I am 63 years old and didn't start running until I was 44. Before then, I was a very inactive person. Even as a kid, I didn't participate in sports, except for the "sandlot" variety. I was an overweight couch potato all of my adult life and a 2-3 pack-a-day smoker from age 16.....until I reached my mid-40's. Then I decided to lose 30 pounds, start exercising and stop smoking....in that order. I thought I had the best chance of keeping the weight off if I lost it and started exercising before I quit smoking.

I spent 2 years losing the 30 pounds through gradual diet modification.....simply smarter eating. Then I joined a fitness center to start an exercise program. They put me on a weight training regimen with a 1/4 warmup jog on a 24 lap per mile indoor track. I noticed a young lady who would run around the track for an hour at a time several times a week and seem to enjoy every minute. I decided that if she could do that so could I. So, I added another 1/4 mile jog to the end of my workout and, then, started extending it each time I worked out.

One day I got my postrace run to 2 miles one day and it was great.....the first time I didn't have to stop when I did. It was like breaking through a barrier and finding a something wonderful on the other side. That was the moment I became a runner.

I continued to run after that and have finished 202 road races, including 21 marathons, split between two "serious" running periods (1983-90 and 1997- 2000). During the 7 years between these running "lives", I continued to run, but at greatly reduced mileage and no racing or serious training. I have again gotten away from running over the last 18 months because I have gotten into sailing and spend half the year cruising on a sailboat. But, I'll get back into serious running someday.

Overall, running has been a major part of my life for 19 years now, and will continue to be for as long as I can run. When in peak running condition, I was 45 pounds lighter than I was in 1980 when I made my decision to change my physical life. My at rest pulse rate dropped from 72 to the upper 30's. My stamina increased greatly. And I am a more relaxed and less stressed person.

I am convinced that running has greatly improved the quality of my life and, probably, reduced my risk of a premature death from a number of potential health related problems.

I have also derived many psychological benefits from running. Though not every run is a "pleasure", many are fun and very relaxing. More importantly, running provides me with a positive sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It is great for my self-esteem. I know that I can challenge myself and win. Also, when I am in peak running shape, I can challenge others in my age group, as well as some a lot younger than I, and win.

I think running greatly benefits the body, mind and spirit. My only regret is that I didn't start at a much younger age and run all my life, instead of just what will hopefully turn out to be the last half of it.