Feature Story

This past year, Shelley Steinle, 46, trained for two ironmans, but only completed one. Although she did not finish both, she still had life changing experiences.

Everyday, Steinle would workout with her training team, Go Mitch Go, to be ready for her races at the end of the year.

An ironman is a 140.6 mile race that consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and finishes with a 26.2 mile run (or a marathon), and Shelley was signed up for a race Chattanooga in late September and race Panama City Beach(PCB) in early November.

"I like the exercise, and I like to push myself, and I like to work for something that's not easy," Steinle said.

The day of the race in Chattanooga started at 4:30 am to get ready for the race at 6:00 am with the swim. Steinle headed to the transition station where all of her nutrition for the races are located, where she goes to grab her bike, and where her clothes are ready to change into.

"I felt more prepared for Chattanooga," Steinle said.

She was ready to became an Ironman. For her to pass the finish line and hear the words "Shelley Steinle, you are an ironman."

Steinle had a big fan club there with her for the race. She had her four kids, Josiah, 23, Anna, 20, Noah, 18, and Autumn, 15, and her brother and his family, Ben, Julie, Mark, 20, Carrie, 17, and Emma, 16.

"I was so excited to see mom rock it out and officially become an ironman," Anna said. "She had been taking so much time and putting so much work into it all, and it was really exciting to see her finally doing what she put all of the work into."

Shelley finished the swim with a time, and saw a glimpse of her kids as she got out she saw her fan club cheering for her. She then headed over to transition to switch to the bike.

"When we saw her at mile 50 she was in such a good mood, and I honestly wasn't worried at all," Anna said. "She didn't even look like 1 ounce of tired somehow."

The fan club had some time to take a detour until Shelley's next check point and stopped at Starbucks.

"I was at mile 60 going through a water stop," Shelley said. At mile 60, Shelley crashed her bike and landed head first on the ground, giving her a DNF (did not finish).

"I was really scared, because when we got the call they didn't even tell us like anything that happened," said Anna. "I mean I didn't know how bad the fall was, and I knew mom was gonna be pissed because she didn't even get to finish. I mean she wasn't even allowed to."

Shelley, who was taken to the hospital right away, had million thoughts and emotion going through her head.

"I felt sad. I felt disappointed. I felt like I failed. I felt angry too," Shelley said.

Shelley had a gash on her head that required stitches, and scratches on various parts on her body. She also had a concussion, and could not remember what happened and how she fell.

"She was in such a bad mood," Anna said. "I mean I totally expected it, but it was just really awful to see her so beaten down."

"I was upset that I wasn't there, yeah," Shelley's training coach, Steve Blackmon said. "This does happen, I just was not expecting for it all to happen to anyone I've been training."

A week later, Shelley posted on her Facebook about accepting her crash. A woman replied to her post and said she had seen her fall. She had not just passed out. She was going through a water stop, and there was water all over the ground that made her bike slip and curve, and she was thrown over the handlebars.

Later that day, Shelley explained the story to her mom on the phone, and as she did, she remembered everything.

"I felt overjoyed that I remembered and didn't just pass out," Shelley said. "I was so grateful that that girl saw me. I cried."

"It was great to know what the problem was so that now we could fix it," Blackmon said. "Shelley needed to identify what was wrong, and then that's where I came in. We focused on really being aware of your surroundings on the bike to avoid this stuff as much as possible."

One and a half months later on November 6th, after lots more training with her coach, Shelley was ready to do her race the next day and finish strong.

"I didn't want to fail again," Shelley said.

However, instead of turning that into fear, she turned it into motivation.

"I mean what [was] the alternative?" Shelley said. "I mean really. That's what I tell myself."

The day of the race was here, and Shelley with her fan club, this time just her children, headed over to the race.

"I was scared yeah," Anna said. "I mean I knew mom was ready, but I just didn't want her to DNF again, because then it would just be ten times worse. I mean I don't think she would try again."

Shelley completed the swim in 1:26 hours and headed on to the part that feared them all, the bike.

"I just really, really wanted her to get on and off as quick as possible, because I already knew she would ace the run," Anna said.

Seven hours and fifteen minutes later, Steinle came off of the bike, and headed for the run.

"I felt so great once she was off," Anna said. "Everything from here would be okay and it was such a relief."

"It was great to be there and see BAM [Shelley] so strong throughout out her race," Blackmon said. "I didn't doubt that she wouldn't pass the finish line this time around."

A couple hours later, Shelley neared the end of her race. Nearing the point to gain the new title of an ironman.

After 13 hours and 33 minutes of non stop racing, Shelley crossed the finish line.

"I felt awesome, happy, relieved."

Shelley's experiences with her ironmans have made her continue want to do them. She in fact is signing up for one in Spain for the year of 2016.

"I think it helps you know that nothing is guaranteed," Shelley said."You just do your best and wait for the outcome."

Shelley has gained many new thoughts from her experiences, and she is very thankful she went through all of them. Ironmans are her passion, and she will continue to grow and learn with every one.

"The training and the race are very symbolic of life," Shelley said. "Life is hard, but it's rewarding, and you don't know what to expect. Sometimes, you don't get what you want, but you wait, and then it's always worth it."

current events quiz

1) "to good works and celebration of their daughter"
2) small class sizes, teacher training, and full day schooling
3) 58 stories to off set costs caused by the austin energy center
4) $217 million
5) Probably just to try it because its a weird combo.

1) Homeboy Industries is an organization that helps people to start over and have a second chance after coming out of prison. It is super big in baking and includes a bakery, catering service, and a cafe.
2) Yes, I thought it was compelling. I thought it was cool how something pretty simple can help these people to turn their life around. I also thought it was interesting how Medina just one day didn't understand why he did what he did and just then and there stopped.
3) I honestly at first didn't think it would really be helpful, because lots of people don't try to change, but seeing how it affects people is cool. Now Medina is working in beverly hills as like a top chef, and I think that's really cool how he can come up from all he's done.

Feature Story Notes

1) How did you first feel after Chattanooga(first race)?

"I felt sad. I felt disappointed. I felt like I failed. I felt angry too."
2) How did you learn to cope with your accident?

"I basically decided that there wasn't an alternative, so I either had to learn from it or say I suck and live with that."
3) Are you thankful for that experience?

Yes
4) Where did you have your accident? (what part of the race)

"I was at mile 60 on the bike going through a water stop."
5) After remembering what happened how did you feel?

I felt overjoyed that I remembered and didn't just pass out. I felt grateful that that girl saw me. I cried."
6) Do you think it affected your race in PCB(Panama City Beach)? How?

"Yes, of course it was affected. I was more cautious on the bike. I was  more aware that its not 100% me but up to God. I was more grateful to finish. I was thankful to be there. It definitely made me more cautious, but it made me more grateful. It definitely made me more empathetic towards the people that don't finish."
7) Did your perspectives change?

"Yeah, I mean I think no matter what happens to you changes your perspective on things. Before doing an ironman and finishing is different, too. I definitely felt more thankful. It made me understand more about lots of stuff. I mean things that you don't think are gonna happen, happen."
8) Have your feelings about it all changed now that you've finished PCB and you're officially an ironman?

"Well I mean I'm still sad i didn't finish. My plan was to finish Chattanooga first. I mean I'm still sad, but my experiences are what are going to help me in life."
9) Did you feel more prepared for one or the other? 

"Yeah, I felt more prepared for Chattanooga."
10) How did you feel after completing PCB?

"Awesome, happy, relieved."
11) Did it scare you to do another ironman?

"Yes, I didn't want to fail again."
12) How did you turn it into motivation?

"I mean what's the alternative? I mean really. hat's what I tell myself."
13) Did completing several marathons before this race help to complete an ironman?

"Yes of course, because I have a good mind set of it all, you know?'
14) Do you think doing iron mans really takes devotion?

"Yes"
15) How has this helped you think of how to do your future iron mans?

"I think because it helps you to know that nothing is guaranteed, and you just do your best and wait for the outcome."
16) Are you wanting to do more iron mans after your experiences with the one you've done?

"Yes."
17) What is your opinion on iron mans as a whole?

"Fantastic. The training and the race are very symbolic of life. Life is hard, but it's rewarding, and you don't know what to expect. Sometimes, you don't get what you want, but you wait, and then it's always worth it."
18)Why do you think you have such a passion for doing them?

"Because I like the exercise, and I like to push myself, and I like to work for something that's not easy."
19) How do you feel about having such an accomplishment of completing an ironman?

"I feel proud. I feel proud of myself."
20) Do you think part of that feeling is what makes you want to continue doing iron mans?

"Yes."

Interview Checklist

1) my mom/Shelley
2) My sister, her coach(Steve)
3) Completing her ironman or maybe how her first experience where she couldn't finish because of an accident affected how she felt/did in her most recent ironman
4) Built on good quotes
5)

1. How did you first feel after Chattanooga(first race)?
2. How did you learn to cope with your accident?
3. Are you thankful for that experience?
4. Where did you have your accident? (what part of the race)
5. After remembering what happened how did you feel?
6. Do you think it affected your race in PCB(Panama City Beach)? How?
7. Did your perspectives change?
8. Have your feelings about it all changed now that you've finished PCB and you're officially an ironman?
9. Did you feel more prepared for one or the other? 
10. How did you feel after completing PCB?
11. Did it scare you to do another ironman?
12. How did you turn it into motivation?
13. Did completing several marathons before this race help to complete an ironman?
14. Do you think doing iron mans really takes devotion?
15. How has this helped you think of how to do your future iron mans?
16. Are you wanting to do more iron mans after your experiences with the one you've done?
17. What is your opinion on iron mans as a whole?
18. Why do you think you have such a passion for doing them?
19. How do you feel about having such an accomplishment of completing an ironman?
20. Do you think part of that feeling is what makes you want to continue doing iron mans?

6) Steve: her coach

1. Do lots of people have accidents during Ironmans?
2. What did you first think when you heard Shelley crashed?
3. Were you proud to hear she's still doing another?
4. Did you ever feel it was your fault in training before you knew the details?
5. Did learning about the crash make you think you have more to train?

Anna: her daughter

1. What was your first thought when you heard about the accident?
2. Were you scared for her to do another?
3. How did you feel once she completed PCB?
4. Does seeing her do it make you want to complete one?
5. Are you glad you got to witness all that she wen through with every step of each ironman to see her finish?

7) An ironman is 140.6 miles
swim: 2.4mi  bike: 112mi  run: 26.2
She has completed a marathon before

8) Over the break

9) At my moms house

10) Take notes and record

Current Events Quiz

1) Keeping witnesses from talking about it to the public
2) Protesting for better academic experiences for black people
3) Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame
4) Madison, Wisconsin, Fort Collins and Boulder, Colorado, Portland, Oregon, Davis, California
5) Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi, Lord of the Rings: return of the king, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II, Harry Potter and the Deathly hallows: Part II

1) I disagree with their decision to not have it checked, because people have found mistakes. If there was no complaints, it would be different.
2) No, I don't. They were very mistreated and they should be explained about that.
3) Maybe a mixture, because you need different group to view it in different ways.
4) Yes, I do. I haven't ever pointed out any mistakes or seen something that could be offensive.

Feature Writing Preview

1) It goes into more detail and the paragraphs are shorter.
2) A lot of information was given in the first and then in the others they went into a lot more detail
3)  Yes
4) yes
5) Ted williams, Kevin McLoughlin, Doral Chenoweth III, Ken Andrews, Tony Florentino, Shane Cormier, Frank Wilson, Patrick Harris
6) "We're on pins and needles," Florentino said. "I think he really has no idea how big this is going to be." because it shows that he does't even really know how good he is and what a success he will be.
7) 33
8) 762
9) They connect to show that just one voice could become something huge.
10) to leave the reader hoping and wondering
11) I found it more interesting after I watched the video.
12) yes
13) I got why everyone made a fuss over this guy
14) I think so, yes.
15) yes
16) by writing quotes that everyone recognizes

peer reflection #2

1) Maya
2) Social Media
3) "I think that social media can be a fun way to keep in touch with friends, and a place of self expression for our ideas."
4) Yes, because it can be used for bullying or waste time.
5) no
6) no
7) 1st
8) yes