Welcome all

Greetings to everyone who reads this blog,

My name is Jeff Turning Heart Jr., and I have created this blog to keep friends and many others up to date with my training, my running and my upcoming races that are for charities.

The idea started when I was approached by many on how I train and what it is like with ideas and thoughts brewing through my mind before race day. And this blog is going to keep those entertained and hopefully inspires many to enjoy life the way they should, on their own terms.

And with today on how I now have some "down" time because of a different series of injuries have left me sidelined for a few days has given me time to work on my game plan for recovery and my return back to running.

For those who are just tuning in, I would like to explain these injuries I now have been dealing with. With my shoulder and neck have been off and on for the past few years. Back in 2007, I suffered a neck situation where a benign tumor was taken out of my neck and some tissue resurfaced again in the summer of 2010 and after the last surgery, I lost any free range strength and motion of my arm and quite frankly, my left arm was paralyzed for over 90 minutes. After many different options, my fingers started twitching and regain some life in my arm but not the full 100% .

After a few months or rehabilitation on my arm and movement, my left arm still had nerve damage and couldn't feel anything but I kept on going, even when a part of me thought it was a losing cause.

When it was almost 9 months later and I started back with running and workout again, it was not just clicking with me anymore, I felt like I was done and I was ready to deal with that. But out of the blue, I started feeling something inside me, like an unexplainable force that drove me to keep going and in June of 2011, I started training and I got ready for the 4.2 mile Coulee Trail Run here in Washburn, ND during the Lewis and Clark Days celebration and I ran it and never gave up. After feeling better from that, I started to train more for the 5k run in Underwood, ND for the Harvest Festival celebration and I finished 3rd and that felt great.

After this feeling invincible part of my return, I lost a friend who committed suicide and it rocked my world and it was during my 5k training for the previous race in Underwood for Harvest Fest and immediately I got the question, "When is your next race? Have you thought about the Bismarck Marathon or half marathon?" and I did. I started to think about it constantly and thought it would be a great challenge, one that I desperately needed.

When it came down to the decision to run the half marathon in Bismarck in September of 2011, I thought that this needed something, more of a drive and a meaning to do this. After checking out the website of registration, I seen the link "charities" and I clicked on one but even though they were good charities to be a part of, but nothing clicked just yet. And after losing a friend to suicide, I then wanted to be a part of anything that helps with awareness or prevention, I was game for it. And after a week of deciding how to approach this, I then called the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and they helped me create a Donor's Wall, where many people can pledge donations to my charity and to the foundation and my initial goal was going to be easy and small, being how it was my first charity event, the amount was $250.00 and that got me started.

With the initial idea on what I was running and representing for the upcoming race, I went right into training for the half marathon and I followed my own type of training and started progressing from running from 35 miles to 56 miles a week. A great motivation was reaching out to many of those who have been affected by losing a loved one to suicide and in some way, it helped heal me from losing my friend. 
As the training went on, I started to feel the drive, my passion for doing this race. For once, it wasn't about me, it wasn't about running for a trophy or a title or anything in that nature, it was for the people who deserve it, the people I represented. And there were no pressure intended for me.

When it came down to the week before the race, I went through my week of hell where in 6 days, I averaged 63.5 miles which was unheard of because of my recent battles. And I remember the night before the race, I prepared with a light workout at Gold's Gym and ate a good meal and focused on my race, on my pace time and on my strategy. And after talking to a friend who said she believed in me and that I could do this, it gave me more drive.

Then on race day, at 5:30 a.m., I got up and started to stretch and focus my mind on the run and tell myself what this is for and what I need to do, which was, man up, be the miracle for many. And by 6:45 a.m. was spent with talking to my friends Nick and Tomi, we were in the dark morning, feeling the mist upon us and just knowing that no matter what, we are still running and from as far as the eye could see, runners were pouring in and it made me feel comforted to see so many. To be amongst many who share the same passion as I do and to meet new people was a treat because I met a wise and gentle man who was 76 years old and was racing his last marathon and he has been doing this over 50 years. It was beyond amazing, a loss for words.

At 7:30 a.m. the starting gun goes off and my heart was pounding as we were on our first mile and as I kept my pace and made my way through the pack, I started to feel myself more motivated to keep going and as I made it up the rather large hill by the University of Mary (my old colldge stomping grounds) I found my friend who I talked to the night before on the phone and out of everyone, I seen her and it drove me more because I needed that support and that smile to keep on moving.

Between the 11 and 12 mile marker, my left leg started to cramp up and I took a few moments to relax my leg and keep on going, only 1.5 miles left to go until my challege was done. After I seen the finish line, I kicked it in high gear and after hearing my name being announced by the guy on the PA system, I felt this adrenaline kick in and I finished like I wanted, strong and proud. I looked up to the sky to feel my friend's smile upon me and many others too. My test and challenge was done but not over with. I wanted to do more.

After the half marathon was done, I felt like I could do this more, run half marathons for charities and started my own campaign and got an idea on which races I wanted to do and my charities. In the upcoming 2012 races, I have signed on to 8 charities and I now call it the "Hope and Faith Tour" which will be 2 races in Chicago, Illinois in June and October and then Fargo, ND and Bismarck, ND in May and September. And my mission has been growing, with meeting new people and that is why this blog was created, to share my road to the upcoming races in 2012.

Until recent, my running was good as I ran an 8k for Breast Cancer Awareness but was hit hard with a sinus infection and then a heart murmur where constant pain was a new thing to deal with in my chest. But my goal for that race was running an 8k in 40 minutes and was proud that I finished in 38:52. A personal best.

And then in October, I lost my best friend who was my coworker and my mentor at the job I have enjoyed and loved when I started over 7 years ago. That man meant a lot to me because of what he had taught me, in the work field and outside of work. He took me in as a friend who shared a passion for history and to hear him speak was like listening to a book being read to you, with his knowledge, he was my index.

My heart started to hurt more, because not many would know how I feel everyday he is gone. He may be gone physically but not mentally and some days are fine because I remember all the smiles and fun times we have shared but then there are some days where I don't feel like facing the world or anyone but I know he would want me to move on and there will be a day where I will. It just comes and goes for now.

On Wednesday, November 9th, I hurt my foot and felt a tear or a pull in my muscle and then this past Sunday, November 13th, I strained my shoulder with a slight pull to the muscle. And after discussing with my doctors that it would be wise of me to take some time off to recover, mentally and physically. With my upcoming race on Thanksgiving, the 10k for Cystic Fibrosis has been removed from my running calendar of events but still looking at the 5k race in Fargo, ND on December 3rd for Arthritis.

I may take some much needed time off but I will be back. It is why we call it a set back, so that the come back will be stronger.

In ending of this blog, I hope I did not get too wordy with you and I thank you for your patience and time to read this never ending blog but I invite you to keep reading on what is coming and what is in store for the Diary of a mad runner.