---

For many, the first accumulating snowfall on Saturday was an indicator
that winter will be here before we know it in Southwest Wisconsin. But for
me, the first accumulating snowfall meant something different...that I must
now start my winter diet.
After successfully taking off 15 pounds before the summer, I made a
promise to myself:
"When it snows again, I will start my diet again."
But it's Monday, November 17 now and I am hungry.
Armed with will power and a calorie counting app for my phone, today
is the day I begin my diet. I'll start out easy at first, limiting my snacks and
scaling down my portion sizes. I will make time for at least 30 minutes a
day of doing something other than sitting on my duff.
I was unmotivated when I first arrived at work this morning. But then I
read something inspiring.
As I typed the Ridgeway News, written by our correspondent Mike
Scheidegger, his story of running the Madison Half Marathon unfolded
before my eyes.
I type the Ridgeway News every week, and many weeks Mike spoke of
his training regiment for the marathon. I read about the hard workouts, but
also how he grew stronger, not only physically, but mentally.
Last week I opened the mail, hoping to read about how the marathon
went, only to have to wait another week for the whole story!
This week, I wasn't disappointed. Mike poetically told his marathon
story...how he started strong, kept pushing on. But he could feel it. He could
feel the doubt.
I felt the doubt this morning as I thought about the winter diet.
But I read on. Mike placed 962 out of 2,042 finishers. Four hundred people
didn't even finish! And 13.1 miles...what a feat.
"Choose your dreams, for better or worse! And don't stop pushing yourself!"
Mike wrote.
And that's what I plan on doing.
Thank you Mike for the little push in motivation! And great job on your first half marathon!