From Fat To Finish Line the documentary Nashville Premiere

So the last few weeks have been an exciting whirl-wind. I'm practically pinching myself that it all just happened.

Official movie poster! 

After three years in the making, From Fat to Finish Line the documentary premiered at the Nashville Film Festival this past week.

My "industry pass" and screening tickets

Wow. What a trip.

It was exciting and nerve-wracking to think that the film we've labored over for years (and one that showcases one of the most difficult runs of my life) was going to be viewed by strangers on an enormous screen and in a real-live movie theater. 

It started with a little more than half the team traveling to Nashville to be a part of the screening. A few of the team couldn't be there for various reasons and that was the toughest part. It made everything just slightly bitter-sweet because I kept thinking of them and wishing them there. I know that it was hard on them to not be there as well and that made me sad. We are planning on doing quite a few festivals so I'm sure that everyone will get the chance to see it on the big screen and enjoy a festival so that is the good news. 

Aside from Linda who came in a little later that day and Carly who came in for the second screening later that week, the team who was there and myself decided to kick off the premiere day by running a local 5K. It was fantastic and fun. Every run should be filled with that kind of joy.

Allison, Me, Rik, Lealah, Meredith, John

Then we had a nice post race brunch in a fun Nashville spot, relaxed for a bit and got ready for the premiere!  

There was a red carpet and we got interviewed and pictures taken! 

Me

The team and Director:

Allison, Meredith, Rik, Lealah, John, Linda, Me, and Angela

We had two screenings with Q&A's afterward. 

We were flying high and then Runner's World ran an online story about the premiere! How fricken cool.  You can see the article here and they even linked to the trailer. 

People seemed to really love the movie. 

Here's a girl with her own amazing story who wanted a picture with Carly and I after the second screening. Stuff like this makes all the hard work worth it. I was just blown away:

Carly, Annette, Me 

The plan right now is to do a festival circuit of various cities (I will let you know where and when) and then be ready to distribute for the public by January. 

It leaves me speechless. Who knew that all those years ago when I decided to pick up a pair of running sneakers, and try to run for a minute and made an audacious goal of running a race that it would lead to all this stuff? God/the universe/ whatever you want to call it just works in mysterious ways. I'm so thankful and grateful for this journey. 

XO

Jen 

The good news and not so great news

Our movie poster up at the theater! The red guitar! 

Hello running buddies!

Last week I was in Nashville to celebrate the world premiere of the film I worked on as a producer, "Happy On The Ground: 8 Days at GRAMMY Camp," at the Nashville Film Festival.

It was an exciting week and an awesome experience to see our film on the big screen in front of an audience of strangers -- all who seemed to really love the film. We followed our screening with a really cool after-party that was hosted by Ben Folds. It was neat.

Of course all this moving and shaking left me with little running time. I am proud to say I got a few miles in while in Nashville. It was beautiful there. I did a paltry little 2 mile walk/run the first day (I was super dehydrated and had about 20 minutes to kill) and then I did a four miler.  While it was a far cry from what I should've been doing, the pride comes in because I had to find that time and in the past I wouldn't have done anything at all. At least I gave it a shot and hopefully, next time, I'll give it a better shot.

Upon my return this past Thursday, my schedule has not become lighter and I'm yet to really run miles I should be. But, again, I'm proud of what I'm getting in. 2 miles, 3 miles, 2 miles and five miles today. (I was going to do 6 today but the heat broke me down and I walked the last home - teaches me to remember to bring my water!)

While I'm not doing what I'd like to/supposed to be doing but I'm doing something which is more than the old me would be doing -- I'm rolling with the punches and stealing in time when I can. This week I plan to hunker down and concentrate in being in good enough form to run/walk/crawl this marathon in June. OY. I wish I had 2 more months!

So the good news is, I'm hanging in. I'm not throwing in the towel - I'm not giving up. This is great news for me who's always been so black and white - if I couldn't run 8 miles on an 8 mile day, then I'd do nothing. So even if it's only 2 out of 8 - while it's not ideal it's better than nothing. The not so great news… well, I'm woefully behind in training and it's going to make the marathon even more challenging. Eh. It is what it is as they say.

I have plans on getting the 16 I was supposed to do over the weekend either tomorrow or Tuesday morning - really early in the morn -- and then this weekend I run the Jersey Shore half - My anniversary run! I'm looking forward to it, though a little bummed that no one is going down with me. I'm on my own. I'll have to be content to run for the bling and the cool strangers rooting me on. Someday, I'll have someone with a sign out there for me :)

And sad news - Sara at Words to Run by lost her mom this past Thursday. Her mom was a runner and training for her first quarter marathon and suddenly passed away. My heart is heavy for Sara and today I spent most of my run thinking of her. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

XO
Jen

Film Festivals, Cupcakes and Determination

Hello,

Yay! 

I am sorry, I know I have been the crappiest blogger ever lately. I just have been super busy with stuff. First of all the documentary film that I co-produced Happy on the Ground: 8 Days at GRAMMY Camp, has been accepted into the Nashville Film Festival! Yippee!! So we've been up to our eyeballs prepping for that. Here's the movie poster. If you're in Nashville, swing by a screening and say hi! (Plus, the film is really great - if I do say so myself.) =)

You can view the trailer here.

I've also been working hard on multiple other projects, being a mom, etc, etc… I know. Cry ya a river. We're all friggen busy.

In any case, I've been getting back up to speed (once again - thanks Lesley!) with the running. I've been quietly getting up extra early, putting in my miles and just doing it. Today I only did 4 out of 6 because I didn't get up early enough so I'll make those up.

I am very excited about Jason's Cupcake Marathon this weekend - I am sending the positive vibes into the universe that I win the spibelt - I need one, money is tight and the leather fanny pack I've been using just isn't cutting it- LOL.  Coach Lesley has me down to run a 12 miler on Saturday but I'm going to go for 13 so I get my virtual 1/2 marathon in!  Jason's rules allows us to break up the run but I figure, "eh, why do that?" I'm arunnin' it straight.

And speaking of coach Lesley - I've got a new roomie for San Diego! Lesley from Racing It Off and Sherry (my newest blog follower - hi Sherry!) Have extended an invite for me to shack up with them for the SD RNR marathon in June. I'm excited and think it's going to be a great weekend. (Although I'm in a panic about being properly prepared… I'm just doing my best, doing my best…)

And (thanks Nik) today's RunnersWorld quote from Jeff Galloway says:

"The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey."

And more inspiration comes from this Jack Canfield blog post I read today, entitled, "The Power of Determination." Feeling a little uncertain and very "off" lately and this read really struck home.

I would encourage you to read the post, it's a quick read but I especially loved what he had to say about adversity:

Adversity and Discouragement Is Inevitable

No matter how well you plan and how well you execute your plan, you are bound to meet with disappointments, setbacks and failure along the way to your ultimate triumph...  

...The longer you hang in there, the greater the chance that something will happen in your favor. No matter how hard it seems, the longer you persist, the more likely your success will be. 

As Confucius wrote more than 4000 years ago in China, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” 

Hope you all are doing great - what's going on with you?


XO
Jen