There are many reason why a person would need or want to begin running. It could be for sport, health, or shear boredom. Whatever the case might be, you may find it easier if you set a goal to not only stay motivated but also bring more personally competition into the mix.

Your goal could be simple. Perhaps you would like to get rid of the extra 75,000 pounds you have been carrying around. Feeling better and having more energy are always options. Time to relax and not think about the ups and downs of life might be one of your goals – relaxation and meditation cannot be bad for anybody. In the movie American Beauty, the main character starts running. After being asked what his motivation is he states:

I want to look good naked.

Simple and to the point. He set a goal and he stuck to it because he needed to impress himself or others.

Whatever your motivation is, sit down (ok you can stand) and decide why you are running/exercising and what you would like to get out of it. With this information you will be able to see the proper results when they come.

• Total Distance: 34.32 miles according to my bike
• Time: 2:58:18, it was a relaxed pace
• Average Speed: 11.54 mph, there were a ton of people in my way
• Average Cadence: 48
• Max Speed: 38.70, coming down the hill off the Fremont. I also hit the hit 38 coming on to the Marquam.

A few things to note about our trip.

When we got to the Ross Island Bridge at mile 10, the three routes (10, 8, 6 bridge – we were the 10) had just combined, and the four lanes of bikes had to merge into one to cross the bridge. There was about a 30-45 minute wait to get over the bridge. A little poorly planned, but we got over it.

At about mile 30, we were going past school down Willamette Blvd. Car traffic was limited to one lane the other direction and to stop cars from entering our course, there were small, wooden ‘road closed’ signs at each cross street. My friend Lauren, in hast to miss a small child who was having trouble steering, hit a few these signs. I did not see her do it, but it sounded like somebody had just died. She did not fall either. When she caught up to me about a block later we saw see had a splinter from the sign about the thickness of those #2 pencils you used back in grade school stuck in her leg. We decided it was time for a break. After denying help from an ambulance and realizing Public Safety is useless, she called a friend to take her to the hospital for stitches. Last I heard, she will live to see the day. The rest of us went on and finished.

There was another slow spot at the finish as all of those people decided as soon as they crossed the finish line it was time to stop and be in the way. I do have a nice photo finish picture which Diana took of me as we were walking our bikes over the line.

It was a very fun day. Pictures will be posted as they come.

Well that is the line which I must put on my site in order for Alex to donate to charity. Yes, it is true. For each time somebody creates that message on there site Alex will donate $1 to a charity. That charity will be chosen by a random person (who put the link on his or her site) when the ‘contest’ is over.

I have to give Alex credit; this is not only a good way to give to a good cause which we like over here at Digmann.com – hence the ‘make life easier’ part, it is also a blatant attempt at linkbaiting. A quite successful one at that. Digmann.com is happy to do its part now and in the future to help charities and if all I have to do is create a post to do it…

I ask the rest of you to do the same and help good causes.

Happy linking.

She even gave me 5 points why you should donate.

• Gimme 5 minutes of your time – go to Megan’s website at http://www.active.com/donate/tntnofl/MeganCMurphy, and read about what she is doing.
• Gimme $5 bucks – just donate online: five dollars for a great cause – and hey if you want to donate more fantastic!
• Gimme 5 friends – send this to five friends and help spread the word!
• 5 years is how long a person must remain cancer free before being considered cured.
• Every 5 minutes someone new is diagnosed with a blood cancer – money for research is desperately needed – so donate now.

She has raised $418 so far with a goal of $3900 by June 3.  I know you have a heart so go to the site and do it.