Where does the time go? 35 years ago today we said to each other: “I do”. And we have! It has been a great lifetime together. Medical school; residency; running road races; moving to Watertown and starting our medical career; raising a family; now having grandchildren! Wow! Life does not slow down. I will admit, there are times when things seemed like they go really slow, but looking back, I cannot believe how fast these 35 years have gone. I had an elderly patient in his upper 80’s, having some issues with dementia, tell me one of the sanest things I have ever heard. He told me: “You know doc, the older we get, the faster time goes!” He nailed it right on! How true this is. There are times when this ride of time feels like a roller coaster, but everything eventually evens out again. We just keep planning the next adventure. Happy 35th Anniversary Sarah and hoping for many more years to come. Love you more than ever!! Keep moving everybody!
There is nothing like baby snuggles! Caleb is definitely a snuggler…just like Tessa and Connor were. They will just lay on your chest and sleep, and then I fall asleep. Both of us are incredibly content. Is there really anything better? We visited them all last Sunday and now are going again this Sunday because Caleb is going to be baptized. More baby snuggles coming!!
Tessa had to join in on the snuggles too…and the giggles! What a great day. Can’t wait for this Sunday too! Connor, as the oldest (4) will be there to be the overall protector!
Tessa has to get involved with everything too. She was going to make sure grandma was feeding Caleb correctly! And after she was finished feeding him, Tessa let her know she did a good job!
Never a dull moment. Ready to go experience some more of all of this again this weekend. Caleb is changing so much too. Each grandchild makes it easier to pour your heart into someone again. We love being grandparents. We love watching our kids’ become parents. We are always a parent, and will always worry about our kids, and now grandkids. We just want the best for all of them. Sound familiar all you grandparents, and parents, out there. Keep moving everybody…we have to got to keep up with all of them!
It’s not always the big, dramatic injuries that trip you up. Sometimes, it’s the quiet ones. The ones that sneak up after a race. The ones that remind you: “You’re not invincible.”
After our last 5k race 2 weeks ago, I notice some heal pain. At first, it was just background noise. Then it got louder, and by that evening, I could not step on my foot. I iced it, stretched, but could not run the next day. I could bike because I was not putting any pressure on my heal. It was jut not letting up. I thought I had a stress fracture. Several days later, and an xray later, it showed it was not. It would get a little better after getting through the first few minutes of stepping on it. Plantar Fasciitis! My nemesis! Once again. Sarah and I have a Half Marathon coming up in the Hills in about 3 weeks. I don’t know at this point if I am going to be able to run it. The Crazy Horse Half Marathon. I can bike. I can be on the elliptical. I ran once last week. I will try again this Sunday. Will just have to see how it feels.
It is a mental tug-of-war. Not the injury itself, but the decisions that come with it. Push through and risk making it worse? Pull back and feel like you’re giving up? There’s no clear answer. Just a gut check. A little wisdom. And a lot of patience. Maybe I will run the Half. Maybe I’ll just jog part of it and walk the rest. Maybe I’ll cheer Sarah on from the trail’s edge and save my energy, and my foot, for hiking the rest of the week when we are gone. But whatever happens, I’m not stopping. My streak will keep going. I can do other activities, and I have been doing other activities at home.
I have an elliptical exercise machine. I have a recumbent bike. I can stay in shape with these while I let my foot heal. And I have been. I have been faithful with my inserts too.
My power step pulse inserts have been a part of me for years. My only issue is maybe I hang on to them too long. Some of my shoes may be older and more worn than I like to think. None of these are cheap, and so I am trying to get everything out of them as I can. But foot pain is another issue. Nothing is worth that. I need to start keeping a closer log of how long I am using them. How many miles I put on them, whether running or walking, or just hours with them.
My Oofa recovery sandals are by the door. My walking shoes are by the door. My running shoes are by the door. When they start losing their cushion I need to get rid of them. If I want to stay on the road, and run, or walk, I need to take extra care of my feet.
Sarah and I will be doing a lot of hiking as well. It is one of the most beautiful times of the year to be in the Hills. I will be hiking. I just may not be able to do the Half Marathon when we get out there. Will see. 3 weeks is still time yet. If I am ready, I will. If not, plan B. Don’t exactly know what plan B will be yet but will know more as each day goes by. Take care of your feet. They are the only ones we get! Keep moving everybody!
Things have been very busy lately. I totally went past my last milestone of the newest streak–500 days–where right now I am at 557 days! My third official exercise streak.
I’ve done this before. My first streak lasted nearly 12 years–4,196 days–broken only by health issues beyond my control. After a week off, I started again, slowly, only to have my second streak end at 5 years, again, because of health issues beyond my control. And now, here I am, 557 days into the next one and going strong. Each of these streaks have taught me something different–about discipline, about listening to your body, and about what you can control versus what you can’t.
Life gets busy. Chaotic. Overwhelming. I’ve had days when work was stacked, clinic was draining, family was calling, or I was just plain tired. But I still moved! And I had my training partner to help push me, guide me, care about me–and just be with me!
Walk. Run. Bike. Lift. Repeat. It is all movement!
Sarah and I keep pushing each other. Use it or lose it! This isn’t about proving anything to anyone. It’s not about six-packs (and yes, I am talking about my abs–they are still there somewhere–just really insulated!), marathons, or personal records. It’s about showing up, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard!
There will be times in life when your health–or life circumstances–pull you off the path. That’s what happened to me. and in those moments, grace is more important than grit. But once you heal…once you’re able…You lace up. You press start. You go again! It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being persistent! Keep moving everybody!
Each Labor Day weekend, as South Dakotans descend on Huron for the State Fair, a special tradition quietly takes it place at the edge of town: Andy’s Road Race. This year marked the 43rd running of the event, and once again, our family laced up and showed up. For Sarah, this race began when she was in college, and has brought special memories for her going back home to Huron. This race was the first time I had gone to Huron, 3 weeks after we started dating in our second year of medical school. Only then it was a 5k and a 10 mile race. Of course, I had to impress Sarah and run the 10 mile. It was an adventure! Since then, it has been a 5k and a 10k race. This year Sarah and I did the 5k race, and our daughter, Megan, ran the 10k. We all won gold medals for our age group (and there was a pretty good turn out of people!) But the real victory–I was waiting for Megan at mile 5, and ran the rest of the way with her to get her in. She was struggling. But she did it! Proud of her!
Megan’s reaction after winning first! Of course, she was just screwing around and did not know I was taking a picture, but here you have it! The weather could not have been better–cool enough to run, warm enough to enjoy the day. After the race, we did what other South Dakotans do after the race–we hit the State Fair! Exhibits. Photos. A lot of walking. We saw a few Watertown faces there as well.
We all finished. Dan came along with to cheer us all on. It was a good day at the Fair. It was also a long day, taking off from home Saturday morning to get to Huron in time for the race. We saw Sarah’s parents, and had breakfast with them. We saw Suzy, Sarah’s sister, working at the Fair. Our kids have run this race many times. I hooked Sarah with this race many years ago. It has now become our family tradition as well. Keep moving everybody!
