The End

I figure I may as well finish my story of how I got back to running.  It really is kind of long and there were many stops and starts.  After a few years in business for myself, I was crazy busy.  If you want an idea of what it was like, then read The E Myth by Michael Gerber.  It is a good book which explains what many business owners go through and why many fail.  Basically a lot of people get into a business because they are good at something and they love doing it.  Then they discover that there are many hats to wear and the business side is not what they like.  In my case, I liked to build stuff.  I loved to build stuff.  I hated dealing with some of the paperwork, making sure the employees were doing what they were supposed to and really most things other that building, selling and designing.  The selling part was easy, because when you love something, you aren't really selling.  You just tell people what you do and they either want it or they don't.  That was my way, anyway.  Want a kitchen?  Okay.  Don't want it.  Okay too.  When you love what you do, you expect the people around you to love what they do.  Not everyone does.  So, I was knee deep in cabinets and stressed.  I started smoking some.  First it was one or two a day.  Then it was more.  Then it was like a pack a day.  For like 6 months.  I put on weight as well.  So weird to be that active and gain weight.  I was on my feet all day.  Building, installing...working.  But, I would eat a lot and I guess I would smoke.  I hate to say that, because I still say that I was not a smoker.  I would only do it at work.  Never at home and never anywhere other than work.  Did not crave them when I was not at work.  So, I was not a smoker, right?  Wrong.  I was.  I was not doing much athletically and my knee was getting worse.  I was doing what I loved work wise, but it was driving me crazy.

In 2007, I found out that The Lance Armstrong Foundation would sponsor 5k's in local communities.  My mom was at the tail end of her treatment for breast cancer.  I remember the day I found out she had breast cancer.  I had my truck loaded with cabinets and two of my employees when I got the call from her.  It was a normal day, until she called.  "Bob, I have cancer."  Matter of fact it was.  It hit me hard.  I didn't know what to say.  I probably told her I loved her and then I got in the truck and went to the job.  I told my guys and they asked if I was okay.  I'm like, guys, what can I do?  It is not about me, it is about her and we need to work.  I really remember that day like it was yesterday.  Anyway, I wanted to sponsor a 5k through the LAF.  On the website it also showed how you can sign up for a marathon and raise money for cancer research.  Being the level headed and non-impetuous person that I am, I thought about it for about 30 seconds and signed up.  I was in the New York Marathon, with the LAF and fundraising all in one fell swoop.  Forget the couch to 5k plan, I was in the couch to marathon plan.  I could barely run around the block and my knee was gimpy.  The training was rough.  I did a run/walk plan at first until I could run more than I could walk.  I did miles that I never thought I would ever want to.  When I say that, it was nowhere near what I do now.  5 miles was monumental, then six.  My knee hurt.  Then my ankle would act up.  I won't bore you or me with all the details.  It was a long haul, but somewhere along the way my knee started feeling better.  That is why if you ask me for my honest opinion, I'm going to say that exercise cures most everything.  Stress, depression, weight, smoking, pain.  At least for me it does.  I will also tell you that you should be careful, but I personally have doubts when people say they can't run.   I think most things can be overcome if you set your mind to it. I also learned that life itself is a marathon and not a sprint.  Stuff does not come easy.  But there is always someone who has it worse.  Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself, those are the people I think of and I tell myself to shut the hell up.

I'm ending it here, because this serious stuff is not my bag, baby.  That is phase one of my return to running.  There's more.