Joe Kelso

My first running experience was a risk/reward, that nearly killed me. It was in the 7th grade that I toed the line at a one mile race both unprepared for the fast start and foolishly underestimating my competition. I would suffer for both miscalculations. The burning/aching/tingling pain I felt was the worst pain I had ever experienced. I made it to the awards podium disoriented and wasted at the inaugural one miler at the (MEO) Milpitas Elementary Olympics. I ran a 5:50 mile and got 3rd place. After the race I dropped to the infield of the track in total cardiac shock/oxygen debt. As I coughed uncontrollably in panic, my dad hovered over me with kind words of accomplishment. You did it, Son! I vowed never to run again. Over twenty years later, my goals have shifted. I now would like to run 5 hours and 50 minutes for 50 miles vs 5 minutes 50 seconds for just one mile. I never would have imagined I would like running this much. I get a tremendous rush from attaining running breakthroughs. Some times a breakthrough takes several months, leading up to a race. Other times it happens during one of my many long and hilly training runs. It's a battle I look forward to every time I lace up the running shoes. I hold nothing back each day. I let it go today. That's all I've got, is today.