3 Weeks til 3rd Halfy!

Week In Training:

Monday     5 miles

Tuesday     5 miles

Weds     Rest

Thurs   4 miles

Friday  4 miles

Saturday   Rest

Sunday   10 miles



For most runners, I think it's hard for us to admit that we are even coming down with an injury.  I don't think that I am, but I do think it's important to discuss how we can all prevent injury when we are training.  Something that I try to do is wear compression socks and take a salt bath after a long hard run.  While I don't think the baths help with this, I do think that it helps loosen my muscles.  I need to make sure that I go do a Bikrahm Yoga session this week to so that I can stretch out my body before my big run on Sunday morning.

Now that I finished my first two half marathons, I have finally decided to shift my focus on nutrition again.  Our body weight is comprised of 60% of our diet.  I've really tried to lean down some things in my routine life.  For one, I started eating Kashi Puffs, which are so tasty.  In the morning, I eat one cup of this with some milk, strawberries, and blueberries.  So tasty.



The other new product I have been obsessing over is Amy's Organics Light and Lean series.  These are the tastiest little meals under 300 calories that I have ever seen.  While I do enjoy the Lean Cusine series, I feel like these little organic cusines are the tastiest, and on some level, the healthiest.



Now that I will actually be monitoring what I am eating during training for another half marathon, I am positive that I will be able to get more toned.  Just looking at some of my past video entries, from my triathlon to the footage at the end of my first half marathon (to be posted soon), I can tell that I have definately toned up---and I ate whatever I wanted!



The problem now is that I want to be leaner to go faster (and to look better too ;-D ).  But the other thing about it is I don't want to have to be on the trail for 3 hours to complete 13 miles.  Being able to shave your time from a 12 min/mile to a 10min/mile can greatly enhance my ability to stay out there longer.  For instance, if I can consistently run a 10 minute mile, I will be able to finish a half marathon in about 2 hours, 10 minutes, if I can keep up the pace---which would shave about 50 minutes off my total running time.  So, while weight loss is something that I will focus on, the reasons have been skewed for a faster running time, and not for the glam of it all.

Body issues are huge for women.  I think that in the course of my lifetime, I have seen so many close women and friends of mine affected by body image.  We are constantly being told that if we don't weigh a certain amount, that we aren't beautiful.  As a married woman, I don't think about my what the opposite sex thinks of me so much.  I still try to feel beautiful and attractive, but the emphasis isn't as targeted toward them anymore, it's targeted to my health.  And for me, my health includes a strict regimen of knowing that I am not off my knocker thinking about my own body image!   That's one reason I decided to focus my weight loss on more practical reasons ---like running faster---instead of for cosmetic reasons---looking better.  It's not like I need to go find a Brad Pitt or anything---because I already found my own Brad Pitt at home.  :)

On that note, my next goal is try to get faster and stronger!  This has been the goal from Day 1---to feel more physically fit.  I orginally embarked on my marathon mission because I saw that I needed to make a fundamental change in my life.  The time to make that fundamental change is here and those changes are taking place right now. 

First 5k

Finishing my first half marathon was one of the most empowering experiences I have ever had in my life.  After completing a run that I never thought I could do, and getting a medal that I never thought that I could earn, I started to see the value in how far my internal thoughts could take me.  Running, to me, isn't about getting out there and feeling as free as a bird, it's pushing myself to the next level.  What's the next challenge?  What's the next obstacle I think that I cannot do?

Me Taking Up New Sport Last Year--Snowshoeing!

These thoughts and feelings bleed out into every other segment of my life, and this is why I love running.  I loved running even when I could barely run a block up and down the street, but I still got out there, day after day, running up and down that block.  Eventually that block turned into a mile, that mile turned into a 5k, to 10k, to half marathon, and soon, in October 2012, I will run my first marathon.  It's all a matter of the mind.  And in my life, I am constantly thinking of ways to grow, mature, and become a better person.  How can I try harder here?  What can I do to reach the next level?  I believe in the imagination, creativity, and work ethic of humans, and from there I truly believe we can do anything.

Thanks for listening.  As usual, feel free to post your thoughts, feelings, and comments below.  What keeps you running?  Where do you find your inspiration to run?

Disneyland Half Marathon!!! 2:52:55

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't posted in a while!

I finished the Disneyland Half Marathon, and then one after that too!  Exciting stuff. I never in my life thought that I would be able to accomplish a half-marathon.  When I started running five years ago, I could barely run around the block!

This isn't the most flattering picture in the world, but you know what, I don't care----because I had so much gosh-darn fun!!!  Over the months, and especially before this race, I didn't believe in myself too much, and you know what, I am happy that I was able to overcome my demons.

Ever since this half marathon, things have started to become clearer for me.  By that, I now see all my goals as hurdles.  It's hard for me to see my goals as walls now.

I never thought in my whole life that I could finish a half-marathon.  Now, I am foreseeing the future. I have decided to commit to finishing my first marathon next October 2012.

October 2012 is a good year because it's two months before the end of the world, according to the Mayan Calendar.  I always told people that I wanted to finish a marathon before I die, and since we all know the end is near in 2012, I might as well get on the bandwagon as soon as possible.  (LOL, just kidding about the end of world stuff...) 

Something that I realized after finishing my first half marathon is that my ego can only go so far.  I can train as much as I want, but my ego will never be satisfied if I do that.

I skimmed a book recently called "On Kindness".  The book explained that many people out there continue to be upset.  Something that many people have learned is that they are happy when they help other people.  The book goes into depth about how good it feels to help others.  That we can never truly feel happy unless we are giving to others.

It was exciting to push my own limits, but what I have learned in the process is that I can implement so much more into my training program, and try to offer something to people through running. I want to fundraise for Leukemia and Lymphoma.

So, I will be training for a marathon in October of 2012, but I am not 100% if I want to commit to Team-In-Training yet.  I wanted to get a feeling from all of you out there about fundraising.  Would any of you be willing to donate money to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?  I am just trying to get a ball-park estimate to see who would donate.  I am getting the feeling I might do a good job at fundraising!

I don't like doing things I am not passionate about, and I don't like doing things that my heart isn't completely into, but I do feel a draw to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society after two experiences I had recently:

(1)  During the Disneyland Half Marathon, a woman saw some girls running who were part of Team-In-Training, the woman yelled to them as they completed their run : "Hey Team-In-Training, check me out, fifteen years in remission!"

(2)  A person in my life recently told me they survived Leukemia.  I was shocked when I heard this because this person is so incredibly kind.  I don't know why, but for some reason I don't expect kind people to come down with an illness like leukemia, it just seems too tragic.  After this person shared this with me, it puts into perspective a little bit more how much life is truly unfair.

So, that being said, I have about 500 friends on twitter, and about 500 friends on facebook, and some other friends on YouTube too.  I hope that all of you will reach out to me, and donate some money for the cause.  I don't know completely if I am going to do fundraising yet, like I said, I am not too sure, still trying to get the vibes from off of you guys. 

Please feel free to comment and tell me what you think of this new venture and idea I have.   I look forward to all of your responses.  As usual, feel free to share your own experiences, thoughts and stories.

I greatly appreciate you all.

~~~~VIDEO MONTAGE COMING SOON~~~

Luckily, I have filmed all my races.

I am looking forward to making a cool video montage here for you all

monumenting my success over the past year and all the energy

I have put into trying to get to this half marathon!