I run for life

I did NOT want to get up this morning (it was drizzly and overcast, a perfect day for sleeping in, right?) But after fighting it for a few minutes, I decided I had better get 'er done! I ran roughly 4 miles (my Garmin petered out on me after a mile or so) then came home and did the following workout in the basement (I love having a semi-home-gym!)...

100 Jumping jacks
10 Squat thrusts (w/ push-up and burpee)
10 Triceps dips
10 Jump lunges
10 Bicep curls (20 lbs)
10 Jump squats
10 Shoulder raises (20 lbs)
10 Mountain climbers
10 Upright rows (40 lbs)
10 Box straddle jumps

Then you repeat with 90,9,9,9, etc., then 80,8,8,8, etc., then 70,7,7,7,etc., down to 10,1,1,1,1,etc. I completed this "10-9-8 Series" in 29:43.

Then I did a similar set for some ab work:
10 Crunches
10 Reverse crunches
10 Bicycle crunches

Then repeated with 9, then 8, etc. I finished this part in 6:06. It was a good workout to mix things up a bit.

The title of this post came from a great song I found yesterday while downloading some new running tunes. It's called "I Run For Life" by Melissa Etheridge. As some of you may know, my mom is currently battling colon cancer. She just completed her second dose of chemo and is doing amazingly well. This song will mean a lot to anybody who has battled or has somebody close to them who has battled cancer or something similar. I have had a lot of people ask me why I run. I could give lots of different answers...for health, exercise, to stay in shape, to feel good, to de-stress, etc. But I have to say the number one reason that I run is this...

I RUN BECAUSE I CAN!

There are so many people who would give anything to be able to do what I sometimes take for granted. My body allows me to lace up a pair of running shoes and hit the pavement for miles on end. I run for both myself and for all those who wish their bodies could do the same. And when the going gets tough and I really want to quit, I will think of all those people who are battling diseases and demons far worse than anything I could imagine...and I keep running. Because that's what they're doing too. They keep fighting because of everything that they have to fight for. And it makes us all stronger for it.

I made this little video for my mom, to share with her why I think she is amazing and to give her the strength to keep fighting that good fight against the darkness that is inside her. I love you MOM....FIGHT ON!!