Started blogging Jan 2012 as a means to measure growth, hold myself accountable & most importantly – not waste a mid-life second chance, my life do-over in Colorado.  Self-tutored WordPress, created a URL & wrote an About page.

After working ten years in media advertising in Manhattan, I did something completely out of character — I took a leap of faith and started living the life I watched others doing on reality TV.  Anyone can do this – just a matter of drawing that line in the sand and saying ‘no mas’.  I want something different.  I am not stuck.

Fast forward 4 YEARS.  Set & met multiple yearly goals – hiking, climbing, Ironman, marathoning.  Now an outdoors guy who respects nature & appreciates FAMILY.  I’m a doer – I walk the talk.

This weekend: N-Y-C baby – he’s BAAACCCK.  First return since my 2011 life change.  

Back for the New York City Marathon – only major marathon scheduled in my 50 State journey.  Not a huge fan of crowds (side-effect of living simply) but no place I’d rather complete my New York race, than NYC.

Stretched time away with a midnight red-eye to JFK (via Boston).  Taxied early morn to my Times Square hotel, quick 3 hour nap – up & walking Manhattan by 10am.  So many memories here.  WOW – great to be back!

News Corp building walk-by (my former 9-year NYC home, refuge & prison), tourist walk thru Times Square.  Snapped a shot of Radio City Music Hall, then subway trekked downtown to the Javits Center for marathon bib pick-up.

[NYC pastime: People watching on the Subway.  Forgot today was Halloween — jack the freak meter UP.  LOL>]

Biggest Marathon EXPO of my 50.  Whatta journey: Lottery ‘regrets’ letter in March, surprise Acceptance letter in June [with help from friends] – now tomorrow, November 1^st: I’m running the New York City Marathon.  WOW WOW WOW!

Bib pick-up complete – best use of my remaining Big Apple time?

Lazy stroll down High Line Park (park built high above, on old rail lines – LOVE this place).  Tickets to a Broadway matinee – A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love & Murder (thanks Stephen).  Next, a fancy pre-race Manhattan dinner.  While in New York…hafta, gotta, right? Uptown ride to Columbus Circle; outdoor seating hugging Central Park.  Yeah, pretty much perfect day.  a no regrets Life 🙂

FOOD, SHOW, swanky HOTEL digs.  New York, New York: FAN-frickin’-TASTIC!