It was 6 am on November 1, 2013 when it started. It had rained the day before, and I went to run to my car as I left work and I could not break a trot. I knew that something had to change if I wanted any kind of extended life. So I told Cathy that I wanted to start running, so I went to the Nike store and to get me some proper running shoes.

She had news too. Her day had not been good either. There was a meeting held in her clinic to tell the nurses that the clinic would be closing by Thanksgiving. We knew it was coming. They marched the clinic director out as if she were a criminal back in July. But the hospital had given the same treatment to 200 of her peers that day as well. The Medical Center was preparing for the new realities of a reduced payment structure they were facing due to Obamacare. In fact, in some ways, the announcement on that Halloween day was a relief. Now we knew. No more going to work with a pall hanging over her head as to what was going to happen. We now knew. We had to check our options. They say that there is no such thing as age discrimination. “They” have never looked for a job in their mid-fifties. Why hire a nurse with 30+ years of high level, advanced certifications and experience when you can get a recent graduate for a whole lot cheaper?

So I stood outside my front door, with all the weight of my family on my shoulders, wearing my new shoes, jeans, and a cotton t-shirt. I hit the start button on my Nike app on my iPhone and proceeded with my first “run”. My goal was to run a block – a rather lofty goal. Did not make it, either. Walked an awful lot that morning, and then it came over my headphones. I had traversed 2.02 miles in 38 minutes and 30 seconds.

Here are my stats from that day…

• 1 k – 11:33
• 1 mile – 18:34

Today, a year later, I joined with my training group and ran 7 miles. It was a day of personal bests.

• Fastest 1 k – 4 minutes 48 seconds
• Fastest 1 mile – 9 minutes 38 seconds
• Fastest 5 k. (3.11 miles) –  38 minutes 12 seconds
• Fastest 10 k  (6.22 miles) –  1 hour, 22 minutes 36 seconds
• Longest run – 1 hour 34 minutes 47 seconds
• Furthest run – 7 miles

I have learned a lot about running over this past year.

• Jeans are not the best clothes to wear in a run – but neither is anything cotton.
• Shoes matter – a lot.
• Do not let the weather control you – you control how you respond to the weather.
• You are going to have good days and bad days.
• You are in it for the long haul – so take care of yourself.
• Pay attention to your body’s rhythms.

I don’t know how much farther I can keep up this running thing.  I have paid my entrance fee to run the half marathon on March 1, 2015.  I never dreamed that I could do this at 58 years old (after never doing this or any athletic program for that matter).  However, I praise God for this year.