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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, February Happy-Hipp- o Four friends and myself are training for a Five mile race in March. How we actually talked each other in to paying a $30 entrance fee shows how stupid group think can be. As we slowly plod 18, 2004 - Page 16 and corn and grass. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. So here we are, four slow running men enduring a midlife crisis for a To add insult to injury, the four men are routinely run into the ground by my too kind and one step after another, there are no end of people who drive by and ask us loving wife, who can if we need them to only train twice a week because of her call an ambulance. by Gary Torres hectic motherly duOne lady offers me a ties. Pepsi, which I would I We started running in Januaccept if could breath. UsuI ally just make a wheeezzzing ary, but it was too cold, so we noise and gulp my next breath. ran only one or two times a We run together a few times week. Lately, we have been a week. Running together running about four times a helps us and motivates us to week. Each run is roughly two to four miles and on Saturday keep going. Maybe we run towe run Five miles. gether so we can face the emOkay, most of you are saybarrassment together: misery does loves company. know Five miles doesnt seem like a long way. In a car it probably is not. However, running it too when you are forty-ish- , heavy, and out of shape makes it feel like a long way. When Bubba drives by he always says, Your heart is only good for so many beats, I and thats it... Dont waste them on exercise. Speeding up your heart will NOT make you live longer; thats like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap. The from his truck clouds our faces as he pulls away. Our training schedule is not rigorous, but in our defense we do all have day jobs, church carbon-dioxid- callings, and kids. can almost hear the theme song from Chariots of Fire playing on the piano. Jeff is holding Bills empty sleeve for inspiration and I keep I that I am almost cer- tain we must be an inspiring sight, that we might even be role models. Bill, with a Standford education, quips, Yeah, more Susanne, have considered as saintly as my own mother, leans out the car window as she drives by and says, Hey, whom She Load. drives off waving. All this reminds me of of the the story hippopotamus who wanted to be a tiger, so he painted a stripe on himself. But that didnt fool anyone. So he decided to be like the Caution-Wid- e jaguar and painted a spot on himself. But that didnt fool telling the group like roll models. My neighbor one of you needs to put a sign on your backside that says I anyone either. He was what he was. He couldnt change what he was. He needed to be happy with who he was: he discovered he might as well be a happy hippo. For all the time we spend running, you might think that we would be getting better at it, but we are not. As much as we would like to be a tiger or jaguar, really we are a great M ots I TWt 340 West (970) 565-938- You r . . . LteRH? Mi Where do YOU begin? for 30 Years! Call the Utah Foster Care Foundation to talk with a representative and to receive an information or toll free packet at 435-259-334- Cortez, CO 81321 4 FAX: (970) 5, Strengthen a Family . . . . Become a Foster Parent 565-109- 6 d Your family can make a difference in the life of a child by providing a safe and loving home TAX OFFICE Serving deal more like a happy hippo. But, I have decided that I dont run because I am like a tiger or jaguar, but because I am a happy hippo that likes to run. I am a slow, middle of the pack runner that runs most days just because I can. I run because it clears my head. I run because it gives me a chance to think. I run because it gives me time to talk to friends. I dont run fast or very long. Truth is, I like to run. Even if I am just a happy hippo. So this article is dedicated to all those people who work out, exercise, walk, jog, or bike. Well run as fast as we can, or as slow as we need to. One step at a time, well discover each other-anourselves. Waddle on, friends: be a happy hippo. So if you are considering giving up on those New Year resolutions, DONT!! The miracle isnt that I FinThe miracle is that I ished had the courage to start. What can YOU do? e mortgages, It isnt likely that 30-ye- ing that you could that. And you are right, you can. So get out there and sign up for a race and try it. You can even run with us if you arent embarrassed to be seen with such a rag-ta- g sorry looking lot. As the four plump and one skinny bodies break the crest of the hill, If not YOU, then WHO? Utah Foster Care www. UtahFosterCare.org FOUNDATION Serving San Juan County Since 1957 Licensed Electrical Contractor ar NIKE is going to want to sign us for a shoe contract any time soon. Although more runners look like us than like the sleek Kenyans that typically get the shoe endorsements. In fact, just about everybody at the race looks like us. We often have inspiring talks as we run. To keep the group going, I quote an article that I read about how much Commercial Residential David Johnson 678-237- Eric Trenching 6 Johrson 678-355- 4 Call Us For Prompt And Efficient Service No Job Too Large Or Too Small QMBasiZteGiaaaBDo 335167812415 healthier runners are. This improved health is primarily due to the cardiovascular workout and runners tend to eat better. Just think of some of the advantages of participating in a San Juan DENTAL regular exercise program. Between gasping breathes, Trent whispers, I cant think of a single one! My philosophy is: No Pain - Good! Trying to stay positive, I counter and say that since we are running we have changed, we are better people, we even eat healthier. Because of our constant battle of the bulge, we have all toyed with the Atkins Diet, so I tell them since we are running we need more carbohydrates and we should cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables. Jeff, (who always says, If there is two things I know, it is women and cows) spews out with labored breath, You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay Gentle Dentistry thruTechnology 3o Dr. G.O. Miller, DDS Dr. Brian J. Coodwine, DDS FAMILY DENTISTRY AND ORTHODONTICS Smokeless tobacco delivers four times more nicotine than cigarettes. No wonder you're spending your family's hard-earne- 217 S 100 W Monticello, Utah 84535 Open: Monday thru Friday d grocery money on something not worth a spit. Just another example of how tobacco affects us all. To quit, call 1- -8 8 or visit utahquitnet.com The TRUTH |