John

Today while I was running I once again saw this guy.He is in his 50s with Einstein hair and big full mustache. I see him all the time running with somebody and if I'm there long enough I see him again with somebody else.  This guy is great-this guy reminds me of John.

I met John 30 years ago. I was trying to run a lot during my that summer break so I was out almost every morning trying my best to improve. John was also out almost every morning but for different reasons. John was in his late thirties and loved to run.So seeing each other on the roads we were bound to end up running together. The great thing about John is that he would run whatever you wanted to run. He just wanted to run! Five miles at a 7min pace-he was there. Hill workout, right there with you. He was happy to meet you anywhere (most of the time he would run there). John was a pure runner. Never even wore a watch. Never did a race because it just wasn't his thing. It wasn't that he couldn't keep up. Hell I never saw him drop back!

The cool thing also was the talks. He would talk about anything. We would go out on these long runs (of unknown distance because he never measured them). And he would tell me about all the places he ran. He worked for an airline and he would take these trips to different cities and just run. What a great way to see a new place!

Come to find out John just wasn't just a great guy to run with but he was also a great guy all around. He was heavily involved in his church. He lived in a small house with a big flat backyard that was mostly a vegetable garden. What he didn't eat (he was really big into growing what he ate) he gave away to the older members and anybody who needed help in his church.

John I hope your still running and enjoying the wonders of the world.

More to come.....