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My fat face might not really show here unless you click on the picture to enlarge the view. Honestly, I feel as trim as I’ve been in twenty years. I can’t explain that fat face. I was in a conversation with Susan at our Christmas party the other night and she made the statement that I don’t have a runner’s body. I forget where she was going with that. I probably didn’t let her finish. I remember my response. I know my leg length is less than optimal. Oh, and I have a bit of a paunch. But I have 40 years of experience that gives me good running form. My college track coach used to film me running quarter mile intervals for his Kinesiology class because he believed I had perfect running form. My calves are oddly large – a product of running on my fore foot. And my cardio system might have a predisposition for aerobic sports. Not only is my resting heart rate under 50 beats per minute, but my 23andme DNA results suggest I’m a natural aerobic athlete.
I guess the fat face and double chin just come with age. That’s fine. So is the paunch. The last thing I care to look like is a malnourished Mr. Gumby. I know I don’t have the perfect runner’s body, but I feel like a runner. I am a runner. I read lots of running blogs and some writers suggest what a runner is and who isn’t a runner. I’m no different, I too have a definition of a runner. If you run, and it’s more than just a workout but something you rather enjoy – then you’re a runner. I’m still ecstatic that I got back into running 5 or 6 years ago.
Ran today on the Eagle Trail in 27° and zero wind. I totally over dressed. It was well below 20° earlier in the day but warmed up once I hit the trail. That kept me from running faster and farther but it still felt so nice to get out of my basement and off the elliptical. There’s so much more gravity in the real world, my legs felt the difference in impact. Two day drive to Austin tomorrow so today will be it for awhile. Looking forward to running some of my favorite trails in Austin.
A Runner's Story 
Merry Christmas to you and the family, and have fun in Austin. I hope you get some good weather
– Jed –
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Thanks Jed. Was making good time and would have made it past Amarillo, but a fricken snow squall shut down Hwy 87 and got stuck in Dalhart at a La Quinta Inn.
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As they say, ‘never judge a book by its cover’! You are a runner and you look like a runner to me! Unless you are posting pictures of some other guy running on your blog!
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Thanks Julie. From reading your running blog, I think you understand.
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First of all, if you’re not a runner, then why is it that’s all we talk about when we see each other? Secondly, your face isn’t fat. It’s “husky”.
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Good point Chris. So if you talk about running, then you’re a runner. Problem is I don’t think that skin is from my face. I suspect it might be all chin.
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Talking about running doesn’t necessarily make you a runner, unless it’s at the rate we do, then it does. And perhaps you just pulled that cap on to forcefully.
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Ed, either you’ve been writing fiction in all these blog posts, or you’re one heck of a runner. A runner runs because they LOVE RUNNING, not just to lose weight or train for football or meet people (although those are all great and valid reasons to run). You obviously love running, and I’ve never once read you complaining about having to run in the dark or in the rain or when you were tired. You run because you love it, which I suppose frees you from feeling like you “have to” run to achieve some other goal. And about the fat face: although I don’t agree that a fat face and a paunch is something that has to happen to a man as he ages, I do think what matters more is being comfortable with who you are, fat face or no fat face. It also helps if you run faster and farther with your fat face than other guys your age who have thin faces.
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Thanks George. I should be forthcoming and admit that I don’t let embellishment get in the way of a good story. But I do love running. Or hiking. Or doing anything with Rob Graham. Because those experiences are oftentimes transcendent. Can’t believe I’m still doing it.
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