Blog

TweetIt’s been a quiet week in my home town, Blacksburg, Virginia!!!  But there is exciting news to share! (APPLAUSE!!!!!)  Virginia Bethune and I have collaborated on a new harp CD, and it is ready to launch!!!  It is a gorgeous CD featuring harp, cello, and flute…23 “classical tunes and loveabyes” to soothe your soul.  It [...]

It's been a quiet week in my home town, Blacksburg, Virginia!!!  But there is exciting news to share! (APPLAUSE!!!!!)  Virginia Bethune and I have collaborated on a new harp CD, and it is ready to launch!!!  It is a gorgeous CD featuring harp, cello, and flute...23 "classical tunes and loveabyes" to soothe your soul.  It sells for just $10 and not only is this good for you - but it makes a perfect holiday gift! I'm especially excited about this project, since the music is wonderful and the net proceeds will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  If you're interested in a CD you can purchase by clicking the "Buy Now" button below.  If you're interested in selling them, please contact me!  Add $2.50 for S&H.

TweetWho knew I would ever do a world triathlon competition?  Who knew that a small-town girl with no opportunity for organized sports or swimming, would be swimming in the Danube River, biking the streets of the city, and running over the magnificent Chain Bridge?  Who knew? Nine years ago, I began training and raising funds [...]

Who knew I would ever do a world triathlon competition?  Who knew that a small-town girl with no opportunity for organized sports or swimming, would be swimming in the Danube River, biking the streets of the city, and running over the magnificent Chain Bridge?  Who knew?

Nine years ago, I began training and raising funds with Team in Training for the Leukemia Society.   In April, 2010,  I did St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL - my 20th Team in Training event.  I've raised $80,000+ for this organization that has been so close to my heart for the past nine years.  This summer, my long-time friend and inspiration, J.D. Stahl, lost his life to CLL.  On some days, I feel I've come full circle, training for events while raising funds, being present to friends and family dealing with blood cancers, expecting much of myself simply because I have the luxury of good health and people skills.  No one has been more blessed than I.  Because of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I walked, then ran my first marathons, changed it up to do triathlon, and have adored doing century rides.

So I surprised myself by signing up to do the Quad Cities Triathlon to qualify for a world competition in Budapest.  I needed to adjust my brain to think "competition, not just completion."  Even more out of character (or was it?), I agreed to be on the USA Team to for the World Sprint Triathlon Competition in Budapest.   I've just returned from this new and challenging experience, and while others are gearing up for the upcoming qualifying events for 2011, I'm still processing this one trip of a lifetime.

The trip included days in Edinburgh for the World Duathlon competition, tourist days in Vienna, then time for the World Sprint Tri Competition in Budapest.  There I encountered the challenge of getting my bike from Fed Ex International (near miracle), feeling lost, feeling WET from all the rain, and feeling exhilarated by the international venue complete with logistical nightmares.  Apparently there weren't any of those in Australia last year!  On Friday, we rode our bikes from hotel to race location in the rain, racked our bikes in the transition area, then spent two hours trying to find our hotel.  Oh well, we didn't melt...just got tired.  Race day dawned WET, but the weather gods took pity and made it stop for the duration of the race.  We swam 750 meters in the Danube River at a temperature of 57F, biked 12 miles on wet surfaces, and ran a 5K ending on the Chain Bridge that spanned the Danube.  I've never been so glad to see a finish line!  Medals around necks and blankets around shoulders, we boarded a boat to cross back over the river to transition to gather our bikes and gear.  THEN, it poured.  Two of us were lucky to run into someone whose hotel was just 2 miles away...so we organized our stuff to ride through puddles and people, to the beautiful Gellert Hotel where the staff didn't bat an eye at the drowned rats and dripping bikes entering the lobby.  They quickly called a cab, removed our bike wheels, loaded them up, and bid us farewell as we sped off to our own hotel some distance away.

I didn't set any records...17th in my age group, but I loved doing an international event.  Thanks to all who helped me get there...all who bought my baked goods (Budapest or Bust Buddy Bars), or bought ice cream at Maggie Moo's.  Great thanks to TriAdventure for their unfailing support and training sessions, most of which I make.   Thanks to Mike M who encouraged me to try this "new thing," to Betsy for providing one of the Buddy Bar recipes and much cheerleading along the way.  A new experience to travel with such committed and skilled athletes.  To Donna for rooming with me and sightseeing in Edinburgh.

Bella Bike took a circuitous route to return home, but she's in good shape and is glad to be riding in familiar territory.  I think she could tell the most interesting tales of the trip!  Cheers everyone.  Stay tuned for what's next!!!  Jan

 

 

 

TweetCome on down to Maggie Moo’s at First & Main this Wednesday night, 6-9 PM for some serious ice cream scooping!!!  We’re celebrating (and fund raising) Jan’s trip to Budapest to compete in the World Sprint Triathlon competition!  Come see your favorite super scoopers!  6-7:  Jan McGilliard and Kristen DiCarlo, 7-8:  Anne Thompson and Lynne [...]

Come on down to Maggie Moo's at First & Main this Wednesday night, 6-9 PM for some serious ice cream scooping!!!  We're celebrating (and fund raising) Jan's trip to Budapest to compete in the World Sprint Triathlon competition!  Come see your favorite super scoopers!  6-7:  Jan McGilliard and Kristen DiCarlo, 7-8:  Anne Thompson and Lynne Krulich, 8-9:  Mike McGilliard and Dave Winston.

TweetAs I look out my office window, I see a squirrel perched on a limb of the old Dogwood tree, tail twitching, swish! swish! like a windshield wiper, looking like he’s ready to launch.  I feel just like that!  Ready to launch!  This year, I determined to SHOW UP for all workouts:  Rambo…swim…bike….run…REPEAT!!!  Often there [...]

As I look out my office window, I see a squirrel perched on a limb of the old Dogwood tree, tail twitching, swish! swish! like a windshield wiper, looking like he's ready to launch.  I feel just like that!  Ready to launch!  This year, I determined to SHOW UP for all workouts:  Rambo...swim...bike....run...REPEAT!!!  Often there were two workouts a day...but the results are in:  I'm in the best shape of my life, and I qualified to compete in the World Sprint Triathlon Competition in Budapest, Hungary on September 11.  Next week, a small group of athletes will depart Roanoke for two weeks of competition, sightseeing, and culture, beginning in Edinburgh and ending in Budapest.  It's hard to believe I'll be among them!  So many people have been part of this venture:  TriAdventure Sports in Blacksburg (my fortress and inspiration on a daily basis), Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (with whom I've trained & raised funds for 9 yrs), this year's TNT Tri Coach Mike Morris, and lots of cheering from family and friends everywhere.  You're the best!!!  To top things off, Maggie Moo's at First & Main in Blacksburg is inviting all of you to come have ice cream this Wednesday night between 6 and 9 PM.  Life is short - eat dessert first!!!

TweetMike 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.