Sacrifice

The word sacrifice rolls off our tongue a lot this time of year... I ask you to let it sit there and think about it.

If it not for sacrifice, would this country have been born?... What about slavery?... Do you think the Nazis would have stopped in Europe?... No, they would've goosed stepped their way to our borders.

As long as we've been a country, we have ask men to sacrifice themselves for us, or U.S.

So many have unselfishly put their college dreams on hold... Kissed their girlfriends goodbye... Told mom and dad not to worry and trotted off... Never to return.

What about the young father who got a letter from home, he's showing his buddy a picture of his new born baby... Only to have them both pay the ultimate price in a foxhole on foreign soil .... Sacrifice.

Today there is a mother who will not come home.... Sacrifice.

Young men and woman fight our wars, while we sit safe and secure bickering over how to get out, stay in, we're not fighting hard enough, we're fighting to hard.... And this is with every war... Deciding on going to war has to be the toughest decision a man can make and all wars are unpopular to some, but some have to be fought.

We all want freedom... The freedom to write blogs... To worship who we want, or not to worship at all... To question our government... to make a living how we choose... Read the books we want to read...

Someone once said "Freedom is not free".... Sacrifice.

Those who gave us this freedom didn't ask for much in return and it can never be repaid... But this Memorial Day weekend when you have the day off... Take a moment away from your cook-out, running, watching the big race or any other freedom you might enjoy... And think of those who did not come home.

Duty.. Honor.. Sacrifice.

Ron

A... Day... O...

I've been trying to come up with something to write, but my brain is dead... I think the memory starting to go... I'll be out on a run and all kinds of things will hit me... Then I get back here and it's gone... So let me go back... back in time, it was just the other day... I was on a long run and...

"I wish there was a device that could track my running motion, oh I don't know, like with satellites or something... Yeah, satellites that's it... And this device would clip on to my waist and record my miles, pace, elevation, and even calories burned... Kind of like every time my body is in motion... It tells me the lingo... What A DAY O that would be.... The love and joy of using this device would be shouted from Florida to Rocklin, Ca 95765... Yes it would be a lovejoy...

This device would be backed with a support staff that had the customer in mind, oh I don't know... Maybe read and answer all the questions the customer ask?... Not just the first question... I know I'm a dreamer... It's a shame we can't Go(pen) in the future and have this kind of device and service.

If a company thought they had this idea, I'm sorry they are sadly mistaken.
You ever heard of pa sana non grata, Jeffery? Do me a favor and Google that... For an unbiased opinion of never again."

See ya on the road, (cause it can't see me, right Nathan) runron.

Smoke Gets In My Eyes

I got the news yesterday.... Oh boy. The Miles for Moffitt five miler was cancelled... I guess when there is so much smoke in the air, what were they supposed to do? ... A fund raiser for cancer research would look silly having runners gag and cough their way over the finish line.

The Florida drought has cost me a green yard and dying landscape... Not to mention this area is a powder keg, waiting for some idiot to throw a cigarette down and start an inferno that will affect my home or yours.... Now it's really getting frustrating.... It's affecting my Hobby... My passion.... My reason to live... (Okay, that's a little over the top).... My races.

It seems the fires in Georgia are the cause of the smoke and ashes falling in my neighborhood... My neighborhood is a good 200 miles away... What's a runner to do?

I've said in the past, I'm not a very smart man... If you follow this blog I'm sure you agree... But the other day the news said to avoid outside activities, due to health concerns over the air quality... Ego Ron had to get a run in... One more time... EGO RON had to get a run in... I mean the wildlife are not staying inside... I see birds, squirrels, dogs, cats, all outside doing activities and they are not dropping dead... And my lungs are bigger, right?..

So off I go for a quick 5 miler... felt pretty good.... For the first 3 miles... Why are my lungs burning?... As I stepped over a dead bird on the side of the road.... Uh-oh!

I later heard on the radio, that running in this stuff for a half hour is like smoking a pack of cigarettes.

I'm going out for a long run... Anybody got a Marlborough?
See ya on the smoky road, runron.

Thanks Steve

There is this goofy podcast I like to listen to every week. Goofy is his words not mine. Anyway, I look forward to running while The host (Steve Runner) talks about running... I know I need a life.

You're probably thinking... "Let's see, you mean there is a show devoted to nothing but running, WOW, that runron sure knows how to live on the edge, I bet he even stays up past 9:00 p.m. once and a while".

At least that's what non-runners are thinking. If you are a runner and have not heard of Phedippidations, then you're in for a treat. For the past year or so, I have been entertained on the road by the huffing and puffing of one Mr. Runner. See, he does a lot of the show while he runs. Kinda makes you feel like you have company while you run... And I guess you do.

Steve does his homework, and you learn something each time he goes out the squeaky door. The great thing about his show... It's free, go to Itunes or his website and take all you want he'll make more. In a day where everybody wants to sale you something, it's refreshing to find guys like Steve who does things for the love and passion of what they believe. No strings attached.
I've been wanting to write about Phedippidations for a while, but haven't.

Why now runron?.. O.K. without being self-serving... (Isn't that what you say when you really are being self-serving)... Steve read my first marathon story on his show. I was the hit of my group running club.... By the way, my group has one member... Me... But it really made my day.
You can hear episode 95 First Marathons by clicking on his site (see above Phedippidations)

I wrote what Steve read, and I must tell you, he made it sound a lot better then the writer wrote.... The writer wrote?... See what I'm talking about.

So if you want to hear a Pro, listen to Steve. You can always come back here for a dose of a struggling writer... Where the right words get lost between his head and fingers.

I should have told you about his show long ago... I'm sorry it took so long.

If there are any other podcasters out there and would like to mention me on their show.... Did I ever tell you about my first marathon?....... Quit while you're ahead runron.

Run long and taper Steve.
For the rest, see ya on the road, runron