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What are you waiting for? Run a marathon, reconnect with a loved one—there's no time like the present to just do it
Sporting News, The, Dec 20, 2004 by J.C. Watts, Jr.
Dear Diary:
Christmas is almost here, and believe it or not, we're ready. My wife, Frankie, and I have made our list and checked it twice. We've found that our offspring have been less naughty and more nice, and that's a good thing.
Actually, Mr. Diary, on this day, you find me thinking ahead to 2005. New Year's resolutions are generally made to be broken, but let's give it a shot:
In 2005 ...
... I hereby resolve not to pout or sulk for more than a couple of days if USC beats the Sooners in the Orange Bowl. That's not going to happen, of course. I don't know why I even allowed that negative thought into my head.
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... I resolve not to pile on the anti-Joe Gibbs bandwagon here in D.C. Gibbs is a great coach who took on a big challenge. He knows what he's doing. I don't recall having seen him miss any blocks or throw any picks this season.
... I resolve to tell my kids I love them every time I see or talk to them. I knew my parents loved me, but they weren't overtly verbal or splashy about it. I guess it was a generational thing. I want to leave no doubt.
... I resolve to personally thank any serviceman or woman I see for their sacrifices on behalf of our country and our freedoms.
... I resolve to sit down occasionally and write an old-fashioned, handwritten note--not e-mail--to someone special in my life.
... I resolve to eat fewer chocolate chip cookies and more fresh vegetables.
... I resolve to pray that my son will not aspire to be an NBA player. On the other hand, maybe he'd raise the standard if he were.
... I resolve to support and promote the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon again this year. This is a great event in support of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, in memory of those lost in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Last year, Runner's World called it the "Most Memorable" race in the world. The 2005 event will be April 24, just five days after the 10th anniversary of the bombing that took the lives of 168 Americans.
I further resolve to visit okcmarathon.com for more details!
... Speaking of running, I resolve to enter more events like the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot that I ran in last month. I'm a pretty consistent 3- to 4-mile runner, but this event stretched me to 8 miles. I don't know if I could have done it by myself, but when I was at the starting line with 25,000 other crazy Thanksgiving Day runners, my adrenaline started pumping. I got into a consistent pace and had great fun. What a wonderful way to make friends and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
After running in this event, I've decided that people should stop talking to themselves. We keep telling ourselves what we can't do. On this day, I didn't talk myself out of it. Instead, I told myself I could do it, put one foot in front of the other for 8 miles and pushed myself to a new limit.
Like the old advertising campaign, sometimes I have to tell myself to "Just Do It." On Thanksgiving Day, I just did it. The next day, I ran 5 miles. Thirteen miles in two days. A new personal record for J.C.
Running with 25,000 buddies helped me do my best. I don't know that I'm ready for a half-marathon just yet, but I'm watching for the next 15K event that comes along. Maybe the Tulsa Run in October. That's a worthy goal.
... In 2005, I resolve to just do it.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
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