by Dan | Aug 26, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We are all busy. We all have commitments in our life; job responsibilities; family responsibilities. But, we need to make time for our friends. Our Watertown Area Run Club–WARC–has been a great avenue for this. We are just a group of people who meet weekly, sometimes twice a week, and just go for a run. But it is not just a run. It is a time to be social, unwind, do some “venting”, and be there for each other. We support each other, cheer each other on, and we also worry about each other when some of us may be having some personal issues going on, or injuries that we have to deal with, or just issues with life in general. There are always challenges we face.
Helping each other overcome those challenges is what is truly meaningful. Knowing that you can help somebody out when they may need make you feel good too. After all, we don’t know when we may be the one who needs support and encouragement from them either.
Often times in life you have to step out of your comfort zone, “go out on a limb”, or “step out to the edge of the dock”. You take chances. When you take chances, it is so much more helpful to know you have other people around you to “catch you”, and be there when you need them. The importance and benefit of this really does not have words to describe this. We all need a support system. This comes even more into play when we have upcoming our annual Suicide Awareness Run on Wednesday Sept 5. People who have committed suicide did not feel they had any kind of support system to fall back on, or be there to “catch them”, or they would not have done that.
We show strength in numbers! Here are a bunch of us getting ready this Summer for the Kampeska triathlon. We were each competing individually, but we were there for each other as well.
Close friendships get made. Here are Erika, Amanda, Jill, Sarah, and Jenn when they went up to Fargo for the All Women’s Half Marathon. It was an all girls run, but that was not really the point for going. They could have run a Half Marathon together around the lake here one day. They got to get away, have some quality time together, and just get away from all of the other stresses of life we all encounter every day. Quality time! Quality people! Quality memories!
Our friend Paticia Roth is getting ready to run her first marathon coming up in 2 weeks in SF. A bunch of us will be doing the half, but she is doing the full. We will be there to cheer her on to the finish. Many of us have been helping her to get through some of her long runs, or having water out for her, supporting her, helping her get a ride in when she was going to be going too far. That is what we do. We support each other, care for each other, and learn from each other. Nobody knows everything, and we all have something different to offer, whether about running, or just life in general. Support your friends!
How true, how true! Sometimes, it can mean the difference of not only participating in a race, or event, but finishing it. And not just a “race”, but life’s ups and downs!
2012 was the beginning of the Watertown Area Run Club. It started off as the Dan and Sarah club, and has built up to dozens of people, all with a common interest of running. I will be the first to admit, I don’t keep coming just because we are running. That may be the common denominator, but I find I am truly missing something if I am not there on Sundays. I will plan my schedule as much as possible not to miss these runs, especially the Sunday runs. I look forward to this every weekend!
So feel free to join us. It is not a race. It is a social time. It is a time to make new friends, and often times, lifelong friends. Come join us sometime. You don’t know what you are missing. Watertown Area Run Club rocks! The bigger our group is when we start, the bigger the smile I have on my face. Support your friends, and the favor will be returned! Guaranteed! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3973
by kelsey | Aug 23, 2018 | Diet, Exercise, Family, Food, Goals, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
School is starting this week and that means homework, studying, and activities! We often forget about the importance of our health due to the fact we get consumed by our studies. Making health a priority during school is important and can be much easier than most would think. Whether you’re in elementary, high school, or college, here are some healthy tips to keep a healthy balance between nutrition and school:
•Pack healthy snacks/lunches: One main reason students establish unhealthy eating habits is because of how busy their schedules are. Packing healthy snacks to bring to class or to your study spot makes it easy to skip the junk food and extra caffeine.
•Hit the gym/use recess: Elementary students should use their recess period to add some extra physical activity to their day. Many universities have wellness/rec centers that are free for students to use. Take advantage! Working out for as little as 30 minutes a day can make a big difference.
•Get a good night’s sleep: Sleep puts our bodies into an anabolic state, meaning that our muscles grow and recover from break down. Getting enough sleep each night is vital for our body to reach its peak potential and function properly.
•Eat breakfast: Skipping breakfast is very common for students of all ages. Eating breakfast helps keep you fuller throughout the day, making it easier to lay off the junk food. Eating in the morning also gives students more energy and makes them more attentive during class.
•Walk/bike to school: Walking or biking to school instead of driving is an easy way to burn a couple extra calories during the day.
There are multiple ways we can stay healthy during the school year. Make sure to stay health conscious and you will have no problem keeping a healthy lifestyle.
-Kelsey
by Dan | Aug 19, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
What drives us? What inspires us? What are we trying to accomplish? Those answers are different for all of us, and the secret to it all: Knowing who YOU are! Who are you, and what are you about? What are your interests? What is your passion? What motivates you? Do you motivate anybody else? Those are some questions to answer for yourself. For me, what motivates me is my wife Sarah, and of course our kids, but I also find motivation from the people who we run with in our run club. We all have our stories. We all have different goals for ourselves. Yet we all have that same common factor: we like to run! This is the central point that drives us all. We may all get there by a different route, but we all help each other along the way. Motivation though is truly an inside job. We may have help along the way to keep us going, but if we did not have that driving force inside of each of us, we would not make it. That is what you need to help you be successful in your goals, whatever those goals may be. You have to be able to dig deep inside of yourself to truly find the secret, and then utilize all of the other outside help you get from your family, and also your friends. Never pass up help! Besides, they are looking to you for help and encouragement as well.
Often times how we feel when we exercise can be like the weather. There are some days when it is foggy, dreary looking out, and you feel tired, and not particularly excited to go workout. Your particular mood sets the tone for how that workout experience is going to go. Not every day is “magical”.
This picture is the same part of the bike trail as the one with all of the fog. Some days everything is crystal clear, everything is clicking right along. You feel smooth, strong, can see “for miles”, and actually the miles can go fast when you can also let your mind go and just have time to think. These are the days that make up for the bad ones. This is why I keep going at it. It is a lot like golf for me. I don’t play much now, but before what kept me trying was I would hit that one great shot, and it would fire you up to keep going, despite all of the other “crappy” shots you may have had prior. It was enough motivation to keep you going. It is no different with working out. Find out that motivation drive within you, and hang onto it.
This is the whole point of exercise. You are trying to reap the benefits of all of this, and you can, you just have to keep going. Some days may be tougher than others, but keep going.
You have to learn to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep reminding yourself of what it is you are trying to accomplish. It is also a great way to learn about other people around you, but it is even a better way of truly trying to find out about yourself. What is it about you that makes you different? What makes you unique? What do you have to offer? We all can learn from each other. We all have our life experiences, good and bad. We have to learn to take risks, and to take on challenges. You have no idea what you are capable of until you try. So…
If you keep this in mind, you can’t go wrong. Follow your heart, and do something healthy for your heart. Be there for others, but be there for yourself as well. It would be hard to be motivating to others, or to make them happy, if you are not happy, and can’t motivate yourself! There is only one you, so be the best you that you can be!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3966
by Dan | Aug 5, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
It has been quite the week! I had all 3 of my kids home this week beginning on Wednesday. Megan has not been home from Virginia in over a year! We had a great week. We spent time together, ran together, raced together, and just hung out together. We need to have more weeks like this. This is what it is all about. We all need to spend more time together as a family, but we can also spend time working out and exercising together as well.
We all started out with the Hump Day 5k run on Wednesday this week. My girls fiancée/boyfriend also came and ran. We got everybody together before the event started. The girls really had a good time. They had not seen each other for awhile. We had all met out at Disney in January for their first half marathon together.
It makes me feel good when they get together again too! They had a good time running the event, doing the whole 5k together…and having fun!
Nick ended up winning the event, so did not get as many pictures of him. I was leading the race in a camel costume, and I was the one taking pictures after.
We also spent time staying active the rest of the week as well. Megan and her boyfriend Nate went running with us several times as well.
I think my exercise streak has influenced Megan. She wants to exercise everyday too! A chip off the ol’ block!
On Saturday, Sarah and I participated in the 10 mile Race for Chase. It is a team event of 2 people. One person has to run, and one has to ride a bike, and you can switch off as often as you want, but you have to start together, and you have to cross the finish line together. There were a lot of teams which were made up of one of the parents, with one of their kids. It was great to see parents out helping to get their kids active and moving. Sarah and I won our age group. Of course, we were the oldest combined age team there also! The kids took Zeus for a walk while we were doing this. The Hump Day 5k was enough competition for them this week!
The greatest part of is all was getting to spend time with them, and having them all home again…together. This has not happened for a year where we could be with them all at the same time. The family that exercises/works out together, stays together…longer!
They are all growing up so fast! It really does go by quickly. It is awesome to see how they are all growing up, and deciding what they want to do for the future. I look back at time, and see them now, and it makes me feel good that we instilled some good values in them. They also know the importance of staying active, and trying to take care of themselves. Nobody is perfect. We all need encouragement and help along the way. If you can’t depend on your family for support, than who can you depend on? Enjoy your time with your families, and make it a priority to stay active…together! Hopefully you will get to spend a lot of years enjoying each other’s company! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3952
by Dan | Jul 29, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
It takes a lot of work, and continued determination to get out there every day, or at least most days of the week, and exercise. There are definitely some days that are easier than others, and then other days, you wonder how you ever got it done. Thankfully, those really tough days are less than the good days. The same goes for the weather conditions. Some days are good, some days are bad! You need to pick and choose, and may need to alter what your initial plan was, or where you were planning to exercise, but it does not need to be avoided. Just altered!
Some days start out sunny, and then we get caught in the rain. Or even other days, it is raining from the start. I don’t mind a light rain, but not heavy rain. We certainly should not be outside exercising if it is lightening out. You make the best of it, and try to keep smiling. Think of it as a new adventure. Most people are not going to be tough enough to go exercise under adverse conditions. These moments only strengthen your drive, your determination…your passion!
There is always a bright side. Is it always easy to see? No! Do you have to work at trying to find it sometimes? Yes! It is there…just keep looking.
Your attitude is the driving force. This picture is a good example. We are outside running, and some of us had gotten done already, and waiting for the rest of our group to get in. Here comes Jill, Patricia, and Amanda, running together in the rain, smiling and laughing! They were making the most of that particular situation. Either find the good in it, and enjoy, and be continuously miserable, and wallow in our own self pity. You decide. Your attitude decides!
Here we were out running on of our Wednesday evening runs, and the rain quit, and out came the rainbow. Talk about a boost of motivation with this. We were following the rainbow, and looking to have a good run. Look for the good in everything. I know, there are days when you wonder how. We all have stress in our lives, deadlines, pressures, stress…but again, our attitude decides on how we will handle it. Will we handle it, or will it handle us? Some days it can go both ways. We are still human. We make mistakes. We get angry, frustrated, and depressed. You keep pushing. You keep working. You keep striving. Never give up! There will be good days and bad days, but we decide which days are what.
Sometimes the calm after a storm allows us to reflect on this. We then can see better with those reflections on how things really are. Yes, there are demands, but if you concentrate, take it on full force, you can get through them. Just like exercise. Take if on full force, and you will get through them, and you will be able to reap the rewards that come with it. Confidence! Stamina! Stress Relief! Courage! Fortitude! All of these then can contribute to our passion in life. We need to find our passion, and to live our life. By finding our passion we can then feel good at the end of the day, and also look forward to the next day.
You need to work at it. You need to want it. You have to earn it! It is there just waiting for us to take on. Be determined! What is your purpose in this life? What are your desires? Only you can answer that. We all have a passion. Now go get it! Take it on, and don’t hold back. And remember, there will be good days, and bad days…but the good days will far outweigh the bad! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3945
by Dan | Jul 15, 2018 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
The 34th Annual Hyvee mini Triathlon (“Tri”) at Lake Kampeska took place yesterday. It starts off as a 1/4 mile swim along the shore, then biking 14 miles around the lake, and finishing with a 5k run. It is a fun time, and a lot of people, friends, from the run club were there. Many other friends were also there. You are all there for the same reason: to challenge yourself, see what you can do, and then also to support and cheer each other on! You truly never know what you are capable of doing in life until you give it a “Tri”!
Here Sarah is getting her station ready prior to the race. There is a central station where you have to enter and get ready to take off for the next portion of the race. You have to plan this as well as the clock is still going the whole time during these transitions stations as well.
The girls, and guys, were showing off prior to the race. A lot of us do our training together, and our competing together. But it really is not about the competition. It is about the time you spend together getting ready, encouraging each other, laughing with each other…just spending time together!
Steve and Sally were coming out of the water at the same time. This was the first time for Sally doing this event. They basically did the triathlon together. No worries about time, just about the challenge of being involved, and doing it, and getting in some exercise. Everybody thinks that they cannot do this, until they give it a “tri”. What are you waiting for? You have no idea what you are capable of until you “tri”. Our biggest obstacle with exercise, and with things in life in general, tends to be affected more by what is between our ears than any physical limitation we may have. That is why the support from your friends is so important!
Exactly! Support your friends, and they will support you! The same goes for your spouse. Always be there for them as well!
In the process, you can also show off what you got, flex that power, pride! You spent time training, and getting ready. More important though, a lot of discussions and laughing has occurred during this process as well. Keep this going the day of the event also! If you are too serious with it, you will do worse because you are missing the whole point of being involved in the first place! Work on becoming great!
Set your sights high and reach for the sky! Don’t let your own doubts get in the way. Rely on your friends, and give it a “tri”! The finish line for that particular day will be in your sights. But, it is only the finish for that day. It truly can become the start for many more adventures and events in the future. Enjoy the ride! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3931
