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Jason Myers: Why I Run You know, until I received this email I hadn’t really given it much thought. Now that I’ve been asked the question let me try to put in words how I feel. I was a corporate ladder climber for over 5 years right out of college and really sacrificed a lot to accomplish my professional goals. Looking back, I realize the single greatest sacrifice was my health awareness. I was a fit 195 lbs when I left for college to play football. Through the years I played sports and never had any “extra” baggage if you will. When I stopped playing football I was content with my 225lb frame and thought I could keep things in check with regular exercise and diet. In July of 2006 I had reached nearly 280 lbs and was really having issues with my overall feelings about myself as well as being scarily unhealthy. My Mother, who raised and supported me my entire life, was in year one of having a radical mastectomy and was having her own health issues and I decided enough was enough. My Father had lung cancer and now my Mother was having issues? What am I due for with the unhealthy lifestyle I was living? Now let me explain…I have never smoked, have the occasional cocktail but fast food was the staple of my diet and I essentially stopped exercising. I went cold turkey on the fast food and started eating more healthy. I began jogging and found some really great friends and support groups to run with. I have had recurring leg injuries, but wasn’t going to let them stop me for my first attempt at an endurance run in December of 2006. I found out 10 days before my first half marathon that my Mother’s cancer had returned in her existing breast. I was now running with her as my inspiration. She had her surgery on Friday December 1st and was emphatic that I run the race on Sunday the third. I was by her side in Gainesville and drove down to West Palm Beach to run my first half marathon. I ran every mile thinking about what she and the many other cancer patients had and were going through. I finished my race with two leg injuries and with extremely humid and hot conditions, but I finished. She was so proud of me and I of myself for accomplishing this simple yet important goal. Since August I’ve lost nearly 45 pounds with about 20 to go and just finished my second half marathon in Miami on January 28th. This time my proud Mother was there to support me. You would have thought I was the only person running even though there were over 10,000 runners. She won’t be there for every race in my life, but she’ll always be in my thoughts traveling with me every mile. Jason Myers
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Jason wrote: I saw Ian and Tracy's stories and figured I'd submit (to the club's web site) what I sent to the A1A folks a couple of weeks ago. It was apparently a contest which I was unaware of. I was out to a quick start as one of the 10 finalists, but have faded like my recent half marathons! Anyway, here's a little bit about why I run and a pic if you wish to post it.