This Hip’s For You, Dad (The Friday Ficks S5 E30)

Growing up, my father was rarely wrong. About anything. He had a quiet certainty and a sharp eye - and even when he was joking, he usually turned out to be right.

So when I started running, he’d say, half-jokingly, “You keep that up and one day you’re going to need new knees.”

Well, I ran 19 marathons while he was alive…and 9 more after he passed. That’s 28 marathon finish lines, thousands of training miles, and not a single knee replacement.

But two weeks ago, I did have surgery…for a new hip.

So my Dad was close. Not quite right - but close. And how I wish I could call him, laugh about it, and tell him that after all those years, he finally missed one.

But the funny thing is, he never needed to be right.

He just needed to be there.

And he always was.

As leaders, parents, partners, and friends, we sometimes chase the satisfaction of being right.

But more often than not, the deeper gift is simply being present.

Listening. Encouraging. Believing.

My father may have had his opinions, but more importantly, he showed up. He cheered (like this picture of him at the 1995 NYC Marathon). He cared. And whether I was lacing up for my first 10K or crossing a marathon finish line, I always knew he was proud - even when he was worried about my knees.

So here’s to the people who raised us, ran beside us, and rooted for us - even when they got a few things wrong.

If you still can, call them. Laugh. Thank them. Tell them what they got right - and wrong. You won’t regret it.

This hip’s for you Dad.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl