It was a busy weekend! Memorial Day weekend; my daughter Molly had her wedding shower; my other daughter Megan flew home from Virginia for this; and Nick graduated from Augustana! Fun and excitement!
Proud parents! Nothing makes you happier than to see your kids succeed…other than seeing your kids happy, together, and supporting each other!
Megan surprised Nick by flying home for his graduation! Megan has always been like a “mother hen” to Nick. Nick may not show it, but deep down (really deep down!) he likes it, but just won’t admit it! It was great having everybody home…together!
With everybody home, it was a good time for everybody to get together for a wedding shower for Molly. The wedding date is coming up…August 17! The excitement is building!
We all went out to eat that night to celebrate Nick’s graduation. Just spending time together was wonderful!
Of course, Zeus could not be left out. I don’t know between the 2 who missed the other one more, Zeus, or Megan! It was a short weekend for having hugs, and Zeus was not going to miss out on any of them! If you could read Zeus’s mind, it would be: “What do you mean she has to stop hugging me? And what do you mean she is leaving already?”
Even though it was a busy, crammed weekend, there was still always time to go out and be active, and exercise! Megan got to have some walks with Zeus as well, so everybody loved it!
Sarah and I got some runs in! I am now up to 2 miles, and the last one was non stop…no walking breaks! Yay! It felt good, but boy, do I have a ways to go! I am glad I am back out trying to run too! Most of all, I am glad I am here to experience weekends like the one we just had. Spending time with family…nothing is better! This is why we strive to survive. This is what life is all about! I hope you had a great weekend too, and continue to keep creating memories for you and your family. It truly is priceless! Keep moving everybody!
This weekend was the 15th Annual Fargo Half Marathon/Marathon. Many of us from Watertown, and our Watertown Area Run Club were there to participate. The weather was not very cooperative…cold, in the 40’s, and raining the entire time, with very strong winds. This is exactly as a runner what you don’t want for a race, especially a long race! Here I am wishing Sarah good luck, as this is the first time I was there as a spectator, and not a participant. Boy, was that different. Believe me, I will be running it again! By it was my turn to cheer Sarah on, and all of the other people of our run club. I was one of the official cheerleader/photographers for the weekend. Sarah has been to running events as a spectator cheering me on…now it was my time to do the same for her!
Still smiles on face as we were just getting inside the dome at Fargo to get ready to run. It was raining very heavy outside. Everyone was also a little nervous…”how will we do this?” “Am I wearing the right clothes?”
It was time to have fun, and relax. I took this picture in front of the poster they had set out. Fargo is known for being a flat course as it is pretty flat there. Here they are trying to fire up and make the best of the weather! We were still missing quite a few of our club members. They will show up at different times in pictures here.
The excitement is building. They are getting ready to line up at the start! These guys are all running the Half Marathon. The marathon runners already took off. 3 from our group were running the marathon, and 2 of them were running the marathon for the first time. Nerves were all over the place that morning. Thoughts of “did I put enough miles in training? Am I gonna make it? Will I survive the weather? Will anybody be back at the finish line to cheer me in, or wait for me?”
Greg is the tall one in the middle. This was his first. Owen is to his right, (left in the picture) and he helped pace Greg in. They just finished, and both of them look like they have had enough! Why do we do this? What makes us want to run a marathon? Believe me, we ask ourselves that sometimes as well. The final answer is always the same: “If I can do this, I can accomplish anything!” The marathon, or just running in general, makes you move, and work on your own health. Watching all those people come across the finish line…all ages, all shapes, all abilities…all working to accomplish a goal they set for themselves. When it comes to the marathon, you feel like you can “weather any storm” that gets thrown your way in life, especially with the actual weather we had on Saturday!
We were all there waiting for them at the finish line! They are going on down the line getting fist bumps from us all! Great job guys, and welcome to the marathon Greg!
Greg had his parents fly in from Washington to watch him finish! I don’t know who is happier, Greg, or his parents! Proud moment indeed!
Runners have a special bond with each other, and especially our run group! We are there to “help each other out”, not only during the race, but all the time spent before hand. We are friends, and are there to help each other! But we were not done yet. We were still waiting for Mark to come in. We had one more person to come in, and we were going to be there to cheer him on as well! It is no different with our regular run club runs. Our motto is “leave no one behind”. We may all have different paces, different abilities, different backgrounds…but we support each other, and encourage each other!
Here is Mark after coming across the finish line! Fist in the air…”I did it!” He lined up for his fist bumps and cheers as well. His wife Sally, who ran the Half Marathon, her first one, was there waiting to give him a big hug!!! They both did it! They all did it!
A bunch of us were still around after to take this shot with their medals. Huge accomplishment, and congratulations to all of you. I will be there running again next year! Being a spectator was nice, but being a participant is better. I would have rather been out running with you, even with the crappy weather and all! You all truly can accomplish anything…set your mind, and heart to it, and with a little help from our friends, we can do it! Nothing can stop us! Keep moving everybody!
A special shout out to all you mom’s this weekend, and on this special day: Mother’s Day! Sarah, you have been a great mom to our kids, and I appreciate everything you have done for them, for us, and for me! We spent yesterday down in SF, and entered in the Avera Cancer Run, and Sarah ran the 10k run, and I did the 5k walk. It was perfect weather, for a great cause. It is the furthest I have gone walking since March 24. I was tired, but am clearly not ready to run yet. Sarah did great, and finished 2nd in her age group!
Molly came with Tanner, with Molly running the 5k, and Tanner walking with me. It was great for mother/daughter to spend some time together as well.
These are a few of the family members who participated. Joni, my sister-in-law, in the center, is why we have been going to this event for many years. She is a breast cancer survivor, and we have been running/walking for her, and all others with breast cancer, and now cancer in general, for many years. This was the 31st annual event!
My sister Mary came, as well as my twin brother, Don! It was great to have other family members there. We were there early, and quite a few others came later. They had over 6000 people there for the event.
And then, after the run/walk, I got to spend some time with my mom for this special weekend. Happy Mother’s Day mom! Love you, and thank you for all you have done for me. You have been a great example over the years, and have been a great role model! Thanks for everything does not begin to cover how much I appreciate everything! You were really worried about me as well a month ago when I was in the hospital. Once a mom, always a mom! Thanks for always being there. Love you!
I have been back at it in the clinic. I save my walk for the end of the day as I don’t have enough energy to get it done before clinic starts. To think of all the exercise I was doing before, and now I am wiped out by walking 2 miles…and prior to a week ago, the maximum was 1 mile a day. I am able to do more each week. At least with the weather getting nicer these last few days, the walks outside along the Lake have been a great way to do some thinking…and time to appreciate the scenery a little more too. It really does allow you to think!
Sarah and Zeus have gone with me a few times this week, but the other times has been on my own. It is much easier to enjoy things when the sun is finally shining.
It is very easy to drift off with thoughts while looking out at the Lake, especially with a few clouds and the silhouettes it makes. Wow! If I had a chair right there I think I would have just sat down for awhile!
I got to do a few things outside and enjoy the great day we had on Saturday. I got to do some little things around the yard, and even got to sit on a mower for awhile. I don’t think I would have had much to do with the push mower yet. After awhile Zeus came in the house, but kept looking out the window at me…keeping an eye on me! He was not going to let me out of his sight!
He makes for a great guard dog! Nothing is gonna get past him. That includes when we are out walking too. He will protect us at all costs. Many times I have to warn people to stay back as they want to come up and pet him. That is not gonna happen! If he does not know them, they are not coming near us! 24/7 body guard protection!
The walks this week have been great, and have given me a chance to look out and just think…think about life in general, and how things have changed this last month. Thinking about the future, and what life’s challenges hold in store for not only me, but my family. Somebody I grew up with as a kid, and have been neighbors to us, and continue to be neighbors with my mom in SF, for the last 49 years, passed away earlier this week. He was only one year younger than me. We don’t know what all happened yet, and may not know later either. All is know is I got another chance, but he didn’t. Each day really is a gift. It has also given me time to focus less on what has all happened this last month, and more on the privileges I have had, and do have. Take nothing for granted. Things can change quickly. The circumstances may be different, but changes will come.
Take some time to sit down, and to appreciate the good things in your life. Time to reflect on each day, and what unique things occurred that day to make you appreciate those little things even more.
We all have the same amount of time in a day. We just need to learn to maximize the time as much as we can. Appreciate each day as a gift. Not all of us get to experience those things, or the same things that makes each of our lives unique. Strive to Survive! Enjoy the ride, and hope it lasts for awhile! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Streak (new streak!) Day #: 35
This past month has given me even more time to reflect back on my life, and the things I am thankful for. But, it also was also an answer to a question: “What is my Why?” What is it in life that I want to do, and try to achieve, as well as what is important to me? Why was I exercising every day? I have answered this last question many times in my blog. I was exercising every day as an attempt to help me be around longer, and spend more time with my family. But, as I found out, that is not always under my control. But, I will control what I can!
I definitely want to be spending more time with my family. We have lots of things to accomplish yet, and places to see, and things to do. Running was always a big part of this as well, as we would go to different races and fun as a family. That will still happen. I just need a little time to recuperate first.
It was a little over a year ago where we went to Disney and I did the Dopey challenge…4 days, 4 races, starting with day one a 5k, then a 10k, then a half marathon, and the 4th day the full marathon! Those days of adventure are not over yet, but may be delayed a little. I would love to have more of these times with my family, and Nick will be graduating next month, so we would not have to worry about school interfering with things. He could not go with us this last time.
With our Watertown Area Run Club, I have many more family members to be running races with. Here, last October, Paula, Jill, Amanda, Sarah and I went to Denver to do the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. Tom met us out there but could not run with us because he was dealing with an injury. But his daughter and son-in-law ran it. It was so much fun! Hopefully, there will be more adventures like this again!
Of course, Tom and I have had so many adventures over the years, both with races, and with training runs. Those days are not over yet!
Our WARC run group have become some of the closest friends we have. And, we all love to run. I will be back, hopefully in the next few weeks starting to at least get a few miles at a time!
Getting back to running with be a celebration to me! I don’t care about what finish line I cross at that time. I just want to get back out and run…that truly will be something for me to celebrate! These are some of the reasons I keep exercising. These are my reasons why I do this. Now, you just have to figure out what your why is. Keep trying. Make a list. Push yourself beyond what you thought you were ever capable of. Find out who you really are. You may just find out something new about yourself you did not know you had. What is your why?
