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This is part one of a two part episode.\xa0 I\u2019ll publish the second part at the end of the year.\n\xa0\nIn the last episode of Phedippidations I talked about getting back to a metaphysical place where I once belonged: a "home" where I was once happy and healthy.\xa0 For lack of a better term I called this a \u201ctransformative journey\u201d and said that I wasn\u2019t doing this to specifically lose weight or get healthier, but to regain that passion I once had for this sport and to feel like a member of the running community again.\xa0 In returning to the road, health and happiness will be a welcome side effect.\n\xa0\nToday I'd like to talk a little bit about those side effects.\n\xa0\nWhen you head out on a geographical journey, you can usually tell when you\u2019ve arrived at your destination.\xa0 En route to Key West, I knew that I had arrived when Route 1A ended and the bartender at The Green Parrot handed me a cold margarita.\n\xa0\nWhat does it mean to be happy and healthy?\xa0 What is the measure of such happiness and health? If this is a journey, I should know where I\u2019m starting out so that when I get to the place where I once belonged, I\u2019ll know that I\u2019ve arrived.\n\xa0\nA true measure of health has to involve more than just vital clinical statistics. It\u2019s got to be a measure of internal and external physical conditions including: how active we are, how well we sleep, how well our mood is, how much energy we have, and probably most importantly: \u201cthe overall quality of our current life experience\u201d.\n\xa0\nIn the Fall, we\u2019ll look back on these measurements to see if I\u2019ve improved in any areas of my health and happiness.\xa0\n\xa0\nThat's kind of a big IF by the way.\xa0 I\u2019m going to be reminding you, as we go along, that life is not predictable.\xa0 I can wish, pray, burn incense, make offerings to my favorite magical beast or intergalactic ruler...but none of those things are going to ensure a beautiful future.\n\xa0\nHope is good, I hope that in a year from now I'm running with you at road races somewhere the world...but \u201cif wishes were horses, beggars would ride\u201d and if I want to be Steve Runner again, I'm going to have to make it happen myself.\xa0 No meaningless incantation or holistic paranormal make believe supernatural overlord is going to intercede in reality and grant me health and happiness.\n\xa0\nHere I am, all 222 unhealthy pounds of me, ready to take the first step of many to return to the road, and it all starts with a measure of health.\n\xa0\n\xa0\n\xa0\n\xa0\nLinks:\n\xa0\nMelodious advice by Neil on Twitter @neilbearse\xa0\n\xa0\nBoth opening and closing themes songs were by Jim Fidler at \n\u201cThe Curra Road\u201d was composed by Ger Wolfe at \n\xa0\nThe song \u201cReady\u201d was by Kodaline off their new album \u201cComing Up For Air\u201d, learn more over at http://www.kodaline.com\n\xa0\nIntervals between episodes can be found at \n\xa0\nIn Vino Veritas with at \n\xa0\nTrack my return to the road at \n\xa0\nONLY IF YOU LIKE IT: Phedippidations is supported monthly through the kind financial support of fellow runners who clicked on the ONLY IF YOU LIKE IT button at SteveRunner.com to subscribe to Amazon Payments or Paypal to send me a dollar a month for my podcasting efforts.\xa0 \xa0\n\xa0\nThank you:\n\xa0\nVera, Katie, Ryan, Chaise, Gordon, Scott, Mike, Jeff, Colin, Jason, Diane, Cheryl, Ron, Mark, Martha, Greg, Jim, Tim, Bill, David, Doug, Vance, Marcelo, Roberto, Zaki, James, Norm, Simon, Janice, Andrew, Pam, Rob, Trey, Steve, Angie, Lynn, Nancy, Eric, Jim, Joe, Martin, Rich, Tom, David, Pierre, Maria, Hisham, Andrea, Brad, Dave, Desiree, Jens, Claudia, Jill, Elizabeth, Pat, Marc, Evelyn, Chris, Dino, Michael, Clay, George, Matthew, Pedro, Terence, Tom, Louis, Toni, Margaret, Janina, Joe and Fred.\n\xa0\n{}\n\xa0\nFollow me on:\nBlog: \nStream: \xa0\nApple App: \xa0\nAndroid App: \xa0\nSupport: