One Sweet Ride

I distinctly remember wondering in my early days of fatherhood--when our first son, now 5, was just 3 weeks old--if I’d ever be fit again. Those early days, depending on the type of baby you have and your own personal disposition, can be quite trying both physically and emotionally. You’re not sleeping; you’re not eating well; and your psyche has bumped hard against the realization that things have changed forever. Making time for a run or a ride seemed ludicrous in the abstract and down-right impossible in reality.

But, slowly, you rally. And one thing that helped save my fitness in those early weeks, and over the past five years, was our jog stroller. The first one we bought was the single Baby Jogger II with the 20 inch wheels. It was, and still is, one sweet ride. It’s lightweight. Maneuverable. The 20 inch wheels fly. And it’s narrow enough to navigate urban sidewalks at a run. With the optional weather shield that encloses the kid cockpit, you’re ready to hit the road in almost any winter weather. That it doesn’t fold down very compactly (I think the newer models do) is the only real drawback, and it’s far outweighed by the pluses, except maybe for those Yugo drivers who need to get the jogger down to the rail trail.

After the birth of our second son, we upgraded to the Hummeresque Kelty Deuce Coupe with 16 inch wheels. This double-wide stroller has plenty of room for two. It’s not cheap (which can actually be said for any good jog stroller), but it paid for itself many times over when, even in hectic weeks, I could lasso the boys in there and still get in some key miles. Like the single Baby Jogger, the Deuce Coupe is lightweight and relatively easy to maneuver (given the 75 pounds of kid inside). Plus, it folds down very compactly and has many parent-friendly pockets and bottle holders on the back. You’ll pay a nice (read “big”) price for the optional weather shield, but it does a very good job keeping the elements out--and the kids in. One major drawback, the double-wide size makes it a bit too big for running on all but the grandest of sidewalks.

Over the past five years, the boys and I have logged hundreds of miles in our two joggers. And while they’ve often been reluctant passengers (our oldest, in particular), they know it’s part of the routine, and that it will certainly put dad in a better mood for the rest of the day.

With our oldest now in kindergarten, we’ve pretty-much mothballed the double-wide. (It’s resurrected only during school holidays.) And I must say I very much miss pushing the two boys on our 4 mile runs week in and week out. Though I’m unsure of the imprint it’s had on them, for me, it’s given me a chance to share a very special part of my life with them. The miles we’ve logged may be a distant or forgotten memory for them five years from now, but I hope it’ll somehow leave them with a bit of a road map to who their father is.

Why? The Serengeti, of Course

James Joyce took the ordinary and made it extraordinary. Daily, mundane lives exploded in color, richness, and intricacy in the pages of his great works. Something as simple as making breakfast or walking on the beach became opportunities to explore the interior of life and plumb the depths of the conscious mind. Which brings me to this blog.

Nothing has led me to examine my life more than becoming a parent. Like getting married or buying a house, having children is one of those things that most people do at some point in their lives. Yet, while it's seemingly trivial in the aggregate, each is a very big deal to the individual. And, I have to say, bringing up my two sons as a part time stay-at-home dad has taught me many things about myself--some of which are admirable, some of which are far-from-flattering. Let's just say, when I have plumbed the depths of my conscious mind, I have more than once turned away chagrined. But, I'm learning every day and trying to be a better, new-and-improved father.

Athletics is another seemingly mundane activity that also plays a huge role in my life and in my self-exploration. I've raced bikes, ran, swam, or speed skated regularly for over 20 years. Why? There's health. There's fitness. There's the rush of competition, and the challenge of mastering technique. All thing's that motivate me. But what really keeps me interested is the inner journey of athletics. It's a chance to mesh the mind and body; to return to a long-forgotten state when, as little australopithecines, we roamed the Serengeti looking for food and avoiding predators. We're hard wired for activity; and for me, it gives me a chance to transcend Seinfeld and Survivor, CNN and the New York Times, and just turn inward--associating my mind and body, not dissociating them, which so much of today is focused upon, and which I fall prey to more than most.

I've recently signed up for an Ironman triathlon in Coure d'Alene, Idaho (www.ironmencda.com). If I finish the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run, i'll definitely be able to mark one off my short list of things to do before I die. In "Tri Dad," I hope to chronicle the ins, outs, and in-betweens of taking on this task while being a part-time stay-at-home dad. Some posts will wax philosophic. Some will simply chronicle the week. Each will be a piece of the puzzle.

More Pain, More Gain

Great interview with Lance Armstrong on NPR today. Melissa Block covered a wide range of topics and in a very studied manner, unoffensive to the general public and followers of the pro peloton alike. NPR : Armstrong Mulls Next Year's Tour de France.