Trish Skram’s Blog

It’s official. I’m an athlete! Of course, that doesn’t mean that I broke any records or medaled in my age group. It does, however, mean that I can run a half marathon and I did! I had three goals for this challenge: keep a good solid pace with no stopping, complete in 2.35 hours and finish with a smile. Nothing else mattered. August 1 marked the big day—over 25,000 runners stepped up to the line to complete Chicago’s Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day—skies were sunny and, even with a chill in the morning air, the temps were perfect for a long run.

The starting line: It was early. When you plan to run 13.1 miles, you don’t want to risk over exhaustion. The early morning weather was perfect. We got to our corral at 5:30 am and at around 7 we were off. Over 25,000 runners participated this year. I’d never been in such a large run. Do we look focused?

Mile 5: We felt good. I was comfortable and Sarah and I were having a great time listening to the bands and people watching. We took advantage of every water station and slowed down when we needed to. The atmosphere was just remarkable. Our support group (boyfriends and fiancés) was waiting at the 5-mile mark, cheering and applauding. It felt so good to see their smiling, proud faces.

Mile 10: This was the mile that was really tough. This is where you (the runner) switch from running with your training in mind, to running with your heart. It started to become a mental challenge for me. My body ached. My hips were sore. I pushed though it. We never walked. We pressed on.

The Finish Line: I’m really sore in this picture but you’d never guess. We all were sore and tired, but it was important for us to finish strong. It was an exhilarating feeling to hear the crowd as we neared the end. The last mile was the toughest mile of my life. I kept trying to make myself pick it up, but my legs were dead. My goal was two hours and 35 minutes, and I finished just 10 minutes shy (bathroom breaks and sore legs were the culprit.) Our smiles were a bit tired at the end, but we were proud!

A special thanks to my running team: Amy C., Robin, Sarah, Barb, Andrea, Abby and Janet. I couldn’t have done this without you. A shout out to Amy B. (our trainer) whose motivation and encouragement was what helped me maintain endurance and focus. You’re tough–but it’s worth it.

To be honest, I’m not sure if can see myself doing another 13-mile distance run again. I know what to expect now and have ideas on how I could improve my training. Maybe I will down the road. Truth is—I don’t consider myself a runner.

So, what’s next for me? Well, something even more challenging (in my eyes) … Beach Body’s INSANITY®. Yes, my friends, I’m taking the Insanity 60-day challenge starting the week after Labor Day weekend. I’m looking to shed off more fat while maintaining muscle mass, strength and endurance. Stay tuned for the journey updates. I’m sure it will be tough.

I hope our journey has inspired you to set a fitness goal. No matter how long or short the journey, the feeling at the finish line is unreal!

The Reed family and I at the Hoop-Dee-Doo musical at Fort Wilderness.

My boyfriend’s family and I took a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida last week. I hoped the trip would help us both get away from the hustle and bustle of our workweeks, my demanding marathon training, and give us some time to be with family.

Disney World is a magical place for children, but this trip made it a magical place for me also. While we stood in long lines, waited our turn to get on yet other rides and heave through crowds of people, I saw a group of teenage girls laughing and giggling like most teens do. They were headed to one of those coaster rides at Epcot, I’m sure fully anticipating that this one would be even better than the last. Then I noticed something very familiar. I too (many times), was laughing and giggling. It took me back to the days when I didn’t pay bills or watch what I eat, hold a full-time job, do laundry or maintain a 401K. I love being an adult, but it felt good to leave that all behind for a few days and just kick back and relax.

We returned from our four-day trip full of stories. We rode the fast rides, designed our own roller coasters, flew with Dumbo, traveled around the world, watched parades, took lots of photos, ate ice cream, swam and laughed all the way. As I talk with friends and co-workers about our trip, my mind kept going back to that little girl I used to be.

Sometimes these trips are all you need to appreciate family and the loved ones you have and leave the real world behind … only if just for a moment.

Technorati Tags: adult life, Disney world, importance of vacations for the busy professional, Random "Trish" Thoughts

Pictured above: Me and Amy at the Jingle Bell 5K in December 2009.

About 15 months ago, my friend Amy and I, were running the trail with co-workers one hot, summer day. As we ran, our group leader, ran the trail just floating along. Soft on her feet. She talked with no hesitation, without exhaustion. Terry stepped ever so lightly, as though she were running over glass. I marveled at her movements. I remember feeling so jealous of her effortless endurance and pace. I turned to Amy. “How does she do it?” I puffed. (We were only a few miles in.) She smiled: “She trains every week. It takes time. You’ll see, we’ll get there, too.”

I don’t usually do this. I don’t use my blog to write about too many personal things but it’s been so heavy on my mind and in each and every little thing that I do that I found it impossible to suppress. As many of you know, I’m training for a half marathon in August. As I got my last two training schedules from my trainer today, I couldn’t help but ponder over the fact that it’s already been five months. I’ve been training 6 days a week, one, sometimes two hours a day, preparing my body to endure a two-hour race and it’s almost actually here. I started working out a few years ago, just to live healthier and ended up running a few 5Ks. Now, 7 pounds lighter, a few inches thinner and running more than 10 miles per week, I realize what my journey has become. My journey to live healthier has turned into a true testament of my mental and physical capabilities. I’m so proud to say, I’M REALLY RUNNING THIS THING.

I now run more than I did 15 months ago. I owe a lot of that motivation to Amy and my co-workers. Without them, especially Amy, I wouldn’t be as disciplined as I am. We’re running 2-3 times per week. We’re making time for cross training in between, like group strength and Turbo Kick, which has increased our endurance and speed. It’s really amazing to see how far we’ve come.

It’s been tough. Between trying to fight fatigue, cramps, blisters, dehydration, exhaustion (at times) or that late night ice cream bar, I still go back at it, rarely missing a class or training session. My eating habits have completely changed. I guess you could say I’ve made exercise and healthy eating a regular habit. A habit that will never really go away. At least I hope.

But despite what I do or don’t do, I’ve stopped judging myself all the time. For those of you that know me, I get competitive at times. My goal is simple: Run 13.2 miles. Enjoy it. Savor it. Feel accomplished. Running is exhilarating. The more I train my body, the better I feel physically, mentally and emotionally. So for me, is well worth the aches and pains.

Wish me luck at the Chicago half marathon!

Technorati Tags: 2010 Chicago half marathon, how to train for a half marathon, Random "Trish" Thoughts, training for a half marathon, well worth the aches and pains

Tired, zonked, drained. All great words to describe how we feel from time-to-time while at work, home or just doing every day things. Lately, I’ve been feeling really drained. Not sure if it is my schedule, stress or my workouts (training for a marathon.) Feeling tired, especially at work, can be a heavy on your life—it drags your workload down, lowers productivity and strengthens stress levels. If you’re a highly active person like me, it’s the worse feeling. However, over the years of living and breathing my profession, I’ve discovered a few great things you can do to get the energy back, quickly. Do remember though, folks, sometimes you just need some rest. Be sure to be mindful of when your body needs sleep and relaxation.

5 quick things you can do to re-energize:

Knock out distractions: Again, this is always good advice—but when you’re tired, it has triple affects. Stay out of your email, don’t log into Facebook and don’t keep taking breaks from the task at hand. It’s so easy to get distracted when you’re not focusing well and it only makes it harder to concentrate. Social media can be a BIG distraction. So is television. Try to stay away from “just checking Facebook” and spending the next hour looking at your cousin’s holiday pics. We’re all guilty of this while at work. So every time your attention wanders, direct it straight back to what you’re supposed to be working on.

Workout: If you’re feeling sleepy, the worst thing to do is to sit down somewhere warm and comfy—you’ll almost certainly nod off. Instead, make sure you move around frequently. Get up and stretch, go for a brisk walk and get your body moving. This is a good idea if you get that mid-afternoon slump: walking around will shake it off.

Take a Shower (or freshen up): Getting into a shower will really wake you up when you’re feeling sluggish. If you’re struggling to even get out of bed, head straight for the shower: as soon as you’re under that running water, you’ll feel considerably awake. If you work from home, a mid-afternoon shower can be a great pick-me-up when you’re tired. If you’re in an office, splashing your face with cold water, or freshening up your makeup can be a good refreshing alternative.

Do the easier stuff: If you’re feeling really tired but you still need to get a project done, try doing more routine tasks: things like replying to emails, filing documents, organizing your desk, market research and so on. Often, your energy will naturally pick back up while you work.

Chat with others. Pick up your cell phone and call a friend or go next door and make small talk with a co-worker. Some of you may consider this tip a distraction, I tend to think it’s a great way to boost creative thinking. If you’re like me, you like to collaborate on a daily basis. We’re communicators, right?

So, what works for you? We all have our remedies. Please share below.

Image courtesy of http://istockphoto.com

Technorati Tags: communicators' advice, how to energize when feeling tired, social media, Trish Srkam

February marks such an important month me. As many of you know, February is American Heart Month. Statistics show that cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one killer of both men and women in America. For me, personally, it really hits home. Heart disease is also the number one, most prevalent disease in my family, on both sides. To recognize heart month and my dedication to keeping myself and my loved ones educated about heart disease, I’m going to wear red for the remainder of February and post photos to my Facebook, and Flickr accounts. Wearing red signifies the power we have as women to come together and stop heart disease and stroke.
I’m a BIG supporter of AHA, especially AHA of Rock County, where I serve on its executive leadership planning team. This organization is near and dear to my heart and I hope its mission and vision will generate a healthy change in your life as much as it has mine. My favorite AHA initiative (and also becoming its most recognized accomplishments), is the “Go Red for Women” movement. “Go Red” works to raise awareness about women’s number one killer, heart disease. Real women from all over the country speak up about their heart experiences to help save lives. Their stories always inspire me and I hope you take this opportunity to get informed with the facts and make a positive commitment to your heart health. Join the cause by visiting its Facebook page.

I wear red in honor of my grandfather Alvin Skram, who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest in 1981. I wear red in honor of my uncles, Chuck, Jerry, Roger and Ronny, who are all strong heart survivors. I’m proud of all of you for being proactive about your heart health and maintaining healthy lifestyles. And I will always support the American Heart Association (AHA) for its dedication in keeping our communities educated about heart disease and speaking up about what we can do, today, to help prevent heart disease and stroke.

If heart disease and stroke affects your life, how do you educate the ones you love? OR better yet, how do you maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle? Please share your thoughts below.

Technorati Tags: AHA of Rock County, American Heart Month, heart health awareness, PR Gal blog, Random "Trish" Thoughts

Posted January 8, 2010

January marks the anniversary (or shall I say, blogiversary) of trishskram.com. One year ago, this month, I took the plunge and dove in to the blogesphere, knowing nothing about it and/or where I should go with it. My fellow social media and marketing companion, Ron (who is also my boyfriend), helped me spearhead the process, bringing it to life. It’s somewhat a slow-going process and I’m still looking for better measurement and feedback but it has come a LONG way since January 2009. I thank you, Ron, for your unwavering support and encouragement in the process—if it weren’t for you, I would’ve never taken the leap. Thanks, love!

I also thank my loyal twitter followers, Facebook fans and subscribers for continuing to read my posts. I’m honored to be a part of a community where my ideas are respected, encouraged and most importantly, a place where I can learn and grow from those who know the profession better than I do.

To celebrate, I’ve revamped this site. I’m always up for change and growth―especially when it comes to sharpening my brand. I think the new look provides a better space for you, my readers, because it has a cleaner image, easier navigation and a few new things in store.

As I embark into 2010, I vow to devote my time to 3 new goals: write more frequently, look for and encourage guest blogging and continue to engage in online conversations and learning from each one of you.

If you’re interested in being a guest blogger, please email me at trishskram@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you and share ideas on how to make this site GREAT!

Cheers to 2010!

Image courtesy of http://istockphoto.com

Technorati Tags: blogging, building professional relationships, my work, PR and marketing, public relations professionals in Wisconsin

Posted December 31, 2009

It’s New Year’s Eve! I love this time of year. It’s a great opportunity to sit back and reflect on the past year or years’ happenings and look at what you did and maybe even what you would do differently in the year ahead. And may I just add … 2009 was a GREAT year! Each year, my boyfriend, Ron, and I take time to gather up our previous year goals and create new ones for the coming year. Then, we sit down, over a glass of wine and talk about where we were and where we want to be, what worked, what didn’t, why a particular goal wasn’t met, where we succeeded. It’s a great exercise to get your mind crunching and move faster and more effectively in all areas of life. It’s been great for us as a couple, too! So, with that said, here are a few highlights for 2009:

Professional:
• Became part of a rock star dynamic Web 2.0 team at my company to mold and shape our online presence into the comprehensive network it is today. My role as media/PR specialist has essentially become, “PR 2.0.” I’m so very fortunate to work for a company that allows me to explore my passions, develop new challenges and advance in my career.
• Part of an expert panel at a national PR/communications event in Phoenix on social media and health care. My first EVER national appearance– thanks @texasgirl11 and @markraganCEO for providing me with the opportunity.
• Finalist at the 2009 Ragan Recognition Awards in Chicago for “best specialty publication/magazine in May 2009. Shout out to co-worker, Robin, for her mad graphics skills.
• Awarded with three merits from the Wisconsin HealthCare Public Relations and Marketing Society for public relations and social media relations. One being Judges’ Choice for excellent social media measurement and effectiveness. Not a sole effort, folks- I work with an amazing, very intelligent group of people. They all deserve the shout out too!
• Guest speaker at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater public relations/communications department. What an honor to be invited to speak for a professor I had only 3 years ago!

Personal:
• Ran my first 5K in March, then 8K in May! I’m proud to say I’ve completed over 6 races in 2009. WOOT! Thanks, Amy and Amy (trainer) for pushing me and helping me get to where I am. Now training for a half-marathon in August 2010 – one of my big goals for 2010.
• Made fitness a regular, attainable habit in my daily regimen.

• Went SKYDIVING for the first time ever! Read about my experience HERE.
• Took a fabulous trip to Niagara Falls, Canada with my man, Ron and two if our close friends.
• Traveled to Las Vegas, Chicago, Phoenix and Canada (some work, some personal). Either way, traveling is always a highlight in my book!
• Vamped up my social networks online, including my biggest accomplishment, my personal blog, trishskram.com. It’s almost been a year – and I’m proud of what it’s become so far. Special shout out to Ron, for his unfathomable faith in me to be something better. You’re my rock!
• Last but not least, I’ve connected with some of the most creative, knowledgeable communications/PR folks via online– you’re all shining stars.

Besides all that mushy stuff … some of you may be trying to stick to your past New Year’s resolutions still. If they were easy, everyone would be doing it, right? Willpower, stress and time seem to be a big part of why we don’t reach our goals. If you are reading this and thinking, “Wow, that’s SO me…” then the following are a few tips I use to help me make better resolutions to set realistic goals:

• Set up an appropriate environment to support you.
• Don’t expect perfection. Set realistic goals. Choose lifestyle changes you are willing to work on. Don’t just change behaviors to make your family, spouse or children happy.
• Studies show it takes 6 months to change a habit permanently so have patience. It takes time to change old habits.
• Get an accountability partner. Choose friends that will help you get where you want to be. A partner that is positive and supportive of you. Oprah says it best, “Surround yourself with people that will lift you higher.” So true.

So, what are your 2010 resolutions and how do you plan to stick to them?

Image courtesy of Design Leftovers, bmiint.blogspot.com

Technorati Tags: Happy New year, Janesville, Madison PR/marketing, Mercy Health System, Random "Trish" Thoughts, social media in Janesville, what Trish Skram's accomplished in 2009

Tomorrow is the day! A day to stuff our faces with savory turkey, cranberry dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and too many buns! Ah, I love Thanksgiving! But more importantly, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s a time to reflect and express our gratitude and talk about what we’re thankful for.

Many of you saw my Facebook post yesterday (if not, be my friend on Facebook!!) about my visit at a local homeless shelter. I go there from time to time and always enjoy myself there. Yesterday’s experience, however, really pulled on the heartstrings. I was talking with a single mother about her experience at the shelter and what brought her there to seek support. She had her one-year-old daughter with her and I was humbled by their willingness to make the best of what they have. As her daughter played and smiled unfathomably, I couldn’t help but feel for these families who struggle during the Holidays. This family had limited family support and no financial sustainability, but she still felt so thankful. Unfortunately, this is the story of many of the residents. Do you take time to reflect on what you have and express your gratitude? The simple, very small things we take advantage of each and every day. The car we drive, our home, condo or apartment (no matter how small it is), food in the fridge … it’s all necessary for our survival and a strong asset to our well-being yet so overlooked in many instances. The long talks we have with our sig others at night before bed, the little favor your co-worker does for you to make your day brighter. I don’t say this much but I truly feel blessed. It made me reflect on what I’m thankful for: my health, happiness and most of all, you, my friends and family. So I pose to you, what are you thankful for?

Photo courtesy of http://cybernetnews.com

Technorati Tags: House of Mercy Homeless Center, Random "Trish" Thoughts, what I'm thankful for

Money has never really been the focal point of why I do what I do. In fact, I just realized a few days ago that money doesn’t matter to me, and I don’t think it ever will. So why do I work? Well, yes, I have to pay the bills some way or another but my work and profession goes well beyond doing a job for money. It’s about passion. That matters. As many of you know, I work in health care public relations and community relations. A big part of my job is spotlighting the experiences our patients, families and employees have, finding accomplishments and recognizing them for the impact they make on the community. The best part of my job is bringing out the good in my company and its community.

But this post isn’t about what I do or how I do it. It’s about having a passion in your work, profession or job. Do you have it? Can you honestly say that you’d do your job for free? Especially in these hard economic times and hearing about how many people hate their jobs, losing them, etc. Do you feel you have ‘that passion’? ‘that optimism’ in your work?

I just finished reading a fabulous book. Maybe you’ve read it, saw it on TV or heard about it—“The Last Lecture,” by Randy Pausch, late professor and speaker at Carnegie Mellon University. It’s a truly inspirational book that I encourage everyone to read. The book was heavy in ‘take-a-ways’ so it’s hard to pinpoint just one. I can say there was a part that stood out to me, how to understand optimism and embrace it. Even though it doesn’t pertain to work passion, it does highlight the importance of optimism. After Randy learned he’d had cancer, he didn’t let it consume or burden his life. Instead, he thought positive and continued to live his life to the fullest. It eventually brought him to new heights. In chapter 57, he says this, “My personal take on optimism is that as a mental state, it can enable you to do tangible things to improve your physical state. If you’re optimistic, your better able to endure brutal chemo, or keep searching for late-breaking medical treatments.” Randy found a true balance between optimism and realism. Even when he knew he couldn’t fight the cancer, his optimism helped him get through each day with a smile. That’s powerful!

I don’t have an uplifting story like Randy’s but I do strive to be as optimistic and passionate about what I do. I’m lucky to have the courage and strength to go after what I believe in and choose a work profession that I have a genuine passion for.

Trish Skram’s advice to a happy, passionate, optimistic work:

#1 Look for the good
If you wait long enough, your clients and co-workers will impress you. Same with situations, events and happenings. This does take patience, especially with the people and or ‘things’ that frustrate and anger you the most, but do know that they will eventually show you their good side. I believe everybody and everything has a good side.

#2 Listen and learn, no matter what
My boyfriend says I’m the best in the world at this. Between you and me, I think he’s just glad I’m there for him and his babbles [I love his rambling, babbling mind]. Honestly though, when you really listen, you absorb so many new things. Make it a personal mission in your line of work to learn one new thing about someone or something⎯it will amaze you how much that one thing can make a lasting, positive impression on you.

#3 Don’t sweat the small stuff
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Life is too short to worry about what everyone else thinks, acts like or does. Don’t be afraid to discuss new ideas at work, express your feelings, bad or good, learn you can’t control everything and understand that everyone has different perspectives and perceptions⎯Really. Don’t let small problems or challenges ruin your day. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine.

#4 If you don’t like it, fix it
If you find yourself in a job that truly has no meaning to you or you dread going everyday⎯find out why and fix it. I’ve been there. Again, life’s too short to put so much effort in something not worth the time or energy. Try to find the strength and courage to fix the negative aspects of your job. If that means putting in your two-week notice, great! But if you can’t [because we can’t control everything] go back to #1. I realize that sometimes you can’t just quit. But try to have that passion and optimism if you need to stay. Don’t think of your job as just a paycheck.

So I ask you, do you have passion for what you do? Do you live your life, feeling optimistic and excited to take on a task at work? Would you quit, even if it wasn’t the most popular choice? Now … I don’t claim to love everything about my job. I wouldn’t even say that I do. But I can say that I love having the opportunity to make a difference and follow my dreams. I admire people that actually do, like Randy Pausch has.

Photo courtesy of http://post-gazette.com

Technorati Tags: job, passion for your work, public relations professionals in Wisconsin, Random "Trish" Thoughts, Randy Pausch, Tricia Skram

This will be fun! Skydiving is not just falling; it’s flying! You’ll feel so free.”–Hein Geldenbuys

This is one of the first things Hein, my tandem instructor, said to me and I totally agree! Skydiving is one of the most liberating things someone may ever experience. July 29 marked the big day! Friends and I drove to Sturtevant, WI, to perform a 14,500 ft. jump with the skymasters of Skydive Midwest. The idea sprung from my boyfriend’s cousin, Rob, only months ago when he had plans to do something extreme to recognize a significant accident, which happened only a year ago. So I figured, hey, if Rob has the courage to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, well then, so do I.

Scared shitless

First of all, I was very nervous! I’ve only known or heard about skydiving in the movies or on TV. So, I did some research and learned more about skydiving on the Web.

My [all of us] first jump was a tandem skydive, where you jump with a highly-skilled, very experienced skydiver. Not too much training was needed for this kind of skydive, which was fine with me.

We arrived at the jump site at 10 am. After signing our lives away [the contract was about 10 pages], we headed to the training center for a quick 20-minute training session. The session included instruction on basic parachute equipment, free falling, emergency procedures, parachute opening, canopy control and landing information.

Then came the gear-up part! As you can see, the group was large so we had to jump in waves. I was in the last wave. Hein strapped me up in the initial diving gear. They were all professional skydivers, so they were giving us a hard time with some traditional skydiving jokes.

It was time for the third wave! My heart really started to pound. Hein grabbed our parachute, altimeter, which is used to watch the altitude during the skydive, goggles and then shouted to me to follow him in to the aircraft. I swallowed hard and followed.

We used a smaller aircraft; only 8 skydivers could get on that plane. I didn’t realize until the plane took off that I was sitting in the front of the plane! I was jumping out first! At that very moment, I remember feeling extreme excitement [mixed with a heavy panic-feeling]. As Hein buckled us tightly together for the big jump, he talked about what to expect, how to position myself and asked questions about my feelings, etc. He kept telling me to take deep breaths. As the plane took off, all I could think was, “wow” there really is no turning back. This is it!

The jumpmasters were so relaxed. I was clearly the most frightened person on board. I looked back at Ron. His hands were flailing in the air with a strong two-thumbs-up. Seeing him so happy and ready to rock, made me feel better! I was anxiously-excited. In short, the guys were flippin’ crazy!

Time to JUMP

When we reached altitude after about 7 minutes, one jumper opened the door. That’s when it got cold and very loud. I was terrified! The first and only solo jumper takes off. Then… my turn. These next seconds were the most real seconds that I have ever experienced in my life. I have never been so aware of my surroundings.

Hein tells me to stand up and walk toward the door. I could hardly walk. Hein pretty much carried me to the door. As we take baby steps to the door, I felt numb. With my feet at the edge of the drop point, my hair flying crazy in the wind, Hein extends his hand in front of me and we softly rock back-and-forth … one, two

Panic or velocity?

For a few seconds, I had a sense of falling. Then, we fell faster and faster. After a while, about the first ten seconds, I could see the ground. It felt like a blast of cold air, like a massive air conditioner. There was no longer any sense of falling and speed. I felt like I was floating. It was so loud. We were dropping at about 125 MPH.

This is where things got interesting. Imagine taking a deep breath and not being able to fully exhale. I could hardly breathe. The wind was rushing against my body and face so strongly that I couldn’t even feel Hein behind me. In fact, I was slobbering! Spit was flying out of my mouth so fast. I think some of it hit Hein, poor guy. Good thing he wore a helmet and big goggles.

After 40 seconds of free falling, Hein pulled the ripcord. My legs jolted forward and I finally could breathe again! That was extremely enjoyable. Our parachute opened fast. Once the canopy opened, I felt completely OK. This is where I started to scream. A happy scream! The canopy flight, of course, was much slower than the free fall. As I looked left, I could see the Chicago skyline and then to the right, the Milwaukee skyline. Beautiful! I honestly remember feeling very uplifted, like I could do anything. As I write this, my heart beats so fast. It truly was the highlight of my life.

Landing was easy. Hein was a true professional. I’ll remember him always.

We all had a great experience! We celebrated the adventure at a nearby bar and grill with good food, drinks and lots of laughs!

Skydiving is by far the best adrenaline rush I have ever felt! I encourage everyone to do it at least once. It’s an experience that will always remind you to just live life. After all, isn’t that what life is really about?

Technorati Tags: my first skydiving experience, Random "Trish" Thoughts, Skydive Midwest, tandem skydive