April 24, 2017 HAPPY DAYS

I was saddened to read that Erin Morin from Happy Days died. That was one of my favorite televisions shows when I was a kid. I remember how excited I was when Joanie & Chachi got married. So much for television--pure fantasy. Morin seems to have had a tough, unhappy  life.... depression, poverty and even homelessness were her reality--eventually--succumbing to cancer. Very Sad. Stardom  didn't solve her problems--they ran too deep. People think that fame and money will ensure happiness but that's not the case. Money can NEVER buy happiness--it can make you more comfortable in life--but that's it. It must have been difficult for her in other ways too. Here she was on the most popular T.V. show for 11 seasons and then--POOF--it was gone. That could throw anyone for a loop--unless they are very grounded. Perhaps running could have helped her. It helps people deal with depression, anxiety and addiction every single day.  It can also bring others spiritual healing-- a sense of calm--a center. Running is a win-win.  Did you know it also helps in the prevention of cancer, improves memory loss, strengthens bones AND even adds longevity to life? These are all great reasons to throw on a pair of sneakers and get out there today right?  If you need more inspiration, check out Gail Waesche Kislevitz's book First Marathons--Personal Encounters with the 26.2-Mile Monster.

This motivating book is a collection of 37 stories  focusing on both novice and elite runners who have run the marathon. The novice runners come in all shapes and sizes--young--old--male--female--with one message--ANYONE CAN RUN A MARATHON. It just takes commitment, and discipline--both of which are easier said than done. The training is HARD but gratifying  in SO many ways as told by each runner. The marathon is  really a personal journey. Yes, you can train with partners but in the end you have to run it yourself. It's really interesting to get inside the head of each runner, especially, during the last 6.1 miles to find out how they got through it. In addition to novice runners, several elite runners  including Bill Rodgers, Ted Corbitt, Grete Waitz and Mystic's own John Kelley-- tell the story of their first marathon too. Loved reading about them, but since I'm clearly a novice runner, I was really drawn to their stories.  These are everyday people who just made the commitment--for a variety of reasons--including weight loss--mental health--even physical health as one of the runners gave up his 4 pack a day smoking habit to run his first marathon. Whether you are looking for the motivation to run a 5K, 10K, or even a marathon--this is the book for you. It's not a training guide but  a book to rouse your spirit and get you moving. It's about 350 pages--maybe a 5 mile run--that will inspire you to move!