Yes, there is Suffering and Disappointment in Eden (The Hainesport Endurance Run)

As I sat down to rest and hydrate about nine hours into my 24 hour endurance run. I put aside my own battle with the heat and sun, and took in the scene of the Hainesport Endurance Run.  There was peppy rock music playing in the background, race volunteers just fifty feet from my camp cheering on the runners as they were completing another mile loop. They were also providing food, Gatorade, and water. Runners passed by me, some very fast as they were competing in a 48 hour world championship and some just walking. Most runners were not competing for a championship but like me, were competing against themselves.

Most of the runners had a crew consisting of either a spouse, friends, or family that offered them physical and emotional support, both of which is greatly appreciated by the runners. I looked across the path at another runner’s camp and he was just sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket staring at nothing. He was in a battle between his mind and his body. I had watched him over the hours and his body had broken down. At first he was laying down, with his wife using a roller on his leg muscles.  Then just laying prone on the ground. At one point he got up and while talking to other runners and crew looking like was going rise from the dead and start running or at least walking. Now though he was a zombie and his wife who had been so attentive was now in her own chair letting him contemplate his next move. I knew, and his wife knew, that his race was over, but for a runner to say it to themselves is painful. He had probably trained hard and had high hopes of a great race. However things do not always go according to plan and it is not pleasant when everything comes crashing down.

Then there was me. I was not suffering but I was disappointed. I didn’t know if it was my training, the heat, lack of crew, poor strategy, or a poor night’s sleep the days before but the miles were not accumulating as much as they should have. I had done over eighty miles in a 24 hour run on trails before so a 24 hour run on flat paved surfaces should be easier but it was not. What really was the problem was that all those things occurred because of a lack of focus on the event. Usually when an ultra-marathon race comes around, I circle it on my calendar and begin to focus not just my training but my mind. This race however I registered late and was distracted by my work. Sometimes if I am not careful I let my professional career get in the way of my running.

Yet despite my deep disappointment and weariness, I couldn’t think of a better place to be. I find that the ultra-marathon scene especially a looped run is my Garden of Eden. I know that when most people picture a place with Eden-like qualities they are thinking of sitting in a beach chair with an umbrella drink by their side, or floating in a pool or lagoon on a raft doing nothing. Not me! Let me have a place in which I am beating myself up and even the top elite runners suffer.

The atmosphere at an ultra is filled with determination, energy, enthusiasm, inspiration and much more. Yes there is also pain, suffering, and disappointment but they only make you appreciate the positives even more. Not only that you are in a large group of runners, crew, and volunteers who are at their best cheering each other on. There is a sense of community as well. It is impossible in my mind not to get caught up in the enthusiasm when you are surrounded by people all pushing themselves to their limits.

Let me give you some short examples.

There was a woman who was blind who was doing the 24 hour course. She had a team of volunteers alongside her the whole time guiding her. I know that her presence alone made me go extra loops.

There was a woman walking the course just trying to go the longest distance in her life. This is something that I can almost guarantee you happens at every race someone pushing themselves to a personal record. I was also impressed that she did much of this while reading a book.

There was the Canadian woman Viktoria who won the woman’s 48 Hour Race who was running with a mask because of her asthma.

I mentioned the community feel at these events. While stopping for refreshments and talking to volunteer we talked about other race venues like NJ Trail Series run by Rick and Jennifer as well as the Roosevelt Forest series put on by Lou. We ultra-runners gravitate to the same races and you begin to see many familiar faces. I said to one volunteer that we are a “small community” and he respond “maybe a little crazy community”. I said but a “happy and nice community.”

That brings me to the race directors. They are like a host of a party who make sure all their guests enjoy themselves. While the race director tries to take care of all the racers needs with food, water, trails that are well marked, and plenty of volunteers they also have a side that wants their guests to go all out. At this race Venessa, the race director did an outstanding job. I thanked her as I would thank someone for hosting a party. Though, in this “party” I was running for over 21 hours. Yet she had done a great job because I began to scouring her website to find other races that she put on and I could fit into my schedule.

Late into the night I notice the runner across the path had packed up and left. Yet I believe that even though his race had been miserable and painful, that he did not regret entering the event. That is because at events like this besides the great supportive and positive community, and positive energy surrounding you find one more thing. You find out more about yourself. Like I said I believe that all the runners are really competing against themselves. You find out how much determination you have. You may also find out what you are capable of. Even on bad days when you are hurting physically and maybe even mentally, you find out more about yourself. Then on those days when you accomplish your goal on a run the high is unbelievable. You do not find any of these things out however unless you try.

Take it from me while sitting by a pool side with an umbrella drink is relaxing you can’t get those other feelings of satisfaction about yourself that you get from an ultra-run.

Sometimes Your Mental Grit Needs a Little Help

I think it was about mile 60 or 65 of my 30 Hour, 100 Mile Race called the Forbidden Forest when the idea for this blog came to me. Except at that moment, the title was going to be something along the lines of Showing Mental Grit in Failure. I had a major setback in the wee hours of the night after my crew had left for a well-earned rest. At first in the evening things were going well and I was completing my loops and was on pace to finish with time to spare and get to test my theory on the power of the mind.

At last year’s race I had finished with time to spare and could have finished another lap.  Yet when I went into my last loop, the energy from my body seemed to drain and I “settled” for the 100 mile finish.  I had been strong up to that point but knowing that I had my “100 Mile Buckle” my mind gave out before the body. For this race I wanted to see if I added one more lap to my goal if would my mind stay strong doing an extra lap.

After midnight, I had other mental grit issues to worry about. Like “Could mental grit defeat digestive issues in an ultra-marathon?”  My early opinion was that it was no match. When you are throwing up it is not “mind over matter”, especially when the matter is coming out of your mouth.

It had been an extremely hot and muggy day and I could see that many of the runners were struggling. I know it was getting to me. It was most definitely getting to my stomach. While I could easily hold down my fluids and fresh fruit (consisting of grapes, watermelon, and strawberries), I was having a harder time with the proteins.  They did not taste right but somehow in small portions I could take them. My crew, which consisted of my daughter Lisa, my wife Patty, my niece Anna and my friend Anthony, were constantly trying to get me to take in calories. (I should add that it was by far the best crew at the race! They helped not only me, but Dave, who was another friend running the race, in addition to several other runners. (Which means that I should have listened better to them)

I could feel my energy ebb after midnight and knew I had to consume more calories. I decided to take my time and try to eat slowly and stop more often. This was time consuming, but I believed in the long run (pun intended) that it would help. My plan was falling apart, as was my race. With each stop I could barely get down any solid food down except fresh fruit. As I was eating a small thin slice of chicken, my stomach revolted completely and I hurled! I was completely out of sorts. I decided to take a nap which lasted about 40 minutes to ease my body.

My mental grit was being tested. I was completely alone! Even Dave and Anthony were gone. Dave had pulled out of the race after a bad fall and Anthony was taking care of him.

Somehow, at 4AM I started running again but I had lost a lot of time. My legs felt strong but I had limited energy because I had not eaten. I would try and hold on until my crew arrived. I started eating fruit just to keep me going. I sent a desperate text to my wife and niece that I was not in great shape and if they could bring chicken soup. In my poor state of mind however, I forgot to hit send.

I was doing the math in my head about how many miles I had left and how much time I had to get to 100 miles. While my math skills diminished precipitously with each mile I ran, I soon realized that while it was possible to finish my goal, I had a lot of work to do. I needed to get miles in before my crew started to arrive at around 7:30AM.  I was hoping to get to 70 miles by 7:00AM. That would leave me seven and a half hours to do a 50k.  Which I normally could do easily, but this would be my third 50k in a row so I was not sure how it would go.

I decided that no matter what, I would keep going. If I didn’t get the 100 miles so be it. It just wasn’t my day.  I was listing my excuses as I ran: the heat affected me, I had digestive issues, other runners were dropping out. In fact, I saw many runners packing up. I thought I would just ease up and get between 80-90 miles. I was not only fighting the heat and terrain, but I was fighting myself. I had always prided myself on my grit and determination and even other runners would complement me on my determination. I liked to think of myself as somewhat of a badass. Yet the fire was not blazing now. It was more like hot embers with no flame.

I needed my crew but was a little nervous to see them because before they had left I was going strong but I had lost my confidence. A badass is always confident. The first to arrive were Anthony and Dave. Anthony  as usual, was beaming with positivity but I was trying to be realistic. It was good however to have his positive energy.

Next came my daughter Lisa and her boyfriend PJ, Patty, and my niece Anna. Anna was going to pace me. I was a little worried about that because she was just recovering from a severe leg injury and she was not used to running on trails. I had twenty-five miles to cover and plenty of time, if I was fresh. I was not fresh. I kept saying it is going to be close and that I may not do it. Anna was positive and said let’s not think about that let’s just run and see what happens. I had seen how she had talked to her own kids about issues and her tone and calmness with me was pretty much how she would address a pouty nine-year old.

My pace with her was slightly faster and to make up time I said I would run two loops and then stop. She was very attentive to my pace and discussed what I would need at the next stop. As I mentioned, Anna was recovering from a serious leg injury and had never run more than seven miles so I only expected her to do one or two of the 2.23 mile loops. My wife and I kept asking her if she wanted to go again and she said yes. She ended up running 19 miles with me!

We were having great conversations ranging from why we run, to my children, to her social life as a single parent. The more we ran together the stronger and better I felt. She would communicate with the crew when we came in. Anthony would pop in as well joining us with his never-ending energy. It seemed like he was the unofficial pacer for half the runners. I know that he personally got several runners to the finish line.

Then along our run while I was passing people we came upon Kate who was a few laps ahead of me and she was walking. She had it the bag though. She said she thought she only had to do 43 laps but found out it really 44 and was a bit bummed.  “What! I thought I had to do 45 loops!” I said to myself, now there was a glimmer of hope. I picked my pace. If I was not going to get to 44 loops I would get as close as possible.

I was the only one running hard. Most of the runners had either finished the run or were taking victory laps, and some knew the 100 miles was not possible. Their fates were sealed. Mine was not. I had to do my fastest pace since the beginning of the race. After 90 miles in the humid weather this was not easy physically or mentally.  Yet the attitude of the crew kept my dream alive despite my tamping of their enthusiasm. My time with Anna also brought back my mental grit and I was not going to miss the 100 miles without giving an all-out effort.

When I finished loop 41, the timer* yelled out to me that “I had to average 33 minutes a loop to do it.” At that point I decided to go for broke. I left Anna behind.   When I completed the 43^rd lap the timer in a state of shock yelled “That was 26 minutes! Wow!” I looked up and saw that I had a little over an hour left to finish the last loop.  Plenty of time.

I could feel that my body was near its limits with the heat, the mileage, and the high speed. Anthony was with me for most of the last lap but then we came upon a limping runner on her last lap. I went on alone because I wanted to finish strong and she needed his help more than me. I did not need someone to motivate me at this point I was so determined to finish. About a third of a mile from the finish Anna was on the trail.  I was flying (flying is a relative term at this point) on this part of the trail and she tried to get ahead of me to warn the crew that I was coming. I slowed down a bit so they could all get to the finish line but they had little time.

When I crossed the finish line, I collapsed. I had never run so hard before after so many miles. I even stated to my crew “That it may have been the hardest thing I had ever done.” I had never had to run my hardest at the end of an ultra to beat a time clock.

Mike, who was a fellow runner from Massachusetts who we had all befriended said to me “Man you had fire in your eyes. I wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley!” Yes, I had a fire in my eyes but it was through the help of Anna, Anthony and the whole crew that took those smoldering embers of determination and grit and turned it into a blaze.

I learned some valuable lessons on this run about mental grit.

First, I had always thought that mental grit meant persevering and moving forward and fighting through the obstacles such as the weather and the terrain. It was a fixed amount, but I found out on this race it fluctuates.  It rises and sinks depending on the conditions and sometimes certain conditions start to drain your determination.

Second, having the right supportive people around you makes a difference and can help restore your determination. My crew and especially Anna really refocused me to the task at hand.

Anna was with me during my down period, when I had some doubt as to whether I was going to be able to do this. She observed my transformation. She remarked: “Isn’t it amazing what you can achieve when you go all out?” Yes it is!!  It is even more amazing when you have people like her, my wife, Lisa, PJ, Anthony, Dave and our new friend Mike believing in you. It is funny, my first thought about this blog was about going all out and failing. Even if I had not made it I still realize how lucky I am. I am surrounded by people who truly believe in me and who nurture my determination and grit.

Third and maybe most important. The test of your grit is when you are at your lowest. For me it was at 4AM when I was alone and knew that I my body was in trouble and I probably was not going to make it. My fire was not burning but I still had some smoldering embers so it was not out and I decide to keep moving. That decision helped set up the strong finish.

As Anna said Isn’t it amazing what you can achieve when you go all out?” sometimes you may even surprise yourself.

*The timer came up to me after I finished and said “I lied to you. You didn’t need to average 33 minutes to make it, but closer to 38-39 minutes. I wanted to push you. He also said “at your pace you have time for another lap!” He was right but just like last year my mind had given out so I was done. I guess I proved my point.

World's best crew.

Running with Guilt and Butterflies

It was a couple of days after I had finished running the length of New Jersey from the top, the High Point Monument in the Northwest corner of the state, to the Cape May Lighthouse in the Southeast an almost two hundred mile journey. I was pretty proud of myself. After all not too many people could accomplish that feat especially at the age of 62. Yet it was not lost on me that my crew team was lead by Ian Hockley. Ian had become a good friend and I loved him like a brother but I wish I had never met him and that I didn’t know him. Ian’s son Dylan was one of the twenty students lost in the Sandy Hook school shooting. I met him through work when he was a keynote speaker at our convention. This uneasy feeling rose up again after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. School shootings are senseless acts of violence.

Yet I can’t shake the pangs of guilt I have about enjoying my run and sharing laughs and even a drink with Ian knowing the relationship is all built on a senseless death. Even my running partner for the New Jersey run, Anthony, was built on school shootings. I did not know Anthony but a mutual friend Tom introduced us. Tom and I had collaborated numerous times on school security programs for school districts to prepare them for a school shooting.

My achievement and joy was in many ways built on senseless deaths of students. I know if I had the power I would trade my achievement away to bring back the lives of any students or teachers who were victims in a school shooting.

Robb Armstrong, Ian Hockley, myself, and Anthony Certa before starting our New Jersey Run.

In a conversation with a reporter before the run it was brought up that I was attempting something that few people could do. I acknowledged that fact, but added “That is true but Ian is doing something that I don’t think I could do. He is taking his pain and anger and focusing his energy on building something positive for kids.” I am not sure I could do that if it was my son or daughter that was killed so tragically. I like to think that I would but I am not sure. I could easily direct my energy on issues that anger me. What he is doing is more amazing.

Like a lot of runners I will regularly run for a charity. This run was also a fundraiser for Ian’s charity Dylan’s Wings of Change. They do social emotional learning programs in schools trying to improve a schools climate and culture.

As I ponder my conflicting feelings I thought of the mantra that governs Dylan’s Wings of Change. It is the Butterfly Effect. Which is how just small changes can accumulate with massive effect. Like a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane winds across the world.  It was inspired by Dylan’s mom seeing him flapping his arms when he was young and asking him what he was doing. He said that he was a butterfly.

While Dylan’s Wings of Change focuses on kids, the Butterfly Effect goes beyond kids. It effected me there is no way I could have finished or even attempted the run without Ian and Anthony not to mention Robb who is also affiliated with Dylan’s Wings of Change. So that small boy flapping his wings many years ago led to a 62 year old man pushing himself to his limits and running 196 miles.

Even during the run I felt the Butterfly Effect.  Friends, family, and even strangers came out to cheer Anthony and I on. They also donated to Dylan’s Wings of Change. They liked the idea that an individual was pushing himself to his limits for a good and positive cause. One woman even said that to me at a crowd that was gathered to greet us. “It was so good to see something so positive and uplifting.” I think that she was also alluding to the negative news that seems to all around us these days.

It was a bit overwhelming emotionally when you are feeling the power of the Butterfly Effect. The last few miles of the journey, I was very ineffectively trying to hold back tears.

It is also very overwhelming emotionally to observe another school shooting on the news. It also saddens me that our government seems incapable and some might even say unwilling to do anything about it. What can an individual do in this situation especially when the government is inept?

We can start small.  The Butterfly Effect does not demand large acts but small acts of kindness and positive energy. In our own community, we can start something that improves the climate and culture of our local schools. Obviously making all our kids having a safe space is important and maybe if we can prevent one troubled youth to seek help that will make a huge difference.

I also find that when a group of people start practicing acts of kindness it tends to build on itself and multiply to others. So, I do not see any downside to spreading kindness. Ian has modeled this by enriching students and adults lives, including mine with his relentless positive actions.

I know that for some reason mentioning anything to do with gun reform is a nonstarter for some people, but I am sure everyone would want a system that keeps guns out of the hands of people with mental and emotional problems.

If we all do a little, maybe we can prevent even unknowingly a senseless act of violence. In a strange way, it might be the only time preventing future friendships is a good thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Old and Tired Man went for a Reluctant Run and Came Back Young and Energized

It was a tiring week of work with long hours and meetings at night with a lot of driving. The pandemic felt like history and I was back on the hamster wheel going full speed at work. I was so tired both mentally and physically that I had taken an extra day off from my morning running routines.  As I woke that Friday morning, I was exhausted. In fact, I was not really awake, I was more in a walking stupor.  I looked at the clock and knew I had time to get in a good run before work but I was not feeling in the mood. I was contemplating taking another “rest” day.  What really seemed appealing to me was sitting in my chair with a cup of coffee scrolling through my phone. After all, I had put in a lot of hours this week, I deserved to do nothing at all. It was time to recharge my batteries. I not only did not want to run but I was not very enthusiastic about going to work either.

I however have an obsessive habit of charting my runs and hate to have too many blank days so I compromised with the two entities battling in my brain.  I would just do a short run of four miles. Even though this was a day, I should do at least twice that distance.  I reluctantly put on my running gear and headed out the front door.  I live at the top of the hill so the first three quarters of a mile is mostly downhill which should make for an easy start but I was not feeling it, but I trudged on. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I needed to get some miles in.

A strange and funny thing happened as I was running by the lake in my neighborhood at mile two.  Almost exactly at the moment my Garmin vibrated that I was at mile two I noticed that my lethargy was completely gone and my somewhat dour disposition was replaced with a more positive almost euphoric mindset. I continued on past the lake in which I was a member, and when I got to the turn to at which I would veer and start my return back home for a four mile run I flew by it and headed in the opposite direction which was the route up and downhills for my eight plus mile run.

As I came upon the end of the road with only a left turn to make that would take me back home for an eight and a half mile run I didn’t want to stop so I turned right.  That would leave me with an eleven mile run and barely enough time to get to work on time. I was okay with pushing it and leaving only minutes to get to work because I was no longer the same tired and unenthusiastic person who left my house.  I was energetic and actually looking forward to doing my work. That was until my cellphone rang and it was my boss so I had to take the call even though it was before I started work. (I will admit that I debated answering the phone and may not have answered it if I was only a mile from home but I still had almost four miles left so I answered it.) In any case I dealt with the issue and finished an eleven mile run.

Yet that eleven mile run did not tire me one bit. It actually energized me. I was also enthusiastic about my work and had a great day at work.  That run had changed my entire day. While I am an avid runner, to a small degree I had taken running for granted. It was just part of my fitness routine but this run reminded me that exercise and running provide more than just fitness they affect my mood and my energy. It actually makes me a better employee. (I am thinking of asking my association to fund my race entry fees as professional development! Which led to this humorous blog)

The following day my sister called and I knew that her work, like mine, was crazy and she was putting in long hours this month.  As she talked, I could not only feel her exhaustion over the phone but I also sensed that her goal was just to make it through the week. As we talked about our crazy work schedules, she admitted how tired she was. She finally said to me “I don’t know how you can do all those events (races and runs) with your work?”   I was going to respond that “I can do all those things because I run.” but just remained quiet and listened. That was my role in this conversation.

While to a nonrunner like my sister, who lives a busy life, adding in a running or any exercise routine into their schedule may seem exhausting.  It is actually the opposite.  It adds energy and positivity to your day.  You find a way to fit your run (It can be any exercise not just running.) because without it you are tired.

I realized that my exhaustion and tiredness that week was not physical in nature.    No, it was more a mental exhaustion. Though, it had definitely slowed me down physically. I had made a mistake earlier in the week by taking an “extra” rest day from my runs. I had acted like a nonrunner and sat on my butt mindlessly surfing the internet. The break from my running routine had only added to my weariness.

A few days later, I was at a meeting featuring a speaker on mental health and dealing with stress. During the presentation, she stressed the importance of self-care. Then to my surprise, she stated that she knew I was a good example of someone who practiced self-care through my running. I had never told her I was a runner but we were friends on Facebook so she saw my running posts. I had never looked at running as self-care but after that one morning run and the conversation with my sister, it made sense. There are numerous studies that confirm this but it is always better to experience things first hand than just read about them.

Despite knowing this is self-care, it is not always easy taking that first step out the door, especially on a cold day. Yet the man who comes back after a run is always a happier, more energetic and positive man than the one who took that first step. I am positive I am not the only runner who feels that way.

Tax Breaks and Workplace Benefits for Runners is Good Government Policy

One morning at the end of a long week at work, I was dragging, and almost eschewed my morning run but I forced myself out the door and did it.  By the time, I got back to my front door I was a new man.  I had my energy back as well as my enthusiasm and I attacked my work with new vigor.  In fact, while I was running I solved a few work issues in my head and was eager to accomplish them. I was a bit irked that during my run I was solving work issues on my own time, without any compensation from my employer. That was when the first inkling of the idea that running was not just a personal fitness activity but that it affected my performance at work as well. It actually made me a better employee and that maybe I should be financially compensated for my running? 

No matter what your job is, there is training involved.  Professional development is oftentimes required.  Frankly much of it is a waste of time and does little to improve our productivity at work. If my runs or races were defined as job related I could be compensated for them?

The idea of my employer viewing my races as professional development had a lot of merit. (At least to me it did.)  I however needed to really flesh the idea out and look at it from all perspectives not just my own selfish interests (and the self interest of my fellow runners) .  So I did what I would do to develop any great idea – I went for a run.  That run did it and more! I came up with this three point plan that will get America’s economy humming, improve workplace teamwork, make Americans healthier, and even improve family life.  I am now making room in my den for my Nobel Peace Prize. Now I know that some of you are snickering and are very doubtful of my idea but I just ask that read it first, along with the rationale then you can criticize it.

All Employers Should Reimburse Runners for their Races – As any runner can attest running makes you a happier person with more energy and enthusiasm. I am sure that like me, other runners have had their runs renew their energy and enthusiasm not just at home but at work. Finishing a race brings this energy and enthusiasm to another level so it should be considered professional development. Think about how much better your work relationships would be if we ran together.  It would increase our productivity.

We all know that for all of those useless sessions and online classes you have taken at work, you have to sign in to attendance sheets or if online answer questions and submit the results. This is to verify that you took the course.  Now I am big on verification and do not want just any run counted as professional development, it needs to be a sanctioned race.   For our race verification the employee would be required to wear the race t-shirt and their finisher medal to work. If your boss wants you to turnkey your experience they could ask you to recap your race which I know all runners could do easily.

I am a fiscal conservative so this reimbursement should be limited to twelve races, one a month.

Health Plans Should Cover Running Watches and Other Running Gear – Many current health plans give discounts and other incentives as part of their “wellness” push, if you join a fitness center.  The obvious incentive is that numerous studies prove that exercise leads directly to better health. While I have nothing against fitness centers, they are not for everyone. What about those of us who run on our own? We deserve something as well. So I propose that the healthcare plans cover the purchase of our running watches. After all, even if you join a fitness center there is no tracking of your workouts.  My Garmin practically records all my movement and activities. It tells me my heart rate, my distance, steps, when to move, and I am sure that down the road it will also monitor my bowel movements. (I am waiting for the alert to pop up one day after sitting on the toilet during my morning ritual saying “Great Job! Stay Regular!)

I would not limit this coverage to just the watches but am open to other runner gear like hydration packs might also be included because after all proper hydration is essential to good health.

Travel Expenses to Races Should be Tax Deductible – This recommendation is really not for the runners per say but for the local businesses at race locations.  It is really a stimulus package to encourage runners to travel further for races and maybe stay in a hotel and spend money at the local eateries. I see numerous races that I would like to enter but the travel costs are what keep me from signing up.  This little change could help so many businesses like the airline industry, hotels, campgrounds, and restaurants.

Now some of you may think that I am just a runner who is looking to recoup some of the large sums of money I have spent on my running.  The truth is that I am proposing this to make the United States a better country and if it just so happens to help me financially that is just an unintended consequence that I am willing to live with.  Here are the five benefits to our country.

1)      First our workforce would be fitter and more energized at work, taking less sick days. As a result making the country more productive and increasing our GNP.

2)      The race promoters and local businesses would benefit by the spending of the runners, thus helping small businesses.

3)      Charities would surely benefits since so many of them use races to raise funds for their great causes.

4)      American families would become stronger! Why? Some runners like me are married to nonrunners and sometimes there are questions asked about certain bills that come in about my racing and running purchases. (I mean how am I supposed to remember all those purchases? I am busy tracking my mileage) If my employer reimbursed me for my races or if my trip to run a race in Italy was tax deductible, I would not get guff about my expenses from my wife.  The result a happier family.

5)      Finally, runners live in red and blue states, and come in all political persuasions, so this would unite the country politically.

Now obviously I suspect that my fellow runners will support me in this endeavor but I am a political realist and realize we need the support of nonrunners as well.  When a nonrunner questioned my idea and said “What about the majority of us who don’t run?” I responded that I am willing to compromise and believe that you are eligible for these incentives if you volunteer at a race or at least crew a runner. After all, if you don’t run, the least you can do is help a runner.  It is your patriotic duty.

By the way I need these law changed soon. Very soon. I just signed up for a couple of races and bought a new watch and my wife has not seen the bill yet. So if anyone knows a powerful congressman or woman let me know.