No Off Season...for dads

My car needed antifreeze!  It only needed antifreeze!   I feel somewhat silly and very much blessed that this was all it was.  Let me explain. Thursday.   I was racing out the door to get to work.  I hopped in the Acura, turned the ignition, and got nothing.  I tried it again and again, and I got nothing.  Frustration.  Friday.  I get it jumped and it seemingly runs.  I was advised to let it run for about thirty minutes to let the engine recharge.  After about five minutes the car's RPM meter began jumping from 2 to 1, up and down, up and down.  Then,  it began to overheat.  I 'm began to freak out because I don't know what to do.  Saturday.   I get the car towed to my mechanic in DC.  I am chatting with the tow...truck...man (???) about everything from his cars to his children; he has eleven.  We got to the mechanic and he looked at the car.  ...

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year." -- Charles Dickens It is every year around this time that we capture the warm fuzzies in our hearts as we look forward to celebrating this festive season. We eagerly anticipate seeing family and friends, going home to mom and dad, or possibly seeing the first snowflakes fall outside our window while you cozy up to a bright and crackling fire. The Christmas Fir is beautifully decorated with ornaments and candy canes and silver and red presents adorn the floor around the tree. Giving thoughtful gifts to incredible friends is always a pleasure. I look forward to those kinds of Christmases. But not this year... Sure, I can't wait to see my parents in Atlanta. I can't wait to sit at the breakfast table and sop my mama's biscuits (if you have never done, this your life is so incomplete right now). And yes, I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and family that I have not spoken to for a...

There is nothing like being in New York for the holidays.   The Christmas tree is being lit, the stores are flooded with people from all fifty states, and the bustling streets smell like roasted peanuts!  I love it!  Well, my boys wanted to go downtown as usual to catch some Black Friday sales.  I really did not mind because I like the never-ending action of the city.  My oldest wanted to go to the NBA store.  It is a fantastic store full of NBA jerseys, posters, and basketballs.  He walked in the store and it was if he forgot why he was there.  "Son, do you know what you want?", I asked.  "Umm...no!  Well, I think I want to look for some Wizards jerseys or shorts!"  They did not have them.  So he didn't know what to do.  So we're walking...and walking...and walking.  I could tell that he was a little unsure also because he had to use his money.  I know when I have a little pocket chan...

"I gotta feeling...that tonight's gonna be a good night!"   These are the words by Black Eye Peas I heard as I triumphantly jogged across the finish line.  I wish I could upload the video of the crossing (Yes, I had my iPhone in hand recording the whole thing!)  During the last 1/4 of a mile, with an excrutiating pain in my ankle and now heavy fatigue, I spoke into my now sweaty phone, huffing and puffing, and now jogging across the line.  I no longer cared that my time was...long.  I could have cared less that many runners (ummm, make that thousands of runners) finished before me.  I was enjoying the moment.  The crowd was roaring, clapping and celebrating every finisher's triumph. God gave me the chance to run...a marathon!  26.2 miles worth or concrete!  Only 1% of Americans have done this!  I need to go get my 26.2 car magnet.  Joe English, Running-Advice.com. Copyright 2010.  Someone once told me that the maratho...

The pain began on mile 4.   I had to run 22 more grueling miles with this aggravating pain.  The first 3 miles were great -- the unyielding enthusiasm from all of the fans, the vigor of the runners, the electric atmosphere.  It was all there. And then came...that pain.  It was at the top of my right ankle.  I had never felt it before; not even sure where it came from.  My running partner cramped continuously throughout the race.  Pain.  As I had to stop and start, the pain from my ankle became progressively worse, so much so that it was more painful to start running again than the actual run.  Pain. Pain is everywhere.  If you talk with anyone for a bit of time, you can hear the joys and pains of their life.  My friend suffered a brain aneurysm.  Another colleague was in an unhealthy marriage.  Once to have it all only to lose everything and begin all over again...pain. To see your daughter on a great track to hav...

After consistent questioning and persuasions, I made the decision to run the MCM.  Training for this race was different for me.  I had been running for some years now- two miles here, four miles there.  Yet, I never really pushed myself to train.  Training takes consistency, determination and hard work.  From those three words, consistency was my challenge. I had to train...often.  Well... Steve was my running partner.  We trained together.  We ran together.  And after a while, we drew closer as friends...together.  I began to understand his running pace and he understood mine.  As we trained, running became more than just running.  It became more of a friendship.  I began to know more about him, his wife and family, and his interests.  He got a chance to know a bit more of my victories and challenges, my strengths and shortcomings.  But we ran together -- 5 miles, 8 miles, 10 and then 12....

The grueling race began.  One foot after the other running towards the finish line.  There were hundreds of fans along the side of the road early in the chilled morning with their children wrapped in coats.  I was well aware that there were places around the city where supporters were able to see the runners and encourage them on.  But screaming fans were everywhere.  EVERYWHERE!!!! There were thousands of people with blue, white, and pink poster signs rousing their favorite runners on.  There were marines dressed in fatigues dispersed throughout the race giving high fives; little 10-year old kids were passing out waters and Powerade to runners they did not even know.  In all honesty, there was never a half mile in the entire race that there were not screaming, bell-in-hand supporters....  Photo by John Miranda  "Come on! You can do it!" "Keep going!  Don't stop! "You got this!" "You were stupid enough to sign up for th...