On a recent episode of “We Run This,” I had the chance to interview Dean Karnazes. If you’re unfamiliar with Dean’s life story, the man is a genetic freak, at least in terms of running ability. He’s nicknamed “The Ultramarathon Man” for a reason.
Dean is probably most well known for running 50 marathons in 50 states for 50 consecutive days. That’s more running in less than two months than people run in their entire lives.
Dean was promoting his newest book, “A Runner’s High: My Life in Motion,” and it’s an amazing book even if you’re not completely sold on running hundreds of miles at one time – or even running at all.
The book is not just about running. It’s about relationships—Dean’s relationship with his parents, his wife, and his kids. The quote in the note today comes right from the book. Dean admits he didn’t come up with the quote and doesn’t remember where he heard it, but it’s a proclamation that came to mind during a period when he wasn’t connecting with his teenage son.
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I think about this quote often. I wish I came up with this quote. It’s one of the truest quotes about parenting ever.
“In school, you get the lessons and then take the test. In parenting, you take the test and then get the lessons.”
It’s impossible to prepare for every unannounced test in parenting. You’re going to fail the majority of the time, depending on your definition of failure, but at least you’ll learn something each time.
Maybe you get better at parenting, or maybe you get better at test-taking. Either way, you get better.
Here’s the entire interview with Dean where we talk about parenting, getting older, and of course, running.
PARENTING NOTES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
- Parenting Note #769 – You Must Be At Least This Tall To Give A Crap
- Parenting Note #768 – Choosing Favorites
- Parenting Note #767 – Bathroom Poop Huddles
- Parenting Note #766 – It’s Been A Minute
STUFF I DID ON INSTAGRAM THAT YOU PROBABLY MISSED
I’ve lived alone for close to five years, and I still suck at shopping.
In my defense, I rarely wear earbuds because they constantly fall out of my ears, so I don’t really know how they’re supposed to feel.
In case you missed my appearance on uJokes, here’s a recap. I got robbed.
OTHER THINGS I DID WHEN I WASN’T WRITING NOTES
STUFF THAT I RECORDED
I spoke to Bernd Heinrich, the author of “Racing The Clock” and a world record holder for runners over age 40. Naturally, we talked about hating technology.
STUFF THAT I WROTE
- I’m becoming the style guy over at The Manual. After reviewing the subscription box service, Stitch Fix, I was asked to review another men’s box service, Menlo House. Here’s my honest review.
- Want to know at what age you’ll become a millionaire? This chart will help figure it out.
- If you’re married, it’s a good idea to have separate checking accounts. Here’s why.
- And finally, if you’re looking for a new job, ask this question early in the interview process. It might save you and your potential employer a ton of time if their answer doesn’t meet your expectations.
And have you checked out my list of amazing dads to follow on Instagram yet? You should!
OTHER STUFF I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT
WHAT I’M RUNNING IN: Brooks Aurora BL running shoes. These shoes are currently sold out. There’s a reason why. They’re cushy as hell and beyond comfortable. I recommend snagging a pair.
WHAT I’M READING: I’m almost finished with “Buy Yourself The F*cking Lillies” and don’t have another book lined up. If you have a suggestion, leave it in the comments.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: I’ve made the jump from Spotify over to Amazon Music. Spotify had too many damn commercials with the free version, and many of the stations got repetitive after a while. I recommend checking out Amazon Music.
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Thanks, everyone.
Have a great week, and be kind to one another.
– Chris
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