flow for the love of water.

Although unrelated to anything with training or running, this documentary compelled me to share.

Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century – The World Water Crisis.  Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question “CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?”

Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.

On December 10th, 2008 FLOW was invited to screen at the United Nations as part of the 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Road Thrill Wins the 194 Mile Ragnar Relay Across Florida

Although my first blog is somewhat out of date by a few months, I thought I would go ahead and post the results of the Ragnar Relay.  Our coed team: 6 women and 6 men ran through the night during the 194 mile trek.  Our team average was 6:51 per mile with a finishing time of 22 hours and 13 minutes.  We won both the open and mixed divisions.

Women:

Ashley Espy
Jaclyn Solodovnick
Jami Ludwig
Kristine Poyner
Jaclyn Solodovnick
Lindsay Sundell
Melanie Ladenheim

Men:

Oscar Boykin
Ed Dunne
Jake Logan
Julio Palma
Alex Phipps
Andrew Robinson

I can honestly say it was an experience like no other race.  In fact, it was probably an experience like no other in general!  Just for kicks,  I comprised a fabulous list of  ingredients that make for a winning team:

• first and foremost, sleep deprivation is a must
• 24 hours with no sleep coupled with a weird diet consisting of energy food and excessive organic granola.  Nothing too heavy is recommended for fear of cramps or vomiting.
• extremely hot and humid conditions is a definite
• a few nagging injuries for some in order to keep us constantly questioning the ability to not only finish, but pass the person in front of you
• winding and navigating through streets and uncharted territory ( in the van) to stay ahead or near your team member to replenish lost bodily fluids
• running with one team singlet for each, and I repeat, ONE singlet
• sharing a van with sweaty runners all day and night
• the smell of running shoes sprawled throughout the van to remind you of the love of the sport
• handing the baton to the next team member in the middle of the night
• running down US 19 at 3 am in the dark with oncoming traffic
• passing (and wearing) the horrible, wet, stinky safety vest to the next runner (we only had one vest per 6 runners to be worn 3 times each).  Safety first you know!
• did I mention sleep deprivation????
• a team song that plays continually on CD to keep you, not only awake, but pumped for your next run
• oh yeah, bathroom visits along the side of the road.  Be sure to pack toilet paper!

It was a wonderful experience to cross the finish line with my great friends!  We’re all friends at the finish line, but not until we win!