What and why some are running the MDS and the LONG day at MDS!!!

http://www.active.com/donate/colleenwoods_RTF
Above! Our own Colleen Woods and Teresa!

Colleen is running and raising money for Aids Orphans Rising!!

Byron Powell is run for

Village of Hope

http://www.voh-ainleuh.org/

Below is Dreamchaser Anton who is running his 1st MDS!!

http://www.firstgiving.com/rumbleinthedesert.

Connie Carpenter! Running for Abundent after school water program!

Becky Clements with Sister Marybeth. Becky is running for

Aids Orphans Rising!

Terry Madl! Last year at the finish line of the 2008 MDS. This year so far he is way ahead of last year:)

Kerri Elfvins is running for the Jacksonville Humane Society!!! She is already over her goal:)

http://www.firstgiving.com/kerrielfvin

Francis LaBrune is running for Aids Orphans Rising!! Check out the article in the paper.

http://www.pvnews.com/articles/2009/03/19/local_news/news4.txt

This information below has been taken off the race web site. There are still people out on the course who have not completed the 50 mile stage. The results will be posted, we all have to be patient..I know it is not easy. Dreamchasers are running very well:) The men's team as it stands right now for overall places are

Mike 10th

Ted 19th

Bryon 20th

This is wonderful!

Meaghan Hicks is having an amazing race..she is in 2nd overall:)

33 retirements at 9.30am

3rd stage Men ranking 1 Mohamad Ahansal

(2-Morocco) 8h08m22s2 Aziz El Akad

(3-Morocco) 8h23m23s 3 Mustapha Ait Amar

(8- Morocco) 8h30m15s4

Salameh El Aqrah (357- Jord) 8h47m23s5

Anton Vencelj (220 – Slovénia) 8h47m23s6

Aurelio Antonio Olivar Roldan (529- Spain) 9h27m34s7

Lorenzo Trincheri (460 – Italy) 9h27m55s8

Julio Gomez Camacho (473-Spain ) 9h35m45s9

Marco Olmo (297 – Italy) 9h42m49s10

Michael Wardian (870 USA) 9h51m59s

General ranking

1 Mohamad Ahansal (2-Morocco) 13h32m57s

2 Aziz El Akad (3-Morocco) 6m20s (time difference with top runner)

3 Salameh El Aqrah (357- Jord) 37m41s (time difference with top runner)

4 Anton Vencelj (220 – Slovenia) 1h28m57s (time difference with top runner)

5 Mustapha Ait Amar (8- Morocco) 1h37m40s (time difference with top runner)

6 Lorenzo Trincheri (460 – Italy) 1h48m59s (time difference with top runner)

7 Michael Wardian (870 USA) 1h57m37s (time difference with top runner)

8 Samir Akhdar (4-Morocco) 2h00m52s (time difference with top runner)

9 Lhoucine Akhdar (5 – Morocco) 2h04m29s (time difference with top runner)

3rd stage Women ranking1 Touda Didi (265- Morocco) 11h52m49s

2 Meghan Hicks (825 – USA) 12h01m07s

3 Luz Perez Carbajo (480 – Spain) 12h12m35s

4 Simone Keyzer (434 – Luxembourg) 13h10m50s

5 Rosa Espachs Olivera (504- Spain) 13m31s10s

General ranking

1 Touda Didi (265- Morocco) 19m13m52s

2 Meghan Hicks (825 – USA) 44m33s (time difference with top runner)

3 Luz Perez Carbajo (480 – Spain) 1h06m07s (time difference with top runner)

4 Simone Keyzer (434 – Luxembourg) 2h24m36s (time difference with top runner)

5 Jennifer Salter (782- GB) 2h41m20s (time difference with top runner)

Such an intense, tough and stunning stage! Scoop of the day is for sure the retirement of the great favourite Lahcen Ahansal. The 10 times winner champion threw in the sponge at check point 4. Not really fit since the start of the race, accentuated by a lack of training after his previous year' break, he left the vicotry escape. He took the hard decision to give up, informing his brother between chek points 3 and 4. Mohamad moved to top speed and left the Jordanian Al Aqrah and the Moroccan Aziz Al Akad on the spot. Taking advantage of his incredible pace, he did not get some rest on check point 5, cooling down his rivals' ardour. He reached the finish line, with almost 15 minutes ahead before Aziz Al Akad and rob him of his first place. Tomorrow will be an unique opportunity for the 2 top leaders to have a bit of a fight, considering other runners are « out » for the first place.The slovenian Anton Vancelj gave renew proof of his great shape, with a beautiful fourth ranking.
On the women's side, as to amazing Touda Didi, the fireworks go on with no true pretender. Her timing would rank her in the top 30 men ranking. She should finish this stunning week with a well deserved title.
The race direction has decided to cancel the saturday's stage. The 24th Marathon des Sables will complete after the tomorrow's last 42km long stage.

Day 2 of the 2009 MDS and 2010 MDS!

I have been waiting and waiting for all the results to show on the race web site but several runners results are still not up. We wait and wait..but I am going to bed!

Today was more sand dunes and lots of rocks..the Dreamchasers are doing very well.
Meghan Hicks is the 3rd women overall...yeah for her!! This is a great start,

The long day which is 50 miles will start on Wed. morning. The runners have 2 days to complete the 50 miles. This is the stage that will make or break the race..and in my eyes this is where the race is won. If our men's Dreamchaser team is going to move up in the rankings they are all going to need to run a very hard fast 50 miles. You know what? They can do it!
Today Mike, Ted and Byron all ran very well and I know they were holding back and running the top guys down from the back! We should all be thinking about and praying for all the runners on Wed. for a very successful long day.
Jay Batchen is doing awesome..is is the 4th American behind the team Dreamchasers.

Some others that I would like to mention today is our Colleen Woods and Alisha Strobel who are from the Tetons are moving great.

We are thinking about you all today and everyone..Go Connie, Steve, George, Tess, Jane, Elizabeth, Terry, Mike, Bill and all of you! You inspire us all to do and be better. Thank you!

I have gotten over 40 emails in the past 2 days about the 2010 as well as the 2011 MDS race.
The 2010 race is sold out and we have a long waiting list. This does not mean it is impossible to get in it just means you are on a waiting list. If you would like to get on the list for either years please email me at lisa@dreamchaserevents.com



FROM THE RACE WEB SITE: Today March 31st, 2009

2nd stage Men ranking

Aziz El Akad (3-Morocco) : 2h41m17s
Salameh Al Aqrah (357-Jord) 2h45m48s
Lahcen Ahansal (1-Morocco) : 2h49m17s
Mohamad Ahansal (2-Morocco) : 2h50m30
5.Michael Wardian (870-USA) 2h52m36s (IN 7th OVERALL, 22 MIN BACK)

2nd stage Women ranking
. Touda Didi (265- Morocco) : 3h54min9s

General ranking stage 2Men

Aziz El Akad (3-Morocco) : 5h15m54s
Salameh Al Aqrah (357-Jord) : 7m21s (time difference with top runner)
Mohamad Ahansal (2-Morocco) : 8m41s (time difference with top runner)
Lahcen Ahansal (1-Morocco) : 8m44s (time difference with top runner)

A surprising stage today, done with at infernal speed. Dunes, stones and wind were excepted, but coldness and wind have been the last stage's guests. Lead by the Jordanian Salameh Al Aqrah and the Moroccan Aziz El Akad's paces - second and third rankings respectively last year, the race was really testing for the stretched bunch of runners at the foot of the spectacular Jebel El Begra. An amazing duel, worthy of the best Western movies.

Up to the second check point, the two leaders were on each other's heels, cooling down their rivals' enthousiasm. Thanks to an impressive final sprint, the Moroccan Aziz El Akad left his challenger way behind, seizing the 1st place of the general ranking. He seemed really confident at the finishing line regarding his 1st place this year, ? private proptery ? of the Ahansal family for 13 years. Despite his tough end of stage, the Jordanian shares exactly the same ambitions and expects a lot about tomorrow's heat. 7 minutes behind the leader in the general ranking is actually not an insuperable obstacle...
Exhausting race for the Ahansal' brothers : Mohamad suffered of digestive confusions, obliging his body to have a short break during this stage. His brother Lahcen was weak as well on the finishing line, apparently destabilized by the other competitors' ardour. Totalising more than 8 minutes difference with the top leader, this is an unforeseen situation for them. Temporarily lapse of end of kingdom ? Anwser tomorrow during the longest and mythical stage...

The Moroccan Touda Didi keeps shining in this competition, reaching the finishing line on the 1st position. Unless something drastic happens, she should keep the lead all through the week with a well deserved title.



DREAM CHASERS TEAM (numbers 868 - 870 / USA)

INTERVIEW WITH THE TEAM’S CREATOR, GERALD BATCHEN

The three musketeers of the American team “Dream Chasers”, Theodore Archer (32 years old), Brion Powell (30 years old) and Michael Wardian (34 years old) were brought together by Gerald Batchen, 39 years old, who is also participating in the race as a solo competitor under number 788. Michael Wardian, trained by Lisa, Gerald’s wife, who won the women’s MDS in 1999, is clear about his goal: to win the MDS this year and thus overthrow the near reign established by the Ahansal brothers for a good decade...His tactic: to use the flat stretches to back up his strong point, speed, and to slow down on the uphill stretches, which he has practiced less in training and, above all, not make any concessions to the Ahansal brothers, not to let himself fall behind...As for Theodore Archer, he finished in 16th place last year and hopes to optimise his results after 6 months of intensive training.This is a baptism of fire for Brion Powell: his first MDS, where he plans to implement a strategy of sustained effort, but has no specific goal in terms of placing.
Gerald Batchen confirms: “For this edition of the event, I have brought together a high level team of sportsmen who are developing fast and we have the ability to get on the podium.” In this first dunes stage, which is, in fact, his “weak” point, Michael finished in 8th place, in 2h 45' 59''. A good start. One to watch, then...Gentlemen, you have been warned!

Marathon Des Sables 1st day and more!!!

I posted this before on my blog..but now that the MDS is in process you may be interested in checking out Teds book. Ted is on the men's Dreamchaser team and today he was 18th overall!
Last year he was 16th overall and the first American...what can he do this year???

You have GOT to read this book written by one of my coaching students, Ted Archer! "Carved by God, Cursed by the Devil" is a story about the Marathon Des Sables, the 150-mile ultra-marathon through Morocco's Sahara Desert. www.tedarcher.com has a photo slideshow, a video clip that ABC News ran on the race, and even excerpts of the book that you can download for free. You will quickly see that it's an amazing story--and you'll want to buy the book! Ted, the author, is someone I met two years ago when he attended one of our running camps. He was a naturally gifted runner, but he was hilarious: He knew nothing about running. He had finished a marathon without eating or drinking anything, and he had never heard of some of the most basic running gear. He went from this to finishing 16th (the top American!) in a field of 802 runners at the world's toughest footrace. Look at the photos, read a piece of his story, and watch the video--and you'll need to find out how it ends. One of the great things about this book is that it's a story, not a journal. It's a fun read, and it's inspiring to read about someone else's journey. You'll also get to know many other runners (of varying abilities) who struggled along with Ted through 125-degree heat, sand dunes, salt flats, and rock gardens. Go to www.tedarcher.com, look at the photos, read the excerpts, and buy the book! Oh, and look for an interview with Ted to come out next week at www.enduranceplanet.com.



Photo of Ted on March 26th, 2009!!!

I can tell you that everyone who is in Morocco is thrilled!!! The sun is out and they are on there way.

What I want you to do today is go to this link and find the runner you are looking for.

On Tues. I will post this for you so you don't have to look so hard!

http://www.darbaroud.com/resultats/resultats.php?langue=en&epreuve_id=2009

The Dreamchaser team did very well today for there first day!

Mike, Ted and Bryon are all in the top...and so is JAY Batchen. I have to brag a bit to you about Jay because he was really only able to run about 1 time a week and play hockey 1 time a week.

He knows this race well and the moto is to GO SLOW TO GO FAST.

On Tues. the results will look different. Many who went out to fast today will pay the price on day 2 and through the rest of the race. You have to manage yourself well.

ALL Dreamchasers are in there tents right now, safe and going to bed. This is a great first day!

If you haven't seen the video of the Land Rover being washed away in a Saharan flash flood (at www.darbaroud.com and click the little British flag to get the English version), I hear that it is incredible.

REPORT FROM TED ARCHER:

The weather is now better, and the race has begun with an altered course. It's only about 80 degrees, so the field is exceptionally fast even though more than half of the 21 miles was in sand dunes today. I ran well today, sticking to my strategy of running hard on flat sections and walking uphills. The desert is a lot different than last year. We ran through flooded areas: mud was everywhere when we weren't in dunes. I'm not sure how things will go from here. We'll see what happens . . . more rain predicted Thurs.

Stay tuned!

Lisa

How to follow the MDS runner's

Happy Sunday!

The Marathon des Sables was to start today but today all the runner's are checking in there gear and the race WILL start on Monday morning. It is still raining in the Sahara! This is sure going to be an interesting race to follow this year.
Dreamchasers has a men's team that hopes to WIN the team division overall as well as WIN the race overall. This would be the FIRST time in the 24 year history of the race. I will be able to follow the race really well so stay tuned! The main race web site will have great photos and stories as well:)
Mike Wardian #870
Bryon Powell #869
Ted Archer #868

To track and communicate with a runner. You can track the results on the main website http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php (This is the link to the English version, if by chance it pops up in French, simply click on the American Flag in the upper right hand corner.)

You can also write to a runner at the same site. This will be really helpful to all the runners.

There will be a section on the website from March 29 to April 3rd (After April 3rd this will no longer be available.) Look for the instructions under "écrire aux concurrents/write to competitors.” This is important: YOU MUST INCLUDE THE RUNNERS FULL NAME and RACE ID in the SUBJECT of the EMAIL.

Put: To Competitor AND the race # in the subject line. They will print out all the emails addressed to runners and deliver them to there tent at night. DO NOT SEND ANY ATTACHMENTS OR PHOTOS or the email will not reach the runners. There are over 800 runner's so you can imagine that printing out and delivering emails for 800 people would take a long time.

Race # of all Dreamchasers!!

Iwan Axt # 785
Arthur Baczyk # 786
Jane Ballantyne #787
Jay Batchen # 788
Richard Bryson # 789
Connie Carpenter # 790
Benji Chu # 791
Anton Clark #792
Rebecca Clements # 793
Andrew Cohen # 794
David Croghan #795
Ian Cunliffe # 796
David Deany # 797
Alessandro Tomaiuolo #799
Giuseppe Radaelli #800
Umberto Pizzochero # 801
Leandro Contessi #803
Alessandro Dal Toso #804
Ugo Marco Vendramel # 805
Renzo Marcanzin #806
Stefano Calvi #807
Giuseppe Scotti # 808
Luciano Rossi #809
Carlo Bianchi #810
Alessandro Carrara # 811
Leonardo Bisori #812
Patrizio Fedozzi # 813
Robert Dobson # 815
Teresa Donnelly # 816
Jessica Downs # 817
Matthew Dyer #818
Kerri Elfvin # 819
Jean Paul Frey # 820
Tess Geddes #821
Jill Halabi #822
William Henderson #823
Lynne Hewett #824
Meghan Hicks #825
Steven Holman # 826
Julie Horton # 827
Mohammed Idlibi # 828
Dennis Janzen # 829
Reinier Jesserun # 830
Michael Julier # 832
David Kemp # 833
Danny Kendall # 834
Ineke Kuiper # 835
Francis Labrune # 836
Christine Lallier # 837
Caroline Lea # 838
Marc Leclerc # 839
Ray Levasseur # 840
Terence Madl #841
Paul Mayson #842
Christian Vachon # 843
Mandy Miller #844
Katherine Morgan #845
Emeka Ngwube # 846
Yoan Paquet # 847
Karl Roche #848
Leo Rogato # 849
Paul Roper #850
Luke Rowden #851
Hans Schmid #852
Molly Sheridan # 853
Elizabeth Smith # 854
Michael Smith # 855
Alisha Strobel # 857
Keith Sullivan # 858
Jordan Thurlow # 859
Patrick Tomada #860
George Velasco # 861
Samuel Whitaker # 862
Daphne Williams # 863
Colleen Woods # 864
Albert Martens #865
Walter Unrau #866
Dale Wohlgemuth # 867
Guy Gibbs #871
Nikolai Pitchforth # 872
Darren Karasiuk #874
Daniel Ouimet #875
Leo Power #876
Pascal Boutreau # 877
Fabrice Pradin # 878
Walter Batel # 879

Go Team!!!!
May you have the journey and experience of a lifetime!

Lisa

MDS: The Sahara Desert is under water!!!!

The Sahara Desert is UNDER WATER!!!!

Good morning everyone! While you are all warm and toasty in your beds over 850 runner's who are in Morocco to run the Marathon des Sables just might have to swim sections of the race.
Just kidding. The first stage at this point has been canceled! This is the first time in 24 year's that they have had to cancel any stage of a race. This is the first time in 24 years that 10 time winner Lachen has seen the kind of rain and flooding they are having.
All runner's have been taken to hotels and as it looks right now the race will start on Monday not on Sunday. This will cut the distance form 155 miles to 132 miles. As you can imagine what the race organizers are going through right now to work out all of the changes that need to be put in place. Jay said that everyone is in good spirits...really as they say..things happen.
Below are a few emails from Jay as to what is going on and also Bryon Powells blog link!
Have a great day
Lisa


.Email #1 from Friday!..it was pouring all day today. Our group was split up and sent out to the bivouac on two buses. The first left at 7:30am and the second at 10am. I was with the second group and we were stopped for about 4 hours while a flash flood washed made the road impassable. It seriously looked like class 5 rapids were rolling over the road. Eventually, the water subsided a bit and they sent the catering truck across to see if it was possible to get a vehicle across to the other side. It made it, so we pulled all of our gear out from under the bus and put it inside. Then, the driver proceeded to drive across...as soon as the current hit the bus, we felt the bus shift, but made it through successfully. WHEW?
At that point, we'd been on the bus for about 6 hours. As we continued on toward the bivouac we encountered numerous other washes, but none were as violent. Eventually, we made it to Erfoud where we met up with the others who took the earlier bus. They made it as close as 1km from the bivouac, but were returned to Erfoud where they spent most of the day on the bus as it continued to downpour. It turns out that the first bivouac is under water, so plans changed quickly.
The decision was made by the race organizers to put us in hotels for the night, which is much better than the other options. I have to get off line, but wanted to let you know that everyone is safe.



http://blog.irunfar.com/

Email #2 from Sat. morning: We're still at the hotel (11am here) and it's still raining. The first stage has been canceled. Cannot believe it. We're at the same hotel as Lahcen and some of the other top Moroccans. Still haven't found the other part of our group, but I'm about to go look for them. As of right now, they plan on doing the admin/medical checks tomorrow, Sunday, and starting us off at what would be the second bivouac. Still waiting for confirmation, but they need to see if the vehicle out there to the check-points. We'll see what happens next.

Meet ANDY JONES-WILKINS in August!

CAMP SCHEDULE

At the August 2009 Dreamchaser camp in the Tetons, we are proud to announce that Lisa will be joined by Andy Jones-Wilkins. Lisa and Andy will offer their collective expertise. Interested in coming to this camp? E-mail Lisa at lisa@dreamchaserevents.com with the subject 'August Camp' and we will reply with more camp details.

See you in AUGUST!!!

Andy Jones-Wilkins began his ultramarathon running career after discovering the rugged, mountainous trails of Arizona in 1996. Upon moving to Northern California in 2001 he began participating in 100-mile races that he soon discovered to be his strongest distance. The trails of Northern California proved to be quite good to Andy as he has steadily made his way into the elite level of 100-mile trail races over the past five years.

Currently living in the mountain town of Ketchum, Idaho Andy has now discovered the value of high altitude mountain training that he hopes will continue to propel his running career upward. He has a particular love for remote, high mountain, technical trails.

Andy is a married father of three children. His wife Shelly and his three sons (Carson, Logan, and Tully) are his biggest supporters and crew for him at every 100-mile race he runs.

Andy’s remarkable running career has been documented in regional and national publications. Among them are Running Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, Trail Runner, Ultrarunning, The Oakland Tribune, The Idaho Mountain Express and The Auburn Journal. Additionally, in July, 2007 Andy was featured prominently on NBC Television’s Jeep World of Adventure Sports’ coverage of the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run and in 2008 on PLUM TV’s feature story on endurance athletes of the mountain west.

Andy’s personal records include:

Marathon - 2:38
50 km- 3:31
50 Mile - 6:55
100 km - 9:10
100 Mile - 14:57

Come meet Andy at camp or say hello to him this summer when he competes in these races: Western States 100 Mile, Hardrock 100 Mile, Leadville Trail 100 Mile, and the Javelina Jundred.

Meet RAY ZAHAB in July!

CAMP SCHEDULE

At the July 2009 Dreamchaser camp in the Tetons, we are proud to announce that Lisa will be joined by Ray Zahab. Lisa and Ray will offer their collective expertise. Interested in coming to this camp? E-mail Lisa at lisa@dreamchaserevents.com with the subject 'July Camp' and we will reply with more camp details.

See you in JULY!!!

Ray Zahab is an adventurer and ultra marathoner.

On November 1, 2006 Ray and two other runners set out on an epic expedition to cross the Sahara Desert by foot. One hundred and eleven days after leaving the coast of Senegal they made history by dipping their toes into the Red Sea and raising the bar of all that we consider possible.

The epic expedition had the trio running an average of 70km’s a day, without a single day of rest. National Geographic tracked this epic expedition by web, and the documentary film ‘Running The Sahara’ - narrated and produced by Matt Damon – was filmed in an effort raise awareness for the drinking water crisis in Northern Africa. After witnessing and experiencing the water crisis and malaria epidemic in Africa, Ray decided to dedicate his future adventures to raising awareness and funding for causes that he supports and believes in.

Two years later, Ray, and two other Canadians, broke the world speed record for an unsupported expedition to the South Pole, In the process, Ray became the first person to trek this traditional route to the South Pole solely on foot- without the use of skis. This expedition was completed as part of Ray’s Foundation, impossible2Possible, a non-profit organization with a mission is to inspire and educate youth through adventure learning, and inclusion and participation in expeditions.

Ray is a member of the board of Directors of the Ryan’s Well Foundation, is the official Athletic Ambassador to the ONExONE organization, and is a representative of SpreadTheNet. Ray was the recipient of the ONExONE Difference Award in 2007.

Learn more about Ray at: http://www.rayzahab.com/

Meet DR LISA BLISS in June!

CAMP SCHEDULE

At the June 2009 Dreamchaser camp in the Tetons, we are proud to announce that Lisa will be joined by Dr. Lisa Bliss. Share in their collective expertise! Interested in coming to this camp? E-mail Lisa at lisa@dreamchaserevents.com with the subject 'June Camp' and we will reply with more camp details.

See you in JUNE!!!

Dr. Lisa Bliss is a physician, board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has an outpatient private practice in Spokane, Washington that specializes in Sports and Spine injuries. She did her training at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

Lisa has been the Badwater Medical Director since 2003, heading up a team of 8-10 medical professionals for the race held in Death Valley in July. She was Medical Director at the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run for two years in 2005 and 2006.

Lisa has conducted research on fluid and electrolyte changes at ultramarathons in extreme heat environments. Her professional goals are to restore and maximize one’s function and to prevent reinjury.

Lisa is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and a leading member of the American Road Runners’ Society Best Practices Committee, which strives to stay abreast of the most appropriate medical diagnoses and treatments of runners.

Lisa started running marathons during medical school and ran her first ultra in 1999. She has completed 60 ultramarathons, including numerous 100-mile races, and 24- and 48-hour races. She has run the Badwater Ultramarathon twice and won the women’s race in 2007. Lisa’s 100-mile personal best is 19 hours 42 minutes, a top-ten time for women in 2008.
Lisa’s running philosophy is that each person has unique needs and goals, which means that optimal training styles and intensities vary from person to person.

Core Training Class Schedule - Teton Valley, Idaho

This blog post is for anyone who lives in Teton Valley...or anyone who wants to come visit and take these great classes...ALL are welcome!!!

Core Training Class Schedule
At the Nikko Judo Academy
Class Leaders: Lisa Smith-Batchen and Mike Ehredt

This schedule is subject to change and updates will be communicated as early as possible to provide you with advance notice.

MONDAY
6am Morning Class……………..Mike
9am Morning Class……………..Lisa


TUESDAY
6am Morning Class……………..Lisa


WEDNESDAY
6am Morning Class……………..Mike
9am Morning Class……………..Lisa
6:30pm Evening Class…………Mike or Lisa


THURSDAY
6am Morning Class……………..Lisa


FRIDAY
6am Morning Class……………..Mike*
9am Morning Class……………..Lisa



Class Prices, effective March 1, 2009
* Drop-in class = $10
* 10 Class Punch card (expires in 3 mths) = $80
* Monthly Unlimited Card = $85

These classes are geared towards all levels….Beginners to Advanced!

These workouts will find your weakness and allow them to become your strengths. These workouts are great for any sport you love to do or just for those trying to drop a few pounds, be with a group of motivated people and get back into shape.

Each class is 1 hour. You will get your heart rate up, work all muscles in the body & at the end stretch.

You will be in bare feet. Bring a towel, water, a friend and your happy attitude.



For more information,
e-mail lisa@dreamchaserevents.com

March 2009 Dreamchasers Women's Training Camp

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
You playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates other.”

--Marianne Williamson


Dreamchasers Women’s Training Camp – March 2009

Hard to believe nearly a week has passed since the week-long Dreamchasers Women’s Training Camp took place. It was an amazing week, filled with lots of laughter, a few healing tears and the emergence of many friendships we trust will endure for years to come.

The camp began on Monday night and ran through Sunday afternoon. To describe it as action-packed is to say the least…and we couldn’t have enjoyed it more, sharing the week with many women visiting the Tetons for the first time.

Campers hailed from California, Missouri, Illinois, and NY…plus some neighbors including residents of Jackson, Victor, Driggs and Rexburg. Their collective experience was formidable – including women who have run marathons and ultramarathons and climbed the Grand Teton. And for those with less athletic experience, it was so rewarding to watch how the veterans readily shared their experience and even confided that they envied the rush and reward that comes with doing many of these things for the first time.

We offer a huge debt of gratitude to the wonderful guest speakers:

Katsey Long, LCSW: Katsey’s memorable discussion on Setting Boundaries inspired conversations among campers for the entire week. Perhaps it was best said by one of the campers who shared: “I had to learn this slowly, but I now understand that NO is a complete sentence.” Sometimes, explanations just aren’t necessary.

Dr. Maura Lofaro: Dr. Maura shared a heart warming account of her own life and the role that running has played in it. Her passion for running was sparked by her Dad and has helped her in her role as a caregiver to both her patients and children. Look for her running in Jackson and inspiring us all!

Laurie Andrews: As Executive Director of the Jackson Hole Land Trust, it came as little surprise that Laurie loves the outdoors. However, her offering to the group allowed us to understand how she has grown to know the mountains and that her race accomplishments are based on some simple, but lasting, principles…including advice to build on your past success. Laurie, thanks for the quote that starts this Blog post!

Dr. Naomi Albertson: In sports, nutrition and hydration are described as disciplines that can’t be ignored. Dr. Naomi shared her knowledge and advice about hydration and dealing with different elements. An excellent teacher, Naomi brought samples of commonly used sports drinks and foods and helped us learn about sodium counts and how to read labels. Naomi, thanks for making us all safer on the course and in training…and hopefully eliminating some visits to the Medic tents!

Adolfo Gutierrez: A Judo sensei, Adolfo led our group through a 90 minute Self Defense class. He helped us learn how to get away from a person who threatens us and to understand our need to trust our intuition. A big thanks to helping us feel safer and more grounded in our ability to protect ourselves.

If you would like to join us at a future camp, e-mail us at colleen@dreamchaserevents.com



For a listing of the 2009 camp dates, click here:
http://www.dreamchaserevents.com/lisasmithbatchen/camp_schedule.htm



Here are some photos of a week’s worth of fun!

Snowshoeing!

Our New Friends from Rexburg!





A Sleigh Ride Dinner!



The infamous CORE class!

The tire pull!

Cross-country Skiing!

Katsey & Lisa


Colleen & Liz

Marie & Lisa

Lunch at Julie's Awesome Yurt!

You all have to read this book!!!

Hi my friends!!

You have GOT to read this book written by one of my coaching students, Ted Archer!

"Carved by God, Cursed by the Devil" is a story about the Marathon Des Sables, the 150-mile ultra-marathon through Morocco's Sahara Desert. www.tedarcher.com has a photo slideshow, a video clip that ABC News ran on the race, and even excerpts of the book that you can download for free.

You will quickly see that it's an amazing story--and you'll want to buy the book! Ted, the author, is someone I met two years ago when he attended one of our running camps. He was a naturally gifted runner, but he was hilarious: He knew nothing about running.

He had finished a marathon without eating or drinking anything, and he had never heard of some of the most basic running gear. He went from this to finishing 16th (the top American!) in a field of 802 runners at the world's toughest footrace.

Look at the photos, read a piece of his story, and watch the video--and you'll need to find out how it ends.
One of the great things about this book is that it's a story, not a journal. It's a fun read, and it's inspiring to read about someone else's journey. You'll also get to know many other runners (of varying abilities) who struggled along with Ted through 125-degree heat, sand dunes, salt flats, and rock gardens.

Go to www.tedarcher.com, look at the photos, read the excerpts, and buy the book!
Oh, and look for an interview with Ted to come out next week at www.enduranceplanet.com. -

Love to all
Lisa

The greatest goal you can set this year!

Love this:) Lisa


The greatest goal you can set this year is to make peace with your life, no matter your circumstances. These 10 powerful insights from Eckhart Tolle will get you started.

1. Don't seek happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness. Happiness is ever elusive, but freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it.

2. The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation or the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. "I have 50 cents left in my bank account" is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering.

3. See if you can catch the voice in your head, perhaps in the very moment it complains about something, and recognize it for what it is: the voice of the ego, no more than a thought.

4. Whenever you notice that voice, you will also realize that you are not the voice, but the one who is aware of it. In fact, you are the awareness that is aware of the voice. In the background, there is the awareness. In the foreground, there is the voice, the thinker. In this way you are becoming free of the ego, free of the unobserved mind.
Wherever you look, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence for the reality of time—a rotting apple, your face in the bathroom mirror compared with your face in a photo taken 30 years ago—yet you never find any direct evidence, you never experience time itself. You only ever experience the present moment.

5. Why do anxiety, stress, or negativity arise? Because you turned away from the present moment. And why did you do that? You thought something else was more important. One small error, one misperception, creates a world of suffering.

6. People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time.

7. The more shared past there is in a relationship, the more present you need to be; otherwise, you will be forced to relive the past again and again.

8. Equating the physical body with "I," the body that is destined to grow old, wither, and die, always leads to suffering. To refrain from identifying with the body doesn't mean that you no longer care for it. If it is strong, beautiful, or vigorous, you can appreciate those attributes—while they last. You can also improve the body's condition through nutrition and exercise. If you don't equate the body with who you are, when beauty fades, vigor diminishes, or the body becomes incapacitated, this will not affect your sense of worth or identity in any way. In fact, as the body begins to weaken, the light of consciousness can shine more easily.

9. You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.

10. If peace is really what you want, then you will choose peace.

Are you depressed or know someone who might be?

Many who know me, know that I suffer depression,,more so in the winter months.
One thing I have learned is this: you can't run and hide from depression.
I have gotten many emails in the past few weeks about friends, students, people all over the World asking about depression. I am not a therapist or a Doctor. I can only tell you my own personal struggle with depression, share with you what I do to help the depression.
Depression is a real illness like diabetes or any other illness. I listen to people all the time say things such as: it is all in there head, why don't they just get off the couch and go for a run or walk, why don't they eat better....and so on.
Why, why, why???
Until you have experienced depression yourself of have been with someone who suffers depression it is very hard to understand.
Below is some information that I hope will help you today. I am here for all of you as your friend.
Please share with all of us the ways you deal with depression or ask other questions on how you can help someone you know that is suffering from depression.

Lisa


DEPRESSION

There are several signs and symptoms that help a healthcare professional determine if a person is suffering from depression. In general, a person must have five (or more) of the symptoms listed below during the same two-week period.
These symptoms must represent a change from the way he or she used to function. In addition, at least one of the symptoms must be either
#1 depressed mood or #2 loss of interest or pleasure in activities.
Common symptoms of depression1 1. Depressed or irritable mood most of the day—nearly every day
2. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities (such as hobbies, work, sex, or being with friends) most of the day—nearly every day
3. A sudden change in weight (weight loss without dieting, gaining more than 5% of body weight in 1 month), or a change in appetite
4. Inability to sleep or sleeping too much, nearly every day
5. Agitation or restlessness (observed by others) nearly every day
6. Constant fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
7. Frequent feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
8. Difficulty concentrating or making decisions nearly every day
9. Frequent thoughts of death or suicide (or a suicide attempt or plan) /
Important note: If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare professional, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local suicide hotline./ In addition to having five or more of the symptoms above, in order to lead to the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD)This is a physician's term for a specific type of depression.

A person who suffers from a major depressive disorder must have either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. The person must have these symptoms consistently for at least a two-week period. Furthermore, this mood must represent a change from the person's normal mood. It should also be having a negative impact on his or her daily function, such as family, work, socializing, etc. A depressed mood caused by drugs or alcohol, or one caused by a medical condition, is not considered a major depressive disorder. Remember, only a doctor can properly diagnose this or any other disorder.
<../resources/glossary/terms_m-p.aspx>, the symptoms must cause significant distress or impair the person's ability to function.
This means the symptoms have a negative affect on how the person functions socially, at his or her job, or in some other aspect of their life. It's important to know that there are several different illnesses that can account for symptoms of depression.
Your doctor or other healthcare professional must rule out other possible causes (including other medicines or illegal drugs) before diagnosing you with depression.^
1 There are many reasons, or even a combination of reasons why a person might become depressed. These include traumatic life experiences such as the death of a loved one, certain diseases or medicines, substance abuse, hormonal changes, or a family history of depression. Sometimes the cause of depression is unknown. More often it is a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors that bring on a depressive episode.^
1 Whatever the circumstances, depression is caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. Normally, these “chemical messengers” help nerve cells communicate with one another by sending and receiving messages. They may also influence a person's mood. In the case of depression, the available supply of the chemical messengers is low, so nerve cells can't communicate effectively. This often results in symptoms of depression .
Anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status, can suffer from depression. A disease that affects millions of Americans each year, believed to be caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. <../resources/glossary/terms_d-l.aspx>.
It is estimated that 19 million American adults suffer from depression every year.
Depression is not a weakness or a character flaw—it is a real medical illness. But the good news is that with proper treatment, 4 out of 5 patients will improve.^
1 People who suffer from depression are not just moody or have “the blues” for a few days. They experience long periods of feeling very sad and lose interest in social and daily activities. Many feel they have no concentration and no energy. Depression can change the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves.
* The causes of depression are not always clear. It may be triggered by an event or for no apparent reason at all. Genetics may also play a role in not providing your brain with enough serotonin. A neurotransmitter that is believed to influence mood. SSRIs help relieve the symptoms of depression by increasing the available supply of serotonin in the brain. <../resources/glossary/terms_q-s.aspx>. Learn more about the causes of depression . * The symptoms of depression may differ from person to person.

Some symptoms may include a persistent sad mood, lack of pleasure in activities, change in sleep or eating habits, or a feeling of worthlessness. Learn more about the symptoms of depression . * If you think you may be suffering from depression, take the Depression Self-Screener <../check_symptoms/dep_screener.aspx>. Results are anonymous. Be sure to share your answers with your healthcare professional so he or she can properly diagnose your condition and provide appropriate treatment. Only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose depression. * If you don't know whether or not your depression is serious enough to visit a doctor, read our Seeing a healthcare professional <../talk_doctor/seeing_hcp.aspx> section for guidance.

* Dealing with depression can be challenging. But it is treatable with medicine and therapy.
Read more about treatment options , and review some suggestions on additional ways of coping with depression .

Did you know that a person can experience both depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at the same time? Learn more about the connection between depression and GAD .

*References: 1.* National Advisory Mental Health Council. Healthcare reform for Americans with severe mental illnesses. /Am J Psychiatry/. 1993;150:1447-65.

Depression is Not the Same for Everyone You don't need to experience all of the signs and symptoms listed above to be diagnosed with depression. Symptoms will also vary from person to person. For instance, compared with depressed men, depressed women are more likely to experience guilt, weight gain, anxiety, eating disorders, or increased sleep. Depressed older adults tend to experience persistent sadness or “empty” moods. It is important to remember that depression is a medical condition like any other. And, just as there are treatments for conditions like diabetes or heart disease, there are treatment options available for depression. Be sure to seek the assistance of a healthcare professional so they can determine if you have symptoms of depression.
If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of depression, take the Depression Self-Screener <../check_symptoms/dep_screener.aspx> and then discuss the results with your healthcare professional. Did you know the symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can overlap? Or that a person can experience both conditions at the same time? Learn more about the overlap of depression and GAD .

Visit www.EndurancePlanet.com for My Interview on Injuries and the Ten-Percent Rule

I am so honored to be a part of the EP expert group for the website: www.EndurancePlanet.com

Part of being an EP expert means being interviewed and responding to questions posed by their website visitors.

This week, I respond to a runner dealing with injuries as he approached his first 100 miler.

Download this interview as an MP3 file and listen to the interview on your next run.

Happy Feet!

LSB

Read All About It!

FACEBOOK: Become a Fan of Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club

I am getting my feet wet on Facebook and thank all of you who have become my friends!

I’d love to invite each of you to be a part of the Dreamchasers group on Facebook. I know so many of you know each other already…but here’s a chance to meet a few more great people. And post some photos from your training and races…how I love to see those!

Nuts and Bolts…how do you join?

Go to this link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victor-ID/Dreamchasers-Outdoor-Adventure-Club/59145279166

And in the upper right-hand side of the page you’ll see a link that reads ‘Become a Fan’. Click on it and your part of the group!

GOOD READING: Women’s Running Magazine!

I read the inaugural issue of Women’s Running magazine…and thought, “How great! A magazine for women about running!” And I read it cover to cover…and discovered interesting and informative articles. I know that before the year is over, I will be reading articles in this magazine about one of you reading the Blog today.

So here’s an offer for you to think about: Subscribe to Women’s Running magazine now and receive 10 issues for $19.95 plus get a free Run Girl shirt.

Women’s Running magazine has the stories, advice and inspiration to keep you motivated and running strong. Women’s Running will help you:

· Run smarter with women’s-specific training plans.
· Find the latest shoes, gear and apparel just for women.
· Eat healthier using our easy and nutritious recipes.
· Get inspired and motivated for your next run.
· Discover new events and organizations created just for women runners like you.


Subscribe Now to receive your free shirt! Visit www.womensrunningmag.com/freeshirt to sign up.

Note: Women’s Running was formerly Her Sports + Fitness magazine. If you subscribe to this offer and you already have a current Her Sports + Fitness subscription or recently subscribed to Women’s Running, we will add your new issues to your current subscription. No issues will be lost.

Great thought!

The more things you are glad for,

the more things you will have to be glad for...

Just be glad and your fate will change,

a new future will dawn for you.

Happy weekend!!!!

Lisa

A Valentine’s Gift She Will Not Forget

For those of you considering Valentine’s gifts for your sweetie, or for those of treating yourself (you deserve it!), I’d like to tell you about an upcoming camp.

Please join us in March 2009
for the Dreamchasers Women’s Training Camp
at the Teton Springs Lodge and Spa

The camp is for all women of ALL abilities who want to learn all about fitness and how to accomplish anything. She can snowshoe, skate ski, walk, hike, run…even bring her bike!

Attached is information regarding the camp.
CAMP DESCRIPTION

And we are so pleased to announce the list of Guest Speakers who will be presenting at camp. GUEST SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

If you live locally and do not require hotel accommodation, please e-mail Colleen at colleen@dreamchaserevents.com and she can provide you details about our locals package.

Dreamchasers has a longstanding tradition of hosting memorable camps that help people move towards a healthy lifestyle and enjoy lots of laughs. Please take some time to visit our feedback from past campers.
CAMPER TESTIMONIALS

Something to enjoy apres work-out...a hot tub and a magnificent view!

Click HERE to visit the website fo Teton Springs Lodge & Spa, the beautiful place where we wil stay.

Wow! 7 Day Southern Caribbean Running Cruise!!!

LASTING IMPRINTS
PRESENTS

RUN THE ISLANDS AND LEAVE A FOOTPRINT

Lasting Imprints is promoting their running/walking cruise for November 2009. Their goal is to use the runs and walks to help raise money towards Local Island Community needs.

Join us on a 7 Day Southern Caribbean Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s 5 Star floating hotel Adventure of The Seas. This is just not any cruise, but a running cruise. Four group runs/walks on four different Islands. All Island Running Events are hosted by Local Island Running Clubs.

This is a runners/walkers dream vacation. Being able to run/walk on 4 exotic Islands and then return to your 5 star floating hotel with sun decks, swimming pools, ice skating rink, fitness center, day spa, shows, comedians ect. Not to forget all of the healthy food choices that is there just for the asking.

This is one event that you do not want to miss. Share your passion for running with others and the footprints that you leave behind will leave a Lasting Imprint on many people and the communities that the live in.

Visit our website at www.leaveafootprint.ca for the ultimate running/walking vacation.

Here are the prices for the cruise.

703.00 taxes all in for one person.This is in CDN Funds.
If the exchange rate is still at .20 cents on the dollar it would be around 560.00 U.S. for one person.

All cabins are based on double occupancy.

Add 120.00 for the run package and find some good airfare and you have a seven day Caribbean Running Cruise for 1,000.00 per person.


Thank-you

Linda and Jan Mulder

Leave a Footprint

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!
Lisa

FREE STUFF! Team Pearl Izumi-Smith

F-R-E-E STUFF!

I everyone! I am so honored to be part of the Pearlizumi-Smith team for the 2nd year.

It is such a blessing for me in so many ways. I LOVE the Pearlizumi shoes...
So far this winter I have been running in the "syncroSeek 111 WRX..these shoes are a water resistant trail shoe!!!1

Ok...do you like FREE STUFF? Then read on!



I knew that would get your attention. Who doesn’t like free stuff? Team Pearl Izumi-Smith just wants your input and/or feedback during our monthly contest. Here’s how it works:
Each month we will have a topic or item our sponsors want more feedback on and who better to ask than those people who use them on a daily basis.
Send all entries to aric@teampearlizumi-smith.com and put CONTEST in the subject line.
All entries must be submitted by midnight on the 25th of each month. This month will go to the 31st.
Once all the feedback is collected a name will be drawn out of a hat and announced on the last day of the month.
It’s as simple as that! We just want you to come back.
For the first contest (January), Team Pearl Izumi-Smith is looking for a team catch phrase. For example Pearl Izumi has “Run Like an Animal”- Team Pearl Izumi-Smith “your catch phrase”
The prize this month is a pair of Smith Super Methods! Go to www.smithoptics.com and check out how cool you will look in these!
So until February……”Run Like an Animal”

I really hope one of you WIN this month.
Much love
Lisa

What Will Matter

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will passes to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned.
Your grudges,resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
The wins and losses that once seemed to important will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you want but what you gave.
What will matter is not your successes but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
Its not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
CHOOSE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS.

--Michael Josephson

Teton Running News (Jan 13, 2009)

Happy January...please SAVE THESE DATES if you are in the Teton Valley area!

Movie Night for Kids
Friday, January 16th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Location: Nikko Judo Academy
Cost: $15/per child

Bring your kids to the Nikko Judo Academy for movie night. We are going to have pizza and a great movie for the kids which is G rated called Balto. The movie is free of charge, but the fee will pay for the cost of the staff, pizza and heat. We are going to have fun exercises and a short talk on one of the NJA's character traits. This is a great opportunity for mom and dad to have a date night!


Targhee Sasquatch Snowshoe Series: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION RACE
Sunday Jan. 18th
Time: 10am for the race start.
Registration between 8:30 and 9:30 am race day on the plaza where the activities center is at Targhee. Look for signs that say snowshoe! Cash or checks only.
Location: Grand Targhee Resort. 5k and 10k groomed trails, packed and untracked sections.
Entry fee: $20 for 5k and $25 for 10k

All races are for beginners, weekend snowshoes and serious runners. Awards and raffles prizes will be given away right after the races are over. Snowshoe rentals available: Targhee has some rentals available for the cost of $15. Special Guest Snowshoer: Sister Marybeth Lloyd is coming back to the Tetons and will run the 10k!

Child Care: While you have fun at Targhee doing one of the snowshoe races, your kids can join the staff for a fun day of games at Nikko Judo Academy in Driggs (located in Driggs, Idaho at 115-C Johnson Ave Winter Park Complex (across from Idalia Bakery). The day will last from 8am to 2pm and the cost is $5 per hour for your first child, $8 per hour for 2 children in the same family. Please pack a healthy bag lunch for each child who attends camp. 8am to 2pm will give you plenty of time to drop the kids off, drive up the hill, register and get ready to snowshoe! Enjoy the awards and the go have lunch, drive back down and pick up the kids.

**Course will be set up by Thursday if you want to head up to the resort for some practice before race day.

OTHER DATES TO SAVE FOR THE SNOWSHOE SERIES
* Sunday Feb. 14th 10am
* Wed. March 11th 6pm
* Sat. April 4th 8am

For more information, click HERE.


Snowshoe Adventures
Every Saturday, starting January 24th
Location: A new place each week

Beginning January 24th,every Saturday from 9:30- 1:30, there is a group of people who snowshoe. Each week we will be doing a different trail. If you would like to join us please email Lisa at lisa@dreamchaserevents.com and information will be sent to you, including the weekly meet-up location.

She Rips! Breast Cancer Fundraiser at Targhee
Come out to the Grand Targhee Resort for the SHE RIPS weekend on January 31 & February 1, 2009. The weekend focuses on women's snow sports and includes the "Mary's Nipple Challenge" fundraiser to Support Oncology Fund at St. John's Hospital. Please visit HERE for more information.

____________________________
Featured Event:

Saturday January 31
MARY'S NIPPLE CHALLENGE
THIS IS ONE EVENT YOU SURE DON'T WANT TO MISS!

Hike and Ski the peak Mary's Nipple, Snowshoes near and around the wishing well on a 2.5k loop or skate/cross country ski on the 5k Nordic loop to show your support. An awards ceremony will take place in the main plaza at 4:30 pm, featuring special guests Annie Fenn MD and Maura Lofaro MD, who will discuss the importance of early detection of breast cancer. The ceremony will also feature local breast cancer survivors sharing their inspiring stories.

For more information, click HERE.

I wish you...................

This is beautiful!

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard.
She did not recognize them. She said 'I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry.
Please come in and have something to eat.'
'Is the man of the house home?', they asked. 'No', she replied. 'He's out.'
'Then we cannot come in', they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
'Go tell them I am home and invite them in !'
The woman went out and invited the men in.
'We do not go into a House together,' they replied. 'Why is that?' she asked.
One of the old men explained: 'His name is Wealth,' he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, 'He is Success, and I am Love.'
Then he added, 'Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.'
The woman went in and told her husband what was said.
Her husband was overjoyed. 'How nice!!', he said. 'Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!'
His wife disagreed. 'My dear, why don't we invite success?'
Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house.. She jumped in with her own Suggestion: 'Would it not be better to invite Love?
Our home will then be filled with love! '
'Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice,' said the husband to his wife.
'Go out and invite Love to be our guest.'
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, 'Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.'
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: 'I only invited Love, why are you coming in?'
The old men replied together: 'If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him.
Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success !!!!!!'

MY WISH FOR YOU... -
Where there is pain, I wish you peace, mercy & healing. -
Where there is self-doubting, I wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through it. -
Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I wish you understanding, patience, and renewed strength. -
Where there is fear, I wish you love and courage.
Love You & GOD Bless You!!!

They made it to the South Pole in record time!!!

Our good friend Ray Zahab along with his team Kevin and Richard made it to the South Pole in RECORD TIME!!!!

We want to send a big congratulations to all three of these amazing men!! It has been a blast to follow the progress each day.

To check out all the details here is the link:

http://www.southpolequest.com/

Ray...I want one of those hats:)

We love you and are so proud of all of you for this amazing accomplishment.

Lisa, Jay, Bella, Gabby and the rest of the

Dreamchasers!!!