Featured Runner “Adele Jordan” May 2017

May 3rd, 2017 Tags: amazing, badassery, Being Epic, Featured Runners, motivation, perseverance, ultrarunning, unstoppable, why
Posted in Announcements, Featured Runners, Funny, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Philosophies, Preferences & Opinions, Tips, Training

Meet Adele Concepcion Garcia Jordan! Born to Carmen and James and is the youngest of five girls. She has three nieces and one nephew, family is significant to Adele. Her first marathon was the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC in 2006! Adele wanted to do the NYC marathon one year but didn’t get selected so then she signed up for her first ultra, Psycho Wyco 50k in 2013, and the rest is history! Adele does it all from being a Girl Scout Leader to volunteering at the Lords Diner and helping her mom run a successful restaurant.  Adele makes it a priority to give her three children adventure and exposes them to new learning experiences from traveling, art museums & extreme fun! So Adele enjoys running for several hours to regain her sanity back. Running is the calm to her crazy which causes her to not take life so seriously and goes with the flow.

THE BASICS

Date of Birth: September 29, 1982

Place of Birth:  St. Joseph Hospital can’t remember which floor. Wichita, KS.

Currently Residing: On the best street ever in Wichita, Kansas! I have also lived in Washington DC and Lawrence at one point. I used to work at a Whole Foods in DC and took the subway to work everyday! I went to the University of Kansas in Lawrence for 3 years and finished up at Wichita State University.

Marital Status: Divorced

Job(s):  I help my mom run our family restaurant Connie’s Mexico Café (Free advertisement opportunity here!) Come visit me at 2227 N. Broadway. We’ve been around for 54 years.

Children: 3 adorable kids! Sophia 12 yrs. old, Vincent 8 yrs. old and Eva 5 yrs. old and my dog Jake 8yrs/56yrs.old in dog years!

Height: 5’3”….my 12 year old is taller than me.

Weight: 123 lbs.

Shoe Size: 6.5

Best Physical Feature: My smile. But only when I whiten my teeth.

Worst Physical Feature: I’ve learned to love every flaw. Guess that means I’m getting old. But once upon a time I hated my nose and my name. My nose it’s what makes me…ME!! And I love both now!

Religion: Roman Catholic. Church every Sunday!!!

Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice.

Personal Strength(s): I like to think that I help others achieve their goals. I also like to think I’m encouraging and motivating. I’m perseverant and determined!!

Personal Weakness(es): I don’t know how to say no.

Make Of Car You Drive: 2013 White Ford Explorer.

Make Of Car You Would Like To Drive: Rubicon

Pets: Jake the Beagle!! I’ve had him for 8 years and he still runs away daily and eats bunnies! But I still love him!

FAVORITES

Favorite Author: I am still reading different books and haven’t came across one yet. But I did enjoy Charlies Engle’s memoir. He’s a great writer who told his story and held nothing back. It was raw and genuine!

Favorite Book: Ok, don’t laugh. But, Dr. Seuss’, “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” is truly a good book! The entire thing could relate to ultras!! It’s about the journey of life and its challenges and not giving up! I’ve read it to my kids countless times and when I do, I get so emotional.

Favorite Non-running Magazine: National Geographic.

Favorite Movie: 16 Candles, Vanilla Sky, Harry and the Henderson’s.

Favorite TV Show: Jimmy Kimmel and Saturday Night Live.

Favorite Actor/Actress: Melissa McCarthy, Bill Murray.

Favorite Music: Country, Salsa, Merengue, Spanish Rock, Classical, Indie Pop, Jazz, Gangster Rap, 80’s music like New Order or Depeche Mode, and Mexican Music.

Favorite Musical Performer: KINGS OF LEON!!!! Chris Stapleton!

Favorite Artist: My children’s art!! But any Kansas art is beautiful such as John Steuart Curry.

Favorite Spectator Sport: My daughter Sophia’s track, my son’s soccer, and Eva’s t-ball and soccer.

Favorite Subject in School: Psychology.

Favorite Game: Thumb War, Mad Gab, Checkers, hand slapping game, and pie face.

Favorite Vacation Destination: Prague of the Czech Republic. That place is so dreamy and has interesting bridges! Unforgettable! However, I do love the city of Lawrence dearly! That is my true happy place!

Favorite Time Of Day: When that beautiful sun rises which means coffee time. Means a new day and a fresh start!

Favorite Item Of Clothing: Running shorts and my coral shirt that has KANSAS on it with a windmill.

Favorite Non-Running Leisure Activity: Hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, ice skating, trampoline parks, zoo, Botanica, and Barnes & Noble.

Favorite Running Shoe: Adidas and Hoka Cliftons.

Favorite Food/Drink Before An Ultra: Coffee and water. Oatmeal with bananas & toast with pb.

Favorite Food/Drink During An Ultra: Water, ginger ale, and coke. I fill my handy Ziploc with pretzels & m&ms and make a fun mix.

Favorite Food/Drink After An Ultra: A fat juicy burger or black bean burger with sweet potato fries and a craft beer.

Favorite Crew/Pacer Person(s): Recently, Rosie Saiz has crewed at my last 2 races. She’s amazing, so full of life and fun to be around! Bu,t I can never forget the ones who helped me finish my first 100. Shout out to Tony Clark, Angel Clark, Anthony, Jason Dinkel, my sister Sonia, Drew and my three kiddos Sophia Vincent and Eva.

Favorite Place To Run: Clinton Lake, Flint Hills or really just anywhere outside!

Favorite Type Of Running Surface: The ground. Just as long as it’s outside. I don’t do treadmills.

Favorite Famous Quote: “If it’s both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it.” – Erada

ULTRA STUFF

Number of Years Running Ultras: 4 years?

Number of Ultras Finished:  (3) 100’s   (6) 50’s     (1) 40    (2) 50k

Best Ultra Performance(s): The two races that I almost dropped but didn’t. PST100 in 2014 and the most recent rainy cold Heartland 50 in 2017.

Most Memorable Ultra: There was a blizzard at my first 50 miler in 2013.

Typical Training Week(s) Before A Major Race: Whatever I have time for.

Injuries: A minor meniscus tear and a strange Bakers cyst in my right leg. Got a hydrocortisone shot and went through physical therapy.

Ultrarunning Idol: There’s so many!! I’m amazed by our local and famous ultra runners. You all are idols in my eyes!!! I’m intrigued by so many!

Why Do You Run Ultras:  Life is full of good and bad experiences! And every time I do a race, I leave with precious memories, good and bad, and new friends. Those memories are what get me through a bad day or a bad run. I run ultras because I find out something new about myself every time! Every race is a learning experience. I run to teach my kids about determination and dedication! I run ultras because I love the feeling of depletion. Running is my passion and its what keeps us alive! And I run so I don’t look like walrus.

Advice For Other Ultrarunners: Encourage others and always say good job! And every race isn’t always cupcakes and unicorns, there will be bad ones. Accept it and move on.

ACHIEVEMENTS / GOALS / MEMORIES

Personal Hero: My mom Carmen!! She has ran 13 marathons and has inspired me to live a life with passion. I was only 2 yrs old when I was at one of her marathons. I got the bug then. She is STRONG-willed and made of steel.  Heck! She’s even survived a brain aneurysm that gave her a 2% chance of living!! She’s patient, generous and kind. She has overcome so many obstacles but still has a tremendous love for life. I am like her in so many ways. Some would cringe turning into their mom but I am honored! I have called her at mile 95 at the last three 100 milers I’ve done. I guess its tradition now. She cries and thanks Jesus, it makes me smile!! She calls me “UltraPeeWee”, (“pee wee” is my nickname, by the way). So I guess I’ll be hearing that from some of you at the next race!

Personal Philosophy:  Be kind! Be humble! Pray! Be Good! Do good! Be generous! Be caring! Don’t be a fathead. Say please and thank you! Simplicity is beauty!! Learn to rest, not to quit! And Nothing is impossible to the willing heart!

Short-Term Goal: To actually do a race outside of Kansas.

Long-Term Goal: To raise more awareness for those with mental illnesses. I have set up a link for our local agency, the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas however, I didn’t get much support. I would like to raise more awareness and money so the youth and adults of Wichita can achieve mental health and wellness through education, advocacy and service.

Most Prized Possession: Photo albums.

Most Proud Achievement: That my kids love and appreciate the outdoors, especially camping!!

Happiest Memory: Teaching my 3 kids how to ride a bike or tie their shoes. That moment you let go of the bike and they take off by themselves and the look on their faces when they finally tie their shoe for the first time….PRICELESS MOMENTS!!

Secret Ambition/Fantasy: I’d like to go back to school and get a Masters Degree. Then I go back to thinking about my running goals and Badwater 135 seems to always pop up.

Greatest Adventure: I was part of something extraordinary in 2015. Tony Clark ran Badwater 135 for veterans with PTSD and raised thousands of dollars for Gallant Few. And I was part of his crew along with William Sprouse, Debbie Megerson, and Coleen Shaw-Voeks. Experiencing all that we did was phenomenal!! I learned so much and made the unforgettable memories with them and met the best people along the way! Helping Tony finish was quite the journey. Death Valley was 135 degrees and ended up in the mountains to cooler weather where there were bears and waterfalls. Talk about going from one extreme to another.

DISLIKES / FEARS

Least Liked Subject: Math!!!

Least Liked Household Chore: Cleaning up my dog’s vomit or bowels in the house.

Pet Peeve(s): When people don’t say please or thank you. I’ve been in the restaurant business for a while now and it amazes me how many adults don’t say please and thank you. Sometimes I say it for them.

Greatest Fear: Bad kids and losing my parents.

SPARE TIME

Book Currently Reading: Just finished Charlie Engle’s, “Running Man”.

Hobbies: Running, running and running…oh… and did I mention running? Is eating peanut butter a hobby?

Collections: Windmills and apparently running shoes.

What’s next: I take one day at a time. I am spontaneous and do things on a whim. So I don’t know exactly what’s next! But I have been thinking about Honey Badger 100 in July. Guess I have to actually do it since I just told you all.

Adele “washing her feet” at The Hawk 50 Miler!