Why I want to run

When I was younger, being physically fit was just a way of life. I didn't put any thought into it, I just was. I stayed active. I swam, water skied, played both basketball and baseball at one point in my life, participated in marching band, and was just generally an outdoor person. All of that started changing as I progressed through college, and then got married and had kids. I wouldn't trade my wife or children for anything. I unfortunately have used them as an excuse for not being physically active for far too long. I have let the busyness of adult life get in the way of taking care of my body. I've tried along the way to get some exercise here and there, and I've even tried running before, but I've always allowed other things to take priority over getting the exercise my body needs.

It's time to make a change.

I work behind a desk. I sit almost all day long, 5 days a week, every week. When I'm at home I crash in the recliner or on the couch and watch TV, Play games with the kids, or read a book. There's simply not enough physical activity in my life.

My dad retired recently. He's in his mid 60's and is easily more physically fit than I am. No, I've not completely let myself go to pot, it's just that my dad is a very physically fit man. I never thought of him as my hero when I was a kid, but I do now. He's an inspiration to me. At the age of 65 he can probably keep up with most 20 year olds. I'm proud of him and want to be like him in many ways. He's a good man, a Christian, and has been a very good steward of the gifts with which he has been blessed. He's been a good example to me of what a husband and father should be. Perfect? No, but that's what makes us human. I knew all of that on some level for a long time, but not until a recent visit with my family did I realize the depth of the desire I have to be like my dad. That may be an odd thing to realize at 35 years of age.

With that realization, I now know that I want to be that for my children. I want to set a good example of what it means to take care of this body that God has blessed me with. I want them to grow up with good habits in place that they can take with them throughout their lives. I also want to be healthy enough that when they are grown and have families of their own I can enjoy those times. I've realized that if I want that, I have to make it happen. I have to "be the change I want to see in the world" to quote Mahatma Gandhi. To take that to a personal level, I have to be the person I want my children to be, and part of what I want them to be is good stewards of their bodies so that they can be healthy active adults and pass the same habits on to their children.

To put it all in one sentence, I could sum it up like this: I want to run for my own health and as an example for my children.

That and I want to run faster than my wife.