On the GoGo with PoPo!

Same old view

Just a quick thought before I head home from chilly Ankeny, IA ... I spend a great deal of my life behind the wheel of my company issued 2009 Dodge Avenger.
("The AVENGER!" ... sounds like a Jon Favreau directed super hero movie!)  When I'm driving, I see a lot of things ... some weird, but mostly just white, dashed highway lines as they pass rhythmically beside my car.

What the ...

I am in total control of the direction and how fast I travel.  When I push it a little too hard in Scottsbluff, NE (allegedly) ... I get a friendly "Welcome to our State", from the Highway PoPo.  When I'm a little late (emphasis on VERY FREAKING LITTLE!!!) through a "Big Brother" camera traffic light in Council Bluffs, IA ... I receive an invitation to donate to the city's party fund in the mail.  But it's all really my choice.

Giant cowboy in a corn field

I've found with running, and life I suppose, its the same way.  Sure I can push the speed & overwork envelope at times and maybe not get caught.  I can refuse to stretch every once in a while and nothing bad happens.  I can occasionally eat a whole bag of cookies or chips (or both) and not chuk them the next morning. I mean I've got an iron-gut, right?  But if carry out my irresponsible training habits long enough, eventually and without fail, the injuries, fatigue, and stomach problems pull me over to the side of the road and issue me a "Hey buddy, what do you think you're doing!"



I see you, PoPo!

 But like my grandpa used to say, "Measure twice - cut once!  Measure once - cut twice!"  Okay, that's a stretch ... but it means just do it right the first time!  Why not just train properly?  Why not stretch without fail?  Why not eat a yummy broccoli spear instead of whole cake? (Because it's FREAKING DELICIOUS, that's why!)  But don't we just save ourselves a lot aggravation if we make the conscience choice to do the right thing, from the beginning?

So thank you Officer Stevenson.  You made me a better runner today!  I get it.  I will obey. 
... be great today!