Do you notice how I used the word "appeared"? I don't want Bears fans to be mad at me. Of course, if you look at it in terms of fitness and what level a professional athlete should be at, I could justify being a little shocked at the Chicago Bears players. You would think that they would have built up more endurance at this point in their season.

I could pretend I am the media and play the "blame game". You could blame the rain? Weather seems to be a factor in all of our lives these days. You could blame the media? The media puts so much pressure on everyone these days. You could blame your teammates? The Chicago defense had a significant amount of playing time. Is it possible that other players were not doing their jobs on the field during the game? Maybe it was the coach's fault? Perhaps, they were not prepared well enough for the challenge of a Super Bowl game? Our problems do seem to be somebody else's fault.

At this point I am going to compare us common, everyday folk, to the elite athletes of the NFL. I am sure I have no objections to this comparison. Their journey is to the Super Bowl. Our journey is to better health. We start our journey with lofty goals similar to going to the Super Bowl. We have goals like losing 50 pounds, quitting smoking, giving up all junk food, and my favorite - running a marathon. Perhaps, our goals are too ambitious but we have them anyway. We start off great! Truth be told, we are probably doing too much, which may hurt us later. I think the Chicago Bears started that game doing too much and boy did it hurt them later. Of course, you could have only witnessed this if you we brave enough to continue watching the game. The physical work of accomplishing a goal is tough enough. We sometimes forgot that mentally having too many thoughts, too many things we are trying to change at once is just not a good thing. Hence, you may find yourself losing a Super Bowl.

We lose our energy. We lose our focus. We start to blame. We blame the weather. It is too cold too exercise! It is too hot to exercise! We blame the media. There are too many unrealistic expectations for us. We can't be that thin. We can't eat that many fruits and vegetable. How can I exercise 4-6 days a week? There is too much pressure to be able to play recreational sports well. All those tools to help you hit a golf ball further. All those info commercials telling you to run faster with this energy drink or to lift heavier weights if you take this supplement. I don't work out because my boss! He makes me work so late. Sometimes it is your kid's fault. His schedule is so busy you just don't have time to exercise.

As these thoughts are circling around in my head, I realize how much we have in common with athletes. But, let me pause for a second to tell you about an incident that happened to me a couple of months ago. Somebody was listening to MY conversation about my training program for running and made a comment. Let me quote it for you now because it's not like I don't remember every word they said to me. "It's not like you're an athlete! You just run a few races." For the record, it is more than a few.

It's an interesting debate. At what point in time does an individual who is participating in an exercise program become an athlete? When you train for a 100 mile bike ride? When you sign-up for a triathlon? When you run a marathon? When your body fat is under 10%? But more importantly, when should you consider yourself an athlete?

As I was watching the Chicago Bears playing I thought about how much in common I had with them in terms of my running. I have a pre-season just like the Bears. I train for each weekend race but always have the "big one" in my thoughts at all times. The big one for me is The Chicago Marathon. But, just like the Bears, I start our with such excitement and enthusiasm only to have it fade as I begin to get lost in the boredom and hard work that is inherit in a marathon training program. So, just like the bears, I have problems with executing my skills and tools I have prepared myself with in my training. I have no doubt the Chicago Bears prepared for the Super Bowl but something bad happened in their execution.

The Super Bowl was very disappointing for all Bears fans. I have had some disappointing marathons. Don't get me wrong! I am very appreciative of the fact that I can run 26 miles. There is no doubt in my mind I can run the distance because I have done it on numerous occasions. At no point in time does this fact escape my mind. I am grateful but; could I run it just a little faster...please?

Now you may not entertain the fact of running a marathon or playing in the NFL. But, we all want to be good at something. Then when we accomplish this, we all want to get better at something. Most of us could do things that will make our health better. I know I can. My exercise program is very similar to an athlete’s. My diet? Frankly, it stinks!

So, what can we learn from the Chicago Bears and their performance in the Super Bowl? Come On! We have to take something positive from watching that game. We don't want to consider all those hours "wasted" especially if we watch both the "pre" and "post-game" hoopla. I know I have learned something. The Super Bowl is a lot like a marathon. For some of us, it takes us that long to run one including both pre and post-game hoopla. You need to build slowly one week at a time and constantly work on the little things. You can't start off with a 92-yard return for a touchdown. It feels great but unfortunately it will not last. If you start too intense you will fade; both in game situations and training. So, no matter how wonderful you feel you need to remember it is a journey.

Training for a marathon is a lot like the journey you must take towards good health. A journey is an act of traveling from one place to another.

In marathon training you go from running a 3 mile run to being able to run 15, 20, and eventually 26 miles. The journey for some takes you from barely being able to run a mile to completing a marathon. The journey towards good health starts with possibly being able to walk only 1 mile to running 5 miles or you may be only able to stay on a cardio machine for 5 minutes to doing a 30-minute weight loss program.

So, we should enjoy the journey and realize that unexpected things can and will arise. A friend mention that he thought the Chicago Bears defense wasn't lacking endurance, but the ability to adapt. They could not modify their defensive plan in the game. They looked like they were a mess. Our workout schedule is all over the place. Our nutrition plan is grabbing whatever is convenient. The weather is not always wonderful. You may have endless cold days, or long hot days. It may just be pouring down rain on your Super Bowl. You will need to learn how to adapt or make alternative plans.

There will be people telling you what you should or should not do just like the media does during the Super Bowl. Your friends will tell you what they are doing and what you should do. Possibly even people at the gym will try to tell you what to do. I'm not saying you have to be mean and sometimes you should listen, however, you need to figure out what is right for you and how are you going to execute YOUR plan.

Then you need not lay blame for your failure to take responsibility for your health. If you want to reach your destination whether it is the Super Bowl, a marathon, or good health; you need to determine what is it going to take to get you there? Finally, if you struggle or worse yet fail, your journey never ends. There will be another Super Bowl, another marathon, another day to make better choices to get "healthy" and maintain this lifestyle.