Houston, get ready!
Over the last month or so I've been contemplating a move out of the Santa Clarita Valley, but medical reasons and school prevented me from doing so. Then my victory over cancer, graduation at Cal State University, Northridge, and a recent birthday trip to Texas happened. For the first time in years, I'm happy to announce that nothing is holding me back and, in a short three weeks, I'll be moving to Houston, Texas.
At first, this decision was a very difficult one. I'm two weeks out from the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon - a race I've dropped since due to a coaching change, inconsistent training, and honestly, lack of heart for the sport right now - and a majority of my family and friends are located here. After weighing the pros and cons, though, it really was a no brainer. Over the last four years, I've spent 99-percent of my time tied down, forced to attend doctor appointments at Cedars Sinai Cancer Center, commute to CSUN for classes four times a week, chasing my dream to win the SCV Marathon, and giving back to the Saugus program as much I can. In short, most of the difficult choices I've been faced with over the last few years - like my cancer diagnosis, education and running career - have been ones I've made with others and an uncertain future in mind. For the first time in a long time, I"m making this decision for me, and me only.
I'll be putting my running career on halt (this isn't me retiring though) and resuming training in an attempt to qualify for the 2018 Boston Marathon later this fall. I have a job interview set up when I arrive in Houston, and once I get settled in, want to look into going back to school at the University of Houston or some other school in the area. Most importantly, I'm taking initiative and happy I'm getting out of Santa Clarita for a bit. This move has been a long time coming, though, having watched two of my three younger sisters, Brianna and Jenay, move out and my youngest, Janel, leaving the nest in the next two or so years. I'm a man with a plan, and I couldn't be more excited.
I feel like the luckiest human being on the planet having had such an incredible support system throughout my life, especially over the last four years, and I want to take this time to thank you all for always standing behind me. I said it once, and I"ll say it again, my victory over cancer is your victory too, and I look forward to updating you all on my move over the next few months. It's time to take my successes elsewhere!
Over the last month or so I've been contemplating a move out of the Santa Clarita Valley, but medical reasons and school prevented me from doing so. Then my victory over cancer, graduation at Cal State University, Northridge, and a recent birthday trip to Texas happened. For the first time in years, I'm happy to announce that nothing is holding me back and, in a short three weeks, I'll be moving to Houston, Texas.
At first, this decision was a very difficult one. I'm two weeks out from the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon - a race I've dropped since due to a coaching change, inconsistent training, and honestly, lack of heart for the sport right now - and a majority of my family and friends are located here. After weighing the pros and cons, though, it really was a no brainer. Over the last four years, I've spent 99-percent of my time tied down, forced to attend doctor appointments at Cedars Sinai Cancer Center, commute to CSUN for classes four times a week, chasing my dream to win the SCV Marathon, and giving back to the Saugus program as much I can. In short, most of the difficult choices I've been faced with over the last few years - like my cancer diagnosis, education and running career - have been ones I've made with others and an uncertain future in mind. For the first time in a long time, I"m making this decision for me, and me only.
I'll be putting my running career on halt (this isn't me retiring though) and resuming training in an attempt to qualify for the 2018 Boston Marathon later this fall. I have a job interview set up when I arrive in Houston, and once I get settled in, want to look into going back to school at the University of Houston or some other school in the area. Most importantly, I'm taking initiative and happy I'm getting out of Santa Clarita for a bit. This move has been a long time coming, though, having watched two of my three younger sisters, Brianna and Jenay, move out and my youngest, Janel, leaving the nest in the next two or so years. I'm a man with a plan, and I couldn't be more excited.
I feel like the luckiest human being on the planet having had such an incredible support system throughout my life, especially over the last four years, and I want to take this time to thank you all for always standing behind me. I said it once, and I"ll say it again, my victory over cancer is your victory too, and I look forward to updating you all on my move over the next few months. It's time to take my successes elsewhere!