I had one thought on my mind today when something completely out of the blue happened to change that, so it's 2 for the price of one. Both are true to life; first off, my racing times have slowed over the past few years, yeah I know I'm old. Doesn't mean I've forgotten how to run fast or what needs to be done to get faster and I have hopes of rebounding a little. I don't recover as fast either because I have a bit of arthritis in my knees, very common and totally manageable. So when I hear people say moronic things like, "Running is bad for your knees," I cringe. Like Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid." Running, like most exercises, when done properly is not only NOT bad for your knees but it actually increases bone density and strengthens joints. I could go on and on about long term studies (runners vs non-runners including those that have quit running - highest incidence if arthritis is in non-runners; studied since 1st 'running boom'), New England Journal of Medicine yada, yada, yada. Life has taught me a lot and these lessons get reinforced everyday...99/100 someone who is wrong almost physically can NOT admit when they are wrong. They just can't, even when proven so, they go into 'Fonzie' mode, "I was wrrrrr...I was wrrrrr...." they can't do it. True story (about knees), my dearest childhood friend, pretty much grew up with him (yes, I know the argument could be made neither of us 'grew up') could not have been more different than me. Here I was/am roguish, charming, irresisitable (okay, okay)...Actually I've played sports from my earliest memory, any sport - all sports. Not him, he never ran.....ever, even if he had to pee really bad. He was great in math, very artistic and musically talented and I (to this day) can't carry a tune in a bucket or draw a straight line. He hasn't run a 5K cummutively in his adult life, while I've completed 56 marathons. Now I have a 'tinge' of arthritis in my knees and he's had both of his knees replaced in the last year. So practice good form, stay strong (xtrain/weights) and there's no reason you can't run for years on those knees. Speaking of friends, many who've read my writings know how I encourage people to give 'flowers' to the living. A lot happens when someone near to you passes and I think the worst is our sense of loss. You miss them, and there's no opportunity to see them again...ever. I think we cry not for the person but for ourselves because we know how badly we're going to miss them and their leaving us was a stark realization, the so called cold bucket of reality. Michael O'Connor was the Fire Chief of north Shelby County. He was an accomplished marathoner and IronMan triathlete. His wife Nelle was a 'casual' runner who completed the C210K program a few years back so she and Mike could run together on occasion. I ran with Big Mike many a mile on many a Sunday morning and this guy made Tony Robbins sound like Eeyore; always upbeat, always positive and looking for that next challenge. So needless to say I was shocked and saddened when I heard today that Mike was taken from us by a stroke. The body that he took such good care of ultimately failed him and you know what he'd say? "Yeah but Danny, but it's given me so many good miles..." and, of course, he would be right. Please, enjoy your runs, your races, your accomplishments but enjoy your running family more - yeah, your family too, that goes without saying...sheesh. When you run and train with someone you see them when life is a breeze and you see them struggle mightily. Yet they are glad you are there with them just, well, just because. We know, how it feels to PR and how it feels to need to crawl that last mile, we understand each other, even without words. So to my running friends, when I wish you well in a race...I really mean it, probably more than you know. I'm glad you're there for me and when we're not running together, I miss you. Really. I like how we can run together maybe only once a month yet pick right up where we left off. I know season's change, people change and time marches on, but for all of you who've escorted me through the miles, thank you...I love running with you; and Big Mike, I'm gonna miss you.