Running With Jack: Dare to Dream the Impossible Dream

I planned on taking last night off from training, but had a lot on my mind so went upstairs in the shed and worked out with free weights for a little while. I have been entirely neglecting this and most other cross-training this year and I feel it! My hamstring only seems to bother me now when I sit down too long. Tonight I want to run with my running club, I’ll see if it bothers or not.

I have been looking over the fence at potential races for 2008 and 2009. We’re hoping that we can visit my family in Upstate NY in 2008, so I have been eyeing a couple 50K/50M races in the area. I also plan on completing my first 100K in 2008, but I don’t know when or where. I have also been looking around for a 100 mile event, but they are few and far between in my part of Europe, so will take some extensive travel.

In 2009 I’ll be turning 50, so am looking for a worthy event to celebrate. A special friend of mine has resparked my interest in an ultra that would fit appropriately, but I’m leaving this wrapped up for now.

As I laid in bed last night trying unsuccessfully to sleep the lyrics to a popular song written by Joe Darion flowed through my mind. Hey special friend if you are reading this keep this in mind as you chase your dreams:

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go.

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star.

This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far.

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause.

And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
when I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.