Life Lessons - Why do I do this?

Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day for me but I ended up doing 4 miles after work.  I finally got my act together and nailed down the details of my taper phase for final 3 weeks and it said I should run 4 easy miles.  I ran from the house and, to my surprise, I found it hard to stay at my easy pace which the plan says is 7:18 per mile.  I say it was a surprise given the 11 miles I ran on Saturday, followed by yard work, followed by 13 miles on Sunday.  It is nice to see everything come together at the right time.

Anyway, I told the kids I would go to the school with them and they could play on the equipment while I ran laps around the school yard.

It was fun for me to have my kids there as I passed by on my loops. I always do my running in the morning before they are up during the week and my long runs are usually away from home. When I was going around the school they got a glimpse of just how much hard work all of this is. My six year old son rode his bike with me for two of the eight laps before he got tired.  Secretly, I was glad he got tired because he was behind me most of the way and all I could think was that he was going to catch me from behind and we would get tangled up and go down in a heap!

When I got done my oldest asked if I needed water and I nodded slowly through my wheezing breath. She had a look of HOLY CRAP DAD!  She asked how long it took and how far I went. After I told her, I saw her crunching the math in her head and she said "Wow, that's 6 something a mile!"

This small acknowledgement of the hard work it takes to do this was very gratifying for me.  I have told my kids before that the reason Michelle and I started paying attention to our health and eating habits in the first place was to be better examples as parents.  I never want my children to feel the way I felt about myself when I was overweight.

My hope is that they will learn a number of life lessons through our examples that can be applied to whatever is important to them.

• Yes, it's hard work, but the rewards are worth every ounce of energy you put into it.
• Learn to set goals, make a plan, and don't listen to anyone who tells you can't do something or you aren't good enough.
• You are your only competition and your own worst critic.
• Remember those in your life who helped you along the way and tell them Thank You!
• Share your passion with others in whatever you set you heart to, so that you might help them find their true passion.
• Give your best in all you do.
• You can do anything you set your mind to.

 Make it a great day everyone.
Ryan