Shortly after the Boston bombing, a young man in our small town of about 1500, left a party intoxicated, broke into our beloved elementary school, vandalized, and lit several fires. The front part of the school, including the office, library, and several classrooms, were destroyed. Smoke damage spread throughout. Within a week, the school employees, and community volunteers, had a temporary school, grades K-4 up and operational in an abandoned girl's scout camp not far from our home. "Panther Camp" is where these 600+ children got to spend their remaining 24 days of school to meet the state's quota for the year. Challenges, yes, but they overcame.
We have a strong community.
Not long after that, two wonderfully talented teens who attended the high school, one in each of my high-school-aged sons' grades, took their own lives by jumping off a bridge in Minneapolis. No one understood why. They were positive, well liked, and great kids. With these two deaths, there had been a total of three suicides in the SCC school district, two of which were seniors. Loosing the first boy was hard enough. Loosing the second two, boy and girl...well, the students here were faced with something some of us never have to in our whole lifetime. As a district, we tried to move forward, putting the past behind. As individuals, prayer became routine and comforting. I saw these kids leaning on each other, trying to smile and focus on their future. These kids endured like no other.
We have strong youth.
About 6 weeks ago, I was told I had a clot in my leg, making it the 4th DVT (deep vein thrombosis) I've had. I ate too much salad within a week, I was told...Go figure, I was trying to eat healthy and it darn near killed me. (FYI-green leafy vege's are loaded with vitamin K, a clotting factor) It's alright, I've been dealing with this issue for 18 years. Running has been not only good exercise, but necessary to keep my blood flowing. However, due to the lack of well functioning veins in my left leg, it is larger than my right. This past training session, I easily noticed the weight difference as well. The longer I ran, the heavier it got. I'm not giving up. Running is a part of who I am. A good pair of compression socks goes a long way! I know there are others out there in the running community who have overcome physical hurdles to be able to be out there putting one foot in front of the other just to cross that finish line. Hats off to you!
We have strong determination.
With all the bad things happening around us, keep enduring, keep putting your foot in front of the other. I can guarantee that the finish line will be worth it!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
The Unthinkable...
"If you're trying to defeat the human spirit, marathoners are the wrong group to target."
~Mighty Brighties on FB
Those terrorists, and that is exactly what they are, are going to wish they had never stepped on American soil and pulled that cowardly, evil act that they did in Boston. Americans come together no matter what the political problems may be. When we are attacked, we become stronger, and not just in the exact area of destruction, but across the entire country. Just like after 9/11, people everywhere were more patient, more kind, more compassionate. You see, we look out for one another in severe times like this. The bad guy gets targeted, and hunted. Even if we disagree if we should own guns or not, who we vote in for office, etc. Once one of our own is so blatantly attacked for selfish, evil reasons, look out... Americans bond together quicker than Usain Bolt crosses that finish line. Group runs have been organized. Prayers have been said. Funds are being collected. Shirts have been made and are being sold - all in support of the courageous people of Boston and the runners from around the country who were there. We not only have the bravest team in the world, our head coach is the Creator of this world. We believe this land was meant to be free, not just by our word, but by His. We are here to fight for that privilege. God is our leader, and our protector. He is on our side and not on theirs.
Once again, I'm in awe of the courage it took for those runners who had to feel those feelings of pure accomplishment to utter terror in a split second. I'm amazed at those around who were the first responders...they didn't run away, they ran toward the victims to help them, not knowing if another bomb would go off. I'm so grateful to live in a country filled with people who care about one another, and are willing to risk their lives if necessary I truly believe that with every precious life taken in such a way, it makes our country stronger by adding to the great army in heaven. Angels are on our side. God is on our side. Boston, the whole country is on your side. We pray for you, and we will run for you!
I can't help but wonder...what if the storm hadn't hit New York and cancelled the marathon? Would that have been a target? It is much larger than the Boston marathon. Think of the devastation it would have caused there, not down playing any of it in Boston. One death is as bad as 100. Each soul is important. However, the thought continues to plague my mind. My husband, and two sons would have been in that crowd most likely by the finish line. Suddenly, the cancellation wasn't such a disappointment.
My heart goes out to those runners in Boston, and to the spectators and all the families. I am so sorry this happened to you. America prays for you. America runs for you. United we will stand!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
We Ran Anyway (part 2)
The sun rose on that beautiful November 4th morning, ready to light up the stage of a very historical event that was about to take place. As I gathered the necessary supplies to run 26.2 miles on my own on a cool but gorgeous fall day, my emotions kept my mind pacing..."This isn't exactly how I had thought that particular morning would've turn out, but that was okay. I was going to run anyway. The unknown was exciting. "Will anyone else show up?" I wondered.
As we left our hotel and headed for the subway to Central Park, we saw other groups of runners here and there. Some running, some, like us, headed for the subway. We emerged from the subway near Central Park only to be greeted with a loud roar of cheering. As we got closer to the park, we discovered why we had heard the noise. Here came a very large group of runners beginning their "Run Anyway" marathon. There were people everywhere, speaking so many different languages! Runners were going in both directions on the path in the park. We set up camp in the bleachers that would have normally been filled with paid spectators to watch the finish. The finish line had been blockaded, unfortunately. Still don't understand that move. I couldn't help but wonder why they felt they had to take that away too. It didn't seem to matter, though. There were boxes set in front of the finish line, with the words, "For the Hurricane Victims" hand written on them. Runners were depositing their warm up clothes in them, then beginning their journey.
With most of the runners running counterclockwise, I decided to run clockwise, so that I would be able to get a good idea of how many were running. I unfurled the flag and began lap 1. Speed was not the plan today. It was about 50 degrees and sunny, no wind. A perfect day for a run, if you ask me. I remained on the outside of the path, so the flag would not envelope anyone. You could here cheering all around the park, from both runners and the spectators. Most often I would hear, "Yeah, Americana! Alright!" and "U.S.A.!" One man said while he was on the phone and running, "Hey, I just got passed by the Stars & Stripes!" There were many flags from other countries there as well, most gave me high-fives as we met. One flag was so big, it took eight runners to hold.
The area in front of the bleachers became to picture posing area. My oldest son was fortunate enough to be able to capture many of these images as he stayed there the entire time. He said he was never bored, there was always something entertaining to watch. For instance, a small group was chanting, "Mexico! Mexico! (pronounced as the Mexicans say it). Then, a person on the bench also joined in...pronouncing it slightly differently. The group of Mexican runners asked where he was from. "Norway" he responded. ~ Others were dressed in costume: a kiwi from New Zealand; an elf from ?; and some were wearing their flag. It was truly a world party, here to celebrate the human spirit.
On my second lap, I met another Hope For the Warriors Team member named Kevin. He hadn't planned on running that morning. In fact, he had been out with tequila the night before. When he woke up that morning, he thought, "What the heck, maybe I will go for a little run in honor of Team Hope For the Warriors." Wow, was he surprised at what he found! We found a third member, Nicole, who was running her first marathon. She was from New York and told us what it was like during the storm. Where she lived, only the power went out for a few hours, but not much other damage. We took a group photo by the finish line before continuing on at our own pace. A man from another country, speaking very little English, jumped into the picture. He was overjoyed! Never knew exactly what he had said, but you knew it was good.
Lap 3, my husband joined me, as well as Kevin again. One loop is just over 6 miles. He was able to capture some video & pictures as well. By this time, we had switched our direction to run counter-clockwise, which was going in the direction of most of the runners. We had estimated there to be around 10,000 runners. It was larger than Grandma's in Duluth. Dan, my husband, really enjoyed seeing the familiar sights, like the ice skating rink that is in the movie, "Night of the Museum", and along with that, the actual Museum of Natural History. In case you are wondering, only the outside of that building was used in the movie. The inside looks very different. Just before we got to the finish line area to begin lap four, a German man came from behind and grabbed the flag just below my hand. I wasn't sure what to think. Turns out, he had a small crew with him because he was celebrating his 100th marathon. A man took our picture while running and said that it was going to be in a German newspaper where this man was from. He felt honored to have run with me and to have carried the American flag for a little ways.
Lap 4, Jordan, my other son joined me. He had just wrapped up a successful cross country season so six miles was nothing, especially at the pace I was going. The sights along the course were comparable to any other marathon. Spectators came with signs, with bells & other instruments. Even an accordion treated us with a tune. Amongst the cheering, there was a lady who was dressed in a striped-spandex-one-piece suit who walked out onto the course thanking the runners for our spirit. A little out-there, maybe, but she was happy we were there. We happened upon a carriage being pulled by two beautiful Percherons. The clip-clop sound of their hooves confirmed I was in Central Park, NY. The manure, however, reminded me of home, running past the farm fields having been freshly spread with nature's best fertilizer. I had noticed that the hills in the park seemed to get bigger with each lap. Thankfully, many spectators had brought their own food and drink to share with the runners. Pretzels & gummy bears were a favorite. There was one couple in particular, that held out a tray of peanut-butter sandwiches cut into small squares. Didn't speak a word of English...didn't have to. They knew what we needed and we knew what they had was for us. That little sandwich gave me the "umph" to complete the last couple of miles.
I ran the last mile and half on my own hoisting the flag high. My GPS needed to say 26.2 before I'd stop running. My thoughts collected during that time. I wanted to soak in every smile I saw, every comment heard, every clap and whistle sounded. My quest was about to end. Though it was not what I had trained for mentally, it was much more than what I had hoped for. On that day, runners from countries all over the world did not give up. Their spirits had not been broken. No one protested. No one rebelled. Police & EMS were there but not needed. This had been a truly spontaneous event which was executed with such finesse and compassion. This had been the world's largest unofficial marathon, that will most likely never happen again. I was honored to have been there and have the opportunity to represent the Warriors who have fought for our country and our freedoms, and also the wonderful, generous, & supportive community I am proud to call home.
*There are many photos & video online, like you-tube & facebook; look up "Run Anyway Marathon NY"
 |
| On the subway headed to Central Park |
 |
| The scene when we first entered the park |
As we left our hotel and headed for the subway to Central Park, we saw other groups of runners here and there. Some running, some, like us, headed for the subway. We emerged from the subway near Central Park only to be greeted with a loud roar of cheering. As we got closer to the park, we discovered why we had heard the noise. Here came a very large group of runners beginning their "Run Anyway" marathon. There were people everywhere, speaking so many different languages! Runners were going in both directions on the path in the park. We set up camp in the bleachers that would have normally been filled with paid spectators to watch the finish. The finish line had been blockaded, unfortunately. Still don't understand that move. I couldn't help but wonder why they felt they had to take that away too. It didn't seem to matter, though. There were boxes set in front of the finish line, with the words, "For the Hurricane Victims" hand written on them. Runners were depositing their warm up clothes in them, then beginning their journey.
The area in front of the bleachers became to picture posing area. My oldest son was fortunate enough to be able to capture many of these images as he stayed there the entire time. He said he was never bored, there was always something entertaining to watch. For instance, a small group was chanting, "Mexico! Mexico! (pronounced as the Mexicans say it). Then, a person on the bench also joined in...pronouncing it slightly differently. The group of Mexican runners asked where he was from. "Norway" he responded. ~ Others were dressed in costume: a kiwi from New Zealand; an elf from ?; and some were wearing their flag. It was truly a world party, here to celebrate the human spirit.
On my second lap, I met another Hope For the Warriors Team member named Kevin. He hadn't planned on running that morning. In fact, he had been out with tequila the night before. When he woke up that morning, he thought, "What the heck, maybe I will go for a little run in honor of Team Hope For the Warriors." Wow, was he surprised at what he found! We found a third member, Nicole, who was running her first marathon. She was from New York and told us what it was like during the storm. Where she lived, only the power went out for a few hours, but not much other damage. We took a group photo by the finish line before continuing on at our own pace. A man from another country, speaking very little English, jumped into the picture. He was overjoyed! Never knew exactly what he had said, but you knew it was good.
 |
| Team Hope for the Warriors + A random fan of America |
Lap 3, my husband joined me, as well as Kevin again. One loop is just over 6 miles. He was able to capture some video & pictures as well. By this time, we had switched our direction to run counter-clockwise, which was going in the direction of most of the runners. We had estimated there to be around 10,000 runners. It was larger than Grandma's in Duluth. Dan, my husband, really enjoyed seeing the familiar sights, like the ice skating rink that is in the movie, "Night of the Museum", and along with that, the actual Museum of Natural History. In case you are wondering, only the outside of that building was used in the movie. The inside looks very different. Just before we got to the finish line area to begin lap four, a German man came from behind and grabbed the flag just below my hand. I wasn't sure what to think. Turns out, he had a small crew with him because he was celebrating his 100th marathon. A man took our picture while running and said that it was going to be in a German newspaper where this man was from. He felt honored to have run with me and to have carried the American flag for a little ways.
 |
| Entering lap #4 |
God Bless America!
 |
| Taken by a National Post Photographer |
*There are many photos & video online, like you-tube & facebook; look up "Run Anyway Marathon NY"
Friday, December 7, 2012
We Ran Anyway...(part 1)
It's been a month since I was supposed to have run my dream marathon, carrying the American flag through the 5 boroughs of New York City with thousands of exuberant fans lining 26.2 miles of the famous race course, cheering for their beloved country and all the dedicated runners who were looking to cross that glorious ING NYC Marathon finish line in Central Park...not so...not this year...God had different plans.
It was an exciting Thursday morning in the Bringgold home. We were preparing to leave on a 1100 mile trip to NYC. After sending the younger kids off to school with Papa, we were on our way. First night's destination: Toledo, OH, which was almost exactly half-way to NYC. So very thankful to my dear friend and her family for generously sharing their home with us both there and back!
Backing up a bit, Super Storm/Hurricane Sandy had barged into NY on Monday having no mercy on anything in her path. We had heard about the damage done, and had seen some footage but really didn't know or understand the extent of it. There was much debate on if the 36-year-old race would still be held. New Yorker's are very proud of their traditions and their city. This is not an easy decision. It was announced Friday morning that the marathon was still on, so we continued our journey. Although, all along, I had said, "It's going to take more than a hurricane to keep me from running!" Throughout the morning, I had received several calls and texts from friends warning me not to run because they had heard on the news that some New Yorker's were very upset that the marathon was still on and they were planning to throw stuff at the runners...What?! Are they serious?! I just shook my head and continued to say, "I'm still running, I knew in my heart I was meant to." So we kept driving.
We passed many caravans heading east hauling food, generators, clean-up equipment and other necessary supplies to aid the victims. We knew gas was sparse, so we filled up on the east side of Pennsylvania, to avoid having to fill up at all until we returned back to Pennsylvania. Many were already forming long lines for gas. As we got closer to NY, some gas stations were even closed because they had no gas.
Then my uncle, the anchorman in Duluth called. I filled him in on what was developing. He informed their station's sports reporter, then she called me for an interview. We had the interview, she wished me luck and we hung up. Not even two minutes later my uncle sent me the dreaded text..."JEAN, THEY JUST CANCELLED THE MARATHON!" ...(silence)... ~Keep in mind, we were only 2 hours away from our hotel~ The text continued, "call back, our news reporter wants to interview you again." Honestly, at this point, I didn't know what to say, still stunned. I shared with her the same feelings I'm certain that 47,000 other runners were feeling. Obviously disappointment, but at the same time, empathy for the thousands who were devastatingly affected by Sandy, and probably a little confused as to why wait to cancel 36 hours before the start of the world's largest marathon. "What now?" my husband asked. "I'm still gonna run," I responded.
I phoned my friend, a New Jersey resident who works in Manhattan. I asked him, should we still be travelling east? He assured me that our hotel was fine, and had not kicked anyone out just to make room for us. He continued to say, "Jean, just run anyway..." I had a major burning within and knew, this is why I came. It wasn't for the personal glory of me carrying the flag past thousands of spectators, I needed to run so the flag could lift the spirits of the people of NY. "That's it!" I said. "I'm going to run anyway, in Central Park, and carry out what I came here to do!" I sent a mass email to my fellow Hope For the Warrior teammates inviting them to join me in Central Park the morning of the 4th.
We arrived to our hotel, only being honked at twice (good driving honey!) and after parking our car in the parking garage across the street from our hotel, which was located on Broadway, we had to unload all our luggage & supplies, then roll & carry them across Broadway, through the people and the traffic to our hotel...a little different than checking into a hotel in Iowa! ☺ It was dark. We were tired and anxious to explore and get a better handle on things in the morning.
Morning came as promised, and I was quite anxious to head to the Health and Fitness Expo, just to see if I could find and commiserate with other disappointed runners. Weird reason, right? As predicted, we found many other runners, picking up their bag with the bib number that shall never be used, taking pictures in front of the the huge mural of the Brooklyn Bridge, only to pretend that it might have been real. Shopping for ING NYC Marathon apparel was fun... everything was half price. I know, right? The other 50% went to helping the hurricane victims. We learned so many stories of how and when people found out. The worst I had heard was of a man whose plane had just backed away from the terminal in South Africa (a 20-hr flight) when he found out. Yikes! Many had just picked up their bib numbers when it was announced over the loud speaker at the expo. I met a couple who had on WI sweatshirts, and talked with them, sharing our disappointments, etc. It was like one big therapy session. A couple of girls had informed me that they had heard there was going to be a group meeting in Central Park, Sunday morning to 'run anyway'... "Interesting!" I said, "I had sent out an email about doing the very same thing." Little did I know, I was not the only one with the burning desire to run...not even close...
~to be continued~
It was an exciting Thursday morning in the Bringgold home. We were preparing to leave on a 1100 mile trip to NYC. After sending the younger kids off to school with Papa, we were on our way. First night's destination: Toledo, OH, which was almost exactly half-way to NYC. So very thankful to my dear friend and her family for generously sharing their home with us both there and back!
Backing up a bit, Super Storm/Hurricane Sandy had barged into NY on Monday having no mercy on anything in her path. We had heard about the damage done, and had seen some footage but really didn't know or understand the extent of it. There was much debate on if the 36-year-old race would still be held. New Yorker's are very proud of their traditions and their city. This is not an easy decision. It was announced Friday morning that the marathon was still on, so we continued our journey. Although, all along, I had said, "It's going to take more than a hurricane to keep me from running!" Throughout the morning, I had received several calls and texts from friends warning me not to run because they had heard on the news that some New Yorker's were very upset that the marathon was still on and they were planning to throw stuff at the runners...What?! Are they serious?! I just shook my head and continued to say, "I'm still running, I knew in my heart I was meant to." So we kept driving.
We passed many caravans heading east hauling food, generators, clean-up equipment and other necessary supplies to aid the victims. We knew gas was sparse, so we filled up on the east side of Pennsylvania, to avoid having to fill up at all until we returned back to Pennsylvania. Many were already forming long lines for gas. As we got closer to NY, some gas stations were even closed because they had no gas.
Then my uncle, the anchorman in Duluth called. I filled him in on what was developing. He informed their station's sports reporter, then she called me for an interview. We had the interview, she wished me luck and we hung up. Not even two minutes later my uncle sent me the dreaded text..."JEAN, THEY JUST CANCELLED THE MARATHON!" ...(silence)... ~Keep in mind, we were only 2 hours away from our hotel~ The text continued, "call back, our news reporter wants to interview you again." Honestly, at this point, I didn't know what to say, still stunned. I shared with her the same feelings I'm certain that 47,000 other runners were feeling. Obviously disappointment, but at the same time, empathy for the thousands who were devastatingly affected by Sandy, and probably a little confused as to why wait to cancel 36 hours before the start of the world's largest marathon. "What now?" my husband asked. "I'm still gonna run," I responded.
I phoned my friend, a New Jersey resident who works in Manhattan. I asked him, should we still be travelling east? He assured me that our hotel was fine, and had not kicked anyone out just to make room for us. He continued to say, "Jean, just run anyway..." I had a major burning within and knew, this is why I came. It wasn't for the personal glory of me carrying the flag past thousands of spectators, I needed to run so the flag could lift the spirits of the people of NY. "That's it!" I said. "I'm going to run anyway, in Central Park, and carry out what I came here to do!" I sent a mass email to my fellow Hope For the Warrior teammates inviting them to join me in Central Park the morning of the 4th.
We arrived to our hotel, only being honked at twice (good driving honey!) and after parking our car in the parking garage across the street from our hotel, which was located on Broadway, we had to unload all our luggage & supplies, then roll & carry them across Broadway, through the people and the traffic to our hotel...a little different than checking into a hotel in Iowa! ☺ It was dark. We were tired and anxious to explore and get a better handle on things in the morning.
 |
| Our Hotel |
 |
| The bib number I'll never use |
 |
Boys at the Expo
~to be continued~
Friday, October 26, 2012
The Strength of a Team
Have you ever been apart of a team? The comradery, the spirit, the enthusiasm, the strength, the support...all of those things are what someone should feel when apart of a team. Over the past 4 1/2 months, my two oldest boys, have gotten to be apart of such a team.
Near the end of last year's school year, the head coach gave a little nudge to the seniors, one being my son, to get the team running at the beginning of summer. It didn't take much to get them going. There were 5-10 everyday, who showed up to run. Some had never run before, some were veterans at the sport.
August came, when cross country officially starts, the boys were rearing to go. They had "State Qualifying" in their eyes. These kids worked so hard, and not just physically at practice, but also in creating the bond that teams should have. As each meet passed, goals were met, the team flame grew larger, and the bond stronger. Finally, it had come to the night before sectionals, where it is decided which teams go to state. The team came to our home for a good old fashion spaghetti feed, and team building. 4 lbs of spaghetti, 1 very large bag of meatballs, 4 loaves of garlic bread, a large bag of salad and 2 pumpkin pies...these kids can eat! It was not so much the amount of food that impressed me, but what happened afterward. The seniors started, taking turns giving speeches. Each congratulating the younger runners on a spectacular year and best wishes for the future. Some tears were shed by the girls, who were not only team contributors by running, but also great cheerleaders and entertainers - they always had a way to liven things up with some silly rhyme or rap. Then the juniors, sophomores and finally the freshmen spoke. There was at least one in each group who gave appreciation to the rest of the team for making them feel important, and so much a part of the team. These individuals admitted to being worried about not fitting in, and not being included. With joy in their voices, they were so thankful for just the opposite to have happened. I had never been more proud of a group of kids before. The other coaches and I knew success had been achieved, no matter the results of the next day's race.
It was time to lay it all on the line for the big race the next day. The captains took the reins and prepared their team with confidence and hope. This was a fast course. They all had a goal - to run under 18:30 for a cross country 5K (3.1mi) , hoping that would be good enough to earn their team a state-bound spot.
The runners took their place in the assigned lanes, the ref called out "set..." and BANG went the gun. They were off! This is a great spectator course as there are many places for them to see their favorite runners. About 200 yards into the race, one of the lead guys from another school, got a bloody nose. He didn't stop...he kept on truckin'. Each time I saw him, he had more and more blood on his face and arms. That's dedication. Our boys had a strong start and were running well in a pack near the front, starting at about the 20th place or so. That may sound far back, but other than one other school, most were individual runners. To go to state, the team needs to pack together, near the front. Each of our boys, looked stronger and stronger each time I saw them. You could tell they were putting their heart and soul into every fiber of their body to keep pushing forward. It came to about 100 yards before the finish - my favorite place to be. This is where the beast comes out. Each of our boys lit every ounce of booster they had. They finished 23rd (18:03.9), 26th (18:04.2), 31st (18:16.5), 33rd (18:17.9), 39th (18:25.6)...they had achieved their goal of all five finishing under 18:30. The wait for tallying up the team scores was killer. Finally, they were posted. Out of 14 teams, our team had placed 4th. The boys were happy and sad at the same time. They knew they hadn't made it to state, but they also knew they had achieved much more than that. They had all run their butts off, PR'd (personal record), and they had created friendships that will last for a very long time. No one was to hang their heads that day. These kids had done more than just turning in great times, they had included those that thought they might not ever be included, or feel like they mattered. Every kid on that team knew, without a doubt, that they mattered, whether they came in first or last. How can you ask for more than that?
In less than a week, I get the honor of being a part of a team whom I have never met. I get to share my story with them in efforts to boost their excitement for the race and for our compassionate cause. Our nation has a team that fights, and sacrifices daily just to keep us safe and free. The team I will run for, wants to make sure our nation's team does not get forgotten, nor unappreciated. What an honor! I am so thankful to our military for all they do, and I am so grateful to be a part of such an honorable team.
Near the end of last year's school year, the head coach gave a little nudge to the seniors, one being my son, to get the team running at the beginning of summer. It didn't take much to get them going. There were 5-10 everyday, who showed up to run. Some had never run before, some were veterans at the sport.
August came, when cross country officially starts, the boys were rearing to go. They had "State Qualifying" in their eyes. These kids worked so hard, and not just physically at practice, but also in creating the bond that teams should have. As each meet passed, goals were met, the team flame grew larger, and the bond stronger. Finally, it had come to the night before sectionals, where it is decided which teams go to state. The team came to our home for a good old fashion spaghetti feed, and team building. 4 lbs of spaghetti, 1 very large bag of meatballs, 4 loaves of garlic bread, a large bag of salad and 2 pumpkin pies...these kids can eat! It was not so much the amount of food that impressed me, but what happened afterward. The seniors started, taking turns giving speeches. Each congratulating the younger runners on a spectacular year and best wishes for the future. Some tears were shed by the girls, who were not only team contributors by running, but also great cheerleaders and entertainers - they always had a way to liven things up with some silly rhyme or rap. Then the juniors, sophomores and finally the freshmen spoke. There was at least one in each group who gave appreciation to the rest of the team for making them feel important, and so much a part of the team. These individuals admitted to being worried about not fitting in, and not being included. With joy in their voices, they were so thankful for just the opposite to have happened. I had never been more proud of a group of kids before. The other coaches and I knew success had been achieved, no matter the results of the next day's race.
It was time to lay it all on the line for the big race the next day. The captains took the reins and prepared their team with confidence and hope. This was a fast course. They all had a goal - to run under 18:30 for a cross country 5K (3.1mi) , hoping that would be good enough to earn their team a state-bound spot.
The runners took their place in the assigned lanes, the ref called out "set..." and BANG went the gun. They were off! This is a great spectator course as there are many places for them to see their favorite runners. About 200 yards into the race, one of the lead guys from another school, got a bloody nose. He didn't stop...he kept on truckin'. Each time I saw him, he had more and more blood on his face and arms. That's dedication. Our boys had a strong start and were running well in a pack near the front, starting at about the 20th place or so. That may sound far back, but other than one other school, most were individual runners. To go to state, the team needs to pack together, near the front. Each of our boys, looked stronger and stronger each time I saw them. You could tell they were putting their heart and soul into every fiber of their body to keep pushing forward. It came to about 100 yards before the finish - my favorite place to be. This is where the beast comes out. Each of our boys lit every ounce of booster they had. They finished 23rd (18:03.9), 26th (18:04.2), 31st (18:16.5), 33rd (18:17.9), 39th (18:25.6)...they had achieved their goal of all five finishing under 18:30. The wait for tallying up the team scores was killer. Finally, they were posted. Out of 14 teams, our team had placed 4th. The boys were happy and sad at the same time. They knew they hadn't made it to state, but they also knew they had achieved much more than that. They had all run their butts off, PR'd (personal record), and they had created friendships that will last for a very long time. No one was to hang their heads that day. These kids had done more than just turning in great times, they had included those that thought they might not ever be included, or feel like they mattered. Every kid on that team knew, without a doubt, that they mattered, whether they came in first or last. How can you ask for more than that?
In less than a week, I get the honor of being a part of a team whom I have never met. I get to share my story with them in efforts to boost their excitement for the race and for our compassionate cause. Our nation has a team that fights, and sacrifices daily just to keep us safe and free. The team I will run for, wants to make sure our nation's team does not get forgotten, nor unappreciated. What an honor! I am so thankful to our military for all they do, and I am so grateful to be a part of such an honorable team.
Are you ready? New York - here we come!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Meet Mike...
I received an email from my uncle who is an anchorman in the Duluth area. He told me about a man their station had interviewed, who was running from the northern border of the US to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. His purpose: to honor the lost soldiers of the Afghanistan war. I never did see the story as our computer was not working properly, so I just kept about my day, thinking how cool it was at what this man was doing.
About a week later, I read an article in our local paper about the same man who would be running right through a town about 15 miles east of us. In fact, there was to be a spaghetti dinner held in his honor, in which he would be the guest speaker. Of course we were going! I cancelled the kids activities for the night and off we went.
Mike Ehredt is a proud veteran and a dedicated runner. As we ate, he shared his story with us. He was a postal worker, and woke up one morning, knowing he needed to do something more to honor our vets. With many months of research and preparation, in 2007, he ran from the West coast to the East coast, over 4400 miles. He placed a flag, in which he had prepared with a yellow tag, bearing the name of a lost soldier from the Iraqi war, their age, rank and hometown, every mile...EVERY MILE! He ran 30 miles a day! Most would think he had a van following behind with his gear and other necessities Nope, not Mike. He pushed a stroller, carrying only the things he needed for a few days. He had mailed the other items to his hosts along the way, like new shoes, clean clothes, and more flags. Several times he got stopped and questioned by the police about the stroller. Imagine seeing a man, in the middle of summer, jogging across Nebraska, pushing a covered stroller...not a common sight. He finally tried to have some fun with it and told the police that the baby got too heavy so he left it in a corn field. Of course, he clarified his true purpose immediately following.
This year, Mike's goal is to run from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, placing a flag for a lost soldier from the Afghanistan war every mile, running a marathon a day. I had the great honor of running 1 1/2 miles with him the morning after the spaghetti feed. A group gathered on the south side of Baldwin, WI. Someone asked me if I was going to carry the flag the whole time. I said, "Sure am. I'll be carrying it 26 miles in November." Then Mike turned around and said, "You can carry it 26 today!" I laughed and said, "If I didn't have to take my little girl to her 2nd day of kindergarten, I'd be so very tempted!" With a firetruck escorting from behind, the other supporters and I ran beside Mike while we talked about what it was like to do this every day. He and I agreed that when you do something big, for a good cause, you seem to get an extra source of motivation and strength. His pace was not fast, but that was not his purpose. He wanted to honor every lost hero. The younger runners in the group had the honor of following through Mike's process of placing a flag. First, he would take the flag, in a specific order, read the name, rank, age, & hometown. Then he would place it in the ground, using a GPS to know where every mile would be. We saluted it, and kept going for another mile. He had set up an app, so that every flag could be located. For instance, if you know someone who was killed in either the Iraqi or Afghanistan war, you could go to his website and find where that particular soldier's flag is and see a picture of it. Cool huh? He also had a gadget on his stroller that would send a signal every 3 minutes to let his website know where he is. So, if he is close to you, and you feel like running with an incredible man, you'll be able to find him. He plans on finishing November 11th, how appropriate, Veteran's Day.
This experience has truly shown me that there is so much hope in our country. With people like Mike, who are ready to drop their everyday life to do something extraordinary to honor those who give everything and ask for nothing in return, our country will continue to become stronger. I believe there is hope. I believe there are many who love this country and love their freedoms. I believe in America!
There are just 19 days until I have the honor of carrying the American flag through the streets of New York for an incredible organization who helps and honors those who have sacrificed: our heroes, our soldiers. I am just over 1/3 of the way of reaching my goal of raising $3000 for this group. If you would like to be apart of this achievement, please go to the website below and donate. It will be ever so greatly appreciated!
About a week later, I read an article in our local paper about the same man who would be running right through a town about 15 miles east of us. In fact, there was to be a spaghetti dinner held in his honor, in which he would be the guest speaker. Of course we were going! I cancelled the kids activities for the night and off we went.
 |
| Mike is the one with the hat |
Mike Ehredt is a proud veteran and a dedicated runner. As we ate, he shared his story with us. He was a postal worker, and woke up one morning, knowing he needed to do something more to honor our vets. With many months of research and preparation, in 2007, he ran from the West coast to the East coast, over 4400 miles. He placed a flag, in which he had prepared with a yellow tag, bearing the name of a lost soldier from the Iraqi war, their age, rank and hometown, every mile...EVERY MILE! He ran 30 miles a day! Most would think he had a van following behind with his gear and other necessities Nope, not Mike. He pushed a stroller, carrying only the things he needed for a few days. He had mailed the other items to his hosts along the way, like new shoes, clean clothes, and more flags. Several times he got stopped and questioned by the police about the stroller. Imagine seeing a man, in the middle of summer, jogging across Nebraska, pushing a covered stroller...not a common sight. He finally tried to have some fun with it and told the police that the baby got too heavy so he left it in a corn field. Of course, he clarified his true purpose immediately following.
This year, Mike's goal is to run from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, placing a flag for a lost soldier from the Afghanistan war every mile, running a marathon a day. I had the great honor of running 1 1/2 miles with him the morning after the spaghetti feed. A group gathered on the south side of Baldwin, WI. Someone asked me if I was going to carry the flag the whole time. I said, "Sure am. I'll be carrying it 26 miles in November." Then Mike turned around and said, "You can carry it 26 today!" I laughed and said, "If I didn't have to take my little girl to her 2nd day of kindergarten, I'd be so very tempted!" With a firetruck escorting from behind, the other supporters and I ran beside Mike while we talked about what it was like to do this every day. He and I agreed that when you do something big, for a good cause, you seem to get an extra source of motivation and strength. His pace was not fast, but that was not his purpose. He wanted to honor every lost hero. The younger runners in the group had the honor of following through Mike's process of placing a flag. First, he would take the flag, in a specific order, read the name, rank, age, & hometown. Then he would place it in the ground, using a GPS to know where every mile would be. We saluted it, and kept going for another mile. He had set up an app, so that every flag could be located. For instance, if you know someone who was killed in either the Iraqi or Afghanistan war, you could go to his website and find where that particular soldier's flag is and see a picture of it. Cool huh? He also had a gadget on his stroller that would send a signal every 3 minutes to let his website know where he is. So, if he is close to you, and you feel like running with an incredible man, you'll be able to find him. He plans on finishing November 11th, how appropriate, Veteran's Day.
This experience has truly shown me that there is so much hope in our country. With people like Mike, who are ready to drop their everyday life to do something extraordinary to honor those who give everything and ask for nothing in return, our country will continue to become stronger. I believe there is hope. I believe there are many who love this country and love their freedoms. I believe in America!
There are just 19 days until I have the honor of carrying the American flag through the streets of New York for an incredible organization who helps and honors those who have sacrificed: our heroes, our soldiers. I am just over 1/3 of the way of reaching my goal of raising $3000 for this group. If you would like to be apart of this achievement, please go to the website below and donate. It will be ever so greatly appreciated!
Friday, August 31, 2012
9/11 Tribute Patriot Relay Run
Thanks to the inspiration of others, a fundraising activity has been organized. This idea was developed so fast, I wasn't sure it could be pulled off in time. Thank you Tera Busker for your idea, and for so many others whose input was very helpful! We did it! And here is the scoop:
When: Saturday, Sept 8th ~9am to 11pm (Patriot Ceremony to start at 8:30am )
To Register for a time slot: 715-220-1197 or just come J
9/11 Tribute Patriot Relay Run
A Fundraiser for
Hope For the Warriors®
Where: St.Croix Central High School Broadway St. , Hammond , WI
When: Saturday, Sept 8th ~
Cost: $5
per lap / $25 5+ laps
To Register for a time slot: 715-220-1197 or just come J
Runnners/Walkers will have the opportunity to carry an
American flag for as many laps as they wish to honor those who died valiantly
on 9/11 and those who continue to fight bravely for our freedom. *One of the
flags used will be carried through the streets of New York
In Memory: This is a great way to never forget the
heroes from that tragic day and how our nation came together to become stronger
& more united!
Hope for the Warriors® has a mission to enhance the quality
of life for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the
fallen.
“Proud to be a Patriot” bracelets will be available for
purchase *all
profits will be donated to
Hope
for the Warriors®
Food ~ Music ~ Plenty of Parking ~
Bleachers from which to cheer ~ GO USA
**Please pass this along to anyone you know who would love to be apart of such a good cause**
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