Who's Turkey Trotting?

Happy Thanksgiving! It's early Thursday morning and as I write this I am sitting at my office with the area 'abuzz' with music, runners, moms, dads, and lots of kids. That's right...its the Annual Dan Gibbon's Turkey Trot!

As you know, I run most of my days with a fantastic group of runners who I happily share my life with! I am thankful for each of them for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they are crazy enough to get up and motivate me to pull my butt out of bed at 4:35 most mornings to get in a run...and more importantly a little stress-free, decompressing chit chat! Today if I am lucky enough I will catch up with most of them and their families before the race.

I will also have the honor of running with many of my patients and other Elmhurst friends and neighbors. This is such a great town! We moved here 8 years ago and we just built our dream home on that same lot we bought back then as starry eyed parents-to-be. (Well OK, my dream home...my husbands says minus the lake!) We plan to stay here for a LONG time. I am thankful to have chosen an area with such a sense of community.

My staff will be there today too...some running, some handing out T-shirts and some serving up Hot Cocoa at the office. Any one who has met my staff knows they area fantastic bunch of women...funny, smart, compassionate and best of all they love our patients! I love coming to work each day knowing that any challenge we face, they are there to help me get through it.
My thanks goes out to them every day, but especially today as I count my blessings.

Today I will not get to run with my husband...he plays soccer and hockey but doesn't get the point of running to end up in the same spot! I love that he and my younger son are happily cuddling in bed on this chilly morning blissfully unaware of the festivities a few blocks away.
I am blessed and thankful to have such an amazingly supportive family...who come out to most of my races and office events...even though they are usually bored to tears!

Finally I feel most thankful at this moment that my 7 (soon to be 8)year old son is sitting at my office with me. He was the first to ask to run with me when I brought this event up a few months back and he JUMPED out of bed at 7 today to head up here. I am proud to be running with him in his very FIRST 5k!

When I look back over the last few years of my life, I find it amazing how much running has become a part of it. It not only has made me healthier, but happier and more productive too!
I know that because of running I am a better doctor, friend, boss, mom, counselor, sister, house cleaner, wife! Running isn't a part of my life...its a part of who I am!

Happy Thanksgiving to all and for anyone Turkey trotting...be sure to stop by the office...so I can really count all my blessings today!

Chilean miner- An inspiration in running and in life

"A new challenge - to care more deeply, to be more present with the people we love"...that is what Edison Pena, the Chilean miner said as he left New York today after finishing the NYC-ING marathon in 5 hours 40 minutes.

For those of you who haven't read about him, while trapped in the mine he cut his boots down to his ankles so he could run and went a 10K every day....when that was no longer challenging he tied a wood pallet to his waist to build up strength. Oh yeah, did I mention it was muddy, rocky terrain and the heat and humidity were unbelievable?

So pretty much my excuse that " I am too tired "or have "so much on my plate today" or "It's getting really cold and dark out there" no longer hold any water!

He crossed the finish line today with the Chilean flag being carried behind him, he looked strong. Let's face it the man probably has a strength of character, determination and commitment that we will see in few other people in our lifetime.

As I read his quote "a new challenge - to care more deeply, to be more present with the people we love." I realized that his character runs far deeper than running a marathon.

Most of the runners I meet mirror this commitment and character, not only out there pounding the pavement, but also in their lives...with their kids, families and spouses, in their jobs and their hobbies.

The runner's I know make me proud to call myself a runner...and today I salute you Mr Edison Pena. You showed the world what it is all about...I wish you nothing but blessings in your life! If you are ever in Chicago, it would be a great pleasure to run with you!