What a Day This Has Been!

"Do Life*" Definition :


Do Life is a choice to take control of our lives. 

It is refusing to accept that life has to be ordinary or inconsequential.

It is identifying the areas of our lives that need improvement.

It is deciding to change.

And the key thing about Do Life is that it’s not about just one thing; if you want to become a better father, you become it. If you want to be a better student, you do it. If you want to run a marathon, you run until you can’t run anymore, and then you keep running.

Do Life is a movement dedicated to achieving these things and helping others as they Do Life as well.

(*Do Life is a trademarked phrase, because Ben is smart...  Mission statement from Do Life Facebook page.)

Well, today... I did life.  :)

NYC Do Life runners

This morning at 9 AM, I ran with about 45 other people through Central Park for Ben's Unofficial 5K.  It was was an eclectic bunch of very enthusiastic people.  Every single person there had been touched in one way or another by Ben's story.  There were people like me who were on a weight loss journey and other people were just there because doing life has helped them through their life journeys.  

I had feared prior to the run that I would be the slowest one there, that I would feel awkward because I didn't know anyone, that feel weird because I was a potential internet stalker of Ben's, etc, etc, etc...  But I gotta tell you the moment I walked over to the statue in the center of Columbus Circle, all of my fears disappeared.  Everyone was so nice, and Ben walked over and introduced himself to me within about 3 minutes of me arriving.  Seriously, he's just a cool dude.  He even remembered that I had commented that his unofficial 5K was a week before my first official one.  

Ben, me and Pa
I'm actually taller than Ben, but I purposefully slouched... :)

After the run the majority of people headed over the Whole Foods in the Time Warner Center for some breakfast/brunch/coffee/water/.  We ended up staying for about 3 hours.  Seriously.  Everyone just talking with everyone!  I met a couple of people that are running the same races I am in the coming weeks and we agreed to wear our "Do Life" t-shirts and to look out for each other.  I chatted with Ben's "Pa" a bit, from whom you can easily see where Ben's awesomeness comes from.  Pa actually jogged with me for a bit during the run.  He checked in to make sure that I was okay and to get a bit of my story.  But considering my pace (a personal record setting pace for me, I might add!) was about 20 times slower than what he was used to, he ran on.

It left me with such a "high on life" feeling.  I mean, it was seriously awesome.  From my PR setting time, to just the great aura surrounding us all.  It definitely reminded me why I set my goal of a marathon, and resurged my belief that I can actually do it.  I gotta be smart about it, but I really can do it!

After departing from the gathering (because we were kicked out of our table!) I ventured upstairs to the NY Running Company to buy a new pair of running shoes.  Gotta tell you I spent a pretty penny, but I'm in love!  I broke down and bought a pair of Brooks.  They are like having clouds surround your feet...  I never knew running shoes could actually ever be that comfortable.  Worth every penny.  

When I got home and saw the pictures posted from today on the Do Life facebook page (from which I lovingly borrowed/stole these pics...) I was kind of in shock when I saw the picture of Ben, Pa and me.  Man, I could really tell how much weight I've lost!  I decided to do a little side by side comparison...  Below is a picture of me taken last May at my little sister's graduation next to the pic from today.  The body its harder to tell, but look at the faces!  Damn...