Her love of life and shoes is living on to help others...

Why Obstacle Racing?

As I stumbled across the mountains of Temecula, CA the question popped in to my mind "Why am I racing?". It was a moment of doubt when the hills felt their steepest, the pain at its highest and as the lead pack pulled away from me, I could not help but feel out of my prime...a far cry from my collegiate days of national prominence.
   The thoughts crept their way into my mind of all the other places I could be at that moment. Surely there had to be something less painful, easier, a sand strewn beach perhaps. Maybe I can just collect shoes only and not race anymore as a part of my mission for Soles4Souls?
   Steadily step after step and obstacle after obstacle the finish line grew closer. A large mountain lied ahead and what was thought to be just a hill climb, turned out to be a hill climb AND sand bag carry. I asked the officials monitoring sandbags being picked up "Are all sandbags the same?" and he promptly responded "Yes, pick any one". As I lumped one over my shoulder and made headway up the hill, it felt like lugging all three of our children on my back. The competitors were on their knees stopped all over the mountain like some battle was being fought and the mountain was winning. Groans of pain, words of frustration as people tried to motivate themselves and as others tried to motivate each other. The first part of the hill, I was actually able to make up alot of ground and pass 4 competitors. What I thought was the top of the hill was actually just the halfway point. I fell to my back in exhaustion. Legs on fire, sun shining on my face, sandbag on the ground and competitors making headway.
   This moment felt familiar. That point in time when something seems too hard and like you will never be able to overcome it. It would just be easier to give up right? Maybe there is a shortcut, a path less painful? Why did I choose this path? Doubt. Regret. Pain.
   Then it popped in to my mind. "You can't give up. Never Give Up"....Ohhhh, why does that have to be "my" tagline I thought back, as a battle of the mind ensued. If only someone could have peeked in to my mind at that moment laughter would have surely followed.
  The dirt of the mountain once again moving beneath my feet, sandbag on my shoulder and bursting forward with more power than ever. Passing competitors with each step and winning the battle vs the mountain. The doubt, regret, pain...washing away. More strength with each step, more confidence with each breath.
  As the finish line approached I was now in full stride and although not a podium finisher in the women's elite, the victory in the will to persevere...to finish strong as my niece and family cheered me on filled my heart with joy.

Right after crossing the finish line, my niece ran to me arms wide open for a congratulatory hug. This was one of my favorite moments of the day.

As continued opportunity's to run as an elite OCR racer have come to fruition, the visibility for Soles4Souls has risen on the running circuit and through many running communities. THIS is why I race. Awareness.

     After many obstacle races, many runners donate their shoes...more than any other race you will ever go to. Traveling the country running for Souls4Souls has continued to open up doors for them to bridge partnerships and I certainly hope this can continue. If you are a racer or a racing series looking for a shoe partner, first of all, thank you for the read! Second, you can contact Kelly Modena the Soles4Souls active division director at kellym@soles4souls.org

  One of the other opportunities I look forward to is being able to share about Soles4Souls with anyone wondering why their is a sashed competitor with Soles4Souls all over her gear. This weekend before the race started, one of the Atlas race directors Lance Landers told the crowd about Soles4Souls as I was warming up for the race and told everyone to look for "Maggi in the pink shorts".  Post race I was able to up on stage and the MC even asked to sport my sash for the crowd.

Scott Keneally of Rise of the Sufferfests did a one on one interview talking about Soles4Souls, the International Pageant and a re-cap of the Atlas Race. The full interview is below:

To wrap this up, my favorite moment of the day was watching my niece face a fear. She climbed a rope in front of a crowd and made it to the top! She was a little scared at first, but looked at me and said I inspired her then went for it. If there is any moment someones heart can melt, that was it. Everyone cheered her on and she also inspired other kids to try! Pay it forward friends :)

Warm Regards,
  Maggi
Your Mrs. Great Plains International 2014

Travel4Souls...Destination hope and joy

If you could distribute shoes and bring joy to an orphanage, school or village in need...would you?

One of the "legs" so to speak that reaches out across the globe of Soles4Souls is their Travel4Souls program. I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti under this umbrella with an amazing team of 16 where we distributed over 1,400 shoes and even more joy!

If your travel plans are not set for this year, I would encourage you to learn about the life changing Travel4Souls program and consider making a trip of your own!

The Soles4Souls website shares this description of the program:
Soles4Souls Travel creates lifelong ambassadors of change by providing opportunities for people to travel and distribute shoes in developing countries.

Our wish for you is a life-changing experience shaped by the merging of cultures, building relationships and simply helping others.

Through our distribution trips to Haiti, Costa Rica, Honduras, India, Jamaica, and Tanzania (Africa)- we see a world of sustainability. Sustainable development achieved through sustainable relationships. You are the center of this vision. Your impact is immediately felt in the smiles and embraces you will receive from those we will serve. Your transformation is carried back into your daily life as you feel a true sense of connectedness that sets the foundation for your continued journey of sharing service, hope and joy for the rest of your life.

It starts here, in the simple yet profound act of handing out a pair of shoes, and it builds into a lifelong love of service to others that can reverberate and touch thousands of people.
This is your chance: www.travel4souls.org

To follow on facebook to see what global destination is next, visit :
https://www.facebook.com/Travel4Souls

                                         A short video about the Travel4Souls experience

 

Warm Regards and safe travels,

  Maggi Thorne

Your Mrs. Great Plains International 2014

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your day be filled with love and happiness!
Your Mrs. Great Plains International 2014,
Maggi

Why the International Pageant has Heart

Besides the International Pageant system's commitment to celebrating women's accomplishments, I love that they have had such a strong alliance with the American Heart Association Go Red for Women movement. They help to fulfill the goal of bringing awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women of women.

  Last Friday, February 7th was the official American Heart Association "Go Red" Day. International Pageant titleholders from all over the world went red in a BIG way! I could not be more proud to be part of such a wonderful system with so many women who are beautiful on the outside, inside and willing to be strong voices to help others.

 To find out more about what the International Pageant titleholders did to "Go Red", visit and make sure to Like their official facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/InternationalPageants

I was also blown away when Soles4Souls rose to the occasion in a BIG way by having their International Headquarters "Go Red"

So how did I "Go Red"?
 Thursday night we started off with Lincoln's 3rd annual Red Dress Dash and the Governor of Nebraska Dave Heineman declaring a proclomation Friday Feb.7th the official "Wear Red" day
The news interview is here: Runners wear red for heart disease - KLKN TV

 

My picture with the Governor made the National AHA Go Red website!

A goal of the American Heart Association is to raise awareness with grassroots efforts and as the AHA Lincoln Passion Committee Co-Chair I pitched the idea to our local office to run for 10 hours in honor of the 10th anniversary of the "Go Red" Movement and away I went last friday starting at 6am.
I started out at 10/11 news, stopped by to see the wonderful physicians of Nebraska Heart Institute and made a few more quick stops to help others "Go Red". A collage is below of the day :)

Full news coverage can be found here:
Lincoln-Woman-to-Run-10-Hours-to-Raise-Awareness-of-Heart-Disease--244266861.html

Finally...here is one of the heart survivors in our family and one of the reason I got involved last year to help our family be heart healthy and know all of the facts. To find out more about how YOU can "Go Red", visit the AHA Go Red website https://www.goredforwomen.org/

My father-in-law and Heart Survivor!

Here is to being a healthy you:)
Your Mrs. Great Plains International 2014,
Maggi Thorne

American Ninja Warrior Season 6 Video Submission

Storms of Life

Do you ever know when you are just supposed to do something regardless of what may be ahead? Tonight was one of those nights for me and I could not figure it out until about half way through what had happened.

   I came home from work, had dinner, played Toy Story Yahtzee with my kids, brushed their teeth and tucked them in for bed. Outside the wind was blowing, snow drifts swallowing the streets and more snow on it's way by the second...then it happened. Within minutes my sneakers were laced up, cold gear on and out the door I ran. Usually my run's are tracked, but tonight no phone in tow...just me, and the unbeaten path. Few roads are plowed, trails not even a speck of snow cleared. Wind blowing at 21 mph bringing the windchill temp to -17. 

   A mile or so into my run I realized sometimes we are called to face the storms of life when we least expect it. During the run it was a struggle trudging through the 6.5" of snow not knowing where my next step needed to be. I knew the path was below me somewhere and just had to keep having faith that I would continue to head in the right direction even thought it seemed hard at the time. 

  As my right eye froze shut ever so slightly around mile 3, the untouched snow drifts reflecting off of the moonlight captured me with their beauty. Even in the midst of life's storms when there may be pain, there is always beauty. We just have to keep our eyes (or one eye) out for it.

  I don't know if anyone reading this right now has a storm in life you are going through at the moment, but my run tonight was for you. Forge on the path untaken, run in the midst of it without fear, and with faith. Never Give Up!

Your Mrs. Great Plains International 2014,
Maggi Thorne