YOU are getting old if ANY of these apply:

1. You are always talking about your health. (No one else cares that much)
2. You don’t have music in your life. (outside of church)
3. You don’t enjoy food (or have a good appetite.)
4. You don’t care about sex (and don’t have a good imagination.)
5. You don’t go outside and play. (and your house smells like a nursing home)
6. You aren’t making new friends. (your old friends are fading away)
7. You brag about feeling good. (you know that it can change in a minute)
8. You don’t like dogs. (Really? Not even puppies?)
9. You don’t read books. (The mind is a terrible thing to waste)

OOPS! and Number 10, for runners, YOU are getting old IF: You stop running.

Every day you get a chance for a fresh start. Is your next step forward or back?
I suggest THE NEXT STEP

THE NEXT STEP http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999/
THE NEXT STEP E BOOK http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999/

What would you do if you had to restart your life? Begin again? What would be your first step?

2011 saw the release of Amanda Knox, an American student, from an Italian prison. Finally acquitted of the murder of her room-mate, she returned home with a second chance for her young life. Imagine the choices ahead of her. What should she do next?

Her story is not unlike that of David Camden, the hero of THE NEXT STEP. With the help and guidance of his friend, a chaplain at Illinois’ Statesville prison, he has earned parole and he is back in the world at the age of 41.

Because he has dangerous enemies, David’s fresh start has to be in another state. There he finds a purpose and a love that he cannot afford to lose—but new enemies who want to take them away. Not without risk, David chooses well and begins to live a useful life.

He discovers that no one can take forward steps alone. As he says, “At every step forward, I needed help. And there was always someone willing to give me a hand, sometimes a crutch, sometimes a push…”
These days, David and Amanda Knox are not the only ones who need a new start. Lives are constantly being affected by calamities such as downsizing, outsourcing, unemployment and foreclosures. It is not unusual to need a fresh start. The question is: will the next step be forward or backward, toward success or failure?

The answer is: we can choose a fresh start every day when we look at our lives with new eyes and listen to our best impulses.

Read THE NEXT STEP to find the heart of a hero and to learn why a true hero deserves a second chance.

THE NEXT STEP http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999/
THE NEXT STEP E BOOK http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230

Consistency itself is not a virtue, but there can be no virtue without it. Think of it this way: you may make a great shot while playing golf, but that does not make you a great golfer. Great golfers make great shots consistently.

I suppose most runners are proud of their accomplishments. How far they’ve gone and how fast. How many races they’ve run. Like golfers who consistently make great shots. But runners need to be consistent too. The woods are full of those who run “once in a while” and full of those who like to talk about their running, but have excuses. “No time.” “Too hot.” “Too cold.” “Bad knee.” Etc.

In the long run (pun intended) it’s not what you say and not what you intend, but what you do that counts. The benefits of running only come with consistency, sticking to a schedule without excuses.
Then the fitness level can go up, the resting heart rate down, the stress evened out. Body and mind alike seek to prosper when running or biking (or the gym) is a good habit. Steady. Stay on course.

Don’t forget:
Great reads, if I say so myself:
THE NEXT STEP http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999/
THE NEXT STEP E book http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230
THE MILK MARKET http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Market-Dennis-Leger/dp/1434811964
THE MILK MARKET E book http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4007

In case anyone missed me, I recently returned from a family ski vacation and a blog sabbatical.
The ski-ing was in Idaho and W. Wyoming. The sabbatical was right here.

Running meant strapping long boards to my boots and either racing downhill or shuffling along cross-country. (Back at the fire station, that sport was referred to as ski-walking.) All who were concerned about our old legs breaking did not have to worry. We are safe. Old bones are not as brittle as they thought. But muscles are!

Ski-ing uses different muscles than almost anything else. My ski muscles protested soon after I began to use them. And again the next day and the next day after. I could not have had a better demonstration of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Yet, there we were in the mountains. We had to go ski-ing whether our muscles wanted to or not!

I am not complaining. I am still better off than old-timers who have NOT been running all year. And miles spent running at just less than 3000 feet allowed me to ski at 8-10,000 feet without being winded. The cold is something else. Miles spent in Southern Nevada do not help in the cold Tetons of Wyoming. I am back on the road.

Don’t forget:
Great reads, if I say so myself:
THE NEXT STEP http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999/
THE NEXT STEP E book http://wwwsmashwords.com/books/view/55230
THE MILK MARKET http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Market-Dennis-Leger/dp/1434811964
THE MILK MARKET E book http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4007

Is it my imagination or are we facing the next World War?

You don’t have to be a foreign relations expert to see that the Middle East is a powder keg with a short fuse. The following is apparent to anyone who reads the daily news.

First, there is Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and its stated intention to destroy Israel. That alone is enough to alert the world that we are standing at the brink. Next, what do we expect Israel to do? Whether you like Israel or not, do you think they should NOT strike before Iran annihilates them?

Ignition could result from a minor incident while the consequences would have adverse effects involving every nation on earth. But our government, our allies and the United Nations are inert, motionless and afraid to hurt another nation’s “feelings”. Diplomatic? Yes. Statesmanlike? No.

While we enjoy the Presidential election, expecting hatred and fear to coexist in the region, we are looking at an historic set of facts and circumstances that appear to be immutable. These circumstances are independent of partisan politics in our country.

READ MORE AT: http://www.scribd.com/doc/109035202/High-Noon-in-the-Middle-East

Today I ran for the first time as a 72 year old. It should have been no big deal except that I am in rehab mode again. It seems I am always trying to recover from something, illness, injury or life style issues that I can’t avoid.

This time, after a summer of really good runs, I was kept off the road by accidentally catching my leg between the boat and the dock. That was followed by a lower back spasm a few days later.

My triathlete son was the first to remind me, “take care of your core!” He must have read my recent post on the subject. I suppose someday he will have over forty years of running under his belt.

My summer in northern Minnesota had nice runs on slightly hilly roads. Now I am back running in Nevada. On the level, but two thousand feet higher. Aerobically I don’t seem to have a problem, just rehab of the leg muscles. It just takes longer, as I age, to recover from any interruption in the training. But I will get there. Hitting the road still makes me feel free and strong.

See my thriller about missing children “THE MILK MARKET” at http://www.themilkmarket.com
Ebook http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/4007

“THE NEXT STEP” when life gives a hero a second chance.
Ebook http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230

Both novels are also available in print at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com

What’s golf got to do with it? When I play golf I have to keep reminding myself to relax and NOT overhit. When I try to really “pound” the ball my swing gets wild and inaccurate.

So what’s running got to do with it?

When I run I have to remind myself to relax, take it easy and NOT try to set a record. Going out slow, a little lazy, gives the legs, lungs and heart a chance to get warm. But even more than that, it saves energy for later in the run when those elements are ready to cruise. That way, the miles on the way home are faster and more comfortable….the way I wish I could always run.

Try running “lazy” at the start. You might find legs you didn’t know you had for the homebound “leg” of your run.

Don’t forget the next step:

THE NEXT STEP a Novel How to start over again…..when life gives you a second chance.
Ebook (all formats)
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230

In Print and Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999

In Print and Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-next-step-dennis-leger?store=book

I recently ran the Minneapolis Marathon relay, splitting the 26 miles with a son, daughter and 10 year old Granddaughter. Running with a marathon number, our tiny ten year old girl was treated like a rock star and she did her 6 mile leg with ease.

Her easy gait comes from daily soccer practice or games. That makes running in a straight line look easy. But even more than soccer fitness, she has a great power to weight ratio. All muscle on a small, light frame makes her very fast and (now we know) she has stamina too. I am jealous.

It has been a long time since I was thin and fast. Carrying a little extra weight certainly costs me speed and stamina. I suppose each pound gained over my fighting weight translates directly into more seconds per running mile. I guess I can’t blame everything on age!

Don’t forget the next step:

THE NEXT STEP a Novel How to start over again…..when life gives you a second chance.
Ebook (all formats)
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230

In Print and Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999

In Print and Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-next-step-dennis-leger?store=book

This past week my children gave me the best of all Father’s day gifts. They made me proud as they came together to face a crisis. They came to support our youngest daughter, Danielle, whose husband was in critical condition from a head injury suffered in a bike accident.

The ultimate outcome of the injury has yet to be determined. But now we know that Dani has amazing strength and grace under pressure.

We already knew that the best big brother a girl could have would be by her side immediately. And then her sister came all the way from Michigan for support and to help.

From their Mom’s example, not from me, they learned qualities that every parent hopes for in their children. Their love, strength and generosity are qualities that mean more than money, more than grades, degrees or job titles. This week, they came together and created a wonderful gift. Thank you.

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither rust nor moths consume, nor do thieves break in and steal.” (Quote from somebody important, PLEASE look up the Chapter and Verse)

THE NEXT STEP a Novel How to start over again…..when life gives you a second chance.
Ebook (all formats)
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230

In Print and Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999

In Print and Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-next-step-dennis-leger?store=book

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.”

–William James,
American psychologist and philosopher

THE NEXT STEP a Novel How to start over again…..when life gives you a second chance.
Ebook (all formats)
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55230

In Print and Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Next-Step-Dennis-Leger/dp/1460939999

In Print and Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-next-step-dennis-leger?store=book