The Marathon Diaries

New Location

2010-08-19T03:59:00.001-07:00

I will no longer be blogging at this location. The running blog has moved to: www.sukhrajbeasla.com

Hope to see you all there.

Summer season comes to an end

2010-06-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

It's hard to imagine that in a few short weeks, the summer season will come to an end. I'm sure that I'm not alone in this revelation and like most on my team, we are all recalling fond memories of info meetings, kickoff, and that first day at practice when it rained relentlessly.

Summer season was my first journey with Team in Training as a coach. An idea that once left me questioning if I could fulfill my duty now seems as easy as riding a bike. Having been a part of this amazing journey since 2007 teaches you a thing or two and under the guidance of our great head coach, there was no way we could fail as a team. This season has taught me a thing or two about myself. I shouldn't underestimate my value or worth. I have a lot to give and I should give it freely and with that mindset affirmed, I set out to make it a fabulous season for myself and those that I would get the opportunity to work with.

Our season started off a little rough. The summer season starts in the late winter so the skies decided to be merciless and beat us with torrential downpours for a good 3 weeks. Trying to mingle and meet new team mates was a hard task. I could feel the resistance and their frustration. The first few miles was an arduous task especially with the rain adding another 5 pounds onto their clothes and gear. However I persisted anyway until I finally heard the words, "If I need you, I'll ask for your help. Other than that, just leave me alone." Whoa. I know those words all too well. Bite me miles. I shook off the smile that threatened to give away my emotions and continued about my ways. I remember being that participant and not wanting a coach in my face with his/her "rah-rah" attitude. Sometimes you just need time to be part of a team. It's not for everyone especially if you're used to living your life solo like I was but eventually we convert them all and she just wasn't there yet.

Over the six month period, our team overcame several obstacles. They surpassed their limits, challenged themselves, and found something deep inside that allowed them to cross that finish line. And yes, they all warmed up to me to point where I can call them dear friends and hope they will continue their journey and keep that strength with them for whatever else life throws their way.

As a coach, I missed the opportunity to race with my team in San Diego. At first this news saddened me but over time I saw it in a new way, I could play the role as cheerleader vs. an active participant. After all, that's what I had been doing all along - making sure my core group of people made it to their finish line so being along side them wouldn't help me but cheering for them would give me an advantage to see them at various points of the race. It was an absolute pleasure to witness them at the finish line with medals around their necks and a major victory accomplished. Also with a smile a mile wide and a sense of "I can't believe I did it." Oh, but you did!

Someone once told me that coaching is like having kids. You watch them stumble and fall for the first few miles, get their aches and pains in the longer miles but still keep continue going, and then they grow up, cross the finish line, and leave you for bigger better things and while you want to cry and hold them back; you can't. You've done your part and you have to be proud of it. So here's hoping that my fabulous team of women continue forward and I just want to thank them all for digging deep and crossing that finish line and for putting up with all my antics this season. You are all amazing and as a testament to our work, San Diego had a sea of 4,000 participants dressed in purple from Team in Training who raised a combined total of 12 million dollars. I'm proud to be a purple person and can't wait to coach another season in winter, help another group of people cross the finish line, and start all over again.

View more photos from this season here.

You're Almost There

2010-05-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

If you're a marathoner, you've probably heard the words "you're almost there" at least a hundred million times during your training and before crossing the finish line. For some (a rare few), these words provide comfort and relief but the vast majority of us can only hear these words with a mix of frustration and a dire need to rip off the head of the all to eager informant.

I can clearly remember a time during the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll marathon when I was an inch away from the cut off point. I was the mentor at the time helping a participant during her first marathon and a coach comes along to help us. She spots us in danger of being swept and jumps at the chance of helping us. Needless to say, we already had a game plan but she felt it was her duty to add a few cents anyway. Her constant blabber of being swept, not getting a medal, and "you're nearly there" was a huge drain to me and the participant. Almost to the point where we considered shoving her off the highway overpass we were crossing and running away as fast as we could. We had to keep our love for her steadfast in our mind so that we didn't do anything rash.

As a coach, I'm often tempted to encourage our participants as I see them struggling. I can see the questions form in their heads: how many more miles? how much farther? will this ever end? And I want to answer them all with "you're almost there, keep going" but my own hatred of these phrases stops me.

Reality is: you're not almost there. The finish line isn't around the corner. Hearing that you only have a few miles left isn't comforting by any stretch of the imagination. When your body hurts and you're feeling tired and defeated, the last thing you want to hear is that you still have to keep going. How can that be comforting? And please don't smile at us. You're already finished. Of course you're smiling. We see the medal around your neck as you casually munch on your post race goodies. We're dying of hunger and we wish for the same peace of mind you're experiencing yet we still have a few more miles to go. Don't smile back mid bite and say it's around the corner because it's not. If we can't physically touch it and we're not there, it's nowhere close. Shove off before you become a victim of our blind rage.

In closing, think twice during race day or at a training. Are your words helpful or merely an inconvenience? Instead of saying, you're nearly there how about telling us we're doing great or just smiling and leaving us alone. We won't consider it rude, trust me. Instead you'll be doing yourself a favor and preventing serious bodily harm and a few arrests.

In honor of Coach John

2010-05-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

This week took a sad turn when we learned that assistant coach John had been admitted to the hospital. John has been free of cancer for 10 years and contributed back to the cause in over $80,000 worth of donations through various fundraisers. I vividly remember the day he shared his story and sent a silent prayer. How could fate take such a cruel turn and attack his body again?

We ran in honor of John and were pleased to know that he was texting from his bedside, in good spirits, and still planning his annual golf tournament for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His courage and optimism during this difficult time in his life gives me hope and renewed strength.

We are a short 4 weeks from the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll marathon and it's hard to believe that this season is almost at an end. I still remember kickoff and meeting all of my new team mates. It has been an honor to serve as coach and be at everyone's side as they conquer their miles and get ready for the big day. This Saturday saw us at 9 miles for the half and 12 miles for the full. As the walk coach, I take my group wherever they want to go and this week was a challenge. We are either stuck in pouring down rain or the steady sun beating down on us. This week, we were dealing with the sun. It was a beautiful day that quickly turned hot. A hot day can be dangerous if you're not prepared with salt, electrolytes, and proper nutrition. Our group faced some challenges but I'm proud of them for sticking through it and making it back to the finish at home base. It's not easy having an obstacle but it's the only way we learn what's best for our bodies and how to prepare for race day.

My biggest regret was working out the day before. While I enjoyed the circuit training, it left me a bit sore for Saturday's training and I realized my foot was still giving my problems. I'm still a little sore today but mostly recovered. I'm excited that my back is no longer an issue - one step at a time I guess. If I can heal my foot pains, I'll be the perfect marathoner. Go Team!

Photo of Stacey and me at the half way point.

The TNT Summer Team

*All photos courtesy of Stacey Stallard.

Team in Raining?

2010-04-04T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's unfortunate that my last blog post is from kickoff. Our OC marathon team has accomplished a lot since then. They have passed the re-commitment point, dared the double digits, trained in rainy weather, and truly dug deep to find themselves. At this point, our team is truly dedicated to the task at hand - finding a cure and crossing that finish line. I couldn't be happier to be out there with them training, learning about their battles, and getting to know the amazing individuals that will cross those finish lines in June at San Diego and Seattle.

Each Saturday, while I struggle to get up in the wee hours of the morning to face my team, I'm forever grateful for having signed up and joining. Now as a coach, that decision is forever solidified as a new wave of participants come on board to train for their first marathon.

I have also overcome some personal obstacles. I no longer experience a shooting burning pain running up my legs thanks for the shin splint exercise taught to me by my boot camp instructor and the warm ups. I've gotten faster and stronger and thanks for my chiropractor I've learned about a degenerative spine issue that almost had me in tears but with constant adjustments we can correct it over time. So like the rest of the team, I'm not without my own issues. If anything, I'd like them all to know it's ok when you have an injury. We all get them- even the coaches.

This particular Saturday was a little heartbreaking. Several of our participants were feeling the effects of the long miles and upset that they couldn't go forward and continue. I wish I could have talked to them all. I personally stopped a few and called for pickup. It can be difficult to abandon the course but remember, you come first - not your race. Listen to your body, listen to your coaches, and rest up. We don't want your injury to cause further damage and prevent you from running your race. A few missed practices won't affect you.

Speaking of running a race, we're only a few months away and I can't believe how fast time has flown by. A few days ago, San Diego Rock 'n' Roll sold out and I was late in getting registered. I'm hoping by some miracle I can race with my team, if not I'll be a proud cheerleader waiting at the finish line for them all to come in.

Kickoff

2010-02-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, January 30th, the summer season kicked off. Pulling into a high school in the city of Santa Ana I was instantly reminded of my first kickoff - the anxiety, the frayed nerves but today I was a different woman. I had a few years of experience under my belt, a few notches by ways of races I had run, and I was entering a new role as assistant coach. I was confident, not the shy girl from 2007 who could barely set foot and move forward.

It still amazes me how an experience can change you. When I first signed up for Team in Training, I didn't realize how badly I needed it. Things weren't quite right in my life. My confidence was shattered. I was broken. I felt lost in SoCal and wanted to go home and one day in my mail arrives a flier for Team in Training so I attended an info meeting, ran my first marathon, and never looked back.

I never really thought I would be one to participate in a group and like being part of that group. Life has always been about solo projects for me but Team in Training and their group of coaches, mentors, and other support staff helped me run my first marathon and I knew that's where I belonged and wanted to stay. I have also never been a upbeat person before so it took a lot of effort to find that energy in me everyday but today it's a normal habit. I can effortlessly smile and say "Go Team" and it's a genuine emotion that comes from my heart.

This past Saturday, I watched as several new participants filtered past me in their own nervous states of confusion and first timers paranoia. I wish I could have told them all that it would be OK, that they would survive, and not to be so anxious but I know it's something they have to experience like I did. If someone had told me at kickoff that it would alright (which plenty did) I wouldn't have believed it either. Reality doesn't set in until you cross that finish line and you get your first medal.

I can't wait to start working with the new team of participants and watch them transform and to also be there as they each cross the finish line. I can't wait for them to tell me about their experiences. Our first practice starts this Saturday and I can feel the butterflies again but this time it's not out of nervousness; it's out of excitement as we begin this new phase and a new season.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

2010-01-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

As athletes, our lives are filled daily with mention of energy bars, gu, sports beans, and sports drinks that we often forget about real food. None of the above have enough sustenance to maintain our bodies for the long haul - they only serve as a quick fix in an emergency or when an energy boost is needed so what is real food?

My personal favorite before an early morning run or at any given time takes me back to my childhood. It's the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This may get some questionable glances but hear me out. Peanut butter is the best sports food around and there's a reason your Mother made you those sandwiches and served them up with milk. It's tasty, inexpensive, satisfying, and nourishing. Ever wonder why you feel a burst of energy after a Snickers bar? It's the peanuts, not the chocolate. Snickers realized this early and jumped on the energy bar band wagon before any candy bar.

Peanut butter is also a quick and easy way to reduce your risk of heart disease - so slap together a sandwich with your favorite jelly on multi-grain bread and you have the makings of a nutritious heart healthy meal.

Other benefits of peanut butter include:

A good source of calories - a hungry athlete needs 3,000 calories. You will spend a significant amount of money refueling yourself if you spend it on energy bars, gu, and other sports foods. Peanut butter is inexpensive and won't break the bank, especially in this economy.

A great source of vitamins and minerals - it contains folate, vitamin E, magnesium, and resveratrol, all nutrients associated with reduced risk of heart disease. Magnesium is also associated with reduced risk of adult-onset diabetes. Peanut butter offers a small amount of zinc, a mineral important for healing and strengthening the immune system. As an athlete, you need all these nutrients to keep you off the bench and on the playing field.

However, peanut butter alone is a poor choice for muscle fuel. Combined with bananas, apples, oatmeal, crackers, raisins, and even pasta (Thai noodle dishes) you have the makings for a powerful super food that will take you a long way.

Black Toe Joe

2010-01-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

One day after a significant amount of training you might come home, remove your shoes, and notice a black toenail. Don't panic. Instead, be proud. Sounds insane but a black toenail is seen as a success symbol. It's ugly and unsightly but don't you dare cover it up with a band aid or some nail polish, wear it out proudly with some flip flops and show the world you're a serious athlete - in training.

What caused the black toenail?
As you walk or run, your foot slides forward in your shoe banging your toes towards the top and the sides of your shoe. Your feet also swell during a walk or run and get compressed by your socks or shoes. The pressure and impact can damage the toenail bed. The tissue gets damaged and fluid accumulates causing the "black" toe which is essentially dried blood underneath your toe from a few broken capillaries.

Is it painful?
This depends on how significant the injury was. If the toe is swollen or has a blister underneath, it will be painful. The pain may go down after a few hours but if I doesn't, you can relieve the pressure by sterilizing a needle and putting it in the flame of a match or lighter until the tip is red hot, letting it cool, and then sending it into the thin layer of the skin near the toenail bed where you see the fluid and allowing it to release. If you are uncertain about this, it's best to seek out a doctor and have them perform the procedure or wait until the injury starts to heal itself.

Can a black toenail be prevented?
Yes and no. When buying shoes for an endurance event, always make sure they fit comfortably. You will want to allow for extra room at the top to prevent your toe from slamming forward - about an inch and a half. Have your foot measured at the store to insure the proper fit. We often think we know what the best fit is but our feet go through phases and often swell in the summer, shrink in the winter.

Speaking of summer, your feet will swell. If you bought your shoes in the winter, you might not have enough space for your feet which will likely cause a black toenail. Or your socks will be too tight. It might take a black toenail to figure out something is wrong and you need to fix it.

Will the black toe nail last forever?
No. The toe will continue to grow pushing the dried fluid out and clearing the toe nail bed. After 4-5 months, your toe will be brand new again and ready for the next black toenail experience.

Running Salty

2010-01-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

An unexpected visitor showed up on my doorstep today in the wee hours of the morning. She gave me a wicked grin and came with her usual baggage of cramps and bloating. I dulled her effects with a dizzying array of pain medication, tea, and a heating pad. Finally, around 7AM I sent her packing and went back to bed only to find her back on my doorstep when I woke up. Monthly visits from Aunt Flo are never fun.

If you exercise often, Aunt Flo's effects won't be as bad but as evidenced I'm obviously out of shape and her visits bother me more than ever. I need to learn to walk off the pain and not turn to my vices. Pain medication is never a good solution and should only be used when absolutely necessary.

The beauty of training and training early is being able to catch signs of something wrong or something that might not be working. Yesterday, I realized I'm still a salter. When I run, I sweat excessively and usually sweat salt. My face is white and I can feel the salt on my skin. It's never a good thing to sweat salt. One can avoid sweating salt by eating a diet rich in salt. This goes against what all the diet books and health panels will tell you but eat salt in moderation and in good forms like: pretzels, soups, canned vegetables, whole grain crackers, and nuts. Avoid salty foods like packaged meat, hot dogs, and fast food. You should also consume a sports drink. The electrolytes and sodium in these drinks will help keep your sodium levels replenished. Drinking plain water will further dilute the sodium concentration in your blood that is already low due to your salty sweat.

Another common problem is chafing. I noticed my feet were hurting - not from training but because my socks were rubbing against my feet. I bought these socks at Costco. They were cheap and promised to be moisture wicking but the problem with most of these socks are they contain more cotton than anything and while cotton may have been your friend while you were growing up; it isn't now. It clings to your skin and refuses to let go causing all kinds of discomfort. Unfortunately, you'll need to spend a little more for a higher quality brand of socks. The best socks for your feet will have a thicker weave, be made of nylon or lycra, and feel lightweight. This will reduce stress on your feet and lessen fatigue. You will undoubtedly go through a few pair before you find the right fit for you but then again that's the beauty of a long training period. By race day, you should have all the gear you need to make race day a success.

An Easy 6 Miles.

2010-01-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

It's the new year. An opportunity for most to get a jump start, have a clean slate, and let go of past fears that may be haunting them. Like most, for several years, I've been struggling with the same resolution to finally get back into shape and it's so easy to give up within the first few months and call yourself a quitter and move onto whatever else you had planned. I don't know why this resolution often gets ignored; it's usually the first priority on everyone's list but as time moves on excuses get made and that's how the health care industry capitalizes on our failures.

This year I'm finally going to resolve to do different. I started off by not making a resolution. I've never been a big believer in diets anyway. Everyday you hear something's good for you and then you immediately hear it's bad. Who can keep up? I have however resolved to be more active. That I can handle. It doesn't feel like a resolution, just something I've added into the daily mix of my life.

A good friend of mine ~~called~~ texted me. Don't you just love that? With the advent of modern technology, you no longer have to pick up the phone anymore, you can simply text or email to confirm plans and eliminate the need for all human contact. I love it but anyway, she wanted to know if I could get together today and do an easy 6 miles in preparation for the Surf City marathon in February. And you're probably thinking an easy 6 miles??? Who says easy and 6 miles in the same sentence? Trust me. I would have never said that. It takes time and practice to be able to utter that sentence and mean it.

We met up at our old spot again - Heritage Park. Remnants of the LA marathon season were there cheering on their participants. It feels good to be back and amongst old friends. We set off to do our miles and on the way we were planning breakfast again like old times. It's been a year since I've been active with the team but it's funny how things fall into place almost immediately.

At Ruby's with Coach Paul we were discussing our upcoming season at the end of January. Wow, that's coming up fast. We talked about our goals and pace groups. I'm happy that Coach Paul is willing to work with what I want to do and is open minded about some of my training strategies for this year. It's almost like 2008 again and like 2009 and my year long break never happened except I need to get back into shape if I want to be a solid assistant coach. I'm excited about this year.

A New Year and the Summer Season

2009-12-31T15:01:00.001-08:00

It’s been a while since I last visited and as 2009 draws to a close, I’m excited about starting 2010 as an assistant coach for the Summer season of Team in Training under Coach Paul’s tutelage. It’ll be an amazing season as we train for San Diego and Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll marathons coming up in June. And of course, we’ll be working harder than ever towards our ultimate goal to raise money towards blood cancer research and reaching that ultimate finish line – a cure.

With that said, we can’t have this season without you. In January, we’ll be kicking off our info meetings where you can come to learn more about what we do and also sign up if you want to be trained to run your first marathon or your next. The Orange County and Inland Empire team will be having meetings throughout the various counties and we hope you’ll visit and join us for yet another fabulous season. I will attending the ones in Aliso Viejo at the library on January 20^th at 6:30pm and another at Irvine at the Katie Wheeler Library on January 12^th at 6:30pm. There are others – you can contact me and I can give you more info. I hope to see you all out there. We can’t have this season without you. :)

I am a marathoner!!

2008-01-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

I spent the week leading up to the marathon nervous with anticipation. I didn’t know what to expect. This was my first marathon.

I made lists, I shopped for last minutes items, I packed two pairs of the finest moisture wicking apparel, I decorated my race shirt, I bought plenty of food to consume for 26.2 miles, I packed all that food into my race pack, I packed clothes for the victory party and the pasta party, I made sure I had enough socks, underwear, etc. I packed lotions, creams, anti-fog glasses and hoped and prayed to God my little suitcase had everything it needed to survive the marathon and afterwards.

I checked into the Hyatt in Irvine around 3pm, unpacked, and found the team downstairs in the lounge. We shared our anxieties, held hands, and then someone said something about Icy/Hot, ice bathes, and Aspercreme and being really sore afterwards and hoping that we had all at least packed for recovery. Umm..I remember only packing recovery powder but no Bengay, Icy/Hot, or Aspercreme. How could I have forgotten that? I have millions of tubes of Bengay, etc and I forgot to pack one??? I was a little upset but not deterred. I would find some way to obtain muscle relaxing cream after the marathon.

We headed out as a team to the pasta party. The mentors and coaches were all lined up outside the doors red carpet style to cheer us one by one as we entered. The energy of the team and our mentors and coaches was awesome and made for a fabulous start for the race day weekend. To top it off, they had some amazing pasta and sauces however I should have gone back for seconds. Maybe I was just nervous and imagining that I was hungry.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I was hoping that my shoes and my body wouldn’t fail me and I was hoping that I would come out in one piece. I woke up around 3AM ready to go, ready to get started, and ready to come back to the victory party as a marathoner. We had to meet as a team downstairs by 5AM to check in and make sure we had all the gear we needed for a successful marathon. Around 6AM, we were shuttled out to Fashion Island (the start line) and waited until 7:30AM (the official gun time). It was really, really cold at 6 in the morning and I wish we had been shuttled out later but then again we were first in line at the start and we got to hear all the announcements and also danced to the music to warm our muscles; that’s about all the dancing we got to do that day.

7:29AM: the last of the announcements are made. The announcer asks us if we’re ready and the countdown begins. I look up at the sky, I look around me, and we all hold onto each other and before we know it the gun goes off and everyone starts running. We get pushed around because we’re first in line and we’re nervous but slowly we get going and before we know it we’re at the first water stop and the first mile. Yey! Only 25 more to go. Slowly the miles pass us by and the team gets separated as we determine our own paces and times. Around mile 12, a cop stops me and says I can’t continue forward because the toll road will open in 20 minutes and I don’t have enough time to finish the marathon. I want to cry in frustration but I continue forward anyway despite his warning. At mile 20, I’m approached again at another toll road and still I continue forward. By mile 21, my body hurts and every step is painful and I still have 5 miles to go but I can barely walk and every mile is taking me 30 minutes to complete. I want to cry out of frustration and just be done and go home but I remain strong and cling to my last hope. At mile 23, I find our mentor cheer station. I find the happy cheering faces of our mentors and coaches and also some much needed fries which are unfortunately cold but I’m hungry so I eat them. Jen joins me for the last bit and before I know it; I am at the finish line!! I throw my hands up, the OC volunteer puts a medal around my neck, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I am a marathoner and for a minute I feel no pain just joy until it’s time to check back in and I realize I have to walk another 10 minutes to get my 26.2 Team in Training pin and meet our campaign manager Judy. By this point, I smell horrible but I hug everyone in sight.

I venture out with a friend to grab Bengay, Epsom Salt, and In-n-Out. I take my first ice bath back at the hotel and realize this is not something I am going to get used to easily but it is a necessarily evil and an important recovery tool. The ice bath is followed by a warm Epsom salt bath and then later by a nice hot shower and ultimately the victory party. Hardly anyone shows up at the victory party but my OC Coast team was there and it was hard to say goodbye. We have spent the last five months together, training, sharing our joys and sorrows, and suddenly it’s all over. I hope I see them all again. I plan to be a mentor for the next season. I have submitted my application and am waiting to see if I make it. I hope I do. This was a great experience and it really changed my life. I hope it can do the same for others.

The Last Saturday

2007-12-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

Saturday was my last training day with the team. There’s still two more training days left but I will miss them both because I’ll be out of town visiting family for the holidays. It’s hard to believe that this journey is over and the marathon is only a few weeks away. My thoughts flash back to the info meeting to when I first met the coach, my mentor, and everyone else on my team and thought to myself “there’s no way I’m going to be able to do this” and now here I am. I’ve raised the money, I’ve gone the distance, and now all I need to do is complete my final event.

Wow.
Wow.
Wow…

Someone poke me. No, don’t poke me just gently nudge me awake. I have blisters, my feet and legs hurt and my body is overwhelmed by all the work it’s had to do over the past 5 months. This past Friday, I went in search of replacement shoes because my Nike’s were killing me and were no longer able to absorb any shock. It was supposed to be a simple procedure – walk into Road Runner Sports, grab my shoes, pay for them, and continue on with my Friday. However, my shoes were discontinued! Discontinued in 5 months?? And the new model would be available in the Spring? Why me? So what did that mean? It meant I had to be fitted into brand new shoes which isn’t a good thing so late in the season and rightfully so because 10 miles into training, I was screaming in pain and I didn’t know why. Coach heard me and saw me wobbling with an excruciating look on my face and told me I had to be swept off the course. Swept??? I had never been swept before and I told him I would just continue walking but he didn’t want me to injure myself further so I begrudgingly climbed into his SUV and took off to homebase.

Back home, I pulled off my shoes and slowly pulled off my socks that were stuck to my foot and BAM! Two big blisters on both heels. Ouch! Coach and everyone else instructed me to pop them, cleanse them, and keep my feet up. Kind of hard to keep your feet up when you’re home alone so I decided to order pizza and watch LOST and some other movies. *sigh*

With great luck, I was able to find my old shoes online and I will return my troubled pair today. Hopefully, I will recover soon and be back on my feet.

I've come a long way.

2007-12-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know. Long time, no update. It's been a hell of a time. You win some, you lose some and in the end, I just hope I come out to be the winner.

We’re at 18 miles now! Isn’t that crazy? I remember when 8 miles was too much and now 8 miles seems like nothing. Wow, I never thought I’d say 8 miles is "nothing." I crack myself up. I'm hurting all over. I remember being sore for a couple of hours and having it all go away by the time I woke up Sunday morning but now my back, shoulders, calves...everything is constantly sore and hurting but I still get up every Saturday morning to do it all over again. You gotta admire that. I would never have thought I'd be putting myself through this but I'm actually doing something, raising money, and accomplishing something and on top of that, I'm done with my fundraising. I. Me. Myself. Just me. I'm doing something for myself and the millions of others suffering from this horrible disease. They suffer more than I ever could so what's a little soreness?

So today was “reach into the back of your closet, dust off your suit, and wear it” day. I’ve never felt so good wearing a suit. I’ve lost some serious inches since I started training for this marathon. My hips actually look normal and soon it’ll all slowly disappear. Just need to have patience. Since I had to wear a suit, I figured I’d make the most of it and take it with me to South Coast Plaza. Usually when I go there (in my casual clothes - jeans and a nice shirt!), no one looks at me or bothers to help me. However before I left, I decided to call the New Balance store where I was headed and ask them if they had any recovery shoes.
“Hello, New Balance. This is Moira how can I help you?”
“Hi..yeah, do you guys carry recovery shoes?”
“Recovery shoes? What are those?”
“Well, you put them on after you run to help speed up the recovery of your feet”
“What do they look like?”

Are you kidding me?

“They’re slip ons. You guys make them and I’m on your site. I’m sure you carry them.”
“No, we don’t have anything like that. Bye.”
“Wait….”

How can you not carry recovery shoes? You guys make them! Why did I even bothering calling? Dennis has been showing them to me since the beginning of this month and I’ve wanted a pair since I first laid eyes on them and you’re telling me you don’t have them. He told me himself that he got his pair at the New Balance store and there’s no other New Balance around so this has to be it! Argh!!!!

So by the power of my suit, my new attitude, and the over all feeling of looking good I drove to the New Balance store to find out for myself. I saw the Sports Chalet and all the cute Nike jackets first but my aim was solely set on the New Balance store (cute jackets later). I had to prove that saleslady wrong! I walked in, turned to my right, and there they were..right there on the wall in plain sight of the saleslady. I wanted to yell, scream, and tell her what an idiot she was and how she could have possibly cost this store a lucrative sale but I took my 10 seconds to calm down, smoothed the wrinkles in my suit, and walked right in. I grabbed the pretty pink and black ones and marched right up the desk. I had to prove her wrong somehow, right?

“Hi…um (spotting her name tag) Moira, could I please get these ‘recovery shoes’ in a size 10?”
*surprised look on Moira’s face, mission accomplished*
“Yeah, sure”

Muhahahahah! I win!

In Perspective

2007-11-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

The Santiago Canyon fire is one of two yet to be fully contained. Firefighters expect to contain the fire by Tuesday. This fire has been burning for two weeks and because of this fire we have had to cancel training and this past weekend we had to move training to Huntington Beach. Training on the beach and hearing Coach Paul’s evacuation story have put a lot of things in perspective for me. We are all truly lucky to be where we are and we are lucky that we get to train in such great locations and have the ability to make it through all this. I haven’t been training properly in two weeks because of everything that’s been going on and I wasn’t really sore this time. I think my body is getting used to this..finally!

These two weeks have truly been an ominous experience. I’ve been stuck on ocfa.org and ocregister.com for two weeks fearing that the fire might cross lines into my territory. The fire is burning in the Saddleback hills that are about 5 miles from where I just moved and some of our team members had to evacuate because of it. We have all been affected one way or another and because of this experience we have realized just how precious life is and how one event can change everything much like cancer. Hearing that you just might lose your house and your possessions is almost similar to hearing that something is attacking your body. Hearing that a fire is creeping closer to your house and you need to evacuate is almost similar to hearing that one by one your cells and your organs are being attacked unless you act quickly. However, houses and possessions can be rebuilt and re-bought; cancer spreads quicker than any fire and can often take your life unless we collect the funds necessary to find the cure and extinguish the cause.

As a team we have raised $100,000+. I am a mere $238 away from my goal. I would like to thank my family and friends for all of their support and for helping me get to my goal.

Firestorm

2007-10-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

There are currently 17 fires burning in southern California and only 5 of them are contained. Am I surprised? A little, but not really. Whenever the words “Santa Ana winds” are announced in weather reports, you can almost always expect a fire somewhere, but never 17 all at once – just 2 or 3 in opposite locations.

There is a mad frenzy for air purifiers, candles, lighters, water, dried food, and flashlights. People have their cars packed with their essentials and their TVs, radios, and internet tuned to every news station in case they have to evacuate. Everyone is affected by this fire – whether it is their house or a loved one.

My mad mind is thinking that this might be some mastermind terrorist attack. Terrorist attacks don’t necessarily have to be on a grand scale. They can be something small that has a lasting impact and if they’ve done their research they would know that we are vulnerable to these fires. The Santiago Canyon fire had 3 separate starts and was close to the Cleveland National Forest and the affluent communities of Orange County. Most of these fires are located in areas that would amount to the most damage and the damage estimated is already over $1 billion.

In other news, mid week and Saturday training has been cancelled. The air quality is poor and last night, I could see the fire burning in the hills and this morning, I awoke to find smoke surrounding the building and I panicked for a second thinking the fire was in the hills near my apartment but it had drifted down from the hills nearby and because the Santa Ana winds have now died down the smoke will hang until another wind storm or rain.

On Fire

2007-10-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

It’s my first week in Lake Forest all by my lonesome and I might just have to evacuate from my new home if all these fires keep up. Almost all wild brush areas are on fire and I can guarantee everyone in southern California is breathing in smoke and their cars and outdoor possessions are covered in ash. That’s just how bad it is down here. State officials have issued warnings telling us not to be outside. Ok, sure. How am I supposed to get to work? What if I need something? We’ve also been told to train indoors. This will definitely keep up until the weekend, so I wonder if training will be cancelled or held indoors somehow. *sigh*

I always hear about fires in southern California but I never imagined there would be one close to me. I’m currently dealing with the Santiago Canyon fire. It shut down the 241 tollway that is about a mile away from me and my main connector route. I now have to drive 5 miles to the 5 freeway. Ugh. So much for the convenience.

So I’m hoping and praying that nothing happens to all the new possessions I just bought. I haven’t even got renter’s insurance yet. The timing couldn’t be worse. I guess we’ll see how it goes. In other news, I’m slowly unpacking. I have boxes all over the place and I was able to get most of my laundry done. I just have to wash everything that was in boxes for a while – that will take some time so I’ll just leave those as is for now. I need to buy some Tupperware for all my India collections – shawls, shirts, etc and another one for all my purses. :) Slowly but surely it’ll all come together nicely. I just hope it doesn’t burn down in the process. *crossing fingers* We could really use some rain right now.

Map of southern California fires:

Bite Me Mile?

2007-10-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

We’re at mile 12. I’m almost positive this is my “bite me” mile. The “bite me” mile is where you stay silent and internally debate the day you made the decision to sign up for a marathon. You think to yourself “am I nuts?” It’s cold, everything hurts, and I’m wasting my precious weekend on this and I have to get up really early in the morning for 5 long months.” Yes, I am nuts.

As a result of your internal debate, you ignore your poor running mate and when they ask you if everything is ok you snap back and say “of course everything is ok! Does it look like ‘everything is not ok’?” And your poor mate falls back a few steps and lets you brew in your inner struggle until the next mile when you turn around and ask “hey, what happened?” and they snap back and say “nothing happened! Can’t a girl just relax a little without all the questions?” And you shrug your shoulders and wonder “geez, what’s her problem?”

See. We didn’t go 12 miles. Our chalk marker that tells us “yey, you’re half way there! Now turn around and go back” got erased with the rain so Coach Paul was our marker but he was an extra mile or so out and we were all wondering “did we go too far?” But our marker was nowhere to be found so we continued forward as if nothing had happened and I checked my Nano – the Nike+ read “7.87” which meant if were to turn around now we’d be doing about 14-15 miles easy. Madness. But did we turn around? Nope. We continued forward and then we spotted Coach Paul at an even 8 miles. We did 16 miles! I guess at this point there really is no difference between 12 and 16. During the double digits, everything just blends together until the pain settles in and your feet start to hurt and the pain travels up to your legs, your hip flexors, and your lower back and that’s what they call the “bite me” mile – when you’re in so much pain you can’t even think straight and you just want to be done but then everything goes numb and you’re ok. It’s hard to explain. You just have to make a crazy decision like this and experience it for yourself. :)

Slowly, but surely

2007-10-11T14:59:00.001-07:00

My battle with Laryngitis and Bronchitis is finally over. I took the last of the Penicillin on Monday. Thank God! The Penicillin always left a burnt tire after taste in my mouth but hey, it healed my lungs. This battle started on September 26th and ended on October 8th – 13 days. Ouch.

The weather calls for rain on Saturday. Bummer. No clouds in sight yet but we all know that weather can change at any time. Pismo was nice but windy and cold. I missed my 10 mile training so now we’re at 12. Wow. The miles are slowly but surely going up. I had to buy a rain jacket today and while I was buying my rain jacket I decided to also shop for bath coordinates. I bought my toothbrush holder, trash can, and soap pump. I’m thinking about a black and white bathroom. That should be interesting and I’ll most likely have over a two week period to move. All my major appliances – fridge, washer/dryer, bed, and recliner are being delivered on the 20th but my move in date is this Sunday. I can’t be in the apartment without my major appliances. So I’ll setup my bathroom, my kitchen, and other things during this coming week until everything arrives and I can actually live there. I still have to buy the futon that I want to put in my living room. *sigh* At least, I have already bought everything else and I’m still within budget.

This has been a good week for donations. I am now at $1,506 – $594 away from my goal (21%)!! I want to thank the following people for helping me get towards my goal: My sister Raj (for donations from my adopted uncle and for convincing Robby to donate), Amar Sohal (and his co-workers – Fran Mahon and Robin Burrow), Rita Sohal (and the donation from her dad), Matt Temple, and Jessie Dhesi.

October 20th equals recommitment. I get to decide whether or not I’m still crazy enough to complete this marathon. I think I’ll make it. Look at all the support I have? I can’t let everyone down. So that means I have to fill out my paperwork and join everyone else at the recommitment party granted my stuff gets delivered on time and I’m not stuck in my apartment waiting for everything to slowly filter in. *crossing fingers* That was the best date I could get – certain sacrifices must be made I guess. *sigh*

Sicky poo

2007-10-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

I feel like I’ve been sick forever. I remember waking up last Wednesday and not being able to talk and that turned into a persistent cough which led to Bronchitis which worsened and with every cough I felt like vomiting (and sometimes actually did) and that went on to sleepless nights which led me back to urgent care last night asking them “what the hell is wrong with me?”

Am I getting old? Yeah, old in numbers but physically old? I feel like my body is shutting down and once again, someone’s trying to tell me something. But what? I can’t shake this and I don’t feel as strong as I used to. My head feels stuffy and yesterday, I was prescribed cough medicine with codeine and I woke up this morning completely unable to function. I couldn’t even properly shower or brush my teeth. I felt narcoleptic. Maybe that’s just it. I need more sleep. I need to stop pretending I can stay up late and still function. This isn’t college. I can’t just “skip” the first part of my work day and show up late. I need to be on top of it all and turn around my bad sleeping habits. *sigh*

My body needs rest in order to heal itself. Simply said, hard to accomplish without effort. I need sleep in order to go the distance and run 26 miles. I can start after I get back from Pismo. :)

Double Digits

2007-10-01T12:12:00.001-07:00

In celebration of double digits (10 miles! Woohoo!), we trained at the Yorba Regional Park with all the teams – Yorba Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and us – OC Coast. Also in celebration of double digits, they set up a mock marathon setting for us which gave us a taste for what a real marathon is like complete with professional photographers along the course, themed water stops (each team setup a themed water stop and all team members had to vote for the best one at the end), energy snacks, energy drinks, you name it, it was there.

All this celebration meant an early start time. I really wanted to stay in bed and say “look hey I have laryngitis and I really shouldn’t be out there in the cold, etc.” but how great would that look? I missed practice last Saturday because of my leg and I’ll be missing another one this Saturday because of Pismo and that would be 3 practices in a row. Ouch! So I begrudgingly got my butt up at 4 and hauled ass to Yorba Linda. It was very, very dark and cold. Also, I got lost looking for the park and the rest of my team members. I reached the main entrance and it was locked! I called Jen and she told me I had to head back towards Imperial Avenue and park in the dirt and that’s where the team was. Dirt? Man, I just got my car back from the body shop and it’s all clean, sparkly, and new. Oh well.

We left the park area and started on the Imperial Woods Trails. As the sun rose and the day broke out, we were able to see more details about our new surroundings. The first part of the trail ran parallel to a canal and the 91 freeway and as you crossed over the bridge the 91 slowly disappeared and you’re left alone with the canal and a variety of trees. It was very relaxing despite the amount of physical activity we were putting ourselves through. On this trail, I realized the beauty of embracing the morning and being “one with the elements.” In our day to day activities, we fail to realize our surroundings and how beautiful this world really is. All we see is the present, our problems, what we have to do next, our miseries, etc and we fail to stop and notice the sunset, the sunrise, what a beautiful day it might be, the smell after the rain. If we were to take a moment, we might just realize that it’s not that bad. I guess it depends on the person and the issue at hand. I guess you can say this marathon has really opened my eyes. Again, I’m being cheesy but at least I’m being honest. I’m up early on the weekends (something I rarely do). I’m exercising (again, something I rarely do). I feel better about myself and I have a new appreciation for life. What could be better than that? And in the end, I’ll have completed a marathon. Even better.

One by one

2007-09-27T19:10:00.001-07:00

I remember a long, long time ago while I was still in college my community director once told me “the world is paying attention to you. It’s trying to tell you something. Listen carefully and take all the advice given to you.” I thought he was a crazy, idealistic, community director but then again he was cool and everything he said usually did make sense and I always remember his words when things hit me in two’s, three’s, and four’s. But what’s going on now, Carlos? What is the world trying to tell me? I don’t know what to think or do at the moment. I’ve never been so indecisive. I can’t even make a simple decision like what I want to eat and my thoughts are often clouded. Everything was fine and then it wasn’t. But one thing is certain and the angel/fate or whatever that is sitting on my shoulder is telling me to just let bygones be bygones and relax. We shall see how the next few weeks pan out.

In other news, I woke up Wednesday morning and I could barely talk. WTF?? I could tell something was wrong because I could barely talk after our midweek training on Tuesday but I thought that was because I wasn’t drinking enough water. It felt like something was lodged in my throat but no, it was a case of Laryngitis. Go figure. My first confirmed case was last year. So far, this is starting to look like a yearly occurrence. Ugh. I do not need this. I was also supposed to get my car back on Wednesday in time for Lori’s Pampered Chef party but that didn’t happen either. I called them asking when I could come in and they couldn’t even hear me (go figure because I can’t talk right?) and finally told me they were still missing the hood. WTF? You couldn’t tell me this when I called on Monday? How can you give me my car back with a missing hood? Idiots. So I picked it up today. Looks good so far but they messed up all of my settings. Oh well. At least my baby is back.

I plan to go to training on Saturday which means I’ll have to wake up at 4AM. Training is in Yorba Linda this week and they’re going to have a gu clinic. Yippee! They attempted this last week but it rained. Why Yorba Linda and not Irvine? We’re training 10 miles with the whole TNT team so it should be exciting. I’m not looking forward to the early start time though. I hope we go back to 7AM soon. I’m going to be so tired on Saturday but they promised us lots of good food at the end and all my friends will be there and they have to wake up just as early so I don’t feel too bad. But 4AM? Oy, this marathon is killing me!

Defeated

2007-09-22T13:14:00.001-07:00

I didn’t make it to my Saturday training today. I feel horrible about it. But it’s my own fault that I didn’t make it. I danced at a wedding on Wednesday. It was fun but my legs were already killing me and I should have stretched but I didn’t. On Friday, I participated in a softball game that we had at a park near work. It was a department ice breaker so I decided to play but since I got there so late I didn’t stretch and as I was running from base to base I could feel something pulling near my groin and I was in intense pain so near the end of the game, I sat out and joined the cheerleading squad in the bleachers. *sigh* I probably shouldn’t have even played but I figured I would be ok considering all the training I was doing how could a game of softball hurt me? Well, I was running in tight jeans, I was already in pain from Wednesday, and I made it worse by not stretching and getting it treated so here we are.

I need to concentrate and get through this marathon. I’m in the $1,000 club and I couldn’t collect my ribbon today. :( Yet another disappointment. So I’ve treated my injury and I’ll join everyone for midweek training on Tuesday and slowly but surely I’ll survive. It’s not the end of world; it’s just unfortunate.

In other news, the long anticipated storm is finally here. I think it rained all night and it’s been raining off and on. This weather doesn’t make me feel any better. I don’t even feel like myself right now.

Brrr..

2007-09-18T09:22:00.001-07:00

The good news is: cold weather is on the way. I’ve been noticing the marine layer and the fine mist on ~~my car~~ my rental car in the morning and of course, the chilly night air. This is perfect! I love cool weather. Who wants to be hot and sweaty? Especially if you’re training for a marathon.

Weather.com states we might have stormy weather by Thursday. Madness. They predict it’ll be unusually cold for this time of year. However, we’ve known this all along. Our winters are getting colder and southern California suddenly knows what it’s like to have seasons and what the meaning of seasons are – usually our weather is pretty mild year round. People surf in the winter. That’s how crazy it is down here.

I hope it doesn’t rain on training day but it looks like it might. :(

Courtesy of weather.com:

...STRONG SEPTEMBER STORM POSSIBLE LATE THURSDAY THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY...

A STRONG STORM FOR SEPTEMBER MAY MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LATE THURSDAY THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WEATHER VERY RARELY SEEN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN SEPTEMBER. THIS COULD BE THE STRONGEST MID LATITUDE SEPTEMBER STORM FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN AROUND 20 YEARS. SEPTEMBER STORMS WITH SOME SIMILARITY TO THIS STORM OCCURRED IN 1986 AND IN 1963.

STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN ADVANCE OF THIS STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. THIS STORM SHOULD BRING MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WITH COOLEST TEMPERATURES FRIDAY. DEPENDING UPON THE EVENTUAL TRACK AND TIMING OF THIS STORM... THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY PRECIPITATION AT TIMES FROM LATE THURSDAY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY. THIS STORM WILL BE QUITE COLD FOR SEPTEMBER WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS.

Ooooh..exciting! Looks like we haven’t had a storm like this in over 20 years so this should be interesting. In other news, my head hurts and my eyes are killing me. I’m tired but I need to go to midweek training. This marathon has been an eye-opener and a cure-all. My back and neck actually feel BETTER and I’ve never known such flexibility. I feel like the “Rookie of the Year” (gotta see the movie to know what I’m talking about). It’s like I can suddenly do things I haven’t been able to do and I feel better – must be all the adrenaline and every single article you read about exercising clearly states that it makes you feel better afterwards.

“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” OMG!! Ok, enough. :)

Eh.

2007-09-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, folks! It wasn’t quite the Monday I was hoping for but Mondays aren’t meant to be good, are they? If I’ve learned anything from the X-Files it’s this: “trust no one” and move on to the next fish in the sea but make sure it’s a good fish. Enough said. I guess you can say one good thing came out of this Monday and that is I finally got the estimate on my car.

I called the collusion shop several times to get this estimate and they said they finally wrapped up the paperwork today. Ugh. It took them 3 days to do paperwork? Lame. The worst: bumper is damaged, hood is damaged, the wheel well, and my lights are chipped. All in all a week and a half which means I can take my newborn baby to Pismo but then again that’s what they told me last time and it stretched out to a month so who knows? It would be nice not to put miles on the Solara. I would rather drive the Taurus to Pismo. We shall see. At this point, I would do anything to get my car back and just hope and pray nothing else happens to it.

My new addiction is Clif bars. Thanks to not having any food for my training on Saturday and my mentor handing me a Clif bar brownie - I found a new love. I went to Trader Joe’s that night and purchased a box and also bought other Clif bar goodies to try including the new iced gingerbread that was only 39¢. Christmas flavors in September? Madness. It was a little too “gingery” for me so no iced gingerbread for me. I usually buy a bar and sample first before I commit to a box. I know for sure I will be buying a box of cool mint brownie Clif bars. Yum!

Mile 8

2007-09-16T13:27:00.001-07:00

Yes, that’s right. We have reached 8 miles. We’re going beyond the lake, beyond Woodridge shopping center, beyond Barranca Parkway, beyond Alton, across the 405 freeway, and at the doorstep of UC Irvine. They call this “lions and tigers and bears” because the “doorstep of UC Irvine” isn’t quite what you would expect. All you see when you get there are trees and what looks like a forest but you know it’s UC Irvine because you’re on University Avenue.

I knew I had to go to training. There was no question about it. Skipping out on training during Labor Day weekend really taught me a lesson – that falling behind is not something you want to do when you’re training for a full marathon. You’re sore, you hurt in places you didn’t know existed, and you’re slower than the rest of them. I rested on Friday. I could barely move my neck or my back and I avoided driving at all costs. I could barely move the next day but knew that once the juices started flowing I would be ok and I was. Besides, I finally got to reward myself with a Greek omelet.

In other news, I got approved for my apartment this week. Hooray! I’ve decided to move in on Sunday October 14th rather than Saturday. In October, we’ll be doing some serious miles and I really don’t think I’ll be able to lift anything or move anything after my training session so Sunday it is. I hope I don’t get lonely living in Lake Forest. :( It’s kind of an isolated area.

I truly enjoy training for this marathon. Sounds corny I know but I’ve met some wonderful people through this process and I’m glad that my work and the money I’m raising is going somewhere besides a new possession for myself. We don’t really realize how selfish we are unless we look around us and see what we have gained. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good to reward yourself but it’s also good to give back a little to those who might not be so blessed – those who don’t know what tomorrow holds because of the disease that’s attacking their body and to them this means everything. I'm at $1,005 now and that leaves me at $1,095 more to raise. Keep donating everyone! My uncle finally got back to me and my old college friend, Sara donated as well. Thanks guys! Slowly, but surely I'll get to my goal.

Most Unusual

2007-09-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

So this wasn’t the day I had in mind. I was driving into working thinking “I have a meeting at 7. I hope it doesn’t drag too long. Man, I could use a vacation. I don’t feel well. Maybe I should just take some time off. I really, really need some time off. Haven’t had a vacation all year and it’s already September. Crazy.” And BOOM! Accident!

I went to work in a miserable state. I was crying, shaking all over, and feeling stupid. My first accident in almost FOREVER. I swear my new car is cursed – dings, bumps, scraps, scratches, hit and runs, and now this. What really is the cost of a new car? Back to walking into work. I know I had to leave. Everything around me was falling apart. Someone’s telling me about a problem they’re facing and that I need to fix but can’t fix because it’s not in my area of expertise and I want to start crying again but I stop myself and remain focused. I must call insurance. I need to get my car fixed. I need a rental before Saturday. I need to email Lori and let her know I can’t make it to training today. I need to leave.

I drove my broken battered car home and by the time I got there the rental agency was already calling me about my reservation and the body shop had received my claim for processing. The worst: they might have my car for a month. A month! You mean I have to move and leave my car behind? THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING! This also means I have to take my rental to Pismo with me and everyone will be expecting to see my sporty Solara but instead they’ll see a Ford Taurus. Oh, just kill me now. I am going to die of embarrassment. So much for having a flashy car if it’s always in the body shop for repairs.

I guess I didn’t realize this before but I have a seatbelt bruise and my neck is kinda sore. All from the impact I suppose. I hope my body recovers in time for Saturday and I don’t experience any more pain – additional stuff from the training. Ugh. I hate not having my car with me. I suppose it could be worse. I could be injured. The car could have been totaled. So many other things I won’t name. I guess this is fate telling me to wake up and be alert – a gentle nudge to take it easy and probably get more sleep. I think I’ve learned my lesson now.

Woe is me

2007-09-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

I believe the heat wave is back. Yes, just confirmed on weather.com. We’ll reach 82 degrees by this weekend. So much for the cool weather; that was short lived. I think we’re going 8 miles this weekend. Ouch. However, we’re supposed to be in the 70’s starting Monday. I hope that lasts because we’re approaching the end of summer soon.

I am now experiencing phase 2 of the hidden danger zones – lower, lower back pains (right above the butt). During our training yesterday, Adrienne and I were thinking we must be experiencing a pre midlife crisis. Who in their right (read: lucid) mind signs up for a marathon in this kind of heat? But then again, the heat is short lived and during the short miles. It’ll be winter soon hence the winter season signup. We were also thinking about selling our hydration packs and everything else after the marathon. It’ll be posted on ebay as an “all-in-one marathon pack” – “get all your supplies and gear from an experienced marathoner.” Or maybe I’ll just keep mine. Who knows I might sign up for half marathons later in my life? I might become a marathon junkie. What else am I going to do with all this stuff? Hang it up and in a few years say “look kids, your mommy did a marathon once.”

The donation process is not going as I expected. The money is slowly flowing in. I’m at $930 now. I received a $50 check from my Dentist on Monday that I sent to Paycor. All this leaves me at $1,170. I made it to recommitment so I’m safe for now but I don’t even know when final funds are. I have to have the whole amount raised by then and it seems so unlikely now. *sigh* I sent an email to my uncle but he hasn’t responded. I’ve heard that family is the hardest target. How can family members be so non-supportive? Maybe because they’ve grown up with you for all your life and they can’t believe you’re actually going to participate in a marathon. Who knows? I know my uncle certainly doubted me. My parents have already donated so I can’t bug them. Other people have said they would donate but where’s the money people?

Training again today, tomorrow, and Saturday. On Saturday, we’re going out for Greek omelets at the Citrus Café. Yum! I’m thinking about taking an aerobics class to speed up the weight loss but I haven’t found one that fits with my schedule.

Hidden Danger Zones

2007-09-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

Today was my first September Saturday. I spent last Saturday at home planning and attending my Dad’s 50th surprise birthday party. 50 is a marvelous age and I can only hope I look as healthy and young as my Dad does and I must say my Dad is a very handsome man. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you pictures but while he might be quite the ladies man, he is taken. :)

We move to bigger better miles next week. Next week, we will be at 8 miles. Madness. Thursday as I was walking with Lori I kept thinking that I must be nuts for doing this but then again it was that time of month and I was having all kinds of crazy thoughts and with each step I kept telling myself that I should just turn back around, walk home, and quit and then again I was like “who are you kidding? You’ve done 6! Are you nuts? Keep going!!” I know I’m not a quitter but sometimes your mind can fool you and you just have to be careful and set it straight.

Today I stayed steady at a 15 minute pace. At mile 5, after going up a big hill, my body started to break down and I could tell I needed more water, more electrolytes, more food, more something because the sun was beating down on me, my right side was hurting, and I was breathing hard and feeling faint and at that point I really didn’t think I was going to make it back. I was almost in front of everyone so I knew that if I did fall someone would find me and take me back and I also felt that I should quit if I made it because something was going wrong but then something amazing happened. I made it over the hill, past the bridge, and suddenly everything was ok. I could see a glimmer of hope and my side no longer hurt, I didn’t feel faint, and I was actually at a 14 minute pace even Dionne noticed that I was going really, really fast.

I think I might have been experiencing some pre-marathon jitters. I’m sure everyone goes through a period of cold feet (hot feet considering all this heat) and overcomes their fears and anxieties and do fine. I don’t think I’m alone in this and with this still being the “time of the month” I’ll definitely get over it and move on. Like everyone around me always says “it’s all a mental game.” You have to push yourself to get to the finish line.

My other worry is the constant back pain which has been made worse with a nagging pain in my hip flexors. I should probably do some strength training exercises. A strong core will take your farther and make you go faster.

Heat Wave

2007-09-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

After last week’s surprise rain shower from Hurricane Dean, California is currently suffering from an intense heat wave (breaking records with 100+ degree heat) that finally lost momentum Wednesday night.

Wednesday morning (feeling sick and miserable from the heat), I went to Costco in search of a tower fan and was informed by the store employee that tower fans were out of season and that they were currently selling heaters. Heaters in the summer?? I quickly thought about buying one considering they were so cheap and our winters have been just as bad as our summers, but then thought against it. The tower fan I had in mind covered all seasons adequately, if only I could get my hands on it which I did later by ordering it online.

Radio advertisements have been warning the population of California that our water supplies are low due to the poor rainfall amounts. We are currently using our reserves and next year will be forced to cut back on how much water we receive from the Sacramento Delta. What a great time to be settling down in southern California? I say this sarcastically of course because as of last Tuesday I signed over my life and soul to an apartment in Lake Forest. I have been complaining for several years now that I need to move to Orange County in order to be closer to work and so I did it. If everything goes well, I can move in October.

All that aside, I trained for the first time yesterday. I spent Monday at home on vacation, Tuesday with the community manager at the apartment I’m planning to rent, Wednesday at the wine tasting fundraiser meeting, and today I’m taking the day off to recover from yesterday in order to be ready for group training tomorrow. We’re at 6 miles now. We’re going past the Woodridge Lake, over Barranca Parkway in Woodridge Village, past the Ruby’s Diner where I once sat a while ago and look out at the course, and into the Woodridge apartment communities and beyond that by just a hair. Wow. I couldn’t believe the distance Lori and I traveled yesterday. It felt like we were walking forever. I beat my personal goal of 50 miles yesterday. I am achieving many milestones in my life. I have also reached my recommitment fee of 25% or $525 towards my fundraising goals thanks to everyone and their generous contributions. I am at a total of $880 and I need $1,220 more so I’m selling wine tasting tickets for $20 at the Fountain Valley country club. Please let me know if you’re interested.

Adrienne, Lori, and I at Lori's Pat & Oscar's Fundraiser:

Marathon Fever

2007-08-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

Currently, southern California is blanketed in clouds – remnants from Hurricane Dean. The clouds moved in after our training at Heritage Park on Thursday. Lori and I improved on our pace and headed out on the 5 north towards LA county and an ominous presence surrounded us as we drove. It kinda put a damper on my day/week.

This heat is causing me to break out in heat bumps and I think I’m suffering from hydration. I bought a 32 pack of water bottles and a variety pack of Power Bars to start feeding myself properly for all the training. We’re up to 4 miles now and will be starting 6 in September. I can’t believe I actually worked out this month and stayed true to my schedule. I also can’t believe I got up at 5 EVERY Saturday morning. This is all new to me. I have to remember to train during my vacation and I probably will train 6 miles while soliciting for donations and that also is unbelievable. I would have never thought I’d be walking/running this many miles. Never. But there’s a first time for everything.

Want to know what else I can’t believe? My sudden interest in sports stores. Sports stores used to bore me to death and I would only go near them/in them if someone dragged me in for something and now look at me; I go in there for the latest in moisture wicking stuff – most recently my moisture wicking water pack, for Body Glide (prevents chafing in sensitive parts), sunscreens, shoes, etc. By the time I do this marathon, I will be dressed head to toe in moisture wicking apparel and accessories and the best running shoes my money can buy. Madness.

It rained a little after our training today. It would have been fun to walk in the rain or maybe not. I don’t like being wet and hate being out in the rain when I know I’ll get wet so maybe it should rain afterwards when I’m safe inside. This must be a sign that I’m getting old. I wonder what will happen when I’m older.

All this traffic is also killing me. In my car (before I actually drive anywhere), I hit the favorites button on my Garmin for Heritage Park and it instantly tells me “traffic ahead” or “construction.” Always. Without fail. The 22 east is always closed for construction because they’re way behind on their expansion plan so I have to continue on the 405 to the 55 and then it’s blocked at the 5 so I have to take the streets and I always get there right on time. So during the week, I decided to train at Heritage Park to avoid the traffic but there’s still traffic! Even on the weekends! Where do all these cars come from? I really need to live closer and I know I keep saying that but maybe it’s time to start thinking about it more seriously. I work out here, I train out here, I should live out here but it’s expensive and you always pay a good price for convenience. *sigh* I’ll continue to stew on this until I come up with something. Maybe a halfway point.

My latest acquisitions:

OMG..HOT!!!

2007-08-18T12:28:00.001-07:00

This summer heat is no joke. It was nice and cool during our Dr. Bakman stretching and exercising clinic but during the walk it was sweltering. The first mile of our walk was uphill with no trees and practically no breeze. Madness! And then somehow as we started going downhill towards the trees and lake, the breeze showed up from nowhere. Oh well. It was a nice reward for making it over the hill.

We saw more of the lake today. I always enjoy walking over to the lake. The geese and ducks watched as we sweated and walked by and then someone’s phone went off and they started squawking like crazy. It was fun. I took my Nike+ sensor with me this time and logged 4.25 miles. Yey! I will slowly, but surely hit my goal of 100 miles this year. I have 28 already. I’m gonna make it!

After training, we all drove over to Panera Bread for breakfast – our walk coach Darin with his wife Dionne, Jen (my mentor), and my two new walking buddies – Adrienne and Lori. We were talking about Panera Bread last week and Jen kept raving about their egg soufflés and all this week, I’ve been craving egg soufflés. I couldn’t wait to finish training and get over to Panera. I know I’m not supposed to be eating dairy so what do I order? An asiago cheese bagel (I’ve been eating these ever since my trip to Chicago) with reduced fat cream cheese and I ate a portion of the egg soufflé. They only had one left so we split it up amongst ourselves. I should really watch what I eat but it’s so hard. I have no self control. It’s horrible. I just eat whatever looks good and I know what I’m doing to myself as I eat it but my mind just tells me that I can make up for it later. Ugh. I really have to fight that battle and stop listening to the devil over my shoulder.

Hectic Monday

2007-08-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

I walked 4 miles at the Irvine gym yesterday. Go me! A lot of people have been complaining to management about the current state of the gym. I can’t deal with people who complain too much. Yes, it’s annoying that we have to change in one area and then walk around the building to use the restroom, but at least there is a changing area and a restroom and they have vastly improved the state of the restrooms. I noticed cleaning crew going in there several times to make sure everything was clean and well stocked despite the small ant problem. But oh well, I can live.

In other news, I am happy to report that the shin splints and sore arms are a thing of the past. Today I am dealing with a blister on my left foot and sulfur in my eyes. The sulfur-in-my-eyes ordeal occurred yesterday after the gym when I decided it would be a good idea to kill acne on my face while shampooing my hair. I applied the sulfur mask first and then read the instructions saying it had to sit 10 minutes, so I decided to shampoo my hair meanwhile. Well…the shampoo ran into my eyes taking the sulfur with it and OH MY GOD…EXTREME PAIN!!! What was I thinking?? The acne is completely dead, but my eyes feel like sandpaper and the Visine bottle I had was EXPIRED. Lucky me.

I am trying to focus today but my eyes are killing me. A mixture of sulfur and shampoo squirts out of them every 5 minutes. Esh. I think I might just take it easy today and go shopping for my water pack at REI and maybe go walking later in the neighborhood if I can score some Visine soon.

I also took my shirt to the dry cleaners yesterday to get it altered. I think I somehow ended up with a men’s small instead of a ladies medium, but oh well. It’ll all be repaired by Friday. I’m having them take it up 3 inches with side slits and then swapping out the round neck for a V-neck. I also need to put my name on there somewhere, but I don’t want to “Sharpie” it on, so I’m going to try to look for some stenciling stuff or have someone stitch it on.

Circumstances

2007-08-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

The aftermath of last week’s training is shin splints and sore arms. I expected both because we were taught to walk palms up (which is new to me) and I could feel my shins burning as we were going uphill – like someone was lighting a match to my muscles.

I always get shin splints and I thought it was due to my shoes, but I have new shoes! Maybe it’s an old injury that needs to heal. I might also be doing further damage because we’re on concrete and I should probably step off and walk on asphalt. Hmm.

I’m training this week at the Irvine gym on Culver. I would go to South Coast but if you go over 2 hours, you get charged. Argh. And I could go to Newport, but the lockers are a joke and everyone always slips on their floor. *sigh* I should probably switch gyms because most locations don’t even have a heart defibrillator. The Irvine gym is currently undergoing construction and hoping to become a “sport” gym. They’re starting the process with their lockers and everyone’s being forced to change in makeshift changing rooms that were once the stretching area so once you change you should probably stretch too and guess where the bathroom is? You have to go all the way around to the back and OUTSIDE to some port-a-potty airplane style bathroom that stink and are always low on supplies. *sigh* Construction will be complete in mid-September and I am currently contemplating South Coast until they finish. I like my privacy and hate feeling like I’m rushed because someone else might be waiting for a changing room or the bathroom.

The weather is another story. We’re training for the winter season in the dead hot last days of summer. Summer really wants to make a lasting impression this year and scientists tell us this isn’t even the worst of it – that we will be in triple digits by 2009. Ugh. The heat and humidity puts a damper on our training but hopefully this month will be the last of it and cooler weather should start next month. *crossing fingers*

Sausage Fingers

2007-08-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sausage Fingers – refers to the sausage shaped swelling of the fingers and/or toes and can be painful. Swelling occurs due to poor circulation and inadequate hydration. Drinking too much water can cause a reduction in sodium which can lead to a condition called hyponatremia (electrolyte disturbance), one of the symptoms of which is swelling of the hands and fingers. During a high endurance event, like a marathon, it is recommended that you keep a balance between your water and electrolyte intake to avoid any negative symptoms and to “wiggle” your fingers.

We’re in week two and three miles meaning this is the second Saturday that I have had to get up at 5AM, drive 20 miles, and then run “x” miles. Oh boy. And we have another 5-6 months of this left. What am I doing to myself? I really must be crazy. After years of sleeping in on Saturdays and staying up late on Fridays, this is definitely mind-boggling and I still can’t believe I’m doing a marathon. Oh my god, it’s so “surreal.”

OK, enough about that.

Our walk today was amazing. It was early. There was hardly anyone around in the sleepy part of Irvine and the lake we walked to was picture perfect. I don’t have the words to describe how peaceful it was. I got my first glimpse of the lake at the Ruby’s fundraiser on Wednesday and all I could think was “I can’t wait to get down there” and I also “I’m hungry. When can I eat?”

I spend every Saturday during our trainings wishing that I lived here. Irvine is such a beautiful city and a desirable place to live, but expensive. I need to work way up the ladder a little more to live out here. *sigh*

Later, we all gathered at Starbucks and learned a little more about each other. We all come from different places and different paces but we’re in this together with our new fabulous shoes (thanks to last Saturday’s shoe clinic), our new fabulous goal, our new fabulous training gear and all to form a new fabulous team and train in a fabulous city. Yes, yes..overuse of the word “fabulous.” I’ll just stop now.

Diet + Exercise = Results

2007-08-07T18:15:00.001-07:00

Keyword: Diet.

I’ve been telling myself that if I get that combination right then I’ll be ok. However the hardest part is sticking to that combination. I love to eat and I love to relax. That doesn’t really sound like a win-win situation. Actually, it makes me sound more like a pig - a couch potato to be exact.

Life, to me, is all about enjoying great culinary combinations. Granted, right now, my idea of great culinary combinations is anything that looks good on the menu when I eat out and I eat out A LOT. I can’t really cook because I was never a good obedient Indian daughter that cooked with her Mother. My Mom is a great cook and I could really learn a lot from her so maybe the next time I go home I might take advantage of it and learn a few things besides omelets, grilled cheese, and PB&J.

Also after work, I just want to go home, read, watch TV, and relax. I don’t want to think about putting in an hour of labor and putting my body through a treadmill/strength training routine. So I thought about going in BEFORE work but I go in at 7. I would have to get to the gym by 4 or 5. Yuck!

So, I’m at a lose-lose.

For three years, I’ve wanted to be a size 6 before my birthday and here I am at year 4 and it’s August and I’m 5 months away from my 27th birthday. I’m training for a marathon and if I don’t exercise and diet I’ll never make it to the finish line or I’ll make it to the finish line and it won’t be in the best shape of my life. The goal is to finally fulfill that resolution that millions make but only few carry through.

Lesson learned? Not quite yet. Like everything, these things take time. For example, I’m having ramen for dinner and I’m working late which means I’ve missed two workout days and I had committed myself to four this week. Very bad. I did so good last week. I’m going to call this a “trial” period because we’re still at the beginning of this and we haven’t hit the big miles yet. However next week, I have no excuses.

Moisture Wicking

2007-08-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, moisture wicking. Moisture wicking apparel first became a phenomenon when Kevin Plank got tired of his sopping wet cotton t-shirts and started working on moisture wicking material and he did this first with lingerie and lycra that later got popular and started his own company, Under Armour Performance Apparel. However, Nike, Reebok and almost every major sports apparel company is getting into moisture wicking apparel and you can just about buy anything and everything moisture wicking right down to socks and underwear! Madness I tell you.

“Cotton is not your friend” is all I hear from my mentor and coach and other Team in Training folks. What are you talking about? Cotton has always been my friend. It lets me breathe. It’s been my best friend since birth. I've been hearing that from my mother, various news sources, and my OB-GYN. So what do you mean that cotton is not my “friend?” Tell me why it’s not my friend. Prove to me that I should switch from cotton to some synthetic blend (mostly nylon, polyester and a small portion of my best friend “cotton”) of moisture wicking sports apparel. Do you know how expensive that stuff is since it’s still so new? Cotton is cheaper; however it’s not my friend. Why?? Why is the latest greatest thing better than the tried and true?

Through research I’ve learned cotton retains moisture and makes the apparel stick to your skin causing odor, chafing, and blisters; this can also slow you down and make your run/walk experience uncomfortable. Moisture wicking apparel pulls the moisture away from your skin to the surface where it is exposed to the air and can evaporate quickly keeping you cool, dry, and comfortable.

I’m sold. Are you? It also helped to walk into the various sports retailers and try this stuff on and feel it out. I also spent all of last week working out in my moisture wicking capris, which felt awesome. So yesterday, I bought the hat, socks, and more moisture wicking capris. I have yet to be sold on the underwear. I felt the material and it didn’t feel bad but I’m not sure how it’ll feel “down there.” I don’t know. Maybe by the time I run this marathon I’ll be geared up head to toe in moisture wicking apparel. Even my new shoes have moisture wicking material! Geez, I should just buy the underwear and call it day. What do you think?

My new moisture wicking apparel:

First Week & Shoe Clinic - 7/29-8/4

2007-08-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Still couldn’t sleep. Well, that’s not true. I fell asleep around 12 and then had to wake up around 5, take a quick shower, eat breakfast, and run out the door.

GPS said my arrival time would be 7:01AM. Ugh. 1 minute late for my first training with the coach. Ugh, I should have left at 6. The first training was in Laguna Hills because of the shoe clinic at Road Runner Sports – all other trainings will be in Irvine which is much closer. Thank God.

So I arrived 5 minutes ahead of schedule, checked in, and stood freezing in the crisp cold morning air until we got started. Again it was a little awkward. I think mornings in general are not good for me. I didn’t have a good breakfast. I was cranky because I haven’t been sleeping well. Actually my sleep habits really suck and I’m always falling asleep on the road. NOT good. I think I’m not getting the rest I need and I should probably get some blood work done to make sure I’m OK. Hopefully all I need to do is go to bed earlier.

After some announcements, a quick meeting with the mentor, and a presentation from the shoe clinic folks we were on our way! Hooray! Our first team walk together. All of that walking at the gym paid off today because I was able to keep a good pace. We walked two miles early in the morning in beautiful Orange County. I can’t wait to see what sites await me for the marathon. It was so nice to see all the great big houses and then to go around the back of them on a bike trail. Along the way we ran into other team members that were practicing for different events. It was a great atmosphere and everyone has great team spirit. I loved it.

We came back and each of us signed up for our individual shoe clinic evaluation and the way this worked was they have you take a step on a sensor to measure your walk and then they have you stand on the sensor so that they can look at the shape of your feet and the pressure points. After that, they make you walk/run on a treadmill to look at the way you run/walk in order to measure which way your feet go and from there they recommend a shoe for you. My evaluation told me I needed a lot of stability for my feet. I have pressure points at the balls of the feet and a high instep. Also I needed a wide width shoe that was a size bigger – a size bigger because your feet expand as you run/walk and you need that room for your feet.

After that you receive a sheet with our individual evaluation and shoe recommendations for the type of feet you have. You take your sheet to the shoe area and a “Fit Expert” finds the shoes that fit your evaluation and you try them on and pick the one you like and purchase it for a discounted price. I looked at several different shoes: Saucony Trigon Guide, Asics 2120, New Balance 882/992, and the Mizuno Creation. I ended up with the Asics. All of the shoes felt amazing. I had no idea there was such a thing as a “shoe clinic.” All of my life I’ve just been walking into stores trying on whatever I find and then just buying it without regard to it possibly causing shin splints or serious injuries to my knees because of the way I step and walk. All important things to consider especially when training for a marathon.

I feel good about my new shoes. I now have 3 pairs of shoes. Crazy. I have my Nike walking shoes, my Nike Plus running shoes (these shoes are for my sensor that records my miles) and now my Asics. I also have my moisture wicking pants. All I need is my moisture wicking socks, my hat, a travel pack to carry water and gu and I might consider sunglasses. They also recommended moisture wicking underwear. I don’t know about that one. I’ve been a cotton girl all my life down there so I don’t know how I feel about a synthetic blend being down there. Hmm.

Check out my new shoes!

The Kickoff – 7/28/07

2007-08-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

I couldn’t really sleep the night before. I had butterflies in my stomach. Butterflies. I haven’t felt butterflies in my stomach for a long time so I must really be excited about this.

I wake up. I’m ready. Do I have the right address? Is it correctly keyed into my GPS? God, I hope there’s no traffic. Shouldn’t be. It’s a weekend. Duh. Just focus already.

I had arrived at my destination says the GPS. Good. It’s a middle school. When was the last time I was at middle school? When I was enrolled in one? When I was 13. Oh boy. Memories of Kerman come flooding back and I almost want to cry but I don’t. That was then, this is now. I am much older now. Time to face the music. Breathe. Don’t know why I’m so damn nervous. It’s not like I’m running the damn thing right now. It’s just a silly little meeting.

I quickly spot the green and purple tents and hear lots of “hoorays” and “go team.” Are we running already? I thought that was 5 months from now. I can’t take this. I’m not a “happy, cheery” person. I can’t “hooray” this early in the morning. I just can’t. I haven’t even had breakfast yet or coffee.

I almost want to turn around but my feet keep moving slowly forward. Slowly. Very slowly and the whole time I’m smiling like an idiot at the two registration ladies who are giving me a curious look.

“Nervous?”
“Oh no..it’s just a little too early for me.”

She smiles. She knows. Oh well. What can you do?

Suck it up kiddo. This is your life now. Don’t give up. Keep moving forward. And so I do and grab my training shirt and look who's here? My personal trainer! Imagine that! She’s a mentor for the triathlon team – somewhere I’ll never be but OK. I spot the “OC Coast” banner and proceed to find my coach, mentor, and honored team member. Hooray! I have arrived and I’m here to stay.

We move collectively as a new team into the gym. Gym. More memories of P.E. and whatnot. I feel so old at this point. They show us a video of blood cancer patients in the hospital receiving treatments, hugging their loved ones, and getting better. I think of Sukhwinder, my cousin and how he dealt with this and none of us even understood what he was going through and what was wrong with him. We were all so young and now he’s no longer here. Something rips at me inside – the injustice of losing my cousin – someone the family could really use right now. *sigh* I leave the gym a little sore and rejoin my team. Training schedules are passed out for the month of August and we take a group picture.

I feel good about this. I know I can do this if I put my mind to it. Sounds lame and cliché but it’s true. It’s for a cause, it’s for my cousin, and a cure and for the added benefit of running a marathon and losing all those stubborn pounds.