D o you ever have one of those days when you feel blessed? I was having one of those early in February as I was writing this. The temperature read 1 on the bank thermometer. I was heading into Green Bay to run with a group of runners training to run the marathon. The run was scheduled for 8 miles. Hopefully, I would see some of the friends I trained with last year.
Mike and Rod run together. Mike can see. Rod is blind. Together last year they ran 26.2 miles. We took about 1 hour and 24 minutes to finish the run. It was an easy, conversational pace. We stopped a couple of times along the way for Gatorade (heated). The soup was on when we got back. It was homemade beef vegetable soup served with a piece of bread. Of course, it was served with conversation.
Then I came home to be greeted by a beautiful two-year-old girl, my granddaughter. We chased each other around the house. We were laughing and giggling the whole time. There is no bigger treat than dancing and playing with a grandchild. I am so blessed to have the good health to do these things.
OK, it is not just a blessing. I have worked at it. Some days I just don’t feel like exercising. Those days I drag my shoes and running clothes on and struggle with those first few strides. It is funny, though, on those days step one is the hardest. By the time I have run three or four miles I am less tired than when I started. I don’t ever remember regretting the fact that I took a run.
Marathon TruckerYeah, I know how hard truckers work. It is a tough job. But I am proud to be a trucker. I also know it’s hard to find the time and motivation to exercise, but it is possible. I want you to be able to dance with your granddaughters. I want you to be there when they walk down the aisle.
The purpose of this column is to help you do that. I don’t care if I have to be a cheerleader, a coach, an example or just a fellow trucker. I just want you to share my blessings.
