America in the Fast Lane

When the information highway intersected the 20th century, American culture shifted into a fast lane with no speed limits, roadmaps, or foreseeable exits. No one, not even the inventors, could have imagined the social revolution that accelerated into the next millennium.

In 2012, a digital-savvy populace navigates more than 1,000 dating sites as well as a myriad of smart phone dating apps, such as “Picksie,” a GPS-based link for nearby date spots, and “Date Escape,” a fake call and message application that can be self-triggered for a fast exit. There are even dating sites that provide virtual dating experiences, such as lunch at a French café. Others arrange short webcam interviews for their matches, and online ghostwriters have a whole new clientele who need help building membership profiles.

As technology transitions into the role of matchmaking, critics decry the lack of regulation and the danger of sexual predators, e-mail fraud, and fake profiles disguising true marital status, as well as marketing ploys or prostitution. In response, various online services conduct background and marital status checks, and two states, New York and New Jersey, have Internet dating sites legislation. Currently, similar bills are being considered in Michigan, California, Florida, Ohio, and Texas. In March, 2011, True.com sued a convicted felon and sex offender for misrepresenting himself and attempting to gain access to True’s members.

So, is online dating a positive tool in a busy world? Or is it a social nightmare fraught with danger? And how, especially, is it working for women?

A “Mixed Bag”

Licensed psychologist Linda Lehmann, from Lakeville-based Inner Light Counseling Services, says that online dating is a “mixed bag.” She advises people to “go into it with their eyes wide open and realize that a dating site is really a microcosm of a larger world. What that means is that there are some people just like you who are interested in trying to meet someone, and others who are not. There’s a whole range of people, and you need to understand what you’re entering into.”

On the positive side, from personal experience, Lehmann met her husband online. Widowed in her first marriage, and later divorced, she said, “I’ll never get married again. I’m done.” But then she decided to try it out. “I distinctly remember sitting there the day I went online, yelling at the computer, ‘I don’t want to do this!’ I had no confidence in my ability to meet anyone, so I joined for a whole year, figuring that’s what it would take. Four hours later my now husband e-mailed me. Amazingly, he had been on there for three years but had been very unsatisfied, and this was his last day of membership.” They met in 2001 and married in 2004.

Lehmann acknowledges that it doesn’t always work that well, but she tells clients, “This is the world we live in now, and a lot of people are meeting online.” If you want to be successful, she suggests careful forethought and preparation:

Some experts view online dating with measured caution. In Psychology Today (online), Key Sun, PhD, writes that online dating is a “poor way to find love.” He believes that people exaggerate desirable traits in their profiles and that matching mechanisms, especially category-based selection processes, lack “the basic ingredients for developing real love.” The end result, according to Sun, is an “artificial contact” that fails to produce “meaningful interpersonal interactions.” Online dating, he says, has two major weaknesses. It lacks face-to-face interaction and doesn’t help people heal their emotional baggage and past hurts.

Therapeutic Life Coach and Co-director of Inner Light Counseling Services, Sandy Thibault, agrees that people need to re-examine and learn from past relationships. She says that dating in general “boils down to the basics—what do I need and what is it that I have to offer?” One of the pitfalls for women in particular, she says, is the need to belong. “We tend to let fear guide our thinking, fear of never finding anybody. There’s a whole list of unworthiness items that we carry around with us. And that’s how we end up in relationships that don’t work very well, because our need to belong is greater than what we really need in a relationship.”

How would Thibault coach someone to prepare for online dating? She suggests that people first make a list of the things they want, prioritize them, and not “underestimate the power of possibility. You really can have what you want. Let go of preconceived ideas.” While filling out the profile, she recommends being as honest as possible. “If you fluff it up a bit, you’re only going to find out later that the match isn’t right.”

• Take time everyday to be quiet. Disconnect with other things so you can connect with yourself.

• Stick to your priorities, no matter what.

• Always trust your gut. Even though the person in front of you looks like the most attractive person in the world, if your gut says, “something’s wrong,” pay attention.

Red Flags and Common Sense

Are there horror stories? Red flags? To answer that question, we asked Lakeville police officer and crime prevention expert, Jessica Swaner, to weigh in on online dating. To her knowledge, there have not been online dating incidents reported in Lakeville. She agrees with Thibault, saying, “Trust your instincts. If you meet somebody who is doing or saying inappropriate things you wouldn’t expect your family or friends or anybody you respect to say or do, or even if he’s just making you uncomfortable and you don’t know why, it’s probably a sign that something’s off.”

She says women should approach online meetings, and dating in general, with common sense. For example, don’t meet in a secluded place. Instead, select a familiar public place, preferably somewhere you feel comfortable and safe. Then, if you have an issue, it will be easier to handle.

Regarding alcohol intake, Swayner warns, “People get wrapped up in having a good time, having another drink, and then find themselves in situations where they might do things they wouldn’t normally do.” It’s also a good idea, she says, to keep an eye on your drink. Don’t leave it unattended. “I think there are more people who are good decent people than there are bad, but you never know who you’re talking to or dealing with.”

If there’s some way to see your date’s identification, Swaner thinks it would be good to verify that he has given you his real name. Once you have that information, Swaner suggests you go online to the Bureau for Criminal Apprehension and access the link displaying criminal records. Although you may find only a portion of somebody’s history, at least you will see whether or not there’s a criminal record.

It’s possible, Swaner says, for people “to get misguided on the Internet, especially if they’ve corresponded with someone for a month or two. They can get a false sense of security, let their guard down, and end up sharing and doing things they wouldn’t normally do with a stranger.”

As for positive signs about a date, Swaner recommends assessing his level of family and community involvement. “If somebody talks about his friends and family, it’s a good sign that he has people involved in his life.” Volunteering, coaching kids’ teams, and career satisfaction indicate an overall stable and balanced lifestyle.

Intimacy in “41 Characters or Less”

Wedding specialist, Kari Warwick, of Bliss Wedding and Event Planning in Lakeville, says that online dating is not as unusual now as it was just a couple of years ago. Although few in number, Warwick says the online couples she has advised found their mates rather quickly and didn’t have to date a lot of others first. She doesn’t cite that as a trend, but it’s possible, she suggests, that the profile process helps “weed out those who wouldn’t be a good fit for you.” The biggest change she notes is that perceptions toward online dating seem to be more accepting and positive than in the past.

Mary Kay Bungert, Director of Marriage Formation at All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville, has worked with engaged couples for 12 years. She says that social media have changed the definition of what constitutes a conversation. People today routinely converse digitally, and, although there are many positive aspects to that, as in the case of military couples, she is concerned about potential negatives. “Couples have a sense of instant communication and a 24/7 accessibility that they see as increasing their connection with each other, but challenges come with that.” One inherent difficulty is that people pass on information without expecting a response. They also communicate their feelings via their choice of media as opposed to face-to-face interaction with physical contact and shared affection. One of Bungert’s mentor couples jokes that they’re looking for intimacy, but they want to do it in “41 characters or less.”

Bungert uses an inventory for couples to assess 13-15 key areas of marital issues such as money, conflict, and family of origin. She says, “What we don’t know about the Internet is how good a job it does of sorting. Whether you’re alike or different doesn’t drive the success of your marriage. What matters is how well you’ve figured out your similarities and differences, the key areas of married life, and if you have the ability to sustain a relationship with somebody.”

Other online relationship concerns, according to Bungert, involve definitions of infidelity and the accessibility of pornography. For example, when people connect with former lovers online or engage in chat rooms, what’s allowed and at what point does emotional infidelity occur? The moral lines are blurred, she says, and “we don’t know the answers yet or the impact on long-term relationships.” Similar questions apply to pornography.

Whether online or at church, in a bar, or a political campaign group, Bungert says that how people meet may not be as important as how they proceed afterward and “prepare for the grace and challenges of the relationship.” It’s important to “choose a mode for meeting people that matches your personality.” She concludes, “Ultimately, it all comes down to knowing your values and understanding the significance of your faith and spirituality in the development of your relationships.”

Tips for Daters

According to Online Dating Magazine, the key to success is to avoid a shopping list mentality. Instead of focusing on categories, examine what the person writes about himself and remember, in the final analysis, true love occurs between two people interacting face to face. The magazine also suggests moving on “fairly quickly” to the first date to avoid building false relationships with a “persona.” Take advantage of chat features, online speed dating, or webcam sessions for interactive, getting-acquainted venues. In any case, be realistic, and don’t worry about rejection. Statistics show that one in twenty inquiries result in a genuine response, and lack of response can occur for a number of reasons, including outdated profiles, lapsed memberships, or loss of interest in the site.

Interestingly enough, online dating remains controversial with enthusiastic proponents and critics. The reality is that social media applications continue to explode at a phenomenal rate, limiting reliable current data. Researchers are responding, but in the meantime, people worldwide meet and relate online in exponential numbers, and conventional wisdom hasn’t had time to assess the process.

Will long-term benefits be worth the risks? What will relationships look like in ten, twenty, thirty years and beyond? In the future, will chance meetings be as archaic as library card catalogues? Most experts agree it’s too early to know.

But love in the 21st century could be quite a ride.

When I was a child of seventeen, I lived in a fairy tale of my own creation. I could do this because, like most seventeen year olds, I knew everything. I had worked hard to be independent and to excel at academics, music, and sports. In addition, I understood family tragedy and financial struggle, through my own life experience. So what else was there to know about life? The world was safe, bright, and waiting to regale me with all the juicy fun stuff of living.

In 1962, as a seventeen-year-old high school graduate in Boone, Iowa, I received a full- ride scholarship to Drake University, in Des Moines. I could never otherwise afford this wonderful university. My attendance there would change my life forever. For me, Drake was the opening into the fairy tale chapters of the book of my life.

The ground support of these chapters starting at Drake included three jobs that kept me financially afloat while at college. For academics, I carried a double major in music and pre-med. This allowed me to play my cello in the Des Moines Symphony, to sing in a first rate chorus, and to practice on a spectacular, thrilling pipe organ. I found the science class work equally intriguing and stimulating. I was “rushed” and joined a top sorority. I dated many amazing and often wealthy young men from all over America. This was all completely heady fairy tale stuff for a small town Iowa girl.

And then I met the college football mega hero, senior Karl Kassulke. Besides his legendary football prowess, Karl (nicknamed “cowboy” by the Des Moines Register for his bow legs and rowdy style of play) had a jolly, unique quick laugh and an easy way about him. And he actually wanted to be with me. I couldn’t believe it! In true fairy tale form, we quickly fell in love and got engaged. Before my 18 th birthday, we announced our engagement to our surprised parents. So, at the completion of my freshman year at Drake, at the age of 18, I married my hero, who had already been drafted into the NFL to play pro football. And I absolutely knew he would make it into the pros. I had no idea how few men ever make it from the hundreds who are drafted.

Were there any red flags to the illusion of this fairy tale? Of course there were. There was the occasional excessive drinking, the alcoholic genetics, and the groupies. Did I pay any attention? Of course not. Who pays attention when in the middle of unbelievable good energy and fortune? Me, a small town girl suddenly catapulted into the world of celebrity with a man I adored. I was giddy. And of course I was absolutely certain I could easily change Karl’s few destructive habits, because he loved me completely.

For the next few years, the fairy tale continued. I went to the University of Minnesota to get a bachelor of science degree and go on to be one of the few women admitted to medical school. I thrived, though just one of fifteen women in a class of 250. Karl played top level pro football for the Minnesota Vikings, at the strong safety position, eventually becoming all pro. These were the salad years of the Vikings, the age of the Purple People Eaters and the first super bowl.

We created two wonderful sons, played thousands of games of cribbage, and built our own new home in Burnsville, which was a huge suburb of 5,000 people. Together we became media darlings, because of the unusual combination of the athlete and the scholar. Everybody knew us or wanted to know us, and we knew many of the great entertainment, sports, and political celebrities of the time. The world was our oyster. All doors were open, all possibility shiny.

But the darkness of real life was biding time behind the scene. This particular darkness, which eventually destroyed my marriage, was named concussion. About four years ago, a small group of researchers at Boston University began describing the damaged brains of pro football players, and the life effects of this damage. Prior to this, families, players, physicians, and team officials lived in complete denial, never thinking how the many concussions the players received might be affecting them. As it turns out, repeated concussions can have devastating effects on the traumatized brain.

The name of this problem is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. It’s symptoms are many, but early on they include memory, concentration, and attention loss: disorientation, confusion, depression, and suicide: dizziness and headaches: poor judgement and lack of insight: and aggression, impulsiveness, and sudden rages. Because the problem is a progressive, chronic brain deterioration, it can progress to health problems that look like Parkinson’s, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, dementia, and premature death.

After every football game, Karl, famed for his ferocious tackling, bragged “ Well, I got my bell rung three times today”. “Getting your bell rung” meant concussion, from mild “seeing stars and momentary confusion” to unconsciousness. It was a badge of honor, a symbol of physical and mental toughness. And unless you wanted to lose your position, the concussed player went right back in the game after each head injury.

And so, as the concussions piled up, this very good man, this devoted husband and father began to do bad things. I did not understand why, and grieved as I saw the man I knew fade into a stranger. The next to the last chapter of this fairy tale began with a late night telephone call from one of Karl’s women groupies. Things went rapidly downhill from this point, with Karl seemingly unaware of the damage his behavior brought to his marriage.

Some years later, Karl was at a point where he might forget entire days of his life. Around this time, the last chapter of the fairy tale opened with his sudden, inexplicable rage and lacerating fist blow to my head, and the whole book ended with our divorce. The fairy tale was over. Reality was the title of the next book of my life.

But, I was raised to believe that life would be what I made of it, a trite but true saying. So our lives went on in the real world. Karl’s wild chapters ended with a motorcycle accident a year after our divorce, which left him paralyzed from the waist down, abruptly ending his ten year, all pro football career. I moved to Shakopee, and entered an all-consuming life as a mother and busy family practitioner. It was a challenging and rewarding time.

True to both of us, we still managed to experience life as a rich feast, and we each maintained the best hopes for the other. Karl found meaning through charitable service, his Christian conversion, and his sons. Our sons caused me great joy, and the privilege of being a healer and being present at the deliveries of over 3,000 babies was remarkable.

Once both my sons were off to college, I began expanding my charitable service, starting foundations to help kids both locally and internationally. I received awards, such as the KARE 11 Eleven Who Care Award. Eventually I began traveling to Russia and many other trouble spots on the planet with my friend, Dr. Patch Adams (no relation). We were clowning in orphanages, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and on the streets, strong in the knowledge that laughter is a strong healer. I branched out to the amazingly rewarding service of doctoring in unserved places in the world.

Of course, through all the joys of these years, trouble also tagged along, because this was real life. That is the nature of life, I learned, and those troubles brought the benefit of valuable lessons to teach me wisdom and better service as a person and as a physician.

So, since 2000, I have married my beloved Russian husband, Dmitri( introduced to me by our friend, Patch), travelled the world in service, suffered a collapsed back with two emergency surgeries, approached death from cancer and radiation complications, had two surgeries to shore up a collapsed foot, acquired a pacemaker and wrote a book about my years with Karl.

It was while I was suffering near fatal setbacks from the cancer, having lost 100 pounds, that Karl suddenly and unexpectedly died. At his funeral, the long lingering and un- resolved questions about what happened to our marriage (for we truly did love each other) were suddenly thrust front and center when another Viking wife told me about CTE. I went home from the funeral to research CTE. To my complete amazement, I saw Karl written on every page, and I finally understood that long-ago unfinished chapter.

So, that chapter really was closed, in a good way. But, since I was so ill, I had to stop practicing medicine. I missed it terribly, but when people asked why I didn’t practice anymore, I joked – “I finally got it right! I don’t have to practice anymore.” Now I am so blessed and grateful. I have survived the cancer, and gone back to work, after nearly four years of recovering. It feels like I never missed a day. What a huge gift to me!

So, what does this real life story mean? Does it have anything to do with all of us? It surely does. Life, as it turns out, is not a fairy tale for anyone. There are many stages, or chapters in each of our lives, some more challenging than others. But if one can hold to the sure belief that happiness is a birthright, and can live each day with gratitude, joy, and laughter, even the darkest chapters can be not only navigated, but mined for the lessons they provide.

Do I recommend marrying at an early age? No! Do I regret marrying Karl? No!

Do I recommend that parents, coaches of all sports, and doctors familiarize themselves with CTE and do everything in their power to protect the precious brains of our young people? Emphatically yes!

Right now, concussion prevention is the only known way to prevent CTE, (there are an estimated 300,000-3,000,000 sports related concussions every year) though perhaps allowing a concussion to heal completely may also turn out to be valuable. Time will tell.

Would I ever recommend marrying a celebrity? Mamma’s, don’t let your babies marry a celebrity! This isn’t completely fair, of course. There are many solid marriages and wonderful marriage partners among celebrities, but it is a more difficult way to go.

Have I learned my lessons about reality versus fairy tale? I would hope so.

But, reality can be just as wonderful as a fairy tale, lived with juicy joy and laughter. For the wisdom and truth and knowledge my challenges have taught me, I am deeply grateful. I still feel I have lived the most privileged life imaginable.

As for Karl, well, I’m sure wherever he is, he’s laughing, joking, and beating his partners at his beloved game of cribbage.

Jan Thatcher Adams, MD is author of the book, “Football Wife: Coming of Age With The NFL as Mrs. Karl Kassulke” and lives in Shakopee, MN

Eat right and exercise…If this is the root of all the complicated advice on staying healthy, it sure sounds simple enough. But our skipped breakfast and our huffing at the top of the stairs show just how difficult we find those things to fit into our busy schedules. 

Whether we like it or not, we’ve lost all of our excuses. From pole fitness to fresh recipes, local sources have provided us with a variety of ways for women to stay healthy through nutrition and exercise at every stage of our lives.

Maybe being healthy really is as simple, and fun, as it sounds.

Eating right

According to Angie Moeding, a registered dietitian at University of Minnesota Medical Centers, Fairview, eating sensibly is a straightforward, overlooked habit we should all make a part of our lifestyle.

“What we eat affects every single cell in our bodies,” she said. When we eat well, we tend to feel well.

Moeding recommends the acclaimed DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) to anyone wanting to improve her nutrition. The DASH diet, endorsed by the American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic, stresses the importance of fruits, vegetables and grains.

Likewise, while many fad diets focus on cutting foods out, Moeding takes the opposite approach in her suggestions for healthy eating. Rather than eliminating a food, she said, “Look at it and think, ‘What can I add to make it more nutritious?’”

Some of Moeding’s important additions for a healthy diet:

Balance. “The idea of eating healthy all the time can be more of a deterrent than anything else,” Moeding said. Trying to “only” eat healthy foods can lead to deprivation—and overeating of unhealthy options.

Variety. “We can get into a rut of eating the same things,” Moeding said. She encourages sampling new foods as well as exchanging old standbys for different tastes and nutrients, such as farrow instead of oatmeal.

Still, don’t feel like you have to run out and buy the latest “superfood,” she said. Blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are as good (or better) for us as pomegranates.

Color. One of the best ways to get variety in our diet is to eat foods of all colors, such as green, purple, yellow and red. “The deeper the food’s color, the more nutrients it has,” Moeding said, adding that each color offers its own benefits. Don’t forget about important white foods like onions and potatoes.

Breakfast. Besides speeding up our metabolism, breakfast energizes us for the day ahead and sets us up for eating right all day long.

Water. We don’t need to worry so much about drinking eight glasses a day as much as drinking when we’re thirsty. Otherwise, Moeding said, our metabolism can slow down by 3 percent.

Whole grains. Moeding can’t say enough about the importance of whole grains in our diets. Try quinoa, buckwheat, barley, bulgur (cracked wheat), flaxseed and amaranth. Make grains tastier and even more nutritious by adding color, such as avocado or tomatoes.

Whole and plant-based foods. As much as possible, we should avoid those processed, packaged foods and eat fresh instead. To keep from grabbing junk during a busy day, it pays to have food with us for on-the-go—try a banana or a bag of almonds.

Mindfulness. With all of the super-sizing we’re used to, portion-sizing is something to remember, whether at a restaurant or having a snack. Snacks should be filling and satisfying, and Moeding recommends portioning the snack out on a plate or bowl and putting the rest away before eating.

Women also have different nutritional recommendations than the rest of our families. For example, we generally require more calcium and iron and fewer calories than men.

Organization. As a new mother, Moeding knows that eating healthfully takes planning. “When you’re making dinner, make double and throw some in the freezer,” she suggested. “Or make lunch for next day since you’re already doing all the prep work.”

Taking a half hour each week to plan menus and write grocery lists keeps us on track and in control of healthy meals during a busy week, she said. Websites, such as Pepperclip.com and Eatingwell.com, can be helpful resources for recipes and groceries.

Enjoyment. Food is delicious! Taking the time to slow down and savor what we’re eating is the key to satisfaction and satiety, said Moeding.

Exercise

From better skin to a happier disposition to a longer life, it seems as if there’s no end to the benefits that exercise can offer us.

A look around the local area shows just how many options are available to help us accomplish whatever our fitness goal may be: to get into shape, to find a welcoming exercise community, to lose weight or to find a challenging new workout.

Something for everyone

Bodyblast Studio in Eagan is not your typical gym—and that’s how co-owner Teri Dale likes it.

Maybe it’s the poles sprouting from the floor, or maybe it’s the resistance bands hanging down from the ceiling. But for Dale, the difference is all in the goal.

“We’re geared toward fitness but also toward doing something fun and creative,” she said. “We’re trying to transform women physically and mentally.”

Theresa Sorensen, studio manager at Bodyblast, said a crucial part of that transformation is discovering how to feel sexy. “Women are wired to be sexy,” she said. “When you lose body fat and gain lean muscle, you feel more confident and better about yourself.”

Bodyblast welcomes both men and women, but classes such as pole fitness are women-only.

From Kettlebells to yoga to Total Body Resistance Exercise (TRX) to its B-Fit Challenge, Bodyblast gives women a unique workout facility by offering a mix of the traditional and the progressive.

All skill levels are welcome to try out a class, Dale said, adding that beginner pole fitness participants begin in tennis shoes before graduating to high heels in the more advanced classes. Registration for several classes, including beginner pole fitness, does not require a membership.

“The fun factor keeps women coming back,” Dale said. Laughing with old and new friends is as much a part of the class as the workout itself.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are. You can do classes, you can feel sexy, and you can get results at any age.”

Other local gyms, such as the Minnesota Valley YMCA in Burnsville, also emphasize the importance of exercise at all ages.

In addition to its regular fitness classes that include Zumba, Turbo Kick, spinning and water aerobics, the YMCA offers classes especially for adults who are 55-plus.

“The body is different at age 61 than it is at age 21,” said Sarah Dickhausen, the active older adult coordinator for the Minnesota Valley YMCA. “But there is no end limit for fitness.”

Area YMCA’s have instructors specifically trained in osteoporosis, Type II diabetes and other conditions we’re more likely to face as we age. The Minnesota Valley YMCA offers classes such as tai chi and Zumba for older adults, along with aerobics geared toward participants who might have arthritis or joint replacements.

The YMCA’s popular cardio circuit class, SilverSneakers, is part of a national incentive program, but members don’t need to be a part of the insurance program to participate.

Water exercise is also a great option for all ages, said Lori Rieffer, senior aquatics coordinator at the YMCA.

“Water aerobics provides a low-impact cardiovascular workout,” she said, which makes it ideal for staying fit and losing weight without stressing our joints. Arthritis classes are also offered in the YMCA’s warm-water pool.

According to Dickhausen, older adult classes improve flexibility, muscle strength and conditioning, and are still a good challenge.

A few of the regular participants are in their nineties, which Dickhausen said is especially impressive when compared to the fitness of the younger general public.

“You really can keep active and keep moving at any age.”

Getting outside

Even during a Minnesota winter, exercise doesn’t have to be limited to the gym.

The Dakota County Parks Department maintains trails, provides equipment rental and hosts educational classes, making it more fun than ever to play outside.

“Our programs really encourage women to get moving and be active outdoors,” said Beth Landahl, manager of park operations and education.

Besides providing activities for the whole family, and trails for hiking, biking, inline skating and walking, the parks department also hosts women-specific programming.

You’ll find equipment rental and training for winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and summer activities such as kayaking and geocaching. After a quick tutorial, why not try out a new seasonal sport like kicksledding or paddleboarding?

At 2000 acres, the Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan is the largest park in the county system and the location of the visitor’s center and equipment rental. To accommodate an increasing interest in evening activities, the center hosts events like last winter’s Full Moon Snowshoe for women.

“It’s beautiful to be outdoors snowshoeing under a full moon,” Landahl said. “We want to make that more accessible to people.”

Look for more information on the parks’ activities, courses and equipment rental on the Dakota County website.

Landahl hopes that all ages and skill levels will come outside to enjoy nature, be a little adventurous and get some exercise at the same time. “It’s a great way to get your feet wet and try something out.”

Unexpected benefits

The benefits of making nutrition and exercise a regular part of our lives might turn out to be more than we expected—and we may surprise ourselves with discoveries of what we’re capable.

Whether it’s tasting quinoa, strapping on snowshoes or attending a pole fitness class, trying something new can be empowering.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Dale said. “It gets you thinking, ‘What else can I do?’”

For the past three years, the Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly has turned the spotlight on women who know business. With the turn of the calendar to a new year, it is time to honor the third class of Dakota County Exceptional Businesswomen, which includes CEOs, successful local business owners, nonprofit leaders and community contributors.

The Tribune and the Dakota County Technical College Foundation selected 11 recipients of the 2012 Exceptional Businesswomen award in December.

The women, who will be honored at a Thursday, Feb. 16, breakfast luncheon at the Best Western Premier Nicollet Inn in Burnsville, are:

Sunny Bhakta, owner of Comfort Inn, Lakeville, and Budget Host Inn, Owatonna;

Connie Braziel, deputy director and chief operating officer of the Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley;

Jamie Dahlen, owner of Holiday Inn, Lakeville, and Best Western Premier Nicollet Inn, Burnsville;

Michele Engdahl, manager, government and community affairs for Thomson Reuters, Eagan;

Carrie Guarrero, senior vice president and regional manager for Cornerstone Mortgage Company, Burnsville;

Chris Holtan, founder, vice president, consultant for Lancet Software, Burnsville;

Peggy Johnson, community relations director, Dakota Electric, Farmington;

Sheila Longie, former president of Document Destruction, sales representative of Shred Right, which recently acquired Document Destruction, Lakeville;

Sona Mehring, founder and CEO of CaringBridge, Eagan;

Terri Shepherd, founder and CEO Xact Resources Inc., Burnsville; and

Theresa Wise, senior vice president and chief information officer Delta Airlines, Eagan.

This is the third year the award has been bestowed.

“This is an outstanding and impressive group of women,” said Christine Pigsley, associate dean of business entrepreneurship at Dakota County Technical College. “The depth and breadth of their experiences in the business world show the many paths to success. We are very excited to gather these women together for a great event.”

The group includes women who have risen to the top to help lead international corporations, those who have founded small companies and grown them to serve greater markets and local business owners who have contributed to the community in not only their work but countless volunteer efforts.

The women who were considered after an open nomination process in December were selected by a panel of judges from the Dakota County Tribune and the Dakota County Technical College Foundation.

They were selected based on their contributions to the business and the community.

Past winners of the Exceptional Businesswomen award have been:

Class of 2010: LaDonna Boyd, Dakota Electric; Marie DeNicola; Mainstream Boutique; Jackie Fritz, Sterling State Bank; Holly Hewitt, Holly’s Centre Stage Dance; Rachel Hollstadt, Hollstadt and Associates; Kathy Klang, Cummings, Keegan and Co.; Beth Krehbiel; Fairview Ridges Hospital; Doris LaMott Hoel, Chateau Lamothe; Maggie Linvill, Linvill Properties; Annette Marquez, The Perfect Occasion; Amy Mayer, BI Consulting Group; Darlene Miller, Permac Industries; Deb Thomas, Partners in Excellence; Julia Thompson, TAGS Gymnastics; and Janelle Waldock, Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Class of 2011: Mary Ajax, 360 Communities; Jan Beeson, Lily Wellness Inc.; Cheryl Caponi, Caponi Art Park and Learning Center; Jennifer Eisenhuth, Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth Orthodontics; Elaine Grundhauser, One 2 One Marketing Inc.; JuliAnne Jonker, Jonker Portrait Gallery; Nicole Nogosek, Double N Equestrian Center; Wanda Oland, Rascal’s Apple Valley Bar & Grill; Nancy Quinnell, Hollstadt & Associates; Barbara Toombs, First State Bank of Rosemount; Janie Tutewohl, Janie’s Home Team and Market on Oak; Denise Vogt; Twin Cities Ballet & Ballet Royale MN; and Linda Young, Lucky’s 13 Pub.

The award ceremony will include a guest speaker, served breakfast and a chance to mingle with past and present Exceptional Businesswomen.

Tickets are $20 per person. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. The breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. with the program starting at 8:30 a.m.

Tables of eight can be reserved and sponsorship options include ticket packages. For more information about sponsoring the event, contact Mike Jetchick at (952) 894-1111.

Whether you’re looking for indoor comforts with a wintery landscape view, or a convenient home base near a trail, slope, or ice fishing lake, Minnesota has hundreds of resorts to choose from that are open in winter.

If amenities are a priority, travelers can find resorts with in-room jacuzzis, saunas, spas, restaurants, fireplaces, lakeside or mountain views, and other special features.

Some winter resorts are known for the outdoor amenities available right outside the door. You can find resorts near trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and snowmobiling, as well as resorts perched near the state’s prime slopes for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

Couples on a romantic getaway can find a resort with private, secluded cabins. Family-friendly resorts offer larger suites, and some provide activities like horse-drawn sleigh rides, bonfires with s’mores, and movies to entertain the kids.

Over the winter season, Minnesota resorts typically offer their best prices of the year. Look for packages that combine accommodations with dining, ski rental, lift tickets, spa experiences, and other activities.

Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge

www.sugarlakelodge.com

Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge offers many fun unique winter activities that families will enjoy. Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowmobiling and Ice Skating are just the beginning of a memorable family winter getaway.

Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior

www.lutsenresort.com

This spectacular Lake Superior resort is a spot “where memories are made!” Combining the best in North Wood’s tradition with contemporary refinement, you’ll find four stunning seasons of relaxation and activity along Lake Superior’s North Shore

The Lodge at Giants Ridge

www.lodgeatgiantsridge

The Lodge is an all-suite, full-service resort built in the heart of the Superior National Forest.

During the winter, enjoy easy ski-in/ski-out access to the nationally recognized Giants Ridge Ski Area, with it’s 34 downhill runs, terrain park and cross country trails

Grand Casino Hotel, RV Resort & Chalets

www.grandcasinomn.com

RV Resort & Chalets is open year-round and offers premier Rv’ing near Grand Casino Hinckley. Along with many other amenities, the resort offers 24-hour security, shuttle service to the casino, and much, much more!

Spirit Mountain Villas – Duluth

www.mtvillas.com

Enjoy the only lodging on top of Spirit Mountain, in a private wooded setting overlooking the city of Duluth. Spirit Mountain Villas is a four-season resort offering beautiful accommodations for your visit to the Duluth, Minnesota area.

Pole dancing has been featured on Oprah, Tyra Banks and even Martha Stewart (although Martha didn’t actually touch the pole). Pamela Anderson, Tori Spelling and the housewives of every county are touting the benefits of this form of exercise.

Pole dance is a total body workout that burns an average of 400 calories per hour. This unique exercise form combines pole spins, exotic movement and aerobic/cardio benefits to create a total firming, toning, strengthening, and empowering workout. Pole dancing is done to upbeat music often in the company of supportive, inspired women, creating the perfect formula for a successful workout week after week . . . with benefits that go beyond just the physical.

Pole spins are a type of “survival fitness”. If you don‟t use all of your strength to hold onto the pole, you may fly off so you utilize your full strength each and every time. Spins quickly develop tone and definition in your upper body and core, particularly in the shoulder, oblique and transverse muscles.

Exotic movement provides flow and continuity to the dance, creating the overall mood of the routine. For example fast, erratic hip circles with wild hair flips will give a routine an entirely different feel than slow, luxurious body waves mixed with pensive pauses.

The cardio benefit comes naturally as the spins and exotic movements link together for an hour of continual movement. The external physical benefits of pole dance include increased strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. In addition, the flowing, circular movements done in exotic dance can benefit internal organ systems. Women often experience diminished menstrual and pre-menstrual symptoms including cramps, lower back pain and general anxiety. Your digestive system and your metabolism may both benefit from pole dancing and women often experience increased overall energy and more efficient calorie utilization. Some women report less back pain as range of motion and flexibility increase due to an increase in blood flow and movement of spinal fluid.

Pole dance instructors and the women who attend classes say they also experience a make-over from the inside out. With pole dance as a vehicle, women are able to access their feminine essence. They accept themselves in new, unconditional ways, feeling attractive and confident in a fresh manner that has nothing to do with their external appearance.

Pole dancing is definitely starting to find its place in local gyms and fitness centers. Women are finding pole dancing a unique and effective way to get healthier and claim their own sense of femininity.

When Eagan native Natalie Darwitz was playing with the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team during an exhibition game prior to the 2001 World Championships, she fired the puck down ice … then SLAM.

A member of Team Canada bowled her over, sending the 18-year-old Darwitz to the ice. “The girl didn’t care too much about the puck, went for the body and ran me over,” said Darwitz, a three-time U.S. Olympic medal winner. As one of the smallest players on the ice ever since she was a youngster, Darwitz had become accustomed to being slammed to the ice, and, like the fiery competitor she is, picking herself up and continuing playing.

“It was the sensation right afterward, remembering exactly what happened,” Darwitz said of the hit. “After that five-second span, that was the most eerie.” She said she was foggy and dizzy but made it back to the bench at the end of her shift. When it was time for her line to return to the ice she skated around with legs that were uneasy underneath her. She had problems maintaining focus.

Upon returning to the bench, coaches directed her to the team trainer who saw that an eye test indicated she may have had a concussion. “Then the trainer said: ‘I’m going to tell you five words that I want you to remember. I’m going to ask you what these five words are in 10 minutes, a half an hour, an hour.’ ”

For the first time in her career, which has included hundreds of games of youth, Eagan High School, University of Minnesota and international hockey, Darwitz sat out the rest of the game with her first and only documented concussion.

“I believe I probably had a lot more,” she said. “Ten or 15 years back concussions were not a popular discussion medically or as a topic in hockey. Do I believe I had other concussions? Yes.”

Now the topic of concussions in youth athletics is front and center in Minnesota and across America. New state legislation directed the Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League to craft a concussion awareness campaign, assemble training materials, and establish a strict treatment protocol – one involving complete rest and gradual increase in activities – in treating concussions in young athletes.

New league rules require that an “appropriate health care professional” (a medical professional functioning within the levels of their medical education, medical training, and medical licensing) to be the determinant in whether an athlete can return to the field of play.

Concussion baseline testing is mandatory for all high school athletes competing in contact sports and parents must complete an MSHSL Eligibility Form which has them sign off as understanding Concussion Management protocols. The MSHSL Sports Medicine Advisory Committee highly recommends that every student-athlete and parent successfully complete the “Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports” course at www.cdc.gov/concussion.

Why all the attention?

The attention to sports concussions among youth is coming to light in large part because of many battles being waged. A very public fight over the new National Football League collective bargaining agreement was struck with many provisions related to taking care of retired players who had suffered concussions that were not treated properly years ago.

Kayla Meyer, a New Prague teen who has suffered two concussions while playing hockey, took her “When in doubt, sit them out” message about concussions to the state Capitol during the past legislative session. She became the very public face of youth sports concussions and her testimony influenced passage of the new legislation. “I don’t want what I’m going through to happen to any other athlete,” Meyer said during her testimony.

The numbers tell the story, too. An estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year with 50,000 occurring in Minnesota, according to the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. It is estimated that 1,000 Minnesota youths (ages 5-18) go to the hospital with sports-related concussions each year, according to a Minnesota Department of Health study.

The association says because sports-related concussions tend to be underreported, the number may be much higher. The incidence rate for concussion is highest among young male football players with ice hockey and lacrosse following behind for boys. Girls sports concussions are seen most often in soccer, gymnastics and lacrosse, according to the association.

Though Darwitz is no longer on the ice competing, she has been thrust into the issue as she has been entrusted with the care of a crew of high school girls hockey players as the new coach of the Lakeville South varsity team. The little girl who grew up raised on contact hockey, crashing pads against bigger and stronger boys, isn’t running away from the challenging environment created by the attention over sports concussions in high school athletes.

“You have to protect their brains. It is a very delicate topic,” Darwitz said. “For me, I can only tell them that I want them to be tough and know the difference between an injury and an owie.”

Decision is final

In the past, that difference was often determined by the athlete. The coach came up to you, asked you how you felt, and for most young athletes – fearless, naive and willing to please – they would say: “Put me in, coach.”

That is no longer the case.

The new power player on the sidelines at contests and practices is the health care professional, oftentimes a trainer. That person will determine whether an athlete returns to a game or practice after taking a hit. No matter what the coach, player or parents say, the determination is final.

Darwitz thinks the new rules with regard to concussion are positive, but is concerned about some aspects of its implementation. She raises the issue that some health care professionals at league games will not be full-time trainers and as familiar with the players as the coaches. She asks too if they will have enough experience to make a determination about a concussion in the midst of competition.

Darwitz, though, is confident of rule changes with regard to pre- and post-game concussion testing. “That is a great tool,” she said. “It’s a 15-minute test. … But that is not something you can automatically test them with during a game.”

The Farmington School District is having all its contact sports athletes take the Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) for 2011-2012. The test is a “video game” that assesses an athlete’s memory, reaction time, cognitive speed and concentration.

“Our main priority is the health and safety of our students,” Farmington athletic director Jon Summer said. “Our goal is to make an appropriate diagnosis and make sure they’re completely healed before putting them back in. … We feel like this is another piece of that puzzle.” He says the test will set standards for athletes, coaches and medical personnel in evaluating and treating head injuries. “What they’re finding is … when a concussion is diagnosed, the worst thing is putting them back too soon,” Summer said.

Dr. Michael Bergeron, director of Health and Safety for Youth Sports, Sanford Health, described concussions – an injury that can occur without bumping the head – as putting the brain into an energy crisis. During this crisis, placing additional burdens on the brain can heighten the risk of long-term damage with a secondary injury capable of producing “catastrophic” results. “The younger brain is much more susceptible,” he said of suffering a concussion.

Dr. Mark Carlson, of Sanford Bemidji Clinic, described a concussion as an injury occurring on the cellular level – one that does not show up on X-rays, he explained. The best treatment is rest, “complete rest,” said Carlson, who professionally has treated young athletes suffering concussions. There is no specific length of time to recover from a concussion – it varies from person to person, Carlson noted. It is known that having a concussion makes have a second more likely, he said.

Darwitz was fortunate that her concussion was mild. She said when she took her post-concussion test, her eye test still indicated she had a concussion and her reaction time was slow. At that point, she said the concussion played mind games on her, which led her to think about things like when she would play again or if she would play again. But two days later, Darwitz passed the test and was cleared to play. “I was totally fine,” she said. “I put it in the rearview mirror. It was behind me.”

She went on to play in three Olympics (earning two silver medals and a bronze), eight International Ice Hockey Federation world championships and was a captain of Team USA from 2007 to 2010. “I know people who have sat out numerous months,” she said. “There is no timetable for return with this injury. That makes it a frustrating injury.”

Diagnosing concussions will require a team effort. Though the health care professional has the final say, coaches and players need to remain vigilant at all times – in practice and games – and know when to have concussion assessment done.

Oftentimes, players continue practicing or playing when taking a big hit. It’s the warrior mentality. Darwitz says she’s the one who needs to make sure players see the trainer. “That is going to be the responsibility of the coach,” Darwitz said. “I feel like I have the knowledge to handle that.”

One thing that is for certain is that concussions will still happen in high school sports. All of the protocols, new safety equipment, education and testing won’t prevent players from experiencing the collisions that result in concussions. But now players, parents, coaches and trainers are better equipped and aware of how to keep young athletes safe after a concussion has occurred.

Tad Johnson is managing editor of Thisweek Newspapers and the Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly. T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol reporter, and Andy Rogers, Thisweek sports editor, contributed to this report. Photos by Rick Orndorf.

Last year, when Kelsey Bertamus learned she had torn her ACL and would need a bone graft before reconstructive surgery could be done, she couldn’t say she was surprised.

At the time of her injury, Beltamus was a junior and playing soccer at Northwestern University in Illinois. Earlier in her career, she had been the leading soccer scorer for Lakeville South High School. During her high school career, she had already torn her ACL twice, shattered her femur and torn her meniscus—all within five years. “I had almost come to expect it,” she said. “The constant abuse to my body and the rehabilitation schedules due to soccer were wearing on me.”

Bertamus, now 21, no longer plays the sport she loved. While her accumulation of injuries may seem extreme, large numbers of female athletes are experiencing tears in their ACL’s and causing doctors, physical therapists and coaches to stress the importance of prevention.

The end of a season

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located in the middle of the knee. Besides stabilizing the knee joint, the strong band of tissue also connects the thighbone (femur), to the shinbone (tibia). ACL injuries happen when the ligament tears.

Athletes often experience these injuries while playing sports that involve sudden stops, twists and changes in direction, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, downhill skiing and tennis.

“It’s that planting and then pivoting that causes stress on the ligaments, leading to tears,” said Dr. Maria O’Connell, owner and chiropractor at Eagle Trace Wellness Center in Burnsville.

Bertamus didn’t feel much pain immediately after she hyperextended her leg on the soccer field, tearing her ACL for the first time in May 2005. “But I noticed something was very wrong as I tried to stand up and walk,” she said. “I had to be helped off the field because I could not stabilize my knee, and it would give out beneath me.”

The star forward underwent reconstructive surgery using a hamstring graft and returned to soccer four months later. At the time, Bertamus was optimistic about getting back on the field. “I was only 15 and still had my high school and college career ahead of me,” she said. She shattered her femur a month later and had a metal rod temporarily inserted in her leg.

In recent years, the ACL injury has made headlines for plaguing female athletes. Since more girls and young women are participating in athletics than ever before, it makes sense that their injuries are increasing. However, medical professionals are quick to point out that female athletes are predisposed to experience an ACL injury.

Dr. Sarah Lehnert of Burnsville’s Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care reported that females have four to six times the incidence of ACL tears as their male counterparts. “All told there are more males tearing their ACL’s,” she said. “But when you look at percentages, females have a higher risk.” The higher total number of males involved in sports explains the discrepancy, Lehnert said.

Several ideas exist as to why females have a higher risk of tearing their ACL’s. “But the theory which seems to make the most sense,” Lehnert said, “is the fact that women tend to rely heavily on their quadricep muscles in the front of the thigh to stabilize their leg. They tend to have weaker and slower hamstring contractions, so they end up in a knock-kneed position when pivoting, cutting and landing a jump.” This position strains the ACL and makes it tear, she said.

During Bertamus’ rehabilitation, she worked to build up certain muscles to keep the tear from happening again. “My trainer had me strengthen my hamstrings to near the level of my quadriceps in order to avoid hyperextension,” she said, adding that she also did exercises to strengthen her core and relearned how to run.

Hormonal differences also seem to play a role in increased female injury, O’Connell said. “Women in their child-bearing years have more hormones keeping their ligaments loose and lax, which leaves them more susceptible to injuries,” she said, noting that most of the athletes she treats for ACL injuries are females in their late teens and early twenties.

As head soccer coach at Eagan High School, Mark Obarski has witnessed firsthand the upsetting effects of injuries on his young athletes for more than a decade. “Over the years, we’ve had several players who have torn their ACL’s,” he said. “They’re definitely out for the rest of the season.”

Treating and preventing ACL injuries

A doctor may perform an X-ray, MRI, ultrasound or arthroscopy (inserting a fiber-optic viewing scope into knee) to determine the severity of an ACL injury and its proper treatment. Reconstructive surgery using tissue from the patient or from a cadaver is often necessary for athletes who experience serious ruptures, as Bertamus did. Afterward, the patient undergoes physical therapy, designed to help him or her regain range of motion and strength, said Lehnert. For less serious injuries, some doctors use alternative methods to treat the patient, such as cold laser therapy or acupuncture.

Besides eating a healthy diet, O’Connell recommended that serious athletes have their vitamin D levels tested. Vitamin D, present in sunlight and some foods, is helpful in maintaining bone mass. “A good portion of Minnesotans are deficient,” she said, citing the state’s distance from the sunny equator. In her practice, O’Connell also uses Active Release Technique (ART to treat these injuries). The massage technique, popular with runners and NFL teams, works with the muscle and tissue around the knee to create stability and has the patient actively move through the range of motion. ART helps to treat muscles worn down from repetitive movement, O’Connell said. Obarski often notices overworked muscles on his soccer team. “The thing about high school sports is that overuse comes into play a lot,” he said. “When you see kids tired and fatigued, that’s when a lot of injuries happen.”

Many other treatments used in rehabilitation can be implemented as prevention measures against sports-related injuries. Most medical professionals agree that exercises focusing on balance, agility, and those that make an athlete more aware of her body (called “proprioceptive” exercises, should unquestionably be a part of every athlete’s routine. Exercises that keep athletes conditioned, increase bone density and assist in avoiding overall injury, include stretching, core strengthening, weight training and plyometrics. Learning to jump and land correctly, along with utilizing equipment such as a BOSU ball, wobble board or even a Wii Fit balance board, are beneficial in preventing injury.

“As far as ACL prevention goes, athletes of all ages need to have strength, endurance, agility, coordination and speed,” affirmed Elizabeth Smith, a certified athletic trainer and physical therapist at Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care. “It’s multifaceted,” she said. “It’s all about maintaining a properly balanced program throughout the year.” Smith added that athletes need to condition their bodies even in the off-season. Just as Bertamus experienced multiple related injuries in her knee, O’Connell warned that one injury may create a domino effect. “A torn hamstring can cause a sprain in the knee,” she said, underscoring the importance of general conditioning.

Although it’s important to integrate exercise into workouts and warm-ups, the instruction needs to be done by someone who has been properly trained, Smith said. She explained that muscles are crucial in controlling the forces on a joint that might make the ligaments vulnerable to injury. She is one of the two physical therapists in Minnesota who is certified in Muscle Activation Technique (MAT), a biomechanically-based method of evaluating and treating muscle imbalances. Treatment includes low-grade isometrics and precise manual therapy to jump start muscles and restore their function. Like ART, the technique can be used for rehabilitation and as a prevention tool.

“MAT is an excellent technique to consider with our ACL population who might develop muscle imbalances during growth spurts and hormonal changes,” Smith said. Fairview also offers a post-rehabilitation program called “Next Step,” which focuses on sport-specific training to transition the athlete back into playing.

Getting back in the game

Especially for high school and college athletes, taking the time necessary for recovery is often the most frustrating part of an injury. “Typically, going from ACL reconstruction back to high intensity sports, such as soccer, takes five to six months,” Lehnert said.

“It’s always really hard, regardless of what injury it is, to not be able to play,” Obarski said. “The kids are so competitive and enjoy the game so much. It’s difficult to have to sit on the sidelines.” As a coach as well as the father of two daughters and three sons, Obarski said he understands the importance of putting a player’s health first. “With high school sports, it’s a quick season, and kids need to take care of themselves, especially when you mix in the academic component with everything else going on.” He said he stresses hydration and proper sleep to his team; he tries to be aware of players who may be overworking their bodies.

Fighting through a cycle of devastating injuries and grueling rehabilitation, Bertamus returned again and again to prove herself on the field. She became the leading scorer in school history and racked up top honors during high school that included a state championship in 2007 and a place on the all-state team her freshman, junior and senior year. However, by Bertamus’ seventh surgery, she had missed over two and a half years of playing. “I definitely did not feel comfortable on the field the way I used to,” she said. “Mentally, it was a struggle.” After her third ACL tear last year, she made the decision, along with her coach, trainer and doctors, to take a medical redshirt from Northwestern University.

Now a senior at Northwestern, Bertamus is studying biological sciences and environmental policy/culture and plans to attend veterinary school. She exercises by doing controlled weight-lifting and running straight ahead. She encourages athletes to start prevention early and to play smart with their bodies. “I definitely miss playing soccer, but I don’t miss the pain and frustration of constant injuries and rehabilitation schedules,” she said. “I do get a pang of nostalgia every time I step on a soccer field, but I know that the choice to take a medical leave was the safest choice for my body.”

Laura Murray is a freelance writer and comtributor to Focus Magazine. Photos by Rick Orndorf

Idolizing a sports figure

We’ve all done it at some point in our lives. I remember when I was young I would admire a sports figure for a haircut or a brand of shoes they wore. My husband idolized them for their talent, their looks, the many girlfriends, the fame and oh, of course – the astronomical amounts of money they earned.

They always seemed to make their success on the field or on the court look so easy. But, as parents now, we know it isn’t that easy. Today’s generation idolizes sports figures for probably some of the same reasons. However, it seems like in today’s world, there are more and more sports figures signing outrageous monetary contracts – just to do what they enjoy and are good at.

It is all over the news and not only do kids pay attention to it and dream, but so do their parents. Could all this notoriety, attention and massive contract amounts be contributing to the obsession with youth athletics in our society today?

Gone are the days of deciding to join a local or school sports team when you are 11 or 12 years old. Most of the time, these teams have been well established early on, so any sort of an outsider (one that has not mastered the skills by playing the game since they were 8 ) coming in at that point is considered detrimental to the team and their season.

The majority of these kids have been playing the sport since they were 8 years old (often younger) and many have attended every single camp and practice offered, not to mention the individualized training sessions several times a month in order to give the budding athlete that “edge”.

In many cases, they start playing on specialty teams outside of the regular season at an early age. By the age of 11 – these athletes are seasoned and deeply rooted in their team’s roster while in the back of their minds, or maybe the front as well, they dream of being a star on the high school team, signing a D-1 scholarship to college, and then off to the pros.

Where do the parents fit into this?

Every parent thinks their kid is the best. It’s human nature. Although for some parents who take it very seriously, there seems to be no boundaries. The pressure to play, compete with confidence, win and keep up with the athlete next door, down the street or in the neighboring school district, drives these parents to take their child’s athletic future into their own hands. Often, this results in encouraging kids to play the sport year round.

There also seems to be more of a focus on playing just one sport at a younger age than in the past. The time spent getting to and from practices, camps and games isn’t an issue to the parent that has the same dream as their child. The cost of a year around stint in that sport isn’t holding parents back either. Many young athletes don’t know the term “off-season”.

Overuse Injuries

There seems to be very little down time to any one sport anymore – which is leading to an increase in injuries resulting from over usage. Overuse injuries occur when we, as parents and coaches, push these young athletes with such intensity and over schedule their training without the proper amount of rest. Too much of one activity or sport can and will increase the risk of the overuse injury. Continuous stress to the same joints and muscles leads to these injuries.

Between the practices, training and games, the growing athletes’ body will begin to suffer. The result can be a serious injury that doesn’t receive an appropriate time to heal. These injuries can sometimes affect young athletes the rest of their lives.

The idea that continuous play is the only way to develop needed skills for their sport and achieve greater success begins with the parents and coaches who push the year around participation. Many believe this is the only way to keep the athletes polished in the skills of the sport.

There is no time for an injury to recover either, with some parents going to all sorts of extremes to mask even the slightest injury so the young athlete can keep “in play”. All the Advil, tape and ice won’t help in the end. Kids need down time to repair their growing muscles and to just enjoy being a kid or teenager.

Gaining skills at what cost?

This regimen of practices, games and camps is taking over many young athletes’ childhood and early teen years. Often, these are gifted athletes – very talented at what they do – possibly with the potential to be a star in high school, college and beyond. But, they are young and still growing and can’t possibly fathom the pressure they are under from coaches and parents.

It is a fact that a lot of young kids are being pushed to the brink early on instead of slowly building their skills, endurance and talent while their bodies are growing. There are a handful of parents going to great lengths to make sure they get their child onto the best teams and into the best camps year around, even at age 8, and sometimes not just one camp, but several camps.

Do these parents really believe their child is going to learn something completely different at each one? Having young athletes travel to the many expensive “elite” camps offered outside of their school district sometimes only gives way to some sort of bragging right. The exposure of an athlete’s talent to different coaches and programs is a great notion, but not at age 9.

Parents need to step back

It is the consensus of many experts and non-experts that we, as parents and coaches, are doing more damage to our young athletes than we are doing good. The sharp increase in over usage injuries in youth athletics is alarming, but preventable. From soccer players with nagging knee soreness to baseball players with elbow issues, we as the adults and coaches need to look beyond the present season and the championship we want to conquer – and maybe step back, and stop trying to live vicariously through our young athletes.

Cristian Moore is a freelance writer and contributor for Focus Magazine.

Former Eagan High School goalie hasn’t returned to ice for U of M since suffering a severe concussion last October

Natalie Darwitz was on the bench Oct. 18, 2010, as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota when goalie Alyssa Grogan, a fellow Eagan High School graduate, suffered a severe concussion that has prevented her from returning to the ice ever since.

Grogan was participating in a “race to the puck” drill when one player’s knee hit her forehead and another player fell on the back of her head. She wishes she never poke-checked the puck that day because since then her concussion has kept her from playing the game she loves, and completing that semester’s worth of classes at the university.

Grogan, who never missed a game due to injury as a Wildcat varsity hockey player from 2004-2008, has needed all the support she’s received from her team, family, friends and her own faith as she’s endured headaches, uncertainty and countless visits to a range of medical specialists.

“It has drastically humbled me and I have a much greater perspective for what is important in my life,” said Grogan, the daughter of Steve and Karla Grogan and sister to Derek, 23. “I want to get my degree. I want to be able to work full days in the future. I want to go a day without a headache. I want to be able to wrestle with my kids 10 years down the road. Those are the things that are important to me.”

For Grogan, who started playing hockey at age 8 and won a gold medal with the U.S. National Team at the 2008 World Championships, the game is on hold. “There is a chance I will never play hockey again but I’m still optimistic I’ll have that chance again,” she said. “After almost a year of feeling crappy and being exhausted, my main focus is on getting back to feeling like myself and fully recovering from this very serious concussion.”

Road to recovery

After Grogan took the hit, she shook it off, stayed on the ice and in the net. She said the drill was stopped when the coach noticed something was wrong with Grogan. “I was in a complete daze, couldn’t see what was happening and was very out of it,” Grogan said. She was sent directly to the training room.

“I felt very groggy and instantly exhausted. As I waited between the tests that our athletic trainer did with me, I fell asleep each time,” she said. “I had a headache and felt as if I didn’t have my contacts in because everything was extremely foggy and blurry.”

After her initial evaluation, she saw the team’s physician that night and the following day had a CT scan and a few days later an MRI of her brain and neck because her symptoms escalated. Since that time she has seen a neuropsychologist, neuro-opthamalogist, optometrist, vestibular therapist, and physical therapist, as well as a team physician weekly and athletic trainer daily for visual and vestibular therapy. She’s had acupuncture, massage and chiropractic treatment on her neck.

Grogan said the team’s athletic trainer, Amy Hamilton, has taken her to all her doctor’s appointments and even accompanied her to Pittsburgh, Penn., for two full days of appointments at the country’s leading concussion research institute. She’s also been there to listen to Grogan’s concerns.

“What keeps me positive is knowing there is hope,” she said. “My doctors have not guaranteed me that I will play again; but they have told me that with the right treatment and more time I can fully heal from this.” Her visual and vestibular (balance/spatial orientation) systems were severely damaged as a result of her concussion, but doctors have ruled out any injury to her neck or bleeding on the brain.

The injury has forced Grogan to adjust the athlete’s mentality that if you push through and work hard, you will get where you want to be. Recovery from a concussion runs counter to that – too much activity will only set you back. “The most difficult part of this recovery is having no timeline and that there aren’t many people who can understand what you are going through,” she said.

She says she’s been given this injury for a reason. She’s been active with the university’s medical department, talking to medical staff and students about her injury and other patients about living with a concussion. Grogan’s message to athletes is not to “mess around” with a concussion and take one’s recovery seriously. Winning and losing is inconsequential when compared with allowing one’s brain to recover, so “no matter what the pressure feels like, remember what is most important to you, and that is you. Don’t lose hope and persevere.” She urges teammates to be supportive, but don’t push friends to get back on the playing field or ice. “To the parents, love your child. They may need lots of extra hugs and chats,” she said.

The concussion has not only been a setback in Grogan’s athletic career, but also her academic pursuits. She said she slept for 20-22 hours a day for the first six weeks of her recovery, and she was unable to finish her classes for the semester. She can’t go to movies, concerts or go anywhere that is loud and busy.

“The thought of being an energized, headache-free self again keeps me motivated,” Grogan said. “The thought of being a normal college student who can cram for tests and stay up late studying is exciting to me. Whenever I get discouraged, I remember that there are always people who are worse off.”

On her wrist is a narrow band that reads: “GODSTRONG.” It is a simple message that guides Grogan’s faith to remind her there is a lesson to be learned from everything and there is always hope.

There is no doubt that she embodies both parts of that single word on her wrist, which she says will lead her back to becoming a full-time student, a Division I athlete and some day “putting the Maroon and Gold back on!”

Tad Johnson is Managing Editor of Thisweek Newspapers and the Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly.