When I Became a Runner...

I went running today at lunch. You might be jealous that I have a job that allows me to run at lunch and even more jealous that is was 75 degrees, but that's besides the point. Today's run did not feel good and that got me to thinking.

I used to be a cyclist. Just a cyclist. That was before kids. I don't have the time for 3 hour rides like I used to. I only started running to finish the third element of the triathlon. I hated running. I've always had flat feet, and had a bad running experience in 8th grade. Ever since then, I've said I could never run.

Well, I've continued to run over the last year because of the sheer efficiency of it. I can get a great workout in a short amount of time. I'm not good at it, and I never considered myself a runner. I started wondering, when do I call myself a runner? Is it when I run 3 times/week or more than 5 miles or is it when I run 8 minute miles? Today, I realized that those things do not make a runner. There are no written requirements. Today, I realized I am a runner. I am a runner because I want to run. Because I look forward to my runs. Because my heart speeds up at the thought of running later. I'm excited about it. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it hurt any less, but I'm still a runner. I'm also still a cyclist, and a triathlete, too. I'm a lot of things, but today's the day I'll remember as the day I realized I'm a runner.

Belonging

When I started this blog, I thought the answers in life would just come to me. That I'd have these grand visions. The blogs I've read seem to be overflowing with deep knowledge. Yesterday, I realized something - the great truths are in everyday life. They're not these grand visions that are going to appear in a flash of light. They're the dim lightbulbs that appear when I watch my children.

My 3 year old taught me that everyone wants to belong. She so desperately wants to be like her big sister, the 4 year old, that she'll copy her almost word for word. We all want to belong. That's what I love about triathlon. I used to be a competitive cyclist (I'd compete, but not well). But the competitors were ruthless. It wasn't friendly at all, if it was, it was so your competition would let their guard down. From the moment I began training and then competed in my sprint triathlon, I can tell it's different in this sport. The greatest glory of triathlon is in competing, in completing, not just winning. Competitors are encouraging each other, but it's a test of who you are, without necessarily comparing yourself directly to others. And that's a community I want to belong to. That's what I want to be a part of. Like my 3 year old, I want to belong. And in triathlon, everyone belongs.

It's Time

It’s time. It’s time to start living deliberately. It’s time for me to stop letting life just happen, and time to start steering it where I want it to go. Don’t get me wrong - I’m happy where my life’s headed so far, but I’ve been lucky. I’ve had some great things happen to me and some bad things, who hasn't? But that’s just the thing – they happened to me. I’ve been letting things happen and hoping for the best.

"The ordinary man is passive... Against major events he is as helpless as against the elements. So far from endeavoring to influence the future, he simply lies down and lets things happen to him." - George Orwell

I'm tired of being ordinary and I'm tired of being passive. So this blog is my way of working through things in my mind to make that change - from a nice guy to a good guy to a great man. I'm going to be honest with myself and with you. You're welcome to come along if you'd like and see what happens. It's about all aspects of life - fatherhood, marriage, self, mental, physical, spiritual, and any other parts I can't remember or don't know about yet. Stay tuned.