Jogging Buddy

This morning Ryan agreed to accompany me on my daily jog/walk. Before I began I warned him that he might be pleasantly surprised the first minute, but that after a trot and a stroll, my walking gets pretty bad, and I look pretty retarded. He did not appreciate this disclaimer, as if I were implying that he might be embarrassed. He is over that, if he ever had it.

Yesterday I could not make it all the way to the corner, but that is OK, I understand that every day I may not go farther than the last. But this morning I really wanted to reach the corner. This would be the first time I had an audience, and it was my son no less.  I began my mini trek and Ryan jogged alongside, providing encouragement such as "Feet up, you can do it, feet up, c’mon.”

If there were ever a man encouraged and motivated, it was me this morning. Who wouldn’t be? However, in a striking reminder that grit seems to be impotent against my foe, my feet stopped twenty feet short of my goal. I could not have exerted more. Oh well. Maybe Monday.

We continued our walk and, true to my warning, the last few home lengths were a real chore for me. As I cautiously headed up our walkway, and successfully navigated the one step, Ryan started singing the Rocky theme song. How perfect was that?  Maybe I'll take him along more often.