Yesterday marked the 20th Anniversary of the Hospital Hill 5k Run. Tom Beaudry and Kris Munger have been my mainstay for many years, but we have had help for many years by other people volunteering and helping. One of those was Tim Page. He was a pharmacist at Prairie Lakes Hospital since 1992. He was our official starter of the race for the last 19 years. Tim lost his battle with cancer, and passed away one week ago. Tim was a co-worker, colleague, runner, and…friend. He was in our hearts and minds yesterday. Here is a picture before last years race with Tom Beaudry, as we were getting ready to get set up for the race.
Here is a picture from years ago when Tom and Tim had done one of their first marathons together. I trained with both of them for one of the early Grandma’s marathons as well, but that was the only one I got to train with Tim also. Tom had some memories of quotes that Tim use to say on some of those runs: “There is Magic in Misery”, “I can, I will, I’m going to finish this run”. I remember a few of these lines as well. He struggled with injury on that last one where I was involved in, but he never quit. He finished…regardless. Just like his adventure in life. That is what running, or exercise in general, can do for us. It can make us stronger, not only physically, but mentally. It can help us push through the every day struggles that we can come across each and every day. But don’t give up! We all have our struggles to contend with…but we need to learn to deal with them as they come.
For the race yesterday, Tim’s dad stepped in, and became our starter for the 20th anniversary race…a race we dedicated to Tim Page.
I have to believe that put a smile on Tim’s face! Even though we may not always be able to handles things in life as they come, how we handle the “adventure” says a lot about us as well. We all have a purpose in life, and I think the goal would be for all of us…definitely for me…to feel like we made us difference with our lives. That what we do, and did, had a purpose, and that we should feel satisfied with how our life turned out. If it is not, then you need to make a change while you can…to figure out that purpose in your life…to decide what adventures you are going to take.
We need to figure out our purpose!
Here is Tim starting the race last year…
Even though he was not there, he was…in our hearts and minds! Tim is now “starting” a new adventure…one everybody else may not have been ready for him to take, but many of those times we are not given many options.
Tim…you will be missed!
Keep moving everybody! Keep doing what you can to take care of yourselves, as we all embark on new adventures, and continue to Strive to Survive!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3180
