Guest Blogger - New Motivation

Let's give a warm welcome to my first guest blogger ever. We'll call him Clinton (from "What Not To Wear"). Clinton comes to us today from Denver, where he does not YET have his own blog. But I think with his keen fashion sense and new found love for running, he might just have one soon. Besides, he thinks I am WAY cooler than I really am, so you gotta love him for that. Take it away Clinton...

(Of course, I had to plug in my commentary at some parts.)

I gained 10 pounds last fall. Nobody said anything to me directly, but I noticed people gagging when I walked by. I knew I was putting on some weight, but when my favorite Ben Sherman pants started getting tight (you know, when the stitches are holding on for dear life) I knew I had to do something about it. In January, my dear (and patient) friend Kristin (you might remember her from my first marathon, she is also running Portland) introduced me to the world of running, Jessica’s POM Blog and Runners World magazine. I was inspired!

Three sources of motivation PLUS an added perk I didn’t expect…other runners! Seeing other people run motivates me, but more importantly, I love looking at runners’ bodies. Why are runners so hot? I have fallen in love with runner’s calves and bums - I don’t mind running slowly just for the view. I live in Denver where the days are hot and the runners are shirtless. We all know that not all runners should be shirtless, but it’s that one you have to look back at when you pass that makes it all worth it.

What have I learned so far?

1. Running drops pounds – I’ve lost the 10 I was trying to get rid of plus an additional three!


2. Bikers hate runners. They want to kick us when they go by. (This might just be a Denver thing or maybe because he's a guy. I know bikers sure don't try to kick me, but then again, I'm me.)


3. Runners are part of a community of athletes, of which I am happy to be a part. Runners will always have something to talk about.


4. Kristin and Jessica are the two most inspirational runners I know (and the most beautiful.) (Can I get a "hell ya?" I swear he typed that, not me.)


5. I want to meet Jessica’s mom to ask her where I can find a runner’s helmet and head-lamp. They don’t sell them in Denver.
   
   Motivation is different for everybody. If it’s watching hotties, being faster than the 9 yr old running faster than you (or the 80 yr old for that matter) or pissing off the bikers, it’s important to share with the people around you. Nothing gets me thinking more about my next run than hearing why others do it to. Speaking of hearing, let’s get Jessica to lisp (from my new braces) her wisdom into an audio podcast so the people running around us at the gym can wonder why we are laughing on the treadmill! (Hell no, that won't happen.)

Thanks Clinton. I think you should sign up for the Portland Marathon too!