Thanks for the memories

It was just about a year ago that I was lamenting over what a terrible running year 2007 was for me, that was until I received a gift that seemed to put the whole year in perspective. I ended 2007 by writing,

I can now look forward to 2008 and all that it holds for me and I look at 2007 a little differently than before. Go out and make 2008 your masterpiece.

Well, check and mate on that one. This year has been a dream for me, from a running perspective. Lots of memorable runs, a couple of half marathons and some great conversations over breakfast with my favourite running buddies helped to make 2008 so memorable.

But even with all the foot-strikes, all the hill climbs, and all the miles, my most memorable moment of 2008 had nothing to do with me. One of the greatest moments of my life took place on a chilly day in May watching my fellow Club members come home from a 13.1 mile journey through the streets of Halifax, an incredible feat for sure. The smiles were wide, the tears were flowing, the emotion was unbridled. It was a day, an experience, a life-changing moment never to be forgotten.

And as we close out 2008, I know many of my heroes from that Halifax finish line have signed-up for their first full marathon in 2009, an experience that won't just change their lives, but rather define them.

We all have so much to look forward to. Raise your bar. Leave your comfort zone. Demand more.

Happy New Year and thanks for the memories!

Cool Sundays

There's something cool about being in a running club made up of your co-workers and a few of their relatives.

It's cool for two reasons. One being that employees of our workplace have made a commitment to fitness and healthier living, but even more noteworthy is the fact that when we get together on Sunday mornings, we run, encourage, cheer-on, applaud, high-five and hug each other, before sitting down for a little face-to-face over coffee, a moment that never involves discussing our workplace -- we leave all that out, and appropriately so.

Once a week, we take the biggest thing we have in common, our employer, and shove it aside to discuss running memories from the past, goals for the future, Christmas gifts and most recently the correct usage of the terms "ballistic" and "incongruent".

Our Club lets us connect with each other on a level we wouldn't quite get to without the heavy breathing and the odd instance of shin splints. And as much as I love to run, the real highlight of my Sunday is sitting down with these souls and hearing what they have to say. Oh, and the breakfast is usually pretty good too.

It has been another incredible year for our Club. We set many goals and methodically smashed every one of them only to set even loftier ones. So let me say thanks to my running buddies for sticking with it and making Sundays the best day of my week. I live for Sundays and I know some of them do to.

Run for your life.