We remember: A nation forever changed on 9-11-01.

Has it been a decade already? The headlines 10 years ago in the Raymond-Prinsburg News read “Apparent terrorist attack shakes the United States” and the next week “America: Under attack.” A nation was in shock over the terrorist attacks on our own soil. How could this have happened? Why did this happen? What will happen next? Those questions were on the mind of Americans everywhere as they struggled to make sense of the tragic events.

You would truly be hard-pressed in this country to find a person that doesn’t remember the events of
September 11, 2001 and what exactly they were doing when they first heard the news of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. My kids can all tell you what class they were in and what happened after that (they were 12, 10, and 9 at the time.) Me? I had stopped at Cenex in Clara City to get some much needed coffee after back-to-back, early morning ambulance runs. The image of the first plane hitting one of the twin tower buildings was flashing across the TV screen. We watched the rest of the events unfold later on at work and listened intently, albeit in disbelief, to the radio the entire day. Minnesotans and the entire nation were gripped with fear, confusion, and extreme grief-  both for the lives lost and for a country that for the first time had been the victim of a terrorist attack of such an enormous scale. Nearly 3,000 people died as a direct result of the events of that day. This didn’t happen on our turf. It just didn’t.

Air traffic screeched to a halt, phone lines were tied up, schools closed, and prayer vigils were held everywhere across the nation. Americans banded together and flags flew where they hadn’t before. Patriotism was at an all-time high in the weeks and months following 9/11.

And still a decade later there isn’t a day that goes by that there isn’t talk of the attacks and its aftermath (think airline travel, the resulting wars, etc) somewhere in the news. We are a nation forever changed.

I have always been saddened by the loss of life on that September day in 2001 but not knowing anybody that was hurt or killed and living so far away from where the actual events took place that sadness has always been just that- sadness for a terrible event- nothing more, nothing less. It wasn’t until I visited “ground zero” a couple of weeks ago that my sadness changed to something else and I’m not even sure what that something else is.

My parents, my daughter and I decided to make our first NYC stop at “ground zero.” We enthusiastically bounded out of the subway eager to see the sight. We looked up, we looked around, we looked at the map- we didn’t see what we were looking for, although I’m not sure we knew what that was. Finally my dad asked one of the nearby police officers where “ground zero” actually was. We had been there the whole time and it was then that we actually understood. We looked up to a eerily vast empty space as he pointed out where the mighty buildings once stood. Chills crept over me as the realization of what actually happened on that day nearly 10 years ago suddenly gripped me. The gaping holes where the towers once filled the sky were suddenly so very evident. I choked back the tears as I imagined the absolute sheer terror that New Yorkers must have felt on that day. It’s gut-wrenching and heartbreaking to imagine terror of that magnitude.

It’s also so hard to fathom that some of the tallest buildings in the world were nestled among countless others in a small corner of a giant city and now they were gone- along with them 2,753 lives. Only the grace of God spared that corner of the city from more disaster and loss of life. To see the buildings that remain- you can still see the damage on some of them-is quite an incredible site.

After we returned from NYC I took some time to reflect on that visit and on the events of 9-11-01. I went back and watched some of the footage, I looked at some of the photos. Photos of stunned New Yorkers watching the towers burn and ultimately collapse, photos of people covered in thick dust running for their lives down the streets of New York, photos of firefighters emerging from still standing buildings with victims in tow- the images are incredibly haunting.

As the anniversary of the attacks approach, prayer vigils and other events are planned all over the nation, including our area. I’m not sure what I’ll do to commemorate, but it will be something. I probably wouldn’t have said that a few weeks ago.

God bless the families and friends of those that lost loved ones in the attacks. We will never forget the terrible events of that day a decade ago. We were all forever changed on September 11, 2001.

 

More Warrior Dash- Clara City Herald, August 3, 2011

Mud. Sweat. Beer. That’s what the sign at the entrance to the 2011 Warrior Dash- Minnesota said. The smell of turkey legs grilling wafted through the air and mud covered people were everywhere. An 80’s rock band was jammin’ in the background and we were nearly giddy with anticipation of what was promised by the event organizers to be “the craziest frickin’ day of our lives.”

Thousands of people everywhere!

The Warrior Dash, a brainchild of the Red Frog Events company out of Chicago, is touted as “the ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes.” The dash is a 5k race with 10 or so obstacles tossed in for fun. On the weekend of July 22 and 23, nine warriors, myself included, from Clara City traveled to Afton Alps by Hastings, along with over 19,000 other warriors, to compete in (or at least complete) the first Warrior Dash to be held in Minnesota.

Meghan Wiebe ran on Saturday followed by the crew of Cindy Wilkens, Julie Rognlie, Merideth Mueller, and Shannon Groothuis who ran at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. My group included Chris Wiebe, my friend Londa Burns from Montevideo, and my sons Page Hoffman and Taylor Bodin. We ran the Sunday noon race.

For our group, it all started innocently enough. A simple Facebook question posted by Chris Wiebe back in November started it all. “Anybody interested in running this (he had posted a link to the website) with me next year? Let me know.”

Meghan Wiebe in the mud pit!

Not having a clue what the “Warrior Dash” was I quickly looked it up and then messaged my kids. It looked like a lot of fun and we all thought, “It’s only a 5k with a few obstacles tossed in, we can do that no problem!”  We signed up back in January and already the Saturday dashes (waves of 500 went every half hour) were full. At that time, over 15,000 people were predicted to race. Ultimately nearly 20,000 people signed up to be a warrior.

According to race organizers, Warrior Dashes are “held on the most demanding and unique terrain from around the world. Participants will take on intense obstacles...”

Even though we all knew this event would be tough, we didn’t expect it to actually be as physically and mentally challenging as it was. After all, how tough could this terrain be? This was a ski park in Minnesota, not the Rocky Mountains. We all learned rather quickly, never to underestimate the power of a hill, even if it is in Minnesota.

The race started off rather tamely with a short ¼ mile or so run. Then the fun began.

Ahead of us was a giant ski hill, you know, the kind that requires a chairlift to get to the top. A quick look around and already 75% of the people had quit running and were walking. Meghan Wiebe, who had already completed the race on Saturday, had warned us about the first hill but nothing really could have prepared us for the length, slope, and sheer difficulty. Rognlie remarked “The first hill was like OMG what did we do!” The only one to actually “run” the entire course was Bodin who agreed with the rest of us that the hills were definitely the worst. We all “competed” at our own level which left me way behind the bulk of the competitors including the crew I signed up but that was expected given the diverse level of fitness in our group.

After the killer first hill, the course leveled off and soon we met the first obstacle fittingly called “Road Rage.”  A scramble through tires and over crushed cars- it wasn’t too bad. Then came the “Treacherous Tyhpoon,” where I discovered that it is possible to nearly drown without being submersed in water.

Shannon Groothuis, Cindy Wilkens, Julie Rognlie, and Merideth Mueller. The 8:00 a.m. crew!

None of us really thought water blasting out of cannons would be a big deal (which in retrospect seems odd.) All you had to do was run through it, right? Suddenly the water hits you. You can’t see. You can’t breath. And it doesn’t seem to end. A brief moment of panic sets in before you finally escape while desperately gasping for air.

After emerging from the typhoon the course headed downhill! After the grueling first hill, we figured we had to be heading back down for the rest of the race. No more hills, just the obstacles. Ahh, a feeling of euphoria rushes in! That is until you look up and realize that the course heads back uphill.

Throughout the rest of the race the course twisted and turned, up and down the slopes. Just when you thought you had to be done with the hills, there was another one and another one.

Soon, the obstacles began to pop up more frequently as there hadn’t been any since the “typhoon.” By this time in the race competitors were widely spread apart separating the fittest from the fit and the fit from the rest of us. In fact, Bodin nearly finished the race before I made it up the first hill.

One of the most physically challenging obstacles, at least for me, was a series of nearly five foot walls to go over alternated with wood and barbed wire walls that were to be crawled under. It was brutal. Luckily when I crossed this obstacle I was alone because I’m sure it wasn’t a pretty sight.

Most of  the remaining obstacles weren’t too bad we all concurred. A cargo net crawl, a 15’ cargo net climb, a crawl through a dark, steamy hot tent- all were challenging for each of us in our own way. 
Wilkens commented, “I made it all the way up cargo net but the person in front of me stopped and that’s when I made the mistake of looking down and down is where I needed to go! I am so afraid of heights!” She continued, “Shannon (Groothuis) rocked the cargo nets and the wall. Mar (Mueller) was great at the hills.”  

For some of us , the “Warrior Wall” posed the greatest challenge. The “Wall” was a 12’ wall with a rope to climb it, a rope and inch-wide boards every few feet. The guys didn’t have a problem with it as they all said “it was easy.” A few of us though definitely did not agree.

Some random costumed guys.

“The wooden wall got me,” Rognlie said. “half way up and I got too far away from the wall and had to drop.” As for me? I made it but I have no idea how. I pulled with absolutely everything I had, I think every muscle in my shoulder region exploded, but I made it.

After that it was down hill, through some mud, over some teeter totters, and of course one more dash up a hill before the final three obstacles, the really fun ones.

First up was a giant slip-n-slide that went at minimum, 50’ downhill. Then was the leaps over fire and the final challenge, a mud-crawl under barbed wire. All relative “pieces of cake” compared to the rest of the course. After emerging from the mud pit, it’s only a few short feet to the finish line where your warrior medal awaits.

For our warrior-like efforts, we received a tee-shirt, warrior helmet, the medal, and a free beer. Definitely worth it. The top three competitors received actual metal swords and metal warrior helmets and of course, bragging rights.

Everyone took away a little something different home from the day. Rognlie crossed it off her bucket list (but will do it again), Chris Wiebe said it was really fun cheering on friends and family, and all of us agreed that just finishing the race was pretty awesome. Even though there were times during the race that some of us thought we couldn’t go any farther you cross the finish line, your adrenaline soars, and you are sure you could do it all again right then if you had to. Hearing my friends and family cheering as I came down the final hill was something I’ll never forget.

Incredibly, Bodin finished 20th out of nearly 19,500 competitors over the two days. Hoffman finished in the top 1000 or so and Chris Wiebe in approximately the top 3600. All noteworthy achievements. For the record, I finished in 18,956th, nearly an hour behind Bodin and the last of the Clara City nine.

Although the event wasn’t held for a specific charity, like many races are, the event company “hired” charity groups to help staff the dash where groups could make up to $1,000.00 for their work. Also, participants had the chance to donate their muddy shoes for recycling into shoes for people without, a pretty worthy cause.

Before!

After! The Sunday noon group. Me, Chris Wiebe, Page Hoffman, Taylor Bodin and Londa Burns

At the end of the day, we all agreed it’s something we’d do again, despite the killer hills. In fact we are already making plans for next year’s event. This time, we are planning costumes, part of the event if you want it to be and we are really going to train in an effort to make the hills a bit easier, if that is possible.

The Shoes!

The event organizers didn’t disappoint. The Warrior Dash definitely was one of the “craziest frickin’ days of our lives.”

“It was so fun,” said Wilkens. “I thought it was going to be really hard, but it was just so much fun! This race is not about how fit you are but if you are a warrior,” she laughed. “We encouraged each other and had a lot of laughs.”

“I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good time,” concluded Meghan Wiebe. 

We all definitely agree.

Skalbekken Park: A little piece of outdoor heaven, so close to home

Nature enthusiasts take note-- sparkling streams, wooded trails, rustic campsites, abundant wildlife, and the winding Minnesota River are just a few of the perks that await you at a little  prairie oasis known as Skalbekken Park. Just a short drive south, Skalbekken is a little piece of outdoor heaven that you won’t believe is so close to home.

The park, located about six miles southwest of Sacred Heart on County Road 10, is one of the seven parks in the Renville County Parks System, most of which are situated along the Minnesota River. Although considered “rustic” (aka no electricity), the park is dotted with clean shelters, restrooms, and fire rings with ample space to pitch a tent for the night. At the main entrance to the park there is a horse camp that sits adjacent to the Minnesota River. The river runs along the south side of the park with fishing spots aplenty along its banks. On the east side of the park, the Limbo Creek rushes through a lush river forest and to the west, the Hawk Creek.

Although only 18 miles from my driveway to the park entrance, I had never heard of Skalbekken until the fall of 2009 when the newly paired MACCRAY/RCW cross country team spent a few early season practices running through the park. My son was on the team and talked excitedly about what a neat place it was- adding that we should go there sometime. Well sometime finally came in September 2010 when I made my first visit to Skalbekken. Instantly I fell in love with the beauty and serenity of this little oasis on the prairie.

The first couple of trips to the park we stuck to the main road that runs parallel to the Minnesota, venturing off on a few trails but not too far. It wasn’t until last spring when the Minnesota had flooded the main entrance that we discovered what we love the best in Skalbekken- its incredible forest trails.

The first time we ventured off the beaten path we were completely amazed with the rugged terrain- a hiker’s and trailrunner’s dream, at least in our neck of the woods. Steep hills pepper the landscape leading down to Limbo Creek on the north and east sides of the park, our favorite place to hike.
Several trails cross the creek that eventually lead to a  breathtakingly beautiful area of prairie grass covered rolling hills and if you are lucky enough to be there at the right time of the evening, a perfect view of the setting sun. The trails then lead back into the forest and eventually bring you back to the creek. There are also trails that run parallel to the creek. After several trips to the park, we have yet to hike the exact some route twice.

Adding a bit of excitement to the sheer beauty of the trails is the abundant wildlife present in the park. A bald eagle high atop the trees, a wild turkey clucking a few feet off the trail, the flash of a white tail as a deer bounds through the forest, a hawk soaring overhead, and the loud slap of a beaver’s tail are just a few of the experiences garnered while hiking through the forests. Every trip promises something exciting and new.

Popular with horse riding aficionados the park features a horse camp that is large enough for several trailers and campers. Nearly every time we have hiked the trails we find fresh horse tracks and we have ventured upon riders more than once in the main part of the park. The horse trails also link up with the Upper Sioux State Park, just a short jaunt to the southwest of Skalbekken.

Skalbekken even has a little something for history buffs. A feature in the park is the Odean Skalbeck log house. The house was originally built in 1868 and was home to Odean Skalbeck, a former Renville County Commissioner. The house is situated down the main road across from the river and is complete with a historical marker that tells the story of the park and the log house.

For our family, this serene place has become a haven of sorts. We bring the dogs (who start to whine as soon as we head south), fill our water bottles, and hit the trails for a work out that we can’t get anywhere else near by. It’s funny because exercise doesn’t seem like exercise when there is so much beauty surrounding you. We always exit the forest trails with the amazing, soul-refreshing feeling that comes when spending time in the great outdoors. 
No matter what your outdoor fancy, you’ll find it at Skalbekken Park.  A little piece of outdoor heaven so close to home, Skalbekken is definitely worth putting on your summer “to-do” list.

The Warrior Dash!

Ahh, a cold malt beverage never tasted so good!

The Sunday noon warriors! Me, Chris, Page, Taylor and Londa!

“Slow and steady wins the race...” Well, it didn’t quite win me the race but it did get me across the finish line, alive, and earned me 18,956th place (out of nearly 19,500 finishers).

On Sunday, my boys and two of my friends competed in (or should I say completed) the Warrior Dash, the most physically and probably mentally challenging thing I have ever done in my 42 years (and that includes the three times I have given birth.)

The Warrior Dash is touted as “The ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes. This 5k race is held on the most demanding and unique terrain from around the world. Participants will take on intense obstacles...”

The race is held at different locations around the country and world. Afton Alps Ski Resort in Hastings was the home of the 2011 Warrior Dash Minnesota, the first in the state.

We signed up back in January and watched as the time slots filled up. They were predicting 15,000 people to partake in the race over two days, up to 500 people per wave and the waves left every half hour. The 5k distance we all knew would be no problem (I can’t run that far at one time but can easily complete that distance walking and jogging) it was some of the obstacles that would be challenging. Boy, we had NO idea how challenging.

For starters, the course started off up hill. Not just a small hill, a ski hill, one that usually requires a chairlift to get up. 75% of the people walked the seemingly endless hill. Finally, reaching the top (or so I thought) I knew the obstacles would begin. I had studied the obstacles and knew that most of them would be more fun than anything so I wasn’t too worried. I had conquered “the hill,” the rest had to be downhill from here, right?

The first obstacle was called “Road Rage,” a series of junked cars and tires to run through. I crawled over them and went carefully through the tire mazes. No problem!

Shortly after that was the “Treacherous Typhoon.” No problem again I thought, I just had to run through water that was blasting at me. Shortly after entering the typhoon, I couldn’t see anything. Luckily everyone had left me in the dust so I knew I wouldn’t run into anyone. Suddenly I found myself gasping for air! Can’t see, can’t breath, water blasting at me, and I’m alone. I’d drown before the people I was ahead of (if you can believe it) got to me.

I survived only to find myself going downhill! Awesome! I can do this, then I glanced up to realize we were going downhill only to be heading back uphill. On my ascent, people coming down the other side assured me there was water at the top. “Thanks fellow warriors” I thought, and trudged up the hill. Ahh, water and level ground.

After that hill the course went through a series of up and downs before one of the most brutal obstacles (for me) stared me in the face- a series of nearly five foot walls alternated with wood and barbed wire walls that were to be crawled under. I hoisted  myself (and probably let out a primal grunt) onto wall one... Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty but I completed the series.

A cargo net crawl, a scramble through a scorching-hot, dark tent, and a 15’ cargo net climb followed. I steadily completed all of them while slowly navigating the steep hills. I was two-thirds of the way through the race before the leaders of the next wave caught me. The end was near. Then came the wall...

“The Warrior Wall,” a 12’ high wall with a rope to climb it- a rope and one inch foot holds every few feet. The only way over was to climb the rope.

Me! Leaping over fire!

I stopped and stared at the wall. There was NO way I could climb it, but I was NOT going to walk around it so I grabbed on and pulled with every fiber of my being. I think every muscle in my shoulders exploded. They had to wonder what the heck was going on. All I know is that it was one of the best feelings that I have ever had in my life when I heaved my wide load over the top of that wall...

The rest of the course we ran through mud, up one more hill before the final obstacles, the fun ones. We slid down a ginormous slip-n-slide, leaped over fire, and crawled through a very large mud pit under barbed wire. After that it was just a few feet to the finish line. I finished in 1:14.11, 8,752nd for the day.

For our efforts we got a tee-shirt, warrior helmet, medal, and a free beer. Definitely worth it.

Today, I am badly sunburned, have bruises appearing randomly, and am just a little sore but not what I expected. Maybe it’s because ibuprofen has become my new best friend?

I highly recommend this race for anybody that is looking for a challenge or just something different to do. It was a family day for us as my parents, brother, and son’s girlfriend were there to cheer us all on. They even took the chairlift to the top to catch some action up there.

Besides the race there were bands playing, turkey legs being eaten, and fun all-around.

Although the race was not hosted by a charity, the event company “hired” charity groups to staff the event and they also collected the muddy tennis shoes, if you wanted to leave yours, to recycle them into new shoes for persons around the world who don’t have shoes. A pretty good cause in my book.

Afterwards, we all agreed that we couldn’t wait until next year but this time we were going to find some super costumes (part of the race-fun if you want to dress up) and we were really going to train.

Call me a warrior! A tired, sunburned, sore- warrior!

P.S. The VERY best part of the day was coming down the final hill and hearing my family and friends cheering wildly for me! I love you all!

An 'A' for effort?

I apologize to any of my neighbors who may have nearly fainted at the sight of me behind the lawnmower Saturday afternoon. It’s a sight you’ve probably never witnessed before and probably won’t again any time soon.

I was just trying to be nice to the hub who plans his weeks around his mowing- literally. Saturday was “the day” but he got called to help a buddy shingle at the last minute. I thought, I’ll mow this one time, just to be nice.

Not that I’m fundamentally opposed to mowing, I’d do it regularly if my life depended on it, but thanks to the hub, it doesn’t.  It doesn’t because the hub “banned” me from mowing nearly two decades ago. That’s right B-A-N-N-E-D.

At the time we were living on the farm and I was brand-spanking new to farm life and to the lawn mowing scene, especially a riding lawn mower. Our yard had a very low spot that was in the shape of a circle, so I did the only logical thing to do- I mowed in a circle. Apparently in my hub’s book of mowing regulations, mowing in a circle is a  “mowing violation” and I had just offended in a big way. The hub was not pleased with my mowing strategy and in a rather harsh tone, banned me from the mowing. After all, what would people think?

“Seriously? Did you just ban me from mowing?” I said laughing hysterically. “Maybe if you would have informed me of the “mowing regulations” I would have never violated the rules in such a drastic way.” The hub didn’t find this quite as amusing as I did. Gosh, my mowing days were done before they even got started- sniff, sniff.

We eventually moved to town and I have actually “gotten” to mow a couple of times- but only when the situation was absolutely desperate. He never forgot the mowing violation from years prior choosing to hire youngsters to mow when he couldn’t fit it in. Our own kids even got “the chance” to mow occasionally. It’s probably been a decade since I last cut the grass.

So, I planned my mowing strategy, started the mower and began. Boy would the hub be surprised...

Things were progressing rather nicely until I shut the mower off to move the fire pit rocks. That’s when the mower decided not to start again. Really? Oops!

I tried everything I could think of (which wasn’t enough) before I broke down and called the hub. “Hey, guess what?” I said. “I was mowing...” 

In a rather surprised and concerned tone he said, “What, you were mowing? Mowing?” (As if he didn’t hear me the first time.)

To make a long story short, the mower is now residing in the repair shop. Thanks to our neighbors who let the hub borrow their mower to finish the lawn.

Although he appreciated the effort, we reminisced about our discussion from so long ago...

“There is a reason you don’t mow,” he said. There sure is honey, there sure is!

Will it ever end?

As I write this, the wind is howling, the rain is bordering on turning to snow, and it’s just plain miserable outside. The forecast for the next week or so doesn’t look a whole lot different than the one for today. A day here and there of warmer temps and glimpses of sunshine. Will it ever end?

I remember penning a cheery column back in February regarding the soon to be ending winter. Boy was I wrong.

I had actually packed my winter stuff away a few weeks ago as I was sure I wouldn’t need it. Boy, was I wrong again.  At last week's ball games I sported my wool hat, mittens, and winter coat.

As I was about to start whining this morning when I looked outside I heard yet another report regarding the southern part of our country. Several states have been plagued by tornadoes and severe storms. Many people have died in these storms and the damage has tremendous.

I guess my winter coat doesn’t seem so bad in light of  what could be.

Say a prayer for the people in the states south of us and don’t forget to bundle up.

Year 42...

By the time you read this I will officially be a day into year 42 of my life. I honestly can’t believe I’m this old.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think people in their 40’s are old- it’s just that I never actually I imagined myself as a 40 something. In my head there are many days I’m still 18. Luckily though, I no longer act like it.

Every year I go through a mini depression around the time of my birthday. I beat myself up over the things that I haven’t accomplished yet. Things I thought for sure I would have by now.

This year though, I only let myself have only one day of mental torture before I decided to look at all of the things, by the grace of God, that I had accomplished in my life, choosing to look at the blessings in my life and not my failures.

I have been blessed with incredible kids, family, and friends. I have two really cool jobs that I am extremely thank ful for. I have a home and a car to drive.

I may not be at my “ideal” weight or in the financial position I thought I would be at 42 and I have some educational goals left to attain but I am learning to be okay with the fact that these aren’t failures but only things I have yet to accomplish. And you know what? I have vowed to keep plugging away at achieving what I have set out to. I’m carrying that positive attitude forward into year 42 and I’m feeling like it’s going to be a good one.

I guess anytime you can say that you have celebrated another year of life (considering the alternative) it has to be good right?