1. ER visit with the oldest daughter for what turned into a an emergency appendectomy. This unfortunately was not her first visit to the ER this year. She had to go earlier in the year for breathing issues, and had to stay a few days.
2. Three weeks later 2nd ER visit with same daughter for broken arm.
3. A week or so later the same daughter came down with the Flu.
4. I had to have an MRI done on my shoulder.
5. Then for the first time in my life I was hit with the flu, and I am still trying to recover from it.
6. The youngest daughter is now sick with what is probably the flu.
In the grand scheme of the things these are such minor things to happen, but it has really made me forget all of the good things that have happened this year. Sometimes that does seem to happen when we get in the middle of trying times, no matter how large or small, and it becomes all consuming.
A few of the good things that have happened this year racing wise and beyond:
1. I finished my first trail marathon in the grasslands.
2. I spent 8 hrs in the saddle, and for the first time believed that I could complete an Ironman.
3. I finished Ironman Boulder!
4. We nearly moved but were reminded how much we love our life here.
5. I finally started a group at work that meets to discuss and encourage each other to live healthier.
6. I didn't have to have surgery on my shoulder, but will be in PT for a few weeks.
7. The flu has gotten me back down to race weight :)
Nine years ago this month I started a couch to 5k program to try to complete my first sprint triathlon. I was 50 lbs overweight, and really didn't realize that I was out of shape. I didn't look much different than most of the people that I knew, but I was about to become a Dad.
I did know what it felt like to think that your Dad is just one heart attack from being gone, and I knew that I didn't want my kid to feel that way.
I had seen a woman that was afraid that her husband was only one heart attack away from her raising 2 kids by herself, and I didn't want that for my wife.
I was under the belief that there wasn't much I could do about my own health. Then my bearded, opinionated, German neighbor told me that I was too young to be that fat.
Then 9 years goes by. I have had to say goodbye to the man that I never really thought would be gone. My thirties are just a few days away from being gone. I have raced so many times, so many different distances, in so many different places, that I have nearly taken it for granted that I will always be able to be able to do this. I hardly remember what it felt like to be 50 lbs heavier, and not able to run more that a few yards. Who knows if I will be able to always race, but one thing is for sure I have realized that I do have control over my health. I do have control over the example I set for my kids to choose to be active and eat healthy. I do have control over whether or not I fight.
After not getting out of bed for 3 days with 103F fever. I am still feeling like I will never be healthy again. I know I will be. The truth is I can't even remember the last time I worked out consistently or at all. I know I will get back to normal at some point, but now is the time to just slow my roll and get healthy again.
The Keebler family wishes all of you the best in 2015!
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| Thanks to my great Sister in law, Amy Odom, for this photo and the one below. |
