Bartlett

God bless my wife.

If I bump into a running friend, she gets that look you get when you’re about to hear the story of your Aunt Edna’s gall bladder surgery — for the fourth time.

Yes, runners speak a different language.

Most of it revolves around one of four things — running shoes/gear, upcoming races, training plans and the weather.

Many times, even if you barely know a fellow runner, you find yourself talking about black toenails, porta potties and the time you had to use a leaf for TP when you got too far from home and mother nature came calling.

The best part of running or exercise in general is the fact it’s almost impossible to find a truly unhappy person who does some type of exercise on a daily basis.

Why? It’s those little creatures that dance around in all of our brains called endorphins that are dying to get out but find themselves trapped — far too often unable to escape and show what they are capable of.

Do you think we would have all the hatred we have in our world if more people just found more healthier outlets like walking, jogging, running, lifting?

I think not.

True, it’s not easy to take on new habits. The key is to start super slow and work on being as consistent as possible without beating yourself up if you take a step back or miss a day or two.

I didn’t start running until I was 48, and next month (April 20), I’ll participate in my eighth Boston Marathon.

It started innocently enough. My eldest son was a very good high school runner and a buddy convinced him to run a 5K in Bedford, where first place was two free rounds of golf at Bedford Springs.

I told him to do it, but he insisted I join him or he would take his brother if he won. So I reluctantly agreed (I mean this is Bedford Springs).

At the time my long run was three miles, and that included a walk break halfway through. I told him no way I can run three consecutive miles.

So I started way in the back and found myself running what I thought was pretty slow but continued passing most of the group untilI found myself at the end, drenched and with a little $5 medal for first place in my age group. (OK, my age group only included two runners but still).

From there, it was all over. The competitive Joneses had been ignited. Every weekend, I scoured the web for 5Ks.

I think we bypassed groceries a few weeks because of this new, healthy addiction.

I’m 61 now with over 45 marathons in the rear-view mirror. The bottom line is that you are capable of things maybe you currently think are impossible.

If you haven’t touched a dumbbell or walked further than your mailbox in 10 years, of course your knees, ankles, quads, biceps are going to revolt.

But if you hang in, one day those pants you needed a shoehorn to squeeze into will end up in a yard sale because you’ve lost some pounds.

We actually had a week where short pants and legs made appearances, and many came out of hibernation to hit the streets. So just remember: Jan. 1 resolutions don’t have to be on Jan. 1.

They can be today.

Find a friend and keep each other accountable. If mornings work best, lay out your clothes the night before.

And always remember, the hardest part is whipping off the blankets.

Jeff Bartlett resides in Bellwood. He is an occasional contributor to Voice of the Fan.