It was a Friday, and Groundhog’s day in 2001. I spent most of the day in Chicago for work. There was something special in the air. I now know what it was. Traveling in my cab to airport to catch a 5p Flight to Minneapolis I remember having a fun conversation with my best childhood friend, who was gathering with others at my house to greet me. Since it was my birthday weekend, we were going to go out on the town to celebrate. Most of us were single, so that adds another element of excitement to the mix.

I showed up at my house, 20 minutes North of the airport and to my surprise were 5 of my best buddies, big smiles and all, ready to get the evening started and get downtown. I showered, dressed and we were on our way.

Something was still in the air. A 70’s cover band, “Boogie Wonderland” was playing at one of my favorite music venues, “The FineLine” on 1st Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. I remember going to the 2nd floor balcony with the boyz and meeting a few more friends as well. We had about 10 boyz in our group that evening, having a few cocktails, doing whatever it is that boyz do on a Friday night.

I’ve never been afraid, or had a problem with approaching the ladies. I’m sure I’ve made a fool of myself a time or two. I saw 3 nice looking ladies dancing to beat the band near the railing on the 2nd floor. I decided to walk over. I asked the ladies, “Does anyone dance.” One of the ladies, Michelle, grabs her friend, Jessie, and throws her at me. In slow motion, something special “WAS” happening… Jessie launches forward, and about ready to do a face-plant from Michelle’s force, I lunge forward and save her from hitting the floor, and a lifelong of unpleasant dentist visits. We exchanged small talk, re-taught her how to jitterbug and the rest is history and none of your business.

At the end of the evening, the most beautiful woman in the world in slick red pants was giving me her business card. Talk about the use of technology, I emailed her the next Tuesday and mentioned how much of a pleasure it was to meet her. We went out that Friday night and small boutique restaurant, where I later proposed to her, exactly 1 year from the day I met her - Groundhog Day.

What I didn’t know until years later is that they had seen us group of boyz earlier in the evening. Jessie had also noticed me. We laugh about this story today. Yes, it was the fall that sealed the deal in my mind, but really what sealed the deal was having good friends around us. Had our friends not been able to visit and get along that evening, we would not have sealed any deals, nor exchanges of business cards. We were brought together for a reason - through our friends.

So Kid’s, always surround yourself with good people, good friends and you’ll be just fine. And, if a true friend throws you someday, have faith that he/she may be doing it for a reason, and somebody may catch you.

Congrats to the following runner friends who led TeamEHFAR:

1/2 Marathon:
Male: Christophe Ducuns, 7th Place overall, 1:28:57
Female: Jessie Pickar, 8th Place gender, 1:42:15

10 Mile:
Male: Greg Kaiser, 10th Place overall, 1:14:33
Female: Jessica Robb, 18th Place gender, 1:22:38

5K:
Male: James Kilibarda, 26th Place overall, 24:25
Female: Leah Danz, 8th Place gender, 26:57

(Click on race above to view full race results)

Next TeamEHFAR event: ”MONSTER HALF MARATHON | DASH | 5K-9″ Saturday, October 25th, Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, MN, 9:30a | 10a (Costume and Race Awards)

To register: http://www.zapevent.com/ListActivities.aspx?eventid=114

“Team EHFAR” is up and running.  June 1st is the Downtown Half Marathon, 10 Mile and 5K.  Please join in the festivities and register with Team EHFAR! Use your Team Discount code from below to Register at Zap Event and receive 10% off Monster Marathon Series Races: http://www.zapevent.com/Default.aspx

Discount Code: TeamEHFAR

What are Monster Marathon Series Team Perks?

• With 20 or more Runners registered from your Team, you will have your very own 10 x 10 tent at Monster Marathon Series Events. This can be used for bag check, coffee and refreshments, or any other purpose you designate. The Team Tent can a place to meet before and afterward, and can serve as the home base on event day.
• With 40 or more Runners registered from your Team, you will receive special Event Shirts with the name of your Team. This would be in addition to your personalized 10 x 10 tent. This would be for your Company, Running Group, or Running Team and would be specific.

Hope to see you at the races! 

Justin & Jessie Pickar

In Fall of 2007 my stepfather was injured in a motorcycle accident.  I was one of the first phone calls my mother made.  You could just tell her heart was broken.  For more than a week I drove hundreds of miles round trip to be there with mom.  After a week he finally passed.  Like any person who has gone through a loss, she was scared, confused, and genuinely empty from head to toe.  All my sister and I could think was how unfair it was that the woman who was so deserving of all the love she found was left alone.

The day of the funeral arrived.  Friends and family from the country came together.  Afterwards a small group of family came together at the house on the lake.  It was late fall and the water was icy cold.  I jumped into the lake anyway.  You’d have to know my mom to understand how shocked I was when I heard her running down the dock behind me.  Still dressed in her finest church clothes, she did a cannonball into the lake.  I’ll never forget how she floated on her back in that freezing cold water and screamed, “Lord, I can feel my soul.”

In the months that have passed, mom has slowly healed from losing the love of her life.  She will never forget the happiness he brought into her life; how quickly he came into her life and how quickly he left.  As I pondered on the “everything happens for a reason” topic, I can’t help but imagine that the educational program my mom is now developing on the importance of wearing a motorcycle helmets is encouraged by the love she shared.

I was working in a dead-end job in Fargo-Moorhead, when I first heard about EHFAR. They worked w/ me to find an employer that fit my needs & goals. Since then I have been working for a prominent financial company in the Twin Cities, and have been promoted twice. The most recent promotion is a big one. Placing me in an Executive role w/ the company in California. While working for my current employer I also met a girl. Who, on this past Friday night I proposed to!

 So, not only did EHFAR find the exactly right role for me … they helped me find my future bride!

 What more could you ask for?!

 Thank you EHFAR!

Two years ago, my family experienced a life changing event. After doctoring for digestive problems all of her life, my wife just had surgery on her pancreas. She was told that she would eventually need a pacemaker implanted in her stomach and would also need a pancreatic transplant at some point. This was pretty harsh news for someone in their mid 20’s. Plus, this was coming from a highly acclaimed specialist - an expert! Who were we to question this diagnosis? My wife is an RN by trade, but she wasn’t a digestive tract expert. And me, I was educated in finance. How could we refute this diagnosis? Some of the problems that she had up to that point were: severe gastritis, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, dysfunctional gallbladder (which was later removed), paralyzed stomach and chronic pancreatitis. She was also suffering from migraines and chronic fatigue syndrome. Basically, her mid-section was sore/tender all of the time (more so after meals), she experienced migraine headaches weekly and she was tired most of the time. Whew!

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A moment like this one had struck me in 2001. I was just finishing up my workout at a Health Club in downtown Minneapolis and felt energized with what I had accomplished that day. I was on my way to a better self.

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