by Dan | Apr 16, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
As a finisher of 8 marathons, soon to be doing the 9th in Fargo next month, where do you start to describe the scene near the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday? At first, shock, disbelief. Then denial–afterall, how could someone possibly do this? Now today, anger. The whole spectrum of emotions. A lot of these same emotions you experience when you are actually running a marathon. You start off excited, overjoyed, and can’t wait to get started. You are just soaking up the entire atmosphere, relishing in the fact of how hard you have trained to get ready for this event. It is fun, but make no mistake, it is work! After awhile, you get into a groove, and are just running. Somewhere along mile 15, fatigue starts entering into the picture. A little anxiety creeps in, and then as you get further into it, somewhere around mile 20-21, you start to get worried. The exhaustion starts setting in, and you begin to wonder “am I going to be able to finish?” Panic starts to set in, and you keep telling yourself, remember all of the work I have put into this, the hours running, and you are telling yourself “yes, I can do this!” You start to get within a half mile of the finish line, and you are fired up. The end is near. It is so close, it is like you can taste it. You approach the finish line, and everybody is out there, cheering you on, your family is out in the crowd, yelling your name. They have stood behind you always, and in particular, this last many months as you are training for this. You have trained to feel the joy and overwhelming emotion of crossing the finish line. You have done it! 26.2 miles! You start being overcome with emotions…tears come, exhaustion has reached its max, and you are happy and thrilled that you have completed your goal. Here is Steve and I as we finished the Disney marathon this January…the look of exhaustion on us, the emotions of tears starting on Steve’s face. No other words to describe it.
Now…go to yesterday afternoon. The shock, fear, chaos, all of this happening just before the finish line. You are overwhelmed with emotions already from running, and now several bombs are going off…your family who is out there to see you and cheer you on, are now hurt. Now to make matters worse, they held off all of these other runners back from the area…they no longer can finish when they are this close, and they have no idea if members of their family are ones that are hurt. Now talk about undescribable emotion! Where do you even begin? The race no longer matters…it is now about your family, and other peoples family who are hurt. How can an activity that can bring so much overpowering joy and emotion, become so devastating in the blink of an eye.
Running the Boston Marathon has been on my bucket list for the last 21 years. I have never qualified for it. I have never been able to run in it. This does not mean I still don’t want to. I could run it as a member of the medical team, but I have always wanted to run because I earned it. That does not mean any marathon, or other race I run, I would not help someone who needed medical help. That is a given…I would just do without thinking. This is what one running physician did yesterday. He was approaching the finish line when the bomb went off…he never crossed the line. He turned around and began helping whoever he could. One of the interviews on TV I saw say he was covered in blood, and someone asked him if he was hurt. His response, “I am a doctor, and I just want to help”. Nothing else matters at that point. It is no longer about a race. It is about life. Remember these runners, and their families going forward. I may not have been running Boston, and I may not have qualified for Boston, but I am still a runner…and if I have anything to say about it, I always will!
Keep moving everybody! Keep these Boston people in your thoughts and your hearts.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2029
by Dan | Apr 14, 2013 | Equipment, Exercise, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
With the weather we are having, it is easy to have all the excuses come out as to why you can’t exercise. “I am sick of snow!; I am too tired!; It is too cold; It is too windy; The sun is not out; I have too many other things to get done.” And on and on it goes. Believe me, I think I have used all of these at one time, plus about 1,000 others. If we waited for the perfect moment, we would never get out the door. Now, I am the first to admit, I am really tired of this weather too. It makes it very hard to get motivated to get outside. So, if the weather is not cooperating, then keep it inside yet.
Get on the treadmill, or the bike, and put on the TV or the radio, or use your ipod. Whatever it takes to help keep your mind off of the activity. I just got some DVD’s to use that have me running or walking out in the woods, or in California along the ocean. You literally get to follow along with someone else walking or running. They have a music background, so you can just lose yourself in the scenery, and it is the next best thing to being outside. The more you can keep your mind interested in something, the easier it gets. Which brings up some topics to discuss. What do you think about when you are out walking, running, or biking? What do you think of during that 20 or 30 minutes of time? Or if you are doing a marathon, like Steve and I, what do you think about during a 3-3 1/2 hour run? I will fill you in on what I think about, but would like to hear what you keeps you going as well. Stay tuned for future posts on this. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2027
by Dan | Apr 7, 2013 | Exercise, Goals, Wellness/Health
The snow is getting less and less all of the time (we won’t talk about the upcoming forecast though!). Soon, we will be able to have full access to all of the bike trails here in town. For the Watertown Initiative, H20-20, (also symbolic for the consecutive exercise day for me today!) I am chairman of the Watertown Bike Trail Systems committee. I would take any input anybody would have as to ideas of how to improve the trails.
The city gets so much funding each year, and is able to set aside only so much each year, for upkeep, re-paving, and development of future trails in the city. Their is a plan in place to continue adding onto the existing trail over the next 5 years. In the meantime, we would like to know what else could be done. Signs, such as distance markers, bench seats, bike racks, port a potties, drinking fountains, bike rental stations, or anything you can think that would be of benefit out on the trail. This goes for everybody…walkers, runners, and bikers.
How can we help maintain the bike trails? Can we have sections where individual, or group volunteers, are in charge of keeping the trail clean: picking up garbage, sweeping the trail to keep glass and garbage off, and to help keep it safe for everyone to use. This also could include more drop points of having garbage cans around to dispose of the garbage. Get your thinking caps on. This trail system benefits us all in Watertown. We have a great trail system, and want to continue to maintain the current system, plus continue to develop more trails, particularly around the lake. Any suggestions would be of benefit.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2020
by Dan | Mar 31, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Holidays, Motivation
Happy Easter everyone! Spend time with your family, and appreciate all that it is about. It is holidays like this that make spending time with your family even better. I am thankful to be able to be as active as I am, and be able to spend time with my kids, and just be there for them.
My twin daughters are growing up fast, and will be graduating in a few months, then off to college. Time for their new adventure to begin.
And, of course, Nick, who always loves it when I come around with the camera. He won’t admit it yet, but he will miss the girls when they go off to school.
Sarah and I will still be running, biking, walking. As I have stated numerous times on this blog, I plan on being around a long time…to be there for them. Hopefully, I am the Dad they want me to be. We have a lot of fun together, and times like this when we, as a family, can be together, makes things even better yet. Take care of yourselves…if not for you, but for your family. They want you around longer too! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2013
by Dan | Mar 24, 2013 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Click below to hear Dr. Dan’s “surprise” on KXLG’s morning show.
Day/2K KXLG Radio Show
Wednesday this week I went to the radio station, KXLG, to do what I thought was going to be a talk on our wellness program, Strive 2 Survive. Instead, it turned out to be a “set-up celebration” to recognize the 2000 days of consecutive exercise I have done. This was originally to be on monday, which was the actual 2000th day, but with the snow storm we had, I rescheduled because I could not get there. I did not know this was planned.
Sarah was there, after leaving earlier than me that morning, telling me she had to go to the hospital to do rounds first. Very nice surprise! It was great having her there. Afterall, if it was not for her, I would not have been able to stay on task to do the exercise. Thank you Sarah!
Here is the rest of the group…co-workers, friends, training partners, and radio station employees. A special thanks goes to Carol Zillgitt at KXLG radio station, who planned all of this, made the Tshirt, and worked with Barb at the clinic to get all of the set up. Very nice surprise! Thanks to all of you, especially to you Carol!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2006
