Running from a camel.

Thirty years of my life was defined by something I did.  You have probably heard "I'd walk a mile for a camel".  I was a slave to cigarettes for over 30 years.  In 1998 because of a diagnosis by a doctor to my wife, I smoked my last one.  The doctor indicated to her that she had the early stages of emphysema.  I do believe that the diagnosis was wrong, but it did provide the kick in the butt I needed to get me to quit.  About a month later I was beginning to put on some weight and I decided to start walking to try to control my weight gain.  I didn't have the patience for walking so I thought I would try running.  What a novel idea.  I could cover twice the distance in half the time.  It wasn't long before I had built my distance up to 6 miles.  I was running 5 to 6 days a week before too long.  I ran my first 10K race in the spring of 1999.  On October 28, 2001 I decided to see how many days in a row I could run.  On October 29, 2001 the first day of a string of days in a row started that is still intact.  December 31, 2011 was day number 3716.  I have ran 12,470 miles during that time.  That is an average of 3.35 miles per day.  Just like I said at the beginning that thirty years of my life was defined by something I did, now the last ten years is defined by something I do.  I run every day.  I have a picture of the camel from the cigarette pack at work with the following caption......How far would you walk for one?....I run 3 miles a day to stay away from one!