Make it Work - Family First

First of all I need to encourage anyone reading to go and read this blog post from the Addict To Athlete blog.  As someone who has dealt with addiction myself, in my family, and with many very close friends this post hit close to home and is very worth the read.  "Nothing’s impossible, it just takes a little longer."

I rented the movie I Don't Know How She Does It from the Redbox the other night only for the simple fact that Sarah Jessica Parker is the lead role and I just love her.  I knew nothing about the movie but it ended up being a great show and really got me thinking about the importance of family, balance, prioritizing, and just making life work.  The show basically depicts Sarah Jessica Parker's life as a working Mother with a very prestigious job and how she lets her career interfere with time spent with her family.  I think that many of us can relate to this scenario. I often get asked how I juggle working full time, going to school part time, running 70-80 miles per week all while still spending quality time with my family.  The simple answer is; if you are passionate enough about something you will find time for it.

My family has always been incredibly close but since Trevor passed away I think it has brought us even closer.  Life and relationships are so precious and time spent with family is simply irreplaceable.  At any instant life can change or end without warning and I never want to live with the regret of choosing running or anything else over my family!  Family first, work second, and running as much as I possibly can in in between.

I am very passionate about running and I truly don't think that will ever change. I love running, it brings balance and purpose to my life and it is very important to me.  But at the end of the day no PR I could ever set can ever compare to the satisfaction I get from spending quality time with the people I love.

So if that means waking up at 5am on a Saturday morning to run 18 miles before driving two hours just to see this kids smile.

Cutting a Speed workout short so that I can babysit this little one.

Skipping a run altogether just to talk to my Mom on the phone.

Or waking up at the crack of dawn to do a Long Run before work on a weekday so that I can spend the weekend helping to babysit these little rascals.

That is absolutely what I will do because I never want my family or friends to feel like I am too busy running to spend time with them.  Running and training is important but family is much more important and I never want my running to come before my family.  So thank you Sarah Jessica Parker for the reminder that running will always be there for me but memories missed with family can never be reclaimed.