Turning away from the couch . . .

How did I get to this point? What was the motivation to turn from a life of work, come home, sit on the couch and watch TV, surf the Internet, go to sleep, repeat; to a life as an undercover athlete you may ask? I will tell you simply; I couldn't let my wife beat me. It's the pride thing you know.
I have been married for about 22 years, my youngest son was almost through high school, and I had gained a lot of weight over my marriage. I was starting to push the 300lbs that mark the top of the bathroom scale, where getting up in the morning was becoming an aerobic event. My breathing was sounding more and more like Darth Vader doing the StairMaster.
I was shocked I was in this state, but it was my own fault. When my wife was pregnant with our first child, I was a social eater that couldn't bear for her to have to eat alone. So if she wanted ice cream - I ate ice cream. If she wanted a coke Slurpee - I had a coke Slurpee. Then she betrayed me and had the child - lost like 25lbs in a single week. Me? I kept my 25, and then added another 25, with our next one.
Then about six years ago, my wife made the dreaded New Year's Resolution to 'get in shape' and lose a couple of pounds. She also 'invited me' along for the ride. I figured 'what the hell', we'll get up for a couple of days early before she goes to work, walk the neighborhood and quit before the end of the month. So I said, "Sure, let's do it."
That first day was a quick walk around the neighborhood, through the little park in the heart of the block and then back to the house. Easily less than a mile, but I was spent.
"That was great," my wife says.
"You betcha," I reply, full and well figuring we have only a couple of more days to do this.
But she surprises me - she continues for the rest of January and beyond. Not only that, she starts to want to run as we enter the park and not stop till we get out of the park on the other side. Next day I figure, "Fine, I'll see your run through the park and continue down the street to the corner." Over the next few weeks this continues, with each of us pushing further and further down the road; "To the two-story house," she says; "To the for sale sign," I say; "Across the street," she says; "To the lake," I say. Before you know it, our morning walks are about two miles long.
We start to run not only through the park, but around the park. A map as you enter our park lets you know that this one walking path is about a one quarter mile loop. We start to run the loop. On March 19 of that year, I run my first mile since high school. It is a red letter day. I am filled with such pride I can hardly believe it. But the best part is my wife is still behind me, not quite ready to run her first mile. I have one of my few short lived victories over her at this point. I am happy. . .I've lost twenty pounds. . .Life is good, but the legs are sore.

As so it begins. . .

Hey there and welcome to my blog. I am starting this blog to document the many adventures I have undertaken all in the name of getting fit and staying in shape. I have been wanting to do this for a while, but never took the plunge. So please sit back and let me tell you of my trials and my tales. . .