Each week for the next couple of months, a Leading Off section of the Weblog will be devoted to the Falmouth Road Race scheduled for August 17. If you don't like running stories or allegories, or you are bored with non-profit dedication, feel free to skip this section and proceed directly to the meat of the Weblog.

This week was a significant week for me in my training because...I started training.

That's right, after 307 consecutive days of NOT running, I went to the high school track and did two laps: a full half mile. My physical therapist directed me to run on flat ground to start and I did. I followed that spectacular performance with another half mile on the treadmill with the therapist supervising. And if that wasn't enough, on Sunday, I went to the high school track again and ran four laps, a full mile. I was giddy.

The interesting aspect of these three experiences is that: my leg/hip felt BETTER after running. It looks like I am on my way to building up conditioning and stamina for that 7 Mile Run along the shore of Cape Cod on the hottest, most humid day of the year. It will be my 11th time.

Not only is it the challenge of the summer for me, and has been for a decade, but running for a great cause like Cystic Fibrosis makes it even better.

This will be my fourth year raising money for this very impactful non-profit, and once again, I will be running for Elijiah in North Carolina, a little boy and a real warrior who perseveres every day against this tough challenge of living with Cystic Fibrosis.

In May of 2020 I was furloughed from a job that I loved after 14 years of working my ass off. Most readers are aware I was Executive Director for New England for a national foundation founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to find a cure for a virus no one understood completely, and that created massive fear in the country (sound familiar?)

I had previously served as a volunteer for that same foundation for about 20 years. My 34-year passion was abruptly ended without warning.

I thought about being bitter and angry and feeling sorry for myself, but since my blood type is B-Positive (not kidding), I chose another path.

You know all that stuff I write about persistence and bouncing back? My good fortune is that I actually believe what I say.

So, upon furlough, I immediately proceeded along two tracks: a) a very aggressive job-seeking effort, and b) an equally aggressive track to form my own consulting company that could turn into a new career.

As some of you might remember, searching for a position during a pandemic at an age when most prospective employers would ask 'why isn't he retiring?' was not easy, and I 'failed.'

That's right, more than 150 organizations received a beautifully crafted resume from Edward J. Doherty and passed. Several interviewed me by Zoom before passing, but at the end of the day, they all passed. Sigh!

While searching and working on plan B, I incorporated, established a web page, arranged for accounting and tax services, volunteered for other organizations almost full time and sought the advice of dozens of people smarter than me, including many of you reading this right now.

And while I didn't launch my new business with a press release and brass band, by December of that year, I had my first engagement, sometimes known as a 'paid gig' from a company that thought enough of my potential at my age to retain me to help expand their business.

Premier Ultrasound was the company, and Sona was the start-up they were looking for my help to launch.

Of course I took a photo of the check to be mounted on the wall in my new corporate headquarters, also known as a corner of my bedroom.

There's no way to describe the feeling of that first consulting check after five decades of employment. It must be similar to getting your first major league baseball hit. At least that's what it felt like to me.

Do I miss my previous job? I miss the people: the volunteers and staff. I miss changing the world, a little bit, but I'll have to settle for that as a volunteer for other worthwhile organizations.

But my shingle has been up for almost five years, I am still working my ass off and still writing, and I really, really, really like my boss.