Merry Christmas & Merry Running
December 20, 2010
Well, the half way point of my training has come and gone and I must say that I’m pretty happy with the first 48 runs totaling 335 miles so far (hard to believe that I will far surpass that mileage in the next 13 weeks of my training). As a midpoint to my training I ran in the Rock & Roll San Antonio half marathon and finished in 2 hours 5 minutes and 8 seconds – a personal record for me! My previous ‘PR’ was 2 hours 20 minutes (so I ran 15 minutes faster at this distance than I ever have before)!! As much as I wanted to take a few days (or weeks) off after this race I knew that I had to keep lacing up my tennies and keep filling the training log with long and short runs alike. And so I have, although I must admit my momentum has waned just a little bit, but I’m finding that my friends and family are checking on me often, reminding me of my goals, asking about my progress, and giving me just the right encouragement to help me get through the next 5, 8, or 12 miler.
Thanksgiving week has, by far, given me the toughest run for my money (pun intended!), enticing me to stay inside warm, cozy houses, feeding me delicious meal after delicious dish, and begging me to skip workouts. And, I’ll admit it, I have skipped a few gym sessions, but thankfully I haven’t missed a planned run yet…and I promise (to you, to myself, and to JonJon, Robert, Pat, Nanny, and Terry) that I won’t…I want my commitment to my training and to this race to be as strong as those I’m running for.
On that note, you’ll notice that I’ve added a few people to my ‘In Honor Of’ signature. Although I started this journey to ‘Fight for Five’, I’ve continually been reminded that cancer knows no discrimination. As I’ve explained my marathon and fundraising goals, I’ve been told personal stories and triumphs over this disease and its many forms. The stories come from co-workers, friends, extended family, and acquaintances and at the end of each one I am astonished by the strength and courage shown by each of the individuals fighting for their life. All of them are inspirational and I want to fight for them. My weekly Livestrong Foundation email reminds me that there are currently 28 million people living with cancer. If I could list all of them I would, but for now I’ll list the ones that have touched my heart in a personal way. Darrel, my cousin’s husband, is fighting stage 4 lung cancer. Clara, a co-workers wife, has beat breast cancer. Richmond, a co-workers husband, is in remission after a long arduous battle with Leukemia. Look around you – more than likely in the few minutes it takes you to look around the room, whether you be at home celebrating the holidays, at work during your daily grind or at a neighbor’s house for a BBQ, there are more than a few people who’ve faced or are facing cancer. This holiday season, consider fighting for them by making a small donation in their honor to the Livestrong Foundation. It will mean more than you know. A donation in support of a worthy cause is also an easy and thoughtful gift for the person on your list that has ‘everything’…so pick a charity that means something to you and donate – a small amount from several people can go a long way!! For me, this charity is Livestrong, make it yours too!
I pray that you and your families have a blessed holiday season. Merry Christmas!
Love, Jenn
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Join me in supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Donate at http://runaustin.livestrong.org/marathon2011/jennifertrimmier
In Memory of
Jonathan Ward – Leukemia/Lymphoma
Robert Hodges – Brain Cancer
Pat Zahirniak – Pancreatic Cancer
In Honor Of
Opal Ward – Breast Cancer
Terry Hausman – Multiple-myeloma
Darrell Trowbridge – Lung Cancer
Clara Kalin – Breast Cancer
Richmond Meier – Leukemia
Play your upside down left handed backwards bass guitar
November 3, 2010
In a time when I should be flipping to the Celebrations section of the newspaper, when I should be celebrating marriages, new babies and infamous 30th birthdays with my friends, I instead am forced to “celebrate” life in a dramatically different way. As I flip to the obituaries in the Sunday January 10th edition of the San Antonio Express News my heart also flips, my stomach turns, my head temporarily gets light and my hands shake as I scan and see what cements into reality a situation that has been too much a disbelief in the preceding week. I’ve been here before, all too many times (in my opinion) the past 2 years. For the past 8 days my chest has been sunken in, crushed by what felt like a ton of bricks, my heart so heavy it feels like that every beat takes as much energy as my whole body can muster, and even then, each beat invokes a painful punch to the encasing sternum. It’s a very weird yet somewhat familiar feeling that has caught me off-guard this time, to say the least. The past few deaths in my life have been, in a way, inevitable – although with all my optimism I believed to the very end that both my uncle and cousin would beat their ailments and make a full recovery, I was somewhat prepared for worst before it came. But this time I wasn’t prepared and truthfully, I’m still not ready.
I can’t quite put my finger on what has bothered me the most in the weeks since Drew’s death. At first I felt most for his parents and brother knowing what they were going through as the ones left behind. I’ve seen this happen to my cousin and aunt when they lost their father and husband (2 years ago to brain cancer) and to my aunt and uncle when they lost their son (my cousin Jon 10 months ago to Leukemia), and I too have dealt with the confusion and emotions that being left behind can bring. More and more I’m beginning to believe that I’m bothered most by the realization that we (those that I grew up with) are no longer ‘young’. We are being forced to deal with situations and circumstances we once thought only happened to others…forced to make decisions and accept consequences…forced to accept and deal with life as it unfolds.
Drew was good at accepting what lay before him and making decisions to move in the right direction. He did not dwell on the past, yet learned from it and moved forward always believing that the even if he did not choose the right path that there would be invaluable experiences and lessons learned from the journey. And his journeys were ones filled with excitement (at least for him) although they left some of us questioning his decisions. In a cliche way, he marched to the beat of his own drummer, doing what he wanted when he wanted…for instance, buying a full-sized surf board while living in central Texas. He was always a little different, whether by choice or circumstance I’m still not sure, but his difference drew people together, made people comfortable, put people at ease…and that smile, well his smile can speak for itself.
And so he is, frozen in time as a bright, full of life, passionate, 29 year old whose fate has been revealed too soon for all that knew and loved him, but just in time to fulfill his earthly duties before joining God’s ranks, an angel no less in heaven than he was while he lived among us. May we find solace as time moves on and may we always remember that tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Livestrong Marathon Update
October 29, 2010
Well, here I am, in the middle of week 10 of training for my first marathon (out of 26 total weeks) and I’m feeling AWESOME for a few reasons. First and foremost, my fundraising for the Livestrong Foundation is off to a magnificent start because so many of you have already donated to this great cause! THANK YOU! I’m currently at 8.5% of my goal and have raised $425! It’s exciting to see the support I am getting. Many of you have said you plan to donate so I cannot wait to see the donations continue to roll in. In all, I need to collect $5,000 in donations to meet my goal before I run in Austin Marathon on February 20th.
Secondly, training is going extremely well. I feel like I run…and run…and run, but it’s all worth it for such a worthy cause. I’m up to a comfortable 10 miles (yes, that means I can ‘easily’ run 10 miles and no, no one is chasing me when I do it 
~ I have surprised even myself with my body’s ability to acclimate to the increased training. And so I run on, I will finish week 10 off with an 11 mile run on Saturday and on November 14th (at the half point in my training), I will run the San Antonio half marathon to prove that I am on track! Wish me luck.
There’s still plenty of time to donate, but the sooner you do, the less time I will spend stressing over fulfilling my obligation and goal So, if you are compelled to donate, when you have time and if you haven’t already, head over to http://runaustin.livestrong.org/marathon2011/jennifertrimmier and pledge your support for me and for Livestrong’s research efforts towards eliminating cancer in our lifetime. Also, if you like my story and believe in the cause, please forward this blog on to your friends/coworkers/contacts and ask them to support our fight as well by donating.
I can’t say THANK YOU enough for all of your encouraging words & support – they mean more than you could ever know.
Sincerely, Jenn
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Join me in supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Donate at http://runaustin.livestrong.org/marathon2011/jennifertrimmier
In Memory of
Jonathan Ward – Leukemia/Lymphoma
Robert Hodges – Brain Cancer
Pat Zahirniak – Pancreatic Cancer
In Honor Of
Opal Ward – Breast Cancer
Terry Hausman – Multiple-Myeloma
I Livestrong, do you?
October 4, 2010
You can donate at http://runaustin.livestrong.org/marathon2011/jennifertrimmier
You can also forward this email to your friends & family who may be interested in donating to the Lance Armstrong Foundation
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In Memory of
Jonathan Ward ~ Leukemia/Lymphoma
Robert Hodges ~ Brain Cancer
Pat Zahirniak ~ Pancreatic Cancer
In Honor Of
Opal Ward ~ Breast Cancer
Terry Hausman ~ Multi-Myeloma
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My Story
I run. I’ve been running for a long time. I run for my health. I run to make myself feel good. I run so I can eat whatever I want. But now, I’m running for a bigger purpose. I’m running so that one day my kids, grandkids, and I will know a world without cancer. I can no longer sit back and watch my friends and family battle this disease or worse, lose their lives to this disease. I will not accept that this monster cannot be beaten and I will not stop until we find a cure.
For the next 4 1/2 months I will be training to run 26.2 miles in the Austin Marathon, but more importantly I will be ‘Fighting for Five’ of the most inspirational people I know while advocating for the Livestrong Foundation. Although I have signed up to tackle this race, I cannot do it alone. Like so many of you have been there for our friends and family as they have battled cancer, I will need your support to meet my goals:
Goal #1: To raise at least $1,000 dollars for each person I am running in memory or in honor of – that’s $5,000 total for the Livestrong Foundation (all donations will go towards the fight against cancer and all are tax deductible).
Goal #2: To finish the marathon – this will be the tough part!
I know that this will be one of the biggest challenges of my life, but I also know it doesn’t even come close to the challenges my family and friends have faced when fighting for their lives.
I look forward to seeing many of you on the running trails and by my side as I start and finish this journey. As each mile passes me by, I will pray that God gives strength to my grandmother, Opal, and friend, Terry, so they can continue to courageously fight and beat the diseases attacking their bodies. And as I run I will carry the memory of my cousin, Jon, and uncles, Rob & Pat, with me as I put one foot in front of the other and I know their angel wings will in turn carry me across the finish line.
THANK YOU for the love and support I know will come my way during this expedition. And THANK YOU for your generous donations supporting the Livestrong Foundation.
With Love, Jennifer
P.S. You can contact me at Jennifer.Trimmier@gmail.com with any questions or to donate by cash/check.
Running for Wine
December 20, 2009
My friend Chris and I participated in the Spicewood Vineyards 10k the weekend of December 5th. The 26 degree starting temp, ice crystals and frozen low water crossings just couldn’t keep us away from the free wine awaiting us upon completion of the race! The cold was a stark change from the hot and humid running weather we have been having in San Antonio and I actually enjoyed the cooler temps. Of course, the best part of race was finishing the hilly course and running straight to the bar for our free wine (and free wine glass etched with the race logo – how cool!). The boys were troopers and waited out our return at the finish line and then enjoyed drinking with us. This was one of the funnest races I’ve ever done in the SA/Austin area (mostly due to the goodie bag and free wine) and I look forward to participating in it in years to come.
Ice crystals on the car windows - Chris & I braving the weather before the race
Running, running, running
Awesome supporters
The funnest part - food & wine tasting
Rock & Roll San Antonio
December 20, 2009
As I ran through downtown during the San Antonio Rock & Roll Half Marathon I couldn’t help but be inspired by the spectators and their motivational signs lined along every inch of my race path. From fictional & funny to heartfelt & provoking each of the brightly colored pieces of cardboard carried a different message that ultimately led to one greater theme…YOU CAN DO IT. And although I had no doubt in my mind that I would finish, I did doubt whether or not my body could fight the heat and humidity with enough persistence for me to make my goal. Ultimately I finished 3 minutes slower than I had hoped (2 hours 23 minutes), however I still accomplished what I set out to do. As one of the signs blatantly pointed out “if it were easy, everyone would do it” and that made me feel a little better about my finishing time.
Among the friends running by my side (or in front of me ) that day were my best friend Caty, 4 other sorority sisters (Amy, Julie, Cathy & Sheila), and 3 co-workers (Julia, Chris & Mark) – all together they make up one of the best support/running groups I could ever ask for. Although I didn’t talk to most of them every day, they were always there at the right time, with a note, an email, a word of encouragement and if it weren’t for their love of running, my love for the sport might have waned just a little (ok, let’s face it, I probably would have quit a long time ago!). I am especially thankful for Caty & so proud of her for finishing her training and the race…she’s been completing her master’s degree and has been so busy, yet she never thought about quitting once…not only that, she kept me going and motivated throughout the past 12 weeks!
Our group before the race (Me, Caty, Chris & Mark) - The start of the race...mass people!
Among the spectators that day was a very special person, my father-in-law, Tim. I’m used to having people at the finish line and I love seeing Dustin’s face after a long and challenging race, but having a fan along the route brings an excitement that I can’t quite explain. I knew that I’d be seeing Tim around miles 3 and 7, but still, as he crept out of the masses and toward me handing over a bottle of water I couldn’t help but smile. It was nice to see a familiar face and to hear an encouraging word aimed directly at me…and it helped me chug along. What I didn’t expect was to see Tim when I really needed him the most (and Caty agrees)…at mile 10 when the race coordinators felt it appropriate to only provide Goo at the aid station and no water despite the scorching <running> weather and humidity that caused some full marathoners to eat salt packets to keep from cramping up! So, as I’m running past the aid station and literally using my arms to pull my shoes up off the pavement (the soles were cemented to the street with left over Goo that was acting as glue), out came Tim with a fresh bottle of water – PERFECT TIMING! After the handover, Tim took a picture and shuffled his way back to the sidelines leaving me refreshed and ready to finish my race.
Some pics from the race...yes, that is a Malibu Rum bottle running
And that’s it…I finished, met up with my friends, shared a celebratory drink with them at La Fogata and then went home and crashed. Unexpectedly, I felt pretty good when I woke from my nap and within 2 days I was back in the gym.
Caty & I finishing!
YEA for fast recoveries, great running buddies, fun races, supportive spectators and oh yeah, those lively little signs that lined the course…here are a few of my favorites…
“Run <insert name here> Run!” – it’s funny because you see so many signs with a specific name written on them with this message, but I actually saw a guy holding up this sign, essentially cheering for everyone
“Free Beer” and they really did have free beer and there were some runners that took advantage of the offer (bleeehh!)
“You’re no longer a runner, you’re a marathoner” – and although I was only running a half, I am a true runner (I never used to believe that because I wasn’t fast, but I’ve learned that I am a runner, no matter how slow, and I am proud of what I can accomplish even if I take longer than others
“Your feet are hurting because you’re kicking so much ass!”
“Run like you stole something” – I’ve seen this one before, but it’s still funny
“Runners have balls, other sports just play with them” – although not literally, figuratively I like to think so 
On the back of a female runners shirt – “I run to beat myself, and she’s pretty good.”
And, my all time favorite that I still repeat to myself in my head on those days when I eat a big greasy cheeseburger and am trying to talk myself out of going to the gym…”Sweat is your fat cells crying” – wow, now that is inspiration, at least for me!
She’s a Starr
November 11, 2009
On October 24th my best friend Merick married her man and I was standing by her side to watch it all take place! After a perfect ceremony set against the most beautiful blue sky with the roaring Guadalupe River in the background, 2 became 1 as Stanchak became Starr (what a cool last name, don’t ya think?). The ceremony and reception at the gorgeous Marquardt Ranch in Boerne culminated a week-long flurry of wedding activities, from tyeing tiny pink bows on programs to pedicures with the bridal party to feasting with friends and family at the rehearsal dinner held at cozy Scenic Loop Cafe. Everything was p-e-r-f-e-c-t as is the love shared between Merick & Chad. What a delight to see their love joined in holy matrimony!
Mr. & Mrs. Chad Starr – we love you and were so happy to be a part of your big day!
Bumpin’ Pumpkins
October 28, 2009
It sounds nasty, but I promise it isn’t
A few weekends ago our great friend Barbara graciously took our family pictures. We had so much fun at the Japanese Tea Gardens (the renovations completed earlier this year were amazing!) and I even got a chance to try my shooting skills on Barbara, her husband Justin and their dog Cinko — this ‘chance’ reminded me of how much I will have to learn once I buy my new camera — but I’m up for the challenge!
After the Tea Gardens and lunch at historic Joseph’s Bakery we headed to Ford Family Farm to fulfill my dreams of being photographed in a pumpkin patch (seriously, I love the bright vibrant orange and all the connotations (and tastes) that come from pumpkins!). When we arrived, we weren’t allowed in without paying and a few of my counterparts warned that the Farm may be a sham, but I insisted that there would be plenty of picture opportunities inside (the lady at the gate convinced me of this) and forced everyone to pay the $6 entry. As we walked in, we were instantly surrounded by young children…no one over the age of 5. I assured myself that the pumpkin patch would prove itself to the group but as we approached it I started to see through all the lies my mind had been concocting. In reality, the pumpkin patch wasn’t a patch at all, it was merely a covered piece of dirt land with a few pumpkins strewn about. The ‘picture opportunity’ the gatekeeper had promised me was a mere bale of hay…I was fuming…and the boys (Dustin & Justin) started in on me, making fun of my gullibility and the ‘pumpkin patch’ that wasn’t. I’ll admit, I was pretty upset – mainly at myself, but also at the fact that no one saw the potential that a true pumpkin patch could have for pictures! Luckily, Barbara also saw the imaginable and went with it as I started dragging and slinging pumpkins over to the hay. Dustin caught on and helped me haul pumpkins too and once we were done setting up our scene, there was actually a line of people wanting to take their picture in it! Seriously. I was officially happy – happy that I had taken a potentially depressing situation and turned it into a good thing…and happy that I was gonna get my picture taken in a pumpkin patch (albeit a man-made pumpkin patch about 6 feet in circumference). Here are a few of my favorites!
So, we went about our photo shoot – on the hay, in the hay, around the hay…it was a blast! On one picture Barbara was putting her creative genius to work and asked us to ‘bump our pumpkins’ to which we both busted out laughing…but really, she needed us to bump our pumpkins for the camera!
It was a great day spent with magnificent friends exploring our great city. Barbara – thanks again for the photo op and for your friendship…I love our Wednesday lunches and our explorations (especially when we get to drag the husbands along!).
You can check out our family pictures here. And if you’re ever in the market for a website or any type of graphic design be sure to give Barbara a shout at Blackstone Studio. If I haven’t said it yet, she’s INCREDIBLY talented!
Wining & just a little bit of dining
October 5, 2009
Last weekend was filled with A LOT of wine and between drinking there was a bachelorette party in honor of my very best friend, Merick. Merick’s sister arranged for a weekend away near the town of Fredericksburg and Saturday was the highlight of the trip when the 9 party participants accompanied the bride to 3 different wineries, tasting all that we could along the way!
It was great being together one last time before Merick ties the knot and although I’d like to share more, I’ll leave you only with pictures because “what happens at the bachelorette party, stays at the bachelorette party”…and you’ll never be able to figure it out from these!
Touring Texas Wine Country
In the Pedernales Cellar with our driver/tour guide, Randy
A little bachelorette fun
Merick – let the final countdown begin. Enjoy every second of it, don’t forget to breath, and lean on us – we’re here to help wherever we can! LOVE YOU!
To see all the pictures from the bachelorette weekend, click here.
Big Bugz!
September 30, 2009
Over the Labor Day weekend Dustin and I joined our friends Rey and Andrea for a stroll through the San Antonio Botanical Gardens to look at the Big Bugz exhibit. Big Bugz is a collection of garden creatures made of all natural materials made by sculptor David Rogers. Although it was a steamy hot Texas day we really enjoyed touring the garden grounds and the bugs were super cool!
Me & Dustin - Rey & Andrea - Scared of the spider - Pretty flower (courtesy of Andrea)
To see all the pictures from the Botanical Gardens, click here.
