The 1st Awake My Sole journey is complete!!!

The 1st Awake My Sole journey is complete!!!

1339 miles run.  317 speaking spots.

Start: Jan. 9th 2012 
End: Dec. 23rd 2012

20 Iowa towns on the journey:  CLICK YOUR TOWN
Ames
Bellevue
Clinton
Davenport
Des Moines
Dubuque
Fort Dodge
Grinnell
Iowa City
Kingsley
Manchester
Orange City
Pella
Sac City
Sanborn
Sioux City
Spencer
Storm Lake
Waterloo
Webster City

Orange City Wrap Up

On Monday (12/3) we made our way to Orange City Iowa, a 32 mile run.

The week was filled with 9 speaking spots.  Hit the 300th speaking spot at the high school.  Kinda cool.  

Here are some pics from the run & time spent-in OC

Back roads to Orange City

Clouds

Barn Quilt

Hospers Water Tower

Kendall, Jim, Mark.  

Using the port a pottie in the middle of nowhere.  I had to use this.  

Welcome Back Jim.  It was so good to be back in Orange City

Speaking to some of the Northwestern College Students

Got to speak at Northwestern College's Chapel.  Search "Awake My Sole"  WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Speaking at the High School

Visitor

Had to take a picture of a windmill.  Gotta love the Dutch.

A picture from last January, when Mark and I ran to Orange City in a blizzard.  Crazy to think it's gone by so fast.  

This next week I'm in Kingsley Iowa.

Next week I'll be finishing the Awake My Sole journey in Sioux City Iowa

One of the youth groups I will be speaking at made this PROMO video

Spencer Wrap Up

I love Spencer Iowa.  They have great coffee, great places to eat and some incredible people.

Monday's 40-mile run to Spencer was cold (22) and windy (15-30 mph gust from the West).  I woke up feeling super sluggish, and it took about 4 hours of running to get out of the sluggish feel.  Jay & Anne came and ran with me, and that really helped me mentally as we made our way to Sioux Rapids Iowa.  It was one of those running days where you wanted to quit.  My wife said, "Jim, if you finish today's run, you will feel much better later tonight."  

About 6 miles from finishing, Danny & Ryan came and ran with me.  A great way to finish the run.  We finished really strong.  

During the week I was blessed with sharing the AMS story 10 times:  at the Hope RCA middle school youth group, the Dream Center after school Program, Lincoln Elementary and 360's young adult group.

Here are some pictures from our week in Spencer:

It's getting cold in Iowa.  

Anne & Jay, Jim's Storm Lake host family who ran to Sioux Rapids with Jim.  Jay & Anne also help out at The Bridge of Storm Lake: they are doing some incredible things in Storm Lake

Last February when I ran from Spencer to Storm Lake, not only was I mistaken as a "Woman running down highway-71 with a baby" but I had to stop early due to safety reasons.  This time, I decided to stay off of highway-71 and take the back roads; they provided some amazing scenery.  Really enjoyed the back roads and the few cars I passed. 

Monday's run had some beautiful sites.  An old barn off of Highway-71 near Sioux Rapids.   

Jim, the running ninja.  Protecting his face from the WIND gusts.  

Which road should I take.  The low OR high road.  Beautiful back road Iowa pics.  

A beautiful white barn

"Keep Out."  I was tempted to go and run through these fields.  

At mile 34.  Getting some rest.  

Ryan & Danny came and ran the last 6 miles.  Great to finish the race with them. 

Jim, owner of Toad's Coffee shop in Spencer Iowa.  He also does wood working, and he made this wood crane toy.  It is absolutely brilliant.  Check out his blog called "The Repurposed Male."   

Wednesday night, speaking at the youth group.  

At Toad's Coffee, a hot chocolate drink.  So tasty.   

Some woodcarving in Toad's Coffee shop

Danny's Big Hairy Audacious Goals.  Anyone else wanna run across the state of Rhode Island???

The Dream Center of Spencer Iowa.  

Got to speak at the after school program at the Dream Center

Jon & Nathan rocking out at the Dream Center.  They are in middle school and they have some big aspirations to play music when they get older.  

Had to play the old school Mario.  So legit and so fun. I really miss being a kid.  

A big THANKS to the Spencer community who welcomed Chantalle and I so warmly for the week.  We really look forward to coming back through.  Also, a big thanks to Danny for hosting us and to Jim @ Toad's Coffee for the great conversations over some great coffee.

Running with purpose in every step.

Jim

Ps.  Here is the latest AMS update.

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.

TOP BLOG POSTS HERE

LAST WEEK's BLOG post ::: "Charley was attacked by a dog"

AMS for kids