bryan suddith dot com

My wife is a runner. Google “melissa suddith” and you will see her results from Marathons, 1/2 Marathons and 5 milers. 5 years ago she ran a couple of 5ks. I told her she should try 10ks or something longer. She resisted. Then a friend invited her to run in the Turkey Trot over in Miamisburg, a five miler, and she did well. Her second year she placed third in her age bracket and last year placed second. In the midst of this she was invited by an Air Force friend to run a 1/2 Marathon. All 13.1 miles of it. She did great.

She swore that Marathons were only for the clinically insane and denied their possibility for years. Then last year she and my best friend began training for the Columbus Marathon. Long run Saturday’s, paced shorter runs on Mondays and Wednesdays with some weight and cross training sprinkled in, she finished the Marathon. Not only did this stay at home mother of two finish, she finished in 3:53. Just 13 minutes away from a Boston qualifying time.

Me? I don’t run. I did once. I was walking my dog and dropped the leash. I ran for two blocks. I caught him. But this morning in a fit of desperation I stated “if I run 10 miles without stopping, I get to buy a new set of bedding.” She laughed. Then she said okay. She and I have been arguing discussing better sheets and comforters since we stayed at a Marriott last year. I want that bedding. When she stopped laughing I realized that running 10 miles was an insane idea. She thought so too. So I upped the ante.

“If I run 10 miles by the end of the year I get to buy a Jeep!” She took the bait and in a moment of weakness agreed. Woohoo. A Jeep. My dream since I was 6 years old. Then she reminded me. 10 whole miles. Running. Not walking. By the year’s end. Running was defined as a pace above 5 miles per hour. A jog for the longer legged portion of our species, but a pretty good clip for my 5′ 8 1/2″ frame. So the bet is on.

10 miles at once. In under two hours. A Jeep. Probably a used Jeep. We aren’t rich. But a late model Jeep is a long way from my 1995 Honda Accord that just rolled 190,000 miles.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress right here.