On September 13, three of my friends – Matt, Amber, and Chele – ran a marathon. Matt ran the Salmon Marathon (Salmon, Idaho); Amber and Chele ran the Timberline Trail Marathon (Mount Hood). For all of them, it was their 2nd marathon.

By all standards, these three runners would be considered novices – as is the case with any sport in which you have been competing for only a few years. But, the great thing about running – anywhere – is that we are part of a community of runners where it doesn’t matter if you have run 1 marathon or 41 marathons…if you run a 2:48 or a 5:48…you are a special and equal member of that community. And, runners everywhere support each other – fast or slow, old or young, novice or veteran.

Amber said, “It’s awesome how a group of runners can jump into conversations with each other so easily.” Chele said of running with Amber, “…to share it with a friend made it all the sweeter.” Matt met runners at the pre-race pasta party and ran with them the next day in the marathon. I talked with Matt the afternoon of the race, and he was on “Cloud 9.” Four days later, when I talked to him again, he was on the same cloud.

Runners often have an instant connection with each other. I’ve run races in which I was “with” the same runners for almost all of the 26.2 miles. You share a certain kinship with them – maybe because you know it’s as hard for them as it is for you – and you find yourself helping them get to the finish line because in a strange way, their success is also yours.

Running is technically a solitary sport. But it is the supportive running community that keeps us running. I’m so happy for Matt, Amber, and Chele that they had such wonderfully inspiring experiences. Running a marathon is hard, and it’s a monumental achievement. I am even more inspired every time one of my friends runs another marathon.

Matt, Amber, and Chele: Thanks for the inspiration!

Coach Joe Henderson said of Dick’s camp, “We come as strangers, and we leave as family.”

Pat Loebach, a friend of mine whom I met at the inaugural camp in 2003, said, “I came to came to be a better runner; I left a better person.”

This is what Dick’s camp is about. It is a running camp, but it’s not just about running. Sure, we practiced strides, ran hills, learned about lactate thresholds, and some even set PRs in Dick’s 1/2 marathon on Saturday. But we also made new friends and invited them to stay at our homes to run races in our cities. And, unlike offers that people often make when they say, “You’re welcome to come stay at my house,” we actually take each other up on their offers to visit.

It’s always good to go home after being gone for a week, but it’s also hard to leave camp. What makes it easier is that I know I will be talking to my new friends through email, phone calls, and meeting up with them again at races all over the world.

At camp this year, I gave a talk on “Running & Friendship,” and I enumerated the dozens of friends that I have made just through connections at Dick’s camp. I met Jan Seeley – without whom there would not be a Dick Beardsley Marathon Camp – at the Napa Valley Marathon expo in 1998.

So, to Jan, I say “Thank You” for making all these friendships happen. And now that we have completed yet another camp, I am so fortunate to add many new friends to my “list” of running friends.

Every September, a group of about 30 campers and 8 coaches get together for a week long running camp. Most people ask in wonder, “A running camp? You go on vacation for a week to run?” I usually answer, “It’s not just to run – we have seminars, roundtable discussions, some group runs, and a ton of fun. Ok, so we do run a 1/2 marathon at the end of the week.” That usually confirms to them that there are some really crazy folks out there.

In 2003, I went to Dick’s inaugural camp as a camper. After that, I started going as a coach. When you hear “marathon camp,” you might think that everyone there is an elite runner. Not the case. We have runners, walkers, people who have never run a marathon but want to, and people who have run 100s of marathons. We are all ages, all sizes, all abilities, all speeds, all walks of life. But the one thing we have in common is that we all love to run and to be around others who love to run.

We generally have about 30 campers, some of whom have been to camp before. Every year, we make new friends – real friends who meet in other places throughout the year to run races together, who open their houses to each other, and who truly “stay in touch.” Some of the returning campers come back for the primary reason of reuniting with their friends once a year.

Joe Henderson, one of the coaches at camp, said, “We come as strangers, and we leave as family.” So, you see, we do go to Dick’s camp to run, but it is much more than just a running camp…

Last night I read an article called “Chasing Happiness Together: Running and Aristotle’s Philosophy of Friendship.” It’s been a long long time since I read Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, and I should probably revisit it. According to Aristotle, everything we do, we do in pursuit of our ultimate goal – Happiness. And, “friendship” is a critical component of living a virtuous life and ultimately being truly happy.

Aristotle says that developing a friendship based on virtue requires time, familiarity, trust, mutual good will and mutual sacrifice. Running provides a perfect setting for developing friendships. (more…)

I’ve been writing blog posts for a few months now, but sometimes I like to double back and remind my readers what this whole “Running 4 Your Life” blog is all about.

My goal is to help motivate and inspire people to achieve their goals. If I can share a lesson that might help people somehow improve their physical, emotional, spiritual, or relationship health, then I am fulfilling my purpose.

In addition to lessons I’ve learned and reflections on experiences , I often offer practical suggestions on things like losing weight and dog training. We can never learn less – we can only learn more, so why not share what we know with other people?

I welcome and enjoy your comments – I learn things from you, too!

Everywhere you look, someone is talking about the “Law of Attraction.” Although the principles are ancient ideas, lots of people are discovering it for the first time. It’s actually exciting to observe the paradigm shift of such large numbers of people.

Last spring, I joined a local running group. When I first moved here, I was training for a marathon and following a pretty strict schedule. I wasn’t sure that my training would lend itself to group runs since I had to hit specific times in all my runs, including my long run – which is usually the run that groups run together. So, I waited to join a group, but I thought about it and planned to find the right fit. (more…)

For Roz and Irving…

Although I am too proud to beg and may appear to be a very independent creature, I ask for your loving care and attention. I rely on you for my well being much more than you may realize. This I promise you, my benefactor, that I will not be a burden on you nor will I demand more of you than you care to give. I will be a quiet peaceful island of serenity for you to gaze upon, a soft soothing body to caress, and I shall purr with pleasure to rest your weary ears. Since I am a gourmet who appreciates different taste sensations, I pray you will give me a variety of nutritious foods and fresh water daily. You know, dear friend, how I love to go. Allow me, I pray, a warm sheltered place where I can rest peacefully and feel secure. If I am wounded in battle or suffering from disease, please tend me gently, and see that I am treated by loving and competent hands. Please protect me from the inhuman humans who would hurt and torture me for their own amusement. I am accustomed to your gentle touch and am not always suspicious nor swift enough to avoid such malicious acts. In my later years when my senses fail me and my infirmities become too great to bear, allow me the comfort and dignity that I desire for my closing days and help me gently in my pain or passing.

Hear this prayer, my dear friend, my fate depends on you.

I’ve been “off the grid” for a couple of days, which basically translates to limited access to internet services. I’m back now with an update on a topic I mentioned in a recent post – my “ultimate high school reunion.” (more…)

This weekend, I am back in my hometown in Louisiana. Since I still have family here, I visit fairly often. However, this weekend will be one that will bring back many memories – my high school is holding an Ultimate Reunion for all the graduates who ever walked the halls since 1925.

Part of the fun includes going to favorite places to eat. Already on the way home from the airport, Mark and I stopped at a favorite local diner where the homemade pies and hot plate lunches are unequaled anywhere. Mark laughed when I said something about the “plate lunches.” We just didn’t talk about plate lunches while living in Chicago for so long.

As is the way with many vacations, it’s all about the food, and this trip is no exception. We already have several meals planned to meet with friends and to make sure that we hit our favorite eating spots.

The school activities will be taking place on Friday and Saturday, so I’ll be providing a full report of the goings on. It’s time to make some new memories.

Those of us who have pets believe in the human-animal bond. You can sometimes look into your dog’s eyes and know exactly what he is telling you. And, you’re not amazed when you say something to him, and he knows exactly what you are telling him.

I want to share with you a video of an unusual human-animal bond. I do not recommend that we hug wild animals, but this example of inter-species bonding is very touching. Enjoy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNTdWbVBgc[/youtube]