A Little Each Day! Life is truly a Marathon!!!

Hello Folks,

I am getting ready to run the Montana Marathon in less than 6 weeks. Today I ran 5miles and I have a few more small runs this week and a whopping 20 miler this weekend! A long time ago a friend told me that life is a marathon. I didn't know quite what it meant because maybe I was to young to understand. Everyday we are faced with challenges and opportunities. To give that extra smile, to make that extra phone call, spend that extra 15 minutes with our children and to make that extra sales call that will propel us ahead of the pack. We certainly can't do everything we want in one day. Even though we have great intentions, we cannot do all the goodness we want to do in one day. We cannot kiss our children as much as we want in one day and we cannot sell as much as we want in a lifetime in one day. Life is a marathon. We must do the necessary things every single day and then choose to do a little extra every day to make us feel good about what we have accomplished. Don't try to do it all in one day, but keep putting one foot in front of the other day after day and at the end of your life you will have run that incredible marathon called "your life".

My grandmother is turning 90 years old this weekend. She is one of the sharpest, funniest, kindest, religious and energetic people I know. She also in my opinion makes the world best red velvet cake!!! She drives her car to church, bingo, quilting and visits many friends and relatives. She once told me it is sad to see all your friends pass and sometime she wonders why she has been so lucky to live so long. She is a great person and has lived a good life and cares about people more than anyone I know. It is Gods blessing to the world to keep my grandma here for us all to learn from. My grandma has run a great life long marathon. She has figured it out more than most. It's not what you do just in one day, it is a compilation of the good things that you do each and everyday. Happy 90th Birthday Grandma! You are our hero! There isn't a medal for grandma's but my Grandma Arnold sure deserves one!!!

Run your life marathon! Make each step count and never give up!!!

Kurt

Welcome to the Kurt Bauman Blog!

In July of 2002, I had the shock of a lifetime. At the age of 35 I learned that I had Type 1 Diabetes and would face a regimen of blood testing and insulin injections for the rest of my life. The diagnosis changed me... I wondered what my life would be like with this chronic disease and what my limitations as a diabetic truly were.

I was never an avid athlete or runner. In fact, I had run one marathon in 1997 and vowed to never do it again - the experience was simply too difficult to face a second time. In a spontaneous effort to push back at my diagnosis, I entered my name in the lottery for the New York City marathon and (surprisingly enough) received a bib number. After 18 weeks of rigorous training, I ran the marathon with an insulin pump and food reserves, checking my blood sugar every 5 miles.

The accomplishment I felt as I crossed the finish line was incredible! In that moment my mission was born. I wanted diabetics everywhere to find the strength to rise above their illness and lead happy, healthy, active lives. I wanted to motivate people facing challenges to overcome adversity and live their dreams.

So, I have committed to running 50 marathons in all 50 United States. So far, I've completed marathons in six states - New York, Minnesota, Missouri, Arizona, Colorado and Tennessee. In 2009 I'm already scheduled to run in Arkansas, Montana and Illinois.

I know that this quest won't be accomplished overnight. My plan is to run a marathon every quarter until I finish all 50 races. I'm well aware that it will take me 10 years and many tens of thousands of dollars to accomplish my goal. In the meantime, I am a professional motivational speaker and look for any opportunity to share my story with audiences nationwide. My message is threefold:

1. To increase awareness of Diabetes and reach out to the 6 million Americans who unknowingly suffer with this disease without treatment,
2. To inspire others to push past their fears and strive to accomplish their goals,
3. To prevent Type 2 Diabetes and other chronic illnesses by encouraging people to be the cure through diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

I hope that you will follow my blog and join me on my amazing journey. Whatever you face in life, I hope that you will find the strength and power and overcome obstacles and be proactive in changing the world for the better.