She had me do another MetCon session. This one was really fun. There was a 10 minute circuit of the slide board, pistol squats, and burpees. I had never done the slide board before, and that was a blast. I could have done that one all day! Then another circuit for 10 minutes. I had to run around the parking lot carrying a 20# medicine ball, then dumbbell snatches, and hanging knee raises (from a high bar). She wanted me to do hanging leg lifts, but my legs just don't go that way.

This is the slide board.

Wednesday: The goal pose for this class was Hanuman aka the splits aka monkey pose. We did preparatory poses throughout the class to open our hips and hamstrings. I really felt Tuesday's workout for most of the class. Forward bends were painful. I was rewarded at the end of class by doing supported Hanuman and was able to hold it while raising my hands in the air.  Of course, there was a pretzelly person in the front row who could go all the way to the floor. Not me, not in this lifetime. But I did get my hamstrings to open up. It's all good...

This is the goal. source: aboutyoga.in

Thursday: More speedwork aka mile splits x 5. Again, I was shooting for sub-8 minute miles for each mile split, and after all that great hamstring work yesterday, I got what I was looking for! Splits: 7:53, 7:56, 7:56, 7:58, 7:58.

After that I went back to see Becky for workout #2. She had me push the prowler, which is 65# with 70# plates added on, around the entire building. That was tough. I had to stop to catch my breath a few times. At one point I apologized, and she told me to do 5 punishment burpees. Apparently, apologizing at CrossFit is a bad thing. Becky did tell me that she wouldn't have been able to do it without stopping to catch her breath either. After I finished the prowler with a few more stops but no apologizing, I did tire flips with the tractor tire, knee ups, and then another round with the prowler, only this time with 50#. That was relatively easier. I went home and took shower #2. Holy. Moley.

Pushing the prowler

Punishment burpees.

Friday: Rest, glorious rest. And I found out won the lottery! Well, the Big Sur Marathon lottery! I'm in, baby! Only a runner would be excited about winning a lottery where she had to pay for her prize! This is a bucket list item for me. I have wanted to run this one before I ever ran a marathon. I also get to meet my friends Kristina from Live Laugh Love Run and Teresa, who I met on Facebook as well. I was seriously over the moon about this. I paid my entry fee to secure my entry. And now I have to put that on the back burner this while I focus on the task at hand, that Chicago marathon. But just a little sneak peak at what's to come...

I don't care how long it takes me....

Saturday: I was up before the sun to get my run in this morning. I had a 5 mile marathon paced run on the plan. I also had a full day conference that started at 8. The struggle was real. But I got it done and I was so glad I did. The sunrise was beautiful. The conference was long. But I needed the continuing education credits to keep my license. That job pays the bills. I may even have learned a few things...

Sunday: I had a bike ride on the plan. Becky never specifies anything about the bike rides. What I do with these is up to me. I like to ride about 2 hours; I feel like the bike isn't as hard as the run and 2 hours at about 15mph gives me a great endurance workout. I was really glad to have a bike ride this week. The last couple of weeks of training have been intense, and I've felt it! Not only did I get to give my feet a break--#$%& plantar fasciitis--but also my tummy, which has been giving me grief. Let's just say that I've been stopping...a lot...these days. Hopefully a couple days off the road will give everything time to calm down. 

A very humid, overcast morning. My glasses kept fogging up. No wind. Perfect conditions. 30.70 miles, 2:01:48. 

Anyways, I rode 30+ miles on this ride. The route I chose is a really pretty ride, for the most part. I ride past Arlington International Race Course, and early in the morning, I get to see the riders warming up those beautiful thoroughbreds. I never get tired of that. My route takes me through 5 suburbs, past 2 "super" churches, a very large community college, through 2 forest preserves, among other things. Most of the route is on paved bike paths, but there is some road riding. I have to cross train tracks too, which is kind of painful on my skinny tired bike! Even though it is very congested in the suburbs where I live, it's nice to find these little oases of nature. I grew up in the country, and riding takes me back to my childhood. Isn't it funny how the sounds and smells of nature can do that? 

This bike ride was a wonderful end to an amazing week of training. I'm feeling very pleased and very grateful to my coach. What a great way to train for a marathon! I was so happy with my progress this week. I hit my goals with my speedwork. Pushed through those 2 tough workouts with Becky. On Thursday, she told me how well I am doing, especially in the mental toughness department. That was huge to hear from her. What a difference this training has made for me!

Coming up:

Monday: rest

Tuesday: 8 miles at MP

Wednesday: yoga

Thursday: mile repeats x 5 and CrossFit

Friday: rest

Saturday: 5 miles at MP

Sunday: 12 miles

This week's song really pushed me during that tough speedwork session on Thursday! Back to the 80s for this one: 

How did your training go this week? Got any songs for me?

So there's a new linkup in town...Tricia from MissSissippiPiddlin' and Holly from HoHo Runs are hosting a weekend recap linkup! Be sure to linkup with them and check out all the other blogs!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

Last week, I found a lump.

I had just scheduled my annual screening mammogram. I don't regularly practice self breast exam, but somehow, I bumped my breast just right and found a hard little nodule. I have fibrocystic breasts, as my doctor likes to remind me. I've been told to "get to know my lumps". I would say that in general, I do. They're rubbery, squishy globs.

This one was different. It was a hard little ball. It kind of felt like a pebble. I called my doctor's office, and they told me I needed a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound. I called to reschedule the appointment, and was able to get one sooner. At first, I wasn't nervous about it. I've had these "scares" before, even ending up with a biopsy once. Thankfully, that lump was benign. But that was a rubbery, mobile nodule.

As time passed, I kept telling myself not to worry. I was worried. This lump was so different from anything I had ever felt before. Everything I've ever heard about breast cancer made this one very scary. It was hard. It was fixed. It wasn't painful.

I had a few days to think about all of it. Naturally, I thought about it a lot. Selfishly, I thought about how would this finding affect my marathon training. My pursuit of the mother of all goals, that sub-4 marathon?

What if I needed a biopsy? Would I still be able to train? I would be able to run, but would probably have to skip a few CrossFit sessions. Ok. I could live with that.

But what if it was malignant? What then? Could I still train for my marathon? And deal with it after the race? Would anything really bad happen in that time frame, if I waited? How selfish would it be for me to chase my dream? How stupid would it be for me to postpone treatment? Am I really that crazy? Who thinks this way?

I told myself, it's just a dream. I told myself to wait and see what the tests showed. My dream, in the big picture, means nothing to anyone but me. But what if I don't chase that dream? What if...what if...the worst happened? What if I didn't chase my dream, and I never had the chance to do it again?

You all know that I try to live my life with no regrets. Being in my 50s, I want to savor every moment of the rest of my life. I want to live fully. I want my life to be meaningful. I want to travel. I want to see my boys grow up, marry, and have families. And most important, I want to stay healthy. I work hard at the pursuit of health. Hence the name of my blog. I'm in no hurry for my life to be over.

These are the things I thought about this past week. I know that there are some things out of my control. But would you, as a runner, judge another runner on a decision like this? Would you judge anyone who had to make a tough, life changing decision?

I know.

I went for my mammogram. After the technician took the xrays, I looked at the images. I know enough to be dangerous, remember. I saw lots of tissue. I have "dense" breasts. Every time I have a mammogram, the technicians tell me that. So does my doctor. I could see the nodule. It was perfectly round, which was a really good sign. Even borders=a good thing. Seeing that, I felt more optimistic.

Then the technician told me that the radiologist wanted to ultrasound not just that breast, but both breasts. She had seen calcium deposits on the left side and wanted a better look at them. She told me clusters of calcium deposits could be a bad sign. So off to the ultrasound I went. The technician did her thing, smearing cold gel all over my chest and moving the probe over every area possible. She didn't say much. They can't. You know they know. But they can't say anything. My chest covered with gel, she left the room to get the radiologist.

I laid on the table, with my eyes closed, listening to the humming of the equipment. I felt calm. I was tired. I thought about all this again. What if, what if?

The radiologist came bouncing into the room. She wanted to take one more look at the lesion.

"It's a cyst," she proclaimed. "Nothing to worry about." And those calcium deposits? Nothing to be concerned about. She just wanted to make sure. She was new, she told me. And she wanted to be thorough. Not a problem.

She told me to come back in a year for my annual screening mammogram.

Relief washed over me. I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. I was so grateful that everything was normal. I didn't have to make any tough decisions. Life could go on.

Since then, my runs have been easier, and I've been able to push harder at CrossFit. Those little annoyances at work aren't getting under my skin. I have been waking up with a smile on my face. I feel energetic.

Take good care of yourself. Follow the recommendations of the American Cancer Society for breast cancer screening. Do your monthly breast exam. That first lump I had biopsied a few years ago? I found that one. It was not seen on the mammogram. If you are over 40, you should have an annual screening mammogram. And if you find anything unusual, call your doctor. Don't wait.

Have you ever had a health scare? How did it affect your training? 

Commitment

Have you ever DNS'd a race? Not for an injury, but just woke up one morning, and said, F---it, I'm not running?

A few years ago, I worked with a physician who was also a runner. He offered to run a 10 mile race with me. Since we worked alternating Saturdays, he pulled strings to get us both the day off, so we could run this race together. I picked up our race packets. On race day morning, it was 40 degrees and pouring rain. But knowing that I was going to meet him at the race, I didn't give it a second thought. I drove into the city and waited for him. Twenty minutes before the start, there was still no sign of him. I called him, and it was clear to me that I woke him up. He told me that he decided not to come. I hung up on him.

Who does that, not show up to a race when you've committed to someone? 

Oh, yeah, that guy.

What if that someone is yourself?

I used to be that person. Before I started running, I was that person who would call in sick at the drop of a hat. I would make plans with people and cancel at the last minute. Commitments? I wasn't good at them. Don't count on me. I used to DNS on life.

Running changed all that. I started making sure I got my runs in, and interestingly, committing to myself to run made me more reliable in other areas of my life. I went from someone that you couldn't count on to someone who was there when I said I would be.

It didn't happen overnight, but I started to notice that if I didn't get up to run, I had a bad day. I would get mad at myself for missing a run. I didn't like that feeling. And eventually, I really didn't like the feeling of letting people down. No matter what it was--work, dinner, you name it.

I especially didn't like the feeling of letting myself down. 

I can see how easy it would be to fall into the pattern of blowing off your runs. 

So many excuses:

It's cold, it's hot. 

It's raining, it's snowing. 

The baby cried all night. 

Your spouse snored all night.

Your legs are tired. 

You're tired.

Your tummy is funky. 

Your feet hurt. 

You have to work early in the morning. 

You worked late last night. 

You had too much to drink. 

You had too much to eat.

You just don't feel like going.

And in case you were wondering, yep, I've had all these reasons not to run.

But I get up and go. It's not always easy. In fact, most often it's a tough sell. I push myself out the door. I push myself through a dark run, tough run, a tough workout. I've run before the sun. In the bitter cold of winter, in the blazing heat of summer. I've outrun skunks and coyotes. I've dodged lightning bolts, and I've run in a blizzard. It's not always picture perfect and it's not always fun. I've tripped over cracks in the sidewalk. Dodged into the trees to take care of nature's call. But I don't quit. I finish what I've started. 

Because I've made a commitment.

To myself. 

I don't ever want to be that person again. 

I don't want to be that person that you can't count on. 

I don't want to be a quitter.

If I can't count on myself, who can?

Have noticed the positive effects of running in other areas of your life? 

I'm linking up with DebRuns who hosts this awesome Wednesday Word linkup! This week's word is Commitment. Make sure you check out what everyone else says about commitment!