Tom Beaudry…my first marathon training partner…with me here following one of our Grandma’s Marathon races. We trained together for many years… many long runs. We did lots of talking, lots of listening, solving the worlds problems on those long runs…if the rest of the world would have just listened to us! We spent many a times getting ready for multiple marathons…Grandma’s in Duluth, MN; Twin Cities marathon in St. Paul/Minneapolis; Rock and Roll Marathon in Phoenix. All special memories…and they won’t be forgotten. Running has brought us to a lot of events that we have either participated in, or helped create, including our Hospital Hill run.
Next year we will be getting ready for the 20th Annual Hospital Hill Run!
Those marathons have taught us a lot about not only each other, but ourselves. Each one brought with it many challenges, and obstacles…but all worth it in the end. Here are some shots of us in one of the Twin Cities Marathon.
Some went better than others, but it is safe to say the Marathon was only the final point. The journey and adventure came by our training together for 4 months before each marathon. This was the important part. This is the bond any training partner has. It is the reason why we kept doing these. The day of the race may have been the ultimate goal, but the adventure was leading up to it. The times we would spend with our family at these events was also one of the may highlights of that one day.
Here Tom and I are with our wives, Sarah and Sue (Sue is taking the picture), my twin brother Don and his wife Michele, and my youngest brother Rich. Great times going out to eat and talk, and creating memories. This one was in Phoenix for the Rock and Roll Marathon.
Tom was a great training partner, but more important, a GREAT FRIEND! Earlier this year Tom had health issues and had to have a cardiac stent placed, and was out of running for awhile. He is back at it again, but not those long runs like we previously had. Those long runs don’t matter, as we still get to run together. That is what matters. I want my friend around to spend time with. We just make our conversations shorter! The hard part is we are runners…things like that are not supposed to happen to us! But, we are human, and those things unfortunately are, and we will have to deal with those things when they come up. I did a long run yesterday, and Sarah was going to go with me for part of it, and then ride her bike the rest of the way with me. She got called in as one of her OB patients was going into labor, and going to deliver. I did the 20 miler on my own. Tom was out by the Lake (Don’t know if you were out there to go fishing), but he pulled up beside me and asked me if I needed anything! I was at 16.5 miles of the 20…What I really wanted was my training partner to help get me through those last 3.5 miles! You fired me up though just seeing you, and I kept thinking of those past days while I worked my way in. You helped me even when you are not running beside me!
Thanks for all of the years of running training partner…Friend! Here is hoping to many more years of it as well!
Below is a recent photo of my main marathon training partners, Tom Beaudry, and Steve Hauck, at the Fargo event a few years ago. Next posting will be talking about Steve!
Keep moving everybody! Keep in mind those people important to you, and spend time with them!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2900