#MyChicagoMarathon No. 5

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon!

Why do I want to run 26.2 miles in 2019?

• If not now, when? That's the first (and most generic) reason, . Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. My health, as scary as this is to type, isn't guaranteed. Right now, I'm able to train and I'm able to run. So right now, I'm going to do it.
  
• Last spring, I hurt my back to the point that I couldn't run - I could barely walk, without pain. I was a little worried about potential long-term implications (this wasn't the first time that I'd had back pain). Fortunately, I healed and I am now pain free. I ran two half-marathons, last fall (never had I run two half-marathons so close together), to see how my back would hold-up. There were no problems, and I'm still doing great!
  
• With each passing year, running farther and running faster becomes a little bit harder. It starts to become about maintaining. So if I don't run farther now, what makes me think that I'd be better equipped to do so a year (or more) from now?
  
• Once I started running half-marathons, I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, "Ever run a full-marathon?" The seed was planted after accomplishing that first half-marathon. The seed has been growing for approximately eight years, now.
  
• My son was not even one-year old when I ran my first half-marathon. Long runs while training to run half-marathons meant that I was gone for a couple of hours each weekend. I didn't love this. I told people that I'd run a marathon when my children got older; when they were more independent, and leaving the house for a couple of hours wasn't as big of a deal. All of a sudden, my children are older and they are more aware of what I'm doing when I'm gone; this commitment to my self, to my health is something that I pass-on to them.
  
• This past fall, I witnessed the dedication exhibited by one of my colleagues as she prepared to run her first half-marathon. There is an extra layer of excitement in doing something for the first time. Her commitment and sense of accomplishment was inspiring. Thanks, Lindsey.
  
• I consider myself to be a driven individual. I like setting goals, and I enjoy attempting to accomplish things that are slightly out of reach. Running 26.2 miles will push me both physically and mentally. It will test me. I look forward to proving to myself what I can do.

Coming-up, I plan to dedicate future posts to why my first marathon will be the Chicago Marathon, why I'm running for charity, and why I chose Action for Healthy Kids for my charity. In the mean time, check-out my page My Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. Thanks!

Donate to my Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids (linked) 

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 4

This October, I am running the Chicago Marathon!

Why do I want to run 26.2 miles?

The simple answer is because it's something that I've never done before.

However, it's not a simple answer. There was a time, before I learned about mindsets and making intentional efforts to adopt a growth mindset, when I didn't think that I could (either physically or mentally) run 26.2 miles.

This thinking traces back to my experiences participating in track as a high school student. Despite, being on the track team, I was not too keen on running at the time (my participation was for social purposes and/or an effort to remain in shape for the sport that I really cared about, football). In fact, I distinctly remember ruling out the idea of running anything more than four miles. So when these distances were assigned for practices, a group of friends and I would start the route before finding a hiding spot to wait until the timing was reasonable for us to return.

Fast forward six years, and I was running the Bix. This was my first encounter with Davenport's iconic, seven-mile road race. My most distinct memory of that day is thinking, upon crossing the finish line, that I had just participated in the Bix for my first and last time. Then I ran it again, the following summer.

Five years after running my first Bix, I ran my first half-marathon. This was something that I never thought I'd do until I did it. Twelve half-marathons later, running 13.1 miles doesn't take the same amount of mental and/or physical preparation that it once did.

Goals evolve over time - they aren't (or at least they shouldn't be) static. Once you accomplish something, raise the bar. Keep raising the bar. Change a variable. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

But more than any other reason, I want to run 26.2 miles because I am a parent. My actions are what my children will remember much longer than what I've said. What we do matters. How can I expect my children to be brave and try new things, hard things if I am not willing to intentionally model those things for them to witness? I'm a leader, and that same rationale applies to those that I lead. I'm also an educator, and this also applies to the students that I serve.

Coming-up, I plan to dedicate my next post to why the timing is right to run my first marathon in 2019; later, I'll share why I'm running for charity, and why I chose Action for Healthy Kids. In the mean time, check-out my page My Chicago Marathon for Action for Healthy Kids. Thanks!

#MyChicagoMarathon No. 3

The interactive image, above, is a Thinglink. Through pictures, I've attempted to capture some of my running highlights from the past three to four years.

Family. Of the 16 photos, my wife and kids are in seven of them. I wouldn't describe any one else in my family as a runner (at least not yet...). Nonetheless, I love having them there when I race. When my kids were smaller, I loved pushing them in the jogging stroller during races. Modeling the lifestyle and mindset of a runner, for my children, is a priority for me.

Travel. These 16 photos were captured in six different states - Iowa, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. I love to travel, and I love to travel to new places. While traveling, I love running to explore. I'm working on a goal to run a half-marathon in half of the United States; as of now, I've run 12 half-marathons in seven different states. These destination races make for great long weekend trips with my family.

School. This my third year as principal at Van Allen Elementary. Two of the accomplishments that I'm most proud of are our Recess Running Club and #WorkoutWednesdays (in fact, a post specific to this is probably warranted in the near future). While I can't and won't take credit for these initiatives, I am willing to say that I've made efforts to support, promote, and participate. Again, modeling this commitment to a healthy lifestyle, for our students, is a priority for me.

Until next time, I'll close, again, with a shameless plug to my fundraising page (linked); I encourage you to visit, and (if you are able) donate. Thank you.