I know a lot of us who run need a chance to let out our inner Kenyan. We dream of 20 minute 5Ks and 50 minute 10ks. The truth is most of us are happy to run a 5K in under 30 and a 10K in under an hour.

At close to 55, I am probably not going to run a 5K in 16:57 ever again. Most of you know that I have collected a number of injuries that have slowed me down. The usual suspects, plantar fasciitis, torn meniscus, pulled muscles, and strained tendons and ligaments. I've collected them all plus a rotator cuff tear and a heart attack.

That hasn't stopped me.

Saturday I ran a 5K race to benefit cancer research. I proudly wore my Cancer Sucks t-shirt and my running tights (which my wife does not find manly at all.) The race theme said: "If you think running in the winter is hard, try battling cancer." A sobering thought.

I lost both my parents to cancer. Just this year it claimed the life of my ex-wife and a close friend. Cancer really sucks.

The biggest problem with running is that I really don't know how. I learned to run away from my older brothers who were going to give me an Indian sunburn, the noogie of death a Hulk Hogan wedgie; none of which I, or any of my pain receptors found all that much pleasure in.

By 5th grade I was the fastest kid in the school. My brothers were serious players.

Then like most fat old desk jockeys, I stopped running. Heck, I hardly even walked. Fast forward to the ICU in April '11 where things weren't looking too good. It was there that things really changed. I wasn't on some diet, I wasn't trying to lose weight, I was fighting for my life.

The cardiologist sat next to the monitoring stand next to my bed and said, "It's time to make a few changes."

OK, so I did. I tried to remember how to run. Within a few months, I had to have knee surgery. Then I tried hockey and ended up with a broken rib and rotator cuff surgery. I am just not that coordinated.

Some of my friends ask me how running could be fun with so much pain and so many obstacales. I thought it over and that's when I thought, it's all in my head. If I shut that off, It really doesn't matter.

When I am running, some times I just close my eyes on a flat straight away and drink in the moment.

I guess I am convinced that I am not really a runner in form and practice. I just run because it's all in my head.

I am not from Ireland, but I viewed a video on YouTube about a runner there... I think I am channeling the pug. If you haven't seen it, here's a link.

The Pug Who Couldn't Run

Just because I can't feckin run, doesn't mean I can't enjoy it - and so can you! :)

Thanks for the votes and comments!