by Dan | Apr 16, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
As a finisher of 8 marathons, soon to be doing the 9th in Fargo next month, where do you start to describe the scene near the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday? At first, shock, disbelief. Then denial–afterall, how could someone possibly do this? Now today, anger. The whole spectrum of emotions. A lot of these same emotions you experience when you are actually running a marathon. You start off excited, overjoyed, and can’t wait to get started. You are just soaking up the entire atmosphere, relishing in the fact of how hard you have trained to get ready for this event. It is fun, but make no mistake, it is work! After awhile, you get into a groove, and are just running. Somewhere along mile 15, fatigue starts entering into the picture. A little anxiety creeps in, and then as you get further into it, somewhere around mile 20-21, you start to get worried. The exhaustion starts setting in, and you begin to wonder “am I going to be able to finish?” Panic starts to set in, and you keep telling yourself, remember all of the work I have put into this, the hours running, and you are telling yourself “yes, I can do this!” You start to get within a half mile of the finish line, and you are fired up. The end is near. It is so close, it is like you can taste it. You approach the finish line, and everybody is out there, cheering you on, your family is out in the crowd, yelling your name. They have stood behind you always, and in particular, this last many months as you are training for this. You have trained to feel the joy and overwhelming emotion of crossing the finish line. You have done it! 26.2 miles! You start being overcome with emotions…tears come, exhaustion has reached its max, and you are happy and thrilled that you have completed your goal. Here is Steve and I as we finished the Disney marathon this January…the look of exhaustion on us, the emotions of tears starting on Steve’s face. No other words to describe it.
Now…go to yesterday afternoon. The shock, fear, chaos, all of this happening just before the finish line. You are overwhelmed with emotions already from running, and now several bombs are going off…your family who is out there to see you and cheer you on, are now hurt. Now to make matters worse, they held off all of these other runners back from the area…they no longer can finish when they are this close, and they have no idea if members of their family are ones that are hurt. Now talk about undescribable emotion! Where do you even begin? The race no longer matters…it is now about your family, and other peoples family who are hurt. How can an activity that can bring so much overpowering joy and emotion, become so devastating in the blink of an eye.
Running the Boston Marathon has been on my bucket list for the last 21 years. I have never qualified for it. I have never been able to run in it. This does not mean I still don’t want to. I could run it as a member of the medical team, but I have always wanted to run because I earned it. That does not mean any marathon, or other race I run, I would not help someone who needed medical help. That is a given…I would just do without thinking. This is what one running physician did yesterday. He was approaching the finish line when the bomb went off…he never crossed the line. He turned around and began helping whoever he could. One of the interviews on TV I saw say he was covered in blood, and someone asked him if he was hurt. His response, “I am a doctor, and I just want to help”. Nothing else matters at that point. It is no longer about a race. It is about life. Remember these runners, and their families going forward. I may not have been running Boston, and I may not have qualified for Boston, but I am still a runner…and if I have anything to say about it, I always will!
Keep moving everybody! Keep these Boston people in your thoughts and your hearts.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2029
by Dan | Mar 31, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Holidays, Motivation
Happy Easter everyone! Spend time with your family, and appreciate all that it is about. It is holidays like this that make spending time with your family even better. I am thankful to be able to be as active as I am, and be able to spend time with my kids, and just be there for them.
My twin daughters are growing up fast, and will be graduating in a few months, then off to college. Time for their new adventure to begin.
And, of course, Nick, who always loves it when I come around with the camera. He won’t admit it yet, but he will miss the girls when they go off to school.
Sarah and I will still be running, biking, walking. As I have stated numerous times on this blog, I plan on being around a long time…to be there for them. Hopefully, I am the Dad they want me to be. We have a lot of fun together, and times like this when we, as a family, can be together, makes things even better yet. Take care of yourselves…if not for you, but for your family. They want you around longer too! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2013
by Dan | Feb 24, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Motivation, weight lifting, Wellness/Health
Who said fishing can’t be a workout? Just got back from Mexico from a week of vacation, and went deap sea fishing one morning with Sarah, my brother Ray, and his wife Joni. In the last half hour of our time, we reeled in this Sail Fish, 91 inches long!
We had to keep trading off in order to get this fish reeled in. Talk about a workout! It made up for a boat ride that had a lot to be desired. We were all feeling sick on this ride.
Of course, my daughter would not believe us that we caught this, thinking it was just another “exaggerated fish story”…until she saw the pictures! Until this, we only caught 2 small fish that were not worth keeping. I did not have to worry about lifting weights this day. I was also glad I do some weight training as well! A fish story for eternity! I will be posting other adventures, scenes from our trip to Mexico, and show how easy it can be to have a great vacation, and still exercise and be healthy. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1978
by Dan | Feb 2, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Last night Prairie Lakes Hospital held a Women’s Health Forum, talking on numerous topics, particularly heart disease. The keynote speaker was 2004 Olympian Carrie Tollefson, a native of Dawson, MN.
She took a picture with all of us after her motivational speech. I got to go because they presented me with recognition for my consecutive exercise streek, and it was great to be there. I got to bring the rest of the family along as well. Nick and I are the only male attendees that night, and we got to sit at the front table, right in front of the podium!
Before her talk, she took this picture with us, and we are holding two of the Runners World magazines I had with her on the cover (she has 4 total!), and she autographed them for me. She is 6 months pregnant right now, and could still kick our butt running! She gave an excellent talk, fired everybody up, and it was great seeing someone close, and from a town of 1600, do what she has done, and not forget where she came from. She was a journalism major, broadcasting, so her and Megan had a good talk as well as she wants to go into journalism. The kids were all amazed at her accomplishments as well. Sarah could not be there to start with as she was off delivering a baby, and they don’t wait! She did an excelllent job speaking to the crowd of about 450 people. Her line is: “Get after it!” Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1956
by Dan | Jan 24, 2013 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Sarah competed in the Half Marathon at the run Disney weekend. She did a great job! Here she is coming through Epcot. Originally were told that there were 39,000 people registerd for this, but 23,126 finished. Sarah finished in 45th place for her division, and 484 for female finishers. She came in at 1:55:57, and her goal was again to break 2 hours.
She is coming across the finish line here, with all of the confetti on the ground. She too had a great time, and wants to do it again next year.
Here she is proudly displaying her medal for finishing! It is great when you can accomplish your goals, and then get a medal to show for it as well. It was great the rest of the time we were in Disney, because all of the finishers for the half marathon and marathon wore their medals each day while at the theme parks, all grinning ear to ear, and proud of what they had accomplished. It made the moment even bette! Keep working on your goals, whatever they may be. No goal is too small or too big, as long as you make it for you! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1947
by Dan | Oct 23, 2012 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Everyday, a lot of us make a comment that we wish there were more time in the day. More time to do the things we want, or just more time to get the things done that we think need to get done. We have to make priorities all of the time, and those things that are more important need to work there way to the top of the list. At the top of that list should also be our health. We need to make the time to be active, exercise, and allow us to be healthy to do those things in our lives that our important. Those things in life for all of us begins with our families.
Here I am, very proud of my daughter Megan, at her formal TUCKS dance a few weeks ago. My girls are growing up, and I have had the pleasure of being a part of their lives. Of course, she is only one.
Here I am with Molly, just as proud of her that night as well. This is why I exercise every day. This is why I try to be active and remain healthy. I want to be a part of their lives for a long time. I don’t want to imagine what it would be like for them if I were not here.
Staying active has always been a part of this family. Megan is a year round swimmer, and Molly is on the Cross Country and Track teams. Sarah and I have set the tone, and they have taken off with it. You can say all kinds of things, lots of words of encouragement, cheering them on. But you set the tone by leading by example. They have seen us for years exercising, and it now becomes natural. Don’t lose out on this opportunity to do this for your kids/grandkids. It is only too late when you are no longer here. Enjoy your life better, and be around for their life longer as well. In the end, you will all have something to appreciate more, and be thankful for.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1853
