View the thank you's in their own words... In our third annual "Dear Santa" running shoe drive, we had the special opportunity to outfit 151 students with quality running shoes, as each of these students take part in a after school running and fitness programs. One of the Three schools receiving running shoes, KIPP AMP Academy in Brooklyn. With 40 Students in the running program, their coach (and School Principal) Ky Adderly had each of these students draft and write a formal thank you letter as an English class assignment. This is a great!!! And a huge thank you to soles4souls.org for partnering with us at RWP to make this happen.

  

    KIPP AMP: Dear Santa Running Shoe Thank You's   

   I would like to post a picture of the Kid's, but privacy protection laws prevent this. So, imagine 40 big smiles.

Cake not large enough to hold this many candles. No picture required.

Yep, 44 , another one of those things we have to celebrate once a year. So, along with the wonderful gifts from my family, mostly running related, and those 2 tickets to see Van Halen March 13th really rock! Thanks Barb, some how wives really know how to make their hubby happy. I do like February, it was three years ago this month that I was in California visiting my best friends, Ken and Angie, both had been exercising quite a bit, they looked great, thus I too was inspired. It was a month later that I quite smoking and took up running to get in shape. Thanks Ken and Angie for your tireless example.

CJ is in a better place today.... Our beloved dog CJ lost her battle with cancer this past weekend (Feb. 23). CJ was 12 and lived life to the fullest up to the end. It was May of 2007 that she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her bladder. During her years she enjoyed camping, traveling, going to the park, going to work and everything that our family enjoyed, we would do anything for CJ, and in many ways we did. We are adjusting to this loss, whereas it is very odd that no one is waiting behind the front door to greet you with unconditional love and a cold nose kiss, along with all of the joy that go along with this shared love. I am left with wishing that I could be as loyal and unconditional in my life as a dog is, my dog, CJ. Our hearts are missing a valuable piece, she will always be in our thoughts.

Training.... Well it's been challenging, between work and tending to CJ, the past few weeks have been tough to hit the road on a regular basis. But, I have been getting in enough miles that I feel good to run the Los Angeles Marathon March 2nd. I'm really looking forward to running in my home town, LA. The first 10 miles are parts of my old stomping grounds from my high school days (yes, along time ago). This will be Marathon #12 and my 6th state. I'll be looking for Ken and Angie at the finish line, 'cause after all, they inspired me to run. Also, Barb will be in California to share this one with me and the whole family.

I am trying out a new pair of shoes, I am running in the NIKE Structure Triax + 11, hope these will provide comfort for all 26.2 miles.

I'll let you all know about LA in my next record.

While in LA, I will take in the Marathon Kids Final Mile Ceremony at UCLA. I am looking forward to seeing the works of this great organization which encourages kids along with their parents to partake in fitness and healthier diets together. This is pretty cool. I'll let you know more in my next record.