On April 14, 2013, my wife and I and two other family members participated in the Whidbey Island Half Marathon. It was a good run with the Washington rain hitting us for the first half and then the sky breaking into blue skies for the second half. My muscles are sore, reminding me every time I do one of these that I should train more.
At one point, we were running through a neighborhood past driveways and front yards. Occasionally, we’d see a young girl sitting on her window sill waving at all the runners going past her house. Around mile five, we passed one particular house where a man was walking his garbage to the end of the driveway. He was in sweats and a t-shirt and probably 80-100 pounds overweight. I’m hoping it was in jest, but as he exhaustively got to the end of the driveway, he stopped and exclaimed, “You guys are crazy!”
Now sure, we were a bunch of people running in the rain and soaking wet, yet with smiles on our faces and in the company of a group of like-minded runners. In a way I can see what he was saying. An expressive lady runner behind me exclaimed back to him, “We like being crazy!”
I started to think about the word crazy. It’s crazy that we’ve gotten to a place in our society that people point at those of us that try to do something positive and healthy for our bodies and call them crazy. We call runners crazy. We call people that eat less meat and more vegetables and fruits crazy. We call people that exercise crazy. We call people that seek chiropractic joint care crazy. Why is that?
Isn’t it more crazy to take your health for granted and get to the point where you are overweight enough that you’ve increased your odds of sleep apnea, lethargy, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and overall early death? Isn’t it more crazy to be exhausted at the end of the driveway than after a 13 mile run? Those were thoughts that went through my mind.
The next day during lunch, I heard about the infamous Boston Marathon, an event that inspires runners and athletes all over the world. I heard of the explosions and the deaths and injuries that occurred. And I think, crazy.
I heard a great quote on the day of the half marathon that went, “If you don’t know your options, then you don’t have any.” There are other options than an unhealthy life. They include good nutrition, living an active life, healthy joints and posture with chiropractic, and choosing to surround yourself with a community of people striving for that same health.
Decide what you think is crazy. Know your options, and as best as you can, live a long and healthy life.
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From the doctors and staff at the Country Chiropractic Clinic, our condolences to those runners and their families affected by the explosions in Boston. That something like that could happen around such an event celebrating life, competition, and health...is crazy.
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