52 marathons!

 Good morning everyone!

 

I feel so good and getting back to moving!

I have decided to run the Vermont 50 on Sept. 24th and then a 24 hour run in Texas in Nov.

 

It is so important to find new goals so we don't sink into feeling like staying in bed:):)

 

Below is from my friend Dane.

 

Check out what he is doing! Yet another wonderful soul doing something to help make the world a better place to live.

Go Dane!!!

 

Have a great day

Lisa

 

ps..going on a 5 hour hike with my brother Mike today who is here visiting from Chicago..cant wait!

 

 

What is Fiddy2?

Fiddy2 is Dane Rauschenberg's quest to run 52 marathons in 2006 (one every weekend without fail no matter where it takes him), with all the proceeds that he raises going to the organization L'Arche-Mobile.

(As all expenses are paid by Dane, he is ALWAYS looking for sponsorship, accomodations, or donations to help defray his costs or to assist L'Arche Mobile.)

And if that isn't enough, Dane will continue to work at his present occupation during the week and attempt to run every marathon in 2006 under 4 hours!  With 32 Marathons down, he is well on his way!

 

Who is Dane Rauschenberg?

Dane Rauschenberg, a Penn State Alumnus and member of the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity, currently resides in Arlington, Virginia and is a member of the Washington Running Club.  A relative novice to long-distance running, Dane began tackling marathons in law school to lose excess college weight and considers himself to be just "an average runner who happens to be extremely stubborn".  His personal best for a marathon was run at the Marine Corps Marathon, October 30th, 2005 with a time of 3:07:25.



What is L'Arche Mobile?

Located in Mobile, Alabama,  L'Arche Mobile is one of the many L'Arche communities worldwide.  L'Arche is an international federation of communities in which people with a mental handicap and those who help them can live, work, and share their lives together.  Click on the picture below to learn more about L'Arche Mobile or the highlighted text above to learn about the history of L'Arche itself.

 

Because of his endeavor, Dane has been asked to be an official spokesperson for:

                         
                           Click on the logo to go to Ripley's webpage!

While Dane will appear in the 2007 edition of Ripley's BION book for Fiddy2, Ripley's newest book: Expect...the Unexpected will be in stores 08.01.06.

Also, the Dear Mr. Ripley Contest (wherein everyday people can write to Ripley's and tell them why they should be in the next Ripley's BION book) begins on 07.05.06. (Official entry forms and contest rules can be found by clicking the link above or going directly to www.ripleys.com)

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Running Under the Bomb

 Good morning all,

Take the time to read this, go to the web site and look at the photos. This is one of my coaching clients and he IS going to make a difference in  world where we have so much hate and pain. Again, we can make a difference by doing and giving!

Have a great day

Lisa

 

 

Running Under the BOMB

 

Hi Coach (I know you prefer Lisa but I love to call you coach),

 

Well this is the feedback concerning my training schedule during the 34 "crazy" war days in Lebanon,  I couldn’t following your instruction as you requested, in the schedule you made for me for July and august, but I try to do my best. The war was kind of crazy, even more.  I can call it running under the BOMB. Well yes coach, it is the way I use to train for the Sahara Race.

 

No one on the street, it's hot, around 34 degree, I arrived near the Movempik Hotel, the security guy shout "are you crazy? Since 2 days no one pass by, death near us, around 4km, and here you are running", I smile, and keep listen to U2, "Where the street have no Name", it was coincidence, and I don't know how the song and the street arrive in the same time. Well it's all start on the 12^th  of  July in the morning,  When Linda (my wife ) wake me up by saying "the war start again" I couldn't believe it,  specially when I saw the TV, it was simply crazy, crazy, crazy, THE CRAZY WAR.

 

It was hard for me to accept it, I was preparing hard, around 3h/day, really focusing on my training, get up at 4AM to run then after work to the gym to train.  What to do and how to keep training?  For the first 2 days I didn't know what to do, refugees are every where in Beirut, people are dying, children caught up in conflict zones etc...(I think you saw enough on TV). Even being on the street is becoming dangerous, what to do? What about my sponsor? NO SPONSOR any more, I was really angry, depress, But I was decided to continue, but how?

 

Now, I'm in the Raoucher, near the sea, the sea witch is colored now black& bleu, because the bombes hit the electricity fuel reserve, running, and watching the Israely helicopters come and go, the air force plan keep hitting  the airport, far from me around 10km, I was watching all that during my run, can you believe it?, I know it's crazy, I didn't want to stop running, it was a way of feeling alive, and not accepting what is happening, and if I have to died, I want to died in doing the best thing I love. Still no one on the street after 1h of running, suddenly a couple show up, waking near the AUB (American University of Beirut), we look to each other and smile, I sayed  "I though I'm the only crazy person in Lebanon", they reply, "NO, NO, we are here too", I keep my way, & I was so happy to see that life keep going. I keep running day after day, and each day it was a new challenger by it self, always thinking, am I going to see my son again, my new born daughter of 3 month, my lovely wife? Each day I leave them, and deeply feel like I was never going to go back, yes believe me, out there at last there was 50%  of chance to get hurt or killed, one of these days the bombs hit the port , 3 hours before going to run, where usually I pass every day, and another the bombs hit the "Harbor light", it's just in the middle of the road where I pass by. With that I lived the surprise of foreigner leaving the country, by boat, when I pass by them some insult me, the Canadian military look to me with that black look: what this guy is doing? And some simply smile. Or when the Israeli ship bomb Beirut and I was they only person in Lebanon running, near the sea, and have to find a place to hid but there was no place, the bomb pass over my head, and Linda call and she was mad, every minuets, to see where am I & if I still alive.

 

 

I'm still alive, felling alive, and thank god, they stop the war, and now I can run

But now, I will run under the sun.

 

During this war, I lived something reply special, something, I heard before but I couldn't believe it, people you race with, they became even more then your family, and this is what I really notice during this war, a lot of people from all over the world, I meet in 21^st MDS, call or send emails, asked me to leave Lebanon, asking how they can help me,  & SPECIALY my coach Lisa smith,  keep sending email inviting me to her house in the US (many thank), and who will help me to raise money in support of innocent children caught up in Lebanon's conflict zones  really this make me happy. I could easily go, I have a French passport, but somehow I didn't want.

 

I will take part of the next Sahara Race, (I will try to find again a sponsor) and I will run for SUPPORT INNOCENT CHILDREN CAUGHT UP IN LEBANON'S CONFLICT ZONES. For more information's please visit my site www.challengesforlife.com, and please do not hesitate to send me you comment @ alain_wehbi@hotmail.com       

 

The Lebanese ultrarunner,

Ali         

 

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The Paradoxical Commandments

Hi guys and gals,

 

This was sent to me from Bob who lives in Hawaii and is with the HURT 100!

Very good and so wonderful. Thank you Bob for sending and sharing the love!

 

Lisa

 

 

 Check out Kent M. Keith's Paradoxical Commandments. He wrote it in 1968 and it was paraphrased by Mother Teresa.
http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/

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The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith


People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

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peppermint

 I find this very interesting. I love to suck on peppermint candy and even smell peppermint when I am in a race. It really seems to help me run better! Might be crazy but true!

 

Hope you had a great day

Lisa

 

JOURNAL OF SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, 2001, 23,156-160

Bryan Raudenbush, Nathan Corley, and William Eppich
Wheeling Jesuit University

Previous research has indicated that odorant presentations can have both positive and negative effects on psychological perceptions of athletic task performance. The present study extends past research by assessing how the administration of peppermint odor affects actual athletic task performance. Forty athletes undertook a series of physical tasks under conditions of no-odor or peppermint odor. The peppermint odor condition resulted in increases in running speed, hand grip strength, and number of push-ups, but had no effect on skill related tasks such as basketball free-throw shots. The implications are particularly salient in regard to enhancing athletic performance using a nonpharmacological aid and as an adjunct to athletic training

 

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the giving

Good morning to you!

I am on my way this morning to Jackson Hole High School to put on a 6am track workout with a group of women who are training for the NYC marathon. I am so looking forward to this. Watching the sun come up, the cool air on my face and the smell of the morning. I just love the smell of the morning:)

I am so proud of all of my coaching clients. As time goes on so many of them are being drawn to run for something other than themselves, to run to help something close to there own heart by raising money or giving of time. Doing anything is better than not doing anything at all. Giving makes us all feel so good and watching others gives also makes us feel good.

Below is an email being sent out by one of my NYC clients, Anthony. Jay and I are giving him $2 a mile and thank him for his love and for his giving.

I hope you all have a wonderful day

Lisa

 

Friends -

On March 28, 2006, this world lost one of its shining examples of strength and determination.  On that day Alisa Etlinger, at the age of 44, lost her long and valiant battle with cancer.   Alisa was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.  Her courage was not only demonstrated by her battle to live, but also by how she relentlessly cared for her beloved daughters, Carly (6) and Hannah (4), and for her devoted husband Wayne, all during her illness.  In addition to her constant care for her family, she continued to teach her special education students in The Bronx, NYC for as long as her strength would allow.  Alisa’s joy of life was evident by her beautiful smile, wonderful attitude and joy of gardening, and her memory will forever burn brightly for all who knew her.

On Sunday September 24 I will be running the Vermont 50-Mile Trail Race (in Brownsville, Vermont) in honor and in memory of Alisa.  Every step of the race will be run for Alisa, for her husband and children, and for all of those who stood by her side in the face of tragedy.  For each mile of the race completed, I will be making a donation of $10 to the trust established for the benefit of Carly and Hannah.

My goal is to help to raise a minimum of $2,000 for the benefit of Alisa's children, and I invite you to join in this celebration of Alisa's life and memory by making a contribution to the Etlinger Trust for each mile of the Vermont 50-Mile Trail Race that I complete.  Please let me know if you wish to contribute so that I can keep track of our contributions, and keep you informed of my results in the race.

Many thanks to Linda and Bruce Mellion for their help in writing this e-mail.
Best,
Anthony porteraa@optonline.net). 

Contributions can be made directly to:
Etlinger Trust
c/o Attorney Kenneth Gould
Marcus, Gould & Sussman
222 Bloomingdale Road
White Plains, NY 10605

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The Final Analysis

Hi all!

 

Right now I have 3 amazing memories that stick out in my mind with the BW double. With each passing day I have more and more.

 

1. Rhonda Provost the first women to complete the BW double came to see me on Sunday in my hotel room before the pre-race meeting. I felt as if I was meeting my long lost sister, the connection to her was and is so very beautiful. She is so much about love..you look at her and you see love. I feel so blessed to have her in my life at this time. She sent me what you will read below by Mother Theresa. I already have it and know it but it was sure a gift to get it again and now to be able to share it with you.

 

2 and 3 are both with my sister Julie. I asked Julie to give a prayer for me, our crew and for all the runners and crews before the race started. Our crew made a circle and held hands. Julie blew me away with her prayer, one that I wish the entire world could have heard. God was speaking to her and through her and the words just came to her heart. It made me and the rest of us ball, it made me 100% sure we were going to be successful. When the going was tough I thought about her prayer, her words and I just smiled knowing that we were all going to be ok.

The 3rd was on the way back while near the top of Towns Pass about 240 miles into the journey. I was having a very emotional time, the stars were the best I had ever seen and the most I had ever seen in my life. Julie looked up and said to me, "each one of those stars is a child looking down at us and thanking us for saving there life." Being close to $140,000 of money we have raised I do feel that each star represented a child and I sit here so thankful, so very thankful. Love, Love, Love until it hurts and when it hurts keep on Loving!

Have a great day

Lisa

 

The Final Analysis

by

Mother Teresa

 

 

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

 

If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

 

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

 

If you are honest and frank, you leave yourself vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

 

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

 

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest ideas.

Think big anyway.

 

What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight.

Build anyway.

 

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

 

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

 

You see, in the final analysis it’s all between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

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support our Finlay!!

 

 

http://www.active.com/donate/tntntx/tntntxFWoodru1

 

 

Friends and Family:

 

I wanted to thank all of you again for your support last season during my training and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  This season is shaping up to be one of the busiest seasons for me with Team In Training.  Several months back I was asked to support the Mentor Program for the North Texas area and for months I struggled with the thought.  After several conversations with many people I have decide to commit my time and energy to support this program.  I am telling you this because I am confident that without your support I would not have been asked to serve in this position.  So, I thank all of you again for making our program a success.

 

Our season officially begins September 1, 2006 and runs through February 15, 2007.  The race is that following weekend where Todd and I will be in Austin again to run the Freescale Marathon.  Todd will be qualifying for Boston and I will just try and keep up!  Maybe I can help carry his water or heed during the race.  This season I would like to raise $15,000.00 before race weekend.  I know that is a very high goal but I also know that it can be done.  We have done it before and I am confident that we can do it again.  This amount does not include corporate sponsorship, it is all you and I working together to make it happen.  You are the individuals that have put me into the 110% club, the Elite Member Club, which is the highest honor given by Team In Training so we will need to step up and continue that giving tradition.

 

I have put together the following raffles for this season and I hope that you will find one that interest you and will allow you to open your hearts and wallets and donate. 

 

Starting September 1st through September 15th:  III Forks Gift Certificate.  You all know that III Forks is the best steakhouse in Dallas and always treats our team with the best service.  They are cooperate sponsor so you will be treated like royalty.  $100.00 value.

 

September 16th through 30th is our Spa Package with Elizabeth Arden Day Spa.  It is a $250.00 value and you are able this year to order off the menu!  Last year I heard this would be better than having your packaged arranged before hand.  Sorry, am a guy did not know you ladies wanted to arrange your own package!!

 

October 1st through October 15th will be our Gaylord Retreat Package.  This will include dinner for two and one nights stay at the Resort along with breakfast the following morning.  This is a $500.00 value. 

 

October 16th through 31st is different this year.  I have decided to open up my own services and the winner will have their house cleaned by me.  Yes, I can clean and I am pretty good at it too!  You can pick your dates; before Thanksgiving, Christmas anytime you wish.  However, there will be some rules that I will expand on later.  There will be no French maid costumes or any costumes for that matter!!  Value: PRICELESS

 

November 1st through 30th will be our Limo for 6.  You can use this to view Christmas lights or any other occasion during the month of December.  There is a four hour limit to the use.  Anything over that is the responsibility of the winner.  I am not sure what the value is of this certificate.  I will handle the gratuity for the evening.

 

December 1st through December 15th is our Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse gift certificate.  They were generous last year and have agreed to offer one this year.  It is a $100.00 value. 

 

December 15th through December 31st is something new also.  I have discovered Huckleberry Jam and Syrup from Jackson Hole, WY.  It is the best thing I have ever had in my life.  Lisa actually got me on to this and I will put up a years supply to the winner.  So, if syrup and jams are something you enjoy this will be a great gift to win.  You will love it!!

 

These certificates are good for a full year and can be used at any location across the United States.  The only one that is not good for a year and cannot be used across the United States is me cleaning your house.  You have to use that pretty quick. 

 

 

 

As for the people who have donated already by check or website you will be entered into the first raffle for the III Forks drawing.  Please know that if you chose to donate now you will be entered into the drawing.  You do not have to wait until September 1st to enter.  Each raffle will be $5.00 same as last year.  Example: $10.00 gets you in twice, $20.00 get you in four times, etc.....

 

I hope you share this information with all your friends and let’s raise that $15,000.00 by race weekend.  Thanks again for your support and as always please let me know if you would like to be removed from my emails.

 

If you are mailing checks please make them out to the LLS and leave the memo line blank.

http://www.active.com/donate/tntntx/tntntxFWoodru1

 

Sincerely,

 

Finlay Woodruff

6840 Branch Trail

Frisco, Texas 75035

 

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great success!

Hi all!

Below is an email from one of my coaching clients who is training for Vermont 50 mile!

It is such a great testimonial not only to his training but in so many ways! This is what it is all about..feeling good and happy about what your doing, the products you use and how you spend your time! Its 12:30 on Sunday and I am still in my PJs!!!!:):)

 
**I always love to share my successful runs with you before the normal Wednesday report, just to show you how worth-while it is to have you as a coach !

So, I set out for a 5-6 hour run.  I ran on manicured trails at Rockefeller State Park.  Some of the hills are quite steep, and I ran it as you instructed (however, I pretty much ran the flats, except to eat) : think race and stay at the pace you want to run in the 50. calories 250, 300 each hour. PW the ups, run the downs and run and walk the flats as the course dictates you.

I stayed out a little later than I wanted Friday night….played poker with a bunch of friends and actually did quite well.  So, this run was on about 4 hours or so of sleep…. Wasn't expecting much.

For fuelinig, I had my 100 oz Camelbak filled with a mixture of Heed and Carbo-Pro (which got me 212 calories per 20oz), and ate Jelly Bellies (100 calories per pack) every hour.  I also took 2 Endurolytes every 40 minutes.  I wore LifeWave patches on the shoulder points.

Ok, so…I was moving quite well in the early stages, with mile splits typically under 10:00, with one or two at around 8:44 (I saw some other trail runners and just felt like I had to reel them in and pass them).  I was also running with a friend of mine (only for 2:30:00 as he wanted to get in 15 miles only) who is a very good runner trying to get into triathlons.  We challenge each other well.  I then set a goal for the 26.2 mile mark, that is, to be under 10:00…and bingo, I hit the marathon mark at 4:12:56….AMAZING….a training run with a marathon time that was not only faster then 3 of the 6 marathons that I have completed, but faster than the last 3 I ran (4:45, 4:58, and 4:18).  Now I started to think, lets hit 30 miles in under 10:00 per mile pace…I felt myself starting to tire a bit, but pushed hard and eded up running 30.85 miles in 5:05:00.  I thought about going for 6 hours, but I felt my pace slowing and decided to hit the brakes.

What is truly amazing about this training run and the 30.85 miles in 5:05 is this …. I figure that I would have hit the 50k mark within the next minute or two…so, let's say 50k at 5:08:00 (a sub-10:00 pace)….this time is almost 40 minutes faster than the best of the 3 50ks I have run (5:46, 5:49, and 6:59 - the 6:59 being on technical trails, with the first 2 on roads).  This is a  true testament to what your training has done for me. 

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your best

 Hi gang!

 

I am in SLC Utah at the OR show for a few days. Slow moving but I was able to walk for close to 2 hours today! It is very warm here, in the high 90s!!!

What a blast to see so many of our sponsors and friends...

Jay, myself and our girls had lunch with Scott Jurek and his beautiful wife Leigh and this was such a high light for us. Jay is now being coached by Scott:):)

Yes I can coach Jay and I have for many years now, but it is was time for my to cut the strings and let my Jay sore like he needs to. It is amazing how much more he listens to Scott than he does to me:):) Ha, is this the way it is when your married for several years???

I am very proud of Jay and the new challenges he is taking on..

 

We got to spend some great time with Marshall as well, I didn't even cry..:):)

 

I'm about ready to write my double story and feel so happy about it all, I am just happier these days than ever before. Many changes in our life the past week and all for the best and for the better!

 

The quote below was sent to me today...it is wonderful..

 

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
~ Steve Prefontaine

 

Give your best and don't let anyone ever tell you that your best was not good enough.

You are the one who has to live with yourself each day and answer to yourself.

So lets all just do our best and when we go to bed at night and close our eyes, smile that we did our best and sleep in peace.

 

Love to you all

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

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God is so Good!

 Hi my friends!

 

I just got this email this morning from sister Marybeth in Rome. I sit here with tears of joy with the amount of money that we have raised and knowing that money is still coming in.

THANK YOU to all of you for your love and support.

God is so so good.

 

Have a great day

Lisa

 

 

Good morning Lisa...some good news...I've converted the Euros and pounds I have received...the lucky number is now

$137,021.50

 

this is terrific...we never did this great...and I usually wait until October before I say a total...  I thinkGod sees ahead to our new mission in Addis abbaba and wants that to be a success...the Bishop wants us to start a mission there and he will be giving us a piece of land shortly...there will be many kids there to feed...so I am glad that I can be sure we can start feeding them right away...

 

God is using you in a great way...thank you for responding to His promptings...

 

God bless you...Sr.MB

 

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Today's thought

 There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterwards, when you've worked on your own corner.

--Aldous Huxley

 

Taking responsibility for our own attitudes, actions, and neglects is far more difficult than managing and directing other people's lives.

 

Giving advice to another, for example, is much easier that practicing what we preach. If we would apply our advice to our own lives, we would have less time to criticize, correct, or interfere in someone's else's difficulties. Moreover, we would be amazed at how many alternatives we have within our own grasp that could solve, or at least alleviate, the problems in our lives.

 

TODAY- Let me realize I am far more positive and predictive when I concentrate my efforts and thoughts on changing myself and my own actions. Give me the courage to act on my own internal wisdom.

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful day.

Many blessings to you

 

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

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Oprah!

Hello Everyone,

Colleen Woods here. If you've been reading Lisa's Blog over the past few weeks, you'll know I had the privilege of reporting live from Lisa's successful Badwater Double challenge.

I asked Lisa if I could guest blog today. Specifically, I was hoping I could ask each of you to build onto the Badwater Double dream.

I would absolutely love for Lisa and Sister Mary Beth to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show. Lisa, Sister Mary Beth and Oprah share a lot in common - they chase down dreams and they give back; most notably right now to kids in Ethiopia.

On Oprah's website, she offers a link for people to submit future show segment ideas. I'd like ask each of you to take a few minutes to click on this link and submit a few words describing why you think Lisa would be a great guest on the Oprah show. I know each of you have your own history with Lisa and these unique stories will help Oprah and her staff understand why Lisa's story would make a very compelling episode.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/qr6q

You'll see on this page that in addition to information about yourself, they ask:

*Tell us your story. (Please do not exceed 2000 characters including spaces.)

In this section, please be sure to include Lisa's full name - Lisa Smith-Batchen - and her website link: www.lisasmithbatchen.com.

THANK YOU SO MUCH...YOUR TIME WILL HELP GET LISA & SR MARY BETH ON OPRAH!!! TOGETHER, WE CAN DO SOOO MUCH TO HELP KIDS IN NEED!!

All the best,

Colleen

new treadmill workout!

 Hi kids! Check out this new treadmill workout! Thanks Connie

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

 

The Batchen family will be at the Outdoor Retail Show in Salt Lake City from Thursday to Sat.

Love to see you if you are going to be there!

 

Happy day

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

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article on miss Jackie

Good morning!

 

Below is an article on my friend and crew member Jackie who did her own amazing journey right before mine!

Have a wonderful day

Lisa

 

 

 

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/07/23/SPGIJK3OCB1.DTL

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first steps

Happy Monday everyone!

Life is so wonderful don't you agree??

Thank you all so very much for your wonderful letters, emails and phone calls about the accomplishment of our dream!!

I had a dream 4-5 years ago to run the Badwater Double, last week that dream became a reality.

With this reality comes so many feelings, and emotions that are just so hard to explain at this time.

With each passing day the story becomes more and more clear and the feelings are becoming memories that will be with me for the rest of my life.

You will all be the first to read the story when I can get it down on paper!

I went for my first walk today for 1:30 with my good friend Barb Lindquist, it was a slow walk and so peaceful!

Barb is 4 months pregnant with twins so I now can keep up with her:) My energy is still moving slow and my body is still telling me it needs more time to heal. It shall get what it needs and is asking for.

My feet are feeling better everyday and it is all coming together.

I had a great weekend! We took our kids to a local horse show to see friends who show horses. What beautiful animals they are! Sat. night Jay and I had a wedding to go to in Jackson Hole. I had a hard time finding the the right shoes to wear but we had a great time:) Congratulations to Andy and Megan!

***Many of you are coming to run one of our races in Sept. we look forward to seeing you. Many of you have offered to volunteer. If you are going to or are able to volunteer would you please email me asap.

I need to know when you are able to volunteer. Go to lisasmithbatchen.com and you can email me.

***I want to take this opportunity to thank my crew that I had for my BW double. Thank you will never be enough but I think the memories will last us all a lifetime..I love you all so very much.

God Bless you all

Lisa

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

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sit down for this one

 Hi all,

 

Happy Friday. I still continue to be full of emotions with lots of crying that comes and goes.

The dream I had for the last 4-5 years is now a reality. What comes with this are many things that I am sorting out in my heart and in my soul.

My body feels very good. My right ankle that was sprained is painful and so are the bone bruises on the bottom of my feet. I am not even taking advil for this, this to shall pass!

 

I only lost 2 pounds, but the muscles in my legs are much smaller.

I am trying to rest when I can and reflect on the miracle of life and the many gifts life has given to me.

 

So many things stand out in my mind. One is what my friend and crew member Pam said to me before we started, she also raises money. "If we each could just pick a TINY part in the world that we wanted to help and bring peace to we would make a large impact". I know the part I have picked, Marshall and others have picked is making a large impact.

 

Find something close to your heart to make an impact, you don't have to run 300 miles, you don't have to run at all. Just do something and know that, that something will make a difference...you do make a difference, we all make a difference.

God is love and love is what life is all about.

 

This video was sent to me about 45 min. ago. I am thankful it came to me at the right time. I sat here balling looking and listening. It brought so much back to me and I know you will gain something more in your own heart by watching it.

Pass it on to everyone you know. Share the love, share the gift.

 

Love you all

Lisa

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjPrL3n63yg&search=Team%20Hoyt <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjPrL3n63yg&amp;search=Team%20Hoyt>

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Ben Jones BW Double Slide Show

Here is the link for Ben's photos.

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
http://lisasmithbatchen.blogspot.com/
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

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Thursday

 Dear friends and family,

Below is an email sent to me before the race, I did not get it until I got back. It is so beautiful in so many ways. At the end of this email is another one that really sums up how I am feeling right now.

I can't focus, I can think straight. I cry much of the time for so many reasons. For joy for love and for the pain that I feel in the bones of my feet. Yes the do hurt, I have NO blisters thanks to Denise Jones but I do have bones that hurt to the core...This to shall pass.

I cant talk about my journey right now, I need a few more days to process it all. The emotions run so high, it is hard to get back to "real life"...I do know that life is much more simple than we all make it at times. God is out there and he is so good, so forgiving, so honest. I cry for so many reasons but mostly because of the love I feel for so many things in my life and in your life. I cry for all the giving that we are each capable of but yet we are scared to reach out. Do it, reach out to all those you love, tell them you love them tell them how much your heart yearns for there love in return. Why is love so hard for so many when its so, so simple and easy...Don't let another minute go by that you don't pick up the phone and call that person in your life that needs to know you love them or that you need to know they love you. It IS NOT difficult to do and it heals so much of our heart. Life is about love and giving..loving so much that you cant take the pain, but you can,,,giving so much that it hurts but you continue to give...GIVE< GIVE< Give until it hurts and when it hurts you keep on giving.

Hang with me and let my story become as it should be. I thank you all so much for your love support and for the giving...for the giving.

I run for you and me my friend, I ran for life!

 

Love you all

Lisa

 

 

 

 

Hi Lisa: I don't know if you'll get this before your epic journey or afterwards. I hope it will either give you a little motivation or serve as a help in reflecting back on what you went through, no matter whether it was to finish or not.

 

You are an extraordinary person. And if you obviously take that word apart...you are, and do the EXTRA...not the ordinary. You strive to do more, push harder, and go long after every cell in your body says ENOUGH. But that's not even enough for you, and so you defy logic and explanation, and continue on. I for one, believe that it's AFTER we die that's really why we're here on this earth in the first place. And I plan to do as much as I can, and to see and experience as much as I can while I'm here. I always wanted to be in the water when the cannon went off in Kona, see the sun set over the Sahara, and watch the sun rise at 18,000 feet on top of Africa....and so I did. I add to my life list much quicker than I check them off. But it's not to get everyone done, but just to want to do them in the first place. You feel the same compulsion to live life doing the EXTRAordinary, not just go through it, satisfied with the norms.

 

I'm amazed that you are attempting this feat. You will certainly experience highs and lows like you've never felt before, and unfortunately, probably mostly LOWS....but it's always the hurt that makes it so worth it. But of course you of all people know this....but even great ones like yourself aren't above being reminded of it, and something tells me during this run, you WILL need reminded. You are doing this for a great cause, one that I'm happy to contribute to. But undoubtedly you are doing this for not just a worthy cause, but for something deep inside you that pushes you onward.

 

Whether you complete this run.....is not the important thing. The fact that you desire to START such a journey in the first place, is what matters and THAT is what makes you EXTRAordinary.

 

God bless you...

 

....may you stay strong and go long!!!!

 

 

2nd email:

 

The best things in life cannot be told. That is to say, you can't talk about that which lies beyond the reach of words."--Heinrich Zimmer.

I retract my previous statement about wanting to hear all about this journey---I hope it is beyond the reach of words.

 

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Push

 hello...this is so great that I would open this email sent to me. I have 900 emails in my in box to go through and I will as the days go by. Today I must rest, it is hard to see or think straight. I am so full of emotions from head to toe..it is impossible to put anything into words at this time. I thank you all, I adore you all and we did it! We pushed!!!!

 

Many Blessings

Lisa

PUSH

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

  So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he  toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock,  pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned  to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing  discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the  picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind:

  "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time  and i t hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.  These thoughts ! discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time,
giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good  enough."

  That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

  The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.   And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself.

  Your arms are strong and musc led, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But
your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done.

  Now, I, my friend, will move the rock." At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it
is still God who moves the mountains.

  When everything seems to go wrong .. just PUSH!

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On the Way Back, When the Going Got Tough...

To borrow a quote from Denise Jones about pulling off a feat like the Badwater Double: "The plan is...the plan changes" So with the best laid plans, you just never know what can happen on the course.

For Lisa and crew on the return portion of her epic journey, the beauty of this spontaneity and uncertainty was that a wonderful and competent friend never seemed far away.

Beyond her crew, there were five people in particular who really helped Lisa get the job done on the way back:

Ben and Denise Jones (aka the Mayor and First Lady of Badwater): Ben and Denise live along the Badwater course and were absolutely unceasingly generous in all that they did for us. Denise cared for Lisa's feet by taping them and draining blisters when necessary. Many an athlete's Badwater dreams have been undone because of blistering and other foot trauma, but Denise's expert foot handling really helped Lisa. In addition to footcare, Denise offered so much about educating and implementing van organization. Keeping a support van organized for over 300 miles is a huge challenge. For example, should Lisa (who suffers from asthma) have needed one of her inhalers, it was critical that a crew member be able to locate the inhaler in the van immediately. Denise helped make this a reality. She also was tireless in her efforts to keep the crew a cohesive, working unit. She put us up in her house and really made it feel like a home. In fact, I miss being at the Jones' right now! Her husband, Ben, a medical physician and Badwater devotee, visited us on the course and took many photos that are excellent (Ben is a gifted photographer). And Ben so generously shared his office in his house with me, which allowed me to get wireless connection and post to the Blog. Thank you, Ben and Denise - you give so much and we are sooo glad you were a huge part of this journey!

Phil and Kari Marchant: Phil and Kari are another excellent couple that have given so much to Badwater over the years. This year, Kari served on Art Webb's crew for the official race and Phil worked as part of the official race staff, serving as a time keeper at one of the race milestones. On the way back, Phil and Kari meet us on Saturday night and were absolutely phenomenal in terms of helping an exhausted and slap-happy crew continue to provide the care that Lisa needed as she piled on the miles. Phil jumped into crew mode and kept us laughing. Kari helped shuttle people around and replenish supplies. Kari and Phil are so warm and friendly and their uplifting attitudes were just what the crew needed. Phil, a talented artist, crafted the medal that Lisa was awarded upon completing the Badwater Double. I will get some close-up photos of the medal, but to describe it - it is a profile of the course that you can flip over to depict the true length of the Double challenge. Lisa was speechless when Marshall presented this beautiful medal to her at the finish line. Thank you both!

Nilsa McKinney: Nilsa and her husband, Frank (who buckled this year!) are dear, dear friends of Lisa and her family. Throughout the official race, Nilsa - who led Frank's crew - and Frank from the course, inquired about Lisa's health and well-being. And they kept mentioning that they would continue to help, if there was anything they could... well, imagine our surprise when 'anything they can do' turned into Nilsa flying from Colorado on Sunday morning and driving to the course to help crew Lisa to the finish line. I can't describe how grateful we were to see Nilsa and how appreciative we were of her assistance. Nilsa hit the ground running and literally did not stop crewing until Lisa made it to the finish line of the complete challenge. She calls Lisa 'Mama' and I could see Lisa light up every time Nilsa shared that love. The crew was completed knackered when Nilsa arrived (I can't imagine what Lisa must have felt at that point!) and her energy and competence will forever be remembered and cherished.

Thanks to each of you who helped in ways we never imagined, but so desperately needed!

Photos:
Lisa Hugging Nilsa
Kari and Denise
Ben Jones
**I am looking for a photo of Phil. Stay tuned!**

A Message from Lisa As She Makes Her Way Back Home