Adult Education

It has been awhile since I have written on this Blog, so I thought I’d check in.

Life has changed a lot for me over the past six months and I am excited to see what lies ahead and grateful for the experiences that form my wake. I am back in New York, and while I miss the Tetons and the amazing people I met in many different ways, I feel really energized by my surroundings right now.

I have primarily written about my athletic interests on this Blog and I will again…starting next Monday (Feb 22nd) when I start training for the Lake Placid Marathon. I am calling the program ‘Kickin’ It, Old School’, details to follow!

One of the things contributing to my energy these days is the availability of presentations and panel discussions on an incredible variety of topics. I always dreamed of getting a PhD in Adult Education…to take in-depth classes on Calligraphy, on Tennis as played on the old gymnasium wood floors, on constructing a gingerbread house just in time for the holidays, etc.

Since I am not aware of such an institution that offers this course of studies, I have been left to my own devices. To that end, I find courses and camps and races all over the world to further my education experience. My brother assures me that I embody the definition of a dilettante. Nice…but true…

My latest interest is in learning about digital media, advertising and marketing. And NYC is such a great place to pursue this interest right now. There are so many meet-ups, presentations, lectures, and panel discussions that it feels like I could attend a different one every night. In fact, in the New Year alone, I have already attended these meetings:


Friday, January 15: Seth Godin’s Book Launch for Linchpin
Seth Godin is a prolific writer who teaches us about “marketing, branding and the business of being engaged”. It was great to hear directly from Seth, and it was fun to hear him mention two people who have influenced my own thinking over the years.

He spoke of Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. Back in 2006, that book was one of the main motivators for encouraging me to quit my corporate job and take a chance and move out to the Wild West. After I finish this Blog post, I am going to watch Elizabeth’s 2009 TED Talk on Nurturing Creativity
http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html#

Seth also mentioned Benjamin Zander’s own story of how he had guaranteed all of his music students an A in the class if they wrote down on the first day of class what they would commit to do throughout this semester to earn the A. Seth embraced the story, but flipped it to encourage us to consider our grade, as a foregone conclusion, to be a D. Scandalous was my first reaction (I mean, who wants a D?), but his point was that in embracing failure, we are free to truly create art without fear of failure. I’ll have to think about that one a little more…


Tuesday, Feb 2: NY Tech Meet-Up
Described as a ‘Rally for the Future’, this evening was moderated by Meetup’s founder, Scott Heiferman. Scott kicked off the night with these questions:
* What is the future of NYC technology companies?
* Are we here to service the old gatekeepers?
* Or are we going to build new companies that empower people to do great things?

This led into presentations by a number of people with companies that are looking to make a difference in the quality of people’s lives. It was great to hear all the presentations…particularly Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund.


Saturday, Feb 6: NYC Crisis Camp
This was an awesome day! A group of technologists looking to provide Haiti Relief meet in SoHo to see where we could pitch in. The group has been working at a feverish pace since the earthquake hit and it was a privilege to volunteer just a little bit.

I spent my time working with a group called the Waveplace Foundation. As I learned that day, the kids who survived the terrible earthquake remain frightened and looking for things to do.

The Waveplace Foundation is going to be heading to Haiti in 2 weeks, and distributing 500 laptops. More information at: http://www.waveplace.com/


Tuesday, Feb 16: Why Web Standards & Lessons from Advertising Metrics and Data Collection Matter
Standards can be a pain in the ass. And discussion of ‘standards’ typically leads to other fun topics…like ‘compliance’. Oh, fun…

And yet, I was really engaged by this topic when I attended a presentation given by Greg Stuart, former CEO of the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau). Greg presented a case study and walked us through the challenges, the pain and the ultimate rewards that resulted from creating an Ad Impression standard.

He shared a quote I hadn’t heard before, but one that describes the motivation for a lot of changes in my own life…you, too?

We didn’t change because we saw the light…
We changed because we felt the heat.

Good Night & Good Luck! I’ll be in touch again soon.

--Colleen

Headed for Maroc! Would LOVE to Hear from You!

Hello!!!

Marathon des Sables bound...

From March 28 through April 3, you can write to me by going to the race website: http://darbaroud.com and clicking on "écrire aux concurrents/write to competitors."

You will need to include my full name (Colleen Woods :-) ) and race number (864) for me to receive the message.

Please do not send any attachments, as such messages will not be delivered (all email is downloaded via satellite phone before being printed and delivered to competitors).

I can assure you that receiving your messages at the bivouac will do much to boost my spirits!

Love,

Colleen

Laziest Blog Post Ever!

Connie is in town!

Connie, aka Dora the Explorer

We ran into Erik and Laurie in Darby Canyon. I love this pic of Erik making snow angels!

Erik, Laurie - and MAX!!!

And for anyone who thinks there is no technique to snowshoeing,
check out these jazz hands!

How About This Sunshine?

Loving it! I had some nice backpack training today

with the Batchen girls!

Training Streak Has Come to an End...I'm Down, Not Out!

Today, I failed to get a mile in. I wish I could tell you that my failure was for some incredibly noble reason, but it was actually motivated by more vanity than I'd care to admit.

My sister-in-law has beautiful blonde hair. And she brought me to her salon on Long Island yesterday. I think I was her little make-over project! So I had my hair cut, colored, conditioned with two special treatments, and blown out. I am so grateful for this day of beauty!

I can NEVER get my hair to look the way a stylist does with a salon blow out. And tonight we had a surprise party for Donna and I was just too excited to attend the party with my new hair than to mess it up with sweat and all the glamorous side effects of running. So I said I would run after the party. And I am just getting home from the party now (2:20am).

But count me down, not out. I have really LOVED doing the streak. And I will start over tomorrow, a little wiser from my first try. Here are just a few of the reasons that I am ready to get right back on the horse:

• I love routine. Many people who know me well would balk at this assertion and I'll admit it is not universally true about my life choices, but I am finding out that I like routine a lot.
• I like the feeling of braving rough conditions to get in my run. Like the time I ran around downtown Driggs as the snow fell at 10:30pm. I imagined I was in a sandstorm...great MDS training.
• I like knowing that I have done even just a little bit each day to get ready for MDS.
• I am fundraising for children and women in need. Click here to learn more: http://www.active.com/donate/colleenwoods_RTF
  

I have to re-start the count on my streak. Any new takers? I hope so!

Me, my brothers, my Mom and my baby niece at her baptism. This was before my day of beauty...see how frizzy my hair is! :-)

Suggest a Song for my MDS Playlist

Thanks to Jay Batchen for my new tunes!

And I am hoping to collect more. Could you leave a song suggestion for me by posting a comment to this entry? A song you think I might like to hear while moving along in the blisteirng heat of the Sahara.

It will be great to think of you when I hear "our song'!

Thanks so much!

28 Days Into the Streak...

Happy to report that my streak of running at least one mile a day is going strong. There have been spectacular days of training and some that are much less notable (yikes, like the 15 minute run in place I did one night at 11:20pm when I was so tired and just couldn't bear the cold...lame I know!).

I'd write more but I am so sleepy...

Word is that Mike Evan is going 28 days strong, too.

Anyone else streaking?

Happpy 2009!