I may not have been writing about running over the last couple of months, but I sure have been doing it. I’ve trained and raced, run on pavement, tracks, treadmills and trails, run in the morning and evening and even run in six different states.

Life has been busy. Work has been taking up 70+ hours a week without fail, I’ve been getting very involved in civic and community efforts and my remaining time is usually spent with my family. I love everything that I’m doing, but my schedule has forced me to keep my head down and just keep moving.

No matter how busy a day or week gets, I have found time to run. Most days I’ve had to wake up at 4:00AM, but I’ve made time for running because of how important it is to me. Pretty simply, this is why it is so important:

• It balances me emotionally and physically.  Running allows me to take my time and think analytically about a situation rather than over or under react.
• I prove something to myself with every run. Every time I finish a 5 miler, 10 miler, or 20 miler, I feel accomplished because I not only finished a tough run, but I prove that I’ve moved past any limiting heart issues
• It inspires me. I see other runners, hear their stories, get stories emailed to me and I realize how much people are willing to overcome to complete their first 5K or marathon
• I know I’m prolonging my life and extending the time I get with my family and friends

I’m sure you have many other reasons to add to the list, but these are the four most critical ones to me.

This is an open request for any and all song suggestions.

I need new music for my running mixes and would love to hear what everybody else runs to.

I have music made before 2005 pretty well covered, so newer songs are encouraged. That said, if you have any hidden gems from long ago please let me know.

Feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions! Happy running.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Megan over at TerraCycle. I don’t typically write posts based on emails I’ve received from companies, but this one peaked my interests. TerraCycle has done something that I totally support. They have found a way to reuse and recycle certain pieces of trash that would otherwise add to the enourmous amount of waste we put out on a daily basis.

The reason they contacted me and other runners is because they recycle the wrappers of products we consume on a regular basis. They collect the wrappers of:

• Energy bars
• Cliff bars
• Energy gels – like Gu

TerraCycle does something pretty cool with these wrappers. They turn them into usable products like, benches, bags or flower pots.

They don’t charge anything for shipping and you can actually earn money by sending them in.

Since receiving the email from Megan, I’ve collected 26 wrappers that I would have otherwise thrown in my garbage.

You may not eat power bars or it may not appeal to you, but I thought it was a very worthwhile effort and definitely wanted to share. If you do eat power bars or gels, you should think about sending them in rather than throwing them away.

I started reading “Once a Runner” by John L. Parker the other day. I’m sure most of you have read the book already, but for those who haven’t, it is a story about being a competitive runner. Parker really tries to take you into the mind and spirit of a runner who strives to beat his competition while dedicating everything he can to that very goal.

I’m only a few chapters into the book, but I cheated ahead a little bit with the help of my Kindle. I’m able to look at the most highlighted passages of the book from all people who have read “Once a Runner” via Kindle. I was struck by some of the passages and thought I would share them with you:

• “A true  runner ran even when he didn’t feel like it, and raced when he was supposed to, without excuses and with nothing held back”
• “Look, runners deal in discomfort. After you get past a certain point, that’s all there really is. There is no finesse here.”
• “Training was a rite of purification; from it came speed, strength. Racing was a rite of death; from it came knowledge. Such rites demand, if they are to be meaningful at all, a certain amount of time spent precisely on the Red Line, where you can lean over the manicured putting green at the edge of the precipice and see exactly nothing.”
• “The key was not how fast he could run, but how fast he could run while tired.

Do any of those resonate with you? Which one do you like the most?

Many of you may already know about the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, but it is an event that is near and dear to me. The Heart Walk is designed to promote physical activity, healthy lifestyle and heart healthy living. Not only is the walk a call to action and a gateway to regular exercise for many people, but it helps raise funds for the American Heart Association.

The Heart Walk isn’t a competitive race. In fact, the environment is one of support and fun. Having said that, the walk carries more meaning for me than any marathon I may run.

I will be participating and raising funds for the Charlotte, NC race on September 17. The Charlotte walk alone raised over $1.5 million last year. There will be approximately 350 Heart Walk events around the country this year and I would encourage you to participate in one near you.