Paul Cook’s Running Diary

Eleven years and forty pounds later, I have decided to return to long-distance running. There is no turning back now because commercials are being broadcast on the radio station proclaiming “680’s own Paul Cook (gulp) is heading to Barbados this December to participate in Joints In Motion. Join him at the Run Barbados marathon, half marathon or 10K race.” Yep, that is what it said on the radio. Can’t rewind that. I am now committed to a goal, and more importantly — a terrific cause. It’s a key fundraiser for the Arthritis Society. Nearly 4.5-million Canadians live with arthritis, which is the leading cause of long-term disability.

It would have been easier to just make a donation, but instead of putting my money where my mouth is, I am putting my running shoes there, and I am letting my soon-to-be “achy breaky” feet do the talking. Now everyone knows, pride is on the line. Nothing like the public humiliation method to get one’s self back into shape. I toyed with the idea of running the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles, but my wife, Stephanie,  a.k.a “The Goddess,” suggested I set the bar at a level more appropriate to my current level of fitness and age and run a half marathon instead. Okay, I admit it, four years of croquet in the summer and curling in the winter haven’t exactly kept me in marathon shape. I used to run marathons — eight of them. When I quit smoking on August 3rd, 1990, at 2:03 p.m., I desperately needed something to help me shed the automatic twenty-pound weight gain and to keep it off. So I kicked it Forrest Gump-style and trained and trained, and eventually ran my first ever marathon in New York City in 1993. When I finished nearly five hours later, I vowed never to run another marathon again. I ran seven more. I ran my last one more than 11 years ago — Mother’s Day 1998  in Ottawa.

So here I am on Father’s Day 2009, writing my very first running blog, putting myself officially on the record. I have managed to talk “The Goddess” into running with me too. She ran the Toronto half marathon in 2007. In the days ahead, I will keep you updated on my progress weekly (and weakly) and hopefully convince some of you to join me in Barbados this December. If you want more information please go to jointsinmotion.ca or phone 1-800-321-1433.