Real Deal Running

Yesterday, a friend of mine who Ive know for the better part of 16 years ran his longest distance to date. It wasn't the distance itself that was impressive, it was the fact that it was his longest distance to date. Never mind the fact that he recently quit smoking, has been working out, and has lost a bunch of weight, he was now seeing the potential he has to accomplish bigger distances. As a runner, it was a very heady moment seeing someone else understand what it is to want these kind of goals and then chip away at them mile by mile. I thought back to the days when I too was excited by the accomplishment of 6 miles. When it was your longest run you felt like you owned the world after it. The fact that I had run 13 miles that morning was of no significance to the conversation. The real milestone for the day was 6. He was a king among men. His plan is to work up to running the Burlington Marathon with his fiance as relay. This is the goal out ahead of him. 13 miles and running into the finish line of a marathon. If that feeling does change your life, I'm not sure what will. Way to go buddy. Way. To. Go.