Every Friday, we feature a real-life person who has embraced a healthy lifestyle from a former sedentary, unhealthy life. We hope their story inspires you to start living and breathing a healthy life!

Today’s feature is Brandi Heinz who is training for the Wisconsin Marathon on May 5, 2012. She is also a participant of the 12×12 Project. We are so excited for her!

Sarah: When did you start running?
Brandi: I started running in Junior High – thank goodness, because I did not have eye-hand coordination. I tried soccer, softball, volleyball … no success there. I joined the track team and started out wanting to be a hurdler or sprinter, but I wasn’t very fast. One day, the coach asked for volunteers for the 1600m run and no one raised their hand. I volunteered, and I believe I took third place in the race. I was hooked!

Sarah: What do you like best about running?
Brandi: When I was younger, I liked running for the mid-distance and 5K races, then strictly for fitness. Now, it’s a great outlet for stress and a very healthy hobby. I love having another race on the horizon to train for, and I look forward to Saturday runs with my running club. I like that it’s something I can do alone or with people, anywhere. And I even sort of like that people look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them how far I ran.

Sarah: You just ran the Austin Half Marathon this past weekend. What was that experience like?
Brandi: The Austin Half Marathon is the biggest, toughest, hilliest half marathon I’ve run – yet I still ran my personal best. I really enjoyed myself during the race. They had live music throughout the course, and the fan support was amazing! The ninth mile marker was lined with Livestrong supporters: walls of yellow on either side, cheering and blaring Black Eyed Peas, high-fiving us. I ran this race with my two sisters, so it was really special to share that experience with them. We even met Bart Yasso during the expo. He was awesome – gave us some great advice for the race (like how to handle all those hills)!

Sarah: You live in Chicago; do you run outdoor or inside during the winter months?
Brandi: This is the first year I’ve ran outside, and it has made a big difference! Joining a running club gives me people to run with at night and during the snowy days, so I always feel safe. Since I’ve continued running as the weather changed, I’ve never felt like to was difficult to get used to the weather. I never consistently ran during the winter months in the past because the treadmill was boring. I’m really proud that I’ve kept it up this winter – I love telling people when I’ve ran 10 miles in the snow!

Sarah: You are also training for your first marathon (YAY!), how has your training been going?
Brandi: I feel like it is just starting, since I had my half marathon milestone that I’ve been working towards. On my way back from Austin, I mapped out my marathon training plan and realized it’s only 10 WEEKS AWAY! I’m taking this week off, then next week I’ll go right back into it with a 10 mile run. Over the coming weeks I’ll run my farthest distance runs I’ve ever done, getting up to a 20-miler. I’m excited and nervous at the same time!

Sarah: Girls On The Run is a cause you care about. Can you share with us a little bit about what you do with them?
Brandi: I’ve volunteered with Girls on the Run in a few different roles, but my favorite is being a running buddy. Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization that encourages young women to lead healthy, confident lives through an after school curriculum that culminates in a 5K run. As a running buddy, you run with a girl on a training run, then at the race. My first buddy was a 5th grader who was FAST! She kicked my butt during the race, I believe we were the first group from her school to finish, and it was amazing! She was so encouraging to every other girl out there, whether they were right behind her or walked most of the distance. My second buddy was a third grader who hadn’t run before. She was very nervous and didn’t want a buddy, but five minutes into our training run, she was chatting up a storm. We even Skyped a couple of times before the 5K. Again, it was amazing to watch her encourage her fellow runners and come out of her shell. Running one of the Girls on the Run 5Ks is like nothing I’ve experienced! Within five minutes I had my hair sprayed multiple colors, writing on my face and arms, and my race bib decorated. It’s such a fulfilling organization to work with.

Sarah: And for fun, what is the first you want to do when you finish the Wisconsin Marathon?
Brandi: Take a picture with my medal and share it with everyone on Facebook and Twitter! Then, maybe have some chocolate milk and an ice bath . I love sharing my running journey online because I hope that it inspires other people to try something new. If you would’ve asked me a year ago if I would run a marathon, I would’ve looked at you like you’re crazy! And now, here I am … and I sort of think I AM crazy. But after talking to all the different people who have ran a marathon, I truly do believe anyone can do it if they have the right mindset and people around them.

Celebration Ride 2 Day Five (can I get an AMEN?!)

Date: Oct 15, 2011

Route: Long Beach, Calif. to San Diego

Weather: Sunny, pleasant 

Overall feeling: Fantastic

Key highlights: First fight

Can not believe DAY FIVE is finally here! Four days ago it seemed like it would never get here! I was eager to get on the saddle. I cleaned the car out (can’t stand a mess) had a delicious Gen UCAN breakfast and I was on the saddle! San Diego here I come!

It was already sunny and hot. Thankfully it is a California heat so no humidity! Score! The sunscreen got misplaced thanks to my cleaning the car (second time in two times). I didn’t worry. I knew I could find some.

A little over two years ago I was in Long Beach for a sponsorship/work event and I had to get in a long run of 36 miles (training for a 100 miler). So I ran from Long Beach to Huntington Beach and back. It was indeed epic. The kicker was that I had planned to do the run in two stages. However, as I kept running I knew it was going to be extremely difficult to leave my hotel room. So I decided to keep running. The problem? I didn’t have enough water/food for a 36 mile run. The solution? Ask and you shall receive. Read the recap on I ran 36 miles with the help of strangers here. 

So with that being said (written), I knew sunscreen would be a piece of cake. PCH is right along the coast and that means plenty of beach goers and parking. I kept my eye out for surfers heading to catch some waves. I rode through the small little towns and felt really strong. For Day Five, I was stoked! Finally, I saw a group by a car up ahead and I pulled over and asked if I could have some sunscreen. They said sure and then said keep the the bottle!! How super nice! So I slathered it on me and then stashed the bottle in my jersey pocket. Huntington Beach never fails me . Took a photo op by the pier, then it was back to business.

The other kicker? And, pardon me for TMI, but I’m all about being real. But my period stared last night. As if I didn’t have enough blood issues this week already! So I started having cramps. Of course I never get cramps. Go figure, I would get them on a 600 mile bike ride. So I had that demon to ride out.

I kept cranking. Or as Joshua would say “get some girl.” I was really, REALLY focused on getting San Diego. Sometimes it seemed SO CLOSE and other times it seemed so far away. Maybe it was the cramps I was having – the theory that riding to make them go away is indeed a myth – or the 500 miles I already had in (on?) my legs or the heat, I was a little cranky. Yep, chipper Sarah, cranky .

The good part? Three-fourths of the route today had no hills, so that was a welcome change! The route took us through small towns. We stopped at the Farmer’s Market at one of them and got an Avocado and Pomegranate. HMM. I LOVE fresh produce! Back on the saddle and on we went. We were both tired. Cramming 600+ miles into five days was aggressive. And I guess it was wearing on us, because we had our first little fight. Aw. We are more than just two strangers!

I was riding at a pretty good clip when another cyclist pulled up beside me. He said “you’re a strong cyclist! I’ve been trying to catch you for a few hours.” That was a nice ego boost. He offered to ride with me and take me through Camp Pendelton and on down to San Diego. He was training for Ironman AZ, so he was also riding long today. Because Joshua couldn’t follow us through the military base, we pulled over and Jeff gave him directions as to where to meet us. It would be a few hours, so I grabbed some food, stuck it in my back pocket, refilled my water bottles, ate some Tuna and then we were off. We kept a pretty good clip (18mph-22mph) over the course of the next few hours. Riding through Camp Pendelton was awesome. I’m a huge military supporter. There was a group training for what looked like a hostage situation. And some bootcamp type workouts also taking place. I really wanted to join in . There were a few climbs going through the base. We passed a few cyclists (both guys for the record) on the climb and Jeff told them what I was doing. They said “whoa, you are riding well!” I said thank you .

We finally got to the Joshua meeting spot, only I didn’t see him. We kept riding. I had my phone with me so I wasn’t worried. Jeff got me through the town of Carlsbad, then I said I had better wait for Joshua and with that, my riding angel took off.

I called Joshua and enjoyed a few minutes stretching my legs while he caught up to me. I really longed for a nap. But it was back on the saddle. I still had some miles to cover! The next few hours were kind of a blur. I kept my head down and kept on cranking. Even though it was day five, I felt really strong on the bike. The human body is amazing!!

Then it happened. Our first fight. For spending 24 hours a day for the past six days together, it is amazing that we made it this far! I made some flippant comment about staying on the right side of the white line. Totally my fault. Well, Joshua pulled the car over. And we were stalled for about 20 minutes. At one point Joshua was going to leave right there. To be SO close and yet SO far away. It seemed like getting to San Diego might never happen. Finally, he got back in the car and I got on my bike and away we went. I was riding even faster now.

Soon we were at the La Jolla hill. It’s not a easy climb and after the week I’ve had, I was even less excited about climbing it. I knew we VERY close to San Diego. Just get up this hill I told myself. The views were amazing. I love it here! I wished we would’ve had time to hike/run around it, but we didn’t. I made it up the hill. Cars were honking in support of me. In fact one guy pulled over and got out and yelled “welcome to San Diego”! Awesome!

My bike had been making strange sounds (like a screeching Turkey) and I couldn’t describe it to Joshua. Well he finally heard it and he pulled over to figure out what the racket was all about. And then we made up. I gave him a hug and said I was sorry for getting angry. He said don’t worry about it, we are both exhausted. Let’s finish this . I love this guy!

And then in the next few miles it happened. We were supposed to go right. But we went straight.

I kept climbing hills and thinking WTF. I thought I was done climbing ages ago! Finally, Joshua pulled up and was like I think we are going away from San Diego. So I just climbed for nothing? GRR. I pulled out the map, figured out where we were and how to get back on track. We threw the bike in the car and then drove back to where we supposed to be. Got back out and was ready to finish this puppy up. Riding into San Diego was surreal. I had no idea if the ride would even happen, much less get to this point. I thought of the past few days and thanked God for getting me this far. The sun was just setting. A perfect ending to a challenging, sweaty week. Rode into town, few cars and people clapped. Hoisted my bike in the air and took a few photos. Joshua and I hugged. And that was it.

Celebration Ride 2 was over. 600+ miles. Five days. Raising money plus awareness for Kids on Bikes. Many, many cities. Beautiful sights along the way. Great, kind people. Pain, blood, sweat and tears. It was hard to comprehend just what we did. In fact as I write this a month later I am still in shock of the accomplishment!

I got in the car and we were on the hunt for FOOD. Our one meal of the day . Downtown was packed- it was Saturday night afterall. And since I had been in San Diego a few months ago, I suggested we go over to Little Italy. Along the way, we pulled over in a quiet area and I changed into dry clothes. Took a quick Action Wipe shower. That felt great!

Finally we found the Burger Lounge. I had my usual burger with no bun, no cheese and a big salad. I was SO, SO, SO hungry. We talked with the one of the guys at BL. Joshua told him what I just did and he brought us Sweet Potato Fries on the house. Yum.

Joshua and I sat side by side and talked about the last few days. They seemed so long. He put his arm around me and told me “I care about and love you like my sister. I just wanted you to be safe. I am so proud of what you have done. And you are one strong machine.” I nearly cried. Like I said days ago, I could not have prayed for a someone like him to help me on this project!

It was nearly 8pm and we had to drive to our host family- Ben and Katie – for the night. So we walked back to the car and made the trek.

Got a wonderful hot shower and then fell into bed. I would get to sleep in and not hop on the saddle first thing .

Celebration Ride 2 is over. (Sigh)

Full slideshow is here.

Celebration Ride 2 Day Four!

Date: October 14, 2011

Weather: Beautiful, then foggy

Body feeling: Great!

Woke up this morning feeling eager to get the ride started, but before riding, I had the great honor of talking with (note: not TO) kids at a local school in Santa Barbara. They were so attentive and excited to learn what I had to share! It made the 35 minutes go by quickly.

Then I quickly changed out of my skirt and into cycling gear. Oh the fun! The other thing I was excited about? I was going to have a riding buddy! So glad to have company on the bike (and I think Joshua was too). We met Jeff at the pier and then headed on our way south.

After an adventure getting to the PCH, we rode in unison. Jeff completed the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race in August so he is a great athlete! We talked – OK, I may have talked his ear off. But still we had fun. It was a tremendous asset to have him riding with me as he knew the area! It’s nice to not ride clueless !

We rode to Ventura together, then he turned around to ride back to Santa Barbara. And he must have taken the nice weather with him because as soon as he left, the the fog started to roll in and it got chilly!

There was some construction in the one of the next cities over and Joshua and I got separated. Not to worry. I rode on and knew we would find each other eventually. Or so I thought. After about five miles of weaving in and out of traffic (trying not to get hit) I realized we might not find each other. So I find the shelter of a tree and called Joshua. Sure enough we were not anywhere near each other!

He came and got me and then got back on the foggy trail. I mean road. Riding into Malibu was extremely foggy. We stopped along the way and dipped our toes in the cold Pacific Ocean. Nice and refreshing . There was more climbing coming in to Malibu. Oh they joy! Finally when I hit the 100-ish miles, I called it a day (it was getting dark anyway) and I gratefully retreated to the car.

We drove on and I enjoyed the view from something other than a bike saddle . We finally got to Santa Monica and I was STARVING. Joshua took a nap in the car and I went to find some calories at the Urth Cafe kindly recommended to me by RaeLynn. I could have eaten there for days! Cycling 100+ miles each day burns a lot of calories let me tell you!

Joshua came and find me and we did a little walking tour of Santa Monica. The funny thing is that I was here in March and the weather was also ugly! (I would be back in 10 days, would my 3rd visit in a year be the charm?) Then we got in the car and hunted for a place to stay. The hostel we were going to stay at required that you have a passport. Joshua had his, but I left mine at home. Lesson: always take it with you!

So we drove on and on and on. Drove by LAX. Would see it again in 10 days. I called a few motels, but they all seemed sketchy. I just wanted to fall into a bed and go to sleep. Not worrying if I was going to be shot or not.

We kept driving. It was now raining. Finally we found a motel that was safe. And affordable. After a glorious, hot shower I crashed. Time to sleep! One more day of riding!

Full slideshow here.

Celebration Ride 2 Day Three Oct 13, 2011

Route: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara

Weather: Sunny and HOT (temp on blacktop was 120*)

Cell phone reception: Better, but not good

I can’t believe I am on Day Three! After a great night of sleep, amazing breakfast, it was back on the saddle. I tried to write recaps from the previous days, but that was impossible. I was mentally drained and I needed every bit of focus to remain steadfast until the end.

It was sad to leave Martha’s! We had such a great time!

Today’s route was probably my least favorite of the three days. The PCH didn’t follow the coast till the end of the day. Which meant that I was riding in between the mountains, baked, roasted, fried, grilled and melted in the sun. (Just trying to see how many adjectives I could use).

I rode through farm land and it brought back memories. I was raised on a large, working Organic Vegetable Farm (one of the first in the country) and I should clarify “raised.” Raised = worked. Yep, child/teen labor . Or a hard-working farm girl.

It was fun to pass the farms and actually know what was growing. Strawberries, artichokes, brussels sprouts, lettuce … I should’ve pulled over for lunch! Ha! But soon the vegetable farms ended and it was riding in between brown mountains. Remember the baked effect? Yep. It. Was. Brutal.

We stopped in some small town for ice. And a fruit Popsicle. IT WAS GOOD. It practically melted in my mouth! A month later, I can still taste it!

The route today was pretty much all climbs. One climb was a 7%  grade. Sweet. It must have been about hour 5 when my mind was REALLY needing something other than brown, dry hills, hot blacktop and cursing the sun. So I asked Joshua if I could PLEASE use my iPod. Only one earbud though. He thankfully (whew) let me have it. It got me up the hills!

And soon enough I was riding by the Pacific Ocean once again. It felt amazing to have the salt water breeze on my sweaty, hot skin! Riding into Santa Barbara was flat. Kind of on a busy freeway. And just like that. Another 100+miles done. 3 days down. 2 to go!

Joshua and I had some time to walk around Santa Barbara, enjoy the most amazing sunset ever, run in the sand and take a walk down the pier.

We stayed with a family that evening. Enjoyed a hot meal, hot shower and went promptly to bed. Exhausted times 100!!

Slideshow here. Enjoy!

Day 2 of Celebration Ride 2!

Date: October 12, 2011

Route: Monterey to San Luis Obispo

Pain Level: HIGH

Route beauty: AMAZING

Cell phone reception: Null

After last night, I wasn’t sure how I was going I was to ride another 120 miles, let alone sit on the saddle without screaming in pain. But this is Sarah we’re talking about and she always forges on ahead! (Not sure why I am talking in third person. Anyway. )

We checked out of the hotel and drove around the adorable little town of Monterey. It was a PERFECT morning – to sit inside the car. Kidding. We had our one meal of the day. I ate my eggs on the car hood while simultaneously changing into cycling gear. Joshua got the bike ready. A local bike shop opened at 9:30 a.m. and we were waiting to buy some desperately need shammy cream. Oh the joys of endurance sports! I quickly slathered it EVERYWHERE. Then Joshua and I said a quick prayer, hugged and I hopped on the saddle. Let Day 2 begin!

Of course heading out of Monterey on the PCH was uphill. My quads were quite thrilled, let me tell you! There was a short stretch where I had to ride on the freeway (again). But that was the least of my worries. There was a stray dog PLUS a homeless guy on a bike that were weaving in and out of merging traffic. I was just trying to stay upright and on my bike let alone trying to navigate where the dog + man would go next. Thankfully, I made it up the hill, past the dog and man and started a blissful descent down the hill. I love, love, LOVE descending! Going 40 miles on an inch of rubber is thrilling man! (I didn’t realize it till later that night, but Joshua (and the other traffic) actually got stopped in the dog+man mess. Some police stopped traffic and were trying to rescue the dog.)

The climbs were a lot of fun leaving Monterey. But the beautiful Pacific Ocean kept me going. The road was narrow, shaded by trees and crowded with cars. Of course the breath taking sights didn’t help any! Cars kept pulling over, so I had to keep my eyes and ears wide open. Note: I don’t ride with music.

It was hard to keep riding when all I wanted to do was enjoy the views in front of me. The photos won’t do it justice, but it will give you a glimpse of the glorious beauty!

I kept on cranking. Joshua kept on driving and protecting me. Surprisingly I felt pretty good. Praise the Lord for that shammy cream! My legs were tired, but nothing more then usual.

Thankfully with all the climbing it meant that there was also descending. The speed limit was 25-30 (for cars) but I hit over 40 mph on most of the descents. Exhilarating . The road was very curvy, winding and sharp turns. With steep cliffs right beside me. It was hard to descend much faster!

During one pit stop, Joshua took off the areo bars I had on my bike. Riding without them made me feel like a real cyclist. Also, if I haven’t said this before, Joshua was the most amazing person ever. EVER!! He took care of me, made sure I was safe, noticed if I was fiddling with my bike and fixed it…the list is endless. I truly met a wonderful person.

The other good news for the day? NO FOG!! Joshua and I were pretty stoked about it. The views were pretty amazing and we wanted to see them!

At some point during the ride two fast boys on fast, expensive bikes were in my sight. Yep. You know what I was thinking. Joshua pulled along aside me in the car and I shouted to him “I want to catch them.” Joshua said “you are a machine. Make it happen.” And so I had something else to do with my brain besides look at licenses plates. Catch the boys!!

Now, by this time I had well over 150 miles in my legs. But I was still climbing pretty well. And I was gaining ground. It took a few climbs and descents, but soon, they were in my grasp. YES. I panted up the hill AND THEN calmly passed them and FLEW down the hill. The adrenaline was rushing through my veins like a hungry tiger. Set goal and conquer.

Joshua and I pulled over for some more photo ops and the boys passed me. Which set goal No. 2 for me. Catch them again. We were quickly approaching Big Sur. I could see them up ahead. This section of the PCH had no shade and I guess they were looking for some, because within a few miles a shady spot appeared WITH a stream. They had pulled over and stopped to enjoy it. I forged on ahead.

We stopped at the only store in the middle of nowhere for some ice for my Gen UCAN refuel. Ice, sweet ice. It was hot out!! Quickly chugged it, ate some almonds and I was back on the saddle. But the guys had passed us. GRR.

Little did I know what awaited me (and them). A HORRENDOUS climb. It went on FOREVER. Words don’t it justice. It’s probably a good thing I’ve trained at altitude because this climb was a beast! Even Joshua felt sorry for me. There was no end in sight. Curve after curve, the hill was never ending. It can be hard to keep your spirits up when all you want to do is fall off the bike and sleep. Or eat. Or whatever. But you’ve got to keep with it. Everything always has a end. And I knew that even though this climb seemed like it had no ending, it would feel AWESOME to get to the top. Knowing that I didn’t quit when it got tough. Or when my legs were screaming.

I also thought of the wonderful meal Martha was making for us!! And a shower. And a bed. I love the little things in life . Especially when you are grueling it out on the saddle .

I kept myself going by continuing my search for license plates. I shouted to Joshua a few of them. To which he replied “you crack me up. You are climbing a massive hill and yet you are looking for new states.” What can I say, that’s me .

About halfway up the climb, I caught the guys AGAIN! And in fact they stopped and turned around. I broke them! Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I’m going with the former. Joshua later told me that “you could out-climb those boys all day long.” Nice ego boost .

Finally. FINALLY!! I approached the top. Not sure why it took so long! We pulled over and I had some water, refueled, used an ActionWipe, then reapplied some sunscreen and caught my breath. On to more climbs .

Another descent, more climbs, more spectacular views- that’s pretty much how the day went. Finally, I had had enough and I stopped the ride for the day. Another 100 miles was in the legs and I was spent.

We were spending the night with Martha and Curt. So we threw the bike in the car and drove to their home.

Along the way we stopped to enjoy the coast, the sunset, Falcons and the beauty of the California coast. We also passed the Hearst Castle from a distance. We saw zebras! Apparently they have a small zoo .

Finally in the darkness we arrived at Martha’s and just as she had promised, we were treated like a king & queen! Thank you Martha for everything. We had a great evening.

I was exhausted. So after a nice, warm shower I said goodnight and went to dreamland. Another day awaited me and I wanted to make sure I was ready!

Full slideshow below

Celebration Ride2 Day 2 (Monterey to San Luis Obispo)

Note: Celebration Ride2 was Oct. 11-15, 2011. I’m just woefully behind in writing. Forgive me!

As I wrote yesterday, I have mixed emotions on the completion of Celebration Ride2 journey. So much in fact that I forgot to write about getting to San Francisco!

I don’t like things out of order so I am frantically trying to write about the road trip from Denver, Colo., to San Francisco, Calif. I’ll try to be be brief .

After running the half marathon in Denver, I rushed to get the car (which was a whole mess in of itself) and then rush back to the house to get a shower and pack the car. Thankfully, Joshua took care of packing the car. He was a Godsend! We wanted to leave at 1 p.m. But we didn’t get on the road till 1:45 p.m. And then we took the scenic route to Route 70. Go us.

To help pass the time, we played the license plate state game. We both guessed how many states we would find, which ones we wouldn’t and how many provinces we would also see. It was a lot of fun! The catch was that we BOTH had to see them. Tractor Trailers didn’t count. But motorhomes sure did!

Joshua was the driver for the entire trip and I was the co-pilot. We made a perfect team. For two complete strangers meeting less than 24 hours previous, we could not have asked for better travel companions! This trip will always go down as the best time of my life.

There was snow in the mountains as we made our way across Colorado. We didn’t stop to make a snowman, but we could’ve. We drove on. And on …

My legs were screaming for an ice bath. How fitting that the Colorado River ran right along Route 70?! So we pulled over and I hopped out, stripped out of my pants and into shorts and plunged into the FREEZING cold river. The water had to have been 25/30 degrees. Joshua took a few photos (see slide show below) to document the special occasion.

It was at that point that we realized we forgot to pack towels. We started making a mental checklist for Target.

We crossed into Utah just as the sun was setting. I couldn’t stop taking photos of the beauty! As you will see below. We had to stop for gas in the middle of nowhere Utah. We found a license plate. You know, the BIG things in life . I went in to pay for the fuel and the cashier said to never lose my smile. Needless to say, I ran out fast. It did feel great to stretch my legs though! Back on the dark, lonely highway. We were making great time (thanks Joshua).

I was tired so I put my headphones in and my sleep mask on and dosed for a little bit. The signs to Salt Lake City kept getting closer and closer. Such a good feeling when you have a huge task in front of you! And then before we realized it, we were leaving SLC! We didn’t even get a photo. It was strange to be looking forward to a landmark and then poof! It was gone!

We continued to drive in the darkness of night. We were both drinking lots of water and well, um, nature was calling. And that’s what car doors were made for! We also ran out onto the salt flats and it felt AMAZING to stretch our legs (like little kids). We kept driving until about 12:30 a.m. when we finally decided to call it a night in Wendover, Utah, at the Golden Nugget. The name probably gives it away, but it was quite the experience . We were both so tired that we collapsed into bed (making sure our bare feet didn’t touch the floor of course).

The next morning we dragged ourselves out of bed. Ready or not to attack another full day of driving. At this point I couldn’t wait to ride my bike!

We got a kick out of the the state line. In fact, we slept in Nevada and ate in Utah! See the photo in the slide show below Back on the road, we hit construction work. And a lot of semis. And rain! Oh the fun!

The drive was pretty much looking at signs to the next major city, searching for new license plates for our list and cracking jokes. We finally arrived in Reno and we decided to get our one meal of the day. It was SO good. Then we got back in the car and hit a mix of rain/sleet/snow going up the Doner Pass. I dozed. We started seeing signs for San Francisco and we were VERY excited. Like little kids at Christmas. In Sacramento we hit a lot of traffic mainly because they didn’t know how to drive in the rain. And so accidents were all over the place! I prayed for safety.

We REALLY wanted to find a Target and after much meyhem, we finally did. We quickly got the things on our list (we hit the baby department hard. Funny how endurance events are similar to a baby and hit the road. The area wasn’t the greatest .

The signs to San Francisco kept getting closer and we couldn’t be happier!! As I have said many times before, I love San Francisco. And I couldn’t be happier that Celebration Ride2 was starting from here! Within the next half hour, we could see the lights outlining the city. Almost there, baby! It was of course dark when we arrived. And getting late.

We were staying at the hostel (a frequent guest there I might add) and- happy moment- I successfully navigated our way there WITHOUT a map or directions. I somehow have this uncanny ability to “know” where things are. I’m a human GPS. HAHA.

After checking in, parking the car, eating some food at the hostel kitchen, getting a PRIVATE room upgrade, Joshua & I took a night walk around the city. It felt so wonderful to stretch our legs and clear our minds. And get mentally prepared for the next 5 days that lay before us.

And with that, peace & goodnight from San Francisco!

Two slide shows below. Enjoy!

Celebration Ride2 Road Trip (Denver to San Francisco) Celebration Ride2 Day 2 (Denver to San Francisco)

12 Days of Cheer Day 7!

Day 7: Help families have food for a YEAR! Food for the Hungry has a fantastic way to help spread cheer around the world this Christmas season. There are a few options, the important part is to take action .

As always, don’t forget to post your 12 Days of Cheer story here and share on Twitter by using the hashtag #ProjectCheer!

BE the cheer you wish to see this season!

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Who doesn’t enjoy a freshly baked, warm, buttery and sweet Christmas cookie? Especially when the 12 Days of Cookies starts every December! Just looking at the recipes makes you want to dive right into the flour, sugar, butter and sprinkles!

But what about a twist on that idea? How about 12 Days of Cheer? Why not celebrate Christmas with loving, kind ACTIONS?

Last year, I had this idea and I’m encouraging you to do it this year, too. Lets start a healthy, fun and positive trend?

Yes, while every day should be a day to spread cheer, the holidays can be challenging for many people. Why not let them know you care by doing something kind?

You can spread cheer to a stranger, your neighbor, your friend, your family, but see if you can do it without them finding out it was you .

For the next 12 days, I’ll post an idea to help get you started. But you can do anything! Perhaps even bake some cookies

If you are on Twitter, use the hashtag #ProjectCheer when you do it. If you are on Facebook, post your story here

Let’s make the holidays cheerful & merry for everyone!

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

When I was training for my 1st 100miler in 2009 I kept you informed via this site PLUS videos. Partly because I got questions on what my training was like and partly because when I am 80 years old it might be fun to show my grandkids what grandma did way back when.

So. Here we are again. November 18, 2011. I am once again embarking down the 100 mile (that’s running folks) training path once again. Once again I will be attempting to run 100 miles on Feb 4, 2012. I officially registered for the race on November  7, 2011. Glup.

I just ran 2 marathons in 7 days and feel effing fantastic. I have 77 days till D-day. My goal is to get to the start line of Rocky Raccoon 100 mile ultra HEALTHY. I will have a lot of travel in these next 77 days so I will make REST a key part of my training. I have a couple of marathons, potentially a back-to-back marathon weekend the first week of January and the rest is all about staying injury free and strong. Both physically and mentally.

AND with everything I do, I’m not just running 100 miles for the hell of it. I’m praying and hoping to get 100 kids sponsored in Africa for/with Team World Vision. 100 miles. 100 kids. Would you consider sponsoring a child in Africa so they can have clean water, HIV/AIDS prevention and care. nutritious food, etc? I sponsor a child in Africa and I can’t wait to meet her someday!

Will you also help the children in need? Contact me for a child sponsorship packet or go directly to here. In the box where it says “athletes name” if you can please put mine (Sarah Stanley), that would be great (World Vision keeps tally of this number of the kids I will get sponsored). I want to see this goal fulfilled just as much as I want to complete my 2nd 100miler. THANK YOU!!

So, here it is. Nov 18, 2011. I ran 10 miles, rode 15 miles and did an hour of yoga. I feel great. And that’s saying something given that it’s almost the end of a pretty grueling year. I am grateful to God for giving me another day on this earth to make a difference.

Peace, sweat and love life!

Perhaps it was driving 3,128 miles in nine days. Or running a half marathon then jumping in the car to drive to San Francisco. Or from seeing some amazing, breathtaking sights along the epic trip. OR maybe it was meeting a complete stranger 18 hours before the adventure that cared for me beyond comprehension.

This wasn’t an ordinary road trip. This road trip had a mission – as is par for the life I attempt to live. I like to celebrate my birthdays by giving back AND that has a sweaty, challenging piece to it too. This year the plan was to ride my bike from San Francisco to San Diego. And raise money for Kids on Bikes (still time to donate, btw!).

The project was pushed back twice. The first time because I couldn’t find SAG (Support And Gear). Rescheduled it and then a dear friend suddenly passed away. Rescheduled for a third time. I guess three times is a charm, because it finally worked. The trip was six days away and I still didn’t have SAG. In the back of my mind I knew something would turn up.

I had posted three weeks previous on Craig’s List requesting to share a ride to California. I said a prayer and let it be. Then I was traveling in San Jose and I received an email – someone was interested! I left him a voicemail and he – Joshua – called me Monday morning. I was barely awake – being on PST time .

We talked for a few minutes and by the end of the phone call, I not only had a ride to California, BUT also SAG support. A true answer to prayer. The ride COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED without Joshua. Joshua was a former bike mechanic, worked for a non-profit, Trips For Kids, and always wanted to drive down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1). We both scrambled to get things together. I flew back from California and was STOKED that it was really going to happen!

During the week I started getting sick (traveling and racing nonstop was catching up with me), but focused on the tasks at hand. Joshua had an ’86 Toyota pickup truck and we were going to use that for the trip. But when he arrived at my place Saturday evening, we started talking and concluded it would be cheaper and safer if we rented a car. Cue chaos. So at 7 p.m. that night I scrambled to find a car to rent. Never mind that I had to run a half marathon in t-minus 10 hours!

Several people were skeptical that I would drive with a stranger. However, I have always had an inherent good or bad gut feeling. This was a good gut feeling. I always live life on the edge and I have absolutely no regrets. I have more stories then you can shake 97 trees at. (They will be in my book.)

Anyway, back to the story. Joshua and I meet for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at 7 p.m. We clicked instantly and I knew it would be a great trip. I just didn’t know how great it would be.

The next day after getting up early, racing a half marathon, picking up the car, getting a quick shower, trying to make sure we remembered everything we would need for the drive plus the bike ride, Joshua and I left Denver, Colo., for the first leg of the journey.

Now anytime you start out on a road trip, you wonder how you will get along. Add two complete strangers to the mix and the stakes are even higher. However, Joshua and I were alike in so many ways, it was almost scary. Not only was he also health conscience, but he was also a cyclist. We also had very similar childhoods and I think that might be why we bonded so quickly. And our sense of humor was dead on.

He drove and I was the co-pilot. We marveled at the sights driving through Colorado. We stopped so I could skinny dip in the freezing cold Colorado River. Afterwards we laughed hysterically at the husband of a nearby couple who was in complete awe of what I was doing. Note: I was discreet. We started the license plate game. Which was a ton of fun!!

We watched the most amazing sunset in Utah. We walked the Utah salt flats at 11 p.m. We laughed when we finally arrived in Salt Lake City and it was gone before we knew it. We drove on to the Utah/Nevada boarder line and spent the night in Wendover, NV at the Golden Nugget. One of the eight buildings in the town (?). And the buildings were all casinos, by the way!

The next morning we tried to find something healthy to eat. Which was a task in of itself, but still we laughed. We continued the drive onward. Joshua at the wheel, me in the co-pilot seat. A perfect match. He liked to drive and insisted he do so.

We drove through miles and miles of mountains, semi-trucks, random small towns and herds of cattle. We started envisioning what we hungry for. And we really wanted a Target. We forgot towels. So for 1200 miles we looking for a Target. Finally in Vacaville, Calif., (we laughed at the name!!) we finally found one.

The other thing about us? We both love Kettle Corn! Yes, perhaps that is my one and only vice.

So here it is, almost five weeks post-ride and I have yet to wrap my head around the epic week. Partly because I am sad it is over. Partly because I am sad Joshua is no longer by my side. And partly because I am exhausted!

However, I have hope that whatever is supposed to happen will. And I’m already planning for Celebration Ride3!

Stayed tuned for the epic recap!