Sac City Wrap Up

It was a great week in Sac City Iowa, home of the "World's Largest Popcorn Ball" (definitely something to check out).

The week was filled with a lot of speaking (12 times), running (54 miles) and getting back into the normal swing of things.

Here are some pics from the week:

Due to no support vehicle on Monday's journey to Sac City, Jim Drove to Sac City and then RAN 3-mile loops all day.  He covered 24-miles on Monday.  

Early Monday morning, saying "good morning" to the sun

Tuesday afternoon 10-mile run

Wednesday's 10-mile run.  busting out the 5th pair of shoes on the Awake My Sole journey

Speaking at the youth group in Newell Iowa on Wednesday evening

Jim with Darleen after speaking at the retirement community in Sac City

Audrey and Jim after speaking on Thursday.

Spoke all day Friday at the Sac City Middle School.  The students were wonderful.  Helped them set some "Big Hairy Audacious Goals."  

Friday evening 10-mile run.

Saturday morning.  Middle schoolers chilling at the retirement home.  

Having some fun with the awesome peeps at the retirement community. 

Saturday afternoon, did some geocaching in Sac City.  Found some sweet Ninja guys in a tree.  Lots of fun.  

Overall, really enjoyed my time in Sac City, gonna miss my amazing host family, a big THANKS to them.  I will be headed to Storm Lake tomorrow, (Monday 11/4).  Tentatively will be speaking at the Elementary School, Buena Vista's Chapel, BVU bible study and The Bridge's "Sons of Honor."  

Running with purpose in every step...

Jim

Webster City Wrap Up

Webster City Rocks!  

Really enjoyed my time in this glorious city.  Had a lot of fun speaking and running.

On Monday we covered the 37.1 miles to Webster City.  It was a beautiful windy day.  The wind was definitely in our favor, meaning it was at our backs.  We left Ames at 7am and arrived shortly after 4pm.  

Throughout the week got to speak thirteen times at the elementary school, middle school, Asbury youth group, after school program and briefly at a church service.

Got to run a 5k with my host family on Saturday, and did some geocaching afterwards.

This next week is a REST WEEK.  Will be taking some time to recover from running and speaking.  Hope to get some good stretching and reading in.  Also, we will be dreaming and spending some time discerning what the next steps for the Awake My Sole journey are.  So keep us in your prayers & thoughts.  

Here are some pics from the week.  Thank you so much for following the journey. 

Monday's windy day.  Whoever prayed the Irish blessing prayer, Thank you... "may the wind be at your back."  Here is the VIDEO of my run to Ames, when the wind wasn't at my back.  

Autumn colors of Iowa

Iowa barn.  Water tower pics HERE  

Entering into the Webster City limits

bikes in trees.  Ragbrai made their way through Webster City this summer.  Other bizarre pics from the AMS journey

Jim craves pickles after he runs.  He consumed this whole jar of pickles.  What do you crave?  Chime In HERE

Spout at Briggs Woods to a group of student council eighth grade students

the students loves to Draw and wants to draw for a career

Spoke all day Wednesday at the Webster City Middle School.  THUMBS UP

Got to speak at the Asbury Methodist Middle School Youth Group.  

Thursday, got to speak at one of the Webster City Elementary Schools.  Was fun to see faces I met last year.

Thursday evening sunset in Webster City.  More beautiful Iowa sun pics HERE

A nice note from Alexia at the Elementary School.  So very happy when I receive notes like this.  One of the reasons WHY I run and speak across Iowa, to INSPIRE people.  

This was from an article in Runner's World magazine.  Chantalle was reading and said, "This sounds like you."  

The Awake My Sole crew at the Clean Water Movement 5k, helping to raise $$$ to get a water well built in Uganda. 

I really wanted to eat this beef jerky.  It reminded me of the time I got to run with herd of 20 buffalo.  Scary!!!

Did some Geocaching, Webster City style.  First Gecache

Second Geocache

My spoils from Geocaching :)

Autumn.  Love it.  The season's are a changing.  

I really enjoy this picture.  Took it at Briggs Park, south of Webster City.  

Most recent Awake My Sole update (stats, pics, and a way to make homemade Clif bars)

AMS Speaking Schedule - www.AwakeMySole.com

Jim Ellis is a professional long distance runner and motivational speaker.

Since January 9th, he has spoken over 300 times in 20 Iowa communities to over 16,000 people (updated 12/17/12)

He welcomes any opportunity to SPEAK at schools, youth groups, churches, organizations, clubs, etc. 

There is no cost.

What does Jim speak about?
Speaking Schedule

Others who recommend Jim
Awake My Sole in the News

Contact Jim for additional information OR if interested in having him come speak.

AwakeMySole@gmail.com

303-913-0986

VIDEO of Jim at Northwestern College's Chapel - 12/5/2012 - Click "Watch" and then search "Awake My Sole"
A few pics of some of the places where Jim has share about the Awake My Sole journey

Elementary Schools

Summer Camps

Businesses

Middle Schools

College Groups

High School Groups

Assemblies

Younger Kiddos

Retirement Homes

Jim Ellis is a professional long distance runner and motivational speaker.

He welcomes any opportunity to SPEAK at schools, youth groups, churches, organizations, clubs, etc. 

There is no cost.

What does Jim speak about?
Speaking Schedule

Others who recommend Jim
Awake My Sole in the News

Contact Jim for additional information OR if interested in having him come speak.

AwakeMySole@gmail.com

303-913-0986

"That motivational speaker was dumb"

This last week, I enjoyed my time in Ames Iowa.  A great community with some wonderful people.

A Bicycle was my mode of transportation for the week.  I love riding a bike after running a long distance, it really helps my legs feel good, and gets them moving in some good ways.

Wednesday was my busy day for speaking.  Was able to speak a total of 10 times at both the Ames Middle School, and then at the First Evangelical Church of Ames.

Was blessed with meeting a lot of new people.  By the end of the day, my body was tired.  You could tell in my voice, it was strained, and I sounded like an old-raspy man.

:::An awkward interaction I had with a student at the Middle School:::

I had just finished speaking at the middle school, and I had to return the Visitor Badge to the front office.  Because I rode a bike to the school, I then went to the bike rack which was behind the school.  I was unlocking my bike, next to a student who was also unlocking his bike.

He didn't notice I was right next to him.  He was conversing with his buddy, and he said, "That motivational speaker was dumb."

It caught me off guard, because I spent the whole day there, and heard many encouraging things from students, so I had spoke up and said, "I was dumb?"

He turned around, and was totally caught off guard.

He quickly responded, "I didn't mean that."

It was a bit awkward for him, and fun for me.

He felt really bad for what he had said, and apologized.  I told him not to worry about it.

I am aware there are some students & adults who wont connect with the Awake My Sole message, and they don't have to, its not for everyone.

My goal in speaking is to INSPIRE others to DISCOVER, DO & INTEGRATE their abilities in to their life.  My hope is they leave "asking questions" about the direction of their life.

I rode my bike back to my host home that afternoon being okay with knowing a student didn't care for the words I shared, but at least it got him thinking.

Running with purpose in every step...

Jim


Here are a few more pics I was able to take during my time in Ames.  Thanks to Grandpa Jim for allowing me to use his bike.  That bike allowed me to get around.

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