Today\u2019s \u201cBehind the Mic\u201d blog is written by long time RCN personality Scott Barr. Scott\u2019s on-air career began in 1984 with the District XI Girl\u2019s Tennis Championship, won by Monica Yurkonic. Since that debut, he has covered a wide range of sports, including kick boxing, track and field, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, football, and baseball. Most of our viewers, of course, will know him for his work with District XI wrestling. The 2013-14 season was Scott\u2019s 30th season covering \u201cthe nation\u2019s best high school wrestling.\u201d Fans across the valley have heard him call \u201cGive him six!\u201d after a pin, while working with three legends of Lehigh Valley sports\u2014Gary Laubach, Ray Nunamaker, and Jim Best. Outside of RCN, Scott helps small businesses set up retirement plans for their employees, and lives in Macungie with his wife, Melissa, and their four children, ages 6 to 22!<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI got an odd voicemail a couple of weeks ago. It was my dental hygienist, saying, \u201cScott\u2014please give me a call in the office when you get a chance.\u201d I thought, \u201cShoot. This is bad. I missed an appointment, or they want to do something to my mouth that will hurt.\u201d I took a deep breath and called back.<\/p>\n
She wanted to know the name of the store where I get my running shoes, because she knew I was a \u201creal runner.\u201d Pleasantly surprised, I told her. Then I hung up the phone and laughed out loud. Just three years ago, that call could not have happened.<\/p>\n
Dozens of RCN TV viewers have seen what has happened to me over those three years, and sheepishly asked if I was \u201cOK\u201d. They\u2019ve seen my weight loss\u2014about 40 pounds, and thought, \u201cMaybe he\u2019s really, really sick.\u201d I\u2019m not. In fact, it\u2019s quite the opposite. I\u2019ve never, ever been healthier.<\/p>\n
I was exactly like a lot of those same viewers. I \u201cused to be\u201d in shape, and I certainly wasn\u2019t out of shape. Basically I was getting through my years of parenthood, career, and life in general\u2014and not feeling badly about it. One night, I read a Facebook post from a work friend of mine, who happens to be a 40-something year old mother of two. She posted that she was going to Montana to participate in a triathlon! I thought, \u201cGood for her!\u201d Then, I thought, \u201cWhy am I reading about this?\u201d The next day, I bought a new pair of sneakers,and took off.<\/p>\n
I remember my first \u201crun\u201d well. I knew I should start slowly, so I targeted just one mile. I didn\u2019t make it. After a slow, shuffling jog that lasted three minutes, I started looking around for anyone who looked like they had knowledge of CPR. I walked for three minutes before I started shuffling for another three. Back to walking, then three minutes of shuffling. After 21 minutes, I was done. I may have covered that mile but it was ugly. Really, really ugly. It was June 30, 2011.<\/p>\n
The next day, I did it again.<\/p>\n
I won\u2019t bore you with the details of the next three years, unless you ask me in person\u2014in which case you may regret asking. There were MANY aches and a few pains. I learned a lot about running equipment, nutrition, hydration and my body. I discovered that Lady Gaga is a really great artist to accompany my runs. I learned that I wasn\u2019t alone in this journey. I met Bart Yasso. I chatted, during a race, with 1992 Olympian Summer Sanders. I got a high-five, during a training run, from a bride in her wedding gown! I found out that I could run a 5K. Then a 10K. I ran four half-marathons of 13.1 miles each, and now I\u2019m training for \u201cthe full\u201d\u2014a 26.2 mile marathon that starts at the Lehigh Valley Hospital and ends in downtown Easton. And I want to do it in 3 hours and 30 minutes. How crazy is that?<\/p>\n
You can do it, too. You will look silly at first, but really\u2014nobody cares. You will hurt, but after you learn how to stretch, and get the right shoes, it will be a \u201cgood hurt.\u201d I prefer to run alone, but there are lots of groups you can join to keep you motivated. Most importantly, you will discover something inside that has been hiding since high school. My mantra, early on, was, \u201cI\u2019m taking it back.\u201d I\u2019ll soon be 52 years old; I am just now discovering that I had no idea what this old set of bowed legs can do.<\/p>\n
The toughest stretch of every run, even today, is from the couch to the front door. Conquer that stretch, and start taking YOURS back. It\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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