I’m overweight, (a LOT lighter than a few years ago, but still according to the old BMI, overweight), pushing 70, stiff a lot, especially in the morning, and yet, I actually have the stones to consider myself a runner…why is that?

Well, I run…just about every other day. Now “running” does have a wide meaning…mostly my miles per minute time is around mid 16 mph to mid 17 mpm…many people actually walk faster than that, of course, my legs are short (as am I) and after my hip replacements I promised my surgeon I’d never again lift both feet off the ground at the same time, so that does limit things a bit…not an excuse for time, just a bite of the reality apple.

More than that I actually enjoy it…so my definition of a “runner” is someone who wakes up, checks the forecast, looks out the window and sets aside a time to lace up and get out…example: today…

Sunday morning is always taken up with a glorious 3 hours of music courtesy of Fred Migliore and FMOdyssey, and that is always accompanied by Bloody Marys….so today I wanted to get out ahead of that, however the weather was not cooperative…it was raining sideways most of the morning and promised to do the same most of the day…I was edgy as I really didn’t want to miss a “scheduled” run…Luckily (and yes, after the bloodys)…the rain stopped and it seemed as if I’d get a break…I laced up, and out I went with the plan to get about 20 or 25 minutes in…We have a great 5 mile trail that runs along side a very busy road and it’s sheltered from the worst of the winds so I took off on that…and guess what I did almost 35 minutes, and it felt great….so yes, folks, this old man, ambling about in SC is officially calling himself a bona fide runner!! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it…