Jeff Zaugg, Dad Awesome 

That scene from Hook haunts me every time I watch it. Robin Williams crouches in the shadows, eyes hollow with regret as Captain Hook shouts, “That’s my boy!” while celebrating with his son after hitting a home run. In that gut-wrenching moment, Peter Pan—now a distracted, career-obsessed father—realizes he’s missed his son’s childhood. I don’t want that to be your story – or mine

Running For Love. A few years into marriage, my wife suggested we run the Twin Cities marathon together. Running wasn’t exactly my passion, but I said yes solely because I loved her. The night before race day, I grabbed a bright green shirt and wrote in giant Sharpie letters: “RUNNIN CUZ I LOVE HER” with a huge black arrow pointing to the side. For five hours, strangers cheered wildly: “He’s running for love!” “He loves her!” “Way to run for love!” When my legs screamed at me to quit, those cheers reminded me of my purpose. Things occasionally got awkward when my arrow accidentally pointed at a sweaty 50-year-old man I’d never met. But that’s beside the point.

The Marathon That Matters Here’s what I’ve learned after hundreds of hours interviewing remarkable dads: They don’t leave family connections to chance. They pursue the hearts of their kids day by day, choice by choice. The most meaningful marathon isn’t the one that earns you a medal. It’s the daily decision to run home to your family with energy and shiny eyes that convince your children beyond any doubt that you love being their dad—that this role of fatherhood is one you deeply treasure.This isn’t about obligation. It’s about running with love in your heart. It’s about adding LIFE to the dad-life through intentionality. And this LIFE is fueled by LOVE, and LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E.

Already Running. The good news? You’re already further along than you think. The fact that you’re reading these words shows you care deeply about being a great dad. The dads I respect aren’t superheroes—they’re ordinary men who made the daily decision to be present. They created simple systems that keep family at the center and developed meaningful rituals that build connection.Every bedtime story and difficult conversation where you stay engaged—these moments matter more than you know. 

Your Challenge. Deuteronomy 30:19 reminds us: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” This is your race. Your marathon that matters most. Become famous at home first. Run home to your family today. Run with all your heart. They’re waiting at the finish line, and no medal could ever compare to the joy in their eyes when you arrive—fully present, fully engaged, fully theirs.