"No One Grows Old By Living, Only By Losing Interest In Living."

 Yesterday, I  ran the Zumbro 17 Mile Endurance Race. It was so challenging and so fun! The terrain was so tough, the hills and sand were endless. When Amy asked me if I wanted to do it just over a month ago, I didn't even hesitate, I just thought, why not! 

So I got myself some trail running shoes and a hydration vest and I was ready to go!

This is the very beginning of the race. So many people. That is Carey in the yellow hat. He was sure he was going to be behind us because he had never run more than six miles in his life. But he did so great, finishing 25 minutes ahead of us. I am so proud of him! 

Running a nice downhill section. 

One of the first of many uphill sections. 

It was such a beautiful course

So many rocks, this was a hard uphill. 

Half way up the hill. 

Amy and I ran the whole race together. It was so fun crossing the finish line with her. 

At the end of Race. We were still all smiles! I am so proud of us. We took the challenge, and we finished it. 

Three miles to go, and we saw another member of the River Valley Race team. It was great to see Dylan. He was running the 34-mile race!! 

This is a picture of a few of the members of the River Valley Race Team that ran the races. Dylan and Jenna ran the 34-mile race, and Amy, Carey, Gabe, and myself ran the 17-mile race. 

I have always run by myself and have never had any formal coaching. In January, Amy convinced me to join the River Valley Race Team. I am so happy that I did it. It is such a great community. Everyone is so welcoming and encouraging. I never in a million years would have thought I could run a 17-mile trail race without joining this group. It was so great to have team members cheering us on as we ran. 

I had a goal of finishing the race in 4 to 5 hours. We made that goal! It was the most challenging race I have ever run, but also one of the best experiences I have had at a race! Everyone was so fun and full of advice as we ran. 

When I retired last year, I had a lot of people ask what I was going to do with all my time. My answer to that is to move and do new things. You are never too old to try something new. Life is about challenges. To keep living life, you have to keep moving and experiencing. 

Keep being interested in living...

Sharon 

"That's the beauty of coaching. You get to touch lives, you get to make a difference. You get to do things for people who will never pay you back and they say you never have had a perfect day until you've done something for someone who will never pay you back." - Morgan Wootten

 Coach Rick

    

Rick has been a coach for as long as I have known him. He has been coaching kids and adults in archery for 30-plus years. He has helped people with minor troubles and helped people become champions. He treated each and every one of them the same. He loved helping them and watching them succeed in whatever goals they wanted. 

 Over the years, he has been to many tournaments where people have asked him for advice. He is always willing to take the time to help them through whatever they are going through, even when he is also shooting the tournament. 

One of Rick's first success stories is Christa. He took her from having target panic so bad she could not hold on the target to shooting 300s on a 5 spot. I think coaching Christa was when he really discovered his love of coaching. 

Over the years, he has coached many people at the Waseca Archery Club, with the help of many other club members, Paul, Joe, Dale, Jese, Ryan, Larry and Steve, just to name of few.  Without the help of others, the programs that we have now would not have existed.    

When Rick asked me if I cared if the club started a JOAD program, I was against it. Rick was working full-time in his drywall business, plus running his archery business out of the house. He was already helping coach classes at the club two nights a week. I did not think he would have the time. I finally reluctantly agreed. Rick and five other members went on to become level two coaches, and the Joad program was formed. 

 The first time I saw the kids running out to Rick with such excitement and seeing the joy it gave Rick said it all. 

Being able to coach his grandkids over the years has brought him great joy. 

Now it is time to hang up his coaching shirt.

 Rick decided that it was time to retire from coaching. It was not an easy decision for him. He loves teaching and coaching. At 62 years old and knowing that he would be retiring from his archery business by the end of the year, he made the decision. This past weekend at the MSAA State Archery tournament was the last time he would be there as a coach. He was and is so proud of all the kids who shot there and at all the tournaments this year. 

I am not sure that he realizes just how much influence he has had in the archery community over the years. Every time we are at an archery event, at least one person comes up to me to tell me how he has helped them. I am so proud of him.

A while ago, he came home from teaching a JOAD class full of stories. I could see the joy on his face as he told me them. I asked him if he wanted to keep coaching next year. He immediately said no, it is time. It is time for someone else to take over. He wants to stop coaching while he still loves it. He doesn't want it to become something he "has" to do. It is time for the next coach to take over. 

So, it is the end of an era. 

 He will always be Coach Rick to so many people.

Sharon 

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” - Winnie The Pooh

 

Today, after 14 years with her, we had to say goodbye to Morgan. 

This is Morgan on the day we got her. She was such a tiny thing. From the day we got her until today, all she ever wanted was to be petted. She was the most loving dog to everyone who walked in the door. 

She loved all the grandkids so much. When they were babies, she just wanted to cuddle up with them. 

Morgan had two best dog friends in life. First, she had Dexter. She loved him so much. They were always together. They even shared a kennel. 

When Dexter died, Morgan was heartbroken. 

So along came Otis, her new best friend. 

They have been together for 10 years.

Otis is going to be lost without her....

Morgan has traveled all over the country with us. She loved going with us on our camping adventures.     

She also loved going on hikes with us. She would get so excited when she saw the leash come out. 

This is one of my favorite photos of Morgan and Otis. We were in White Sands National Park, and I let go of the leashes and just let the dogs run. It was pure joy! 

 

On one of our many camping trips, Oliver and Morgan sat by each other for a long time, looking off into the woods, hoping to spot a squirrel. Oliver and Morgan have always had a special bond...

Today has been so hard for us. We are heartbroken. Morgan loved everyone, and everyone loved Morgan. She was the best dog. 

I hope she is in doggy heaven, reunited with Dexter, and they are having a great time playing together. 

Give your pets an extra hug today...

Sharon