Under 50!

No, "under 50" is not a new age division. What it is, though, is the amount of mileage I have left to hit the 1000 mile marker!

Note: 2 great subs this month have contributed greatly to the cause, but I will highlight those on a later date.

14 days and 49 miles to be exact.

I am very excited by this.

A "mere" 3.5 miles per day get's me to the finish. Unless I get hit by a bus or something, I really think we are going to get this thing done on time.

I know, I know... I shouldn't temp fate, count my miles before they are run, assume anything, or get over-confident in any way - there is still work to do here. I've still got some running to do, and we still have some money to raise. I've always believed it to be bad luck to be superstitious, so I am not worried (I may cross the street carefully this afternoon, but I am not worried).

We will get this 1000 miles done, however, and this is an accomplishment we can all share.

Seeing the top of a tall mountain come into view as you finish the climb is exciting, but it is also important that we reflect on the climb.

I believe that the journey is really the most important part. It has to be about more than just a single view from the top. It has to be about more than that one brief moment. It has to be about more than just winning. It has to be about more.

Who have we become along the way? How have we changed, grown, matured, developed? Are we better players? Better students? Better teammates, friends, hubands, fathers? Are we MORE now than we were at the start of the journey?

The "Extra Mile" is a microcosm of this soccer program, and what it is all about. It began with a tough challenge, a lot of potential, and plenty of convincing to do. It began with the understanding and the belief that "we" are a heck of a lot better than just "me", and that together WE can accomplish things nobody ever before thought were possible. As the momentum has built, people are noticing, and they are jumping on board. We are now close to reaching a milestone and setting the bar higher than it has ever been set before.

I am thrilled that you are along for the ride (run).

Please let me know if you can make the end of the campaign celebration on November 2nd at 10am. This breakfast will officially end the running part of the campaign, and will - more importantly - double as a special day to honor our senior class before our final regular season home game.

Gotta run,

Mike