Below is a post I wrote for another blog nearly six years ago (November 2015). I think it encapsulates why I chose Dig Deep as part of my current blogging and business adventure:

I have a son with epilepsy.  It has taken ten years of seizures for me to start calling the spade the spade and use the E-word.  In the last year and a half, he’s become a runner and participates in our school cross-country team.  It’s been a messy ride to say the least, but here’s what we’ve learned through the experience:

Community: At the very first pre-season race, Ryan seized in the last half to quarter mile, but he finished mostly upright.  I had to catch him coming off the finish line and work him through the emotional release brought on with the combination of race end and seizure.  When we got out to our car, there was a mom and daughter next to us and they both took a moment to walk over and tell Ryan they were impressed with his finish.  I felt compelled to explain what happened, but the mom stopped me and said she was a doctor and could tell he had epilepsy and was ready to jump in and help us if needed.  She didn’t judge us for letting him run, she applauded his efforts.
Determination:Every race, seizure or no seizure, muscle pain or no muscle pain, Ryan finished the race.  One particularly rough seizure literally knocked him to the ground and when I made it to him, he was crawling on all fours.  He was confused a bit, but when I asked him if he wanted to finish, he said yes, and when his coach asked him if he could get up, he replied, “I can’t walk, but I can crawl.” 
Letting Go:This one is about me.  I can’t put into words how it felt watching Ryan crawl, confused with skinned knee, through Florida clay until a teammate came and got him on his feet and walked him to the finish. The hardest thing I did all season was walk away when Ryan asked me to, but that is the one thing he comments on the most: how thankful he is that we let him run, and let him fall, and don’t stop him from persevering. We also had to trust Ryan’s coach and defer to his judgment when we didn’t trust our own.
Teamwork:Starting with the second race, Ryan’s teammates rallied around him for every seizure-ridden finish. His co-captain jumped in each week after having run his own race and ran alongside or behind Ryan up to the last little bit across the finish.  Most races once the team knew what was happening, several runners would jump in and run alongside the course encouraging Ryan and making sure he was protected.  In the last race, and the toughest course, the one we were most fearful of, the entire varsity team, and several of the girls’ team members spread out along the course to keep him safe.  During several races a healthy competition arose between Ryan and one of the girls because their times were similar; Ryan would sometimes spur her on by telling her to beat his own time. By the district competition, which Ryan was unable to qualify for, he was running some of those same teammates into the finish.  Support became the accomplishment.
Disappointment:Ryan’s biggest wish going into this past season was to run varsity.  His summer training set him up well and before the season began, there was no reason to believe he wouldn’t accomplish this goal.  Unfortunately as his season progressed, it became apparent he’d be staying on JV due to his times being slow because of the seizure interruptions.  There were so many weeks his finish time just wasn’t what he wanted or needed and I asked him often if he wanted to quit; selfishly, there were weeks I wanted him to quit because I was so tired of watching him struggle.  He refused to give up, even through disappointments.  When the district meet came and he couldn’t run at all, he came and encouraged his teammates and truly didn’t let it bother him.
Leadership:Ryan was named co-captain along with another senior runner and friend since kindergarten. As the weeks went on, I seriously questioned his coach’s choice.  It might have seemed a good idea when it looked like Ryan would run varsity and actually aid in leading the team, but it kind of sucked when he was finishing last.  Leading isn’t always about being up front though.  Setting an example of perseverance and sticking with commitment is leadership.  Giving thoughtful input while watching your teammates’ times and forms and mental health is leadership.  Pep talking the team at school when the coach isn’t around is leadership.

Tomorrow night Ryan will attempt his first half marathon.  His training hasn’t gone quite according to plan, but in typical Ryan fashion, he refuses to give up.  I will run and if needed, walk, alongside him and help him do what he’s been doing all season…finish the race.

Current update: Ryan is still running, setting a new 5K PR just this past January, and he has been an assistant coach for his high school team since graduating in 2016. He has been seizure-free for almost 5 years now due to a VNS implant.

I was watching the Olympic Trials for Track & Field the other evening and the commentator mentioned how one of the female runners had struggled with “imposter syndrome.” The comment stuck with me because it was a phrase my own therapist had used to describe some of my own hesitations with regard to coaching running. At the time I thought is was semi-psychobabble that kind of made sense but also sounded kind of made up. It turns out this is actually a fairly common struggle, particularly for female athletes and coaches.

My own running & coaching journey didn’t begin until well into adulthood. The year I was to turn 40 I decided that I could let aging get the best of me or I could try something new and focus on becoming stronger, fitter, healthier. I started running a few months before my birthday and completed my first 5K a couple months after. It certainly wasn’t fast or pretty, but it was a start. While doing that first race with a friend, we came up with a plan to be back two years later to run our first half marathons. We ended up beating that goal by four months and during the training process I became hooked on this new (to me) sport.

Less than two years into my personal run training I had another friend mention that her husband who was head coach of our school’s cross country team was looking for some additional help with a small and somewhat new girls’ team. I think I half-jokingly said something along the lines of, “Well, I run. Slow. But I do work with teenagers [as a high school teacher] and I could at least help with corralling and managing the girls if he wants to teach me how to coach.” I’m sure looking back there were many times he regretted his decision to take me on board as green as I was, but I what I did bring to the plate was an ability to develop relationships and create an environment the girls wanted to be a part of, even when they weren’t sure they actually enjoyed the running.

In seven years of coaching I have learned so much. That friend’s husband, who is now my friend as well, not only taught me how to coach cross country, he agreed to coach me in my own running. The combination has worked out well for both aspects. Nowadays it’s not unusual for me to be completing the same workouts as my girls and I could probably hang on with the middle of my pack. I’ve completed dozens of races at 5, 10, 15K and half marathon distances. In seven years coaching, the team has become a consistent environment that is both competitive and encouraging. Two seasons ago we saw our first individual female runner qualify for the state meet and last season the team took the district championship and qualified as a team for the state meet for the first time in school history.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Even with these successes I still find myself asking if I belong. Am I really good enough as a coach to be doing this professionally? I’ve taken courses, gotten certifications from USATF, and put in the time, but still if you put me in a room full of other coaches I feel a little like an imposter. At the end of the day I still feel a little like I’m faking it, and not quite sure I’ve made it, but all I can do is keep moving forward. Maybe the real lesson is to stop asking as athletes and coaches if we’re good enough but if good with what we’re doing. Are we enjoying the journey? Are we accepting the personal successes? Can we stop letting comparison steal our joy? Yes, I believe we can.

While running is my primary sport, there is great value in working cross-training activities into my training cycles. Repetitive action of one kind of activity can lead to injury, and mental dullness. When choosing an activity or sport to cross-train for a sport like running, it’s a good idea to choose something that still boosts the heart rate, even if not at the same level. When recovering from injury, often there are types of cross-training activities that can be done as substitutes for the primary sport. Additionally, having a variety of activities worked into training allows the mind to have a break.

What are some good choices for cardio healthy cross-training? Biking, swimming, elliptical machine, rowing, Zumba, spin classes, and other sports such as recreational basketball, soccer, or volleyball all work.

What about for also dodging staleness or mental fatigue? Hiking, dog-walking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, or anything that gets you out and about and experiencing nature are great options.

Weightlifting, pilates, and yoga (with or without goats) are less cardio boosting, but still helpful in helping with muscle strength and recovery and also have a place in the mix.