by Dan | Oct 2, 2016 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Wellness/Health
It is time to begin a new series, one that I have titled “Becoming a better you”. Remember, over time, our goals change. We need to keep updating our goals to help us to live our dreams and our visions. We should never lose site of these dreams and visions. When you keep looking back at your goals, this overall becomes much easier to do. My family is always part of my vision and dreams…my goals. I am thankful that Sarah is with me along the way to help with all of this too. The exercise and running over the years has also been a great escape…a time to think. It helps give me a purpose, and I found this quote which helps sum things up well.
When we have a purpose, things in life are much easier to accomplish. One thing to remember as well, we have all been given our own personal gifts, talents, and abilities…and a short amount of time in which to put it all together to live our lives to the fullest. Don’t waste time…it already goes by too fast.
The exercise has created a bond like no other…it has allowed me to make adventures I never would have experienced otherwise; to meet people I would have never met otherwise; to achieve goals and accomplishments that I thought would have never been possible. It has helped me become a better me, and it can help you “become a better you”.
The activities that you can do as a family are memories to have forever. Nobody can take them away. Yes, you work, but that does not mean you can’t have fun, and enjoy life better as a result. You also get to have different ways in which to spend time with your own family more! But…the running, exercise, activity…teaches you more about yourself than you could have ever imagined. When it comes to trying to achieve something good in your life, it takes time, energy, and interest. You have to work at it! It will not just fall in your lap…you have to earn it. You have to work for it. All good things in life worth having are worth working for. The lessons it teaches you can be unlimited. Give it a try!
So, as I begin on this series, I will cover topics that can help you become a better you. What you can do in your life that can benefit you in many ways, both physically and mentally. In short, how to better know yourself! I will still continue on my “adventure” posts when different events, races, etc come up. The Twin Cities Marathon is next weekend…I am sure this will have new adventure stories in store! We are in charge of our own happiness. Just get going!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3292
by Dan | Sep 27, 2016 | Etc.
This Sunday just marked the end of 9 years…9 complete years of exercise without missing a day! Now I am already into a couple of days of year 10. Where has the time gone? What before was a real struggle trying to make sure I did not miss a day, has now become a habit…second nature. I don’t know where this will end, but I will keep going as long as possible!
I will still continue some of the blog series of adventures, especially when I have new races, or places that we are going to. But now, I am going to be starting a new series. The title of it will…”Becoming a better you”! I got to get away this past weekend, and was allowed some time to really think. Hopefully, I will have some good topics that everybody can get something out of, and help them become a better version of themselves….a better version of themselves in every aspect of their lives. Have a great week everybody. The first in the series of this will come out on Sunday.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3287
by Dan | Sep 18, 2016 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We all want to be healthier, and be able to have the energy and stamina to do things, but it is important to be having fun along the way. Here our run club is getting ready to go for a run…and we are ready! Ready to not only go for a run, but to have fun, and spend time with friends as well. We all have goals in our life, and we want to improve with our goals. When we are running as a group, our times for how fast we run are really not important. It is a social time, and a time to see how everybody is doing, and how things are going for them in their lives. Many of us on our run club is getting ready to do the Twin Cities Marathon in 3 weeks, and many of us also ran last weekend in Sioux Falls doing the half marathon. In events like this, our times can be more important to us then, as we are continuing to drive and improve for ourselves. The next few pictures show Jill Makepeace checking her time as she crossed the finish line, and then the expressions of her face when she realized she had just set a personal record for her finish time.
This is also a driving force as to why we keep trying. We want to be healthier, but we are trying to improve ourselves along the way. If you don’t push yourselves at times, you have no idea how far you can go. Over time, we can amaze ourselves. As individuals, you can look back on your accomplishments, and really can see changes as to the progress that is made…it is also a great motivator! Our minds are usually our limiting factor, not our bodies. It is important getting support from people in our lives who help support us, and who help us achieve our goals. More importantly, they are usually the people who we have fun with as well.
Paula and Jill are having a good time following the race, and both celebrating accomplishments they just achieved. Our run club really can show off the fun we can have.
We can all be “goofy” together! After taking these pictures, we finally got back to running after we got done posing. So everybody get ready, and “jump” into better fitness and health!
Keep moving everybody! Exercise for the health of it! But, have fun along the way!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3278
by Dan | Sep 11, 2016 | Exercise, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Sarah and I, along with quite a few of the Watertown Area Run Club members were in Sioux Falls this AM for the Half Marathon. It was a little windy, but the temperatures were very nice for running. I forgot what kind of hills there are in SF! It was a great morning for a run. Yesterday, they had an expo at the Arena where they would sell different things related to running. One of the booths had a truck where one side of it had the names of those doing the marathon, and the other side of those doing the marathon. We found our names pretty quickly!
I managed to take a picture of Sarah coming across the finish line. It got a little crowded at the finish. The medals were very nice this year as well.
Another adventure down! It was a nice run. It is always good to run with other people, and there was always somebody around you. If you have never tried, do it! Start with a mile walk/run, or a 5k. You might surprise yourself what you are capable of. We all have to start somewhere. Our bodies are usually not the limiting factor…it is our minds!
Remember, you cannot finish unless you start! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3271
by Dan | Sep 4, 2016 | Etc., Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
When it comes to running, or exercise in general, it is always easier when you have a training partner. Someone else who can help you be accountable, to help push you, motivate you…just to help be there with you. A training partner is someone who has the same interests as you when it comes to exercise. They can be a friend, relative, pet…anybody who will help push you. This is a recent picture of our run club. We all help each other with exercise, and we all like to run.
Over the years I have had multiple training partners. I have had several where I have included my dogs as well, and for this one today, I won’t include them. My training partners over the years include:
Tom Beaudry, one of my first training partners, and continues to be.
Steve Hauck, who is my neighbor, and have run several Disney marathons with, and Fargo.
And of course, my wife Sarah, who has been my training partner since we started dating. In fact, this is how we started dating.
Susan and Chris, my past nurse, and current (and always!) nurse. They have helped each other out immensely with achieving their goals.
As of these last few days, one of our run club members, Jen, got hurt. She is struggling with this, frustrated by this, and wants to keep running. She is going to be running the Twin Cities Marathon with us in October. The rest of us found out about it yesterday. Ever since then, it was like something was missing. When the rest of us were out running this AM, and she was not, we all felt bad for her. We are worried about her! We want her back running with us. She was out at about the 16 mile mark today to provide water, Gatorade, and oranges. She was still helping us out, but you could tell she was very disappointed that she could not be out running with us. We have all had injuries where it has limited what we as individuals can do to recover, but it is just as disappointing when someone you have been training with can’t join you. Something is missing. It is just not the same. Here she is trying to look happy, but getting ready to start doing some of the exercise and suggestions I gave her to help get over this quicker.
It was not the same running without you! You helped out the rest of us today with the water/Gatorade breaks, and it was greatly appreciated. I would have gladly carried my own water if you would have been able to run. I made her be a part of the group picture this AM. She is part of this group, and always will be!
Here is hoping for a speedy recovery. I know you really want to be getting ready for the Twin Cities, but bottom line, we just want you back running with us! We may all be training partners, but more importantly, we are friends!
We are there for you…thinking of you…wishing you were joining us! Here is to a speedy recovery. We will help get you ready for October. Just heal up! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3264
