Wow, James….I feel this was written for me, for today, it seems a bit arrogant to feel one essay is for one person. Still, the entire time I read this, it had nothing to do with running and everything with something I’m doing, and yes, I identify with feeling: “It’s too hard and what am I thinking…why am I doing this…??!!”

You wrote this beautifully and powerfully…so inspiring, and saving to reread as often as needed. I know you’ve been successful in many areas of your professional, personal, and physical life…and I don’t think this at all has to do with giving yourself any glory, you genuinely want others to experience what you have, and we don’t give credit to the perseverance and the pushing-through-the-pain-and-failures that successful people go through—often enough.

This is inspiring, and while I can certainly do with the pep talk of developing better exercise habits — this was so much more for me.

From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU.