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 | Apr 16, 2017 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Commitment is what we all need to begin challenges in our life, but we also need confidence to believe we can. The key component of all of this is that it needs to be fun as well. If it is not fun, we won’t continue with it. It would be like having another job, and who really needs to have another job? My daughter Megan is finishing up her senior year in college, having competed in swimming as a club sport. She had her final meet of her college career…going to Atlanta to compete in the national meet. She worked hard at it, but had a ton of fun doing this in her 4 years of college. This was her concentration prior to her event. But, she also knows how to have fun!
You need to stay relaxed before your events. The more relaxed you are, the more confident you can be that you are going to “go for it”!
If we don’t have fun at the same time, we will not do well. We won’t do what we are capable of. You have to believe in yourself, and once you do this, nothing can stop you!
You have to be ready to start. For many of us, the start can be one of the toughest things. For many of the rest of us, it hanging in there and continuing to work at it that is the tough part. If you believe in yourself, you will have a great start.
In this picture, my daughter Megan is the one arched all the way back with her head in the water already, while the other swimmers are still launching back. She had a great start, led by confidence and hard work.
The start is only the beginning…you have to keep going…keep pushing…going past our comfort zones, and pushing ourselves, sometimes past limits we are not used to doing. It may not always be comfortable, but when we do, the confidence that can develop from this is powerful!
You are going to work at it, get tired, push yourself beyond what you perceive as your limits. When you accomplish something like this, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
When you believe in yourself, you become unstoppable! And then, that is when…
Make your workouts fun! Make them unique to you. Do something you like, or you won’t continue with it. You will surprise yourself what you are capable of. Your goals become reachable, and your life is much more enjoyable, and fulfilled. Don’t let your mind hold you back. Your body is ready to go, it just needs that push that only your mind will help you with. Have fun, gain confidence…become a better you! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3487
by Dan | Mar 19, 2017 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Our lives all take us down different paths, all leading to different experiences, both good and bad. That is why we need to enjoy those unique journey paths. Journeys that are not the same for any of us. That is also part of the success in life, and how we can work at trying to become better. The relationships we make help all of us, as well as those other people in our lives. Who we allow into our lives also determines that journey. Be open to different ideas, different people, different paths!
Our pets can be just as important in our lives as anybody else. They also help keep us moving, or even help get us moving! They make great training partners, great friends…and best of all, a great part of our families. Our families are integral to our success, and for helping us become better. Who knows where each of us would be without them.
Sarah and I have been married now over 26 years. We run together, work out together…do everything together. We make each other better. I think that would be the same for many other couples. These next 2 examples show that too.
Owen and Jenn McElroy, who are both part of the Watertown Area Run Club. They also have 2 daughters, age 6 and 8, who also love to run. They lead by example, and their kids get to see this first hand.
Jill Makepeace, who is also part of Run club, and her husband Tim. She does the running, and he heads up the support vehicle, cheerleading team. Support is important in many ways, and being supportive of somebody else goals and desires are what makes relationships a success. We cannot do anything alone! It is always easier when you have support. Support for trying to exercise, improve your diet, and just trying to stay healthy in general.
This one is my daughter Molly’s sorority group…out walking the trails together, as a group. A group that is supporting each other to get out and move, helping each other to become better. The thing we always have to keep in mind is success is not measured by accomplishing individual goals, or agendas. Success is in the journey that you have getting there!
This is printed on the back of the shirt I wear for the marathons I have been in. It keeps me going. It gets me fired up. And most important, it truly is how success is measured…not by the final destination, but by everything you go through in life along the way. The friendships you make, the people you meet in general…the experiences you have along the way that create your own individual life. It truly is what makes us each unique!
You can go down that path together, knowing there are people around you who truly do care about you. They will support you, encourage you…be there…for you! This is how we all become better. Be there for someone, and they will be there for you. If you already are working on your health, whether by working on your diet, your activity, or both, great! If not, what are you waiting for? Somebody else cannot do it for you. It takes one step at a time…one minute at a time. Keep working on it…keep moving forward. You may experience some set backs along the way, but pick yourself up and get going again!
Remember, one step at a time! Going forward, looking ahead. Don’t dwell on past mistakes, or experiences that did not work out the way we wanted them to. Become a better you, and enjoy the experiences…the journey along the way. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3460
by Dan | Mar 12, 2017 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We all have our own unique personalities, our own unique things we like to do, and our own unique, in general, querks! We made fun of Jill in run club with this picture. Everybody else was just smiling, and she thought we were supposed to be stretching…but she was the only one stretching! It is times like this that make us individuals. But because we are all different, we all have something to share with everybody else. We all have something to offer to others. We have something to make someone else better, and as a result, we become better. We all have some underlying characteristics about us that just need to get brought out to the surface.
Sarah and I had fun at the most recent Halloween Hustle run going as minions. We got to run in a race, and yet got to express ourselves in a fun, goofy way. As I said that day, “my Sarah is one in a minion!”. We need to let those other inner aspects of us come out…learn to have some fun in the process. Bottom line, learn to…
When you learn to let go of stress that we all have, in a way that allows you to have fun, life opens up. We have enough times during the day where we have to be serious, and get things done. But, we can have fun along the way. Exercise, and especially for me running, can be a great way to release stress, and have fun. It opens things up during the day that you end up paying more attention to. Things you may not have even noticed, all of a sudden become very noticeable. Noticeable enough to make a difference…if we pay attention.
When we were recently in Mexico, we would run, and walk, on the beach, along the ocean, twice a day. It was breath taking. We don’t get to see that in SD, so we were going to take advantage of it there. Many things show up, and make the day even more enlightening.
The pelicans would fly by, usually in groups, and swoop down to get fish. You could just stand there and watch, and they would come by. Many would get very close as well.
They were very interesting to watch. Never a dull moment. Of course, along some of those same times, I would notice other things more clearly too. Here I am on a beach in Mexico, watching the sunrise, and noticing Sarah in a whole different way. Now for me, talk about breathtaking!
Don’t ever lose sight of what is really important in your life. Don’t forget what makes you better…and that you can make someone else better. In order to discover others, you need to discover yourselves!
Take the time to discover you, so you can discover other things/people as well. This is what makes you better! Don’t lose sight of this. Appreciate those people in your lives, and what they do for you, and especially, what can you do for them? Life is short. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Strive to Survive, and continue to work at becoming better…better for you and others!
Those other people in your life is what life is all about! Don’t let things go by with regrets. Appreciate them all at the time. Spend time with them, and for them. Guaranteed way to become a better you!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3453
by Dan | Mar 5, 2017 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Sarah and I just got back from a vacation trip to Mexico. The weather was great! We lost a day trying to get there because of the blizzard in SF, but still had 6 days to enjoy. We had a little twist thrown in when Sunday night we got a call from our son, Nick, that he was in the ER and was told he needed to have his appendix out! What a wreck we were. I had a ton of help from my brother Tim who was in SF, and helped with everything. Nick was home later in the morning on Monday, did well with surgery, and my brother Tim told us now to relax and have a good time…everything was under control! After that, we really did need to unwind and relax, and the beach and ocean was the perfect place for it. We got to just unwind, read, take a nap, listen to the ocean, and spend time together!
We still got our exercise in! We either ran or walked on the beach early in the mornings, and then in the afternoons, we always went for a 4 mile walk along the beach. Talk about relaxation, but yet we were still active. There were also other things to stay active with while we were there.
The paddleboards were a great way to get out and enjoy the water and weather, but had to work a little at it. Sarah even got into some yoga and water aerobics at times during the days.
Best of all…we got to spend some time together. We don’t seem to get to do this much unless we are literally out of town. We have to keep working at this as well. We have to become better to each other, which will overall make us better! It was great to get out and enjoy the scenery along the ocean as well.
The pelicans would fly by and then dive down into the water for food. It was really cool to see.
Best of all, I got to walk and talk with Sarah! We have all heard about the movie “Beauty and the Beast”…well, this is my picture that I have called “Beauty and the Beach”!
The sand on many of the sections were so soft, and then we would walk back and see our footprints. We got to see where we had been, and yet still had an idea of where we were going!
We become better when we spend time with those who mean the most to us! We become better when we take the time to relax and enjoy life along the way. We all work, or have worked if we are retired. We all have different degrees of stress in our life. If we don’t take time to relax, the stress will eventually get to us all. Exercise is also a great way to relieve that stress, but listen to our bodies, and recover when we need to. Become a better you, and take the time to relax, and enjoy life along the way! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3446
