Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog: Why I run

Goal Weight: 195 lbs.

Today’s Weight: 208 lbs.

Our dog Banjo’s diabetes flared out of control last night. His blood sugar spiked, meaning he constantly wanted to drink, pee and vomit. And when I wasn’t dealing with him (we tag teamed), I was awake thinking about my brother-in-law Adam (who is suffering from ALS) and my sister Stephanie.  All and all, my wife and I only slept three hours — and most of it in thirty-minute intervals.  When I did sleep, I had nightmares about my job.  Around 3:30 a.m., she said, “you should skip your run and sleep another hour.”

I told her no.

I had to run this morning. Heck, I already knew I was going to be exhausted. There is no way around it — I have 12 hours of work ahead of me on no sleep.  But I knew that if I didn’t get out there and get the run in, I wouldn’t be able to handle whatever today throws at me.  I had to have the endorphins. My time out pounding pavement in the neighborhood is my Prozac. My Xanax. My Celexa. My Valium. I had to get my 4.5 miles in.  I had to conquer the hills. I had to release my fear, my anger and my frustration. My lungs had to burn. My legs had to ache.

Banjo is going to the vet. I pray they can get his blood sugar under control. He is my best bud and losing him right now would hurt beyond words. I pray work is OK –it’s in God’s hands now.  And I hope I get some sleep eventually. My schedule over the next month involves a lot of travel.  But no matter what, I will keep exercising.  It’s to me what spinach is to Popeye. It gives me strength during impossible situations.

And that’s why I run.