by Dan | Jun 4, 2017 | Etc.
Many of us in the Watertown Area Run Club, WARC, have signed up for the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct 1 this year, and many others for the 10 mile run. We are jumping in anticipation of why we are doing this race. It is for charity, and a very special charity. We are running for ongoing research in regards to Friedreich’s Ataxia. Friedreich’s Ataxia is a rare inherited disease that causes a gradual breakdown of the nervous system. It affects nerves in the brain and the spinal cord that control movement. It also affects sensory nerves that help with coordination. About one in 50,000 people in the United States have Friedreich’s Ataxia. In Watertown alone, there have been at least 4 people. For me, they are family members of friends, and also, relatives. I have had at least 3 cousins affected by this. So, Sarah and I have decided, along with many members of our WARC, to run for a cause this Fall. We are going to run for Team FARA!
Team FARA is Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance. All money raised will go towards continuing research in the hopes of finding a cure. Sarah and I have many charities requesting financial assistance from us throughout the year. It is impossible to give to all of them, even though we want to. We have to pick and choose. Tom Batta, whose is a member of WARC, has a daughter with this disease. And as I said above, I have multiple cousins/relatives affected by this. I can’t think of a better cause to run for, and donate to. So, Sarah has signed up to run the marathon. This will be her first marathon ever! She is very nervous about this, but thinks if she were ever going to do one, she could not think of a better reason to try than this. Not only are we going to run, I am donating $1000.00 to her fundraising efforts, and she is going to donate $1000.00 to mine. We will continue to ask repeatedly, through Facebook, or this site, for anyone who wants to donate for this cause. You can get on the internet and type out Team FARA 2017 Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, and it will direct you to the website. A direct website is http://fara.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1371&pg=entry. It then has listed on the left side where you can type in the participants name, so either Sarah or I, or our team, which is Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and 10 Mile. It does not matter who to list if for otherwise, it can be put under our team. We are all working for the cause. As of this writing, there are currently 12 full marathon participants, 10 of which are members of WARC, and 9 people that are running the 10 mile! One of our WARC members, and my good friend and training partner, Tom Beaudry, is donating $26.20 for each member of WARC participating…to represent the 26.2 miles we will be running for the marathon!
Sarah and I will continue our training together, and running for a very good cause! Please consider joining us. How much more motivation could there be than to run for a charity…to exercise and run when we have the ability, in order to help somebody who cannot? People with Friedreich’s Ataxia would run in this if they could, so we will help them out by running for them. That is what becoming a better you is all about! Appreciate all of our abilities, physical and mental, and join in. The rest of us have no other excuses, except what our mind is telling us. Take advantage of our abilities, and put them to good use. For those of us running this event, we can use all the support we can get…motivational, encouragement, and financial. Please consider donating!
Run for someone else. Exercise for someone else! Become a better you, and…
Doing this for another cause can be more rewarding than anything else life has to offer. Not only do we need to Strive to Survive, but let’s help someone else achieve this too! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3536
by Dan | May 29, 2017 | Family, Motivation, Wellness/Health
This Memorial Day, take the time to remember what other people have done for us. Things like our freedom, and in this case for me, a home, a family, and a great role model to follow: My Dad! It has been 3 years now since he has passed away, and not one day goes by where I don’t think of him. It is nice to have pictures to sit back and look back at, and then all of those memories come flooding back, both smiles and tears! Looking back especially at these pictures of my Dad when he was in the Army. To think of what he had to give up, in order for us to have what we have now.
To be away from home when you are that young, and then not knowing whether you are going to get to go back home to see everybody again. I can’t imagine what things would have been like under those circumstances. On this Memorial Day, we need to appreciate everything all of those people did for our freedom, and remember those who not only came home, but those who did not. Just REMEMBER!
We always have our memories to look back on, it is just taking the time to be doing this, and to realize they truly are timeless treasures.
My Family and I have changed a lot over the years. As times continues to go on, the same people may not be in the picture anymore, but that does not mean we forget about them. It does mean we have to appreciate them even more while they are still here, and to remember to tell them how much you care about them while they can hear it. We need to remember to take care of ourselves as well, so we can have more time to be around, and enjoy life with them as well.
This is one of the last pictures I have of me with my Dad. It is both good and bad. Good, because I got to spend time with him, bad because his memory was getting so bad I had to keep telling him who I was. That is why memories are so important to have, and to keep thinking of at times. This can help us to not forget. He could not remember something that just happened, or what was going on at the time, but if you brought up things when he was younger, he could talk on and on about that. So, that is what we talked about. They truly were timeless treasures. He did not forget about those things. Everything cannot be taken away from us. So I am also going to be taking the time today to remember my Day…remember all of the good times, and will again realize how much I miss him! Become a better you…REMEMBER!
Keep moving everybody! Remember what Memorial Day is really about!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3530
by Dan | May 22, 2017 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We all need those certain times when it is nice to just go for a walk or run on our own. Time to think, to get away, to relax. But, there are also those times where it is a lot of fun running, walking, or working out in a group. You are all going through the same thing, but you can talk…socialize. You get to know each other a little better. We all are busy, we all have crazy schedules, but for that brief moment, you are like one. You have no other worries at that time. For us, with run club, it is a time to just go for a run. We do not have to be fast, or competitive…you are there because you like to run! That is the only requirement…to like to run! The motto of this club is “we leave no one behind”. Some days some of us go faster, other days not. Some days certain of us like to go farther, others not. Whatever you want to do is what you can do. No pressure. No competition. Just friends gathering to discuss issues, solve problems, and run! We are all there for each other. We cheer each other on. We motivate each other. We CARE about each other. That is what this is all about!
We like as many to show up as possible. We are quite the force going down the road when we have a large group show up. If you are free, then show up. If you can’t, then maybe next week. We are now starting again the Wednesdays at 5:30 at Northridge Brown Clinic, and then Sundays at 7AM, now back at Jackson Park again, the North parking lot.
The good part about all of this is that when some of us can’t make it here, we are running somewhere else. Why? Because we like to run. It is as simple as that. Sarah and I do many races together, but the really fun ones now are the ones I get to do with my kids. Megan and her boyfriend Nate set this run up for us in Fairfax, VA. We were there these last few days for Megan’s graduation from George Mason University. When Megan has been home on vacations, she has joined our run club here as well. Not too bad for someone who loves to swim, not run. But, she is realizing she can run anywhere, anytime.
The weather these last few days here has not been the best. It was back to the cold again this weekend, but it did not stop these diehards. They made a sign congratulating those of us who ran in Fargo the day before, and for Megan for graduating. Why would these do this? Because that is what friends do! They support you whether you are present there or not. We are always cheering each other on. Encouraging us to keep moving. If we want to run faster at races, we push each other. But the bottom line is encouragement to just keep moving. Keep trying. Keep working. Just like life. We are all “in it for the long run”. So take your friends along with you. Become a better you at the same time.
Here Jill and Paula are at Fargo, with Paula’s daughter Kala. Right Paula…great to run with your kids, isn’t it? Paula a personal best at her half marathon! I am not sure who was happier…Paula…or the rest of us in this run club! We all knew she could do it. We believed in her. But it really did not matter what her time was…it really does not matter that for any of us. The important part is to get out and run. Work on our health. Work on being here longer. Enjoying life better, healthier. I mentioned a sign last time about the race at Brookings the week before…it said “Life is short. Running makes is seem longer.” Yes, some days can be a struggle, but overall, our running will allow us to be around enjoying life longer. Whether running, walking, or exercise in general. It does not matter, as long as it is an activity we like.
Besides, when it comes to doing these other races, you can never have enough medals! The places we have gone as a result gave us a lot of other adventures to remember, and to have to talk about in the future. What are you waiting for? Get off your butt, and get moving! Don’t let life pass you by. And, remember, if you want to run, come join us at run club. No restrictions. No judgement. No pressure. Just show up! And then you will be like my daughter at the end of this past weekends 5K run…you will be dancing like no one is watching!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3523
by Dan | May 14, 2017 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We all have different experiences during our lives, but we have a beginning, a present, and time to plan about our future. We just don’t know how long our future is. This weekend was a good way to spend thinking about things in this regards. First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all you mom’s out there! I got to spend some time this weekend with my mom. Getting to spend some time thinking back about those beginning days, and spending time at home that has been a part of my life for the last 47 years. Lots of memories to think about!
My Dad has been gone for a little over 3 years ago now. It still is tough some days…but I have those memories. Every time I am back home they all come flooding back into my mind. I think of all those good times, and then realize that nobody can take that away from me. The thing that is good now is I have the privilege of getting to make new memories…new memories with my Sarah. I am lucky enough yet that they are both still included in my life.
On Saturday Sarah and I were in Brookings in the morning running the Brookings half marathon. The weather was very warm, and it got warmer quick. We ran this race together…start to finish. I was trying to help her break 2 hours. We did not quite make it, but it was close. 2:02:53. We talked, ran, spent time together. We had some ups and down, and not just the hills. She was struggling on this run…but I was going to help get her through. A friend of ours who lives in Brookings was out there and taking pictures of us. This was one of them from the finish. Thanks Cory Ann!
Something we did in the present, but now will be a memory of our past. We have run together for over 28 years…this is how we started dating. Running has been a big part of our life, and it will continue into our future. Hopefully, we have many more years to do this!
We have had many friends…running friends…along the way. Here are some of them as we were all getting ready to run Saturday. Running is like life…some days are good, some days not so good. Some days are more challenging than others. They had many signs out along the race course, and one in particular stood out to me. It said “Life is short, running make is seem longer”. Now this could be taken many ways. Some of those runs can be a struggle, and may make seem like time is slow, or drags on. But for me, it means I get to enjoy all of what life throws at us, good and bad, and how to learn to adapt, overcome obstacles, and enjoy everything life has to offer. Appreciate all of those moments. They eventually become memories. Life is short. Take full advantage of them all. Remember from where you came, where you are at this present time, and then look forward to the future. A future that you can still have a lot of control over.
Eventually that time we have will come to a finish, just like these races do. The joy you experience when you finally cross the finish line can be hard to describe some times. I think life may be like this as well. Enjoy it for all it is worth. It truly is priceless. We have one life, so live it to the fullest. Become a better you, and look back at your past, enjoy the present, and look forward to the future! Strive to Survive! You don’t want to have any regrets about our lives later!
Keep moving everybody! Happy Mother’s Day!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3515
by Dan | May 7, 2017 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
It was a busy weekend…one of my daughters, Molly, graduated from SDSU. Megan will graduate in 2 weeks from George Mason University. They both spent a lot of time, and hard work, earning their degrees. Molly graduated with a degree in Health Education, and will be going to study Ultrasound. We all need to keep striving for things in our life, to keep working on improving ourselves, and to learn more. There is always something to learn! If we quit trying to learn, life becomes stale and boring. The famous saying, “The more we know, the more we don’t know” rings true also. We always need to work on becoming a better person, both physically and mentally.
As parents, you always try to be there for your kids, to keep encouraging, to keep working, to keep striving. If you want it, you have to earn it! This is no different than working on exercise and our diet…if we want to become healthier, we have to work at it, and again, we have to keep learning on how we can do this better. Molly had a sign on the top of her cap, “Finally done with this B.S.” Now this can be taken many ways, but of course, it really means Bachelor of Science!
The crowd at graduation was huge for SDSU…and it was already split into a morning, afternoon, and later afternoon sessions! We heard, and more importantly, those graduating heard, that if you want something in life, you have to earn it. Always keep striving, and even though their college days may be over, our learning never ends! Remember that!
We are proud of you Molly, just like we are with our other kids, and just like all parents are of their own kids. We are there for you, will be there to support you, encourage you, but…we can’t do it for you! You have to push yourself. You have to want to earn it. You have to want to be better. Boy, this sounds an awful like what I say in this blog many times. We have to want to be healthier, and have to want to watch our diet, and eat better. We have to want to exercise for our own benefit…and we have to keep learning on how we can do it better!
My nurse, Chris, made an awesome cake to celebrate. Thank you Chris! It was delicious. And, because it was a special occasion, and I did my run in the morning, and also did my weight workout as well, I splurged this time and I had a second piece of cake later that evening! It was totally worth it! Sometimes, you have to reward yourself as well. So, everybody, keep moving, keep learning, and keep striving to become a better you!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3508
