A lot has changed for me since this time last year; granted I'm still shooting for the newspaper, working the same old nights and weekends schedule I have been for the past 2 1/2 years.
So let me rephrase that, a lot has changed in my life outside the office.
Let me explain...
Around this time last year I was really into mountain biking and over the course of the summer I managed to rack up around 500 miles of trail riding. This year, however, I've sort of set aside the saddle and swapped it out for a pair of running sneakers. In fact, I've become so enamored with the sport that in the past three months I have run about 450 miles all with the hope of finishing the Des Moines Marathon in October.
I've set out in the dark of morning and of night. I've gone running in the heat of the afternoon and been caught in the rain once or twice. I've cruised through runs of 15 and 20 miles and struggled through arduous outings of only four or five. I've had bloody toes, sun burnt shoulders, sore knees, hamstrings, calves and of course the occasionally inflamed Iliotibial Band. As weeks have fallen from the calendar I have found my longest distances turning into "short" and "easy runs". Through it all I can't help but look back and say that I have arrived at this new place a more confident, content and happy person.
I've learned a lot about myself throughout this journey but what I've found most inspiring is that a year ago I never would have thought I'd be able to do something like this. The human body and mind truly are amazing and often are capable of accomplishing tasks we never imagined were possible.
Although these past few months have been challenging I can't take all the credit for following through with them. I have had a pretty super support system of friends from other states, fellow runners from across town, my folks who live just down the street and a very special someone who, at times, may not understand this silly thing I do, but has always been beyond supportive.
So here we go... One month from today I will celebrate my four months of sacrifice and suffering with a 26.2 mile run around the city of Des Moines and a couple days of post run fun around the rest of the state of Iowa. Am I excited? Of course! I'll try to continue to post my progress as the race day nears.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Something New...
The past few days have been a bit arduous but I thought I'd share just a couple things. I shot another Boise State game which was far less than exciting as Boise State walloped Miami (Ohio) on Friday night. Nothing super exciting to share from that experience...
Yesterday I shot an event that was sponsored by the Idaho Meth Project. There were hundreds on hand to take in the music from local bands, the fare from local vendors, and the stories from local people recovering from addiction to methamphetamine. Truth be told, it felt more like a Hispanic fiesta rather than a celebration of methamphetamine recovery in that the event was promoted by the local Mexican media representative, Bustos Media and all of the music, live dancing and food were all Latin American inspired.
None the less, it turned out to be a pretty fun afternoon in the park...
I also went out to O'Connor Fieldhouse in Caldwell on Friday to put together a slideshow from the model train expo. I interviewed a couple of really interesting people whose interviews I tried to incorporate into the slideshow in a sort of This American Life style production. Didn't come together quite that well but you can check it out for yourself...CLICK HERE.
As always, thanks for checking in!
Yesterday I shot an event that was sponsored by the Idaho Meth Project. There were hundreds on hand to take in the music from local bands, the fare from local vendors, and the stories from local people recovering from addiction to methamphetamine. Truth be told, it felt more like a Hispanic fiesta rather than a celebration of methamphetamine recovery in that the event was promoted by the local Mexican media representative, Bustos Media and all of the music, live dancing and food were all Latin American inspired.
None the less, it turned out to be a pretty fun afternoon in the park...
I also went out to O'Connor Fieldhouse in Caldwell on Friday to put together a slideshow from the model train expo. I interviewed a couple of really interesting people whose interviews I tried to incorporate into the slideshow in a sort of This American Life style production. Didn't come together quite that well but you can check it out for yourself...CLICK HERE.
As always, thanks for checking in!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ready For Some Football?
Football season is here and for me it started off with a bang. I shot the Boise State vs Oregon game last Thursday. The game was broadcast on national television and if you tuned in you likely saw the fiasco that ensued after what was an ugly start to the season for both teams. It was an exciting game to cover and I can only hope that the rest of the season provides as much drama and excitement. Here are a few photos from the game...
A Little Catching Up...
It's been quite a while since I've made the time to put together a post and I have a ton of stuff to talk about. So I'm gonna put up some pictures and give you a quick run down...
The summer is finally coming to an end and as you are all aware, football season is in full swing meaning that fall is only a few short weeks away (something which I am super excited about).
There has been a ton, I mean A TON of activity in the waning weeks of summer. It all started off with a short vacation to north Idaho to hang out on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It was a beautiful way to start what would turn out to be a busy and semi chaotic month.
On the week that I returned home I had the opportunity to cover the Caldwell Night Rodeo, which to many rodeo aficionados, is one of the biggest rodeos out there. It is actually a great event because it takes place outdoors and really does have the feel of an old western rodeo. Oh and the fans are always entertaining...
Coming in on the tails of the Caldwell Night Rodeo was the Western Idaho Fair, which was as entertaining as always. There were young children herding around their livestock and children running around riding rides and playing games... Good times.
I saw a few other things that made for decently interesting photo opps.
The summer is finally coming to an end and as you are all aware, football season is in full swing meaning that fall is only a few short weeks away (something which I am super excited about).
There has been a ton, I mean A TON of activity in the waning weeks of summer. It all started off with a short vacation to north Idaho to hang out on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It was a beautiful way to start what would turn out to be a busy and semi chaotic month.
On the week that I returned home I had the opportunity to cover the Caldwell Night Rodeo, which to many rodeo aficionados, is one of the biggest rodeos out there. It is actually a great event because it takes place outdoors and really does have the feel of an old western rodeo. Oh and the fans are always entertaining...
Coming in on the tails of the Caldwell Night Rodeo was the Western Idaho Fair, which was as entertaining as always. There were young children herding around their livestock and children running around riding rides and playing games... Good times.
I saw a few other things that made for decently interesting photo opps.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Grandparents Support Group
Tonight I traveled out to Caldwell to sit in on a support group session for grandparents who are raising their kids' children. I had a hunch that this may be a nice assignment and I turned out to be right...
Deep in the basement of the Grace Lutheran Church around a horseshoe shaped arrangement of card tables and folding chairs sat a group of grandparents who came together to share their unique stories of circumstance to like minded peers.
Laughter often mixed with moments of uncomfortable honesty as a pair of boisterous grey-haired women bantered back and forth telling jokes at the expense of each other. You can't help but smile while they go on about their struggles bridging the age gap with their grandchildren or defending their sons and daughters with the argument that they were once young and made mistakes too. You smile because they laugh, but also because you know that they do what they do because of their love for the children they've adopted.
At one point a heavy canvas curtain cracked open and a pair of young girls made their way through a maze of steel chairs. They approached their grandparents, Donna and Jim Johnson, and interrupted a grown up conversation about finances and fundraisers and shared with them a pair of pictures that they had drawn. On the two matching pieces of thick yellow construction paper the Johnson family had been drawn as a bowl full of fish. Grandma was the big clown fish and, of course, grandpa was the big blowfish. The family shared a laugh and even the reverend who was attempting to lead the discussion stopped to join in.
It was a great moment that made my night. These kids had been given a second chance by their grandparents after circumstances forced them from their parents. You just sort of got a sense that everything was going to be alright. And that's why I was smiling.
Deep in the basement of the Grace Lutheran Church around a horseshoe shaped arrangement of card tables and folding chairs sat a group of grandparents who came together to share their unique stories of circumstance to like minded peers.
Laughter often mixed with moments of uncomfortable honesty as a pair of boisterous grey-haired women bantered back and forth telling jokes at the expense of each other. You can't help but smile while they go on about their struggles bridging the age gap with their grandchildren or defending their sons and daughters with the argument that they were once young and made mistakes too. You smile because they laugh, but also because you know that they do what they do because of their love for the children they've adopted.
At one point a heavy canvas curtain cracked open and a pair of young girls made their way through a maze of steel chairs. They approached their grandparents, Donna and Jim Johnson, and interrupted a grown up conversation about finances and fundraisers and shared with them a pair of pictures that they had drawn. On the two matching pieces of thick yellow construction paper the Johnson family had been drawn as a bowl full of fish. Grandma was the big clown fish and, of course, grandpa was the big blowfish. The family shared a laugh and even the reverend who was attempting to lead the discussion stopped to join in.
It was a great moment that made my night. These kids had been given a second chance by their grandparents after circumstances forced them from their parents. You just sort of got a sense that everything was going to be alright. And that's why I was smiling.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Case of Robert Manwill
On July 24th a young boy, 8-year-old Robert Manwill, went missing from his mother's home in Boise. After only a day or two the city of Boise rallied around the Police Department and the family and helped in a search effort which went on for ten days. After numerous vaguely detailed press briefings speculation began to run wild and citizens (and media members) began expect the worse. On Monday, August 3rd they found his body on the banks of a canal one town over.
Finally the family has some closure as they have now found their son, unfortunately, the case has officially been declared a homicide and police have yet to make any arrests (although there are credible leads).
On Friday evening the family made one of their first public appearances since Robert was found last Monday. Community members teamed up with local businesses to put on a vigil in honor of Robert, which turned out to be very moving. The mother and father were both visibly emotional as dozens of green balloons were released into the evening sky.
I caught a moment of the mother reacting to the display as a neighbor attempted to console her. It was a very moving scene and as the family prepares to lay to rest their son you can't help but look at the photo and feel the pain they are experiencing.
Finally the family has some closure as they have now found their son, unfortunately, the case has officially been declared a homicide and police have yet to make any arrests (although there are credible leads).
On Friday evening the family made one of their first public appearances since Robert was found last Monday. Community members teamed up with local businesses to put on a vigil in honor of Robert, which turned out to be very moving. The mother and father were both visibly emotional as dozens of green balloons were released into the evening sky.
I caught a moment of the mother reacting to the display as a neighbor attempted to console her. It was a very moving scene and as the family prepares to lay to rest their son you can't help but look at the photo and feel the pain they are experiencing.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Meet Levi...
A few weeks back I came up with the idea to do a story about a football player with the local af2 (minor leagues to "big time" arena football) the Boise Burn. My fascination with these athletes is that the majority of them don't get payed enough to be full time athletes and so many have part time jobs. Before doing any research I had hoped to find a player who in his spare time worked as a plumber or a roofer or some other blue collar job. Unfortunately, I didn't find such a player. However, I did meet Levi Madarieta, a 5-year arena football veteran who happened to have a pretty interesting story to tell.
Initially I wanted to follow him on his journey through the rigors of a typical "work week" but after starting the project I began to struggle to find the time to tag along with him because of the time constraints of the daily schedule.
I was able to hang out with him about three or four times. Up until the Saturday before the package was supposed to run the story continued to evolve. Originally I wanted to do a mix of video, audio and stills but then I had an epiphany...
On Saturday, July 18th I attended an SPJ narrative writing workshop here in Boise. I'll admit that I've never been much of a writer but I have always had interest in it and so with a little bit of trepidation I decided to sign up... And I am so glad that I did. The guest speaker was Pulitzer Prize winning feature writer Tom Hallman Jr.. Tom turned out to be a very inspiring speaker who made the world of narrative story telling, which was once such an unknown to me, seem so clear. I left feeling as though learning to write well would be my next greatest challenge and after a few weeks I still feel the same way.
So anyway, I was inspired by the event and decided to try to write some copy about Levi. It turned out to be a pretty challenging exercise but I really enjoyed it.
This is how it read...
--------------------------
BOISE - It's three hours before kickoff and inside Qwest Arena the lights are off and the seats are empty. In a narrow hallway beneath the bleachers workers shuffle from one end of the arena to the other, preparing for the hordes of fans that will soon help bring the place to life. The hustle and bustle is interrupted momentarily as workers stop to say "hey" to a man who makes his way through the hall.
He feels butterflies in his stomach as the sounds of laughter and loud music grow closer; knowing full well that once he walks through that door, it's time to go to work.
At 29, he's not exactly young for a football player but after five years in the af2 - three spent as a starter for the Boise Burn - Levi Madarieta is in better shape than ever before, and most importantly, he still loves what he does.
"I'm still able to do it at a high level and perform well and so why not," said Madarieta, I love to do it."
Even though he speaks with a breath of ambition about his future in professional football, he understands the reality of his situation.
"In this league you're either trying to go somewhere and move up to bigger and better things or if you're like me, you play because you love it."
With a laundry list of injuries from broken fingers and ribs to a complete reconstructed ankle, Madarieta has experienced plenty of painful setbacks, but throughout it all has remained positive.
“My body has taken a beating over the years but it’s worth it to me" he said, "on Sundays when I wake up and I can't really move I don't exactly love it, but when the weekend rolls around I remember why I do it."
--------------------------
Not necessarily a masterpiece but for a first try I feel pretty good about it.
I also produced a short slideshow about the guy that you can check out HERE.
Initially I wanted to follow him on his journey through the rigors of a typical "work week" but after starting the project I began to struggle to find the time to tag along with him because of the time constraints of the daily schedule.
I was able to hang out with him about three or four times. Up until the Saturday before the package was supposed to run the story continued to evolve. Originally I wanted to do a mix of video, audio and stills but then I had an epiphany...
On Saturday, July 18th I attended an SPJ narrative writing workshop here in Boise. I'll admit that I've never been much of a writer but I have always had interest in it and so with a little bit of trepidation I decided to sign up... And I am so glad that I did. The guest speaker was Pulitzer Prize winning feature writer Tom Hallman Jr.. Tom turned out to be a very inspiring speaker who made the world of narrative story telling, which was once such an unknown to me, seem so clear. I left feeling as though learning to write well would be my next greatest challenge and after a few weeks I still feel the same way.
So anyway, I was inspired by the event and decided to try to write some copy about Levi. It turned out to be a pretty challenging exercise but I really enjoyed it.
This is how it read...
--------------------------
BOISE - It's three hours before kickoff and inside Qwest Arena the lights are off and the seats are empty. In a narrow hallway beneath the bleachers workers shuffle from one end of the arena to the other, preparing for the hordes of fans that will soon help bring the place to life. The hustle and bustle is interrupted momentarily as workers stop to say "hey" to a man who makes his way through the hall.
He feels butterflies in his stomach as the sounds of laughter and loud music grow closer; knowing full well that once he walks through that door, it's time to go to work.
At 29, he's not exactly young for a football player but after five years in the af2 - three spent as a starter for the Boise Burn - Levi Madarieta is in better shape than ever before, and most importantly, he still loves what he does.
"I'm still able to do it at a high level and perform well and so why not," said Madarieta, I love to do it."
Even though he speaks with a breath of ambition about his future in professional football, he understands the reality of his situation.
"In this league you're either trying to go somewhere and move up to bigger and better things or if you're like me, you play because you love it."
With a laundry list of injuries from broken fingers and ribs to a complete reconstructed ankle, Madarieta has experienced plenty of painful setbacks, but throughout it all has remained positive.
“My body has taken a beating over the years but it’s worth it to me" he said, "on Sundays when I wake up and I can't really move I don't exactly love it, but when the weekend rolls around I remember why I do it."
--------------------------
Not necessarily a masterpiece but for a first try I feel pretty good about it.
I also produced a short slideshow about the guy that you can check out HERE.
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