*SPONSORED POST*
“We can slow down and walk whenever you want.”
“No, I think I want to keep running.”
THAT was the moment I became a runner and a #healthydad.
Like many guys, my quest to get in shape didn’t exist until I became a dad. My wife was a former college swimmer and a “sometimes” runner. She’d done the Mini Marathon a few times and suggested running as a sport I might (gasp) actually enjoy. I was skeptical. Running was the punishment for doing something wrong in other sports, how could it be enjoyable?
I also told my wife I didn’t think my body was physically capable of running more than a couple of miles. I’m a little dramatic, I know.
SLOWLY, after checking with my physician, I started my training. At first, I would run a half-mile, then walk for a bit. Over the course of a few weeks, I slowly built up to about two miles. It was also around the same time the school where I worked was holding their 5k fundraiser.
I decided to sign our family up for the race. My wife and I would run while taking turns pushing our daughter in the jogging stroller, which takes me back to the moment I became a #healthydad. We were just past the two mile mark, longer than I’d run before, when my wife asked if I wanted to slow down, that’s when I told her I wanted to keep going. That was it. That was the moment.
I haven’t turned back since. Over the past seven years, I’ve continued living life as a healthy dad, running countless 5k races, a few half-marathons and one full marathon (and even managed to help raise two more kids), not that there haven’t been many bumps, bruises, and doctor’s office calls along the way. It’s nice to have health insurance when it comes to managing my mixed bag of running injuries. Thankfully, we have Anthem health insureance to help our family when needed.
In addition to my various running ailments, with three kids, it seems as if we are constantly using the 24 hour a day, 7 days a week nurse line. Someone is always sick, and rarely do the strange rashes, spiking fevers and violent illnesses happen during business hours.
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield also a new feature using an app on your smartphone, called live health online. It’s like a twentieth century doctor’s house call updated to the twenty-first century, it allows for a two-way video chat with a doctor right on your phone.
To promote healthy dads everywhere, XY Media is sponsoring a healthy dads video contest. All the official rules are posted here-https://www.facebook.com/healthydads, but to summarize them, all you have to do is create a video showing what makes you a #HealthyDad, post it to their Facebook page and you could win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Join in the fun. I made my video, which can be seen here- http://youtu.be/HF8cM1AN9Ec
Finally, thank you to Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, for compensating me to write this post, but even more importantly including dads in the discussion about family health care. My views are based solely on my experience as a parent, and not as a medical professional.”
Translation- I was paid by Anthem to write this. Clearly, I’m a dad, not a doctor, although I did dress up as one for Halloween in 2007.
-Pete
