Most memorable sports moment in 2013

Denver Sports Nation was filling in for Irv and Joe today on Mile High Sports and the hunt for the day was to tweet or call in with your most memorable sports moment in 2013.

I thought about the hapless moment where Rahim Moore misplayed a hail mary pass from Joe Flacco allowing the Ravens to tie the Broncos in the waning moments of a divisional playoff game, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

As a life long Bronco fan it was a painful moment, compounded by the ever crafty decision of John Fox to take a knee to allow the Broncos to regroup only to eventually lose in double overtime after an ill advised throw across his body by one, Peyton Frozen Manning. 

While this was a disappointment as a fan it pales in contrast to what happened on Patriot's day at the 118th running of the Boston Marathon. 

Marathon runner blown off his feet by the blast near the finish line

As a marathon runner, this was a profoundly disturbing event and again served as a reminder that our lives are fragile, our way of life remains under attack.

From the worst we witness in human behavior, those who choose to attack innocent people to the first responders in these horrific moments.  Can we please stop pretending that athletes are heroes and role models because of their athletic abilities?  I will choose a policeman, a firefighter, a paramedic, the soldier that serves our country as my heroes. 

The other part of my most memorable sports moment goes hand in hand with the marathon bombing.  If only we could carry these sense of unity and community every day, what would be possible?

This is our f******* city~David Ortiz

#BostonStrong

Tweet

There are no words for this

Claire Davis passed away this afternoon after being shot at point blank range last Friday.

Life is short, love accordingly

As a community, once again we are left with the unthinkable, the unknowable grief of losing another precious life to an act of gun violence.

My heart goes out to Claire's family and all that knew and loved her and whose hearts are shattered tonight.

Statement from the Davis Family:

It is with unspeakable sadness that we write and say that Claire has passed away from the gunshot wound she received at Arapahoe High School on December 13, 2013. Although we have lost our precious daughter, we will always be grateful for the indelible journey she took us on over the last 17 years—we were truly blessed to be Claire’s parents. The grace, laughter and light she brought to this world will not be extinguished by her death; to the contrary, it will only get stronger.

Last week was truly a paradox in that we lost our daughter, yet we witnessed the wonderful love that exists in the world through the tremendous outpouring of support we received. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the first responders, the school resource officer, security guard and vice principal at Arapahoe High School, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office, and the physicians, nurses and staff at Littleton Adventist Hospital. Each played a significant role in giving Claire a chance to live, and demonstrated extreme amounts of professionalism, courage and love. Please know that we will never forget the extraordinary work you did on Claire’s behalf.

We ask that you give us time to grieve the death of our daughter by respecting our wishes for privacy.

With much loving-kindness,
The Davis Family

I never knew Claire and I know that our world is far worse now without her.

As the days turn into weeks and months and into years, we must never forget Claire.

I have to keep moving forward with doing what I can to honor Claire.

I can't tolerate another school shooting.

School violence ends with me.

Tweet

Social Media at it's best

I was delighted to see this on Twitter today, under the #PrayforClaire hashtag.

Claire is a fan on One Direction and a twitter campaign resulted in One Direction making a video and sharing some love with Claire.

You guys are all so amazing!!! It worked!! Thank you and we love you!! @onedirection http://t.co/Tfb06cleYJ #PrayForClaire
— Katie (@KatieBug0925) December 19, 2013

Tweet

What are you tolerating?

"What are you tolerating in your life?"

I was stopped in my tracks when trying to answer this question today. 

What are you tolerating? 

To my shock and shame, the answer that leapt to mind, was "I am tolerating school shootings."  

I live in Colorado and I have witnessed the terror and horror of the shootings at Columbine High School in April, 1999.   Columbine is 15 miles from where I live. 

In September of 2007, our community was rocked once again by the shooting of Emily Keyes.  In the aftermath of her shooting, the I Love you guys foundation was born. 

We wept again for Emily. 

July 20, 2012, less than a mile from my house 12 people were killed at the Century 16 theatre only because they sat in Theatre 9 in Aurora, Colorado. 

A classmate from my son's high school bought a ticket in theatre 9 and didn't make it home to her family that night.  Adam went to a different theater that night.  

Again as a community, we wept for those lives cut short.  One of those killed that night was 6 years old. 

Then there was Sandy Hook, 26 lives. 

We went through the motions of rattling the sword.  The liberal's blamed the NRA and the right wing extremists.  The right wing blamed the liberals.  The President and Congress said nothing could be done.    I blamed and scorned our elected officials for their lack of courage, their inaction. 

I don't pretend to have the answer nor to comprehend the complexities of the right to bear arms versus protecting the lives of children and adults who are massacred for going shopping, for choosing to attend a midnight showing of a movie or going to school. 

There are some that celebrate that only one student was shot on Friday.  This is viewed as a victory after Columbine.  I can't celebrate that an innocent girl, that loves horses was shot in the head because she was sitting in the cafeteria of her high school having lunch with a friend. 

To do nothing again in light of the most recent school shooting makes me a co-conspirator to the madness.   My lack of action borders on the criminal. 

I don't pretend to think that I alone can change what happened to Claire Davis last Friday.  All I know is that I have to do something.  I have to try.  

I can't tolerate another shooting in my community and expect Congress, the President to do what I won't do. 

So today, I commit to honor Claire Davis with action. 

Tomorrow, I am calling my Colorado State representative(Su Ryden), I am calling my Colorado State Senator(Caroll Morgan).  I am going to call my congressman(Mike Coffman), my Senators(Michael Bennet and Mark Udall).  I am calling Governor John Hickenlooper. 

Friday when I fly home from Austin, I am going to draft a letter to everyone of these people and ask them to stand with Claire and honor her with action.  It is past time for them to issue empty press releases.  It is time for action.  There is too much at stake for me, for them, for us to wait for another shooting.   What will it take?  We can't afford another Sandy Hook.  We can't lose another Emily.  We can't lose Claire.  Our world is worse without Emily.  It will be far worse without Claire. 

I can't tolerate this anymore.  I just can't. 

I am giving up my co-conspirator status.  I renounce my complicity in these shootings. 

I invite you to join me and honor with action for Claire Davis. 

Claire Davis

This has to stop. Gun violence and school shootings ends with me. 

If you are inspired to action, please retweet, like on Facebook and most importantly.

Please send a letter of support to Claire and her family, you can mail them to: 

Claire Davis

c/o Littleton Adventist Hospital
7700 S. Broadway
Littleton, CO 80122

Tweet

Looking towards 2024

Adam and I were in San Antonio last weekend and were fortunate to be riding on the boat during a river boat tour with a a future olympic runner.

Our tour guide told everyone on the boat that we were riding with a young lady who had run in the USATF 3K championship earlier that morning.  We chatted for a bit and I found out she has already run as far as a 10K.  I didn't run my first 10K until I was in my forties.

As we were leaving the boat I waited on the dock so I could ask her a few questions.

I asked her what her name was and when I could expect to watch her running in the Olympics.  I told her that I would be watching.

She smiled sweetly and laughed.  Her parents said that was a ways off.  Maybe 2024.

So you heard it first here.

Keep your eyes open for Elly.  This is the future of American running.  She ran 13:48 for 3000 meters at the age of 10, which is totally ridiculous.

Elly, 2024 Olympic Runner!

In light of what happened at Arapahoe High school last Friday and on the one year anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, Elly gave me hope this morning.

Let's make sure this young girl makes it to her start line in 2024 safely.  It's up to us...

“Hope is always available to us. When we feel defeated, we need only take a deep breath and say, "Yes," and hope will reappear.”

Monroe Forester

Tweet

Not again...

Today marks one year since the unspeakable, the unknowable terror occurred at Sandy Hook elementary in Newton Connecticut.

26 people lost their lives because they went to school that day, most to learn, some to teach.

Yesterday in a grim reminder that this can happen anywhere, anytime and we go through our lives hoping that their won't be another shooting in a school.  That as parents we can send our children off to school and believe they are safe.

At 12:33 PM at Arapahoe High School in Littleton, 15 minutes from Columbine High School, 15 minutes from the Aurora theater shootings, the all too familiar terror returned.

Sitting in a classroom in Austin, Texas working on a project to write a Music Video application in Javascript, my heart sank when I heard this.

Clips of students being herded to the track outside of the school and being searched for weapons made me feel sick to my stomach.  Laura and I ran on this track when we were training for the Paris marathon.  The world is turned upside down again.

The shooter is dead now, by his own hand as this is how these stories usually play out.

A girl, 15 years young is in critical condition after being shot in the head.  This shooting will just be a footnote, appended to the every growing list of school shootings.

The students at Arapahoe High school posted a sign this morning asking for the community to help the family of the girl who was shot.

The last line of their message says it all,  "Warriors always take care one another."

Good thing they are up to the task, we continue to fail these young people entrusted to our care.

Tweet

Project Reverb: Day 3

#Reverb13:  What was the braves thing you did in 2013?

I applied to be accepted in a Web Immersion bootcamp program in Denver last summer.  I had to make a five minute video.  Talk about being out of the comfort zone.

I thought the interview went really well.  I thought I was going to be accepted into the program.  Finally I had a clear path into finding my way back.

I didn't get in.

I asked for feedback.

I was told that "while I could be a programmer if I really wanted to pursue it, they felt that it would be intense, too fast paced for me".

After having been a programmer for most of the 90's and then a manager of a development team for another 10 years I wasn't sure what to do with their assessment.

Their words, their belief about me hurt.  It made me angry.  I felt insulted.

I stood in the face of that no and applied to another web immersion program.  This time I got accepted into the program.

I had to leave my family and relocate to another state for the length of the program.

Now, I have a seat at the table.

Sometimes I hear the whispers of that no and wonder if I can do this.  I could be the father of many of the students in this class.  I wonder what it is I am doing.  Can I do this again at my age?

So yes, I would say I am very brave right now.

I am showing up differently, I am raising my hand and finding my voice.  I am practicing making eye contact, being open and curious.

I am just as important as anyone else here for this training.

I gave Kelly a plaque that had this quote on it many years ago.

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.”
― Mary Anne Radmacher

t

Tweet

30 Days of Thanks Day 5

Somewhere over Texas

I flew home from Austin on Tuesday morning and took this picture from my window seat.  5 minutes

earlier it the clouds looked like Cotton Candy for as far as you could see. 

It has taken years and years for me to reach the point where I can somewhat enjoy flying.  I used to 

be a white knuckle flyer.  I would lean back in my seat during takeoff to help the pilot get the plane in 

the air.  If the plane backed left or right, I would lean in the opposite direction to ensure the plane stayed aloft. 

I was actually able to close my eyes during the flight and meditate during the flight.

If I hadn't started running marathons for Kelly in 1999, I am not sure if I would have ever gotten to this point. 

Another thing I can be grateful to Kelly for. 

The best part of this I was flying back home.

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home...

Tweet

Thirty Days of Thanks, Days 2-4

I have been traveling the last couple of days and it has been hard for me to post anything.

November 2:

• Walked my dogs before heading to Austin
• Got some last minute support and encouragement from my wife before beginning my trip. 
• Drove 642 miles safely from Denver to Snyder Texas

November 3:

• Stopped and took a some pictures of a Windmill powered Turbine.  This always reminds me of driving to or from Cut Bank to see Kelly. 

• While listening to the last 30 seconds of the opening of Ragtime, took my back to Adam's high school play where his voice resonated above the chorus. Life is all about memories.  This is one that I will always treasure!
• Promptly locked my keys in the car.  Thank goodness I had renewed my AAA membership!

November 4:

• Found a really nice 24 Hour Fitness that has a Panera Bread 300 yards away :)
• Getting acclimated to Austin.   It is green an hilly.  Reminds me of Federal Way/Seattle area. 
• Streaming Denver Sports Nation on Mile High Sports!

Tweet

Thirty Days of Thanks-November 1

"Practicing gratitude is all about bringing the daily experiences we have to the forefront of our minds. 

Of course, gratitude does not erase the bad things that happen, but it is a conscious choice to bring our attention to the positive things (the magic) each day."~Ashley Wilhite 

To start us off, think of 3 things that you're grateful for today. 

The day started with my dog Harley lying next to me on the couch snoring softly during my meditation practice.  As I got up he rolled over on his back in perfect trust and invited me to stroke his stomach. 

I had lunch with Laura and Adam today and we spent two hours talking with each other. 

At 5:30 Laura stopped by the house and we took Harley, Rocky and Kansas to the dog park. 

Tweet

144 dollars in 144 hours

Raise $144 in 144 Hours (6 Days)
Raise $144 in 144 hours, Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 12:00pm (Noon) and will end on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at12:00pm (Noon)!

Why raise $144? Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer and every 10 minutes someone dies from blood cancer. 

In 24 hours 360 people will be diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.    In 24 hours 144 people lose their lives to blood cancers. Dedicate a day in support of blood cancer awareness month and donate a dollar or whatever you feel moved to in honor of every life lost.

As Jack Bauer would say "We are running out of time." 

If all registered Light the Night participants in the Rocky Mountain chapter raise $144 in 144 hours that means another  $332,496.00 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society bringing us closer to funding vital life saving research and providing patient services. Together we can hit our $1.1 million dollar goal for this year's Colorado Light The Night Walks and come closer to finding cures!

So that could be 1 person that donates 144.00

                         2 people donating        72.00

                         3 people donating        48.00

                         4 people donating        36.00

                         6 people donating        24.00

                         8 people donating        18.00

                       12 people donating        12.00

                       16 people donating          9.00

                       18 people donating          8.00

                       24 people donating          6,00

                       36 people donating          4.00

                       48 people donating          3.00

                       72 people donating          2.00

                     144 people donating          1.00

Who will you be in this fight against blood cancer?   1 or 1, 1 of 144, 1 of ...  Every dollar counts.  Your contribution brings us closer to the day that we can live in a world without blood cancer.  

You can donate here by clicking on my Light the Night page. 

Thanks in advance for your contribution and know that you are providing support and hope to everyone that is touched in this battle. 

With love for Kelly and Laiken and Melina and so many others, too many others. 

I walk with a gold balloon to remember and honor my angels

Tweet

Do you feel useful?

I happened to catch this article by Paul Coelho's twitter feed this morning.

Thirty second read to answer the question, "Do you feel useful?"

A flower and a river were the protagonist's in the article and neither the flower or the river questioned their purpose, their reason for being.  A flower was simply trying to be a flower and the river was trying to be a river.   They were being what they are.

I think so many of us try to answer that question and find the purpose in our being and then we simply forget to "be".

When my friend Cassie was running for the Woman of the year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society last year a local artist, Laurie Maeves made a painting to donate to Cassie's campaign.  Laurie is completely sure that her purpose is to either make your painting and if not to possibly deconstruct your painting.  Is she doesn't do that, who will?

So if I posed this question to Laurie if she felt useful, I am sure she would reply as the river did.  I am not trying to be useful, I am trying to be an artist.

Are you trying to be useful?    What if you simply tried being who you are?  As Paul Cohello teaches,

"Don’t try to be useful. Try to be yourself: that is enough, and that makes all the difference."

Tweet

Kelly, Abby and Eeyore

Relay for Life is this Friday in Cut Bank, Montana.  Kelly's Aunt Linda made this luminary for me for the event this week.

Aunt Linda sent me this to me yesterday, oh how my heart soared and ached when I saw Kelly.

It has been over five years since Kelly passed.  I still miss her every day.

I am forever grateful for the nine years I was able to run for her, to spend time with her, to be inspired by who she was for me.

Tweet

Aurora, one year later

One year ago today, those of us living in Aurora Colorado work up to find the community we live in changed forever.  The anguish once again too familiar and this time it was so close to home.

Twelve people lost their lives that night because they bought a ticket and fate brought them to the wrong theater where a lunatic lay in wait.

Let us forever remember the 12 lives that were lost that night at Century theater.

Johnathan Blunk
A.J Boik
Jess Childress
Gordon W. Cowden
Jessica Ghawi

Jessica Redfield Ghawi memorial

John Larimer
Matt McQuinn
Micalya Medek
Veronica Moser-Sullivan
Alex Sullivan
Alex Teves
Rebecca Ann Wingo

My son Adam could have been in the theater that night.  For some reason he decided to attend the premier of the Batman movie with a different group of friends, 15 miles from his home rather than Century 16 which was 2 miles from home.  I shudder every time I think about that.  Was it a nudge from his guardian angel that steered him away from Century 16 that night?

In the year that has passed since that horrible night what has changed in the community, in our country?

The Century 16 theater reopened in November.  People didn't stop going to the movies.

We watched in horror of another mass shooting in Newton, Connecticut where twenty-six lives were lost at an elementary school.

Again the politicians stepped forward for a moment to capitalize on this tragedy only to recede quickly into the woodwork,  lacking the courage to take a stand. The NRA said the answer to the problem was to have more guns.

No substantive changes have been made and I fear that none ever will.  It is a complex problem and doing nothing leaves an open invitation for another mass shooting to occur.

The shooter has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.  It took an entire year to get to this point.

For me, it took a mass shooting to occur a mile or so from where I raised my family to get me to donate blood for the first time in my life.  I now go on a regular basis, every 6 weeks.  It is such a simple thing to do.  Everyone can do it and I encourage anyone that is reading this to find your local blood bank and become a blood donor.  You can do something meaningful for you community every six weeks.

My son and his co-host went on the air one year ago tonight on Mile High Sports and held an open forum about the shootings to begin the healing process.  There was no talk about sports that night.

Denver Sports Nation partnered with 5280 Shirt Shop to raise money for victims and families of the Aurora shooting.

I met one of the survivors, Jasmine Kennedy at a fund raiser at a local bowling alley. Her leg had been shattered by a bullet and she faced a long road of rehabilitation. Undeterred she bowled that day from a wheelchair, smiling, laughing and providing inspiration to her community with her positive attitude.

Jasmine Kennedy, Thumbs Up!

Eugene Han and Kristin Davis were both in the theater during the shooting and decided to get married today as a way of moving forward, claiming a better day.

So a year later our community is still healing.  We watch and wait and hope there will not be another senseless tragedy in any community.

We are Aurora!

Tweet

That's just Potts

I went to the funeral of my dear friend, Parenthia(Potts) Jones yesterday.

I was delighted to see that the service was (SRO), standing room only.  It seemed only fitting that her last race would be a sellout.

SRO for Potts!

A couple of things stood out for me at the service.

A co-worker told a story of the three words that described Potts to him.

If she was doing something unorthodox, he would say "That's just Potts."

If she was doing something that was inspirational, he would say, "That's just Potts."

Creigh Kelly, had been friends with Potts for three decades.  Years ago, she told him that "Martin Luther King had a dream, and so do I."  Her dream was to help people and she did in countless ways.

A mother told a story of how her son had gotten into trouble when he was 17 and had to perform many hours of community service.  She reached out to Potts and asked her if she would work with his son.

Her son was 6' 2" and Potts on her best day in 4 inch heels might have been 5' 0".  She put him to work polishing the brass handrails at the courthouse.

Fast forward 12 years and the mother of this young man visited Potts at hospice she was staying at and she found out that hours earlier her son had come to visit Potts.  That was the kind of impact she had on everyone she met.

One of my favorite memories of Potts is how she threw together "A day to remember 5K", one month after 9-11 to give us a chance to honor those who had been lost on that awful day and to celebrate our country.  My son Adam was 12 years old at the time and Potts told him to register in the running wave for his age group as she knew if he entered in that division he would get a medal.   She always, always put other people first.  That's just Potts!

Love you Potts, I will so miss you.

Happy trails!

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

In Loving Memory, Parenthia(Potts) Jones

Tweet

TGIF(Trust-Gratitude-Inspiration-Friday)

We went to the Colorado Rapids game last night with my soon to be son-in-law, Chris and my family. 

I saw this tweet from Chris that he had posted earlier during the day and I thought this was a wonderful intention that we could use not just on the 4th of July, but any day. 

Before the game started Chris, Laura and Adam set up shop giving away red, white and blue beads to the fans arriving for the game.  They were giving the beads away for free to anyone that wanted them and they asked for people to make an optional donation to the fire fighter relief fund that is being managed by the Red Cross.  By the time we headed into the game, they had collected $225.00 for the relief fund.  

Unfortunately, our state has numerous wildfires that are raging across the state.  Last week 19 firefighters lost their lives in Arizona fighting a wildfire.  This was the greatest loss of life of firefighter's since September, 11, 2001. 

This is a cause that matters greatly to Chris.  Chris and Laura are getting married next week and they have set up a special charity registry where all of the money that is raised will be donated  to the Red Cross. 

Please click here if you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross and support the efforts of the firefighter's and provide needed assistance to the families that have been displaced by these terrible fires. 

I am so grateful to Chris and Laura for thinking of others, to cast a beautiful ripple effect in wake of this ongoing tragedy. 

So get out there and make a difference, inspire someone! 

Tweet

At a loss for words

Today I learned that a dear friend of mine is under hospice care.  She has been battling stage four cancer of the liver and intestines since being diagnosed three days before Christmas in 2011.

The last time Laura and I saw Potts she was volunteering at a 5K road race.  Her battle with cancer hadn't stopped her from her love of volunteering, from coming out and supporting all of the runners she loves and those who love her fiercely in return.

Laura showed Potts her engagement ring and Potts sweetly stated she wanted to come to Laura's wedding and be a stand for her marriage to Chris.

I don't know if there is anyway that she will be able to come and I know without a doubt if she is able she will be there.

So Potts, here's to you.  The kindness you have shown to Laura and my family has mattered greatly to me.  You have made a difference in our lives.

I love you and am sending love and light and prayers your way.

In love and gratitude....

Tweet

A father's worth

I thought this was a wonderful story written by Cynthia Occelli who grew up without a father.

"A child secure in their father’s steadfast care and provision moves through the world wearing an energetic cloak of confidence and protection.

A father is the model of a man to his sons and his daughter’s first love.

We need him."~Cynthia Occelli

So on this father's day I want a send a shout out to my Dad, for taking me to Bronco games and shivering in the old east stands at Mile High Stadium when they would lose to Kansas City 56-3, buying me my first bowling ball at Monaco Lanes, teaching me how to build something with my hands, for teaching me how to work hard and to not quit on myself.

And to all the father's that would swim as far as needed in any storm for their children.

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

Tweet

A beautiful ripple effect

Last Saturday  was the grand finale for the 2013 Man and Woman of the Year campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

One year earlier, I had the honor of being a part of Cassandra Perkins Woman of the Year campaign and it is a memory that I will always treasure.

I couldn't have possible written a better ending than the one that unfolded.

My son Adam and I sat at the table with Dr. Jeff Matous and his daughter Catherine.  Catherine ran as a woman of the year candidate in 2011 during her freshmen year in high school.

Catherine's ripple effect inspired me to nominate Cassie to run the following year during her freshman year in high school.  Cassie to became the youngest person in the state of Colorado to run as a candiate for this campaign.

At the kickoff event last year Cassie met a young man, Michael Guglielmi who ran for Man of the year in 2013.

Cassie, Ralph and Michael at 2012 MWOY Kickoff

Michael ran in honor of his Dad, Ralph Guglielmi who is a blood cancer survivor.  Ralph is a former Man of the year winner from our chapter so Michael was indeed following in his father's footsteps.

The entire audience was thrilled when Michael was announced as this years winner.  Michael is 17 years old.

I had written last year, that Michael's decision to run was part of the ripple effect that Cassie created during her campaign.

It is the great mystery of our lives as we never know how what we do might touch and change the life of another person.

So from Catherine, to Cassie and now Michael, the seeds you have planted are taking root.  The beautiful ripple effect you are creating is inspiring others to take action and live unbound.

In love and gratitude to these three young and inspirational people.

2013 Man of the Year with Laurie Maeves

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

Tweet

Behind the Mask with Cassandra Perkins

I had the honor last week of being a guest on Cassandra Perkins radio show(Behind the Mask)  last week along with an all star cast of guests,  Woody Roseland, Brittany Ross and Christa Black.

It was my first time on the radio.   I was a bit nervous at the start, but once we got going I had a great time.

Cassie's first guest was Woody Roseland who is a five time cancer survivor, stand up comedian and inspirational speaker who is currently running for Man of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Woody lost his leg to bone cancer and he has not let that stop him or define him. You are not your cancer!   He rides his bike across the country in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

Brittany Ross shared her story of being diagnosed with A.M.L at the age of 15 and was given three weeks to live.  Brittany is now 28 and will be getting married in September of this year.

Christa Black shared a very powerful story. You can read more about Christa by clicking here. 

What was really cool about the radio show, was every speaker shared a story of hope.

If you are interested you can listen to the  entire podcast by clicking here.    Be sure and check out Cassie's show and follow this young woman who continues to inspire me as she makes a difference in the world.

I love this young woman for who she is in the world, for what she stands for. She is a champion of hope.

Check out Cassie's Tedx talk she gave last year. WOW!!!

Tweet

We are Columbine

Fourteen years ago today our country was forever changed.

Shots rang out at Columbine High school and 13 lives were cut short.

The young people that were killed that day would now be in their late 20's or early 30's.  They would most likely have children of their own now and would be living their lives full of purpose and hope.

The shootings have continued and the battlefield has moved now inside movie theater's, elementary schools and most recently at the finish line of a marathon in Boston.

So today, I pause to remember the lives of these young people and hope someday that we can make sense of what happened on that day fourteen years ago.

So for Cassie Bernall, Steven Curnow, Corey DePooter, Kelly Fleming,
Matthew Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Daniel Rohrbough, William, "Dave" Sanders, Rachel Scott, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez we remember and honor your lives on this day.

You will never be forgotten.

We are Columbine! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday

Tweet

Patriot's Day

Adam and I were driving to lunch today when Laura called to tell me there were two small explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. 

We hoped that maybe it was just a terrible accident. As we watched the news unfold it became apparent that this was an act of terrorism.  At this point we don't know if this is a foreign or domestic attack, but nonetheless it is another attack on our country, on our way of life. 

As a runner this hit me hard.  My family has waited at the finish line of many of the marathons that I have been fortunate enough to have run  Finish lines from San Francisco to Paris, France.  Standing in crowds of thousands of people, waiting patiently for me to cross, cheering for countless strangers as they chased and realized their dreams of becoming a marathoner.  

Adam told me today that he has so many great memories of standing at the finish line of many marathons and today that memory was taken away from many runners and their families.  

My heart aches for the families who have had their lives shattered.  My heart aches for the community of runners whose spirit and courage has no limits.  I am honored to be a part of this community that laces up their shoes every week and raises countless money for charitable organizations. 

As a community as a nation, we will bind our hearts together and find a way to get through this.  

If you have a race shirt, please consider wearing it tomorrow or any day for the rest of this week and show your support and solidarity for Boston. 

Tweet

Dear Kelly

Dear Kelly, 

There are no words for a bit of this.

Five years ago today

I fell into the arms of a friend at work

and cried, unashamed because you were gone

running afterwards in the snow as I wept

It might have been otherwise...

Yet, I have so much to be grateful for

I became a runner

I started writing

I found a cause greater than myself.

It might have been otherwise.

I became a Christian because of you three years ago today.

I know we will be together again.

It might have been otherwise.

I whisper your name each night before I fall asleep

I tell you I love you.

That will never be otherwise....

Tweet

Buffalo Nickel

I go from

silhouettes to photos.

I invent a small projector,

and soon, I'm making movies

and they're calling me director!

an industry is dawning

and I'm standing on the brink-

mister buffalo nickel photoplay, inc!

Writing prompt for today comes from Wordpress.  The title(Buffalo Nickel) caught my eye. 

Adam played the title role of Tahteh in the musical Ragtime during his senior year in high school and the song Buffalo Nickel was a showstopper. 

I fished a coin out of a cup where we keep loose coins and the year on the coin was 1988.  

Let's see, time to go back in the time machine a quarter of a century ago. 

We watched John Elway lead the Broncos on "The Drive" in Cleveland and to the first of 5 Super Bowls with Elway as the quarterback. 

I had just started a job working 2nd shift(4-12) as a computer operator for Coast to Coast Hardware stores. 

My daughter, Laura celebrated her first birthday in May. 

We attended our first Doggy Dash in Washington Park with our dogs, Mindy and Sam.   

I was an avid golfer and used to play golf at Springhill Golf course where it cost $4.00 to play 18 holes of golf.  

I was driving a Chevrolet station wagon which Laura would later describe as the wind-up-car as the battery would constantly die.  

What were you doing in 1988?   Please leave a comment and share your memories. 

Tweet

Say it ain't so Lance

I wrote this last summer and never published it.   Well, now we know what we already knew....

"This is my body. And I can do whatever I want with it. I can push it. Study it. Tweak it. Listen to it. Everybody wants to know what I'm on.  What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?"~Lance Armstrong    

August 2012.

Hey Lance, what's up?

The Internet lit up last week informing the world that you were walking away from a fight. I was shocked that you forgot to check with me first.

The United States Anti Doping Agency(USADA) said they would strip you of your seven Tour De France titles. 

You said you had enough of this nonsense and you would no longer talk about it. 

This is not the Lance I knew. 

Twitter and the sports talk airwaves went wild.  What did it all mean?

Since you are no longer talking about it, we were left to come to our own conclusions. Believe me; everyone has an opinion about this.

Was this a de facto admission of guilt?

You have never backed down from a fight.  You called cancer out and gave it a beat down.  A truck would force you off the road on a training ride and you would hop back on your bike and chase the trucker down.  No quarter given, ever!  Now silence.

Is this your own version of a Nolo Contendere?  You still deny the charges, but will now accept the penalties for the crime without protest.  The penalties are steep.  Seven Tour De France titles, an Olympic bronze medal, financial penalties, loss of influence in the fight against cancer.

You once had the ear of the President.  You would ride your bike with President Bush on his ranch.   You had a bully pulpit in the war against cancer.  Are you willing to give that up too?

We live in a country where we celebrate excellence and above everything us, we celebrate winning.  You know this.  Do you have the same influence if you never won a tour?

Win a national title and the team is invited to the White house.  Win the Super Bowl and expect a call from the President.

Here in Colorado we are celebrating Missy Franklin’s, five Olympic medals.  Do we celebrate her fourth place finish where she missed medaling by .one one hundredth of a second?  No.  Most of us couldn’t even tell you what race that was.

On the bike every second mattered to you. 

I went back and watched my favorite moment of your Tour De France stage wins.  It was stage 16 of the 2004 Tour. 

Phil Liggett announced prematurely “the race has been won here by Andreas Kloden.  It’s all over.” Everyone else is riding for second.

Floyd Landis kept working, closing the gap and at the last possible second you attacked and passed Kloden at the finish line.  You stole the stage win.  

That is the Lance Armstrong I want to remember, cunning, courageous, unstoppable.

Phil Liggett asked the question, “Can anyone stop Lance Armstrong at the Tour De France?”   The answer back then was no. 

Now it appears to be the USADA. 

I am no fan of the USADA.  If they have evidence that proves you were blood doping in 1999, have they gone back and tested every rider, ever A and B urine and blood samples.  If they haven’t done that my question to Travis Tygart is why have you not done that?  If they have only applied this standard to you then it truly does look like a vendetta, “heinous acts” as you have stated.

Personally, I have been a huge fan of yours.  I have my Livestrong wrist bands, cycling jerseys, running apparel.  I have worn them proudly while I am out on the bike or at road races.  For crying out loud, my dog has a Livestrong leash.

I believed in you Lance.  I love what the manifesto of your organization stands for.  Twenty eight million people worldwide live with cancer.  You provided hope and inspiration about what could be possible for them in their lives. A cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. 

I had a spirited argument on Twitter the other night about whether accepting sanctions from the USADA was an admission of guilt  and I was told “you would have to ask him.”

So here goes Lance.  If you won’t talk about this publicly anymore, you can tell me.  You can tell me what you didn’t tell Oprah Winfrey when she asked you on her show years ago.  Now is your chance to come clean once and for all.

This is what I need to know before I put my Livestrong Jersey and wristband back on, before I go walk my dog Rocky.

It is a yes or no answer.

I don’t need to hear that you are the most tested athlete in the world, that you have never failed a drug test or that you have never taken a banned substance.  That leaves the door open that you might have taken a substance.  There are rumors that you paid off the UCI (International Cycling Union) to cover up a failed drug test.

Is it true that you never took performance enhancing drugs, never took a substance of any kind? 

I need an answer that doesn’t depend on what the meaning of is, is.

No more non-denial denials.

Did you dope? 

Say it ain’t so Lance. 

Tweet