Why Am I Doing This?

I am awakened at 4:00 am by two fatheads that love to hear themselves talk, rambling on about the NBA lockout.  The alarm is off almost as fast as it came on.  (I always set my alarm to a station that I don't like because it causes me to turn off the alarm quicker.)

I get out of bed, wondering why anyone in their right mind would leave the comfort - and on this day, the warmth - of their bed at 4:00 am.  As I ponder this, I put on my sweats and running shoes, drink a glass of water and I am out the door.  

Immediately I see my breath and realize that winter is closer than I think.  I stop in my driveway to use my truck as a brace as I stretch my legs for a few minutes.  I hit "Play" on my MP3 player and immediately the sounds of Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" fill my ears.

I walk slowly at first, rubbing my hands together, trying to keep them warm.  My footsteps are in sync with the music.  I quicken my pace a bit.

I see a neighbor out on his porch, smoking a cigarette.  I find it funny that I get up at 4:00 to run and he gets up at 4:00 to smoke.  (I guess we all have our vices.)

I am now in a slow jog, punching the air in front of me like some kind of sleepy Rocky impersonator.  I am beginning to warm up.

After a few minutes, the song switches to Metallica's "Fuel".  Warm up is done.  I am going full force now.

I try to control my breathing so I don't sound like an asthmatic dog panting in the heat, but my lungs struggle for enough air.

Meanwhile, my knees start to revolt.  "Hey", they seem to say.  "We're carrying a lot of weight down here.  Could you slow down a bit?"  The thighs and calves join in the revolution.

As if following my legs' lead, the song is now  "Uprising" by Muse.  My legs are happy that I have slowed down a bit.  I am about halfway done.

As I turn the corner to the next street, I am so into the music, the coolness of the air and the serenity of early morning life that I forget to go to the other side of the street to avoid the dog that tries to eat me on a daily basis.

Too late!  He sees me and comes barking at full speed.  Sorry legs,  I'm going to need you to hold out a bit longer.  I go to a full sprint, much to the chagrin of my legs.

The dog decides that I'm not worth it (I'm mostly fat, anyway) and he goes back to his house to wait for the next, hopefully leaner, runner. 

I slow down again and my legs are screaming all sorts of profanity at me.  I continue at a steady jog listening to Springsteen, Tom Petty and Eminem.

By the time the song switches to "When Your Mind's Made Up" from the Once soundtrack, I know that I am almost done.   Time to start cooling down.

I go back into a fast walk and then slow down a little more until I eventually stop in front of the fitness center.

My legs are jiggly, and I can almost hear them singing "Celebration".   I don't have the heart to tell them that I am about to go into the fitness center and lift weights (along with squats) for the next half hour or so.

So why do I put myself through this on a daily basis?

I do it for my wife of 17 years.  She loves me no matter how I look, but it would be nice to look GREAT for her.  (Whenever we go out together, people look at us as if to say, "She must've married him because she felt sorry for the fat guy.")

I do it for my four daughters that need their daddy there to harrass their boyfriends.  They need their daddy to be there to dance with them at their weddings.

I do it for my son, who just  turned 7.  He needs a dad to play catch with and wrestle with and go hiking with and...

I do it for myself.  I'm not getting another body, so I better take care of the one I have.  Overweight people have a great chance to get diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease.  

And THAT is why I am doing this!