This is for all of my fellow Zombies, or at least the dedicated few that have followed Run Zombie Run from the beginning.  The time has come for Run Zombie Run to say Goodbye.  It’s been a nice go over the past 5 years and I’ve truly enjoyed it.  From the very beginning of running my 30 races, in order to raise money for Mobile Meals of Toledo.  The aid in senior nutrition was near and dear to my heart.  Please know that I still give to them on a yearly basis and always will.

I think back over the years of all the fun races and adventures that I’ve had the privilege to share with all of you.  Some of the dark times were part of it…from my own health issues to the double lung transplant my sister went through.  The whole time, I ran with purpose.

I’ve run just about every race in the local area and of course did numerous road trips to exciting destination runs.  I was lucky enough to get into the Big Sur Marathon and run the ragged coast of California.  I’ve run the strip in Las Vegas at night…with not a single car on it!  My crown jewel was running the streets of New York City!  It was absolutely breath taking to be a part of that.  The race was dedicated to my sister Gini Feller and the medal from the race resides at her home…where she is healthy and breathing with her new lungs! (hugs)

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you.  The donations to charities, the messages to me wishing me luck before every race and the wonderful interactions I’ve shared with all of you.  Be it at work or on the road…I’ve cherished all of it.

I’m never giving up on my running (mostly walking now), my new found love for biking or any other activity that keeps me moving.  I just think it’s time to close down the Run Zombie Run Facebook page.  It served it’s purpose, but is no longer needed.  Rather then letting it fade into obscurity, I’ll just close it.

Me and my sister at the Ann Arbor Half Marathon. Did I mention it was chilly?

Friends Tom and Dianna rock the limited edition “Run Zombie Run” tanks.

I’d ask that you all continue to move!  Find whatever it is that brings you happiness.  Take the time to really enjoy what you have and where you are.  Reaching for the stars is always a wonderful thing, but sometimes, it’s nice just to be in the moment…and be alright with it.

Thank you once again for making these years wonderful.

I”ll see you on the road!

~Zombie~

I’m wondering where exactly to start with all of this.  I guess we’ll go with what’s happening in pretty much every corner of the world.  The words Covid-19 have found their way into pretty much everyone’s vocabulary these days.  One day it seemed that everyone was out doing their thing, planning spring vacations, working, shopping etc.  Then it all came to a screeching halt!

I’ll share this from my perspective and try to touch on what I see and what I hope for.  I began this year full of excitement and promise.  I struggled last year with injury and illness and had hoped to make a dramatic turn around in the 2020 year.  Things were starting to fire on all fronts…running, walking and even my lifting was going well.

My wife and I had planned an early spring trip to Utah to get a run in that we’d had to put off for a year, due to my stated injuries/illness.  The Zion Half Marathon was everything that we’d hoped, and the state was absolutely beautiful.  Zion National Park was so different from anywhere we’d ever been and I felt a new sense of purpose being in the area.  I was excited by the open range, and the stark look of the mountains. The half marathon course was breathtaking!  From a very chilly morning start, that warmed into a sunny and beautiful ending, the race was just perfect!

We’d been keeping an eye on the news and following the spread of the virus, even noticed that some people from the Utah area were found to be positive hits after being on a cruise.  We were cautious, but didn’t feel the need to panic at that time.  Even on our flight home, things still seemed to be pretty much normal.  We found out later that we had returned through Detroit Airport on a day that was known to have been considered “hot” by Michigan officials.  Karla and I still didn’t get panicked at that time.  We had already returned to our work places and felt fine, showing no signs of any kind of illness.  (Super grateful for that) I’m a bit of a weirdo anyway when traveling, and hate to touch anything in public places…or if I do, I wash may hands on a regular basis.  The thought of going somewhere like Cedar Point, where people hang all over metal rails, kind of makes my skin crawl…lol!

Upon our return, I realized that things were starting to get much more serious.  Races that I’d signed up for were in question, and eventually were cancelled.  The biggest marathon in our country was even pushed back (The Boston Marathon) due to fears of the virus.  It seemed as though daily something more was falling to the way side, concerts, races, just gatherings of any kind.  The bottom appeared to be falling out.

So, here we are, crawling into Spring.  The stores are pretty much all closed, except for grocery.  No one is traveling and moving about has become a hazard.  People are off work or working reduced schedules.  There are some that are at least lucky enough to be working from home, but that too brings a whole different set of issues.  Children are out of school, day cares are closed or reduced to just persons that are considered to be essential workers.  Everything seems to have stopped.  Life has changed, and the question now is, will we ever be the same when we come out on the other side?

Let me say this…I’ve never been good at just sitting still.  Those that know me understand how crazy I become when made to “sit still”.  It’s never a good thing.  My mind is always racing and my desire to “do” never quits.  If you’re wondering just exactly how to get through something like this and remain whole…Go outside and play!  How odd that the very thing I’ve been talking about on here for years now has come full circle.

I get up in the morning and get my dogs walked.  Then it’s my turn!  I go out on my own or with one of my sisters (with a 6 foot gap between us) and we walk.  I don’t need a park, but I do enjoy them.  I don’t need a gym, or people, or anything really.  What I have always desired is already out there.  The blue sky, the birds, the squirrels, everything, just everything is already there.  It’s always been there, it’s just been waiting for us to take the time, take a breath, and discover it.  Well, now is your time to discover.  Maybe mother nature is sending a wake up call to the world.  To be better humans.  Maybe we need to re-think how we act, what we treasure and how we speak.  Tough times will show you the best and the worst in people.  I do my best to stay focused on the good, the stories of people helping people.  The “Bear Hunts” that are now going on in neighborhoods all over America.  (Not really a hunt…it’s just bears in people’s windows…lol!)  We have the ability to adapt and to change.  Well, maybe now is that time.  Find out something special about yourself while staying home.  Read more, write poetry, or stories.  Read to your children, listen to music and really let it touch your soul.

Yes, there are things that we may be missing out on this year.  Remember that some are not coming out of this, some are losing loved ones to this terrible virus, and are unable to even be next to them when they leave this world.  I think of this often…and I hurt for them.  I’m grateful that during this time I’m still able to work.  I’m grateful that I’m in “lock-down” with my most favorite person in this world.  I’m grateful for those that love me and for the freedom to be able to still express it.  I’m also grateful that I’m still able to go outside and play, to wander like I always do.  I’m perhaps now…even more grateful for that time on the road.

We will get through this.  “This too shall pass” was something my Mother always said to me and I’ve heard it spoken now more than ever.  I’m going to do what is asked of me, so that everyone will be able to enjoy tomorrow.  I’m asking all of you to do the same.  Stay home, go out only when you have to for essentials.  Exercise as much as you need…but do so at a safe distance from others.  If you’re like me…I just wander the roads with no set destination and usually run into pretty much no one.  Can’t get much safer than that.

2020…the year that wasn’t?  No, I choose to call this 2020…the year we discovered ourselves.  Be better humans.  Be kind to one another and please stay healthy…until we meet again.

“I’ll see you on the road!”

~Zombie~

Hey everyone!  I know it’s been a long time since the last Blog post on here.  I had several issues creep up over the winter months that brought me to a grinding halt.  While trying to work on my strength at the gym, doing body weight lunges, I herniated the upper area of my right quad/groin.  Needless to say, it was something that required almost immediate surgery.  I have a fantastic surgeon that repaired almost the exact same area on the left side numerous years ago. (Props to Dr. Thusay) He took excellent care of me, repaired the area, and got me back on my feet quickly.

I’d love to tell you that I shot right through the recovery and bounced back to running…but NO!  During the second week of recovery, I got pneumonia!  I’ve never had it in my life and this kind of scared me.  I was unable to breathe properly, congested, fever and had zero energy.  I slept in the upright position in my recliner just to maintain an airway.  My family doctor (Dr. Odeh…also a hero of mine) attacked the illness immediately and with heavy doses of medicines.  It was a slow recovery and I’m ever so grateful for the caregivers in my life.  Huge props to my work people for keeping tabs on me and sending positive MoJo my direction!  It was much appreciated.

Once I was given the green light to get back to walking, I went after it with a fury.  I knew that it was in my best interest to get back to moving as much, and as often as possible in order to restore the bodies flexibility.  In my mind I was thinking, it’s not running, but I’ll take it.  As things turned out, I began to really enjoy my walks.  I found myself catching glimpses of things that I may have missed while out on my runs.  Strangest thing to me was that I felt just as good, if not better than when I was running!

I had to do a follow-up with my family doctor and had a lengthy discussion about my different aches and pains prior to surgery and the new-found happiness with walking.  The doc kind of chuckled and said, “well, you’re not getting any younger”.  For the first time in a long time, those words really hit me.  I’ve always pushed my body to the breaking edge and did so with a recklessness of a teenager!  Yes, I’m an athlete, and yes, I’m growing older.  It was time to set up a plan on how to best approach getting back into shape and not breaking anything further…lol!

Going back to the basics.  That’s what I’ve decided to do.  When I first started running some 34 years ago (this June), I started out walking.  I went from walking to running from tree to tree, and expanded the distance every two weeks.  I’ve decided to continue the walking and do it at a rapid pace to give my body a workout, but give the joints time to heal from the many years of abuse.  I’m getting the cardio that I crave, the “runner’s high” is still there, and I’m enjoying every step!  The strength training has also been reduced to the basics.  I’ve started out with basic push-ups and crunches.  I’ll continue to up the number each day and begin to add in side crunches, planks and a few other exercises to get things in order.  The most important change I’ve made was switching my diet to 12 hours on (eating) and 12 hours off…along with writing down everything that finds its way into my stomach!  If you have to write it down and look at it, you’re more likely to really think about what you’re doing.  It’s just holding yourself accountable.  I’m about 6 weeks into this and at  4 weeks, I’d lost 6 lbs.  I have a set goal in mind that I’d like to achieve by fall, but that’ll be kept in my  own head…lol!

I signed up last year for both the 21 miler (Big Sur California) and a 50 miler Ultra Marathon in Illinois (Hennepin 50 miler).  I totally plan on achieving both of these…walking!  I’m excited for California because it’s such a beautiful coastline and again, if I’m walking, I’ll probably see things that I wasn’t paying attention to when running.  The pressure is far less as the cut off pace is an 18:30 minute mile.  I’m currently training at a 14:30 or lower on most walks.  The 50 miler will be a challenge no matter how you slice it.  Anyone that’s ever walked higher distances knows, it can be brutal.  I have a training schedule set up and will work the entire summer to get it done.

So, for those of you out there that may be in the same boat as me, or you just want to change things up in your life.  Go back to the basics.  Allow yourself the time to make things right again.  Allow yourself to find beauty in every step you take.  There’s a great big beautiful world out there just waiting for you to see it!  I highly recommend you do so on you own two feet!  That’s my plan as an aging athlete.  I will still tell you to #neverquit and #neverstop !

So it’s off to the West Coast and taking in the Ragged Coast!  I’ll share my adventure, as I always do.  Just know that I’ll have my mind on Record the entire time.  I don’t want to miss a single moment!

I’ll see you on the road!

~Zombie~