I run.
I also write and speak (because a real adult does more than run and drink celebratory wine)
My first book — Because I Can, a memoir that covers the body, mind and spirit renewal I’ve gone through over the past few years, due to a major physical trauma was released on September 20, 2011.
.
The joy in my house when the first copies of Because I Can arrived.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also …
Ask – questions Discus- almost anything Eat – food that helps, not hurts me Read – anything, especially memoirs Bike, hike, kayak – alone or with others Search – to understand God, others and myself Blog – mostly about body, mind and spirit topicsShare hope – through living, writing and speaking .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Top Blog Posts
BODY
…..~ Philadelphia Half-Marathon Recap
…. ~ Run Across America with Dean Karnazes
…. ~ Monday Myths — Does Running Hurt Your Knees?
MIND
…..~ How Not to be a Jerk When Someone’s Life Changes
…..~Why am I Bothered by the Duggars?
SPIRIT
…. ~ When Life Sucks … Renewal is Needed
…..~How Does a Religion Begin?
…..~Once Upon a Time – Review of “Love Wins” by Rob Bell
…. ~ “Heaven is For Real” Review
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking
.I’m available for speaking engagements. I share about my body, mind and spirit recovery. That’s a wide range and I’m comfortable tailoring my topic to fit (most) any event. Past and future events here.
If you’re interested in having me come speak at your event, please contact me via email – JanetOberholtzer@gmail.com.
Comments about my speaking and my book
From a former COLLEGE PRESIDENT: ”It’s a tribute to the power of her story that when I opened the book, I couldn’t put it down. I read it all the way through and then wanted to know more.”
From a BOOK CLUB PRESIDENT: “Janet’s book is amazing, but there is nothing more impressive than meeting her and hearing her speak in person.”
From AMAZON REVIEWS: “I can’t imagine going through the journey that Janet Oberholtzer has taken, but I can say that her memoir is “her voice.” Her writing is crisp, clean and understated. She tells the story with some humor, lots of honesty and really gets the reader to “feel” her journey.” From a friend
“There are no annoying platitudes, simply real experiences of how she felt about the experience as she went through it. She does not deny her pain, her struggle with faith, or that this was an extremely difficult journey, yet I walked away from reading the book with hope and understanding.” From an acquaintance
“Wonderful story line about a runner’s struggle to overcome major physical injuries to resume her passion. Her focus on what she has rather than what she has lost, is a great life lesson. If you are looking for motivation to persevere against what life throws in your path, this book is a must read.” From a stranger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Media.
.TV Interviews
WGAL: Janet Oberholtzer Writes Book about Experience
WGAL: Woman Nearly Killed In Crash To Run Marathon
WFMZ: Woman turns tragedy into inspiration
National Magazines
Woman’s World - Sept 12, 2011
Fitness - October, 2011
.
Radio
Growing Bolder: Woman Nearly Loses Leg But Not Passion for Life
.Newspaper
The Signal, Santa Clarita, CA: A woman’s run to recovery
Reading Eagle: Fitness Profile: Runner, author and motivational speaker
Reading Eagle: Kelly’s Korner: Once told she won’t walk, Mohnton woman runs again.
Tri County Record: Accident Victim Janet Oberholtzer Speaks Locally
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Biography
.I was born asking why … which did not go over well in my strict traditional Mennonite family (think almost Amish) where following the many rules (especially for a girl) was expected.
So I found a cute, progressive Mennonite boy and married him. Together we explored life outside the boxes of our childhoods. Making changes was freeing, but also conflicting at times. Buying a TV, jeans, jewelry and getting my hair cut were all new experiences for me.
From ages 22 to 27, I gave birth to three adorable boys and soon realized I needed help to stay sane. Running became the thing … not running away from them (geesh, that thought would never have entered my mind) but running for my health.
With time, I ran numerous half-marathons and a full marathon (26.2 miles). I discovered running was beneficial for my body, mind and spirit.
After a decade of being business owners, Jerry and I sold everything … our business, property and house. We bought a motorhome and began a sweet once-in-a-lifetime trip around the country. The boys were 11, 13 and 15. We packed books, bikes and beach toys. We visited museums, parks and factories to enhance their education. It was a glorious time. Unfortunately, six month later, in California, we were in an accident and I almost lost my leg … and my life.
Somehow I defied the odds and recovered better than expected, surprising doctors who said that I might never walk again. Four months post-accident, I walked unassisted … and four years later I returned to running, which had been a vital part of my life pre-accident.
I now live in the tension of celebrating how well I recovered … while being honest about my disappointments. And I try to share hope through … living, speaking and writing,
I’ve completed Because I Can, a memoir about the past few years — the accident, my injuries and my recovery. It was published by Rhizome Publishing in September 2011 and is available on my site and on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
To receive updates for Because I Can, like its Facebook page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those three adorable boys are now 18, 21 and 23 year old men, so the conversations at our house often revolve around college, jobs and girls.
