A glimpse into the life of. . .

      KENNETH GARDNER

Not many people would actually choose to go back to high school, so we are lucky to have the brave few who do: high school teachers. We're even luckier when they're like Mr. Ken Gardner. 

He just finished his 13th year as a coach and English teacher at Jamestown High School. I took a couple of classes from him, but even if I hadn't it would have been impossible not to get to know him—and not just because of the size of the school and town. 

 He was always out in the hall talking to kids, serving as a coach, student council adviser, attending (and announcing at) sporting events, dances. . . pretty much everything. And there was always a genuine smile on his face, concern for students' well-being, a joke for someone having a rough day, and advice for anyone in need of guidance.

An all-around great guy with a good heart, he has some pretty excellent insight for us below.

Current job: High school English teacher, boys’ and girls’ cross country head coach, boys’ track and field head coach, student council adviser.

Dream job: Professional actor.

First job ever: Lawn care (mowing, raking, trimming, etc.).

First "grown-up" job: High school teacher/coach—my current job.

Why did you choose a teaching career? I went to law school for a year following college and student teaching.  While there, I realized that a life as a teacher would provide me with a much more balanced outlook on life.   

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When do most people go to a lawyer? When things are pretty bad: someone has committed a crime, someone is getting divorced, someone has died, etc. As a high school teacher/coach, yes there would be challenges and defeats, but there would also be the success stories to balance things out.

More specifically, what drew you to teaching English?  What originally drew me to English was the freedom that I had to choose the content through which I could teach and connect with my students.  Unfortunately, much of the freedom has disappeared.

What is your favorite part about your job? Something new every day: a new success, a new problem to solve.

What is the biggest challenge? Parents. Name a problem that a student has, and I will be able to tell you how the parents have caused/contributed to that problem.

How has the teaching profession changed since you started, and how do you envision it changing in the future? The field of teaching has become more and more legislated.  With all the new rules and regulations, the art of being a great teacher has largely been legislated away.

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What advice do you have for someone pursuing a similar career path? Don’t teach summer school. Get away and recharge the batteries!

What do you enjoy most about coaching? Seeing a student-athlete mature, commit and make good decisions.

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Do you have any advice on being a successful coach? Have a good plan, but be willing to adjust.

Any running tips? Listen to your body. Sometimes, a recovery day can be just as important as a hard workout.

What do you wish you knew when you were 20? How hard it is to find the right woman.

When you are 50, what do you want to be able to say when you look back at this moment in your life? That I made the right choices, both professionally and personally.

How do you define success? By the number of people whose lives you changed for the better.

Who has been your biggest influence, personally or professionally, and why? My dad, Kenneth C. Gardner, Jr. He was a high school teacher with a passion for what he did.

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What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time? Reading, biking, attending concerts.

What is number one on your bucket list? Attend an Olympic track and field meet.

Favorite ice cream flavor: Mint chocolate chip.

Thank you, Ken!

Friday Favorites

I don't know what it is about music in the summer, but it always seems a little extra special—well, probably because winter is horrible and summer is not. And it's a lot more fun to sing along to a song that's blasting when you're on a boat or driving around with the windows rolled down instead of while shoveling snow or praying the car heater will kick in before you reach your destination instead of the second you arrive.

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All week, local radio DJs have been discussing what will be the '2014 Song of Summer.' From what I've gathered through them and the many speculations online, the main contenders include Iggy Azalea's "Fancy," Sam Smith's "Stay With Me," Paramore's "Ain't it Fun," Ariana Grande's "Problem," and Calvin Harris' "Summer."

Honestly, I think the only deserving one out of these and the others I didn't bother naming is "Fancy," but I'm also hoping for something a little easier for me to belt out at the top of my lungs when it plays every 30 minutes. My current obsession is Magic's "Rude," and that will probably be my personal summer song since my mind will always just automatically go there when I hear it.

As I await the next overly-poppy pop song that everyone but me will grow to hate, here are 15 favorites from summers past:

"I'm Gonna Be" - The Proclaimers (1993)

"Waterfalls" - TLC (1995)

"MMMBop" - Hanson (1997)

"I Want It That Way"  - Backstreet Boys (1999)

"It's Gonna Be Me" - NYSNC (2000)

"Complicated" - Avril Lavigne (2002)

"Hips Don't Lie" - Shakira (2006)

"Umbrella" - Rihanna/Jay-Z (2007)

"Leavin" - Jesse McCartney (2008)

"Airplanes" - B.o.B/Hayley Williams (2010)

"Rolling In The Deep" - Adele (2011)

"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen (2012)

"Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye/Kimbra (2012)

"Cruise" - Florida Georgia Line/Nelly (2013)

"Closer" - Tegan and Sara (2013)

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After reading back through this list, I feel the need to remind you I am not 15 years old. Have a good weekend!

DOs and DON'Ts of getting back on track

I'm BACK after a week of shoveling a ridiculous amount of "food" into my face, a day and a half of food poisoning-fueled misery and a week of attempting to recover from said misery (aka no workouts and lots of plain, white carbs). 

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I could NOT have handled that Jordon Almond.

I've never experienced that before, and while I know it was from something specific I carelessly scarfed down, I think it was also a pretty big wake-up call from my body, begging me to stop treating it so poorly by giving in to every tiny (and not so tiny) craving.

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As you have probably realized, I am anything but consistent in my quest to maintain a truly balanced, healthy lifestyle. And Jared hears this just about every Monday, but I've never felt more determined to eat smarter and really just treat myself better. Getting back on track after a slip-up is never easy. I know better than almost anyone.

With all of my "starting over" experience, I have discovered some things that work and many things (obviously) that don't. Here are some tips from yours truly, but please keep in mind I am obviously no expert and this mostly serves as a reminder list for what I should be doing!

DON'T feel so hopeless (because it will seem that way at the beginning) that you just give up completely and go back down the path of drowning your sorrows in whatever calorie-laden grub you can get your hands the fastest.
 
DO eat! The worst thing to do is suddenly eliminate several food groups or vow to follow an absurdly restrictive diet. 

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DON'T compare yourself to others or even yourself five or 10 years ago. I have a picture from four years ago I look at more often than I want to admit and wish I could go back to looking like that, but I need to base everything off of what I am now and what I can be in the future. That is the only "competition" involved.

DO realize it takes time - just like any other hard thing in life. 

DON'T copy someone's diet or workout routine because it probably won't have the same effect on you. Definitely use plenty of people and sources for ideas and motivation, but don't blindly follow your friend, roommate, yoga instructor or favorite celebrity.

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DO come up with a better motivator than the mirror. I think one of my big problems is that I base my desire to eat and work out better off of simply wanting to look better. But it's about so much more: your health, your energy, how you feel, etc. What has recently struck me pretty hard is that, as a Christian (and in most religions, I believe), we are taught that our bodies are temples - essentially gifts from God. Looking at it that way, I would feel pretty terrible choosing snarfing down garbage over treating my body in the respectful manner it deserves, especially since there are certain things I never partake of (like alcohol, tobacco, etc.). So why do I justify a tub of ice cream as OK when those things are not?

DON'T start too strong. Whether you've missed a week or two months' worth of workouts, don't jump back in too fast because it will backfire.

DO set realistic goals that you can follow on a long-term basis (well, basically forever). Start slow and gradually work your way back; you'll be more likely to keep going and continue to improve your fitness.

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DON'T reward yourself with food. For me, food = reward. I need to transition to food = nutrients that fuel healthy living, not just pleasure.

DO learn to listen to your body. I never bother to listen to my body because my mind is always screaming, "TREATS!" But it was loud and clear last week when it was screaming, "STOP!" It is a process, though, so be patient.

DON'T just wing your workouts. Plan them at least a week in advance so they're built into your schedule and you know what you're going to do.

DO incorporate new classes, exercises, running routes, playlists, etc. They challenge your mind and body.

DON'T feel like you have to tell people that you're trying to make a change. A lot of people say it helps hold you accountable, and if it does, great, but you should be doing it for yourself in the first place, and that should be enough.

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DO post motivational quotes, pictures or other reminders in places you'll actually see them. I have plenty of these sitting on Pinterest, but I only see them if I'm on Pinterest. Hang them on mirrors, the fridge, your car, make them your phone or computer background.....anywhere you look often.

DON'T forget the power of sleep! When I get obsessed with making sure I follow through with every workout, I'll stay up until 1:30 AM if that's the only time I have to exercise....only to then get four or five hours of sleep and completely reverse any of those benefits.

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DO ask yourself how you will feel after eating something before actually eating it.

DON'T get mad  at yourself or overreact when you end up not making the smartest choice, whether it's skipping a workout or forgetting that portion sizes also apply to desserts.

DO forgive yourself because you will never be perfect . . .

. . . but DON'T make excuses. I can rationalize anything. Don't.

DO take care of and love yourself because you deserve it, and DON'T you forget that!
 

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Friday Favorites

I have worked downtown since I moved to Minneapolis almost four years ago. I've had four different jobs in two different companies within just a few blocks of each other (on 6th and 7th streets), so I have become incredibly familiar with the skyway eats in that specific area.

Take a quick look at this Wikipedia entry about our skyway system in case you have no idea what I'm talking about.

There are a ridiculous amount of restaurants within these indoor sidewalks only open for prime lunch hours Monday-Friday. I will no longer be working downtown (yesterday was my last day!), so I will miss being surrounded by so many options (and smells); but I think my stomach will appreciate it.

Today I am sharing my absolute five places to go if you ever find yourself downtown in the skyway any time between 10 AM and 2 or 3 PM. Keep in mind, there are a lot of places I never tried because I usually kept to the general area I knew, but you can find so much more if you do a little exploring of your own!

1. Andrea Pizza

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Oh, the dough. This is not only my favorite skyway pizza, but probably the best pizza I've had anywhere. The slices are HUGE, and every bite is so worth whatever crazy amount of calories there are.

2. Allie's Deli & Catering

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Amazing customer service - and even better food. From breakfast sandwiches to their sought-after scones to amazing sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, tacos, chili.....I can go on forever. And don't get me started on their scotcharoos. Seriously, just go here as soon as you can.

3. Good to Go

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They serve Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups, but all you need to get hooked is their white aioli sauce. Ah. I could easily drink the stuff. Ask for extra in the chicken kabob bowl, and you will be anything but disappointed.

4. Macy's Sky Room

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Lunch at Macy's? Most definitely. Set up cafeteria-style on the 12th floor above Macy's department store, you get great food with a great view. Whether you're up for unlimited trips to the salad bar or craving anything from pasta or Mexican to a deli sandwich, they've got you covered.

5. Classic Cookie Co.

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OK, so it doesn't exactly count as lunch, but the cookies are too good to not be included. They are ginormous, and there are so many flavors! I never ventured much further than the peanut butter monster, but I guarantee any one will make your day.

Have a great weekend!

A glimpse into the life of . . .

      SHEA DURHAM

I met Shea about 10 years ago while playing soccer in high school. He was attending Jamestown College and joined us as an assistant coach. I loved playing soccer more than anything else but didn't exactly display the best attitude or behavior at times (if you can even imagine). But he was always so patient and kind, firm when necessary and always overflowing with an insane amount of knowledge.

When I sent him a Facebook message to ask if he'd answer some questions for this fun, little blog of mine, I saw that the last message I sent him was from five years ago when I asked if I could feature him in a special edition story I was working on for The Jamestown Sun. He always sticks out in my mind when I think of interesting people to write about or talk to because of the passion he has for soccer. I swear he knows absolutely everything about the sport, and his love for it was very inspiring as a player and still is today just as someone who appreciates a passionate soul.

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For Shea, life has always been about soccer. As he says, "I started playing when I was a little tyke and haven't had a break from soccer since." He grew up in Washington and started coaching competitive youth teams at age 16. When he moved to Jamestown for school, he assisted the women's team as well as our girls' team at the high school. He was soon after hired as the head coach for the boys' team and then also for the girls. In 2009 he was hired as the assistant director of coaching for Red River Soccer in Fargo, which eventually merged into Tri-City Soccer. In 2012 he was hired into his current position: technical director for the North Dakota Soccer Association.

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Current job: I am currently the technical director for North Dakota Soccer Association.

Dream job: I am not sure. I like educating coaches and players. I am currently doing that so I am not sure there is anything else. Maybe in another beautiful country.

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First job ever: When I was 17 I was hired as an assistant manager at an indoor soccer center.

First "grown-up" job: I think my first job was pretty grown up. I believe every job is grown up.

What draws you to soccer? The creativity and lack of structure needed to develop. Soccer is really a player's sport. They make the decisions and there are many right ones and wrong ones in any particular circumstance. Players are given creative authority over those decisions.

What is your favorite part of your job? Being around the kids that are enthusiastic about learning.

What is the most challenging aspect? The every day struggles of education. Generally, people don't like change and trying to get everyone on the same page is tough sometimes.

What is it like to transform from player to coach? It's difficult. . . but easy? You understand where the players are coming from and where they are going, so you can relate more with them so soccer becomes important. It is also difficult in the same way, as you have to understand how people that didn't grow up with soccer or in a culture of soccer just don't understand some things. That is why education becomes so important.

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What advice do you have for someone pursuing a similar career path? Watch and learn from other coaches.

What age group is your favorite to coach and why? I really like nine and 10-year-olds. They are just big sponges and it is all about developing skill at that age. The oldest ages are fun because the game gets more tactical and you can play a little bit of a role in the outcome.

When you are 50, what do you want to be able to say when you look back at this moment in your life? I just want to look back and know that I had a positive effect on children's lives.

How do you define success?  I copy John Wooden on this one. "Success is knowing you did the best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Who has been your biggest influence, personally or professionally, and why?  There isn't a specific someone besides my parents, of course. I have many coaching influences, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?  Anything to wind down a bit: golf, the lake cabin, watching soccer, travel.

Number one on your bucket list: Go to the World Cup.

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Favorite ice cream flavor: I am not a big ice cream guy (aka crazy) ... chocolate probably. My mom and I used to go to the grocery store and get chocolate ice cream and a movie to watch so it has some meaning as well.

Thank you, Shea!