Lab Rat 550 (LR550) has been working out with me for a little more than a month. Through a month of electric shock treatment, he has learned as "military style" as I work out, my wife and son are in another stratosphere.

2006.04.17

This weekend, we are headed to Athens for the Ohio University Spring Game. Mini-Omega and I will be running in a 5K tomorrow morning. After the race, we will enjoy hot dogs, brauts, etc in the tailgate area prior to the Spring Game. With that in mind... here is how I expect tomorrow's 5k to unfold:

11:00 AM (race starts)
Mini-Mattis: "How far are we going?"
Me: "About 3 miles."
Mini-Mattis: "Can we walk some of it?"
Me: "We will see. Let's just do our best, okay?"
Mini-Mattis: "Okay."

11:10 AM (1st mile marker)
Mini-Mattis: "Are we almost done?"
Me: "No. We have only completed 1 mile."
Mini-Mattis: "My legs are getting tired."
Me: "You are okay. Slow down. Pace yourself."
Mini-Mattis: "Okay."

11:22 AM (2nd mile marker)
Mini-Mattis: "Dad, are we done YET?"
Me: "No" *huff* "We still have" *huff* "one more mile"
Mini-Mattis: "I am thirsty. Can we get something to drink?"
Me: "No" *huff* "We will get a drink" *huff* "after we finish"
Mini-Mattis: "Okay"

11:35 AM (3rd mile marker)
Mini-Mattis: "Hey, I can see the finish line!"
Me: *huff* "..."
Mini-Mattis: "Let's sprint up to the"
Me: *huff* "N-n-no" *huff* "pace"
Mini-Mattis: "I am going to sprint, okay?"
Me: *huff* "..." *huff* "Okay."

11:37 AM
We finish the race.

Mini-Mattis starts to run imaginary football plays sprinting down the Peden Stadium game field.

I collapse into an exhausted heap.

11:40 AM
Mini-Mattis: "Dad, will you play with me? Let's run the triple option."
Me: *huff* "Give me a minute." *huff*

11:41 AM
Mini-Mattis: "Are you ready?"
Me: *huff* "Hey" *huff* "Why don't we get some hot dogs?"
Mini-Mattis: "DaaaAAAAAAdd. You said you would play with me."
Me: *huff* "... Okay, but just for a minute" *huff*

Thirty-minutes later I will finally convince him to stop playing long enough to eat a hot dog and drink some Gatorade.

5:00 PM
Spring Game is over. We begin the 2+ hour drive home.

8:30 PM
Arrive home following 3 bathroom breaks and 1 pit stop for food. I can almost guarantee I will be asked to go outside and play no fewer than 10 times before finally sending Mini-Mattis to bed.

The funny thing is... LR550 (Lab Rat 550) claims my workouts are 'military style'. He says the workouts are hardcore. This morning, our new test subject, LR551 had to excuse himself from the weight room - he felt as though he was about vomit.

Despite the intensity and endurance required to complete my morning workouts, I cannot keep up with my wife or son. They are far more hardcore. As exhibit "A", I point to time when Mini-Mattis was 5-years-old and rode his bike (with training wheels) 20+ miles... and at the end of the ride asked if we could go outside and play after we got home.

While I am on the subject...

Mini-Omega saw the hand specialist in Cincinnati. The doctor created a NEW hard splint for him. He has to wear the hard splint for 6 weeks. He is not permitted to play baseball. He is supposed to be careful. The thumb will be reexamined at the end of May. At that time, Mini-Mattis should receive a clean bill of health. So, we are kind of in wait and see mode on that front.

As mentioned in previous posts, my wife is pregnant with twin girls. She is 20 weeks along at this point. Both babies are doing well. They each way close to 1 pound. That is great news considering the babies are supposed to stay in the 'oven' for another 20 weeks. I think we will be excited if she makes it another 16 weeks.