The Road to 140.6

Over the next three months, Chas and Brooks will share their paths to Iron.  Brooks' began somewhere around here:

April 1992- Maximum Density

Not pretty.  We call these "fat daddy" pictures.  Pushing 210 from a fighting weight of 160 entering Williams eight years earlier.  Here's how that happens over time:  Eat too much + drink too much + minimal physical exertion + slowing metabolism = Need for Change.  (Alison's two comments about the photo "can't believe I'm wearing stockings" and, just to make me feel better, "I don't remember thinking you were that fat when you were that fat".  For better or worse...........)

Having a kid is all the motivation one needs to kick into gear on many fronts.  I had been disappointed with my physical state for a few years and it was time to do something about it.  Amazing what happens when you eat less and exercise more- from September 1992-January 1993, I shed 50 pounds.  The exercise piece started on the bike.  Got the old 10 speed tuned up and started hitting the back roads around New Canaan, CT- beautiful country.  As winter kicked in, I needed another outlet and tried running.  My dad was still putting away the miles at that point so I grabbed a used pair of his running shoes and took the first steps.  They were slow at first, but it wasn't long before I was officially a runner.  Followed the normal progression- 5k's, 10k's over the first few years.  In 1995, the thought of a marathon started creeping into the picture.  Who could I talk into joining me?  Chas, of course, and the marathon years started in 1996- more on those soon.

April 1993- That's more like it.........