Usually my quietness means that I have been sitting around eating bon-bons.. Before I vanished, I mentioned that this was the year I was really going to get back in shape. Not just running shape mind you, total full-body shape. Drop the pounds, build some muscle, run lots, and do all sorts of things that fitness-y people do.
So based on my past history, I posted this whole “hoo-rah” style post,worked out for a couple of days, and promptly stopped. Very Average American of me.. And also not entirely the truth.
We take a picture together every run!
I have continued to run with my son, when he isn’t out-of-town on tour/camp/visiting grandparents. I’m still under the impression that he doesn’t really enjoy running as much as he enjoys being a runner (and the responses when he tells his class-mates he ran 5 miles on sunday), and spending time with me. I’m totally ok with that – as I enjoy our talks and the time together as well! Unfortunately, he seems to get used to running, the cramps settle down/etc – And then he goes away for a week or so, and the couple of weeks of progress goes away. I think that with the school year coming up, this will be resolved.
I have talked about the need to join a gym for ages. While I could have joined Gold’s Gym at any point (no sign up fee,and only 10-20 bucks a month), it is always packed, and didn’t have the atmosphere that I knew would be conducive to my using it. The I wanted to join was LA fitness, but they have a sign up fee, and you have to pay first and last month up front. My budget doesn’t usually have that much “extra” cash in a pay period, or even doubling it – for my wife if I could sucker her into joining with me. Well, some times the world smiles and “found” money appears that was unexpected, and is not budgeted. I was lucky enough to have this happen and my wife and I joined LA Fitness at the beginning of the month.
LA Fitness, Gambrills MD
Not only did we join, but we signed up for personal training sessions every Tuesday morning! This will really help out in a couple of ways. We now have someone helping us focus on working out correctly, and also drastically increasing the likelihood of using our gym memberships! They also have a pool, so if I decide to get into Tri’s – I now have a place to practice swimming!
Last but not least in my quick catch-up, I found a bike on Craigslist! It is a 2002 Trek 2000. It was advertised on Craigslist for $50, needing a new rear derailleur and chain. In between the time It was posted, and the time I picked it up – he had bought both, but couldn’t get it to work right. I dropped it off at my local bike store last week to get tuned up! Hopefully it will be ready, mid-week!
There is a quick catch up. I have lots to post about soon, including product reviews and many more pictures of my son and I!
I run, because I am a runner. Having realized that I have always "been a runner" - even when I went years with out running, I am learning how it has integrated itself in all aspects of my life. When I started running in highschool, my perspective on life changed. Funny that I didn't realize how much it had affected it until just recently.
Once and Future Runner 
How lucky you are to be running with your son…that seems like a good way to develop your relationship with him! Personal training is on my list for this fall, too. Keep us updated!
I love the time we spend running. My daughter is starting to show an interest as well – so I have to figure out how to add more runs into the week. Of course they don’t want to run together!