I’m running this morning. Eight miles. I’ve never run that far before. And I’m 40, so it’s not like I should be doing it either. But here I am, up early in the quiet of the morning.

I said quiet but actually the house is not quiet at all. The cat is munching her food, Thunder the Wonder Dog is whining to go out and eat and the coffee maker is roaring like a jet engine.

I want to sneak out this morning without waking Steph and Jake. They have been so supportive as I channel my energies into exercise and grad school. But the harder I try to silently creep out the door, the more I bang a wall or pull a loud zipper. Ever hear how loud a toilet sounds in the early morning? Like a shotgun blast!

But good news … Nothing seems to be bothering my wife and son this morning.

So here I go out the door. I have a long way yet to go.