Life's Great Inventions (no, not TIVO)

One of the questions I get asked often is “Why do you run?” I first started in the winter of 2000, to show that I could complete a half-marathon (13.1 miles). After that, I wanted to be able to say I completed a marathon (26.2 miles). During all that time, it was merely a goal. Running really wasn’t much fun, and at times today, it still can be tedious. But over the years, the act of running has moved from being a means to achieve a goal, to being necessary to avoid gaining weight and staying in shape.

Now those are two completely different goals, mind you. As I approach 40, and as I am sure many of you know, the waistline tends to grow a little bit with age. My metabolism isn’t quite what it used to be, and one to many Snickers bars (as I am eyeing the one on my snack tray of the airplane right now) has begun to take its toll.

I have watched over the past few years as my waist has gone from a 31 to a 32, and more recently to a 33. Oh gasp! Yes, I know you look at me and say shut-up already. It's not so much about the weight as it is the placement of it. It reminds me of an old Seinfeld episode, where Jerry is accused of taking his size 32 pants and changing the label so they read as a size a 31, all in an effort to deny the existence of love handles.

So this brings me to life’s latest, greatest invention. The stretchy dress pant. The ones with the hidden “waist extender.” Are these cool, or what? Pure comfort for a growing boy who eats too much unhealthy food. I purchased my first pair recently, and I could easily be a life-long customer. Bring on that Snickers bar, I have 2 extra inches to “play” with on this pair of pants I am wearing! Who needs to exercise?

But if by chance, I could lose an inch (or two) in my waist through all my training, I wouldn’t be upset. I’ve been holding onto those 31s for just such an occasion. Seinfeld would be proud.

Thankfully, my waist isn’t “39.3 and counting”….that would be bad…