Newaygo North Country Trail – Minor Setback
By Bret Brummel Distance: 0 miles In section 9 of our adventure, I mentioned both Anna and I were to run the White Cloud Trail Trot 5k the day after our trail run. On the way to the race, Anna mentioned that she was not feeling well. I gave her the option of walking the course instead of running, knowing there was no chance that would happen. Her response was “If I’m here, I’m going to run.” She finished the race, but I ended up beating her by about 2 minutes. I was happy to have beaten her, but I was concerned because there’s no way that should happen. During the week that followed, Anna’s condition worsened. She battled a week-long fever and spent her days sleeping on the couch after getting 10 hours of sleep each night. We took her to the doctor and she was diagnosed with mononucleosis. That explained the fever and extreme fatigue. Unfortunately, we’ve been told it will be anywhere from 4-8 weeks before she’s able to run the distance necessary to continue our journey. It looks like our goal of finishing the trail by the end of summer will not be acheived. Lord willing, we plan to pick up our quest again in September. Until then, I keep reminding Anna of the saying “A minor setback paves the way for a major comeback.” Not sure why she gives me the eye roll when I say that. It’s probably the mono talking.
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Family of God Community Church’s annual Worship in the Park will take place on Sunday, August 19, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in Brooks Park, downtown Newaygo. We invite the community to join us to hear the word of God from our visiting pastor, Reverend Bill VandenBosch. Also, enjoy the beautiful sounds of Joyful Noise, a local Christian group, who will be performing during the service. Please bring your lawn chair or blanket. In the event of rain, the service will be held at Family of God Community Church, 90 Quarterline, Newaygo.
Family of God Community Church is firmly grounded in God’s love and Spirit-lead worship. It stands as a welcoming and diverse body-of-believers who joyfully witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by reaching out to others in friendship, compassion and service. ALL ARE WELCOME! Newaygo North Country Trail Section 9– 3 Mile Rd. to 6 Mile Rd.
By Bret Brummel Distance: 5.22 miles With the White Cloud Trail Trot 5k race the following day, Anna suggested we run this section at an easy pace. An easy evening run on a beautiful sunny day sounded great to me! Leaving 3 Mile Road, the trail was the familiar single-track through the forest heading north. There were a few small hills, but the terrain was relatively flat. At the half mile mark, the trail turned to the West and for two miles we were running toward the setting sun. The trees kept us in the shade most of the time, but the sun would break through the canopy lighting up Anna like she was under spotlight on stage. Up ahead, I noticed a clearing in the woods where the trail led us to an open marsh. The trail would follow the perimeter of the marsh, then head back into the forest. It was a nice change of scenery. After a quarter mile and few twists and turns, another marsh would appear. Once again, we would follow its border and turn back into the woods. As the length of the run increased, this pattern continued. Unfortunately for Anna, I began joking about it. Each time we would see an upcoming opening in the trees, I would say “Oh, look it’s another marsh!” I can only imagine the eye roll she was giving me as she ran. Around the four-mile mark, we came to what I would call a small lake. The trail was on a hill adjacent to the lake and gave us a nice view. From somewhere on the lake, I heard the call of a loon. Of course, Anna didn’t hear it and the bird never made another sound once I had brought it to her attention. If we been hiking, I probably would have stopped to get a glimpse of it before continuing. The next portion of the trail snaked through some recently logged pines. It had enough twists and turns that it reminded me of some of the switchback trails we had taken in the mountains of Tennessee. The undergrowth in the logged area had grown up in spots and bordered the trail as if we were in a corn maze. With Anna running ten yards ahead of me, she would occasionally disappear rounding one of the turns. Thankfully the trail was wide enough the plants were avoidable. With a half mile to go, we stopped for a picture at a bridge crossing Mena Creek. I commented to Anna “The elevation on this trail is nice. I don’t think the hills are that bad.” Within 50 yards of saying that, the trail led us up a steep hill at least 100 yards long. Midway through the ascent up the hill, I confessed “I think I probably shouldn’t have said those comments out loud.” Anna’s response “You think?”, followed by some grumbling I couldn’t understand. We finished both thinking it had been a good run. Good enough, that a trip to Tiny’s Tasty Treats on the way home would be a great way to refuel after our workout. By Alicia Jaimes It’s August and I am filled with anticipation. This month marks the beginning of my final year at Ferris State University as well as my final year as the Lifestyles Editor of the Ferris State Torch.Soon I will begin wrapping up everything I’ve been working towards for the past four years. Things are changing, ending, it’s all very exciting, but I think what I’m most excited for is what’s only just begun… I’ve been meeting with a personal trainer at Newaygo Fitness for the past two months in hopes of losing 60 pounds before I walk in the spring. I haven’t mentioned it before because, honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d make it this far. For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with body image. In grade school I was too tall. In high school I was too fat. I always found a reason to pick myself apart. So, after graduating high school, I decided I was done. For a while, I gave in. I no longer wanted to be thin, I just wanted to be happy. I stopped counting calories, working out, and restricting.. Stopped it all. Instead, I ate, sat, spent my days on the couch, and it felt good. Sure, my favorite pants no longer fit and my face was breaking out like crazy, but I was happy. For a while. Until I noticed some shortness of breath after doing basic activities, being tired all the time and just felt...uncomfortable in my own skin. And then it hit me. I went to weigh myself after taking time off, expecting to weigh a few pounds heavier. I weighed 210 lbs...60 pounds heavier than I was in high school. The news was shocking, disappointing. I knew I had to make a change. I didn’t want to feel heavy anymore, or short of breath whenever I stood up, I wanted to feel healthy. So, I contacted Newaygo Fitness and asked about starting with a personal trainer. Of course I could’ve just went to the gym and lost weight on my own except when I gained this weight, I lost my self-discipline. I knew I needed somebody there to rely on and push me if I was going to make this change. This is when I met Taylor. At first, I was incredibly intimidated to meet with a trainer because I was one of those people who would compare myself to those around me, and here's this girl about my age who's in great shape. My self esteem took a hit the day she showed me an arm workout and made it looks so easy when I couldn't even lift five pounds, but that's a story for another day. I believe that no problem will be fixed and no goal will be met unless you first recognize there is a problem. This happened before we even began. Before our first workout session, she wanted to get to know me. She told me some details about herself and then proceeded to ask me about myself. “What do you like to do for fun?” “What do you do in your free time?” I couldn't answer. I had become someone who only sits all day watching television and eating food. The thought of ca lifestyle change seemed almost impossible and after our first session, I was scared. During the whole workout my body was screaming “stop.” I wanted to cry, I wanted to yell, I wanted to throw myself on the floor and say “I quit.” Walking to my car, my legs felt like jello and I fought the urge to puke. I felt embarrassed and discouraged. The day after was even worse. I could barely walk and my legs were throbbing in pain. I remember trying to get out of bed one night and wanting to cry because I struggled to stand. How did I let it get this bad? Finally, one day I sat up and asked myself: Okay, this is challenging. How do you want to handle this situation? Do you want to quit? Or do you want to fight? If I quit, I don't think I'd try again, so I decided it was time for a change. I could whine about how hard everything is and compare myself to others progress, or I could find excellence in the things I've been doing and take note that I am stronger than I was two months ago. After making this decision, the ‘after workout pain’ became bearable and I noticed a change in my energy and a genuine desire to workout on the days once spent binging on Netflix. Now, two months in, I weighed myself to see I've lost 10 pounds since that first day I stepped on the scale. I am filled with pride as I try on my favorite pants that used to be too small and find they fit perfectly. I have many people to thank for my achievements, including my supportive friends and family, pushing me to eat healthier. I also am so thankful to have met such a supportive trainer, without her I don't think I would have made it this far. She has helped me not only with my workouts but with my spirit. I feel mentally stronger due to her positivity and reassurance. It's so important to find a trainer that fits your needs and Taylor is great at pushing me while also understanding my struggles and helps me have realistic goals and expectations. Changes don't happen it just a day. It's a constant journey, a rewarding challenge. Though I'm glad my body is changing and clothes are starting to fit again, I think the most important change I've noticed is in my mentality. Now, instead of my body and mind screaming “I quit” I find myself saying “one more,” “you got this,” “don't give up.” And let me tell you what--nothing is more rewarding than achieving what you thought you couldn't do. After two months, I'm happy to report that I will be continuing my journey and continuing to challenge myself physically, nutritionally, and mentally. I know not every day will be perfect, but I know it will all be worth it. Marathon Miles: Run with Valor By Alexis Mercer He was 98 years old. We knew it was coming. But standing looking at the photos of his life at the funeral, it wasn’t any easier than if it had been a complete surprise. That’s the difficulty in loving so fully - the pain is deep regardless of the circumstances of death. My attention was focused on the one photo of my Grandpa, Donald S. MacKenzie, standing by the Marine Corps War Memorial - the six men pushing up the American Flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in WWII. The picture was when he had visited this memorial some years back. But my Grandpa, a Marine Corps Veteran, was on Iwo Jima itself defending his country when the actions in this memorial had taken place. Memories of the man were flooding through my head as I read the quote on the base of the statue. “Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue.” How undeniably true of this man, who spent his entire life displaying valor in one form or another. I tucked this phrase away in my heart and waited to sort through what it meant to me until after the service. As the weeks passed on, I was running farther and more often - contemplating a marathon, but not sure of the challenge. It was on these days when I needed to pass time that I would think most often of my Grandpa’s life. My sister and I didn’t hear many stories of the war growing up. My mom told us he didn’t like to talk about it. If we were lucky enough to get him talking of those memories, it was about the vast shipment of pineapples they came across and got to enjoy on the ship The Maryland on way home from Hawaii after the war ended. Or the drudgery of potato peeling duty on the ship (this was usually with a smile as I was peeling potatoes for dinner). Or sometimes even the joy he got from helping defend his country with his HAM radio skills. But most of what I knew of my Grandpa was what was demonstrated in his every day actions. The immense love he had for his wife - my Grandma. And the way he devoted himself completely to being a family man; a dad who actively participated in the responsibilities of raising children. How he worked 42 years for Detroit Edison. A rarity even then to work for one company his whole career. His support of my Grandmother to not only work outside the home, but to earn a master’s degree and pursue her passions in life. I watched him tenderly care for his wife as she suffered through cancer. And I watched the way he survived burying the love of his life when she passed. As he got older, I was able to hear more stories about his adolescence. Surviving the Depression. Traveling with his brother and cousin across the country in a 1931 Ford Coupe, the first car he ever owned. Adventures of grand proportion with friends and family whose company he treasured. He always spoke with great respect for everyone he knew. My miles began to accumulate and I committed to running a marathon. My initial hope was to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. I even had access to a charity entry. The the date interfered with my coaching responsibilities, and I knew my Grandpa would never shy away from responsibilities, so instead I committed to the Grand Rapids Marathon to be able to do both. One important part of marathon training is beating your mind at its own game. Many times in a long run, the going gets tough. It can happen repeatedly, cycling through the tough and the easy. One way to help pushing through these difficult cycles is to have a mantra: a go-to phrase. It’s something I teach my own cross country runners, even in a 5K race. It was time to heed my own advice and devise a mantra. I’ve used mantras before, but this was a new challenge: a larger, longer, more demanding challenge. It was worthy of a new mantra. In thinking of a phrase that would suit the challenge is when my mind kept coming back to my Grandpa and the photograph at his funeral. “Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue.” While I sorted through the pain of losing him and the love I have for him, I knew I needed to remind myself of his life and his valor. I had already come to the conclusion that it wasn’t just his being a veteran of war that defined his valor: it was instead the way in which he carried himself each day of his life. What better way to honor his life and the lasting impact he has on me than choosing a mantra I feel represents how he would want me to pursue this goal of mine? And so began “Run With Valor”. The mantra quickly grew on me. I found myself thinking of it not only on the uphill battles with my mind while I run, but also in my daily proceedings. I began to love it so much that I found an online store that would print my mantra on a bracelet I could wear while I run to provide a physical reminder in case my mind wanted to ignore the mental reminder. It also has become my Instagram hashtag I use with every running post. I will never pretend to have the valor of the men and women who so courageously lay their lives on the line for our country. My goal is not to compare my running to that act of bravery. Instead, I hope that I can honor my Grandfather’s life and his lasting legacy by thinking of this mantra that I believe represents how he would want me to pursue my goal - and how he would want me to live each day of my life. |
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