Stride March 2014

Taking A

BITE out of HUNGER

in Fargo-Moorhead

EDITORS

meet the I

t seems crazy to think that March is already upon us.

With March comes potentially warmer temps (in other words, not sub-zero) and, if we’re lucky, a bit of sunshine. As we start to get a little stir-crazy for spring, a season that could still be months away in our area, I think that this is the perfect opportunity to take a minute to get involved in our community.

In the words of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths.”

2

Stride • March 2014

With that being said, I want to urge each and every one of you to take some time this month to learn, volunteer, advocate or get involved in our community in some way. Education and involvement are things that every one of the people I spoke to this month encouraged; the more dialogue our community enters into, the more we will be able to decrease stigma and increase understanding.

Let’s get out there and take some time to meet the beautiful people in our area.

Meagan Pittelko

G

reetings, readers! I’m excited to begin my journey as Associate Editor of Stride and I'm thrilled I get to share this new experience with you.

A little bit about me: I’m the oldest of five kids, ergo I’m dangerously used to organized chaos. I’m a sports enthusiast. (I'm anxiously crossing days off the calendar and counting the hours to first pitch on March 31, aka, MLB Opening Day.) I’m also a Fargo native. (Ya, you betchya.)

I wouldn’t change growing up in Fargo for anything. (We even get four seasons

Madalyn Laske

Although going hungry and struggling with mental illness are not typically happy, bright topics, everyone that I had the pleasure of speaking with this month had one thing in common: hope. Hope for the future, hope for a better tomorrow. Everyone that I spoke with said, with an amount of certainty, that things will continue to improve as the community continues to talk

about some of society’s more taboo issues.

Meagan Pittelko

For this month’s issue of Stride, I had the privilege of meeting some incredible people in the Fargo-Moorhead area who work to change our community on a daily basis in the form of food pantries and mental health organizations. I met people like Mary Weiler and Greg Diehl — people that are behind the scenes in our area, working tirelessly to improve the lives of those around them — and I am proud to share their stories with you, our readers.

EDITORS

here! Pre-winter, winter, construction season and mosquito season.) I went to Yunker Farm for the Egg Hunt each spring (and yes, I did find more eggs than my brother every year), visited Santa annually when Rheault Farm magically became his workshop, attended RedHawks games with my Dad, sandbagged during the floods until my arms could not move any more, went to Red River Valley Fair concerts when Fun Tics were still around and watched the Fourth of July fireworks lying in the field of MSUM’s Nemzek Stadium.

In this issue we explored the realities of mental illness, the food pantries in Fargo and how technology is affecting the family dynamic. All of these got me thinking about the importance of family and support systems, and we hope you enjoy learning about how these topics exist in our community.

I can’t wait to share all of the incredible stories the FargoMoorhead community has to offer and I hope to make Stride an even better asset to the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Every person has a story to share, and sharing those stories with all of you is the absolute best thing about my job. Thanks for reading and I hope this will be as enjoyable for you as it will be for me!

Madalyn Laske

Stride is published 12 times a year and is free. Copies are available at over 1,000 Fargo-Moorhead locations and digitally at fmspotlight.com.

March 2014 Publisher

Spotlight Media LLC. www.spotlightmediafargo.com President/Founder

Mike Dragosavich Editorial Director

Andrew Jason

Associate Editors

Meagan Pittelko, Madalyn Laske Art Director

Andy Neidt Graphic Design

Sarah Geiger, George Stack Research/Contributors

Meagan Pittelko, Madalyn Laske, Gwendolyn Hoberg, Julie Garden-Robinson Copy Editors

Andrew Jason, Lisa Marchand, Meagan Pittelko, Madalyn Laske, Josie Eyers Web Design

Jake Schaffer, Nathan Anderson Marketing

Scott Eickscen

Spotlight Media General Manager

Brent Tehven

Sales Manager

Paul Hoefer

Marketing/Sales

Tracy Nicholson, Dennis Britton, Paul Bougie, Nick Bruns Circulation Manager

Codey Bernier Administration

Erika Olson

Web Developer

Nick Schommer Photography

J. Alan Paul Photography, Ben Gumeringer, Heidi Jaeger Delivery

Chris Larson, George Stack, Matt Johnson

™

Spotlightmedia

CONTACT 502 1st Ave N Ste 100 Fargo,ND 58102 701-478-7768 info@spotlightmediafargo.com

Stride Magazine is published by Spotlight Media LLC. Copyright 2014 Stride Magazine & fmspotlight.com. All Rights Reserved. No parts of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission of Stride Magazine & fmspotlight.com. Stride Magazine & fmspotlight.com will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions found in the magazine or on fmspotlight.com. Spotlight Media LLC., accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.

TEAM

e h t t e e m

CREW

Every month, Spotlight Media brings you Stride, Fargo Monthly, Bison Illustrated and Design & Living Magazine. Here are the people who make these wonderful mags.

4

MIKE

JESSE

TRACY

PAIGE

ANDY

NICK

ALEXIS

NICK

DENNIS

ERIKA

PAUL

BEN

MADALYN

GEORGE

JOE

ANDREW

LISA

BOUGIE

SARAH

MEAGAN

MICHAEL

BRENT

SCOTT

JAKE

Stride • March 2014

CONTENTS 10

Brains and Brawn Not sure what to eat after an intense work out? Gwen Hoberg has tons of great suggestions just for you.

12

16

Eat Smart Professor and nutrition specialist Julie Garden-Robinson provides tips on spotting reliable and accurate nutrition information.

16

Feeding Fargo We take a look at food pantries in the area and what the community can do to help feed those who go hungry in Fargo-Moorhead.

24

With so many delicious spots to eat in the area, it can be hard to keep up that diet. We found some great tasting meals you can enjoy on your next outing.

28

Feeding Fargo

Dine Healthy, Stay Healthy

30

Charity of the Month This month’s Charity of the Month spotlights Youthworks, a non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth, runaways and families in our community.

30

The Face of Mental Illness Mental illness may be considered a taboo topic, but survivors and advocates talk openly with us this month about the stigma and what we can do to decrease it.

36

The Truth about Technology Put down your cell phone for a couple of minutes and learn about how technology is truly impacting our lives.

40

The Face of Mental Illness

36

Healthy Mom Mackenzie Hamm is not only a mom of five but a fitness junkie. Read about how it’s possible to balance both.

Get Involved Email info@spotlightmediafargo.com with your story ideas.

Check out fargomonthly.com for additional stories.

Find us on Facebook by going to facebook.com/fmstride.

6

Stride • March 2014

The Truth About Technology

GRAND FORKS: 2702 Gateway Drive 2051 32nd Avenue South

FARGO: 1125 19th Avenue North 1621 45th Street SW

BRAINS & BRAWN

Good

for Your Brain for Getting Buff

“Eat cashews every day and you’ll be stronger AND smarter!” “Three cups of coffee translates into three more pull-ups and three new ideas your boss will love.” “Boost your I.Q. and your stamina at the gym by blending these top 10 superfoods into one super smoothie!”

I can’t tell you once and for all in this column that eating certain quantities of foods X, Y and Z provides exact benefits A, B and C in terms of exercise and brain functioning.

Still, just because scientists and doctors don’t know everything about how nutrition affects the brain and the body doesn’t mean they don’t know plenty of valuable things.

Evidence does suggest that certain foods do double-duty as good brain food and good work-out food. Let’s look at a few.

Coffee and Freshly Brewed Tea WebMD points to the caffeine in tea as a memory and focus enhancer. Coffee also contains caffeine, of course, and a 2011 New York Times article explains the benefits of the caffeine in coffee for both cardio and weight workouts. Basically, you can do both types of exercise longer with a jolt of caffeine. That’s jolt as in a jot, not as in deluge—I don’t think many experts would recommend more than a couple cups of tea or coffee to achieve these effects.

10

Stride • March 2014

{

gwen

hoberg

{

I

f only it were that simple. The truth is, claims about nutrition science almost always need qualifiers like “seems to,” “may” and “in one experiment” to be accurate.

In reading the website of a Swedish medical professor, I was reminded of certain problems facing those who study nutrition, such as the difficulty of conducting randomized controlled trials. Even if you’re not interested in the details of doing highquality science in this field, the complications of nutrition science are probably familiar to you in the form of statements like, “Is chocolate good for me or bad for me? Just tell me once and for all!”

Gwen has been a weightlifter for almost 10 years and lives in Moorhead. She is also an editor, writer and classical musician.

kale Another food containing muscle-repairing omega-3s is our trendy friend kale. As a Huffington Post article from last July puts it, “The frenzy over kale has turned from foodie buzz to eater roar.” The article’s author, Dr. Drew Ramsey, singles out kale for its plethora of brain-healthy nutrients, including various phytonutrients, omega-3 fat, vitamins A, B6, C and K, and iron. I’ll add that kale does well as a garden plant in our area. When I start my first garden, this vegetable is going in there for sure.

Nuts I have seen nut dispensers at one gym, and maybe more fitness facilities should try them out. According to WebMD, consuming more vitamin E, which different types of nuts contain to varying degrees, “correspond[s] with less cognitive decline.” When it comes to exercise, some sources I found promote nuts as a postworkout snack because their fat, protein and fiber aren’t great for our digestive systems right before a workout. Their protein, on the other hand, is good for rebuilding muscles afterward. Another source mentions that the omega-3 fat in walnuts boosts the healing of the tiny muscle tears exercise produces.

Yogurt and kefir The microbiome inside all of us—bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms—seems to be positively influenced by the healthy bacteria in fermented foods like yogurt and kefir. In a 2011 interview, probiotics researcher John Cryan emphasized that it was early days in this field of research, but called the findings so far, “encouraging”. Stories from late 2013 indicate that experiments on humans (as opposed to mice) are still just beginning.

The theory is that eating probiotic foods helps our brains by reducing anxiety and possibly even autism spectrum problems.

As a post-workout snack, meanwhile, yogurt and kefir have a combination of protein and carbohydrates that helps restore energy.

nutrition

Consider the Source

eat SMART

Consider the source of your nutrition information. With websites, TV infomercials, email, magazines and numerous other sources, we have more information available to us than ever before.

SPOTTING Reliable Nutrition and Health Information

{

Julie

{

A Real Conversation

Garden-Robinson

“The doctor will see you now. I’m a nurse,” my daughter said as I walked by her bedroom. She was 4 at the time.

My daughter had received several shots, which were fresh in her mind. I was a little wary when I entered her “office.”

“How long is the wait?” I asked as I looked at the line of dolls and stuffed animals.

“They’re going home. They’re healthy now,” she said.

“Here, sign this contract,” she added, thrusting her hands in front of me. “Sign here and here.

Here, too.” She pointed at the invisible paperwork.

I didn’t argue. I began signing as well as I could.

“You’re not signing in the right place. I’ll sign it for you,” she said.

“Could you send in a lawyer, please?” I asked as she left the room. She quickly returned.

“I’m the doctor. Open your mouth wide. This is really going to hurt,” she said.

I’m sure my eyes widened and I

12

Stride • March 2014

Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D. Julie is a professor and Food and Nutrition Specialist with the NDSU Extension Service.

braced myself. I resisted commenting on her bedside manner.

“So, what do you eat?” she asked.

“Are you a dentist or a dietitian now?”

I asked as she peered into my mouth and grinned.

“Well, what should I eat?” I said, a little curious about what she might prescribe.

“You need to have lots of fruits, vegetables, meat and milk so you’ll be healthy,” she said.

“So, are you saying I should skip grains?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah, eat some grain, too. You need to have some of everything, except not so many cookies,” she said.

“That’s pretty good advice. How would you like to be a nutrition columnist?” I asked her.

Who knew a 4-year old could give such smart advice?

In fact, according to a 2013 Pew Internet report, 81 percent of adults use the Internet and 59 percent used it to look online for health information last year. More than one-third specifically went online to find out what medical condition they have. The good news is, when confronted with serious medical issues, 70 percent of adults reported getting information or care from a doctor or other health professional.

Numerous people, some more qualified than others, dispense nutrition advice. Sorting through all the information and deciding what and whom to believe can be complicated. If you would like to learn about healthful eating, consider this: Consulting a “nutritionist” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting reliable information.

Many states allow anyone to use the title nutritionist. For a fee, some online businesses will send you a certificate. In fact, I could order my child a certificate designating her as a nutritionist. After all, she’s been quoted in a publication. In North Dakota, however, a person with the title licensed nutritionist (L.N.) has completed college coursework in nutrition and has met licensing and continuing education requirements. A licensed registered dietitian (L.R.D.) has completed an undergraduate degree with specific science-based courses, plus internship/practicum hours. An L.R.D. has passed a national examination and met licensing requirements to provide nutrition recommendations in a clinical or community-based setting.

Extension agents are a good source of research-based nutrition information and classes on a variety of topics. Visit ag.ndsu.edu/ extension for nutrition information and to find the NDSU Extension Service office nearest you.

nutrition ?? ?

mango Bean burritos Here’s a tasty, nutritious and colorful recipe to add to your menu during March, National Nutrition Month.

2 green or red bell peppers, seeded and chopped 1 onion, peeled and diced 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 2 mangos, peeled and chopped 1 lime, juiced ½ c. fresh cilantro, chopped 1 avocado, peeled and diced 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas

{ DIRECTIONS

{

• • • • • • • •

{

{ INGREDIENTS

In a nonstick pan, sauté bell peppers and onion for five minutes over medium heat. Add beans and stir well. Reduce heat to low and simmer about five minutes.

In a small bowl, combine mango, lime juice, cilantro and avocado.

Reserve half of mixture for topping.

Fill warmed tortillas with one-fourth of the bean mixture and onefourth of the mango mixture.

Fold ends of the tortillas in, then roll to make wraps. Top bean wraps with remaining mango mixture. **Makes four servings. Each serving has about 490 calories, 13 grams (g) fat, 81 g carbohydrate, 13 g fiber, 14 g protein and 255 milligrams sodium.

14

Stride • March 2014

Ask Yourself These Questions During Online Information Searches Who is the author?

What are his or her credentials? Is a credible sponsoring institution identified?

What is the purpose of the information?

Is the site promoting or selling a particular product?

Is the information based on scientific research or opinion?

Is a date listed? How current is the information?

Does the information have links to other sources of information?

(This sometimes provides a clue to reliability, but not always. Anyone can link to another organization’s website.)

Are the facts documented with sound scientific references? Or is the information solely based on personal testimonials?

Does an editorial board oversee the content?

Is the information well-written in terms of grammar and spelling? What is the tone of the writing? Does it take a balanced approach?

Check out the website at www.ndsu.edu/ boomers for fun, interactive tutorials and other “Finding the Truth” information.

This website provides a wide range of free, evidence-based materials for adults of all ages.

Taking A

BITE out of HUNGER

in Fargo-Moorhead

by Meagan Pittelko photos by Heidi Jaeger

Picture a college student, backpack in hand and books tucked under her arm.

Picture a man who has been injured in an accident and is unable to continue working. Picture a mother, a child, a brother, a grandparent.

All of these people — including you and I — have one important thing in common: the need for food. According to Feeding America, 49 million Americans lived in food insecure households in 2012. Although North Dakota has one of the lowest rates of food insecurity, such insecurity does exist — and it’s up to the community to help eradicate it.

17

Taking A

BITE out of HUNGER

The people Greg Diehl, who has worked at the Emergency Food Pantry in Fargo since November, said that food insecurity is defined as when “a person doesn’t have dependable access to enough food to sustain a healthy life.”

Yet, there is no generalization to be made about those living in food insecure households.

“Each individual case is different,” he said. “It depends on the individual — where they find themselves and at what point they find themselves.”

Diehl mentioned that, although Fargo has the benefit of low unemployment, fixed costs will still continue to rise.

18

Stride • March 2014

“We don’t see a lot of people who do not have any income,” he said. “Most of the people that we see do have income of some sort, but there are fixed costs that you can’t avoid.”

Similarly, Dorothy Day Director Sonja Ellner said that those who use the Dorothy Day Food Pantry range from children to college students to elderly community members.

“Food is a basic human right,” she said, “and everyone needs food on their tables.”

The main common denominator that Ellner sees in those utilizing Dorothy Day is poverty. She said that although the organization is not allowed to verify individual or household incomes, clients do self-declare their incomes on their first visit. Both pantry directors said that people often feel ashamed about asking for assistance.

“Most of the people who come here feel embarrassed about coming here and feel guilty about asking for help,” Diehl said. “When they’re coming here, though, it’s a bad time in their life but the community can help solve that. One thing in our area that’s really great is that we have the resources that nobody in our community needs to go hungry.”

5

FOOD

FACTS 1•

In 2012, 49 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33.1 million adults and 15.9 million children.

2 •

In 2012, 14.5 percent of households (17.6 million households) were food insecure.

3 •

In 2012, 5.7 percent of households (7.0 million households) experienced very low food security.

4 •

In 2012, households with children reported food insecurity at a significantly higher rate than those without children, 20.0 percent compared to 11.9 percent.

5 •

Food insecurity exists in every county in America, ranging from a low of 2.4 percent in Slope County, ND, to a high of 35.2 percent in Holmes County, MS. All info from feedingamerica.org

Taking A

BITE out of HUNGER

The Community Both Dorothy Day and the Emergency Food Pantry employ only one to two full-time staff members. Therefore, without volunteers to help both pantries serve the community and without donations from the community itself, neither pantry would be able to successfully serve all of those with food needs.

“We need the community’s support to provide food to those in need,” Diehl said. “Probably close to 60 percent of the food that we give out is actually food that we receive from individuals.

About 30 percent comes from food banks and 10 percent comes from food drives, but still the majority comes from individuals.”

Likewise, Ellner said that the Dorothy Day Food Pantry is currently giving away an average of 600,000 pounds of food. About 75 percent of the

20

Stride • March 2014

food is donated, according to the Pantry’s webpage, while only 25 percent is purchased. And, Ellner said, the Pantry depends on volunteers to help facilitate getting the food to community members.

“It’s great that we have a very supportive community,” Ellner said. “It’s really great to see the community come together to help others who are less fortunate. It really is a community-driven operation.”

Individuals in the community, church groups and students from the area colleges volunteer to lead clients through the grocery-store-like pantry, serving an average of about 40-50 families per day this time of the year.

“We are so thankful to the community for making sure that nobody in our community goes hungry,” Diehl said.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe that we can solve this problem.

Solving the problem of hunger nationwide is much more daunting to me than solving the problem of hunger in Fargo-Moorhead.”

The NUMBERS According to Diehl, the number of households using the pantry in the last decade has increased by 57 percent.

“A lot of individuals are living at that poverty level that don’t have the education or training to really have the chance to boost their income,” Diehl said. “So, they’re stuck at this level while the cost of living and other fixed costs continue to increase.”

Like most food pantries, the Emergency Food Pantry runs on donations from the community.

According to statistics available on the pantry’s webpage, the value of the 1,298,867 pounds of food distributed in 2013 was over $2 million.

Dorothy Day Food Pantry, according to Ellner, served about 7,800 households made up of 26,384 individuals last year. In addition, the Emergency Food Pantry, according to Diehl, provided emergency food provisions for 30,061 members of the community.

Both pantries also keep their lobbies stocked with bread and time-

sensitive foods (i.e. meat and dairy products) that have not been used; the individuals and households utilizing the lobbies have not been included in the aforementioned numbers. However, Diehl said, the Emergency Food Pantry is going to begin tracking lobby visits as well.

“Anyone can access it as many times as they want,” he said. “We’re probably adding another thousand individuals a month that’s just how many people are utilizing it.”

The Emergency Food Pantry, which provides approximately 50 food carts per day, saw a 15 percent increase in individual visits and an 18 percent increase in household visits from 2012 to 2013. Diehl believes that the number will probably continue to increase.

“Our community is growing,” Diehl

said, “and, as a community grows, you’re going to have that same representation of individuals at those different levels on the socioeconomic scale.”

According to Ellner, the economic downturn and the flood in 2009 contributed to an increase in individuals and households utilizing food pantries in the area.

“We saw a huge increase in families who had never had to use the food pantry before,” she said. “You never know when an emergency can happen.”

In addition, Diehl said that because of changes to the food stamp program, people are running out of food stamps earlier in the month than they used to and are thus needing to rely on food pantries to put food on the table.

“All the people that are using our assistance are just at that certain level where they’re living paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “Then, you have certain individuals on disability, seasonal workers, unexpected medical bills they have to pay…

One disruption can mess things up completely.”

21

Taking A

BITE out of HUNGER

The Solution According to the World Food Programme, about 842 million people in the world do not have enough to eat.

In the Fargo-Moorhead area, local pantries such as Dorothy Day and the Emergency Food Pantry strive to help decrease this number.

According to Feeding America, 1 in 6 people in the United States faces hunger. The hunger-relief charity urges community members to learn the realities of hunger in the United States and to get involved in their own communities by advocating, donating or volunteering.

22

Stride • March 2014

“We serve a huge number of families who are just trying to feed their children,” Ellner said.

“Just like anyone would want to do.”

Despite the daunting statistics, Diehl strongly believes that the community can help solve the problem of hunger in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

“Sometimes you look at these social issues and wonder how we’re ever going to solve it,” he said. “But we can and we are solving it to the degree that nobody needs to go hungry. We can continue to provide the food support, but the bigger picture is made up of all the pieces that go into the puzzle that creates hunger in the community.”

healthy living

Dine Healthy Stay Healthy

By Madalyn Laske | Photos by Heidi Jaeger and Andrew Jason

March is nutrition month, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your favorite restaurants or delicious dining.

Here’s five Fargo eateries and their healthiest menu items. We did the research so all you have to do is order and enjoy.

Caution: Just because these scrumptious dishes are healthy does not mean they don’t leave you wanting more!

Hippie Chick P.

Smiling Moose Deli On the Go

Smiling Moose is notorious for its great sub sandwiches.

If you’re looking to cut back, its vegetarian sandwich provides a refreshing healthy alternative. Try the David The Greek salad the next time you go back.

This vegetarian sandwich is served on multigrain bread with hummus, avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, onions, cilantro and cheddar cheese.

Josie’s Corner Cafe and Bake Shop Lunch Date Josie’s Corner Cafe is perfect for those looking for a hometown diner feel and a great veggie lettuce wrap. “We believe in the power of balance and feeding your soul along with your stomach,” said Tracy Walvatne, owner of Josie’s. “I get so many emails that express that a pumpkin cookie has turned someone’s otherwise bad day around. But, if that doesn’t work for your diet, we will gladly substitute a banana for the cookie.”

This vegetarian wrap comes with lettuce, onion, tomato, green pepper, banana pepper, cucumber, carrots, celery and pickles. You can add meat or cheese if you prefer.

24

Stride • March 2014

Lettuce Wrap

healthy living Lucky 13’s Out with Friends

Village Greek Salad

Normally going to Lucky’s entails having a couple cocktails, indulging on the free popcorn and eating a good All-American meal. If you are trying to watch those calories, however, this salad is a superb alternative.

It comes with fresh romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onion, pepperocinis and feta cheese. It is topped with hand carved chicken gyro meat and tossed in a greek vinaigrette: Olive oil, lemon, oregano and garlic.

Monte’s Fine Dining No need to sacrifice your diet while enjoying fine dining. This dish is only 536 calories and you’d never know it. “Using butter or cream in recipes is OK as long as it is used sparingly,” said Executive Chef and Owner Christian D’Agostino. “Using milk in place of cream or olive oil instead of butter is also a favorable practice.”

Caramelized Sea Scallops

This dish comes with caramelized Sea Scallops, celeriac purée, saffron vinaigrette and haricots verts. The scallops are 190 calories for 6oz, the beans and celeriac are low in calories, 2 percent milk was used in celeriac purée and a very small amount of butter. Olive oil was used in the saffron vinaigrette.

Maxwell’s Fine Dining For this dish alone, Maxwell’s goes through 30 lbs. of fresh tuna a week and uses fresh fish in all of their seafood dishes. They go through a company based in Minneapolis, MN that receives fish flown in from both eastern and western seaboards within the same day so by the time it gets to your plate it is only three to four days old. The fish Maxwell’s uses has never been frozen, only cooled and kept fresh. “Once you freeze it, you can’t get it back,” said Executive Chef, Michael Wald. “When you freeze it you are basically taking something and ripping it up.”

This item is sesame seared ahi tuna served with asian spiced noodles, organic pickled ginger, wasabi and soy sauce.

26

Stride • March 2014

Ahi Tuna

community

of the

Charity Month Youthworks Struggling young adults in the Fargo and Bismarck area are not without help. This month’s charity spotlight is on Youthworks, an organization that umbrellas a multitude of programs to help homeless and at-risk teens.

By Alexis Klemetson Photos courtesy of Youthworks

28

Stride • March 2014

E

stablished in 1979, Youthworks is a non-profit organization that provides “support services to youth and their families to meet goals for strong, healthy relationships.” For Youthworks, this means a number of things. To start with, Jessica Fleck, program manager for the Fargo region says, “The founders thought there was a gap in services for runaway and homeless youths and started the program in 1991.” The organization staffs licensed professional social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, licensed teachers, AmeriCorps members, peer/youth mentors and volunteers, enabling the organization to run a total of twelve programs at once.

For the homeless, Youthworks has three programs. According to information provided by Youthworks, one program is for individuals making “the transition to independence.” Youthworks offers assistance in the realms of housing, education, living skills and employment.

A second program involves a nonresidential support system that focuses on “basic independent living skills such as money management, education, nutrition, employment and housing.” The third

program focuses on pregnant and parenting young adults.

Youthworks has two programs focusing on school services. One is an out-ofschool suspension program that offers “meaningful activities for students suspended or expelled from school.” The second is specific to Bismarck and is for youths whose “behavior is hindering success in school,” and it transitions students back into the school setting.

There are a total of four programs for atrisk and runaway youths. One provides emergency services that range from crisis response to counseling. There is a program for placement of individuals in a shortterm, non-secure setting. A third offers short-term care and assessment of youths; this program offers intended reunification of families within ninety-six hours. The last program in this area revolves around shortterm family counseling.

Two more programs focus on diversion services. Youthworks helps to prevent juvenile offenders from future offenses by “providing individual and family counseling services.” The second focuses on Native American youths and to prevent

Information them from “entering the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.”

The last program under Youthworks’ very large umbrella is “unique,” according to Fleck. “[The Drop-In program] allows homeless or at risk persons [to] drop in and receive services. Anyone between the ages of 15 and 22 can just stop in and basically get what they need,” Fleck said.

With twelve different programs under their belt, it is hard to imagine Youthworks has time to orchestrate new events, but it is. Youthworks recently participated in “Giving Hearts Day” in February. Kari Flaagan, Youthworks’ marketing coordinator, said, “We are going to be hosting ‘We’ve Got You Covered,’ an event for homeless youths and their families to receive back-to-school clothes in August.”

The list continues with participation in the Fargo Marathon in May, a golf tournament in June, a youth leadership dinner in September and participation in “It’s a Wonderful Night”, at West Acres in December.

Name Youthworks

Established 1979

Headquarters Fargo and Bismarck, ND

Website youthworksweb.com facebook.com/youthworksND

Phone Number Fargo: 701.232.8558 Bismarck: 701.255.6909 For more information about Youthworks and how to get involved, visit facebook.com/ youthworksND or donate online at youthworksweb.com

mental health

The

Faceof Mental Mental Illness Illness It has been nearly ten years since Mary Weiler’s daughter took her own life. Since that day in October of 2005, Weiler’s life has been a whirlwind of emotions, from extreme sorrow to shock to guilt. But, above all Weiler has clung to the hope that mental illness will continue to gain acceptance in society.

By Meagan Pittelko | Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

The hidden disease According to Weiler, who is the chair of North Dakota’s American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) chapter, the stigma surrounding mental illness causes many people to refuse to seek help.

“The stigma is so strong for most people,” she said, “that they just can’t really do anything and they don’t know who to talk to.”

Doctor Tanya Harlow of Sanford agreed, adding that mental illness is especially difficult to treat in people of older generations, who grew up in a society with different beliefs.

“It was considered an embarrassment; it wasn’t really a ‘disease.’

It was something you could control,” Harlow said. “But now, I think the younger generation is less resistant to consider treatment.”

In Fargo, Weiler and the AFSP work to educate the community and thus decrease the stigma. The AFSP not only provides resources for schools and other educational programs in the

30

Stride • March 2014

community, but also provides support groups, fundraising events and informational panels that are open to the public.

Education, Weiler said, is one of the most important elements to consider when working to destigmatize mental illness.

“So many people have this preconceived definition and notion of what mental illness is and why it is,” Weiler said. “You wouldn’t think twice about talking about heart disease or diabetes. If you have the symptoms, you go in and you get checked and you get the treatment.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in four adults will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Although this statistic is not surprising to those in the mental health community, Weiler said that the general public rarely thinks of mental illness as being such a commonplace ailment.

“Mental illness is the hidden disease,” Weiler said. “You can’t see it like you can a broken arm.”

31

mental health Facing fear The

total number of suicides from 2010-2011 increased in North Dakota, based off of information provided by the North Dakota Department of Health. But, according to Weiler, this does not need to be a trend that continues.

“I’m a firm believer that you need to bring suicide prevention to communities and have a community’s help,” Weiler said. “We need to get people talking about it and get families talking about it.”

Weiler said that there are currently more resources available to those struggling with mental illness than ever before.

In Fargo, one of these resources is ShareHouse. ShareHouse has been providing chemical dependency treatment since 1975 and recently began incorporating mental illness treatment into their programming in the form of Transitions Mental Health Center.

Erica Hoff, a clinical psychologist at Transitions, works to treat people with a dual-diagnosis (chemical dependency and mental illness) as well as people from the community with a variety of diagnoses.

“People with mental illness are out in the community — they’re everywhere. They’re not any different than you and me,” she said.

One important service that Transitions offers is, according to program director Carlee Eckart, a walk-in day every Wednesday. Community members can walk into Transitions anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and be seen by a professional. The walk-in day has not taken off as expected, though.

“I think a lot of people, when they think of Sharehouse, think chemical dependency treatment. I don’t think that they know we have Transitions,” Eckart said. “Plus, I think people have a lot of fear about coming in.”

This fear is something that, according to Weiler, contributed to her daughter’s death.

“She was embarrassed that she suffered from depression and anxiety, that she had to see a psychologist,” Weiler said. “We have to get beyond that for people. I think it’s much better than it used to be but still, that’s a huge barrier.”

Survivor’s guilt

“Survivors need to be really careful,” Weiler said. “If they need help, they need to get professional help.

They need to make sure and take care of themselves.”

According to the AFSP, over 36,000 people in the United States commit suicide each year, leaving millions of survivors behind.

Coping with suicide loss is different than coping with a loss due to disease or a car accident, Weiler said.

“I feel that there are some common themes and commonalities but I do feel that it is different,” she said. “Sometimes, families are so ashamed that they hide the truth and don’t say that their [loved one] died by suicide.”

One thing that Weiler stressed is the idea of forgiveness. When someone takes his or her own life, Weiler said, it leaves friends and family in a deep shock; it also leaves a multitude of unanswered questions.

“My struggle really centered around forgiveness, and I think it does for all survivors,” she said. “You have to forgive the person you lost, number one, and then you ask that person to forgive you for things that you may not have done for them. And then the last thing, which I think is the hardest, is that you have to forgive yourself.”

The AFSP makes various resources available to survivors of all ages, from children to teens to adults. Depending on a survivor’s needs, he or she can attend a support group and share their story with other survivors or can enroll in the Survivor Outreach Program, which allows trained volunteers to go into survivors’ homes and provide individualized resources.

Survivors — whether they experienced a loss one year ago or ten years ago — are

32

Stride • March 2014

Statistics

According to the National Institute of Mental Health

About one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder.

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44.

Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men.

Bipolar disorder affects roughly 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.

In 2006, 33,300 (approximately 11 per 100,000) people died by suicide in the U.S. More than 90 PERCENT of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable mental disorder, most commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder.

Four times as many men

as women die by suicide; however, women attempt suicide two to three times as often as men.

mental health

“Mental health issues are legitimate health concerns that people struggle with. The more people know about mental health issues, the less stigma there will be.”

Erica Hoff, clinical psychologist

likely to experience relapses in sadness around anniversaries or birthdays and when confronted with triggers, according to the AFSP. “As the years have gone on, [my daughter] will never be forgotten and I will always carry her with me, but I think the feelings and reactions that I’ve had aren’t as intense as they used to be,” Weiler said. “You get a little stronger, you get a little more resilient.

It’s not as intense but that does not mean when there’s a favorite song on or a picture all of the sudden pops up or one of your grandchildren says something that your daughter used to say… That doesn’t mean that won’t bring you right back.”

Hope for the future “People don’t understand what to expect from mental

34

Stride • March 2014

illness — sometimes the symptoms can be kind of scary,” Hoff said. “The media is a huge problem, for lack of a better term. The way that mental health is portrayed in the media is often very scary. As a community, we should be more accepting and offer more services so those people can be a part of our community.”

Hoff encourages people to stop by Transitions on one of its Wednesday walkin days, or to at least get help somewhere.

Likewise, Weiler said that she hopes talking about mental illness will encourage those who are struggling to seek assistance.

“Mental illness is treatable, and we can prevent suicide,” Weiler said. “We do need help. We need more research, we need more people willing to tell their story, to tell the truth. I’m still hopeful. I think that we’ll still keep working at it, but we’re saving lives. We’re helping survivors.”

According to the AFSP, it’s important for everyone to know the warning signs of suicide and severe depression and to be able to recognize such signs in friends and families. Weiler said that one trusted friend or relative could save the life of someone who is struggling.

“The people who are struggling can’t see it. All they’re doing is trying to get through their day-to-day life,” Weiler said. “But if it comes from a peer or a family member?

Someone needs to speak on their behalf.”

As Harlow said, it seems to be getting easier for the community to talk about mental illness. According to Weiler, this is in part due to education but in part due to the openness of younger generations.

“Think about how, forty years ago, cancer wasn’t a word you would say. Think about how far we’ve come,” she said. “We want the same for suicide prevention — it’s not an ugly word, you can say it. There are risk factors just like cancer, warning signs just like cancer, treatment just like cancer. I think our young people are really resilient and strong and have done an incredible job on awareness and education and talking to each other.”

Learning to live again

Education, available resources and research are all important pieces in the puzzle that is destigmatizing mental health. However, no amount of education or research will ease the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.

When it comes to living a normal life postsuicide loss, Weiler said that hope is the most important thing to hold on to.

“Remember the good. Never forget the good. Bring back those memories of when she was playing the flute or when he was dancing,” she said. “If you talk to someone in their first year, they are so far from hope and they don’t think it’s ever going to happen. But survivors must have hope.”

Weiler said that it’s important not to focus on the “should have” and “could have” thoughts. She also said that, even with a knowledge of warning signs, suicide is a complicated thing to understand.

“It’s like the perfect storm. It’s the combination of all kinds of factors in a person’s life. Physical, emotional, mental, relationship-related, job- or employmentrelated,” Weiler said. “There are all kinds of factors that play into it. Forgiveness plays such a huge role in healing in any death but particularly when someone takes their own life, because it’s so complicated and hard to understand.”

Weiler said that everyone will cope differently with suicide loss; some, she said, will turn to alcohol or isolation, while others will try to connect with fellow survivors. Either way, Weiler said that her belief is that all things are possible as long survivors forget the notion of what they believed was “normal” prior to their loved one’s death.

“The experiences of countless grieving parents assure us that we can learn to overcome that which crushes our spirit, to move from darkness to light, to find our own lives and renew them on a road toward healing,” she said. “We can learn to live once more.”

Risk Factors

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Mental disorders including...

• Depression or bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder • Alcohol or substance abuse or dependence • Schizophrenia • Borderline or antisocial personality disorder • Conduct disorder (in youth) • Psychotic disorders; psychotic symptoms in the

context of any disorder • Anxiety disorders • Impulsivity and aggression, especially in the context of the above mental disorders

Previous suicide attempt Family history of attempted or completed suicide Serious medical condition and/or pain

What to do if you think a loved one may be at risk • Recognize the imminent dangers • Be willing to listen • Take it seriously • Encourage professional help • Ask questions • Follow up on treatment

Resources American Foundation for Suicide Prevention North Dakota Chapter Visit afsp.org/northdakota For information on survivor support groups, please email Mary Weiler at afspnd@gmail.com

ShareHouse Transitions Mental Health Center Visit sharehouse.org/programs/transitions-mentalhealth-center For an appointment, call 701-478-8440

Prairie St. John’s Inpatient Facility Visit prairie-stjohns.com Call 1-877-333-9565 for a confidential needs assessment 24/7 If you feel that you are in need of immediate assistance, call 9-1-1, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the FirstLink 24-Hour Helpline at 2-1-1 or 701-235-7335.

35

family

The Truth About Technology T

exting, touch-screens and tweets. It seems like just a few Facebook updates ago these technological advancements were ideas past generations could not even imagine. (Let alone Google to find out what they are. Oh, the humanity!) Nowadays tablets become standard gifts for second graders and forgetting your smartphone feels like forgetting your arm. Like it or not, technology has morphed into a necessity in businesses, schools and social media. What does this mean for our younger generation, not to mention future generations? Because technology is flirting with the line between innovative and excessive, a child’s development mentally, physically and socially is at risk more than ever. by madalyn laske Photo by ben gumeringer

36

Stride • March 2014

Technology Tendency

It is no secret that children become tech-savvy younger and younger. That means children are missing out on human interaction younger and younger.

“You’re not watching for all the body language or the vocal intonations and people’s facial expressions,” said Chris Bietz. “(Children) don’t know how to resolve conflict. They don’t know how to interact with people. They don’t know how to be socially appropriate in different settings.”

According to an October 2013 study conducted by commonsensemedia.org, among children 8 years old or younger, 72 percent of them have used a mobile device; that number rose significantly from 2011 when it sat at 38 percent. In addition, 38 percent of children under 2 years old have used a mobile device compared to just 10 percent in 2011.

“I’m sorry, but an 8-year-old does not need a cell phone. They just don’t. What they need is some new snow boots and a snow suit to go out and play,” said Bietz. “It takes away creativity.”

What at times may seem like a social norm might be tomorrow’s biggest threat to interaction. Today’s youth know how to communicate with others; they have just been conditioned to believe they need a screen in front of them to do it.

“We need to be around people. We need to interact with people. We are social, but the technology has made it so we are social via the Internet,” said Bietz.

Chris

Bietz

.C. M.S. L.P ounselor C Family ge la The Vil

ut the social, b de e r a e a “W gy has m technolo e social via ar it so we ernet.” the Int

family Monkey See Monkey Do

Before we continue to point fingers at children today, parents may first want to take a look in the mirror. “It’s so discouraging for me to go out to a restaurant and see a couple sitting there not talking,” Bietz said. “Even parents get drawn into the games and what’s going on with Facebook and they’re not drawn into their kids. They’re not paying attention to their kids. I think it’s a double standard.”

If parents set limitations on the amount of time kids spend plugged into technology, and for themselves too, a step toward a prospective solution could ignite. Instead of speaking with each other, often times kids text friends while parents surf the Internet.

“Nobody is interacting, nobody is spending any time together,” Bietz said. “Parents can help allow their kids to be part of the technical world but also challenge their

kids to learn what it’s like to sit around the table and play a game of Life, play a game of Uno with your family.”

Fly on the Wall

Before the social media frenzy, parents knew what their children told them or from what they told their kids, “a little bird” told them. Now, platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram create a vehicle for parents to investigate. And according to Bietz, they should.

The Silver Lining

Parents need to stay vigilant about what their children are doing with technology

“If they use technology and they use it in a way the student can use it to research and analyze and synthesize how to get good information from it, then that can bring them to higher levels of thinking,” said Mari Borr, Assistant Professor in Family and Consumer Sciences Education at North Dakota State University.

logy s Techno Ph.D. r, article “I lo e y th a T to g Jim Accordin ily Divide?” by m a F a m Creating

fro d home tz in nt arrives Bm e ed i re rs a e p a hars iso im greeted When C w d il h c s e work, th y the parent wa e and g m technolo ercent of the ti p rcent of 0 e 3 p ly 0 on nored 5 ig y ll ta . was to the time did r school y used fo but did hurt g lo o n h Tec d y time hen use ct famil not affe munications w . om family c r social reasons fo decent spent a ial o h w n Childre of time on soc they amount s recorded that ts. e it s re a ing ir p n network pported by the u s felt less

Stride • March 2014

“Kids do what kids do. We have all snuck around and done our things, but we didn’t have Facebook to plaster it on,” said Bietz.

“And parents now are probably finding out a lot about their kids they didn’t know.

They are the adults and the responsible ones and when you have a child you are saying to that child, ‘I am going to guide you so that you become successful.’”

“You didn’t have all this privacy and secrecy (before). The sexting, the texting and the pictures,” Bietz said. “It’s gotten so carried away and, for whatever reason, parents feel young kids should have access to all of these things.”

FACTS

38

and whom they are doing it with. Cyber bullying is unfortunately becoming a real threat to youth everywhere.

The potentially negative effects go handin-hand with the positive. Classrooms can utilize certain technology to their advantage; however, it’s a fine line.

However, looking up an answer online displays inferior results to students really learning the information.

“They are using it so much outside of the classroom that if they aren’t using it inside the classroom, it’s hard for them to apply what they are learning in class to real life,” Borr said.

Also, technology can boost a child’s selfesteem by teaching another student something new or by using creative, innovative options to produce more aesthetically-pleasing work than previously obtainable.

Teaching children how to use technology the correct way is like teaching them how to ride a bike: it will transfer positive usage into their future.

Trends come and go, but one thing is for certain: technology will continue to advance. Parents need to stay attentive to what adolescents are doing and set aside some time for some good old-fashioned family bonding.

Fitness

A Competitor A Runner A Mom

Working moms have to make the most of the 24 hours in each day. Working moms who love adrenaline, competition and fitness have to be even more resourceful to squeeze every last second from those same 24 hours. At least, that’s the philosophy of Mackenzie Hamm, a working mother and wife who manages to make wellness a top priority amid her hectic schedule.

Photos by HARD CHARGE and Mackenzie Hamm

40

Stride • March 2014

By Lindsay Babb

Working both full and part time jobs while raising five kids under the age of 10, Hamm has learned to be exceptionally clever with her time management, and finds innovative ways to satisfy her daily craving for breaking a sweat.

“I’ve become really creative with workouts to involve my kids,” Hamm said. Hamm will take a normal activity, like going to Lindenwood, and make it a workout by chasing her kids or having a contest to see who can run up a hill fastest. “I’m always trying to sneak in exercise any way I can!”

When it comes to balancing work life, home life and staying fit, Hamm is proof that “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” This marathon finisher, champion obstacle course racer and bundle of energy almost makes it look easy.

But it’s something she’s constantly working at, and the journey to get to this point wasn’t a walk in the park. Watching her pound out miles on the treadmill or dominate a BodyPump class, one would never guess she experienced a common roadblock that nearly prevented her from loving fitness – fear.

Overcoming A Big Obstacle

Not long ago, the thought of going to a gym terrified Hamm. And it wasn’t just the fear of not knowing how to use equipment or the spandex-clad bodybuilder types that typically paralyze gym newbies.

“I was scared to attend a simple group fitness class,” she admits. It wasn’t that Hamm was too out of shape – she regularly worked out at home with DVDs and her treadmill. Rather, the anxiety of being in a group setting was overwhelming.

Gym intimidation (or gymtimidation, as it’s often referred to) is frequently cited as the primary factor that keeps people from starting or sticking to regular workouts – and nearly twice as many women as men report feeling it. Luckily for Hamm, she eventually found her way into the gym as many do – through support and encouragement from someone else.

“A close friend convinced me to go to a class with her at the local YMCA,” she said. “It wasn’t as scary to be there with someone else so I found my courage and went.”

That’s when, Hamm said, she started to become hooked on fitness. She became an admitted “regular” at the gym. Her continued commitment led her to a major accomplishment last May, when she finished her first marathon. Shortly thereafter, her fitness

journey took her down a new path, which led her to the fastest-growing sport in the world: obstacle course racing (OCR).

“My husband heard about this obstacle course race coming to town from a co-worker,” she said. “He thought it sounded like something I’d like to do and encouraged me to check it out.”

a new challenge The obstacle course race, HARD CHARGE, was the first of its kind in the FM area. Touted as a fun, 4-mile course with more than 20 military-inspired obstacles, Hamm was drawn to this race because it presented a new aspect not found in traditional running events: obstacles.

“It looked tough but I was eager to try an OCR because, up until then, I had only done road races,” she said. “I thought it would be a really great gauge of my overall fitness because OCR not only tests running endurance but also the upper and lower body strength needed to complete all the different obstacles.”

Crawling through mud is a staple of OCRs. OCRs are often set in parks with natural obstacles.

finding time in her busy schedule to work out is often the most challenging component of her fitness routine.

Fueled by a desire to push herself to the max and test her personal fitness level, Hamm decided she wanted to enter the timed, competitive and televised heat at the event.

“I try to schedule one hour a day, just for me, for working out,” she said. “It’s difficult and some days, it doesn’t happen. But rather than feel discouraged, I let it go and start over fresh the next day.”

“There was an option to do it ‘just for fun’ and, as much as I love fitness for the fun of it, I’ve always had a real competitive side to me!”

Hamm said.

On days it’s especially hectic, she has become a pro at sneaking in workouts during playtime with her kids.

She rallied three of her friends to compete in the co-ed team event. Hamm’s group won the team event, earning them a spot on a national TV show and a bid to the next HARD CHARGE event in Cedar Rapids, IA. “We all had such a blast, we took the opportunity to travel and race again,” she said.

And Hamm didn’t stop there. She completed four other OCRs last year and has at least five planned for this year, including one that will take her overseas.

“My husband and a couple of our HARD CHARGE teammates are going to try to earn the Spartan Trifecta,” she said, referring to the challenge of completing three races of varying distance put on by the popular OCR company, Spartan Race. “One is in London!”

Making The Time And Commitment While she certainly works hard to stay fit enough to compete in road races and OCRs,

“I try to make it fun for them so they enjoy being active as a family,” she said. “We’ll run up and down the dike or climb stairs at the park.”

Hamm said that one of the most unusual ways she gets a combo strength and cardio workout is toting around her one-year-old while chasing after the other four.

“It sounds funny but it’s hard work and pretty easy to break a sweat!”

Like any competitor, Hamm admits she loves to snag a new race PR or add some hardware to her trophy case. But her real motivation to stay fit comes from the desire to set a good example for her kids and be a better, happier mom.

“I think so many moms feel guilty for working out,” she said. “Like it’s selfish and taking time away from their kids and housework. But we have to remember that we’re doing this for our kids as much as ourselves.”

Hamm said she wants her kids to know how important health and fitness is, and how they can make it a priority while also having fun.

41

Fitness Hamm (second from right) and her teammates after winning HARD CHARGE Fargo.

Hamm (right) sprints across the finish line with her teammates at a HARD CHARGE race in Cedar Rapids, IA.

paying it forward

Hamm has plenty of suggestions for other women who struggle to make fitness a priority.

“I’m the type of person who needs something to motivate me to train, like a race I’m signed up for,” she said.

Her advice is to find an event – a 5k, OCR, triathlon, anything – and sign up for it. Get it on the calendar and make it a goal to work towards. What if the idea of actually signing up for and committing to a race is too daunting? Hamm’s advice: First, remind yourself that you can do it.

Second, sign up for just one. From there, she said, it gets easier.

“The affirmation of completing a race is what keeps me signing up for more and excites me to challenge myself each time.”

Hamm also encourages both men and women to step outside their comfort zone and fight back against the intimidation factor – both in the gym and outside it.

“OCRs can seem intimidating but they’ve been by far the most fun races I’ve done,” she said.

Hamm compares it to being like a kid again, saying, “It’s a way to release that inner childhood excitement of crawling

42

Stride • March 2014

through mud and climbing over obstacles!”

About the writer Lindsay Babb

To anyone who’s still nervous to give it a try, Hamm’s advice is to sign up for a race with a significant other or friends. Help each other through the entire course, motivate each other to keep going and laugh along the way.

“Even if you finish last you’ll feel amazing that you went out there and did something awesome. Not to mention there will be at least one person you’ll inspire – and what better feeling than to be an inspiration to others!

Even though she loves the thrill of racing, when she’s not crawling through mud, scaling 8-foot walls or sprinting across a finish line, Hamm simply enjoys being a fit, healthy mother and wife.

“I feel I’m a better, happier mom when I’ve gotten my training done for the day,” she said. “That’s really the best motivation out there.”

Lindsay Babb is a runner, writer and dog lover. By day, she’s Director of PR and Marketing for HARD CHARGE, by night, she can usually be found at the gym, blogging or watching sports.

Contact her @runlikeagirl311 @runlikeagirl311 runlikeagirl311.wordpress.com

DOWNTOWN FARGO | (701) 232-2491

www.royaljewelersfargo.com