Death Valley Marathon

We head out today to run the annual Death Valley Marathon on Sat., Dec 2. www.envirosports.com/events/displayevent.php?eventid=1611 Ahh, 26.2 scenic miles through lovely Death Valley. Well, maybe not so lovely, but it is definitely an awe inspiring place. I have run across the length of it twice now while competing in the annual Badwater 135 http://www.badwater135/ . 135 miles of running on asphalt, in July, from Badwater, 282 ft below sea level, to the Mt. Whitney portals at roughly 8,600 ft. Why? Because it's there of course. It is an extremely challenging race but what an empowering achievement once completed. Tomorrow will just be a little stroll down memory lane. A chance to ponder how totally alive I felt in a valley named after Death. Hmmm...Interesting. It's hard to believe that my passion for running ridiculous distances all started with my meat head buddies in the gym saying, "Dude, you can't run. You're too big and bulky." I replied, "Yes I can. I just choose not too." And then actually thinking to myself that maybe I couldn't run. I didn't like the thought of not being able to do something. So I grabbed my old worn out pair of Chuck T's and hit the pavement. And just like Forrest Gump, I kept runnin' and runnin'. Hopefully this will inspire of few of ya to dust off those running shoes and do the same. "Life is about the journey, not the destination." Have a great weekend!