Mike and I were in Colorado last week visiting family, attending his professional meetings, connecting with friends, touring this mile-high region of thin air and low humidity, drinking deeply of God’s good creation.    On Thursday we were sitting on the big, old time porch of the Chautauqua dining room in  Boulder, looking at the [...]

Mike and I were in Colorado last week visiting family, attending his professional meetings, connecting with friends, touring this mile-high region of thin air and low humidity, drinking deeply of God's good creation.    On Thursday we were sitting on the big, old time porch of the Chautauqua dining room in  Boulder, looking at the "Flat Irons," an unusual panorama of rocks that resembled their name.    We were ready to eat an early dinner and go for a hike with the remainder of our last day in this spectacular setting.  Still, I stole a few moments to check e-mail on my  phone.  Before me was the sad news that our long time friend had passed away just an hour before.   This delightful man that graced our lives and loved us all would now be spoken of in the past tense.  J.D. Stahl was someone whose keen intellect and zest for learning and life went way beyond the norm.  We average folks use about 10% of our brain capacity, but I think J.D. used everything God gave him and generated more along the way.   He was charming, thoughtful, and insightful...and he loved sharing life with people of all walks of life, from all over the world.  How privileged I feel to have been a small part of his life and that of his family.  Ten years ago, J.D. was diagnosed with a chronic form of leukemia.  I'd already been to blood cancer school, having experienced my father's long "relationship" with myeloma, and losing him at age 73.    It comes like a Ninja in black mask, wraps you up in duct tape, and stays stuck to you forever.  While J.D.'s illness never defined him, it changed his life and its parameters.   My reaction was to stomp my feet in utter disgust that the thief had struck again.  And that's when my world got a little bigger and more challenging.  If J.D. was willing to fight for life, I was willing to fight for a cure by raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while enduring the challenge of preparing to run marathons, cycle events, and triathlons...  His life changed forever and so did mine.   J.D. graciously allowed me to share his image and his story far and wide as I cast my net to rake in thousands of dollars for each event I entered.  In the past 9 years, I've completed twenty Team in Training events and raised more than $80,000.  J.D. did his part, too...he followed the protocols and endured the treatments, always making the best of any good day while taking the bad ones in stride.  He allowed us to help...which helped us cope with his reality.  On Monday, over 400 people gathered to worship and celebrate J.D.'s remarkable life...scripture, hymns, tributes, letters, poetry, affirmations, prayers, and sermon all illuminating his beliefs, his love of words, life, and people.  J.D., may you rest in peace, and may we all remember the promise we've made individually and corporately to care for your wife Sarah, and your sons Daniel and Hans.

Remember how much we all looked forward to SUMMER?????  When will winter ever end, we whined!!!!  Well, we’re learning to be careful what we ask for!!!  It’s been a barn burner summer so far, so for those of us in training for an event, that means going to bed with the chickens and getting up [...]

Remember how much we all looked forward to SUMMER?????  When will winter ever end, we whined!!!!  Well, we're learning to be careful what we ask for!!!  It's been a barn burner summer so far, so for those of us in training for an event, that means going to bed with the chickens and getting up before the rooster crows to beat the heat of the day.   But it's worth it!!!

As I prepared to do St. Anthony's Triathlon, my Team in Training coach, Mike Morris, asked my age.  "Sixty" I reported proudly.  His eyes lit up and without hesitation, told me I needed to sign up for the Quad Cities Triathlon in Davenport, IA, which is a qualifying race for the World Championship Triathlon event in Budapest, Hungary.  I was  dubious, since I've only done five triathlons, and I'm not known for my speed.  Team in Training has been my reason for doing endurance events...and this smacked of focusing on myself.  I waffled for a good while, but the race director told me I could sign up without fear of losing the entry fee.  He would gladly give it back if I decided to pull out.    Challenging as St. Anthony's was,  I still wanted to do Quad Cities - and set my mind on training for it.

Flying to IA seemed a lot more comfy than spending 15 hrs. in a car...so Bella Bike traveled with those who were driving and I got up in the middle of the night to catch a 6 AM flight, avoiding the typical mid-western late afternoon storms.  There were three of those between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning's race!   Memories of living in Iowa in the early 70's came tumbling back as I watched the sky blacken, the KA-BOOM!!! of thunder,  lightning streaking across the sky, whipping wind and side-ways rain.  And YET - race day dawned sunny and dry as we took our places in the transition area.

Those gathered for Quad Cities were a collection of serious athletes who owned every bell and whistle known to make you faster and more streamlined for triathlon.  Svelte wet suits that peel off in seconds, tri bike shoes and aerobars for the bike, tri racing flats for the run.  I felt like a clunker!  Unlike St. Anthony's, which featured some 4000 participants, Quad Cities was small and intimate in comparison with only 715 competing.  Instead of swimming in Tampa Bay or the Potomac River, we were swimming in a lovely lake.  The best part was meeting the other women in my (advanced) age group.  They were so fit, friendly, and fun!

So here are my results:  Swim: 14:18, T-1: 3:31, Bike:  55:21, T-2: 1:47, Run: 34:10 for a time of 1:49:07.  I placed third in my age group, so I was happy - but I learned a lot about where I need to improve.  I have all summer to train - but the big prize is that I qualified for the USA Triathlon Team going to the World competition in Budapest this September!!!

[caption id="attachment_399" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Jan takes third in age group"][/caption]

 

My goals are very practical:  work hard to improve swim, bike, run, and transitions - and to begin raising the necessary funds for the trip.  I'm a pretty good baker, so I'm beginning to turn out batches of Budapest or Bust Buddy Bars - healthy energy bars chock full of nutritious ingredients, no refined sugar, and no preservatives.  Let me know if you want some!  So far, there are three flavors:  Breakfast Berry, Oat & Raisin Wonder, Oat & Chocolate Apricot Athlete.  Two for $5, or $35 for a whole batch of 30 bars.

Donations are easy:  just hit the Donate button on my web page and use PayPal.  Checks can be made out to Jan McGilliard and sent to 305 Country Club Dr., SE, Blacksburg, VA  24060.  Anything beyond my basic expenses will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Budapest or Bust!!!