My new buddy Eddie

This morning as I was getting ready for my ride when dude walked up to my garage with his dog and started up a conversation. It turns out that Eddie is my neighbor from down the street. I have seen him before but never said hello. Through our conversation I discovered that Eddie has completed 21 marathons and 3 Ironmans. If you look at the guy you can tell he is a stud. He is probably in his late thirties or early forties, but he’s a stud.

My heart was broken for Eddie though. He was walking slow and had a back brace on with zero range of motion. Two weeks ago he had surgery on his back because 2 of his vertebrates were touching bone on bone. The guy was a complete mess and you could tell he was so sad he couldn’t go on the ride with me. He won’t be back on his bike or strapping on his running shoes for months. To make matters worse, Eddie’s dad died earlier this month. This is the crappiest of crappy months.

I never wax poetic but I need to this evening. As neighbors, athletes and overall outdoor enthusiasts we need to reach out to guys like Eddie. Support him, encourage him, make him laugh, give him great stories. These things will help Eddie recover quicker and give him strength to get back out and training. Being outside doing what we love is what keeps our minds and bodies strong. The love for being outside has changed many of our lives forever.

I’m going to stop by Eddie’s house this week after work to say hi. I can’t wait to hear this guys stories!

Andy B
outsideallday.com