Tag Archives: A Good Run

January 4, 2013

6.5 Miles In Little Rock, Arkansas With Clayton & Jessica Schuety

By Steve Good

Profile

Written By The Schuety’s

I picked up running a little later in life, when I was about 19 or 20.  At the time, it was a way for me to combat the extra calories that seemed to come along with college life. My husband and I (who went along on this run with me and will be co-writing this post) were married after he graduated from Iowa State University, where he was a Phi Delt with Mr. Steve Good- hence the connection to this blog.

After graduation, Clayton commissioned into the Air Force and went right from college life to Pilot Training in the military.  I went from only living in Iowa my entire life to suddenly moving every 6 months to a year.  During this time, I found running was so much more.  It became my way to explore a new “home”.  It became a stress reliever when I had to say good bye to so many people, only to meet more people that I would eventually have to say good bye too as well.  And it became a way for my husband and I to stay connected when we didn’t have much time in the busy military life.  A quick 3mile run would be a great way to spend time together.  Here we are, 7.5 years later, two kids and a dog have joined us, and we still use running as a family activity.  In fact, when I heard about this project, that’s the first thing I thought, what a great way to get the family together and support a good cause.

We are now stationed in New Mexico, however we chose not to do our run here.  We spent the spring and summer bouncing from place to place in true military style, so we decided to go with Little Rock, AR.  We spent the summer here, and a few years back we spent a winter there as well.  We love Little Rock, and truthfully, it’s a little more exciting than were we currently call home.

1

We started our run at the Big Damn Bridge.  This is a 1mile pedestrian bridge that connects Little Rock with North Little Rock in the river trail system.  This trail system is great and allows runners, bikers, and walkers a beautiful area to get outdoors.  This bridge was 4 miles from our apartment so it was easy to walk out the door and run down to the bridge and back for a daily run.  There was also a park along the way, which was a great stopping point to let the kids take a break from the jogging stroller and stretch!  Our plan was to start at this bridge and run to the downtown portion of the trail, making around 13 miles.  This would have been a great plan, if we weren’t running in the hottest summer ever in history (I added that fact, it’s probably completely false but it sure felt that way!).  It was already 95 degrees at 7AM and quickly getting hotter, so we ran the bridge and jumped in the car to drive to the downtown portion of our route.  But not before pausing to thank our first group of people, my military spouse friends.

As a military spouse, you hear the same things from everyone who is non-military.  One of the things that tops that list is “I don’t know how you do it”.  I’m not a huge fan of this statement, mostly because I don’t know how to respond.  I am not super human, I’m not an overly independent type of girl, and I love my husband just as much as anyone who is fortunate enough to spend every single night with their spouse.  It’s not always easy, but I also do not want sympathy from anyone because this is a life we chose.  This is a life that gives us a great deal of satisfaction, which makes the many sacrifices worth it.  So now I stick with the response that I have an amazing support system and I couldn’t do it without my many military spouse friends who have helped me along the way.  There is no one else who will truly understand this life other than those of us living it.  We get it.  We do not offer each other a pitty party, we do not give each other that “I feel sorry for you” look, we offer each other support.  We give each other a shoulder to lean on when we are having a bad day, we listen to each other when we need to vent.  We understand that there are things about this life we simply cannot talk about to other people for security reasons.  We don’t wait to be asked for help, we check in on each other during deployments and instead of asking if everything is ok, we cut to the chase and ask what needs done – around the house, with the kids, quick trip to the grocery store, done.

Thank you to all my friends I have met along the way.  There are literally too many to list, it would take up the entire blog entry.  From those of you I met in pilot training years ago that helped keep me sane when our husbands worked 12 hour days and then came home to study more.  We may not be stationed together anymore, our husbands may not fly the same aircraft, but we still hold a bond and a friendship that will never go away.  Thank you.  For those of you who I met once we got to our ops squadron…thank you.  Thank you for helping me adjust to this life.  Thank you for keeping me sane when we don’t hear from our husbands for too many days on a deployment and the news has us freaked out.  Thank you for watching my kids when I have to take the other one to the ER in the middle of the night.  Thank you for filling in for family on holidays, and making me realize I am part of a new wonderful family.  Thank you for the support and understanding that no one else is capable of offering.  Thank You.

This wraps up the first 4 miles, now we pack up the stroller, hop in the car and drive a few miles down the road to the downtown version of our run.  From here we begin what we like to refer to as our bridge portion of the run, following the river trail through the farmers market and amphitheater area over to North Little Rock.  And now I pass the blog over to Clayton.

2

As you can tell I am married to a beautiful, strong, loving and caring women.  Jess and I have known each other since we were kids.  We have grown together and continue to do so with every adventure we come across in life.  I wanted to first thank my girls, because they are the few in this dynamic life that do not change.  They are my inspiration and driving force behind what makes me want to be the best person, father and husband I can possibly be.  My wife didn’t sign up for a life in the military, and frankly didn’t exactly know what we were getting into when I decided to take this journey.  9/11 changed the demands on military members and on the family units left behind with constant and persistent deployments.  These families became the glue that continues to hold together our nation’s combat capability.  It is often a thankless job, but I am so incredibly grateful for and proud of my amazing wife that picks up the slack every time Daddy heads out on the road.  Jess is faced with being a mommy and a daddy, an energizer bunny, as well as both good cop and bad cop!  Having this amazing family brings so much joy to my life. The girls support and love allows me to focus on the task at hand and accomplish what needs to be done so I can get home.  So to my girls, I love and cherish you and can’t remember what life was like before you entered my life.

I love to recharge the battery and make the most of our family time.  This past summer we had a great opportunity.  I was able to take the girls out with me to Little Rock for a 7 week trip.  I’m not going to lie, Jess is way better at staying connected and saw Steve’s blog and I agreed it would be a nice family activity for us to do.  We had a blast using this opportunity as a way to get to know different parts of Little Rock.  It is a beautiful city, with lots of fun outdoor activities.  Inevitably though, we would always end up around riverfront park.  Whether it was for the river market, movies in the park, cooling off at the splash pad or to catch a Traveler’s game across the river we were always there.  So with all the enjoyment we got out of the park, this is were we decided to pick up our run.

The Riverfront park, like it’s name suggests is right along the river and has access to the other side over the Junction Railroad Bridge.  This bridge has been converted for pedestrian and bicycle use and links both sides of the Arkansas River Trail.  The picture shows the “little rock” sign where the settlers in the area first came.  It is a great place to unwind and there are a ton of events that take place  in the park throughout the year.  From the bridge we ran over to the Traveler’s stadium were we enjoyed a few baseball games during our stay… or more often than not, watching the girls play on the grassy hill behind left field and/or throwing their toys into the opposing team’s bull pen.

3

Funny story, the girls were in charge of hanging onto the marker and dry-erase board during the run, and apparently Daddy was driving the stroller “too rough” and we lost the marker.  Thus, you will just see a thank you on the board for the rest of the run!

This is where I wanted to take the time to thank my mother.  It seems there is a theme here… great women in my life have made me who I am today.  In addition to my wife and girls, my mother is no exception.  My father passed away when I was a young boy and my mother was forced to take on the role of a single parent.  Some of you reading this may be in this same situation and I just want to say thank you to you as well.  This has got to be one of the most difficult jobs out there.  I cannot express how grateful I am to my mother for all the long days, nights and sacrifices she had to make to afford my brother and me the opportunities in life we had.  Mom I know it wasn’t easy, but watching and learning from your example has made me the person I am to day… so for those who know me you can either love or lament my mother!  Thanks mom.  I’ll pass it back to Jess and the girls for the last few stops.

4

We continue our run through the River Trail a few miles, and pass over the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge.  This is another beautiful pedestrian bridge that connects North Little Rock to Little Rock.  This bridge is pretty to run over, but it’s also nice to stop at the top and take in the scenery of the river.  Before our first trip to Little Rock I had no idea what to expect of this Arkansas city, but it really is beautiful and has become one of my favorites.  When you cross over into Little Rock it takes you to the Bill Clinton Library, and closer to our favorite spot, which I will get to soon enough.  I wish I had captured the trail at this point as well, as there is a part of the trail that leads you around an natural habitat through a walkway.  In any case, I pause at this bridge to thank our nations military members, most importantly my husband.

We all know that being in the military is a job full of sacrifices.   Clayton is an amazing husband and an incredible dad, the girls and I are so fortunate to have him in our lives.  With that said, I have lost count of the number of birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, vacations, and special occasions he has had to miss out on.  Can you imagine having to miss all that?  It amazes me how much our men and women sacrifice to protect our country, and they do so in a time when many people continue on with their normal lives as if there is no war, there is no threat.  I know I could personally not do this job, yet my husband manages to balance it all.  Even when he is not with us physically, he makes sure we know he is thinking of us.  My oldest daughter, Emme, calls these people (especially her daddy) super heroes, and she is right.  To my husband and every military super hero out there: Thank you.

From here we run down to my all time favorite place from our summer in Little Rock.  The River Market district.  We loved to come to the farmers market on Saturday mornings, or go to a movie in the park in the amphitheater right outside of the market.  I personally think the best thing a city can do is provide outdoor entertainment like this.  It gets people outdoors and moving! The girls’ favorite park was the Peabody splash pad.  It seemed only fitting that we pause here and say our final thank you.

5

I know Clayton already thanked his mom, but I would like to thank her again, along with the rest of our family.  Our parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, everyone.  We have a pretty darn good family.  They have not only been supportive in our crazy mobile lifestyle, they have also embraced all the changes that came our way a little over a year ago when our youngest daughter, Layna, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.   Layna had some continuous health issues for her entire first year of life.  She was constantly vomiting or spitting up.  She wouldn’t sleep, would scream in pain all the time, and the list went on.  We were going to the doctor every month it felt like, and she in return would refer us out to all kinds of specialist.  No one had answers and my poor baby had more x-rays and blood work done in that first year than anyone should have in their life.  At a year, we finally found an answer.  Her body could not digest gluten.  She had some other food allergies as well, so we found ourselves suddenly changing our entire lifestyle.  Within a few weeks, the vomiting had stopped.  Within a month we were able to take her off medication she had been on her entire life for excessive spit up and she was finally starting to gain weight.

Over the next year all of her random symptoms started to disappear.  We knew this would be a big change for us. The way we ate and thought about food would need a complete makeover.  We knew our family would be supportive, but we had no idea just how wonderful they would be.  They have all embraced this with us 100%.  We go home and there is safe food waiting for Layna.  For those of you with food allergies or celiac, you know this is not always easy.  There’s always a risk of cross contamination if the food is even near what she is eating.  It is so comforting to know that she is surrounded by people who care about her health and well being as much as we do and will do what it takes to keep her safe.  Layna is now a healthy and happy 2 year old, and we have all of you to thank for this.

6

To finish our run, we make a stop at one of our favorite deli’s.  This was a really hard decision, since there are so many great food choices in Little Rock.  We are used to not going out to eat much because of our food restrictions, but we found so many restaurants that accommodated to a gluten free lifestyle here.  We decided to go with Dempsey’s Bakery because the kids really did love going here, and it is a 100% gluten free restaurant.  They also carry many foods free of allergens (eggs, dairy, peanuts, soy, etc).  It was nice to go there and know for 100% certainty that there was no risk for getting sick.  And the food was amazing!  They serve all kinds of baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, pies, and brownies.  They also had fresh baked breads and served a lunch menu that was beyond good.

Special Ops LogoWe’ll take this chance to talk about the charity we donated too.  We went with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.  This charity provides full educational scholarships to children of fallen special operations force members and also provides assistance to wounded special force soldiers.  With Clayton being a member of the special operations community, this was an easy choice for us to support.  If you’d like to learn more about this charity or how you can donate, please check them out here http://www.specialops.org

Clayton and Jessica have been married for 8 years and have two children, Emme and Layna (4 and 2) and a dog, Baxter.  Clayton is a pilot in the USAF and Jessica is a part time hairstylist and a full time mom and military spouse.  They currently reside in New Mexico but grew up in Iowa and will always consider the Midwest “home”.

Map

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Arkansas

July 2, 2012

4.94 Miles in Ames, Iowa With Tillie Good

By Steve Good

Written by Tillie Good

I’m not really sure what I was thinking when I agreed to run Ames, IA and write a blog post for A Good Run. I’ve never been a “good” runner and have to work at it consistently to build mileage and stamina. And, I’ve been on a hiatus from running for about nine months (I took a break somewhere during my first trimester when morning sickness kicked in). But, I did go out there and do the run. I wasn’t out to set a PR or even run at my “typical” pace. I did what I could during this run, and I’m perfectly okay with that. It was something Steve and I could do together with Cal for his blog.


I appreciate Cal putting up with our shenanigans. I will admit, when we left the house I was focused on me…making sure I had everything I needed to run. Cal made it out of the house himself with a burp cloth. If I could go back and change one thing, that’s probably what it would be…make sure you have some essentials for your 7 week old son (well, and maybe the ridiculously hot weather). At the end of the run, though, we did alright.

I spent four great years as a collegian living in Ames. If you would have told me I would move back to Ames someday and call it home, I probably would have laughed. However, last year, Steve and I had the opportunity to move back to the city that we both loved so much to make our home and start our family. We’ve love every minute of it and truly enjoy being “home.” I’m excited to showcase during this run one of the greatest things Ames has to offer, Iowa State University. This running route takes you in and around the beautiful campus.

With that, I’d like to welcome you to Ames!


The first stop on the route was Reiman Gardens. Reiman Gardens is a striking entrance to Iowa State University and the city of Ames. It is one of the largest public gardens in Iowa and has many award winning features. In my eyes, Reiman Gardens is an outdoor, interactive classroom. It is for this reason, I want to thank some of my former graduate students- Matt Ferguson, Megan Gonzalez, Elyse Gambardella and Stefanie Burke. I am so thankful to have crossed paths with these four individuals. Because of them, I shared in lots of laughter, tears, thoughtful discussions, reflection and truly learned so much. I am so proud to not only call them colleagues but friends. Although I don’t see them very much, I think of them often.


The second stop was at Jack Trice Stadium, the Iowa State football stadium named for Iowa State’s first African-American athlete. I am proud to be a Cyclone and enjoy watching them play. Tailgating and attending football games has once again become a part of our Saturdays in the fall. It is here I thank my parents as my mom is a fellow Iowa State alum, and my dad is a longtime high school coach. My parents have always encouraged and supported me to define the true me. They allowed me to explore my own opportunities and discover the paths that I thought were best by helping to open doors or keep them open instead of closing them. They always showed confidence in me with unconditional love. I love you Mom and Dad!

Next, we stopped at the ISU Alumni Center. This is not only where I work but also where one of my favorite statues resides, the bronze Cy. I have worked for the Iowa State University Alumni Association for almost a year. I love what I do because I get to connect with people on a daily basis that share my excitement for ISU. It is here that I thank two of my former colleagues, April Robles and Elissa Christmas. I couldn’t have asked for any better colleagues while at Miami University. April’s positive outlook and optimism is something I admire. April always took the time to help me become a better professional and would listen to what I wanted or needed. Besides being a wealth of knowledge and a great resource, Elissa was my sounding board, confidant and friend. I miss them both daily.

From the Alumni Center, we headed to 208 Ash Ave., home of Pi Beta Phi. I lived here for two years while at ISU with more than 90 of my sisters. A lot of great memories took place here with many great woman. This seems like the perfect place to thank my true sisters, Jadee and Lauren. Jadee is my oldest sister and currently lives in Washington, DC. Lauren is a year older than I am and lives near Des Moines, IA. We may not have agreed on everything through the years, but I always know I can depend upon them. They are always there to pick me up, answer my phone call, laugh at my silliness and tell me they love me. Both are a strong, confident woman in their own way, and I would be lost without them.

After Pi Phi, we headed towards the Memorial Union, the student union on campus. We opted for the shady route to get there. While it was a nice reprieve from the blazing sun, we did have to do a little off-roading with the stroller to get there. It was a good cross-training workout for us and Cal slept right through it.

When we reached the Memorial Union, we paused outside by the Four Seasons Fountain. This fountain is one of the several pieces of public art on campus created by Christian Petersen. It is here that I would like to thank those that aided me in discovering the field of student affairs:  Alisa Frandsen, Aaron Haight, Mande Adams and Laura Bestler. Each of these women played a key role. I am grateful for each of these women and the impact they had on my professional and personal life.

We crossed the street from the Union to get to the campanile. “Campaniling” is one of Iowa State’s traditions. It is said that a student officially becomes an Iowa Stater when he or she is kissed under the campanile at the stroke of midnight. It only makes sense that I thank my husband, Steve Good and our son, Cal at this stop. Most of you know something about Steve already. If not, just keep reading this blog and you’ll learn. He is an amazing man who is innovative, passionate and generous. He has a desire to continually learn and isn’t afraid to go after his dreams. He is also a great dad. Cal and I couldn’t have asked for a better man. And Cal, well, he’s just amazing and beautiful. A true blessing.

We continued to wind our way through campus to get back to where we started. This was the longest leg of our run. It was here that we seriously considered flagging down a Cy-Ride with air conditioning to get out of the heat. But, we continued on.

Our final destination was Hilton Coliseum. Hilton is home to Cyclone basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling. It is also where “Hilton Magic” takes place. This is the power of Coliseum faithful to produce unexpected victories. This first happened in 1989 and is still applicable today. It is here that I thank Sarah Wechsler. Sarah and I became friends because of our husbands. We hit it off and I can’t imagine my life without her. We’ve gone through some major life events together (wedding, pregnancy) and she is always my voice of reason and sanity.

After we finished our loop, we felt we should probably go home and shower before we grabbed some lunch or we might clear the whole place out from our lovely smell. We decided to refuel at Café Beaudelaire which is a quaint, Brazilian restaurant right near campus. Their sandwiches are good but their fries are amazing.

As we wrap up this run in Ames, I wanted to give back to something that impacts my community. My charity is United Way of Story County. The vision of UWSC is to improve the quality of life in our community for individuals and families. UWSC impacts Ames and the surrounding communities on a daily basis through their community partners and support of over 90 core programs.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Iowa

May 29, 2012

7.4 Miles in Birmingham, Alabama With Lynn Chapman

By Steve Good

Written By Lynn Chapman

I jumped at the offer to show off a run through Birmingham—an underrated city with fabulous schools, beautiful topography, world-class restaurants, and great people, including a vibrant running community.  We even claim Iron Chef Chris Hastings, Southern Living magazine, a Sidewalk Film Festival, the nation’s oldest baseball park, the largest museum collection of Wedgwood in the world, the largest collection of vintage and modern motorcycles, racecars and Lotus cars in the world, and yes, two American Idol winners.

I begin my route at Linn Park downtown, where many local races begin and end.  It was at Linn Park that I finished my first half marathon, cheered on by local running coach Danny Haralson of Run University. Seeing a few extra pounds on the scale and inspired by my friend Jennifer Andress, I signed up for Run University’s Couch to 5k program somewhat on a whim. I had never run, didn’t really think I could run, and really never wanted to run. When I got to the far side of the track in high school, I just moved my arms. I was that kid.

With a brand of motivation that encouraged me to believe in all I could do, Danny Haralson taught me to run, first in steps, then mile by mile. After my first 5k I remember thinking that I’d never before run 3 miles on purpose.  That 5k became a 10k, and later, half marathons. Along the miles I made some dear friends and learned a great deal about myself. If I had gone through most of my life thinking I couldn’t run, and it turns out that I can, and that I actually like it—what else can I do?

Mark Twain said, “Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.”  That’s Danny Haralson. Not just for me, but for hundreds.

The first stop on my route takes us to Kelly Ingram Park, just across from the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and the 16th Street Baptist church. The park is a great place to acknowledge the city’s history and celebrate our progress.  It’s here, at the edge of the Freedom walk, that I paused to thank my Mom.  In the face of instability, she provided unconditional love and was so much better than she knew. She gave me roots, and she gave me space to grow, and her example continues to teach me as a parent.

A short distance from this park is a gem of downtown—Birmingham’s Railroad Park. Railroad Park is a green space that sits along the railway and connects the downtown and Southside areas; it’s the perfect place to hang out or host an event (and it’s always a really great water stop for runners). The park looks over the city’s tallest buildings, and that makes it a good spot to thank my friend and former boss from my banking days in one of those towers. Anna McLaughlin is real, and she’s funny.  She taught me my job in Human Resources, but she also taught me about work, life, priorities, and being a Mom. She put up with me for more than 10 years (and that was mostly pre-babies so she didn’t get the mellower version of me).  I am grateful for Anna’s wit, knowledge, and for helping me figure out what matters.

Just down the street from Railroad Park, we make a quick stop at local Good People Brewery. The owners are good people, and today, we actually found one of them (Jason) outside at work. I’m not a beer drinker, but I have it on good authority that this “stuff” is great, as somebody in our house repeatedly sends me out for the Snake Handler double IPA.   Good People seemed like a great place to thank some other good people—The Prewitt Family.  We met the Prewitts when our sons landed in the same kindergarten class, and our 4 kids became fast friends.  Tommy is a great Dad and friend to my kids, and Cindy has become “my person.” She takes care of the kids when I travel, listens to my endless yacking, brings dinner. In small ways and big ways, she has made me feel like family. I hope I occasionally have something to offer in return.

From Good People we wind through the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the 2nd largest academic medical center in the nation. UAB is also the largest hospital in Alabama and 14th largest in the nation. I love to run by the Campus Green, a space that is set against the Campus Recreation center and our Children’s Hospital, and it’s here that I thank my friend (and UAB employee) Andrea Miller Pound. Andrea and I met through Zeta Tau Alpha volunteer work. I liked her immediately, but when we went (both quite pregnant) on a ZTA recruitment visit and she was crawling around on her pregnant belly helping build a recruitment display out of roofing tiles, I knew we’d be friends for life.  She “gets” me; she supports me, and she amazes me, and I feel so lucky we crossed paths.

From UAB I headed into Southside and up a hill to the edge of Vulcan Park and the Vulcan statue. I’ll confess to walking the hill, and those of you who know where this is will understand. Vulcan, the God of metalworking, has overlooked the city since the 1930s. Designed by an Italian artist as Birmingham’s entry in the 1904 World’s Fair, Vulcan is the largest cast iron statue in the world, second in size only to the Statue of Liberty.

I pause here to thank Malaea Seleski (and catch my breath from the hill!).   Malaea and I met when we were both advisors to Zeta Tau Alpha chapters in Alabama. We later became close as I followed her into a regional position. Not a person on this planet is more kind, generous, and loving than she (she’s also absolutely beautiful and super-smart). Malaea exemplifies absolute selflessness and kindness. I am better every day because of her, and I hope to be half the friend she is. Everyone should have a Malaea in her life.

From Vulcan I head into English Village, one of many of our city’s great local villages and frequent stop on many running routes.  Today I run through the village and up the hill to a route some of us call “Three Sisters.” I think the “Three Sisters” moniker stems from the three hills on the route. I chose to include this route because it includes a look at some beautiful homes and a great view of the city. It’s here on the Three Sisters route that I stop to thank three (well, 4) of my ZTA sisters: Julia Hill, Gloria Hice, Susan Beard, and Terri Millsap. Each of these ladies was an advisor to me, and each has had an enormous influence on the person I’ve become. I’ve spent a lot of my “adult” life advising ZTA chapters and working with collegians, and if I contribute anything to them, it’s because of these 4 ladies. The “a-ha” moments I had with them are too numerous to name, and each is also a special friend.

I finish the run down from the overlook and back into the village, continuing on to the end of the route—downhill through beautiful wooded Mountain Brook, past our Botanical Gardens to the parking lot of the local Western grocery store, a spot where very soon I’ll meet friends for another good run.

My final thanks goes to Chris, my photographer, the Good People drinker, and the one who puts up with me most.  In honor of this group, I’ve made donations supporting the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, Girls on the Run Birmingham, and the Birmingham Humane Society.

The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation supports educational programming, leadership development, and and breast cancer research and awareness efforts.

Girls on the Run Birmingham inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s mission is to promote the humane treatment of animals and people through education, advocacy, and services.



Lynn Chapman is a former HR guru turned stay-at-home-Mom, turned part-time technology and social media geek. Lynn is a real-life soccer and gymnastics Mom and lives in Birmingham with husband Chris and her 2 great kiddos—Ethan and Amelia.  Always busy with a variety of activities including volunteering with her kids’ school, the Junior League of Birmingham, and Zeta Tau Alpha, Lynn says running is a great metaphor for life, and in both, she’s trying to find her “happy pace.”

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Alabama

April 30, 2012

6.61 Miles in Washington, D.C. With Joey DeSanto Jones

By Steve Good

On March 3rd of this year, I had the pleasure of meeting—and joining—Steve Good as he completed the final leg of his 30th birthday running journey beginning in Iowa, and ending in my home of Washington, DC. Steve and I connected through a mutual friend and colleague, the one and only Dr. Edward G. Whipple. As an avid runner, as well as someone who chronicled the departure from my twenties and the launching of my thirties via the modern day art of blogging, I had no hesitation in joining in on Steve’s run. Besides, I’d been running DC for nearly ten years, and figured I could provide some utility as a sort of guide e.g. avoid tourist pitfalls, remind them to stand on the right side of the metro escalator. Important details like that.

Being very much a planner, it probably wasn’t more than within a few minutes of meeting Steve that I was asking, “So, what’s next with this blog thing? What are you going to do after today?” I’m delighted that he has decided to continue – and encourage – his own experience through http://www.agoodrun.com. It’s an honor to be the first guest blogger for this experience, and find it fitting to launch this post where Steve’s 30th birthday journey ended – Washington, DC.

Now, what does your mind conjure up when you think of Washington, D.C.? It’s likely that images of the White House, Capital Dome, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial all just flashed in your mind. Yes, yes, those landmarks all exist (even despite that little shakeup of an earthquake we experienced back in August – the one that caused a book or two to fall off of a shelf? Yes, that one).

In running for this blog, my goal was to avoid those exact landmarks.

My going to the National Mall is akin to native New Yorkers hanging out on the observation deck of the Empire State Building all Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan style, or denizens of LA sunbathing in front of the Hollywood sign. Quite simply put, those of us who live in DC tend to avoid the more popular tourist attractions.

I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve received the question from members of my family, “So, you actually live IN DC?” Maybe they’re thinking that all there is to DC are the aforementioned memorials and monuments. Isn’t that what the movies have taught us about DC, anyway? One might realistically think we all come home from our day jobs to crash in the Lincoln Bedroom.

Like many cities across the country, there is significantly more to DC than what one would catch in the typical Hollywood blockbuster, or, heaven forbid, on CSPAN. We are a diverse, tapestry of a city – Black, White, Asian, Latino, Gay, Straight, Trans. Show me the identity box and we can check it. It’s part of our beauty, and it is very much our community.

Sticking with this theme of community, the beneficiary of my run is the Concert for Life. Since 1991, the Concert for Life – an AIDS Benefit – has raised over $905,000 with 100% of proceeds going to organizations that help people living with HIV/AIDS. The Concert is performed in Foundry United Methodist Church (most on that location coming soon!) and is a celebration in song of friendship, beauty, love, and all of life’s joys. This year’s Concert will occur on Friday, May 19th. For the second consecutive year, I have served as co-coordinator of Concert volunteers. If you are interested in supporting the Concert through your time or resources, please visit our webpage.

In my run, I wanted to hit landmarks of the mundane DC variety. My running buddy and photographer was none other than my husband of eight months, and partner of seven and a half years, Jason DeSanto Jones. I should point out that like any healthy married couple, Jason and complement in each other in many fashions. He cooks. I clean. He manages the finances. I manage household logistics, our schedule. We also have learned that running together is generally not the best idea. Like many couples, we both want to be the one to decide the course. He’s also faster than me, though I tend to run longer distances. Thus, our running together is quite a rare site.

Yet, being the dutiful partner and husband, Jason not only ran with me and photographed our stops, he also helped me determine which stops we would include. The date of our run was Saturday, April 21st – a beautiful, sunny, spring day in the 70s. Certainly we couldn’t go wrong with that.

Stop #1 was the U Street Metro Station. At this point, you’re now probably thinking to yourself, “Really. You’re telling me there’s much more to DC than the monuments, and you start this whole thing off with a stop for underground transit?” Indeed. You see, I actually met Jason on the metro in the summer of 2004 when we were both commuting from this exact metro station to the University of Maryland, College Park. It was after two months of seeing him multiple times a week in transit between these two locations that I finally worked up the nerve to say “hello”. Over seven years later and after many an on-going adventure he’s not only my photographer du jour, he’s my loving, intelligent, fun, patient, and sensible husband.

Stop #2 was Meridian Hill Park. This is perhaps one of my favorite places in DC. Located in Northwest DC, the park is bordered by 16th, Euclid, 15th, and W Streets. It is easily my preferred spot during the summer months to sit out on a sunny weekend afternoon, take in some rays, read, and find some zen in the middle of the city.

At the top of the park sits a statue of Joan of Arc on horseback with sword drawn. I’m not sure why a young French girl burned at the stake as a heretic in the 14th century is the centerpiece of a park in Washington, DC. It is quite random after all. Thus, in the spirit of French saints and randomness, I chose this spot to thank my dear friend, Stephen Seizilles de Mazancourt – dual citizen of the U.S. and France and perhaps the most multilingual person I know. Jason and I befriended Stephen in, of all places, a club in Rome, Italy during our first tour of Europe in May 2009. He won the award for traveling the furthest for our wedding last August.

Stop #3 would be what is known officially as the Washington Hilton though is known to most locals as the Reagan Hilton or the Hinckley Hilton. This is the spot where, on March 30, 1981, John Hinckley attempted to assassinate then President Ronald Reagan in a rather perverse attempt to impress actress, Jodie Foster. I’m not really smiling in the photos of me at this space as I generally tend to disagree wholeheartedly with the idea of shooting anyone, including democratically elected presidents regardless of political party or affiliation. Call me old fashioned.

My thanks at this historic spot are to some of my oldest friends, Shea and Adam MacDonald. The three of us attended high school together and were all members of the track team. Our involvement and skill level within said track team certainly varied. Shea and Adam were like night and day in high school – he may think that Reagan is the second coming of Messiah, and she once attended an environmental protest dressed as a whale. Yet, they reconnected several years later (thanks to yours truly), started dating, fell for each other, got hitched, and now have a rock-star two-year old son, Brendan. A lovely couple and a great example of how bipartisanship can function!

Stop #4. WE falafel! YOU falafel! EVERYBODY falafels! How I enjoy a tasty falafel – well, maybe not mid-run – but nonetheless I am quite the admirer of this fried chickpea piece of heaven. My favorite spot for this tasty delight is V Falafel. Located in Dupont Circle, V Falafel is owned and operated by my former co-worker and friend, Zafer Bebek. Zafer might just be the hardest working Turk in show business. By day, he’s the mild-mannered IT guy at a higher education non-profit association, father of two, and can be found many a night – and late night – working behind the counter at V Falafel. Stop by and patronize him. You won’t be disappointed!

Stop #5 would be the neighbor to Barack and Michelle. In fact, Jason had his back to the White House while taking this photo. Too bad this post won’t contain mentions of any of the typical DC landmarks otherwise you’d see the White House! Alas, what you see below is yours truly in front of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Located on the ground level of this grandiose structure is the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

It was in this space that I served as a graduate apprentice during the summer of 2005. My task in this role was to assist in the creation of a first-year seminar for Corcoran students. I chose to thank my graduate school advisor, Dr. Susan R. Komives at this location. It was Susan that guided my graduate school journey, instilled confidence in me that I can write, and graciously gave me a second chance after some early twenty-something transitional “Should I stay or should I go now” graduate school woes. Susan will retire this year from her role as Professor in the College Student Personnel program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Google “Komives” and “Leadership”. Careful though, you might just crash a server somewhere with the wealth of information you’ll find.

Stop #6 has been my house of worship for the past decade, and the church where Jason and I married in August 2011 – Foundry United Methodist Church. “Foundry is a historic, progressive United Methodist Church that welcomes all, worships passionately, challenges the status quo, and seeks to transform the world through God’s love. Drawing upon significant rituals and spiritualities, Foundry is innovative and pioneering in our efforts to be a place of positive change within Christianity, within our denomination, within ourselves and in the world.” Not only does Foundry rock, it is also the location of the 19th Annual Concert for Life – the beneficiary of my run.

At this spot, I thank my friend, Matt Mustard. Matt is the Coordinator for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Advocacy at Foundry. This past year he has worked tirelessly to coordinate efforts for the United Methodist Church to pass a resolution allowing churches to perform marriages for people of the same gender, and to remove exclusionary language from the church’s Book of Discipline which states that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” Whether this change occurs in the near or distant future, I am proud of my friend for contributing a critical ripple in a very large pond.

Step #7 is my favorite frozen yogurt spot in DC – Mr. Yogato! Not only does this Dupont Circle neighborhood fave offer tasty frozen yogurt options and toppings, it contains an original eight-bit Nintendo system, board games, and the opportunity to get discounts for froyo via various trivia questions. Of course, if trivia is too difficult one one can opt to have the Mr. Yogato logo stamped on their forehead for a 5% discount. Ever since I was tapped as extra for the game show “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego” I’ve always had a special affinity for geographical trivia. Where else does one get to ponder six countries that include the letter “P”(but not as the first letter) for a 10% discount on froyo? In honor of my penchant for geographical trivia, I chose to thank my teachers at Yorktown High School at this stop. I believe in the transformative power of education, and am very much a lifelong learner particularly around issues of society, culture, politics, and education. I thank my teachers for that.

Stop #8 is the neighbor to Stop #7 – JR’s Bar & Grill, though few people under the age of 30 realize that the grill portion of the name used to be significant in that one could actually eat there. I’ve been patronizing this local DC gay bar since my college days. No trip to gay DC is complete without visiting this neighborhood watering hole. Despite a change here and there over the years – the coming and going of Fagala Feud, the coming and going of food, the moose head no longer hanging on the wall (why there was a moose head there in the first place is beyond me), the Sunday $2 rail vodka drinks now being $3, the proliferation of flat screen TVs, and the banning of smoking (hallelujah) – this place has always maintained a friendly, neighborhood appeal. Plus, there is always Showtunes on Mondays. For keeping this show going, I like to thank JR’s manager, David Peruzza.

Stop #9 was the final stop of my run, coincidentally the block Jason and I call home. The corner of 14th and U Streets NW is a bustling, constantly changing intersection in the District. This is the spot where, on April 4, 1968, DC experienced the first night of rioting upon the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The riots lasted several days, resulted in multiple deaths (mainly from arson), cost millions in property damage despite the National Guard eerily keeping curfew on the streets of the city, and they altered the face of our neighborhood – and DC – for decades.

This was also the same spot on November 4, 2008 – 40 years later – where jubilation ran rampant at the election of the nation’s first black president. I have never seen a night in Washington, DC as I did that night. Diverse peoples poured out into the streets, hugging, giving high-fives, in a cathartic exercise of celebration and emotion. Regardless of one’s political affiliation one cannot look upon that night and not observe some form of collective healing for the community I am proud to call my home.

Joey DeSanto Jones began running in high school as part of the spring track team. His primary sport those days was swimming, and he figured running track during the off-season would prevent him from going to waste. Little did he know that he planted the seed for an adult passion. He is now an avid runner enjoying regular runs throughout Washington, DC, as well as other cities when traveling (including London, Berlin, Barcelona, and Sitges last August while on his honeymoon), and in his second home of New York City during regular work trips. By day, he is the director of project development and communications for a comprehensive higher education consulting firm. Originally from Williamsport, PA, Joey is a two-time graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park in Communication Studies and College Student Personnel. His passion for reading is just as strong as his passion for running. Whether it’s the New York Times or a comic book, you’ll generally find Joey either reading or running – thankfully, though, not at the same time. Joey, and his husband, Jason, are frequent travelers, consumers of HBO dramas, and lovers of a quality roof deck on a sunny day with a cool beverage. Both Joey and Jason are looking forward to January 2013 when they will participate in their first Ragnar from Miami to Key West. Should you find yourself in DC and looking for a running buddy, look no further!

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in District of Columbia

March 25, 2012

Six Benefits of Participating in My Running Project

By Steve Good

When an opportunity arises, I often ask myself the question “Why should I do this?”  I’m sure we all do this to prioritize our time and energy.  The assumed benefits that we layout in our minds in regards to an opportunity help us determine whether or not we should say yes or no.

The opportunity to participate in this running project has been unveiled to the world.  Now, let me help you identify a few of the benefits that will come with participation.

It’s good for your health

It’s pretty obvious that running provides benefits to your health.  No matter if you’re running one mile or a marathon, lacing up the shoes and getting your heart rate up is a good thing.  Mentally, a good run can help you relieve stress, prioritize your day, cope with a loss or build confidence.  Within this project, we ask you to set a goal – “I’m going to run _____ miles in ______ (city), thank _____ (number) people and support _______ (cause).  The four blanks that will need to be filled in by you are all positive factors.  Once complete, you’ll feel great physically and mentally.

You’ll feel awesome thanking others publicly

There’s nothing quite like saying thank you to somebody in a public setting.  This project gives you the opportunity to show others who you are thankful for and why.  I had the opportunity to run in the Boston Marathon a few years back as a charity runner for The ALS Association.  The most fun I had that weekend was touring the city and taking pictures with thank you signs.  You should have seen me hobbling around for the pictures after the actual race.  It was completely worth it.

You’ll get to share your experience with others

Personal experiences are great, but experiences with others are better.  This project gives you the opportunity to share your run with others.  During your actual run, you’ll need to find a running buddy to take pictures of you or make friends along the way.  I’d recommend the running buddy route, only because the run will be that much more meaningful if somebody was by your side throughout the run. After the run, you’ll be able to share you experience through the web.  During my 30th birthday running trip, the blog was averaging approximately 300 views a day. I expect this to grow as more and more runners begin to share their runs.  This built-in audience amplifies your experience.

You’ll do a good deed and bring awareness to your cause

There are two ways you’ll be able to positively affect the cause you support during your run.  First of all, we ask you donate to your cause prior to the run.  I don’t care if it’s $5 or $50,000, your donation will make a difference.  Within the blog post that you write about your run, you’ll have the ability to share more about your cause and why you support it.  Doing this brings awareness to the cause and may spark interest in one of the blog’s readers to get involved.  We’ll also make sure that we tweet or email your cause to link them to your post.

You’ll get to brag about and explore your city

Who doesn’t love to brag about their city?  As humans, we are prideful of the places we grew up, live, have spent a great deal of time, have special memories or speak to our personalities.  This is your opportunity to show us why your city is so great.  Show us your city and what it has to offer. Show us a little history, industry, art, traditions, sport, culture, cuisine or whatever you stumble upon.  Educate us, entertain us and have us finish reading your post saying, “I think I’d have a great time in that city.”  You’ll also get to explore your city.  Odds are you’ll come across or learn about something new along the way.

You’ll get one of these

Ninety nine percent of the benefits you’ll receive from participating in this project will be intangible.  Having said that, I have a little something for you to showcase that you’ve done a good thing.  All participants, including running buddies who join you, will receive a fun sticker to commemorate your run.  Feel free to stick it on your car, your laptop, a binder, your dog, your fridge, etc.  We really don’t care where it goes, just show it someplace that might spark a conversation.  You’ll feel good talking about your run when somebody asks you about the sticker.

You’ll go to bed saying “That was a good day.”

Last but not least, we promise that when your head hits the pillow on the evening of your run, you’ll be pleased about your day.

So, who’s in?  Check our available weeks and email me at sgood@grassrootgive.com to secure your run and city.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Uncategorized

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 118 other followers