2017 Inspiring People of the Year Nikkis Campbell

Strong, Sassy and Beautiful!

Where do I start.....

I'm Nikkis L Campbell, mother of 3 adult kids, recent empty nester, seasoned runner, and new triathlete.  

I started running when the first child left for college and I started to notice that I had a lot of free time.  I was also battling depression heavily and wanted to find a way other than counseling to help me beat it so that it will no longer control my life.  

Like most runners I started with the smaller races (5ks, 10ks, 13.1) but after running my first marathon I knew that I was a distance runner.  I am fulfilled by Endurance and not speed.  I have 2 goals left to accomplish and that is to run a 100 mile race and complete a 140.6 IRONMAN.  Through running I am no longer depressed.  I feel happier than I have ever felt in my entire life.  Running has made me a better person inside and out.

Sometimes it's hard to motivate YOURSELF at 4am to meet YOURSELF in the dark, so that you can run by YOURSELF for 13 miles😩. There is real strength in being alone and I'm strong enough👊🏽.

Thank you and may God continue to Bless you and your journey! 

-Nikkis- 

2017 Inspiring People of the Year Harita Davies!

3100 Miles of Smiles!!!

Earlier this year, along with Yolanda, I took part in and completed the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race- the longest foot race in the world!

I have known of this race for a long time- actually since it first happened in 1997. At that time I had recently joined the Sri Chinmoy Centre in New Zealand and had timidly taken up running. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team held races of all different lengths since 1977, from 1 mile up to 1,300 miles, then in 1997 Sri Chinmoy had the inspiration to stretch the longest distance to 3100 miles!

Sri Chinmoy saw a direct link between spirituality and running, and he spoke extensively about the inner and outer running. He believed that to have peace in the world, we first need to find peace and satisfaction within ourselves. In order to do this, we need to synthesize our inner and outer reality. This involves combining the practice of prayer and meditation; which cultivates inner peace, clarity and contentment, with a dynamic and disciplined lifestyle involving service to humanity and physical fitness. When the body is fit and dynamic, it becomes a powerful vessel to manifest the light we have within, and thus contribute to peace in the world.

Run and become,

Become and run.

Run to succeed in the outer world.

Become to proceed in the inner world.

-Sri Chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy spoke a lot about going beyond the limits of the mind and body in order to become aware of the unlimited capacity that we all have within us. He felt that we cultivate true happiness and fulfillment only when we consistently challenge our self-imposed limitations. This is the concept of “self-transcendence”. He also brought awareness to the global impact of self-transcendence.

Individual self-transcendence

Collectively inspires

Humanity at large.

-Sri Chinmoy

Back to my experience! Jumping forward 20 years, last year I quite unexpectedly felt a great inner inspiration to take part in the 3100 mile race! This did not come entirely out of the blue- since first hearing of the race I had imagined that some time in the distant future I too would take part.

However, over the years I ran many marathons and several six and ten day races, but health and energy issues had prevented me from ever reaching the point where I seriously considered giving it a shot.

I like to follow my hearts inspiration whenever I can, and so I decided to go for it. Some people were really supportive and a lot of people were really surprised- I was pretty surprised myself! But I figured I would prepare the best I could and whether I succeeded or failed did not matter- what mattered was that I had a goal that was major self-transcendence, and the thought of it along with all the preparation gave me a lot of joy! I was following my heart’s inspiration, and there is tremendous power in that feeling.

Finally the day of the race came- the first day out of 52, that is! I felt far from ready in many ways- on the physical level there were all kinds of problems that only got worse in the weeks leading up to the start. On the mental level I could not believe I had even entered the race- I felt so unworthy! Yet in my heart, I felt the whole experience was in God’s Hands. He had inspired me to do it, and I was ready to leave my success or failure up to Him. I sincerely thought that if I lasted 2 or 3 days that would be fine, I would try my best and let God decide the rest.

I imagine God’s Smile
Before I undertake anything.
This gives me
Enormous energy.

-Sri Chinmoy

As it happened, right from the beginning the whole experience felt like I was flowing in the river of God’s Grace. Each day was a world unto itself, bringing with it new challenges on every level- especially physical and mental. Yet at the same time, the never-ending obstacles and challenges were teaching me so much!

As long as I kept going, kept smiling, kept being grateful, and kept placing the whole experience in God’s Hands, I was making the miles! I soon had to accept the fact that there would always be something wrong, and in fact there was nothing wrong with that! It was not about trying to escape from the problems, but rather accept them and have faith that if I just kept moving forward, by the Grace of God there would always be a solution. Also to keep smiling and finding something to be grateful for- how much strength we get when we smile, no matter whether we feel happy or not!

Gratitude

Is by far

The best attitude.

-Sri Chinmoy

Having faith in God means having faith in the divinity within- in our selves no less! -And also in the divinity within all of Creation. The strength I received from the beauty and power of Mother Nature, coupled with the support, sympathy, oneness and encouragement from other people was unimaginable. I soon realized I would not survive a single day on my own- and that was the way it was meant to be!

We were all one big, sweet, and very powerful family- the runners, the helpers, and the hundreds of supporters all around the world sending messages of encouragement- and we all finished the race! Whether by running the miles, counting the laps or sending messages of support, we finished it together, which made it all the more beautiful.

I would like to make special mention of Yolanda. Her and I are from such different backgrounds, and approached the race from very different start points, yet right from the beginning we seemed inextricably linked. Yolanda undeniably helped me in so many ways with her dauntless determination, courage, encouragement, and style! She shared some great motivators with me, like “suck it up buttercup” which always made us laugh and helped a lot. We were a team- of course we were on our own journeys, but having each other to share the experience with gave us real strength.

So for now my self-transcendence challenge is to apply everything I learned to my regular life, hold onto the blessings, and remember to smile and be grateful - no matter what obstacles I face! And if you are reading this and choose to accept it, your challenge is to find your own self-transcendence inspiration -and let your journey begin!

We are all truly unlimited,

If we only dare to try

And have faith.

-Sri Chinmoy

with much gratitude,

Harita

Photo credit  http://www.spontaneousbeauty.com/

Photo credit Utpal Marshall http://perfectionjourney.org/about/

2017 Inspiring People of the Year Ed (Fast Eddie) Rousseau!

 Running Strong at 78!

Ed Rousseau lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Ed began jogging at 40 to lose weight and gain health as a new recovering alcoholic. He renewed his Christian faith and worked on the 12 Step sobriety  program. His long training runs give him quiet time with God. His motto:"If I don't take care of my body, what am I going to live in?"

His first marathon was the first Twin Cities Marathon in 1982.  His fastest marathon was 2 Hours 57 Minutes  in 1984 at age 45. He's run 104 Marathons, some on snowshoes, and 111 Ultra marathons.

Ed's medalled in 32 of the USA National Championships in the Marathon, 100K, 100 Mile, 24 Hour, 48 Hour and 6-Day Races and Snowshoe events, 22 times a National Masters Champion.

He's set or  broken 17 US Ultra marathon Records from 100 Miles to 48 Hour and 6-Day Events and 5 World Records. His 110 Mile Total in the 2005 24 Hour Nat'ls, at age 66, was ranked the 7th best Overall USA Masters Runner Ultra Marathon Performance that year. His 336 mile total in a 6 day race at age 74 in 2014 was a U.S. and World Masters Division Record while also setting four other 70-74 Age World Records at 12, and 24 Hours, at 100K, and 100 Miles.

Additionally, he's won a bronze, 2 silver and a gold  medal in the Snowshoe 10K Race Nationals. In 2011, he placed 5th in his 70-74 Masters Division in the World Marathon Championships and with two USA Team Members, the Division World Team Gold Medal.

He's been the overall winner in the 5K, Marathon, 50K, and 100 Mile races.

Ed has 2 streaks going including all 36 of the Twin Cities Marathons and all 28 of the FANS 24 Hour Races. He was the first male runner to reach a FANS total of 2000 miles, averaging 100 miles a year over 20 years when at age 69 he finished in the top 10 overall with 99 miles in 2009.

He has been inducted into the Minnesota Running Legends and the Michigan Upper Peninsula Road Runners  Hall of Fame.

Ed speaks at running classes and groups, school classes, treatment centers, and correctional facilities.

Ed loves running and as a  78 year old, looks ahead to many more miles.

Ed is an Ambassador for Epsom-it Muscle Recovery Lotion check out Epsom website. https://www.epsomit.com/

2017 Inspiring People of the Year Sean Gavor

Pushing My Limits

I started running in 2007 because I was 28 years old and starting to feel the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle.  I was over 30% body fat, I had no energy and I consumed large amounts of alcohol and junk foods on a regular basis.  I needed a change.

I took up jogging and started training for a marathon which I was lucky enough to complete later that year.  It was very slow and painful but I was hooked.  I noticed as I continued to push my physical limits, my health improved and my energy levels became very high and my body adapted to the new stresses I was putting on it.  Soon, the marathon was not enough, I needed a bigger challenge.

I did my first Ultra Marathon, a 50K in 2008 and then a 100K in 2009.  My long distance journey was underway.  With each new distance, I gained confidence that one day I’d be able to achieve the 100 mile  distance which was always a dream goal.  Running 100 miles.  That’s a real challenge all right.

But then disaster struck.  I suffered a bad knee injury and the rehab took a lot longer than it should have.  The road to recovery lasted years instead of months!  But my dream of completing 100 miles was not dead and I recommitted myself to rebuilding my body starting from the ground up.  I adopted the minimalist running philosophy and began to walk barefoot before beginning my actual running rehab.

Within a few months I realized my feet and my whole core was getting much stronger and I knew the ground up approcah was working.  I had to have patience, the process took several years to complete but by 2014 I was ready to try the 100 mile distance again.  I signed up and failed, completing only 40 miles.  I wasn’t ready yet.  I tried another one and only made 45 miles, another DNF.  Maybe 100 milers were not for me.

I tried to focus on short distance racing over the next few years but the long distance bug never really went away so I began researching timed races and realized this was my ticket to the fabled “hundo.”  I signed up for my first multi day race in 2016, a 72 hour contest on a 1 mile loop.  I knew I’d have plenty of time to get the 100 miles and if I was really lucky, maybe 150 or more.

But something funny happened during that race.  I hit 200 miles!  And it wasn’t because of my great running skills.  I walked the majority of the race.  I realized that over very long distances, walking is more efficient than running and a lot easier on the body as well.  I knew I was on to something so I developed my walking skill over the next year with the hope of topping my new distance PR of 200 miles.  

In 2017, I took the next step of my journey by completing 310 miles in 6 days at Across the Years and then another 278 miles at 3 Days at the Fair, but these were only a warm up for the next one.  The Last Annual Vol State 500K is one of the most difficult races out there and to compound the difficulty, I chose the self-supported option, meaning I was on my own for everything.

It was a crazy adventure but I eventually finished the race, walking nearly 100% of it!  If I had to run, I would not have completed it but luckily, the walking skills I’d developed were what got me through.  That was just a few months ago and I’m looking forward to pushing the limits of my physical capabilities even further in the future.

-Sean-   

2017 Inspiring People of the Year Bridgit Crider

I WILL SURVIVE!!!

My journey to where I am today started with that dreaded doctors office visit for an annual check up….I knew that I was overweight, had been for years. My weight and size would yo-yo up and down. At this particular visit, I was told that I was on my way to being diabetic. My choice was either drop 15 pounds or be put on meds by my next visit…NOPE! I was like, sure it can’t be that hard to lose 15 pounds in 40 days. 

I had no clue, especially at 49 years old!!! I was a fad diet queen and didn’t know any better. Anyway, I posted about my doctors visit on FB and got invited to come out and run with a group of women in my area. 

First off, I don’t run, I said to myself. Not even from a dog lol, second she mentioned 3.5 miles, another no lol, and third a 4:30 am meet up…all no’s. Then I thought about my doctors visit and said “Bridgit, something has to change!” And I got my butt up and met them. The next time I went back to that doctors office I had lost 8 pounds and my levels went down, I was in the safe zone. 

That was the start of me running, walking and getting my physical right. Over the past 3 years, I have lost 62 pounds, participated in over 33 races ranging from 5k's to half marathons. I now get up almost every morning for a 5am workout of some kind. 

This past February, I had a tummy tuck to rid of excess skin (best thing I could have ever done) and now I have a trainer to properly help me tone up and build muscle. I have no plans of stopping. I feel great, and hope that I can help and inspire others.

-Bridgit-

2017 Inspiring People of the Year Susan Schenberg

Enjoying the Journey

Jackpot Ultra – Las Vegas

I credit my son for the “Ultra Bug”… when he was nine years old, he asked me to take him to the High School Track so he could practice running a timed mile as part of the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. As I watched him run around and around, I wondered if I could finish a mile nonstop… so I gave it a try and low and behold, not only did I finish, I felt like I could run forever. And so the story goes, an Ultrarunner (in the making) was born that day. Long story short, I raced every distance from 5k’s to Marathons, but something was missing… I longed to run farther… and a new journey into Ultrarunning began.

 “Team Susan” at Badwater

I craved knowledge, so when I wasn’t running, I was reading.  I literally read every book about Ultrarunning on the shelf at Barnes and Noble; I watched and re-watched Ultra Documentaries… my favorite being  “Running On The Sun”,  the journey following competitors through the Badwater 135 Mile Race across Death Valley; I joined Facebook to connect with other Ultrarunners who I could follow, share and learn from. 

Amongst running royalty - Ready to race!

Locally, I joined the “St. Louis Ultrarunners Group” (SLUGS) and became an Officer/ Board Member of the BEST Ultra Group on EARTH!! Okay, I may be just a bit biased. 

My running “bestie”

Race wise, I have been fortunate to Podium and earn several Age Group wins; including the “Eastern Missouri Ultra Series Award” First Place - Senior Female of the Year with consecutive wins for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. As I gained success in the sport, I became an Athlete Ambassador for “Headsweats”, the maker of cutting edge Performance Headwear which ROCKS!!  All in all, the best part of Ultrarunning is truly the friendships I have made.

 The “Walking Diva” smashing records!

Case in point, I had the pleasure of being with the “Smiles for Miles - Walking Diva”, Yolanda Holder, on Day One of the Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race. What an honor to share in Yolanda’s journey… It’s crazy good to have friends all over the world who are bound together by the love of all things Ultra.

Honored to receive the EMUS (Eastern Missouri Ultra Series) Award-First Place Senior Female for 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017!

-Susan- 

2017 Inspiring People of the Year Manoshri Sykorova

Running Brings Joy Into My Life

When I was around twelve years old, everyone from my school class had to run 1500 meters and I remember thinking 'what a long distance!' Then when I was sixteen I started to meditate and my life opened up to new ideas and goals. I decided to run my first marathon when I was seventeen. It was Rome marathon in 1995 in Italy. The inspiration came from my spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, who loved running. 

I did not have much time to train, so the longest distance I ran as a training was around 10km. I did not have proper running shoes, I did not have extra money for real running shoes. I was born and brought up in Slovakia and there was not much choice of running shoes at that time anyway! So my first marathon was painful, challenging and finally full of joy when I finished! I wanted to stop twice during the race, but every time I stopped and looked around, everyone was running ahead. Thousands and thousands of people. That kept me going. After I finished I remember sitting on a bus going back home and having intense knee pain! But also sense of satisfaction of finishing my first marathon. Few years before that I never even dreamed of running a marathon! I have realized that anyone can run a marathon if one has inspiration and a bit of determination. 

When I was twenty I moved to Ottawa in Canada. I had run some more marathons in Canada and US and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately later on I ended up with adrenal burn out from working too much and doing too many things and not taking enough rest. It took me some years to recover and I learned from this experience that our body does have limits. It is nice to be dynamic and active, but we also need to take rest to recover. 

When I was around thirty- three , I really got interested in weightlifting. I would lift weights every morning for about an hour throughout a week and then on Saturday I remember spending sometimes 3 hours on doing weights! It gave me feeling of confidence, strength and it just felt so good! I continued with weightlifting for about a year and then I slowly also started to get back to more running. I ran few half marathons and then marathons. It was nice to be back on track again. 

Around that time I remember hearing about multi day races and thinking and saying “I will never run those long races! It is not for me, must be so painful!” Then I went to see the finish of a ten day race in New York and I could see that the runners were in pain but they were so happy and radiant! And that's when I decided I wanted to run this race one day and experience what they have experienced!

And so I started to run a bit more distance and I got interested in nutrition. I did a bit of research about running shoes and running gear and tent and socks and I asked lots of questions from people who had ran this race. And I decided to run my first multi day ten day race in April, 2015. Training for the race was not easy. I was living in Ottawa at that time and the winters there are so cold! I would run for many hours sometimes in minus ten celsius. On the first of January I decided to run a marathon to celebrate a New Year and do some good training. After running around 28km it was all dark outside and it was hard to find a good place that felt safe to run alone. And so as I ended up running some distance by the road on a grass in dark and cold and unfortunate thing happened! I twisted my ankle! Less then four months before the race! I could walk ok the next day but my ankle swollen up and it was painful a bit when I tried to run a week later. But I could run and so I decided to continue with my training. Month later my ankle would still swell up and I had pain. It was getting so close to the race, I got worried. And so I took 5 weeks brake from running. A bit scary. I was certainly upset. 

Three weeks before the start of the race I started to run again and still had some pain and swelling, but it did seemed to be improved. And so I decided to run the race anyway and stop if I had to. Surprisingly during the race the ankle did not give me much trouble. But I had my first experience with sheen-spleens and ended up walking and trying to run through the pain for few days of the race. On day six I finally felt I could run normally and I ended up finishing 3 rd with 530 miles. During the race I experienced all sorts of emotions from despair and disappointment to happiness and feeling of upliftment. On day three I said I will never do that race again and then when the race was finished, I was already looking forward to the next one! 

My recovery after the race was quite fast and I was happy to be running again! I wanted to train more and improve for the next year. I ran 6 hour race 5 weeks later and did 60.30 km. Then a month later I went to see the 3100 mile race in New York and I ended up running 3 marathons in 3 days just for fun, next to the course of the race. And then five days later I did a 50km hilly off road race in Gautineau park close to Ottawa. Quite a lot of running in such a short time. During the race I started to get a sharp pain in my foot and somehow I did finish the race, but with tears in my eyes. I had no idea what the pain was from. It took me couple of months to figure out that I had a stress fracture and I need to take complete rest from running. That was so hard! I could not run for about 5 months total. How hard that was not to run at all for that many months! Eventually I started to train again sometimes in January for my second ten-day race. The pain was still there, but it eventually got better and better. (Surprisingly even now, three years later, I still get a bit of pain in that area when I am increasing my running distance. There is some kind of scar that develops and I am not sure if it ever goes away. But luckily it does not stand in a way of my running).

My second ten day race was a completely new set of experiences. The first six days I really pushed myself and ran 405 miles with a minimum of sleep. But then my body could not keep up with all of it and my muscles actually started to malfunction and I could not lift normally one of my legs! I had no idea what to do! I took a break for many hours and had some extra sleep at night and talked to few people trying to find a solution. It seemed that having more regular and longer rest was the only solution. Otherwise my muscles started to malfunction again. I could not wait for the end of the race. I finished 3rd again, this time with 609 miles. I improved 79 miles from the year before. I was very happy!

In 2016 I got married to my husband Galya who is a three time finisher of the 3100 mile race and has the third fastest finish in the history of the race after Ashprihana and Madhupran. In 2015 he ran 3100 miles in 42 days and 17 hours which is such an amazing finish! He also won many 24-hour races and 6-day races. In November 2016, we participated in Icarus 6-day race in Florida. Galya ran the 48-hour race and also helped me during the 6-day race. I believe that because of his help and encouragement I ended up winning the race overall, with 432 miles and setting a course record, averaging 72 miles a day.

I love the multi day races for the sense of satisfaction and happiness that they bring. I also find that when I am running that kind of distance, my mind gets quieter and I get into a kind of zone where things just flow and happen for you and with you. I do love that feeling and I always wish it would last longer. I also feel that each race and all days of training for it make you stronger and more experienced for the next year race. I am very grateful to all the people who inspired me over the years and also to my spiritual teacher who got me inspired in the first place to start running marathons and then ultra races. 

Last year me and Galya we moved to beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia. We continue running, hiking, cross country skying and plan to do some kayaking next year. And we are looking forward to some other future races. 

I believe that anyone can do marathons or ten day races if one is inspired and has determination. It is only the mind that is limiting us and if we go beyond our doubts and fears, amazing things can happen in our lives. We just have to believe that we can!

I am so grateful that I got to know Yolanda. I am truly amazed she finished her first 3100 mile race power walking! She has such determination and will power! Plus she finished so many marathons and other races over the years. Truly amazing accomplishment! Thank you for choosing me as one of the Inspiration people of the year. I am truly honored.

-Manoshri-