8 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG PARTY!

 

The Fall 50…50.7 beautiful miles through Door County, Wisconsin!

Holy bananas…we’re getting CLOSE!

Started my morning at the Y with Pilates followed by Cardio Essentials. Then I decided to try something a little different…

THE STEAM ROOM!

Thought maybe a little steam would help loosen up this chest congestion.

And “HOLY SCHINKES”…was that thing HOT!

Fifteen minutes was ALL I could handle! Came out soaking wet and ready to cool down.

After cleaning up and taking it easy, I headed out later for a little walk. Just some gentle time on my legs while continuing to let my body recover.

The good news? I’m feeling pretty good!

I’m still paying attention to this cough and how my lungs are feeling. I’m hoping to get back on the treadmill soon, once it’s safe, to see how my body responds.

In the meantime, I’m getting my Fall 50 checklist organized, preparing to pack, and spending some time studying and visualizing the course.

The mental preparation is just as important right now.

I can picture those beautiful Door County roads, the miles ahead, and all those special names I’ll be carrying with me.

And I’m reminding myself…

A positive mindset doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges. It means believing you can work through them while making smart decisions along the way.

Eight days away.

The excitement is REAL. The gratitude is REAL. And the purpose behind these miles means more than ever.

Rest. Recover. Visualize. Believe.

Project 9:30…one day at a time!

#Project930 #Week18 #Fall50 #8DaysToGo #IronSunshine La Crosse Area Family YMCA Destination Door County

9 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG DANCE! 🏃‍♀️🎗️

The Fall 50 in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin! And technically, we’re talking 50.7 MILES!

Well…today was the day to figure out what in the world has been going on with this body of mine!

Started the morning at the Y teaching TRX • Cycling • TRX, taking it VERY easy. Lots of coaching, demonstrating, and letting my members do the hard work today!

Then it was off to the doctor.

Because seriously…CHEST, WHAT IS GOING ON?!

And we finally have an answer. My doctor suspects walking pneumonia.

So now we’re treating it with medication, an inhaler, and a plan to give my body the rest it needs.

I’ll admit, I’m not someone who loves taking medication, so seeing everything I was prescribed was a little overwhelming. But right now, getting healthy is what matters.

No running for now. Let the medication do its job. Let the body HEAL.

And I’m incredibly grateful we caught this before race weekend rather than during it.

But here’s where my heart really is today.

This race means SO much more to me than 50.7 miles or a 9:30 finish time.

As a two-time cancer survivor myself, I know what it means to face challenges you never expected. And being able to run these miles in honor of those fighting cancer, celebrating those who have survived, and in loving memory of those we’ve lost is something I can’t even put into words.

Last year, one of the most incredible parts of the Fall 50 was hearing other athletes read the names on my jersey as they ran past me.

The encouragement. The conversations. The connections.

Those weren’t just names on a jersey. They were PEOPLE. They were STORIES. They were LOVED.

And every time someone acknowledged a name, it reminded me why I was out there.

Some people may wonder why I do this. Others understand exactly what those names mean.

But for me, it’s simple.

If carrying someone’s name for 50 miles brings one family comfort, gives one person hope, or reminds someone that their loved one hasn’t been forgotten, then every step has a purpose.

I feel incredibly blessed to have so many people trusting me to carry those names.

And right now, I’m going to do everything I can to give my body the best opportunity to recover.

9 days. 50.7 miles. Hundreds of names. One very grateful heart.

Project 9:30 isn’t just about what my legs can do.

It’s about what my heart gets to carry.

#Project930 #cancersucks #Fall50 #RunningForCancer #MilesForJennah

10 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG DANCE!

Holy bananas… DOUBLE DIGITS are almost behind us!

Just 10 days until the Fall 50 and those beautiful 50 miles through Door County, Wisconsin!

Today’s morning started at the @La Crosse Area Family Y with Cardio Essentials followed by Pilates, then it was time for a little walk/baby jog. Nothing fast, nothing crazy, just some easy movement.

The good news? The names are coming together!

Seeing all those names being organized for my race jersey is making this adventure feel more real every single day.

Each name represents someone special. Someone fighting, someone who has survived, or someone whose memory we continue to carry.

50 miles. Hundreds of names. One incredible purpose.

Now, about this cough…

Unfortunately, it’s STILL hanging around! So Thursday I’m heading in to get checked out and make sure everything is okay before race day.

As much as my mind wants to GO, GO, GO, I know my body needs a little more time.

And that’s okay.

Right now, I’m focusing on the things I CAN control—rest, recovery, nutrition, organizing my race gear, and mentally preparing for the miles ahead.

Because sometimes the biggest part of preparing for a challenge isn’t physical. It’s believing in yourself enough to trust the work you’ve already done.

The miles are in the bank. The excitement is building. And the reason behind every step is bigger than ever.

Let’s get after it MENTALLY…and soon, hopefully, PHYSICALLY!

#Project930 #cancersucks #Fall50 #justkeepgoing #IronSunshine

 A little story time…

Every October 1, I usually visit my cousin’s grave and leave two pennies. October is a difficult month for our family. In 1988, my two cousins and their friend died after their vehicle ended up in a pond in Holmen, Wisconsin. I’m not going to discuss the circumstances, but I do want to share this memory of my cousin Arne.

The night before the accident, Arne came over and asked if I wanted to go with him to a Halloween party at a classmate’s house. I said no—I was going to watch a movie with a friend. We went back and forth about it, and Arne was being his goofy self, jumping on my bed. As he left my room, he tossed two pennies at me and joked, “That’s my last two cents. Are you sure you don’t want to come hang out with us?”

I picked up those pennies, and I still have them.

When they got their headstone, I decided I would leave two pennies there every year in memory of that moment. For a long time, no one knew who was leaving them. Now you know.

Standing by the gravesite brings all those memories back as if it were yesterday. They are deeply missed, and they will never be forgotten!

11 DAYS UNTIL -The Fall 50…50 miles in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin

"Holy bananas…we’re getting CLOSE!"

Yesterday’s training started with TRX • Strength • TRX at the Y!

But this time, I really had to remind myself to take it EASY.

Lots of coaching, demonstrating, watching form, and making sure everyone was getting a great workout without trying to do the entire workout myself. And you know how hard that is for me!

Afterward, I managed a little treadmill movement with a 3-mile baby jog, keeping everything nice and easy.

The good news? The body aches and headaches are GONE!

The bad news? THIS COUGH!

Holy Schnikes, I feel like I’m coughing my lungs out!

So today, after my classes, I’m heading in to have my lungs checked and make sure everything is okay.

Because as much as I want to keep moving, I also know there’s a bigger picture here.

October 24. Fifty miles. Hundreds of names. One incredible purpose.

Right now, the most important thing isn’t squeezing in another run. It’s getting healthy enough to enjoy the miles I’ve spent all these weeks preparing for.

If the doctor gives me the okay, I’ll ease back into some baby jogs and walks. If not, more recovery it is!

Thankfully, there’s still time.

One thing endurance sport(s) have taught me is that you can’t control everything that happens during training. Sometimes the plan changes, and you have to be willing to change with it.

The goal hasn’t changed. But getting healthy comes FIRST.

11 days and counting!

Project 9:30…one day at a time.

#Project930 #ultrarunning #Fall50 #11DaysToGo #IronSunshine