Light the Way

My brother John died from a heart attack at the age of 45.  If I could turn back time.  If I could find a way.  I’d tell my brother to take better care of himself; not only for his well being, but for his wife’s and children’s happiness as well.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.  The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention.  

At my brother’s funeral I remember thinking how wrong things had worked out.  I always figured we would grow old together.  I am full of regrets over things I should have said – quit smoking, eat less fatty food, get back on a workout routine, keep taking Lipitor.  

Is there someone you know?  You're taking their existence for granted.  You may lose them some day.  Something will take them away.  And they won’t hear the words you long to say.  It is an easy conversation.  Start with “Have you had your cholesterol checked?” 

We are harder on ourselves than we are on those around us.  We endure, but don’t expect others to be as compulsive as we are.  We apologize for our obsessive behavior, but why?  We are reluctant to curse another’s darkness.  

This is a call to light the way.

In other news, today was the February installment of Rocky Mountain Road Runners Trophy Series.  The course was a seven mile semi-figure eight which started and finished at the Platte River Bar & Grille.  I covered the course in 44:19 (~6:20 / mile pace).  

The key to recovery is ingesting quality protein.  So, after my 20 mile run yesterday, my wife grilled a juicy steak from beef our butcher had imported from Spain.  I ate a pound of that and felt like I could have run up Alpe D'Huez.