Water Stories: A Brief History of Lake Mendota Swim Crossings

This article was written in 2010 at the request of Madison, Wisconsin ultra-distance athlete Darren Fortney. As an athlete with a remarkable story to tell, Darren was a recipient of the Focal Flame Honoring the Athlete award. The prize included a photo essay and custom-commissioned article. 

Each year, Darren leads a group of swimmers in a 6-mile swim traversing Lake Mendota as a fund-raising effort for Gilda’s Club, a cancer support and advocacy organization. As a history buff, he wanted to place the ultra-swim in historical context. Focal Flame co-founder Robyn Perrin interviewed a local boat captain and historian, Donald Sanford, whose book “On Fourth Lake: The Social History of Lake Mendota” is scheduled to be released in August, 2015. Sanford gave permission for some of his research on “lake swimmers”, as he calls them, to be included in this article. Additionally, Robyn interviewed local Madison resident Joe Silverberg, who swam the lake in the mid-1940s, when he was 16. We hope you enjoy the stories they shared and invite you to cheer on the 2015 Gills for Gilda’s swimmers - who will take on the lake once again on June 19, 2015, having raised nearly $8,000 dollars to support cancer patients and their families. 

Hydrogeographic map of Lake Mendota, 1900

To learn the history of Lake Mendota is to pay homage to ice. Not the foot and a half of ice that caps it on average every winter, but the massive glacial sheets that birthed the lake during the “Wisconsin Stage” of Pleistocene glaciation, beginning about 50,000 years ago. Over the span of nearly 38,000 years, glaciers scraped across a 600-foot-deep river valley. The Yahara River flowed underneath. Advancing and retreating again and again, the edge of the glacier scraped out hollows in the landscape, scuffing out four lake beds like a child digging its toes into the dirt.

One of the lake beds was later named “Mendota” by the Ho-Chunk tribe, which is reported to mean “The Lake Where the Indian Lies.” The name refers to a tribal story in which the lake was created by the splashing of a Ho-Chunk brave who turned into a spirit fish, then joined a maiden in the largest of the Four Lakes.

Throughout history, people living in the Yahara River region have been fascinated with Lake Mendota. At an average depth of 41.7 feet and reaching a maximum of 83 feet deep, it is a substantial yet intimate inland body of water. Edged with multiple bluffs, bays, points, rivers and creeks, and punctuated with Governor's Island, it is laced with opportunities for close inspection despite its size. 

Generations of Madison residents have done just that – exploring, boating, fishing, rowing, and watching the lake. But in spending the past five years researching Lake Mendota history, local boat captain Donald Sanford also kept coming across accounts of people who had sought an even more personal communion with lake – by swimming across it. He started referring to these individuals as “Lake Swimmers“ and began keeping track of news reports dating to the late 1800s. 

Wisconsin State Journal, August 6, 1930

Many of the reported lake swimmers were adolescents - perhaps a reflection of teenagers' curiosity, access to leisure time in the summer, and their youthful athleticism. Summer camps lining Lake Mendota surely played a role as well. Camp Indianola was a private boy's camp operating from 1906 until 1967 located at what is now Governor Nelson State Park. A meticulously detailed 1910 catalog advertising the camp assured parents, “Every boy is taught to paddle a canoe, row a boat, and swim....last season there were a number of excellent swimmers in camp. One of our boys made a record swim of five and one half miles. A number of others swam one, two, and three miles.“ Public swimming in the lakes, however, had only been acceptable for generation or so by that time, as swimming was illegal in Madison until 1879.

Colorful lake swimmer characters include "Dr. Joe Dean," likely the same Joseph Dean who founded the Dean Clinic in 1904 that would later become Dean HMO, who swam Mendota in 1899. Later, James “Jimmy“ Julian, captain of the swim team at Central High School (which was later demolished to make way for expansion of the University of Wisconsin) traversed the lake several times in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Mina Fox, a visiting student from Chicago, swam from Bernards Park to Adams Hall in 1930, only to be accused afterwards of faking the swim by skeptical reporters. (She responded indignantly.) 

Another notable duo were Charley Bran, the only person reported to have swum the entire shoreline perimeter of Lake Mendota, and his son Stan Bran, who attempted to repeat his father's feat 10 years afterward in 1939 but was unsuccessful due to conditions. Longtime Madison residents may remember Stan Bran as the host of the television show Outdoor Calling, which ran on Channel 15 for 29 years. 

Interestingly, a rash of swim crossings occurred during the Great Depression in the 1930s, which Sanford attributes to the lure of cheap outdoor recreation during hard economic times, and perhaps the universal appeal of meeting an individual challenge when so many lives were in turmoil.

The most remarkable story is that of Peter Foseid, who was reported to have swum a five-mile course from Tenney Park to Camp Indianola in 1930. The Capital Times reported that Foseid had had his leg amputated eight inches below the hip in 1921 following an injury incurred in a football game. A junior at UW and counselor at Camp Wakanda, Foseid reportedly followed his five-mile swim by playing a baseball game, for which he donned his wooden leg. If his reported swim time is indeed accurate, his pace of 1.70 min per 100 yards is the fastest of any other lake swimmer profiled in news accounts. He also swam across the lake on at least one other occasion, in 1932.

YMCA Camp Wakanda Swimmers, June, 1945 

One Madison resident, Joe Silverberg, was happy to share his memories of his Lake Mendota swim crossings in the mid-1940s. Joe Silverberg traversed the lake in 1946 at the age of 16, and two years later his sister Sally completed the same distance. When asked if either he or his sister swam competitively in high school, Silverberg said, "No - we were water rats. We just swam for recreation. We all lived on Sherman Avenue, and of course the lake was our recreation during the summer."

Although it became a family tradition, Silverberg stated that his own swim crossing was not pre-planned. “One day the lake was dead calm, and we [Silverberg and two friends] decided we should swim across the lake. But for the last half of the swim, a wind from the north kicked up and so I was fighting against it the rest of the day.“ He continued, “The moral of the story is that it's much better planning if you swim on a day when there's a south wind.“

Joe was accompanied by a friend in a rowboat, and he later rowed with his sister during her swim, a safety measure that both siblings deemed essential. When asked about the most memorable part of his own lake crossing, though, his thoughts turned to the most basic of athletic needs: nutrition. “The person in the rowboat fed us along the way - Hershey bars - which is exactly the wrong thing to do,“ he said. Laughing, he explained, “In those days we thought that eating chocolate gave you instant energy. We've since found out that it doesn't.“

Caption on a photo dated July, 1955, reads, "Tia Nelson, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Nelson...dives into Lake Mendota. She was one of Madison's most outstanding young swimmers."

Silverberg's tone grew quieter as he talked about the pollution that has since befallen Lake Mendota, and offered an explanation. He speculated that development of the private, artificial Lake Cherokee in the 1950s drained the marsh land that was within and near the Yahara River, preventing absorption of agricultural runoff from the dairy lands north of Madison. The result was effluent flowing into the lake, both polluting it and triggering algal blooms.

Water quality remains a tremendous issue for Lake Mendota, as well as the three other lakes in the region. But while pollution and preservation of healthy lake ecology will continue to be a challenge well into the future, the timeless pull of Mendota will surely persist and compel residents to treasure it.

And, of course, to swim across it.

Girls on the Run: One in a Million

In the photography industry, numbers tell a story. They tell a story of aperture, ISO, shutter speed, processing time for an editing workflow, select rate, downloads, and for digital photography even the magical aspect of translating a visual story through the 1s and 0s of a binary machine language. 

For Girls on the Run, numbers tell a story as well. They tell a story of empowerment, and impact, and engagement. They tell of a generation transformed through movement, joy, and conversation. And this year, they mark one million girls served by Girls on the Run International.

Focal Flame is indescribably proud to have served local chapter of Girls on the Run (GOTR) since 2011. So, as we celebrate the “one in a million” (or #M1LLION) campaign by the national organization, we’d like to take a moment to share the story of Girls on the Run-Dane County, by the numbers:  

• Date Girls on the Run Dane County was founded: October 27, 2004. (National organization founded in 1996)
• First season for Girls on the Run-Dane County: 13 girls
• Number of girls served by GOTR-Dane County since then: over 6,000
• Number of volunteer coaches: over 1,500
• Number of teams: 360
• Number of Dane County sites for Girls on the Run: 65
• Grades served: 3rd through 5th (Girls on the Run), 6th through 8th (Girls on Track)
• Scholarships awarded by GOTR-Dane County: over $175,000
• GOTR-Dane County race photos taken by Focal Flame Photography: over 18,000

Keep the numbers, and the smiles, going - join us for the spring Girls on the Run Dane County 5K on June 6, 2015 at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg, WI, volunteer, or donate!

- by Robyn M. Perrin

Taking Care of Business: Mad City Labs

Nano: The word rolls off the tongue as if it could be a name for a garage band or a cartoon character, but when affixed to units of length, it’s simply a term to designate the nanometer: 0.000000001 meters long. Objects this tiny are the focus of Mad City Labs, a technical microscopy equipment company in Madison, Wisconsin that recently asked Focal Flame Photography to help create images of some of their extremely specialized - and often, extremely small - scientific products.

Tiny doesn’t begin to describe the realities of nano-land, because even the most infinitesimally small tangible examples are measured in hundreds to thousands of nanometers (nm). Run a page between your fingers; it’s about 250,000 nanometers thick. At 75,000 nanometers, a human hair, while small, is still visible to the naked eye. Think smaller, think cellular. At about 5,000 nanometers, the human red blood cell is invisible without a light microscope. Though this same microscope has a tough time locating, at 800 nanometers, a dust particle. Far more powerful instruments and techniques are needed to visualize the virus that causes influenza, which is about 100 nanometers wide, or to study the structure of the “molecule of life,” the DNA helix, which is two nanometers wide. 

It’s difficult to detect anything this small let alone manipulate it - and yet, Madison, Wisconsin-based Mad City Labs develops and sells exceptionally specialized equipment such as nanopositioners that aid nanotechnology research. Much of the recent boom in this field was driven by development of instruments like atomic force microscopes, scanning tunneling electron microscopes, and others that allow visualization of nanometer-sized structures.  Today there are a breathtaking number of ways to leverage nanotechnology. Researchers are developing advanced materials for use in cars, airplanes, construction materials, and consumer goods. With the aid of ‘smart’ nanoparticles, disease-fighting drugs can be delivered to a specific place in human body in just the right amount. The unique conductive properties of some nanomaterials could be critical to making renewable energy feasible, or could lead to the next advanced computer chips. All of these real-world applications of nanotechnology require extraordinary tools. Jenice Con Foo, marketing manager at Mad City Labs, explains more about the company and its innovations.  

Focal Flame Photography (FFP): How long has your company been in business? How/why was the company started?
Mad City Labs (MCL): Mad City Labs was founded in 1999 in two basements in Madison (because it was way too cold to use the garage!) Our company manufactures and designs precision motion devices called nanopositioning systems that can position objects at the nanometer level.  In 1999 there was only one or two foreign owned companies supplying this to the entire industry – there was definitely an opportunity to enter the market and produce innovative products that meet the needs of researchers and industry leaders.

FFP: What is your company known for within your industry?
MCL: We are well-known for our innovative approach to instrument design and being flexible in our approach to providing solutions.  Within the scientific research community we are known for the technical expertise of our sales and support engineers.  We leverage our technical expertise with nanopositioning and our extensive scientific knowledge-base to provide instrument solutions.  This differentiates us from our competitors who simply focus on their specific product and not the application.

FFP: What do you find most exciting or fulfilling about the work you do?
MCL: One of the most exciting parts of our work is assisting customers and researchers who are at the confluence of biology, physics and chemistry.  On any given day we could be hearing about really exciting research into understanding the nature of molecular and atomic structure within living organisms or materials.  We have been privileged to work with several Nobel Prize winners and as scientists we are not immune to the occasional geek-out moment!

FFP: What are some of the most frequent questions you hear about your company?
MCL: [We are often asked] Why are we located in Wisconsin instead of Silicon Valley? 
We are located in Madison because we the founders like living here!  However, it was also a confluence of events – the rise of the internet as a searchable directory of goods, an educated and skilled workforce, and a really solid manufacturing industry.  All of these factors really contributed to Mad City Labs being able to thrive in Madison rather than having to move to Silicon Valley or the East Coast.
 
FFP: Are there any ways that your company tries to “give back” to the local community? How?
MCL: At the local level we have an ongoing sponsorship with West Madison Little League to sponsor baseball and softball teams.  This gives us an opportunity to continue the legacy of little league baseball on the West Side of Madison.

FFP: If you could give advice to someone considering entering into this line of business, what would it be?
MCL: The advice we would offer any business at the start-up phase is to have a detailed plan with a timeline.  Any plan you develop must be flexible to allow you to seize opportunities IF they further your objectives.  Then, 100% commit to your business – don’t do it on the side!  All that planning deserves 100% of your time and resources to be successful.

FFP: How will you be using the photos Focal Flame provided?
MCL: The photos taken by Focal Flame have already been used on our exhibit backdrop as large format pictures.  They will also be used as part of our catalog photos and technical brochures for selected products.

FFP: Any thoughts you’d like to share about the photography experience?
MCL: We have very challenging products to photograph and both Clint and Josh brought a lot of creativity and patience to the project.  The scale of our products run from objects 1 inch tall to over 12 inches tall with lots of intricate parts, Focal Flame found ways to photograph our products to communicate the precision of our devices.  The overall photo shoot was incredibly collaborative and I would strongly recommend Focal Flame for any technical or product photography.

Big or small, regardless of the industry, Focal Flame is dedicated to showing your products in their best light. Learn more about commercial photography services from Focal Flame.  

- by Robyn M. Perrin

Take Two: the Wisconsin Du Series

Love the idea of multisport, but not so into swimming? Or perhaps you’re a triathlete seeking a great dry land race? Check out the Wisconsin Du Series, a season-long fling with just two things – biking and running. With races from June to October and locations in south-central and southeastern Wisconsin, the series offers a beautiful way to explore the state and some great competitive experiences. 

Focal Flame Photography is honored to offer free FocalShare™ race photos at all Wisconsin Du Series events produced by Tick Tock Timing. To learn more about the series and its kickoff event, the Cooney Duathlon on Saturday, May 23, 2015, we caught up with Paul Eicher of Tick Tock Timing.

Focal Flame Photography: For those who have never done a duathlon before, what should they expect from the Wisconsin Du Series races?
Paul Eicher/Tick Tock Timing: They should expect a fun, safe and challenging multisport event - A professionally produced race with a big event mentality and a hometown feel.

FFP: How does the points system work for this series? 
TTT: The Wisconsin DU Series consists of 5 Duathlons throughout the spring, summer and fall months in the Milwaukee and Madison area. Coveted series point are awarded following each event, and championship awards are presented at the end of the series. The first place male and female receive the total amount of allotted points for the race, with points descending for each place thereafter. Details on the series rules can be found on our series info page on our website. 

FFP: What is the course like for the Cooney Duathlon? 
TTT: The Cooney Duathlon course includes a 2 mile flat and fast out-and-back run with music at the turn around point, a 20 mile bike course with rolling hills, and another 2 miles of running. This provides great opportunities to see fellow competitors pushing themselves before smiling your way through to the finish line for the camera. It’s a good course to test your limits and push yourself harder than you normally might for a longer event. 

FFP: How can experienced athletes leverage the Wisconsin Du Series as part of their competitive season? 
TTT: A duathlon has the same fun and thrilling atmosphere as a triathlon but without the cold swim. It’s a challenging event but offers a great way for new multisport athletes to get into the sport. Some athletes use duathlon series races as more of a "training race" to get a GREAT workout in and practice race specific skills before other "A" races in their season. Other athletes use duathlon series races as their main focus to test themselves and push their bodies to the limits year-round. 

FFP: Any advice for those beginning multisport athletes who aren't familiar with bike-run or run-bike transitions? 
TTT: Yes, I have three tips for beginning multisport athletes who are not familiar with transitions. 
•    Practice makes perfect
•    Keep it simple 
•    Take your time
Don't be afraid to ask a friend or look online for help or to practice in your lawn before race day. You will be glad you did.

FFP: What makes the Wisconsin Du Series special? 
TTT: We welcome everyone with open arms into the Wisconsin Duathlon Series – speed-focused or fun-focused, all ages, young, male, female, experienced and beginners alike. We pride ourselves in putting on events for YOU and giving you the personal attention you deserve. Our mission is simple:  we help people have fun, get active, and smile. I believe that helps make the Duathlon series special, and we also set ourselves apart by offering the only Duathlon series in the area.

FFP: What else would you like participants to know?
TTT: A portion of every Duathlon series event registration goes to Team Marissa, a non-profit near and dear to our hearts. Team Marissa was founded to honor the amazing life of Marissa Lieblang, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of five. The purpose of Team Marissa is not only to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research but to help those families who are currently affected by childhood cancer. 

Additionally, during the Cooney Duathlon we will be announcing the news and opening up registration for the big new EPIC Duathlon series championship. Discounted pricing for the 2015 EPIC Duathlon will be offered to 2015 Cooney Duathlon participants. Check out our Facebook Page and website for news and updates.

Madison Marathon and myTEAM TRIUMPH: Everyone Wins

A myTEAM TRIUMPH team approaches the finish line of the 2014 Madison Marathon Twilight 10K. © Focal Flame Photography | Credit: Clint Thayer

Rita Kelliher, executive director of Madison Festivals Inc. – the volunteer organization behind Madison Marathon – wants to make something perfectly clear: This race is for everyone. “Madison does not belong exclusively to the people who have the good fortune to live here.  She is the fair daughter of the entire state,” said Kelliher, explaining that funds raised by the Madison Marathon – over $20,000 during the spring events and $28,000 during the fall race – go to local charities rather than a purse for pro athletes.

A Captain crosses the finish line of the 2014 Madison Marathon Twilight 10K under her own power, celebrated and supported by her Angels. Photo © 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Credit: Austin Cope.  

It was only fitting, then, that volunteers with the main charity partner of the Spring Madison Marathon are also committed heart and soul to creating opportunities for everyone. myTEAM TRIUMPH is a non-profit that pairs physically challenged athletes (“Captains”) together with able-bodied volunteer athletes (“Angels”) to participate in endurance races, creating inclusion for individuals with varied abilities in events they may not otherwise have experienced. A total of 17 myTEAM TRIUMPH teams will race the Madison Half Marathon or Twilight 10K. 

myTEAM TRIUMPH Race Director Kristin Schmidt said, "The partnership we have with Madison Marathon events has been an important factor in the success for myTEAM TRIUMPH Central Region - Wisconsin since our beginnings in the Madison area.” Schmidt explained that the willingness of Madison Marathon to host so many teams inspires participation both within myTEAM TRIUMPH, and for spectators – some of whom may become motived to volunteer as a team member or support the group in other ways. “We at myTeam Triumph are truly blessed to be supported by this great race organization,” said Schmidt. Kelliher reinforced the importance of the relationship, saying, “Our hope by supporting myTEAM TRIUMPH was that they would inspire runners and spectators to serve its community, with needs as diverse as its people, and give challenged people the thrill many able-bodied individuals take for granted.”

While describing  the teams (most consisting of one Captain and three Angels), Schmidt said, “At each training events our captains cannot contain their excitement for the upcoming race weekend.” The Madison Half Marathon on Sunday will also include an elite team (one Captain and one Angel). This super-charged duo is Captain Josilyn and her uncle Scott McDermott. Even better: Sunday is Josilyn’s birthday. 

Schmidt encouraged all spectators to make some noise from the sidelines, saying, “Every captain loves hearing their name cheered, so don't forget, if you come across one of our incredible Captains, let them hear you!!!"

To learn more about the work of myTEAM TRIUMPH, watch the video that Focal Flame produced for the organization’s fall 2014 Gala fundraising dinner. 

Interested in getting involved with myTEAM TRIUMPH? Contact them to volunteer, refer a Captain, become an Angel, or donate a gift. 

This article is part of a series featuring the 2015 Madison Marathon event in 2015. Focal Flame Photography is honored to serve as the official photographers of the Madison Marathon. All participants in the Madison Marathon receive free FocalShare™ digital race photos compliments of race organizers. The Spring Madison Marathon races will occur on May 23-24 on the streets of Wisconsin's capitol city.  For more information or to register, visit Madison Marathon.

- by Robyn M. Perrin

Madison Marathon Profile: Jen Johnson

"I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought." - Arthur Blank

Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges in our path. For 42-year-old Jen Johnson (aka JJ), a breast cancer diagnosis last April was a major hurdle. But after enduring intense treatment that included seven surgeries and 16 rounds of chemo, Jen has beaten cancer and is ready to run this year's Madison Half Marathon. 

Focal Flame Photography, the official photographer for the 2015 Madison Marathon events, is honored to share Jen's inspirational story of how she's reclaiming her body - and enjoying life - after beating breast cancer. 

Jen Johnson sports her Madison Half Marathon T-shirt with friends Kris and Stef at the Torchlight 5k in Minneapolis. The photo was taken by Jen’s husband Eric Johnson in July 2014, two months after Jen’s bilateral mastectomy.

Focal Flame Photography (FFP): How many Madison Marathons have you run?
Jen Johnson: 2015 will be my 5th [Madison Half Marathon]. I had to miss 2014 because I had a bilateral mastectomy the week prior to the run.

Selfie portrait taken by Jen before she cut off her hair in preparation for chemotherapy.

FFP: How many total marathons or half marathons have you run? 
JJ: 2 marathons, and 22 half marathons.

FFP: Do you participate in other similar events? 
JJ: I also like to run the Ragnar Relay (Great River); 2015 will be my 3rd. I have also done 6 sprint triathlons and 1 Olympic distance. I was registered for 3 sprint tris and 1 Olympic in 2014, but the breast cancer diagnosis obviously took care of that.

FFP: What are some of your favorite events?
JJ: My favorite events and ones I keep coming back for are the Madison Half Marathon and the Lake Tahoe Half Marathon (2015 will be my 5th run in Lake Tahoe).

FFP: With so many races to choose from, why do you participate in the Madison Marathon? What makes it special?
JJ: Participating in events like Madison help me stay motivated throughout the year...especially during a cold winter! They give me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It's what got me through 16 rounds of chemo, reconstructive surgery, a total hysterectomy, etc. I adore the city of Madison...the vibe of the run is special to me. My best running buddy Stefanie and I like to go to brat fest afterward and stop at one of the establishments on State Street for a delicious Spotted Cow. Stef and I have run many half marathons together in a half dozen or so states....she helps keep me motivated. 

Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo taken by Jen during a volunteer medical service trip by Seattle Alliance Outreach, a medical nonprofit. Jen serves on the board of directors of the organization. She brought indestructible soccer balls for the youth to play with after seeing children using broken bottles and rolled-up dirty diapers for soccer games. 

FFP: Can you tell us what it has been like to train for race season after battling cancer?
JJ: I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in April, 2014. The past year has been a roller coaster of surgeries (7!) and chemotherapy. Training for this race has been tough. It is my first "big" run after this ordeal and it has been stressful and hard to build my endurance up. My doctor says it is the best thing for me, though, and that resuming intense physical activity results in a 36% lower chance of recurrence of cancer. Mentally, I just want to "get back to who I was" before my diagnosis. Chemo and steroids really do a number on you...so I'm hoping that if I'm able to complete this run I will feel better about myself and like less of a patient.

Truthfully, I'm slower than a turtle but as long as I'm able to be out there, I will do my best.  I also miss being part of the running community. I always felt good being grouped with runners.

FFP: Will you be doing anything to make your races this year more meaningful?
JJ: I am hoping to raise money for my relay for life team (Anoka County Relay for Life Pirates of the CURE-i-bbean), which benefits the American Cancer Society. 

FFP: Are there any personal accomplishments you would like to mention?
JJ: I'm on the board of directors of a volunteer medical group out of Seattle (Seattle Alliance Outreach). We take several trips to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia each year. We are working on building a kidney dialysis center and have assisted with renovations to the ORs and the recovery room of the Black Lion Hospital. When I went there in early 2014 (the month before my cancer diagnosis) I brought over indestructible soccer balls for the kids around the hospital with funds raised by my 13 year old son. I was compelled to do something after I visited Addis and saw the children playing soccer with broken bottles and rolled up dirty diapers.

FFP: Is there anything else you'd like to share?
JJ: I'd like to encourage all women to get their mammograms!
[Editor's note: For more information about breast cancer detection, visit the American Cancer Society's website.]

This article is part of a series featuring athletes who are participating in a Madison Marathon event in 2015. The Spring Half-Marathon race will occur on May 24 on the streets of Wisconsin's capitol city.  For more information or to register, visit Madison Marathon.

- by Erin Patterson

Madison Marathon Profile: Cara Conway

Cara Conway (24) set a clear goal: "I will run a half marathon before I get married!"  Armed with lots of determination and encouraged by a few members of her wedding party who will be running by her side, Cara will cross the finish line of her very first half marathon in Madison, WI on May 24th.  Focal Flame Photography, the official race photographer for the upcoming Madison Half Marathon, talked to Cara about training for this race and what it means to be #sweatingforthewedding. 

Cara and her brother and training partner - who is also her groomsman - show their spirit in front of the state capitol building. Photo courtesy of Christine Conway. 

Focal Flame Photography (FFP): How many Madison Marathons have you run? 
Cara: Zero! This is my first!

FFP: How many total marathons or half marathons have you run? 
Cara: Zero! This is also my first! 

FFP: Do you participate in other types of athletic events? 
Cara: I have volunteered nearly every year for the Madison Ironman in September. Usually I share a role in either the swim or run portions of the race (or both!). Fun Runs have always been my go-to, so the Madison Half will be stepping out of the box a little bit! Favorites include the Crazy Legs in Madison, The Color Run in Milwaukee, Glow in the Deke in La Crosse, and most recently the Tram Road Challenge in Palm Springs, CA. The Tram Road Challenge is a run for the United Way of the Desert that climbs over 2,000 vertical feet in just over 3.7 miles - it definitely holds true to its name!

FFP: Why is running important to you?
Cara: For me, running is an escape from all of the chaos of the day. It allows you to breathe and reflect on decisions or events that have happened. After every run, I am able to confront each new situation with a fresh mind. 

FFP: With so many races to choose from, why did you pick the Madison Half Marathon for your first? 
Cara: I am choosing to participate in the Madison Marathon because it is home. It is what I have watched so many others participate in, and I am familiar with the beautiful course - now it is my turn! I have always wanted to do a half marathon and have finally gotten the courage.
 

Cara and her brother sport smiles before a run. Photo courtesy of Christine Conway. 

FFP: Is there anything that will make this race more meaningful? 
Cara: The Madison Marathon will be a special event for me because it is not only my first half marathon, but I am also running it with my Maid of Honor, and my brother (Groomsman) who I do all of my runs with. I am getting married in October, and this was a goal I made for myself upon getting engaged: I will run a half marathon before I get married! All of my training updates on social media have included the hashtag #sweatingforthewedding. You will definitely see t-shirts on the big day.

FFP: What's the best part of doing the race with friends and family?
Cara: Running the marathon with friends keeps you accountable. It ensures that you are training properly and are ready when the day comes. We're looking to have fun while accomplishing personal goals!

FFP: What would you tell other racers about training for a half marathon?
Cara: Run while you can! Some people dream of being able to participate in something like this. Take full advantage and have fun!

FFP: Is there anything else about your journey as a runner that you would like to share?
Cara: My journey has just begun. Marathons and triathlons are in my future.

This article is part of a series featuring athletes who are participating in a Madison Marathon event in 2015. Focal Flame Photography is honored to serve as official photographers for the Madison Marathon. All runners will receive free FocalShare™ digital race photos courtesy of the event organizers. The Spring Madison Marathon events will occur on May 23 and 24 on the streets of Wisconsin's capitol city.  For more information or to register, visit Madison Marathon.

- by Erin Patterson

Madison Marathon Profile: Greg B.

Greg B. during the Spring 2014 Madison Half-Marathon. © 2014 Focal Flame Photography

For Greg B. (50), the Madison Half Marathon has marked important new chapters in his life. After training for his first Madison Half Marathon as a way to deal with the strain of a marriage that was coming to an end, his journey came full circle last year when he proposed to his girlfriend after running the race. (Spoiler alert: She said yes.)

Focal Flame Photography, official race photographers for the 2015 Madison Marathon events, talked to Greg about his love of running and about surprising his love Heidi.

Focal Flame Photography (FFP): How many Madison Marathons have you run? 
Greg: I have run the Madison Half Marathon every year since 2009.

FFP: How many total marathons or half marathons have you run? 
Greg: I have run the Madison Half Marathon 6 times this year will be number 7. [The Madison Marathon] is the only half marathon I have run.

Greg proposed to his fiancé after the 2014 Spring Madison Half Marathon. Photo provided by Greg's daughter Rebecca B.

FFP: With so many races to choose from, why do you consistently participate in the Madison Marathon? 
Greg: A couple of reasons: First of all the location, it’s only 35-40 minutes from my house. Secondly, with the race in May, it forces me to get out and run/train during the winter months. I am a CPA and am super busy from January to April 15th, so forcing me to run/stay active helps me focus and be more productive at work as well.
 

FFP: Do you have any goals when running this race?  
Greg: I just try to stay under 2 hours every year I run it. I have done that every year except for the year it was so hot and muggy that the race got closed down.

FFP: Do you do anything to make the race more meaningful or fun? 
Greg: I have run with numerous friends/family over the years. This year I talked a friend of mine from Elkhorn to join me. Sharing this by running with friends/family makes it much more fun. It gives you more people to share the experience with after its over and throughout the year.

Also, the reason I decided to run the half marathon the very first year was that I was going through a divorce and the running/training helped me deal with the stress I was feeling. Last year after the half marathon was over, I surprised my girlfriend and proposed to her. I had both of my college-age daughters there and one of my daughter’s boyfriends. They were in on the surprise. After the run was over, we went and stood out of the way under a shady tree, and I turned around took off my sweaty shirt and put on one that said “Heidi, will you marry me.” I turned back around, and when she saw my shirt she dropped her water bottle and couldn’t believe it. Everyone standing around our area started clapping for us. It was a great experience/memory. Running in this race has come full circle for me -from running to deal with the stress of divorce to having great memories of my fiancé saying yes when I asked her to marry me.   

FFP: Is there anything else about your journey as a runner that you would like to share?  
Greg: I am not a serious runner, but participating in this race annually keeps me in decent shape.  I believe in training in moderation, so as long as I continue to keep my time under 2 hours each year despite getting older, I will be happy.

FFP: What would you tell other racers about participating in the Madison Marathon?  
Greg: One of the biggest reasons I run this race is the awesome atmosphere on race day. It just feels like a very healthy, clean environment where everyone is cheering for you and it feels like one big family. All of the people cheering and encouraging you along the race route is great as well. I would highly encourage anyone who is thinking about running in this race to just do it. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment when it’s over - especially if I hit my time goal.

This article is part of a series featuring athletes who are participating in a Madison Marathon event in 2015. Focal Flame Photography is honored to serve as official photographers for the Madison Marathon. All participants will receive free FocalShare™ digital race photos, brought to you by the event organizers. The Spring Madison Marathon events will occur on May 23 and 24 on the streets of Wisconsin's capitol city.  For more information or to register, visit Madison Marathon.

- by Erin Patterson

Behind the Lens - Video Production: Preschool of the Arts “We Believe”

Preschool of the Arts in Madison, WI needed a video that would help explain exactly what made the school unique, so they turned to Focal Flame for video production. Executive Director Stacy Mitchell said, "Everything I knew in my heart about our school was depicted with beauty, great skill and impeccable quality."

Once upon a time, in the small town of Reggio Emilia, a group of parents came together to discuss how to teach their youngest children. 

It was not a fairy-tale moment. The town had been ravaged by World War II, and the citizens of the village were still reeling from the aftermath of the war. But they were steadfast in their commitment to creating a better world for the village’s children. And they knew that a growing, young spirit yearns for expression through art, music, and movement. 

Together, parents, educators (particularly educational expert Loris Malaguzzi), and the children themselves joined efforts. Together, they began to heal. And together, they established a community school for young children that gave birth to a poignant yet ever-so-clear set of principles about learning. 

Similar to a resilient bloom emerging through rubble, the transformative approach to early childhood education grew. Over the decades it spread beyond Italy, beyond Europe, to locations throughout the world. 

One of those locations is Preschool of the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin. Established in 1975, the school began adopting the Reggio Emilia approach in 1995. For decades it has remained dedicated to facilitating child-focused exploration, creativity, and collaboration in some of the youngest learners in the city of Madison. 

When you walk the halls of Preschool of the Arts, you immediately begin to sense how unique it is as an early childhood environment. But the Reggio Emilia approach is still not well-known in the United States. In the process of communicating with prospective new families, faculty members, supporters, and partners, school administrators and board members realized that they needed a video that would help explain exactly what made Preschool of the Arts unique. At this point, they contacted Focal Flame to create a video. 

Stacy Mitchell, executive director, said, “Preschool of the Arts had the privilege of collaborating with Focal Flame on our most recent short film for our website and for promotional materials. When we discussed our mutual vision for this project, I was struck by how receptive the Focal Flame team was to subtle shifts and they made it a point to not only know our school and our philosophy of working with children, they understood the depth of what we wanted to convey.”

The project began with intake discussions between Preschool of the Arts administrators and Focal Flame co-founder and lead videographer Clint Thayer. Co-founder and writer Robyn Perrin drafted a treatment and narrative script, and Clint mapped out the creative imagery required for the project. Josh Zytkiewicz, operations manager, meticulously planned out logistics of interview and B-roll footage shoots, and provided skilled lighting assistance during shoots. 
 
The Focal Flame crew was entranced with the setting provided by Preschool of the Arts classrooms, art and music studios, and hallways adorned with student artwork. Clint said, “This space is a treasure cove of beautiful things, from the childrens’ art to the well-designed spaces indoors and out. I see something new and fascinating every time I walk through the doors and I had a hard time packing up.”

But the delight that the crew held for the school didn’t interfere with teaching. Stacy said, “Filming was easy and [the crew] was respectful to our time and our constraints. Clint and his team expertly set up and filmed with minimal impact to our school day. The team was able to pull from the testimonial filming and the classroom filming the very essence of our beliefs about children.”
 
She admitted to being moved to tears of joy when viewing the first draft. “Everything I knew in my heart about our school was depicted with beauty, great skill and impeccable quality. The result showed that Focal Flame was skilled in listening to our needs and giving voice and powerful imagery to our work with children and families.”

The stars of the production were the children themselves. Inquisitive, creative, and spontaneous, they surrounded the video production crew at each session with eager questions and expressed great curiosity about the equipment. But once their questions were satisfied, they shifted back to the moments at hand: a painting. A stack of wooden blocks.  A conversation with a friend. A full-throated singing session. 

The video included the perspectives of others key to the Preschool of the Arts community: teachers, parents, and leadership. Even the narrator, professional voice actor Sam Miller, is a Preschool of the Arts teacher.  
 
Stacy concluded, “It’s easy to make a whole-hearted recommendation for Focal Flame, but to see their work will give meaning and credence to my words.  I’m honored to have shared this experience with Focal Flame and I hope it is merely the beginning of a long-standing collaboration.” 

We couldn’t agree more - and we strongly recommend learning more about Preschool of the Arts, which holds regular community outreach sessions for mini-tours, coffee, and conversation about the school and its unique approach. Learn more at preschoolofthearts.com. 

Madison Marathon Profile: Katey Collins

As the spring Madison Marathon events approach on May 23-24, 2015, we will be profiling one Madison Marathoner each week. As we get to know each athlete, we learn that the motivation to train for and complete such a challenging event comes in many forms.

First-time Madison Marathon athlete Katey Collins (39) is inspired by a first-grader named Beau. We asked Katey about why she runs and about the special boy that keeps her motivated.

Focal Flame Photography (FFP): How many Madison Marathons have you run? 
Katey: This is my first in Madison.

FFP: With so many races to choose from, why did you choose to participate in the Madison Marathon this year? 
Katey:I love the community, and my friends are participating.

FFP: Do you participate in other similar events? 
Katey:Yes, triathlons, mud runs, open water races, aquathons, long relays such as Ragnar and Door County.

FFP: What have been some of your favorite events? 
Katey: Daytona Beach Aquathon, Door County Tri, Big Shoulders Chicago, and Race Day Events Aquathon Series.

FFP: Do you do anything to make the races more meaningful or fun?
Katey: Yes, I go with friends and wear something in honor of Beau.

FFP: How did you connect with Beau?
Katey: I meet him through the group IRun4. [Editor’s note: The group I Run 4 Michael is a nonprofit organization that pairs athletes with a child or adult with special needs, thereby providing a source of encouragement and support for both the athlete and their buddy.]

FFP: What does running and participating in these types of events mean to you?
Katey: It keeps me healthy, mentally AND physically. Training with my friends is as much fun as the event itself. I also get to run in honor of Beau.

Katey Collins (photo provided by Ms. Collins). 

FFP: Can you tell us about Beau?
Katey: [Beau is] an amazing young man who has Cerebral Palsy. He is in first grade, and as his Mom describes him, ‘He has strength, courage, and a will like no other. He has a determination that makes me so proud to be called his mom. Things may be tough for him but he always finds a way to overcome obstacles and he doesn't know the word can’t.’

Beau loves being active, and I truly enjoying doing races for him. He inspires me as I am training and racing. If I am feeling down or frustrated I just think about how many obstacles he has to overcome on a regular basis.

FFP: Are there any other personal accomplishments you would like to mention?
Katey: I have been fortunate enough to compete as an athlete in school, college, and as an adult. Sports have taught me countless life lessons that I pass on to my children, those in my community and those I work with. In order to give back, I have started a non-profit organization with my husband, GOAL. We raise money to pay sports registration fees for youth in the East Troy and Mukwonago communities in Wisconsin.

This article is part of a series featuring athletes who are participating in a Madison Marathon event in 2015. The spring events will occur on May 23-24, 2015 on the streets of Wisconsin's capitol city.  For more information or to register, visit Madison Marathon.

- by Erin Patterson