Lacrosse Comes to Madison - What a Score!
by Deborah Proctor
What you say? Oh, not the city — lacrosse (all lower case) — the fast paced field sport, with its roots in Native American culture. Combining elements of basketball, soccer, and hockey, while favoring speed, agility, and finesse over brawn, lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in America.
Madison scored big when chosen by US Lacrosse to host the 2013 US Central Lacrosse Championship in the area. This open tournament attracted teams from eight central US states, which according to Jamie Patrick of the Madison Area Sports Commission (MASC) "had an estimated direct spending impact of over $998,000."
So how did Madison win the bid for this premier sporting event? "Madison is the intersection of great people, meeting venues, restaurants, attractions, and support all wrapped up in a unique personality. It’s why people like coming here for events," said Patrick,"We also have great June weather (and) a venue that fits the needs of the event well."
To meet the needs of the 40 teams that traveled to Madison for the championship, MASC partnered with the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation (WLF) who provided volunteers, scheduled referees, and painted fields. MASC added housing support, volunteer time, marketing and other services and support.
Federation President, Dave Wollin, was thrilled that Madison was chosen. "This is a big shot of recognition for Wisconsin Lacrosse, which has been getting downplayed by local media and area universities because the sport is not recognized by the WIAA. But...we have 234 boys and girls teams in the state, including ... varsity level... double-digit growth for the past 7 years."
Focal Flame Photography, who photographed the event on behalf of the MASC, congratulates all the players who participated in the championship on a great display of enthusiasm and sportsmanship. We send our heartiest cheers of support to local Dane County UC15 team DC Capitals who earned a #1 bracket seed and posted a 4-1 tournament record, finishing in 2nd place and qualifying to play in the National Tournament in Florida in July. If you would like to help the team cover expenses for this trip, contact them at dccapitalslax@hotmail.com. For more information on how you can learn the sport or get involved as a volunteer or coach, visit www.MADLAX.org.
Interested in sports photography for your youth team? Contact us today!
Cycling Wisconsin: Horribly Hilly Hundreds Sufferfest Supports Blue Mound State Park
By Deb Proctor
Wisconsin cycling is not for the faint of heart. About 25 miles west of Madison, occupying the tallest hill in southern Wisconsin, sits Blue Mound State Park - a popular destination for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, camping, swimming and other outdoor activities. Blue Mound is also the home of the Horribly Hilly Hundreds (HHH), a friendly, and some say "painfully fun" yet must-do bike ride once described as "The Toughest One-Day Challenge Ride in the Midwest" by the Isthmus, a weekly newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin.
The course covers up to 124.2 miles with over 10,000 feet of elevation gain, and is so tough that it was once voted by Isthmus readers as the "Sufferfest of the Year." Yet, as horribly hilly as this ride is, it has become so popular with cycling enthusiasts that a lottery system had to be implemented to keep the numbers of participants in check.
Each June, approximately 1,300 cyclists follow one of three routes — 100K, 150K, or 200K. The Horribly Hilly Hundreds is a tour, not a race. Riders traverse at their own pace the unglaciated, driftless area of Wisconsin in which steep hills and valleys stretch for hundreds of miles from southern Wisconsin into the northeast corner of Iowa. The beautiful rolling countryside and magnificent vistas at the top of each challenging climb reward participants for their efforts. Camaraderie awaits at the end of the day….as well as Viking Goulash — a treat worth riding for — that is served up by volunteers. (Download a PDF of the goulash recipe.)
Begun in 2003 by now retired Blue Mound State Park manager, Karl Heil and friends, and enthusiastically endorsed by the Mt. Horeb Chamber of Commerce, the Horribly Hilly bike ride is a major fundraiser for the Friends of Blue Mound State Park, a volunteer group whose efforts provide funding for new trails, park amenities, and even a staff naturalist — things that would not otherwise be possible given dwindling state budgets.
Proceeds from the Horribly Hilly Hundreds ride most recently supported the construction of a fully ADA accessible, all season shelter house - made possible through a donation of $500,000 from the Friends of Blue Mound State Parks using funds raised from the bike event. Ten years in the dreaming, the 2,400 square foot shelter opened in January 2013 complete with a great hall, cathedral ceilings, and a real bathroom. Families, hikers, mountain bikers, skiers, and snowshoers visiting the park can now enjoy a cool place to sit in the summer, have a picnic and enjoy the view, or warm up and rest on a cold winter day.
Funds from HHH events will continue to benefit the park. Friends group Treasurer, Gail Van Haren, stated, "The HHH typically contributes 60-70% of the Friends' total annual income." She added that Friends group projects in the near future will include "…acoustic panels for inside the shelter, landscaping of the grounds surrounding the shelter, and development of accessible trails as well as the usual ongoing support of park maintenance projects and a park naturalist." (For more information on the Friends of Blue Mound State Park or to become a member, visit their Blog.)
Stop by Blue Mound State Park this year on June 20, 2015 to cheer on this year's participants and join in the fun. Professional photographers from Focal Flame Photography will be capturing images of the riders, so be sure to say "Hello." And, if you think you would enjoy a challenging ride, make sure to register early for next year. For more information visit www.horriblyhilly.com.
Focal Flame Photography is proud to work with Horribly Hilly Hundreds event organizers Race Day Events to provide race photographs to participants. Click to view images from 2012, 2013, or 2014.
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Girls on the Run: Meredith Rhodes Carson on Coaching Confidence
By any measure, there is a need for strong girls in the world. Meeting this need requires guidance from one generation to the next. Arising from humble beginnings as a running and self-empowerment program for thirteen elementary-aged girls in 1996, Girls on the Run has exploded into an international effort involving over 130,000 girls and 55,000 volunteers across over 200 cities. Girls meet twice weekly for 10 to 12 weeks to train for a 5k run and talk about topics ranging from what positive self-image means to how to deal with bullying.
But despite the magnitude of Girls on the Run International, at the local level it all comes down to the individuals who make it happen: volunteer coaches.
One such volunteer is Meredith Rhodes Carson, Girls on the Run coach for a team at Thoreau Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin. Carson has a tremendous depth and range of experience: PhD-level consulting in explorative geology, professional health coaching for brides-to-be, and mother of two active young children.
Focal Flame Photography writer and co-owner Robyn Perrin recently followed up with Carson about some of her experiences as a Girls on the Run coach.
Robyn Perrin / Focal Flame Photography: For those who aren't familiar with the Girls on the Run (GOTR) program, what's involved in a typical practice?
Meredith Rhodes Carson: GOTR practice is divided into several parts; a brief introduction where we discuss the main topic of the lesson (i.e., healthy eating), a getting on board/warm-up where we explore the topic a bit deeper and get the girls moving by playing a short game (i.e., softball, where they are 'pitched' questions about healthy eating), a quick stretch and strengthening routine, and then the actual workout which involves running/walking laps around the practice area. To wrap up, the girls recognize each other with 'energy awards' and we end with our GOTR cheer.
FFP: What inspired you to become a GOTR coach?
Carson: There are a couple of things that inspired me to become a GOTR coach. When I was growing up, I had some serious issues with self-esteem. I remember going through a funk (which I would call depression today) in middle school; I was bullied on the school bus, I had a hard time finding real friends, and my mom was facing her own demons at the time. Fast forward to today: I'm raising a 9-year-old daughter and I desperately want to make sure she has the tools to deal with the stressors of growing up and the confidence to know that she is awesome and that no one should convince her otherwise. I also wanted to find a way to volunteer in my community - in a way that would help me to grow. Coaching GOTR has been a great learning experience for me.
FFP: What has been the most rewarding aspect of coaching?
Carson: I think that the most rewarding aspect of coaching has been to see the girls change over the course of 10 weeks. I see leaders emerging, I see confidence being gained, I see compassion, I see friends choosing to be in situations that make them happy, I see that many of the girls are learning great things in school and bringing those gifts out to share.
FFP: Has anything about being a GOTR coach been surprising or unexpected?
Carson: I am surprised by how much the girls transport me back to my youth. Some of the conversations that we've had really hit home. Conversations around body image and relationships and missing friends who have moved away... The other coaches and I have been moved to tears after practice remembering what it was like to be in their shoes.
FFP: How has the staff at GOTR-Dane County supported your efforts?
Carson: The staff at GOTR - Dane County are awesome! They have been very supportive, incredibly so. They held new coaches training and first aid sessions to start the season off. They let me sneak another girl onto the team in the early weeks (would have been so hard to turn her away), they make lesson planning a breeze by sending out weekly reminders about what is coming up, they've provided all of the materials for the lessons, and most of all, they've provided individual support to the girls when needed. We were able to provide a great new pair of running shoes to one of the girls on the team. GOTR support is amazing. They are really committed to making this program successful.
FFP: For those considering coaching a GOTR or Girls On Track team in their community, what advice would you share?
Carson: If you are on the edge about becoming a GOTR coach, I would offer this advice. You might approach GOTR coaching as a way for you to grow personally, not with the idea that you don't have what it takes to coach, or that you have nothing to teach the girls, or that you don't know how to run (because it's not a running program). My default state throughout my adult life has been to be sort of scheduled, to play by the book, to plan and maybe to over-plan. Coaching GOTR has enabled me to let loose, to let things happen and unfold, to throw the book away when good things are happening, and to appreciate how each lesson is played out.
While the lessons are literally written out for you, the spontaneity of practice is rewarding. Not to mention that the girls really do value the program... they know me now... It's great to be hugged in the hallways at school. I'll forever be Coach Myrtle.
FFP: How has GOTR influenced the rest of your family?
Carson: I have a jealous little guy at home, who would really like to be a Boy on the Run.
FFP: What do you want the community to know about GOTR?
Carson: I found out about GOTR through a friend - who happens to be a former GOTR coach. We were discussing how to raise a confident daughter (and I really didn't know, as I lost that confidence when I was growing up). My friend said to me, "She needs to do Girls on the Run." She was right. TheGOTR program is designed to give our girls the tools to be positive, to treat themselves well, to understand their emotions, to practice gratitude, to value what's really important, to cooperate, to stand up to peer pressure and bullying, to understand how harmful gossip is, to choose friends that lift you up, and to work together to support their community.
Please join Girls on the Run Dane County for the 2nd Annual Spring 5K on Saturday, June 8 at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg, WI.
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Stories from the Madison Mud Run: Team TACA Gets Dirty for Autism
If you’ve ever done an obstacle course event like the Madison Mud Run, you may recall some obstacles that require teamwork. When you have sweat running down the small of your back, mud clinging to your shoes, breathless from running and mindful of each second that passes on the race clock – it’s a good idea to reach out to a teammate for a helping hand.
It’s a lot like living with autism, as it turns out. The challenge of autism is simply too big to face alone.
The Wisconsin chapter of Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is part of a nationwide network of families whose lives have been affected by autism spectrum disorders. Founded in southern California in 2000, TACA seeks to be a parent-to-parent resource as families navigate the often bewildering and strenuous obstacles of autism diagnosis and treatments. Offering free information, support groups, and a mentorship program, TACA has grown to serve over 31,000 member families nationwide in 2012.
Local chapters often seek opportunities for fundraising, as well as opportunities to get the word out about TACA’s work. After participating in a shoe collection at a Milwaukee-area mud run as a fundraising effort, TACA Wisconsin members – many of whom are based in Madison – decided to try a local community event. This time, they decided to put together a team to participate in the Madison Mud Run.
At first, they focused on reaching out to the fitness community to sign up and run on behalf of families with autism. Gradually, and with encouragement, more and more parent members of TACA Wisconsin decided that they were willing to try the Madison Mud Run themselves. As word spread, they found support from others near and far; one team member, Tresa Gibson, is flying all the way from Calgary, Canada to participate. TACA Wisconsin members hope that the light-heartedness of the event may help families accomplish a critical activity: laughter. “You need to find a way to laugh, despite the hardships,” said Kate Whelan, Chapter Coordinator for TACA Wisconsin.
Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn Perrin recently caught up with Whelan to discuss the impact of autism on children and families in Wisconsin.
Focal Flame Photography: Could you tell us a little bit about the mission and work of TACA?
Kate Whelan / TACA Wisconsin: TACA is a lifeline to parents of children with autism. Particularly when you first receive your child's diagnosis, it can be absolutely devastating and it really helps to have a network of positive, experienced and knowledgeable parents help guide you to find the information you need. We are a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which started as an Autism Diet meet-up group by our founder Lisa Ackerman in California. Initially, there were just 10 families, but TACA now serves over 31,000 families nationwide and that number continues to grow. The CDC's official statistics for autism are still 1 in 88 children, but a recent CDC survey found that number is more likely 1 in 50 school age children (1 in 31 boys). Autism now affects more children than those affected by AIDS, diabetes, and childhood cancer combined. If you do not know someone with autism, you probably soon will. TACA provides a community for parents to connect through meetings with speakers, a resource library, social events, and conferences. We also provide online live chat, parent mentors and medical scholarships for families in need. The biggest thing we offer is real support to families. It's that human connection that's so important.
FFP: As you've mentioned on the Team TACA web site and video, there are a lot of parallels between the perseverance required to live with autism, and how this challenge makes a 4.8-mi mud run seem so trivial by comparison. Are there particular stories of perseverance you'd like to highlight?
KW / TACA WI: Children with autism work very hard every day to communicate, to be heard, to process information, to overcome physical and social deficits. Most of our kids undergo years of intensive behavioral therapy (usually between 20 and 40 hours per week for 4 years and tapering off as needed - some will need therapy their entire lives). They also often need speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision therapy, loads of other therapies, which means they're over-scheduled and really fatigued. Depending on the level of functioning of a child, it can be very difficult for families too. Studies have shown that parents of children with autism often suffer from PTSD due to the need to be ever-vigilant, particularly when they have children who might wander or who have explosive, unpredictable behaviors. We have many children in our TACA chapter who have made significant achievements in terms of overcoming obstacles in communication, making friends, and connecting with their families. Some have gone from a diagnosis of severe autism with a suggestion that parents look for an institution to high-functioning kids in school without much support. The most important thing is to always have hope. With hard work and perseverance and appropriate medical care that addresses each child's individual needs, a lot of kids can recover significantly.
FFP: What do you want the public to know about the work that TACA does?
KW / TACA WI: Having a child with autism can be incredibly isolating. If you know a family where there is a child with autism, please refer them to us. Once you find TACA, you're never alone. We will support you.
FFP: Are there team members or other volunteers you'd like to recognize in particular?
KW / TACA WI: Tresa Gibson is flying in from Calgary, Canada for the Mud Run. Tresa's son has recovered from autism and Lennox-Gestaut Syndrome through [ketogenic] diet. She's also an incredible artist and has auctioned off two of her paintings for TACA. Tresa has raised over $1,400 for TACAWisconsin and she doesn't even live here.
Kylie Van Dyke is 11 years old and running for her brother, Ryan.
Mary Tackett is a grandmother to a child with autism. This is her first mud run.
Margaret Adelmeyer is a personal trainer with a big heart. Margaret donated 10% of all earnings from April to TACA.
Courtney Kleist and Autumn Mazzulla are both therapists with Wisconsin Early Autism Project. They also work with my son, Luke.
FFP: Is there anything else you'd like to share about Team TACA at the Madison Mud Run?
KW / TACA WI: Often parents of special needs children do nothing for themselves, which can lead to all sorts of health problems, and also makes them prone to depression. Getting some physical activity should be a high priority for everyone, especially parents of children with challenges. Some of us will be caring for our children long after their peers have gone to college or the workforce, so it's important that we stay healthy. Finding time to do fun activities as a family and also as individuals is so important. At TACA, we have fun at our meetings, so it's an enjoyable social event and we look forward to seeing each other. As autism parents we often hear the saying "it's a marathon, not a sprint," meaning that you need to pace yourself, but sometimes it feels a bit more like a mud run. Sometimes it feels like you have to crawl through a mud pit and get hit with a fire hose before you feel like you have succeeded. Life with autism is full of ups and downs. We will often see progress followed by regression of skills, which can be frustrating. But, if you keep at it, things get better. Kids do recover. Autism is treatable.
FFP: Where can people go to get involved with TACA Wisconsin?
KW / TACA WI: TACA meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Wisconsin Integrative Hyperbaric Center at 6200 Nesbitt Rd in Fitchburg. To learn more about our meetings, visit the TACA Wisconsin web site.
Support Team TACA as they raise funds to help create educational resources and provide medical scholarships for families with autism. Donate today!
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Behind the Lens: Going Left When Everyone Goes Right
by Clint Thayer
There are some advantages of doing what everyone else is doing. Life is easy and you don’t have to think about it much. Just follow the person in front of you and watch what they do. If you can’t beat them - join them. Right?
Wrong. At least from a creative perspective. The act of creating means not just recapitulating what others have done before, but putting something new into the world.
Sometimes making something wholly new requires taking a different approach toward a familiar subject matter - one of which (for me) is cycling. If you've never heard of cyclocross, you would likely raise an eyebrow when I describe the nature of what a typical cyclocross racer does on the weekends. Yet it’s strangely captivating to watch and even more so to photograph. Over the years the sport of cyclocross has gained a great deal of popularity in the cycling community, and it’s starting to infiltrate the public’s eye as well. This is wonderful for the sport and for the cycling community as a whole. An entire industry is growing out of the weeds and as a professional visual storyteller - it is a wonderful backdrop.
With this growth, I’ve witnessed first-hand the explosion of like-minded photographers jumping in and crafting some amazing pieces of work. Really great material showing off some exceptional athletes. Welcome to the party!
I started shooting cyclocross a few years ago as a study in motion, light and...essentially, grit. I fell in love with the people, the sport, and most of all the imagery. Turning a corner of the course into a Focal Flame portable studio was a blast and I learned a great deal about my professional craft - lessons that I still use today. When Madison was awarded its bid to host the 2012 and 2013 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships, I could not have been happier. What an opportunity to show my love of the sport through the lens - with cyclocross racers from all over the nation coming practically to our backyard!
But at the same time - I wanted to stand out and take some artistic risks. Should I bring more lights? More filters? Climb trees? Each technique could help produce wonderful images and likely push me creatively, as well as push the limits of what can be done with the camera.
And pushing the limits meant that I wanted to go left when everyone else was going right. I woke up on the Saturday of CX Nationals with my sights set on filming, editing, and publishing a ~3 min video that captured the heart of the event. And I wanted the creative process and the production to all be completed within one day.
I’ve never, ever liked rolling with the pack - going with the flow, or taking the easy road. And I find value and comfort in setting my own expectations higher than I did the previous day. I’m not in a race to out-do others - I’m in a race to push myself past my own creative comfort zone with the storytelling process. This was the result:
So how different is shooting video from shooting stills? In many aspects, it’s very much the same. Above everything else, story rules all. With a still photo, the goal is to convey intent and imply story in a way that evokes a conclusion for the beholder in a single frame - not an easy task, yet very rewarding when successful. From my perspective, video allows different creative space as a playground, including additional ways to help develop story. Your perception of time actually changes. Photography forces you into the moment in zen-like fashion. Videography beckons you to consider past, present, and future simultaneously.
And there are so many ways to evoke mood. Sound, dialog, and ambient noise gives a videographer the capability to set tone without revealing a single frame. These are dimensions we all experience when we watch a movie, but when you begin to work with them as an artistic process for visual storytelling, it’s changes your whole perspective. It’s electric. It’s goosebump-inducing.
And I can’t wait for the next opportunity go push myself toward new paths, and new directions.
Thanks, as always, for joining in on the journey.
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Madison Shamrock Shuffle: Profile of Founder Megan Sisson
The Madison Shamrock Shuffle has been in existence for 10 years, long enough that it’s hard to imagine a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Madison without it. But today’s 5,000-racer strong event - an explosion of emerald exuberance – would never have happened if not for the sweat equity of a small group of founders.
One of the three founding members of the Madison Shamrock Shuffle Board of Directors is physical therapist Megan Sisson. "I was inspired to start the run when I was on the St. Patrick's Day parade committee and they wanted ideas on how to grow the event,” said Sisson. “I'm Irish and I love to run so it seemed like the obvious choice.”
Megan’s passion for running and for all things Irish drove many decisions surrounding the Shuffle. Her signature contribution was finding ways to dial up the “fun factor” to 11. “She always looked for ways to make it more of a party. How could we make it more fun for EVERYONE?” said current race directorSteve Donovan.
The way that joie de vivre is expressed has shifted over the years. “In 2005, we were expecting to register about 700 runners,” said Donovan. “It was a growing race but it was only a 5K and we organized it like we organized a party…. That year, Megan was dead-set on getting a ‘Boom Box’ on the course playing Irish music.” From song selection to making sure the boom box indeed had enough batteries to entertain the field, Sisson made certain that the Shuffle stayed true to its Irish roots – and that runners’ spirits were lifted along the way.
Lifting spirits often took a touch of whimsy. “[Megan] wanted the slogan ‘When Irish Thighs are Smiling’ for several years before she was able to convince people that it was a good slogan,” said friend and fellow Shuffle co-founder Lorrie Frautschi. “Her tenacity and good humor kept everyone going.”
And the momentum has kept rolling for a decade. With 5K, 10K, and 2-mile walk courses, the Madison Shamrock Shuffle now draws thousands of runners and is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. When asked what she wanted people to know about the Madison Shamrock Shuffle, Megan said, “I would love people to know that our run shows that you can have fun and get exercise at the same time.”
That mindset – a event that provides simple joy for everyone involved, from racers to walkers to volunteers – persists. “We will always remain true to this standard set,” said Donovan. “Moving into the future, [Megan] will continue to remain active though she's stepping down from the board. Her contributions will always be appreciated as one of the primary founders of this race as well as the person who set the stage for one of the best 5K/10K's in the state.”
And the Irish music scene? Forget the boom box. For the 2013 event, the Madison Shamrock Shuffle will offer not only traditional bagpiping but also the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County Drum Line at the 5K turnaround point and The Kissers, a hometown favorite band of “rock musicians that learned to play Irish music.”
As for Megan’s next adventure? “Bagpipe lessons,” she said.
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Madison Marathon Kids Run: Moments that Matter
by Robyn M. Perrin
“Do you want to see some photos?,” said Clint. They were familiar words from my husband, business partner, and best friend. It was late on a Saturday evening after he had returned from a commercial photo shoot for Madison Festivals Inc. to document two new events added to the Madison Marathon weekend: a twilight 10K for adults, and a half-mile kids’ race.
I am not a photographer. But I adore photography. It is a medium both raw and real, one that spans an incredible spectrum. The unapologetic witness of photojournalism, which documents the horrors of battlefields and the tragedy of famine. The surrealism of altered images, which create a fantasy world. The minimalism of genres such as contemplative (Miksang) photography, which challenges viewers to appreciate the beauty that always surrounds us. For photography lovers, there is always more to learn, more to see, more to experience.
Every photographer – and every photography fan – recognizes “the” images. The ones that pierce the veil of mundane life and make us see with new eyes and open souls. They are images that your mind will re-play when your eyes shut. These are images that will resonate deeply and echo throughout time. They make you want to study them. They make you want to live more deeply.
They are ephemeral, and don’t come around terribly often.
But as we gazed through the series from the evening, all of a sudden I was overcome.
“Stop.”
Clint glanced over, surprised. I was wordless, because I couldn’t speak.
“You don’t usually cry at my photos,” he said somewhat playfully.
Still couldn’t speak.
The image that had pierced my vision was rendered in black and white. Two young girls were gathered close to each other. Clint explained that they were actually being interviewed by camera crew that was documenting the children’s race. While the video cameras fixed on their fresh, animated faces and the sound boom operator carefully picked up their excited chatter, Clint focused on something else.
Their hands. One African-American, one Caucasian, spontaneously intertwined.
I don’t know any details about the girls, or how they came to be at a running event together, or why they were being interviewed. But as a 37-something-year old American in the year 2012, along with over 311 million other Americans, I witness the complex reality of race in modern society. The strength of amazing role models in communities of color, the crushing economic disparities that follow racial lines with heartbreaking frequency, the depth of future possibilities for today’s youth that too often remains numbingly unrealized.
And as I looked at the image, none of that complex reality mattered. Because there, right in front of me, were two children showing each and every one of us what really matters:
Stop making it complicated. Grab your friend’s hand and go for a run together.
As the tears flowed, I realized that maybe, just maybe, it really is that simple. That’s the power of a photograph.
Focal Flame Photography believes that photography can help change the world, one image at a time. Join the conversation on theFocal Flame facebook page, Twitter, or on Google+.
Girls On The Run Dane County: Strong Legs, Strong Hearts
Do you remember what it was like to be a pre-teen? For many, it is a time of not-quites. Not quite a child, not quite an adult. Not quite independent, but leaning longingly toward freedom. Until that leaning causes a loss of balance, which sometimes leads to running back headlong into the comforts of childhood.
Running. Towards the future. Back to the past. Running.
For Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker, it was a sunset run in 1993 run that eased her troubled mind as she processed all the challenges that life was throwing her way. Running had been her solace since she was a girl. It was a way for her to break out of the set of societal rules and peer pressures that created what she referred to as the “girl box”: a suffocating place where anxiety about body image and self-determination easily led to lack of confidence.
An IronMan triathlete and social worker, Barker felt that there had to be a way to help young girls navigate their pre-teen years and emerge stronger, more self-confident, and better equipped to help one another. And she was certain that it would involve teaching girls to discover their inner athlete.
In 1996, she launched her first program with a small group of girls in North Carolina. Today, Girls On The Run (GOTR) has grown to include hundreds of thousands of girls in over 170 cities in the U.S. – including the Girls on the Run Dane County program.
GOTR is more than a sports club. For ten weeks, the girls not only improve their fitness levels, but also talk with their teammates and volunteer coaches about peer pressure, maintaining self-esteem, and encouraging each other to strive toward their dreams.
It makes a difference, says GOTR participant Jenna, who participated in the Girls On The Run Dane County 2012 Spring 5K event on June 9. “The program is really fun. We run together and we talk about a lot of things that are important for girls to know, like how to feel good about yourself and how to stand up to bullies.”
Over 600 girls, 175 coaches, and 600+ runners from the community gathered at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg for the 5K run, which took place under a cloudless sky. After warming up with cheers and stretching directed by a purple-clad mascot named Running Man from a local fitness facility, the crowd listened to Junior sing the national anthem. Jenna's mother shared, “She also sang the national anthem at the Madison Mallards baseball game last night. It’s a pretty special thing that she decided to do because her dad just got back from [military] deployment.”
Every participant wore bib number “1” and focused on the overall experience rather than their race time. Girls On The Run Dane County Director Sara Pickard was all smiles as a steady flood of runners crossed the finish line, each girl receiving a pink medal.
But even as Pickard celebrated the day, she was planning for the future. “Our fall program starts on Labor Day at all of our sites,” she said. “The program sites will be posted on our web sites on July 1st, registration opens August 1st, the program starts September 5th, and it’s a 10-week program that finishes November 10th at the Waunakee Village Center.”
Interested in helping? There are many ways to get involved, from becoming a sponsor to volunteering at races. Volunteers can fill out a short form on the GOTR Dane County web site. Helping tomorrow’s leaders is fulfilling and inspiring.
And as for the girls, they’ll tell you: a girl on the run is a beautiful thing. Always.
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Running the Distance: 2012 Lake Monona 20K and 5K
Can you outrun rain clouds? That was the question on racers’ minds on May 5, 2012, when 851 runners on the 20K course and 164 runners on the 5K course squinted up at overcast skies. But it was a different body of water that greeted them when the race started – the beautiful shores of Lake Monona curving along the lakefront running and bike path.
For runners in the region, the Lake Monona 20K has a long history of being a “runner’s race." It's perfectly situated as a longer distance competition to prepare for the Madison Marathon or the 20 mile Syttende Mai ("Seventeenth of May") Run – part of the traditional Norwegian heritage celebrations involving a run from the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison to Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Ed Peirick of Fitchburg, WI accomplished a personal record for the Lake Monona 20K route by finishing in 1:38:16 – over 5 minutes faster than his previous time. “Lake Monona 20k has been one of my 'must do' races since 2007,” said Peirick. “Compared to similar distance races, it's unbeatable for cost, course, t-shirt, volunteers, organizers, and post race food & entertainment.”
Steve Morstad of Monroe, WI also logged a PR on the 5K run course. Delighted with his finish line photo by Focal Flame Photography, Morstad wrote, “I really got a kick of your shot. I have so much fun running... but you caught a flash of fierce grit as I pushed for a PR. [It’s a] great shot that I am going to have fun with, with family and friends.”
The event ended with live music by Madison band Mighty Short Bus, and plentiful food and drink from Capital Brewery, Qdoba, and Quaker Steak & Lube.
And – as it turned out – every single participant did outrun the rain, which graciously held off. As for the photography conditions, clouds were perfect. “I love shooting in overcast weather,” said Focal Flame photographer Clint Thayer. “It’s like a natural diffuser – it eliminates hard shadows and really makes the photos pop.”
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2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Nationals: Mud, Sweat, and Cheers
Focal Flame Photography was honored to cover the 2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championship races held near Madison, Wisconsin. Over 1,000 racers and 5,000 fans rained down on Badger Prairie Park, where they were met with sunlit skies, unseasonably warm January temperatures, and a sea of muddy goodness on the course. To view and purchase photos from the event, click here.
Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn Perrin reported on the Collegiate and U23 Women's races while Focal Flame photographer was on assignment for the Madison Area Sports Commissions. A version of this article appeared on the Cyclocross Magazine web site.
VERONA, WI - JANUARY 7, 2012 - - Sun and mud were both abundant for the D1 and D2 Collegiate Women’s race at the 2012 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. D1 and D2 women were on the field simultaneously for the 4-lap race – the D2 field starting 1 minute behind the Division 1 women.
When asked for predictions prior to the start of the race, USA Cycling Collegiate & High School Cycling Manager Jeffrey Hansen said, “Coryn Rivera and Katie Antonneau are the surefire bets for somewhere on the podium.” Hansen’s words proved prophetic as two of the most highly decorated women’s cyclists in the world – who happen to be best friends, roommates, and teammates – duked it out in the Division 1 Collegiate race.
“I got the hole shot and I was in the lead for about three quarters of the lap, then I took a nice digger on a corner,” said Coryn Rivera (Marian University/Tustin, CA). “Katie [Antonneau} took the lead - which is fine, because she’s my teammate. As long as Marian [University] was up there, I was OK with a teammate passing me,” said Rivera.
Both Rivera and Kaitlin Antonneau (Marian University/Racine, WI) were careful to maintain control without depleting their energy reserves entirely, since both are racing in the Elite/U23 race on Sunday, January 8. “I think I pulled Katie as close as 10-15 seconds away,” said Rivera. The final gap was 23 seconds as Antonneau remained comfortably in control, giving an understated one-handed wave at the finish as she claimed the national title.
“I like the course a lot. It’s tough,” said Antonneau. “I think racing today helped because it got a lot of nerves out of the way for tomorrow… I pushed it hard through some parts just to see where I could risk it, but it was good,” said Antonneau, who relentlessly powered it to the finish line in 42:47 at a pace of 19.07 kph.
While the D1 race played out with few surprises from some of the most decorated women’s cyclists in the world, the D2 race winner was a bit of a dark horse. Before the race, Hansen mentioned Rebecca Gross (University of Denver/Lakewood, CO) and Kimberly Flynn (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga/Hixson, TN) as top picks. Hanson also said, “Mars Hills College is a team to watch.”
One to watch, indeed. South African Mariske Strauss, a top-level mountain biker and recently recruited to Mars Hill College can now add a cyclocross National Champion title to her credentials – from her first-ever cyclocross race. Laughing and flush with excitement, Strauss said, “This was actually my first cyclocross event ever, so I just decided to take it as it comes and go as hard as I can for as long as I can…I just went out and had some fun racing for my Mars Hill College cycling team.”
Strauss scorched the course in 47:22, finishing 13 seconds ahead of second-place Rebecca Gross. Kimberly Flynn rounded out the podium to finish 3rd in 48:55.
Strauss is the current South African cross country mountain bike champion, and placed 18th at the 2011 the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. She is a hopeful for the 2012 Olympic cycling team for South Africa.
When asked for reflections about the USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross Nationals course, Lindsay Knight (University of Chicago/Chicago, IL) said, “Really muddy, and really slick. I actually wish it had been more technical, more turns, more trees, more tight stuff.” Others found it more to their liking, including Brittany Clawson (Fort Lewis College/Sandpoint, ID). “I’m more of an mountain biker and downhiller, and I love the mud, I love the mucky-muck. This was awesome,” said Clawson.
Many of the racers faced off once again in the Elite/U23 race at noon the next day. It proved to be another powerful battle, with Katie Compton - a force of nature in the cyclocross world - taking her 8th straight National title. In second place overall was none other than her starring pupil: Katie Antonneau, who has been coached by Compton. Teacher and student took first and second place on the podium in an inspiring display of hard work and discipline.
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