I am a runner. 

I never thought I would write that sentence and actually mean it. 

Now others may not view me the same way. Others might view my running and see me as a plodder, a fast walker, an injured jogger or a 911 call waiting to happen. But after this month of activities, I can't help but think that now I have finally graduated to the level of official runner. 

This month, I set out to do some running around town by jogging the Fallen Heroes Circuit as well as participating in the Liberty Lake Loop four-mile run. Thankfully, the Loop includes plenty of other people who can serve as my spotter if I keel over from exhaustion, but to guarantee a spotter, I asked my buddy Jay to head out way too early in the morning as to beat the ridiculous heat wave and complete the Circuit. 

We decided on July 4 as the date for our run as it seemed appropriate to complete the Circuit on the day we celebrate independence and remember those who have served and given their life in service. We started out at Rocky Hill Park with the plan to do at least one complete set on three to five pieces of equipment at each stop before jogging off to the next station on the circuit course. 

As we headed down the road toward Pavillion Park, I was thankful for two things: sprinklers that seem to spray directly into your face as opposed to the grass that needs to be watered and the fact that Jay had an ESPN radio Mike and Mike podcast playing to give us some jogging entertainment to take the mind off the pain. 

When we hit the Trailhead station of the Circuit, I loved the fact that they spread out the fitness equipment along the trail so you would work out a bit, run (sorry, jog) a bit, and continue till the end. Jay and I were now more than halfway through the circuit and loved the experience to this point. As we took a right on Country Vista and headed up towards the Arboretum, I was recalling my joys of growing up in the Midwest where there were no hills or slopes to run. 

As we landed at the station which will be formally dedicated on Sept. 11 in honor of a fallen member of the Coast Guard, we came across an exercise element that I sadly struggled at: the balance beam. Seriously, I can't walk a balance beam. Thanks to two torn ankles that occurred during my college years, I find that I walk beams as well as I stand on a paddleboard. Splash and Crash. 

Finally, we made it to Town Square Park, where I worked out on a few machines and began to drool in anticipation as the burrito man arrived to set up for the Independence Day edition of the Liberty Lake Farmers Market. At this point, we made two very good decisions. First, we did not get a burrito. Second, we drove ourselves back to Rocky Hill, thus avoiding an additional 1.5 miles of jogging. 

Our final tally was a nearly 60 minute workout, 3.55-mile jog and a chance to honor and remember the fallen heroes who allow us to enjoy a great Fourth of July in Liberty Lake. 

Next, it was time to run the Loop. The Liberty Lake Loop is the one event that I have done every year since my family and I moved to Liberty Lake just over seven years ago. But this, my eighth Loop, was awesome because I did not have to pull a wagon, push a stroller or help my kids make it to the finish line. Now, my oldest daughter became the rabbit that I tried to chase throughout the race, which kept me going till the finish. 

This year, I accomplished a first: I jogged up the first two hills of the Loop until the two-mile water station. Again, I was reminded that I miss the flatness of the Midwest. But I felt great joining my daughter as we walked the next section (i.e. hill) of the race until we could start the downhill push toward the finish. 

As my daughter and I passed the three-mile mark, we slowed down a bit (OK, we walked a bit) and enjoyed hanging out and chatting. That was until a friend jogged by and let me know that my wife was just a few yards back from us and catching up quick. 

Two options were presented, and I ran them by my daughter: ditch the wife/mom and take off for the finish or enjoy finishing as a family. Option three happened instead. Tammy joined us, and Bri took off to beat us both easily to the finish. The last stretch of the race heads up hill once again, and I was shocked to find that I still had some kick left in my legs as I hit the finish chute with my best time ever: 43:59. 

I realize that time is not overly impressive, but for me to break 44 minutes was a major success. To top it off, it even garnered me a third-place medal for my age division. Along with my wife's third-place medal, we both got bragging rights over the daughter who left us in her dust down the stretch. 

After these back-to-back weekends of running, I realized that I am now a runner. I used to mock runners. I questioned the sanity of people who got up at 4:30 to hit the streets. I wondered aloud about the running attire of girls in skirts and dudes in short shorts. But now I find myself already planning for the next race, thinking about personal best times and setting out clothes the night before to get up before the sun to run the next day. 

See you all on the streets of Liberty Lake. If you see a guy NOT wearing short shorts but lying near a gutter, please call my wife and medical personnel. Odds are, it is me.