out of this is that kid's will witness that the judicial system punishes cheaters too, this has begun to have an impact. We should hold the corporate sponsors guilty too. Judge Karas also gave Jones two years' probation and ordered her to use her "eloquence, strength and ability to work with kids" in performing 800 hours of community service. I hope that she can be genuine about interacting with kids and that through this she can make a difference. (It was really easy to interact with kid's and be a motivational speaker when she got paid for it. Now it's going to be about survival). I know a number of kid's and programs that could use a hand.

Dave Edwards, Alan Gardner, Ky Adderley

Recently I had the opportunity to visit with a few students at KIPP AMP Academy in Brooklyn. These 6th and 7th Graders are in a after school running program headed up by their school principal Ky Aderrley. Ky is a graduate and track star from Georgetown University. More importantly, Ky is a role model and gives of himself and his athletic knowledge to help his students. And Ky is one on a long list of every-day people who give and lead by example to improve the lives and opportunities for children.

As I ran the PF Changs Arizona Rock-n-Roll Marathon this past Sunday (January 13, 2008) I was encouraged to see and be running with nearly ten thousand other marathoner's. Each of us; fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, professionals, blue collar workers, public service workers, each of us runners and people who have made a choice to be actively healthier in our lives. But more importantly, we too are a public example, a hero for the day. While spectators of all ages line the 26.2 mile course to cheer us on. None of us have sponsors or big money backing us, in fact, we're the ones buying the wears and shoes, reaching in to our own pocket to run this and every race and practice run. Yet, as I passed every cheering squad (from various local schools) I couldn't help but knowing that by each of us running out here, someone in the audience will be inspired to lace-up and get healthy too. So, what ever race you run, you are the hero, a role model.

 

Hey, and welcome to my blog,

 

This coming Sunday January 13^th I will take my place at the start line of the PF CHANGS Arizona Rock-n-Roll marathon. This, as I journey my way through Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale, taking in 26.2 miles of Arizona’s best. This will be marathon number 11 for me.    Am I ready?   Nope!   Or should I say, “as ready as I’ll every be.” Most likely this is what many say just before a long distance race. But, just coming through the holiday season, lots of food, lots of shopping, lots of family time, well this leaves little time for training like we’d like. So, I am going to Scottsdale for 4 days, my wife Barbara and I taking a little mini vacation. During this time, She gets four hours at the spa, I get four hours (or less) on the road. What a deal? Right? So we’re gonna have fun!

 

I am really looking forward to this run. This is the kick off to my quest for 50 marathons, 50 states, by 50. I am signed up for the L.A. Marathon, March 2^nd. I have my eye on Austin TX for Feb. 17^th, and am looking at Providence RI in early May. More to come… As I am really looking at what it is going to take to run in each state, i.e. plane flights, race entry, dates, hotels, vacation days, work priorities, yadada. Basically, a budget?

 

My close friend and coach, Coach Courtney emailed me a list of her state conquering for this year. It looks like we will run Burlington Vermont and Anchorage Alaska together at this point, it is still early in the year, and may hit more. I am still putting my list together. Coach Courtney is an Angel on the road, you will not find a more genuine person in the running community. I am blessed to know her, and more importantly that she puts up with me. Like when I go out to fast on a run, subsequently tanking, she knows that one of these days I will ‘get it’, and listen when she say’s “Dave… easy.” We have both coined the term “run-walk-crawl”, of course we are changing this to correct form of “Commute-Warmup-Race” which is the way I am suppose to be running. Coach Courtney is off doing some of her own states and will be a pace leader in some of these, so, if you get a chance to meet her and say hi, you to will know why she is a running angel.

 

The Boston Buildup Series hosted by ClubCT.org. Sunday Jan. 6, a few of us from Race with Purpose shared with 374 other runners, running a 10k in Norwalk CT. It was great to get out to the “burbs”. So much of my running and training is centered around Central Park and the West Side – Riverside path. After a while, enough, I wanna go run somewhere else. So, no, I am not doing Boston anytime soon, But I will enjoy running the Build Up Series. So, on Sunday I run the 10K in 00:51:15, basically 8:15’s, though I started out at 7:15’s and eased into a comfortable 9:00 pace towards the end. Now you know what it is to Race Walk Crawl. But seriously, this was a good run, and the scenery was great, running along the Long Island Sound for a mile or so, the houses along the water are so spectacular.

 

SO, I am ready to Rock-n-Roll !!!

 

Gotta Run…

Dave

Hello again....

 

So, I just got back from my first run of 2008. Five miles, 00:43:49, running on the "back roads" of Queens NY, in the industrial area between Maspeth and Long Island City, pretty quite at night, very little car traffic to compete with...

 

As I was running tonight, I was thinking about resolutions, the ones we've made, kept or failed at. What ever it may be, It's January 1st... again, and the buzz around the office tomorrow will be "what resolutions did you make?", and "how do you plan to keep them?"

 

I remember year after year, promising myself I'd quit smoking. I'd spend the last few hours of December 31st puffing away at how ever many cig's were left in the pack. Then, white knuckling it through January 1st. One year I made it to January 20th. But, for the most part, January 2nd came, and I was right back at it, justifying in my mind that I would just cut back on the quantity I smoked each day. Of course that only lasted til January 3rd. So, I know how hard habits are to shake, change or get rid of. I can't tell you why 2005 was any different than the 22 years before. Yes, I tried on January 1st, 2005, but like every other year, it only lasted a couple of days. Yet a couple of months later I came to terms with myself, and quit smoking, March 16th, 2005. So today it's just shy of three years now, life is so much healthier and better.

 

So, resolution is a good thing, even though each of us often times use it to change a bad thing. This year, find your resolution, work hard at keeping it and you will.

 

"Change yourself and you will change the world" (?Charles Dickens)

 

If fitness and running is part of your path to resolving your resolutions, Good luck.

 

Gotta Run...

 

Dave

---------

Hello viewer and welcome to my blog,

 

This is one of my new years resolutions.... To let technology allow me to share with you why I run Marathons and Long Distances. To share what lead me to become a long distance runner in 2005, completing 10 Marathons in the past two and a half years.

 

Now, I am on a quest, 50 50 50. I am on the road to complete 50 marathons in 50 states by my 50th birthday (I am 43.) And hopefully my 50th state run will allow me to run Boston MA, somewhere along the way I should be able to qualify for Boston.

 

It noteworthy to mention, I always Race with Purpose ( www.racewithpurpose.org )

 

Stay Tuned....

 

Gotta Run...

 

Dave