I was in college from 1980-1984.  I successfully completed my studies and graduated with a double major during the course of those four years.

I met a person there in NE Pennsylvania; he was one of my professors.  This man taught a good class and he was head of the department for one of my two majors.  A good guy.

When graduation day came, I grabbed my diploma and hit the road, figuring I’d never see/talk to any of the people and/or professors ever again.

Funny how things change.

Now, you all know that MFH (My Favorite Husband) and I moved to Mississippi 5.5 years ago.  Come to find out that my professor moved from the NE corner of PA to Mississippi as well!  Small world.  Somehow, we found out that we were living in the same state and became FB friends.  That’s cool.

Now, for the story (that was just a bit of background).

My Freshman year of college, this professor was a tall and pudgy man.  He taught his classes and all, but none of us gave him much notice other than attending classes and doing our assignments.  During second semester, every now and then, you would spot him trying to “run” around the campus in sweat pants and a sweat shirt.  He would be wearing Adidas shoes and a stocking cap (it is cold in PA!).  Other than noticing this, that was about it.

My Sophomore year arrived and I remember unpacking my stuff.  While I was carrying boxes into my dorm, this tall, very trim guy zoomed past me.  He was running.  Fast!  I looked and it was my professor! Wowzers but he had dropped a lot of weight and he was flying around that campus.  He was no longer wearing the sweats.  He was in some serious running gear and he meant business.

During my last three years of college, that man qualified and ran Boston twice.  He was very serious about his running and he was good at it.  BOOM!

Thinking back on it now, he was in his mid forties.  I was amazed at how he had transformed himself.  Impressed!

So, here I am.  I’ll be 53 in 1.5 weeks and am trying to transform myself into a runner`just like he did.

He had youth on his side all those years ago.  BUT, he did it!  I’m working on it.

When I started running and he asked to be on my FL, he was a great motivator to me.  He would send nice, encouraging notes, telling me to hang in there and that I could do it.

This past December, when I posted I had reach my 2014 goal of 1600 miles, bless his heart, he told me his highest mileage year was 2400 miles.  I have a way to go, huh?  He is always challenging me.  Good!  I need that!

So, yesterday, when I posted about getting sponsored from Honey Stinger, he commented on that post:  “So good to have you as a FB friend. I now realize that I was not an obsessive runner! Go for it!!!!”

Haha!!!  That’s awesome!

He is 75 years old now and no longer runs.  He was in a bad car accident a few years ago that messed up his back.  He’s not sitting around, though.  Nope!  Now, he is a competitive mountain biker!  How about that!!!

Pretty awesome guy.

Pic from today’s 12 miler.  Had a little bit of company!  🙂