Anthem 5k and the 20 mile week

I ran in my first competitive race last Saturday, the Anthem 5k. I had a fever, cough, and was suffering from a diverticulitis attack, but I ran. Every step felt like a knife in my gut and I had no energy. Despite the physical setbacks I finished the race in 38'15", much slower than my usual 5k time. I ran though, and finished, and that makes all the difference.

I'm amping up my weekly miles in preparation for the mini-marathon. For further motivation, I've challenged my sister to a run off on nike.com. Using our Ipod sensors, we can track the miles we run on the Nike website leading up to the mini. So far its a tight race. As of this evening I have 41 miles and Kim has 37. But my sister is a bit crazy, and can reel off miles quickly if properly motivated. Loser has to treat the winner to a massage after the race.

So my goal is to run a minimum of 20 miles per week. Some weeks I may approach 30 depending on my long run. For the first time in a long time I feel like an athlete. I'm getting leaner and feel stronger during my runs. In fact, when shopping last Sunday I purchased a size L T-shirt for the first time in many years. Robin said I look like I did in college which was a huge confidence booster.

I find my thoughts dwelling towards my father more and more. This entire ordeal has connected me with him past the Alzheimer's disease. Today, I wore my father's old silver cross while I ran. He was a man of profound faith, despite having suffered some terrible tragedies during his life.

When I came inside, Anja asked why I was wearing the cross.

"Because it was my father's"

"But why do want to wear it?" she pried again.

Robin interjected, "Because it makes daddy feel closer to his father, just like when you wear daddy's t-shirts to bed".

The little things bring us closer. The smell of a shirt, or the knowledge that this silver ornament once danced on my father's chest. Some people feel morbid wearing the clothes or personal effects of someone that is ill or already dead. I don't. It's comforting and feels familiar. Like a warm blanket.

The cross may be my new superstition, and being an Italian we LOVE superstition. It serves as a reminder of the man that inspired all of this.

After all, this is the run for Dad.