Why I Run: Something had to change

I am a passionate food lover who has tasted it all. From the perfect cheesesteak at John's Roast Pork to crispy fried pig ears in Charleston, S.C. Need to know the difference between Uni and Unagi or which one pairs best with a raw quail egg? Look no further; I'm your guy.

I'm also the guy who, at 46 years old, was growing a paunch and bordering on high cholesterol. My mother was a Type 2 diabetic who had recently passed away in her mid-60s. I hadn't exercised properly in years. I knew how this story could end. Something had to change.

A friend had planted a seed in my head about the "Couch to 5K" program (C25K) as a way to get fit.  If you're unfamiliar, C25K is available from numerous sources as a free podcast that will gradually take you from sitting on the couch to completing a 5K race over the course of nine weeks. I'm a naturally competitive and goal-oriented person so I figured that if I was working towards a fitness benchmark, it might actually keep me motivated. But keep in mind, at that point in my life, the farthest I had ever ran was the high school 600-yard dash. (30 years later, I still vividly remember nearly ralphing at the end.)

In 2014, on April Fools' Day no less, I started C25K. For the first week of the program, I had to run for 90-second intervals. That was a challenge but I made it through. Yet, as the weeks went on, running quickly became a serious focus.

I naturally started eating less and enjoying a more healthy diet. I loved the way I was changing, inside and out.

I completed my first 5K race on June 1 of 2014 and it was one of the most affirming experiences of my life. From that first 5K, I have gone on to run multiple 5 and 10Ks, in addition to four half marathons. I competed in the challenging Bucks County Road Runners Winter Series, which had me racing through the hilly ice and snow covered terrain of Tyler State Park in Newtown, PA. On Sunday, I took on the Broad Street Run for the first time. In November, I'll participate in the New York City Marathon, a first attempt at the full 26.2-mile distance.

My cholesterol is now at healthy levels and I've lost extra weight — about 50 pounds that I was literally carrying around.

Even as I write these words, I have to remind myself that this is my truth, not fiction or a faraway goal. I really did it! It seems like I'm a different person now; someone who has changed through running.

My wife, kids, family and friends have been incredibly supportive and proud. I never intended to be an inspiration but I've learned that my change has sparked others to also get themselves "off the couch" and run. If this was possible for me, it is possible for almost anyone.

So, why do I run? Julia Child once said "life itself is the proper binge" and she was so right. Running has given me a new perspective and a healthy counterbalance that I was sorely missing. I will continue to strive for new goals and let life itself be my binge. This is why I run.

When Jeff isn't running marathons he can be found running his kids to baseball and dance practice all around Bucks County, PA.

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