My name is Dr. Steve Gander. I have been an optometrist for over 22 years and am excited to be partnering with the people at Transitions Optical.
My goal is to a run a marathon in every state. It is a lofty goal, but I have already run 25 marathons in about a dozen states and two Canadian provinces. If I can average 3-4 marathons a year I'll be, healthy and young and 60 years of age when I achieve my goal.
The 50-state goal, as well as the idea of partnering with Transitions, came to mind as I ran a marathon in Des Moines, Iowa last fall. It just so happens that having lenses that automatically adjust to varying lighting conditions and, that protect your eyes from UV rays, is beneficial for runners, as well as anybody else that spends time outdoors. It also just so happens that Transitions believes that each of us should have a goal or a series of goals that we are striving for.
I got my relationship with Transitions off to a running start - no pun intended - this past weekend as I ran the City of Trees Marathon in Boise, Idaho. It was a beautiful course along wooded trails and residential streets. The temperature was just over 40 degrees and there was a continual drizzle. The volunteers along the course were freezing, but warm and encouraging. The race was nicely organized and the hot soup at the finish line made it all worthwhile. The fine hospitality I received from my sister's family who lives in the area was an absolute bonus.
With the help of Transitions, I plan to chronicle my progress toward running a marathon in every state. I'll share with you my stories of setbacks and distractions, as well as victories and triumphs along the way.
It is my hope that you will benefit from my lessons learned. Whatever your vision may be, I challenge you to take time to flesh it out, to weigh it against your other activities to make sure it is workable and then take the steps to accomplish it. You may have already discovered that as you move toward one goal, new goals come to mind and challenge you to put your own lessons learned to good use. Sometimes it is strenuous, but it's always a blast and the payoff for achieving one, if not multiple goals, is very rewarding.