Two words: Pincha Mayurasana.
A pose in progress, with many more to follow. 😀
Miles this year: 61.5
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Progression
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Cleaning out the office
After spring cleaning our bedroom this week, I’ve been inspired to tackle the utter chaos that is our upstairs office. I have photo paperwork, files, equipment, and endless pieces of unimportant mail to sort, shred, and organize. I got started on that today, just in time to gather our tax documents. Oh, goody! ::insert sarcasm here::
I sought out some comic relief on the web. Google is always good for a good laugh.
Saw this… Had to share. Thanks, loldamn.com.
I’m having a low-motivation day. I am trying to figure out if my body just needs a day of rest or if I’m making excuses. ;D
I’ve been focusing on nutrition a lot lately… I watched Forks over Knives; Food, Inc.; and Food Matters. Animal products are looking less and less appealing. 
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about Greek yogurt! I made a delicious salad for dinner last night and had leftovers for lunch today. One of those dishes where I followed my favorite cooking rule: if you like it, put more in! Quinoa, black beans, shredded carrot, green onions, cilantro, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Sriracha, olive oil, and lots of dried herbs. Yum!
We’re having dinner with our friends Mary, Joe, Amanda, and Truman tonight. 😀
Miles this year: 58.5
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Netflix was probably invented to help us through long treadmill sessions…
Netflix was my saving grace today. I was feeling a little nervous about those icy patches, so I planned my 12 miler for the treadmill.
There’s just something about watching the entire cardio floor go through three or four rotations of people while I’m stuck there. Good thing my iPad was primed with the reminder of Food, Inc. and Glee’s first season.
In other news, I meant to blog about my experience last weekend at the Wisconsin Trout Unlimited State Council Banquet. I was there to support my chapter and sell raffle tickets. I love looking at all the hand-tied flies and art. They even had live music this year- imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw Nic Claudio, Paul Bannach, and Alex Meronick. 🙂 Here’s a few photos from that night.
And one last note- I was able to catch up with my friend (and secret runner), Tim Landwehr. He’s probably off in the Amazon right now doing some SERIOUS fishing. 🙂 If you’re in the market for some fly fishing gear, head over to his store in De Pere, Wi… Tight Lines Fly Shop
Sorry about the raffle gone wrong, Tim. Maybe I’ll sell you lucky tickets next year! 🙂
Miles this year: 52.5
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Red wine with ice cubes.
Yes, I put ice cubes in my red wine tonight. My favorite wine of all time, Mammertino, has a red version. I happened to have a bottle at home, popped the cork, poured a glass (one we got from Dr. Kase as a wedding gift), and put in a heart-shaped ice cube. 🙂
I went out for a great run with my friend, Mike, tonight, and it was nice to have someone to talk to. The miles flew by today. 🙂 I’ve been doing a lot of solo running, and I forgot how different it is when I have someone to keep me company. Thanks to Mike for convincing me to head out with him when I wasn’t feeling it.
I can’t stop listening to the Goat Rodeo Sessions lately. I ❤ Chris Thile. And Yo Yo Ma. And my mother, for introducing me to Yo Yo Ma. 🙂 This album is genre-defying. The bluegrass lover in me rejoices, while the classical musician appreciates the sound. Plus, it has an awesome title. 😀
Miles this year: 40.5
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Fish, beer, and friends.
I had a wonderful evening of surprises last night. 🙂
I had my monthly Trout Unlimited board meeting for our Frank Hornberg chapter last night. It was the official unveiling of all my handiwork… www.hornberg-tu.org
The board seemed really happy with it, and I’m waiting to hear back about my first round of revisions 🙂
I usually have rehearsal with Dale, my dance partner, on Thursday nights, but he had a headache, so I thought I’d go over to Smileys to dance with my CWN friends (and dance students!). Turns out, there was some kind of banquet over there, and no dancing, so I decided to stop over at my favorite Plover brewery, O’so brewery. I walked in the door to find two friends of mine- Mary and Tom. It was the perfect little surprise! Brian was at his union meeting then heading right to work for the night shift, so I would have been sitting alone… And drinking good beer with good friends served by good people was the perfect antidote for the last of my under-the-weather tendencies.
Miles this year: 26.5
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She’s still here :)
Today was the first day that I really attempted a run that would take some mental toughness since we lost Rachael. I was planning on running earlier in the day, but I kept putting it off. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it without having her there in my mind and in my prayers.
To make a long story short… 6.5 miles, and she’s still there. In my heart, in my memories. I had the opportunity to fill those miles with gratitude and I did. I feel a million times better now that I know that she will still be there with me when I need to talk to her. 🙂
Miles this year: 21.5
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New focus.
It isn’t really a surprise, but I’ve temporarily abandoned my training schedule and adopted the “run until I feel better” plan. It takes surprisingly few miles, and I’m able to work through my own feelings during that time. I’m banking on my previous training and my experiences with marathon prep… I’m trusting that a month of doing what feels good for my heart and soul will win out in the end. I’m confident that it’s early enough for me to “do what I want” and still set a PR up in Duluth.
I’ve decided to donate a dime for every mile that I run since we lost Rachael through the end of the year. I would start that count on January 1st, but I wasn’t tracking my miles earlier this year. 😦 I haven’t decided the exact charity, but it will probably be melanoma-related, or maybe I’ll donate it towards a scholarship in her name.
I’ve officially registered for Grandma’s marathon on June 16th. Brian and I got one of the last hotel rooms available in Duluth, and I’m hoping for an incredible weekend. I’m also registered for the Point Bock Run on March 3rd. I love that quick 5-mile hometown race, and everyone loves the beer at the end. 🙂 I’m tentatively planning on running the Madison half marathon on May 27th- some of my Delta Omicron siblings are joining a team for Miles for Melanoma in Rachael’s memory. I would jump right into it, but I will have had my last long run the week before, and Grandma’s is two weeks after. Knowing myself, I wouldn’t miss a chance to run as part of a team with the brothers and sisters that I love dearly. Oh, boy… It will be a busy spring 🙂
Miles this year: 12.5
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Rachael Streich
My sweet Delta Omicron sister, Rachael, has joined the angels in heaven. She fought a very courageous battle with melanoma.
Rachael was one of those amazing people who handled every challenge with grace, and she took on this particular challenge with unending faith in God’s plan for her.
I ran my first marathon in her honor. I carried a necklace for her, and I gave it to her after I finished the race. I have run so many miles while praying for her that I can’t even give a solid number. When a training run got hard, I prayed for her and hoped to handle that specific athletic challenge with the same grace that she showed while battling cancer every day. Running just won’t seem the same without her.
I was blessed to be able to see her on her last day on this earth. Our college friends and Delta Omicron siblings all went to UW hospital in Madison, and we got to hold her hand. We cried together, prayed together, and laughed in her memory. Special thanks for my friends… Ashley, Amanda, Mary, Curtis and Mo, Jaime and Karl, Kenny, Sarah and Josh… We all got to be together which was wonderful. Rachael would have been happy to know were there for each other.
Grief is a very strange thing. One moment, I feel like my world is crumbling, then the next moment, I feel okay. Just when I think things might be getting easier, something reminds me of her, and the vicious, stinging tears begin again.
Yesterday, my friend Kim suggested that I meet her for a run. I didn’t want to get out of bed, but I’m glad I did. A quick five miles made me feel so much better… Until I put on my Delta Omicron sweatpants and lost it in the locker room.
Last summer, we lost a sister, so Rachael is the second in eight months. After TK was gone, I swore that I would live my life to the fullest. I’d be a better _____. It’s amazing how when your friends are taken from you at such a young age, it gives you perspective. I wonder how my life will change this time as I heal from this wound.
Right now, I am filled with sadness. I know in my heart that Rachael wouldn’t want me to sit around, crying for her. Nonetheless, I feel like I’m wearing an invisible cloak that weighs 1,000 pounds, and trying to be my normal positive self seems impossible. I just ordered the flower arrangement for Rachael’s funeral, and I had a hard time writing the card- there just isn’t a way in existence for me to put into words how special Rachael was and how much she meant to us.
I will continue to pray for Rachael’s family and all her friends, as we grieve together. I ask for special prayers for Truman, Rachael’s boyfriend, as he goes through this intense sadness.
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No place like Rome.
Last weekend was a crazy, amazing, whirlwind of a trip. We were traveling to Rome, NY, to shoot the wedding of our friend, Devon, to his beautiful bride, Christy.
With our big snowstorm (5″+), travel all over the Midwest was messed up. After a crazy mix-up with flights out of CWA, we gained travel vouchers and a few extra hours to eat dinner and relax. We ended up catching a later flight to O’hare, and spent the night in Chicago before boarding our plane to Syracuse. We made it into Rome on Friday afternoon with plenty of time to meet everyone and get ready for the rehearsal. On Saturday morning, I was able to get in a fun, snowy run before catching the guys jumping in the frozen lake. 🙂
The wedding was beautiful, of course. I loved being there to witness it and support our friends. The pictures that I took do a great job of capturing the spirit of the day… We took some beautiful outdoor pictures, including a few really fun shots up on a chair lift at Woods Valley ski hill. Check out our blog, Photographic Memories to learn more about our weekend of photos. We survived the weekend with only one bruise (mine!) and no broken equipment.
We spent the night at a hotel in Syracuse, and headed home on Sunday. Sunday was kind of a travel nightmare. In a nutshell: our flight home didn’t exist, so we had to wait for a new flight through a new connecting airport into Green Bay instead of CWA, borrow a car from my brother-in-law, and drive home… missing the Packer game, and arriving home 8 hours late. I missed teaching ballroom dance lessons, too. Bummer… mental note- don’t fly United if you can help it, and don’t purchase airline tickets from Cheap Tickets (or let anyone else book them for you, either!).
In my opinion, a good trip makes you love your destination but anxious to return home. I’m always amazed at how my work multiplies while I’m gone, but I was very happy to be in my own bed. I have to go for now- I have two suitcases full of dirty laundry to wash, photos to sort, and emails to return. It feels good to be home. 🙂
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I’m very blessed.
I just wanted to post a quick little note expressing my gratitude.
For some reason, I have lately had a renewed awareness of the amazing things that my body can do… Especially my legs. I was at a dance on Friday, and in the middle of a waltz, I was overcome with this feeling. I am so blessed to have a functional, strong, flexible, healthy body.
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artist & athlete | a glimpse into real life, Heidi style 