From Couch to Walt Disney with run GKTW

Been a long time since I last blogged and a lot has happened, but I want to begin with my new journey. On April 8th, 2013 a lot happened for me; I began a journey that would change my lifestyle forever. I began to Run. I'm not quite sure what made me make this decision then or even why. Mid Life Crises, a desire to look better, not wanting to see a therapist, wish to spend more time with wife and kids or maybe because I'm just getting older and fat wasn't so flattering. So at 212 lbs, a size 40+ waist and the inability to run down the block I began to run. I found a couch to 5K app for my Iphone, some music I wanted to hear and started on a five minute warm-up walk. Then the app said RUN well lucky for me it was only 30 seconds before I could WALK again, but after a few cycles that 30 seconds seemed to last forever. I made it home though and wanted to brag about my accomplishment on Facebook and that's when the second thing happened. I like a page called Give Kids The World Village (www.gktw.org), a magical place that grants vacations to children and their families that are going through life changing illnesses. My eldest daughter had the opportunity to visit back in 2009 and I have always had fond memories of there and a desire to give back. Well they had created a new way to give back... RUN GKTW.

This would be a charity run team that would offer the chance to do either the WDW Half Marathon or Full Marathon in January 2014. Disney! A chance to give back! A way to stay committed to running! I was in, I would run the WDW Half;  but there was one small catch. In order to participate you have to raise $3,000. Well I thought about how many people I knew, I have a Marketing/PR degree and I love the cause so I committed to making this happen. My friends and family would support me, or I would create other ways to raise these funds. So on that day things began to change, I went back to the YMCA a few days later and started a weight training plan, and on the 15th of April I bought my first real pair of running shoes. I went for a run that morning on a local trail called the Katy Trail and after feeling like my shoe and foot weren't matching up well I stopped by a local running store. I started trying on shoes with a very helpful sales associate and in the background a race was being run on the big screen. The 117th running of the Boston Marathon was playing and I had no clue what I was really watching. I saw past runners in the store enthralled with these men and women and knew I would never perform at that level but thought a new pair of shoes would at least help me run better. So I tried on quite a few and found one that fit best. The Brooks Ghost 5

, little did I know what would happen a few hours later and how the colors of this shoe would always symbolize to me the strength of a community. So today I start this blog again, a lot has happened since that tragic day and I have come a long way in my running and I look forward to sharing this journey with you the reader. Thanks for taking the time to visit and for more info on my run you can visit my First Giving page at (Matthew WDW Half)  I am very close to my original goal and would enjoy the support if available. May the Road Rise to Meet You!