The hot pink mohawk and other stuff!

Greetings everyone,

Sorry that my postings have been within a week apart from each other, and yet again this time....I got an upper respiratory tract infection and my breathing has been off and on like usual. However, I did happen to keep on running when my breathing was a bit strong and made it through. Weekly average so far is now 22.3 miles. Not bad for a person who was just ill.

On a different subject, I have done it, the mohawk is now dyed hot pink and I have to thank the lovely ladies at Hair We Are here in Washburn, ND. They were awesome on how quick they were to make my mohawk was just that perfect pink color to help motivate for breast cancer. And so far, there have been many feedback on the color and such. Some were very awesome because they are my friends and some who live here in Washburn. And some have been....quite interesting because they don't think that men should have a pink mohawk and I just chuckle because I told them that if you are a man, you are comfortable with everything, color or the person. I do enjoy it because it is out of my ordinary. I am not the flashiest runner, I don't wear all that bright clothing or shoes. But now, I see a complete change because I am now sporting the hot pink mohawk, the pink or tye dye socks and bright colors of clothing and I have to say, I like being goofy to help catch the attention to tell them why I am wearing crazy stuff, to help boost information on the charities I am running for. Fun times, I tell you what.

Other than having a hot pink mohawk and feeling quite awesome, I am doing awesome. Despite anything that kept me down for a bit, I am doing quite alright.

And there it is, in all it's glory....the hot pink mohawk. What a lot of people were awaiting and it is here. And I am very proud of it too.

Do not let anyone tell you that you can't do this or anything because it's you. Even if they think it is negative or crazy, in other people's eyes, it's pretty awesome to them.



If you like this blog and want to check out some other interesting blogs, here are a few that I highly recommend because they have helped me with the attention to my blog and I appreciate them and all that they do.

http://thefirstscout.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/119180393762/

http://www.shutupandrun.net/

To my fellow runners all over, keep on running, eventually....you will get somewhere!

And to all my friends and family who read this, thank you as I am thankful for you in my life.

Upcoming and a switch

Hello all! And yes, before you throw rotton tomatoes at me for not posting later this week but hey, I was busy! Busy with forming new alliances with organizations, busy with phone calls, runs and workouts but I know, there is no excuse and I should't be making any but my apologies, nonetheless.

With the last posting of going home, I was inspired (once again!) by talking to a great guy who I got in touch with about running for the Med Center One Cancer Care Center and he is the Executive Director of the Med Center One Foundation who helps many in different areas and we shot out a bunch of ideas and got to know each other more. And it was fun because we have that same energy with everything we do!

So, look forward to me running on behalf of the Med Center One Foundation and trying to keep everything home based or nearby. Next stop will be the North Dakota Diabetes Coalition with helping out with them and then, helping out my Reservation where I grew up on. And it was quite funny that I called on my lunch break to talk to someone who could help me out with running for the reservation for diabetes prevention and awareness but after being routed to many different numbers, I got the right location and sure enough, after being polite and introducing myself, and explaining about me running for charities....he hung up on me. Rude, yes but will it stop me? No.

Coming in September is a race that a lot of people have been waiting for, Jeff Turning Heart Sr. vs. Jeff Turning Heart Jr., and you don't need to adjust your eyes, I said it, Senior vs. Junior, to run for diabetes during the Labor Day Fair in my hometown, Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Senior agreed to it and I will send out more information when time gets near. A race that I am looking forward to because we have never EVER raced against each other. We tried but failed at times to get this race going but now, I will do my best to keep it active on my roster.

Another switch I have is that I was intended to run the Chicago half marathon, the Bank of America Marathon in October but they closed the registration because they have capped out, meaning that they filled all the slots for the race. But have no fear, I will be changing it to the Twin Cities Marathon, on the same date, October 7th. Good planning on my end but still a bit sad that I will not be running in the Chicago Marathon, my dream run but next year.....it will happen.

Now, after reading through the online newspaper, the Bismarck Tribune, a story caught my eye that dealt with a fellow runner, a teacher out of Montana who went missing during her early morning run and so far, the details are quite sketchy because they found her shoe and then have suspects in custody and the FBI came in to investigate as they found a body part and it has spurred a lot of people to care for this lady and her family and I feel for her and many other female runners that are attacked or kidnapped.

So, after reading the online article, it mentioned that they are going to have a virtual run in honor of her, her name is Sherry Arnold and this run is however you want to approach it, run a mile, run 20 miles or beyond because just run for Sherry, and if you go to http://www.shutupandrun.net/, they have a printable bib to wear on your run and this run is not only here in North Dakota but in the town where Sherry lived at and even in Canada, and if you want to see the article, it is online at http://www.bismarcktribune.com/ and donations can be made on the Shut Up and Run website and bracelets are available too. You can bet that I am wearing my bib proudly on Saturday and even donating to the family she left behind.

So, I encourage you to do your part in honoring a wonderful woman during the dark time and sad news. Be the miracle and be the strength for others. God bless you.

The trip home

Greetings to everyone, and yes, I know it has been awhile since I have blogged and it is because of the fact that I have been busy, which is a story of my life so far.

And what has happened since I got busy? Well, a lot. I have been training like none other, with the warm weather has blessed my feet with good running conditions. And with a recent trip back home on the reservation has opened my eyes back up again to focus on what needs to be done with my running ability.

To be able to go home and take in all what I went through as a kid from the rez was great because overlooking the track I used to run on constanly and to go inside the school where it has been close to 10 years since I have graduated from. To talk to students on not giving up on their dreams and to tell them that there is life off of the reservation. To follow a dream and take it by storm. The feedback was great and so was the interaction between both myself and the students. And the questions were great because I wasn't lecturing them, I was talking to them as if they were adults. Some students had great questions and some were happy to know that Native Americans can do what they thought was impossible. I just told them that I am not the first and I will not be the last.

To see locations I have ran at before and to touch the pavement like I did once before too was great because that environment is what got me through the hardest times of life. I enjoyed seeing everything and meeting everyone I could and I will have to say that in March, I will be back, for many reasons.

I missed my sisters, my brother, my mother, my grandmother and the rest of my family because they are what keeps me going in life. Even back when I was younger.

My mother has been great because she never gave up on me and never will. I admire that because I know that it is instilled in all mothers but as a person, she will never give up on me. And for my sisters, they are all different in many ways but I love them the same. And I could ramble on and on about my wonderful family because they mean the world to me.

Like I told many on facebook, I stand at 6 foot 1 but with my family and friends, they make me feel like I am 10 feet tall and growing. It is quite true.

As of today, 87 more days until race day and I am prepared to make that journey because I have been training well for it and when it comes to 30 days til race day, I will be training like a mad man because there is no stopping me and will be a new runner. Patience is the key.

I invite you all to do one thing, rewind your life to when you were a kid and remember what it was like to walk into something brand new and run with it and see how proud you were when you took something and make it your own. And how excited you may have been to try something new. That is how I felt when I went home and be reminded of my roots. Never forget your roots, they are your foundation.

Thanks again for reading this random thought and experience I have encountered and hope you stay tune for more. Take care and God bless.

Let's find some inspiration

Greetings one and all to the blog that will never end!

With the weather here in North Dakota has taken a great turn of temperatures! We went from having a day of 60 degrees to negative 20 with the windchill! I am so glad that last week I averaged 53.7 miles of running outdoors and now I can do my workouts of weight lifting and cardio. To go from one extreme to the next was just ridiculous but it is North Dakota, enough said.

What has been going on this end was a lot, with running and talking with many since the article came out, I decided to just talk with many about the charities and hopefully something will stick with them. And on great news, I will have a foundation page on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation page and will making an appearance in early May to meet the rest of the team, the Great Striders of Fargo because in May, we will be running for Cystic Fibrosis and I will also be running for the American Cancer Society and the Med Center One Cancer Care Center in Bismarck. And with both local in the state, I feel priviliged to be able to run for them and help raise not only the funds for research and what they may need for their survivors and patients, I will be also running for awareness for many.

My inspiration has always been the people. No matter how far they are away from me to someone standing next to me, I have always been able to just sit down and hear their stories to help motivate me to keep going that extra mile. To carry them with me, in my mind and in my heart. Because like I said earlier, these races are not for me, they are for them, the people. I am just honored that I get to run in honor of many and they all express their gratitude as I express my appreciation on them not giving up on their battles.

One that caught my attention that I still think is false, someone who has said they would like to be disclosed from being referenced on my blog said that she called me a hero. To me, they are my heroes because of the strength they have shown me. My character and actions may seem like I am a hero but I do not feel like one. I just feel like a stepping stone for many to be inspired to take something they are passionate about and turn it into a blessing.

To be able to carry many on my shoulders and to carry them in my heart when I run and ready for the event, I am excited and can't wait for the race, only 100 more days from today. With my training and everything else, I feel invincible, beyond my own measures. I feel like a champion because of the strength, motivation and inspiration. When I first heard a song by Nelly called, "Champion" I felt a burst of adrenaline build inside me and I felt like I could run 100 miles in one day. But let's save that for race day.

When I talked with Med Center One this past week, I was shocked and honored that I will be the very first person to run specifically for that organization, for the Cancer Care Center and a good friend of mine who works in Med Center One told me that she showed the article to many of her coworkers who are runners have been inspired to run for charities too. And that was my other mission for this running tour, to inspire many to do what they love and share it with many and help many others out in their time of need.

A question that was always on the back of my mind was, "How do you want to be remembered? For your honor or your pride?" And I want to be remembered as a guy who opened doors for many to follow of the person who showed that passion and desire comes responsibility and with heart and soul, are the 2 main engine parts that make you inspirational.

I know with many who read my blogs or my facebook messages, they grow tired of me describing on what I am up to or my quotes, I say to them, too bad because if they do not like them, many might like them. Just be inspired, in your own way.

To many who have been loyal and have follow this blog, I thank you. And a side note, Team Heart Militia shirts will be soon available for purchase for those and silicone bracelets too. For anyone who wants to be a part of Team Heart Militia and our statement....Be the miracle.

And for many, here is the song that hopefully will inspire you to become your own champion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQf1VH9DPRI

Personal addition to my charity list.

Greetings one and all to this Friday the 13th blog about the Mad Runner and I hope you all had a great week and continue to have a great weekend.

I know with the constant stream of emails from this blog, that someone pointed out a suggestion which hit home for me and it was a jointed charity race that I am doing this year. Which means that I combine two charities together that go hand in hand with each other. And those two charities are anti bullying and suicide prevention.

Listening to this person's testimony struck me because of how their story connected with me and the rest of America. And I sure can relate with this person on what it is like to be....different. And I promised this person that I will not disclose their name and I honor that. But I will tell you this, I was in the same boat as a kid.

Growing up, I was a shy and quiet kid (shocking, I know) but during the school years, I was quiet because there were some boys who I knew that liked to pick on others because in their eyes, we weren't part of the cool bunch. We didn't play basketball or we just hung around and talked about music or tv shows. And of course, just like any kid, I was picked on because I had spikey hair and didn't always see eye to eye with many because I did my own thing.

As time progressed and I got involved with sports, the same kids I grew up with would always taunt others and including myself because we didn't dress like them or talked like them either. In some of our eyes, they were seen as bullies and sometimes, when we were approached, we wouldn't say anything to anyone, our parents or our teachers because we didn't want to be seen as a narc or snitch.

The high school years were a bit different for me, because I let go of that fear of them because I knew deep down, that one day, I will be more successful than they will be because people like that have one frame of mind, making others feel bad to make them feel better. To me, that was insecurity.

From then on, I just didn't care because I was concentrating on graduating and moving on with my life to prove that through anything that was in my way, I overcame it. And I always hope that for everyone else who ever had to put up with a bully or have seen such situations.

To others, it may seem like a shock to hear this from me on my past but I want to come to you as honest and loyal as you are to me. I am not ashamed of my past because hard times make you stronger, mentally and spiritually. And I think a reason why others didn't think too highly of me is because being known as a kid who has a father whom everyone talks about because of his contributions to South Dakota running, it was quite hard to be a figment of someone's idealist on who I should be.

But now, I am standing up for the fight against bullying and what it leads to because I hear such stories from kids who are pushed too far in life. And I find it both sad and sickening on what aftermath of bullying. Some turn to venting their rampage in a form of vengance which results in such a horrific manner, school shootings and a mental breakdown and in such cases as suicide. And it is sad that just because we are all different doesn't mean we are just like any other person in America. And it is also sad that it takes a horrible way to finally get recognized from their peers.

So, to those who have ever been picked on or bullied for being different, I say this, join me in the fight against something that is personal to me and hopefully to you. Let us all stand up and say that we are proud to be different than many because if we were all the same, life would be boring!

I am proud to say that I am different because I am the type of guy who likes to meet everyone and to those who read this, if you are having problems with everyday life, please contact someone, even if you want to send me a private message, I will respond and listen to anything you may say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3MTOjKmLXw
Here is a link that will give you an idea on how bullying in America. This is a movie that I will be purchasing to help reach out to others.

Thank you and I hope this wasn't too much preaching going on for you.

The article, plus extra

Greetings one and all to the Diary Of a Mad Runner, brought to you by these sponsors.....oh wait, nevermind but nonetheless, for those who do not get the Leader News or the Underwood News here in North Dakota. I will post the article and title for all to see. And for those who I sent the article the newspaper they are in, they are in the mail and be there soon. This is for those who requested it online.

Running with hope and faith: Local runner sets goals for 2012 by Michael Johnson, editor of the Leader News.

There's something in every runner that drives them to work their bodies to its limits. Some run for the rush of finishing as a front runner. Some run for their health. Some do it to say they could.

A seasoned runner in the area has decided that this year he's not running for himself. He's running for those in need. He realized this past year as he struggled through his own health concerns that there are millions of others that struggle everyday because of their sickness.

He was involved in running several races across the country last year with a major sponsor. As a runner, being able to fill his schedule with races in exotic locations was a great opportunity for him. But the results were doing little for anyone but himself.

In December, Jeff Turning Heart Jr. did something different. He was part of the Jingle Bell Run in Fargo, which raised money for the Arthritis Foundation.

The run opened his eyes to the condition. He learned about kids that have arthritis and have to suffer through it as well as those who deal with the pains later in life.

He ran the race in 17 degrees and had a better time than his run in the summer, which took him by surprise. Seeing all the different people running not for themselves but for others stuck to him like a pair of small running tights. He was used to the boasting and medals rewarded to those in a competitve race. This was much more rewarding.

"Back in high school and college it was all for medals," Turning Heart Said.

He caught the fever that is charity racing. He decided he would devote himself to running for others in 2012.

"Anyone can run random races," Turning Heart said. "I thought I would start doing it for charities."

He lined up six half marathons and 10 races for 2012. his schedule includes seven different charities. He fits the races in between working as an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. He ran a suicide prevention run during the Krolls Diner half marathon and a Breast Cancer Awareness run in October.

The suicide prevention race was for a friend of his he lost in July. He decided he would also run for diabetes, Crohns disease, Big Brothers, kids from broken homes, cancer survivors, and cystic fibrosis to go with the suicide prevention and breast cancer runs.

"All these races are not just for me," Turning Heart said. "Every race I'm doing is for every person that needs it."

He's calling it the Hope and Faith Tour. He decided to spread awareness of the different charities by creating a T-shirt that lists his charities.

His running starts strong in April and includes a race nearly every month through the spring and summer. One in July will take him to Napa Valley, California where he will run for the Crohns and Colitis Foundation. For that race he will be helping mentor a person who has the crohns disease. At about the same time he started mentoring, he was asked if he would consider running in a circuit that would give him a chance in the Olympics. He politely declined as he had some important people counting on him. He knows others with Crohns disease and he knew that if his gift of running could be of help then he would run.

But the runner that takes others on his shoulders is not without his own pains. He had foot, leg and neck issues last year as well as sickness that kept him from competing in some of the races he planned.

"I developed a strong mentality from previous years in college," Turning Heart said. "Runners don't have perfect days, they have to be prepared for anything."

Turning Heart learned some time ago that putting a Bible verse in his shoe has been a push for him. He often searches the New Testament for a verse that will offer guidance for the day. He reads it thoroughly, writes it out and places it in his shoe. The message sticks in his mind during the race.

During a recent race his verse included Second Corinthians 12:10. "That is why, for Christ's sake. I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

The message sticks to him through out the entire tour as he fights for strength for all that are weak.

His trademark has been the Mohawk which he proudly brought back even in the cold of winter. Some look at it as a rebellious look. Turning Heart looks at it as a look that was popular among warriors going off to war.

"This is my battle," Turning Heart said.

Turning Heart has a goal of raising $10,000.00 in his runs this year. He has reached over half of that goal already.

Since this article has been out, I have recieved both positive remarks and also, negative remarks. As usual, both remarks keep me going. Like I said, opinions are everywhere, some agreeing, some not. As a man once said, rise above the hate.

I was shocked that after work yesterday, I stopped in a gas station to rent 2 movies and a man came up and tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You're that one guy from the article?" and I just smiled and replied, "Yes, I am." and he told me to stop by sometime his work to talk with him because he wants to help contribute to my charities. That made me feel like I could take on the world and it did motivate me because it inspired many. Even if there are those who don't like me because of their own personal reasons, this is the moment that I look forward to.

One thing that everyone must know is that, I will not quit. Even if you tell me it is a hopeless cause, I will keep on going. I guess going through my own worst helped prepare me for this moment.

One question I will acknowledge is this one, about jealousy. Have I ever been jealous of others? And the answer is, who hasn't? When I was younger in both high school and college, I was jealous because of the talented runners I trained with and ran against. As I grew older, I let that go because being jealous, gets you nowhere in life. Just more negativity to find perfection when in truth, perfection is like a fairy tale, everyone searches for one but in the end, it can never be found but in stories.

Thank you all for reading and being loyal to this blog and to newcomers, welcome and get ready, this is only the beginning.

Back regardless

Greetings one and all to a NEW blog entry in the New Year. And I hope you all had a great New Years Eve and I wish you all a best 2012. New memories and new adventures await us all.

I woke up to 2012 and felt ready for the upcoming races and I feel very ready. And on January 1st, I ran a great 8 miles in this bizarre but fantastic weather in North Dakota and I have to say that for January in North Dakota, we hit the record temperature of 60 degrees ABOVE where last year was just bitter and cold. Quite unusual for us in this state.

With my new diet and new training, it has been coming along great and I figured I better start to change things up with my training. I usually just ran after work because it was more convienent but now, I am running at both 5:30 a.m. or even 6:00 a.m. at the latest and also, running after 5:00 p.m. It is part of my new routine, to get used to the milage and I have to say, I am enjoying this to the fullest. However, with my eating habits, I have been doing well. The first 4 days consisted of eating toasted seaweed, carrots and water (it wasn't that great either) but since then, my health food kick started off well. I now move onto the protein shakes and eating gobs of fruit and vegetables.

And on a good note, the article that my friend who is the editor of the local newspaper in town finally did publish the article and I have to say, as an avid reader, I was very impressed. He did a great job to make me seem cheesy and inspirational (it took a lot!), I just hope that many will be inspired to take on their own challenges and jump over their own hurdle.

With my running level, it has been taken to the next level and I feel excited to lace up my shoes and get ready for a tough workout which consists of hours of research and logging in milage and writing out what I need to work on, to prepare myself for the upcoming weeks.

So, thanks for tuning into a new blog in the new year. With the ongoing mission of the upcoming races, I will keep you all updated on what is coming near. Training and runs will be displayed and if anyone wants a copy of the article, let me know and I will try to get copies out to many.

Stay strong and live long!!