Tag Archives: Buddies

17

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David&Chris

I never wanted to get married! Ever! Even as a child and young adult I found the institution of marriage so “old school”, something so mundane I did not want any part of it. In fact I still did not want to get married on December 1st, 1994.

Yet! Seventeen years ago today I woke up, went for a 6 mile run, took a shower, put on a pair of white jeans and black hiking boots, went down to the Santa Clara Superior Court House and tied the knot!

My mom was stunned into silence when I called her after the fact, . Believe me when I say that this had only happened a couple of times that I remember, one of which was the time I blacked out from alcohol poisoning in High School. Her only daughter, heck, her only child, had gotten married without her even knowing! In jeans! She eventually got over it and both her and my dad welcomed David into their lives as if he was their own son (the son my mother had hoped for when she was pregnant with me!).

17 years have passed since that day I threw out all of my resolve to never be a wife. I never looked back! To say that my change of heart was the right decision is an understatement. Although I had known for quite some time that David was the man I would spend the rest of my life with, license or not, I could not ask for a better husband. It has certainly not been all champagne and chocolate covered strawberries over here but we both realized early on that compared to what we had been through before we finally made our relationship official, nothing could tear us apart. Absolutely nothing! In fact every challenge has only brought us closer. Of course it also helps that David has the patience of a saint, is more driven than any other person I know and as hard a worker. His undying optimism has helped us weather many a storms, and so has his amazing ability to always work through any challenge that might be thrown his way. From the first day we moved in together David has always put me and our relationship first, has supported my need for running freedom, and accepted my weird attitude towards food and eating dinner as late as possible. He also buys me soy tea lattes and caramel frappuccinos whenever I want one or the other. We have had some incredibly good times together and I cannot wait for the adventures our future may hold.

Looking back on that day 17 years ago I quickly realized that this was really the only way I was ever going to go through with a “wedding”. David was game to do whatever I wanted, big or small, and the way it turned out was truly my day, including the reception dinner at TGIF (hey, it was good back then!).

At least my jeans were white!

In honor of our 17 years together here are 17 reasons why I love him:

*for his undying optimism even in the toughest of times

*for his love for Nelson

*and understanding how much I grief for this dog

*for always replying “not as hot as my lovely as my wife” when asked if a female celebrity is pretty or hot

*for his ability to fix everything and anything

*for his uncanny ability to budget

*for the fact that he can finish my sentences and often has the same thoughts than me at the same time

*for his impeccable work ethic

*for always looking out for others

*for always coming to my races and supporting me and my running buddies even though he is not a runner

*for his sense of direction

*for always making me feel save

*for the way he makes all of our friends feel welcome

*for always looking for ways to improve our lifes

*for not being afraid of new adventures and change

*for making me love him so much I would happily leave everything behind to travel with him in a Winnebago

*for making me laugh

Happy Anniversary, G1! I am looking forward to making forever last a lifetime!

Today’s Running Tip: Commit to a training schedule!

By committing to a training schedule and telling your friends, family, and especially your running buddies about it you will easily reach your running and racing goals for the year ahead.

As if you did not know already…*

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I give myself permission to…

…speak my mind whenever I feel like it

…run, bike, go to Boot Camp, Spinning and Yoga Classes

…not enjoy breakfast…

…or lunch

…let the sun warm my skin

…eat pasta more than once a week

…enjoy a good book for hours at a time

…cancel Cable TV

…laugh at myself

…not follow fashion trends

…eat (smooth organic) peanut butter with a spoon

…love the sun

…hide people’s postings on Facebook…

…and unfriend them when I see fit

…think endlessly about living in Venice

…stand up for what I believe in

…revel in routine

…start running barefoot – well, with these

…like our President…

…and count my blessings (and yours) that the other side did not win

…always order the same dish in the same restaurant

…call you out on your bullshit

…accept criticism with an open mind and be able to self reflect

…like my skin best with a slight tan

…be honest – hopefully not always brutally

…get on with my life after a set back

…not waste time with relationships that are too complicated or one sided

…take every opportunity for a trip anywhere while also being happy at home

…cut ties

…feel good about my exercise obsession

*inspired by someone who needs caffeine

Today’ Running Tip: Give yourself permission to run your own race!

Even if you are running the race with your training buddies, always remember that your are running your race alone. Discuss your race strategy beforehand so no feeling get hurt and then run your pace. If your training partners stick with you, the better, but if you are faster or slower let them go!

Fall-ing

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Autumn

The past month started off on a very solemn and sad note with the passing of Adrienne on the morning of October 1st. Her death was the final paragraph of the last chapter in her brutal journey through cancer treatments. Some  of those so called “therapies” were so harsh I would not wish them on my enemies, if I had any! The last chapter of that journey, the last six weeks of her life, can only be described in terms of absolute emotional turmoil. We had known for a long time that we would have to face the inevitable one day but had always hoped that it would be later rather than sooner. Adrienne’s treatment options had become more and more restricted over the years and her cancer more and more aggressive the last ten months of her life. Her story of survival started 13 years ago at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, California, where she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on Thursday, December 12 – a bright and crisp winter day. The following week, after extensive tests and scans at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, we found out that she was Stage III out of IV, with tumors that reached all the way from her clavicle to her upper thigh. Looking back it really can almost be considered a miracle that she had survived this long.

Adrienne was laid to rest in San Jose next to her grandfather who died from lymphoma in 2000. It was a beautiful sunny day in the Bay Area. Some of my best friends and running buddies from Santa Barbara came up for her service. They had gotten Adrienne through the Santa Barbara Team in Training Chapter where she was an honoree for a couple of seasons. I will never forget that they came to support David and I on this day. After a fairly short and sweet service we all went over to the grave site which happens to be located just across the street from the fairgrounds. And on said day the fairgrounds hosted a Mexican fiesta with mariachi music blaring across the road – so loud that no one could actually understand what the rabbi was preaching. Now, some would have gotten upset or even offended by this, but in our case it could not have been more fitting. Adrienne had always had a nerdy sense of humor and while I was listening to the blaring music I could not help but picture her standing in the background, watching the scene and giggling.

Putting Adrienne to rest after all this time brought the proverbial closure for David and I and we have been settling into our new “normal”. A “normal” that means missing Adrienne every day and keeping her memory alive. A “normal” that means that we will never get over the loss of her, but rather that we are slowly getting through it. Her incredible story of survival had touched many lives and we want to make sure that her death will not be in vain. David and I have a few ideas we are exploring. Stay tuned! The hardest day since Adrienne’s death was the day her death certificate came in the mail. Receiving a piece of paper that documents the death of your daughter is something no parent should ever have to deal with. And it is very strange to see the record of Adrienne’s passing in black and white. She will forever be 22. A life lived to its fullest, a life of unimaginable potential, a life cut too short!

After we got back from the Bay Area I came down with a cold. Not surprisingly after weeks of sleepless nights and emotionally draining days. I was happy that I got over it quickly and was back into my running routine after taking a couple of days off. Since fall has finally arrived in the desert as well the mornings have been getting cooler, and – I have to admit – quite beautiful. Not that I will ever get used to the season of change into winter but I am trying to embrace it more. It has been hard going to the gym on these glorious desert mornings and I have been running outdoors exclusively this month.

I missed posting September numbers but am ready for October stats:

Total Distance: 209.17 miles
Total Time: 49:11:07 min
Run Distance: 146.27 miles
Run Time: 18:36:07 min
Walk Distance: 62.9 miles
Walk Time: 20:35:00 min

Shortest run: 5 miles

Longest run: 10 miles

Average speed: 7:38 min/miles

Strength & Endurance: 3 hours

Weight Training: 3 hours

Yoga: 4 hours

Today’s Running Tip: Run in someone’s memory!
Running in a loved one’s memory can serve as great motivation during training and the race! There are many charities to choose from who run for a particular cause and patients who are still dealing or have died from a particular disease. You only have to find one close to your heart!

Take It and Run (with 6 people) Thursday

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“You get to run the last six miles of your next marathon with 6 different people.

They can be dead or alive; famous or not famous.  Who are these people and why did you pick them?  Furthermore, why did you pick them for the specific mile you did?  Remember, you get an extra .2miles with runner #6.”*

This is definitely by far the most interesting question that has been posted in the Runner’s Lounge to date. And thanks to Jillian I have been racking my brain over dreaming about this opportunity. Just imagine how great that would be if you could choose anyone to run with when you are most vulnerable and as disgusting as you can possible get in a marathon.  It has been said that most runners hit “The Wall” between miles 18 and 20 so this might not be the best mile where you want Brad Pitt to join your efforts. I am not sure about you but I would want to look my possibly best if ever I had the delightful chance. I am sure Brad has seen his fair share of snot, drool, sweat and tears with his ever expanding brood but come on, smelling like a dead goat probably won’t lead to a good first impression. Which leads me to believe that I would toss all of my fantasies aside and choose some hardened running buddies to help me through miles 20-21, 21-22, and 22-23.

Given the fact that I usually break all the rules that have been bestowed on us runners and actually hit my wall between mile 20 and 23 I would want some buddies of mine, who know a thing or two about getting through the rough spots, to join me in my misery.

At mile 20 I would like to see Ana! I know that I will be banging my knees against that proverbial wall soon enough and need someone who can pick up the pace for me as I try my hardest not to slow down to snail’s pace in anticipation. She is one of the strongest runners I know and has motivated me on countless runs to push myself beyond my comfort zone.

At mile 21 I want Sierra to join me! Sierra is the tiniest and toughest person I know. If she weighs 90 pounds wet I’d be surprised. But get her out on the open road and she will kick your sorry ass (she actually did kick my shins ones on our last training run but I am brushing it off as an unfortunate coincidence). I met Sierra while I was training for my last marathon and we basically ran the entire training season together. She single handedly pushed me to another level, a level where I finally ran negative splits again after a long period of being stuck in a rut. Having her as company from mile 21 and 22 when I am climbing the wall would assure that I could scale it.

Mile 22! By now I should be on the other side of “The Wall” and trying to get back into my pace. Who better to help me do so than my good friend Jeff! Jeff is not only one of the nicest people you ever meet, not to mention good looking (and single! Ladies!!!), but he is an incredible runner who could easily run a sub 3 hour marathon but always chooses to help out his team mates instead. When I was crashing in San Diego due to cramps he was there, right when I needed him most, at mile 22! Since I had lost all peripheral vision at that point all I could do was focus on Jeff’s leg turn over as he ran in front of me for three miles to get me back into my pace.

And at mile 23 I should be all back into a rhythm and ready for the home stretch. So come on out famous people! I even washed away the dried spit at the last water stop. Don’t mind the salt rings on my shirt or the stickiness on my skin. It’s only old, dried Gatorade mixed with hard earned sweat. Since this is the beginning of the home stretch I would want to have a runner with me who can kick it up a notch for me. Who better than this girl:

Because, if I can make good time from mile 24 to 25 I could then hang out with this guy for a while 7 1/2 to 8 minutes and have a little chat about endurance and what I have just been through. And if he is not someone who is inspiring in regards to endurance then I don’t know who is. It also does not hurt that this guy is a total Hottie! Man oh man, one can only dream!

And then the dream could just continue to the ultimate reward, were at mile 25 a man would join my race that has moved millions and motivated more people than ever before to get involved in the political process of this country. Of course it also does not hurt that this man has Kenyan blood flowing through his veins, and even though he specializes in basket ball I just know he can bring it on the running circuit as well. I choose President Barack Obama as the person I would want to finish my marathon with as it would allow me to spend .2 miles more with him than all the others and if anyone is worth that extra time it is him. Who better equipped for the final home stretch than the man whose odds were all against him to become the leader of the free world? A man who has always shown perseverance and an almost uncanny ability to bring his message home in the end. With him by my side my last 1.2 miles can only be a successful home run:

Just look at that stride!!!



* this is the runner's world equivalent to "Five people in a hot tub"... just sayin'

Today’s Running Tip: Running through “The Wall”!

No matter how many pounds of pasta you eat for your pre race dinner, our bodies can only store about 1600 to 1800 calories of energy in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles and at approximately 100 calories per mile. Come mile 20 you are out of reserves! Therefore it is important that you refuel throughout the marathon with carbohydrate rich snacks: sport gels, pretzels, jelly beans, etc. All are good if you have experimented with them during training. Don’t try anything new on race day!

Take It and Run (injury free) Thursday

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I have never been seriously injured from running (except for that time I ran into a ditch and broke my ankle. Even though I was technically running I was not on a run, just to be clear ) – knock on head wood!!!

I know I should count my blessings every day as I have certainly seen my fair share of running related injuries over the years that sidelined more than one of my running buddies. Knee related pain is the most frequent complaint, closely followed by shin splints and hip problems. And it is almost always frustrating if not devastating. There are those injuries that come from bad luck: you stepped off the curb funny and rolled your ankle. You tripped over a bump in the road and fell flat on your face, bruising your knees, injuring your right hand and knocking the wind out of you completely (ahem!), but most running related injuries I have witnessed are caused by ignoring the initial and unrelenting pain. Instead of taking the time to figure out the cause the person keeps on running, and running, and running, until he or she can literally run no more.

Those are by far the worst injuries as they are almost always chronic and take the longest to recover from, sometimes never. I have known people who literally ran themselves lame, thinking that if only they pushed through the nagging, always present pain it would somehow magically disappear. That, unfortunately, is never the case!

It is fitting that the day the Runners Lounge is asking us to write about running injuries, I am somewhat sidelined by a bout of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, also known as Runner’s Knee, myself. It is not the first time I have had this and it probably won’t be the last, but I have learned to recognize the early symptoms and can take care of it immediately. The first pinch came on Tuesday during my easy 6.6 miles through the neighborhood. The familiar feeling of something being stuck underneath my knee cap set in after about 4 miles. I did not feel anything for the rest of the day and decided to go on the treadmill for some uphill training yesterday morning. Again I felt nothing afterwards until I went to track training last night. After the first mile the pain set back in and after another couple of miles it could no longer be ignored. When I came home I elevated my leg and iced the knee and I already felt better when I went to bed.

This morning I am pain free but I realize that it is deceiving. Something is irritated and needs looking after. So for the next three days I will take a break from pounding the pavement, rest and ice the knee and take yoga classes instead.

And that really sums up all I ever do for minor aches and pains: the R(est)I(ce)C(ompression)E(levation) is a proven method to get over minor irritations. It is easy to do and the sooner you start the better off you are in the long run. If a few days of resting and icing do not help it is definitely recommended that you see a specialist who can address and treat your possible injury properly. It is never “a waste of time”!!! Much better to find out nothing is seriously wrong than to be told that your running “career” is over because you waited too long to be checked out. The most important thing is that you listen to your doctor and not try to be the hero. There are too many fallen ones already, no need to join the ranks.

Needless to say, the best thing to do is to actually avoid injury in the first place and there are a few steps you can take in order to keep on running injury free:

~ cut back on the days per week you run! 48 hours is the ideal time for recovery and repairing damage.

~ slow down on long runs! A lot of injuries are caused by running too fast for too long. Slow down and let your legs recover.

~ take walk breaks! The risk for injury increases the more you use the same fatigued muscle. Frequent walk breaks allow the muscle to relax before fatigue sets in.

~ warm up properly before speed workouts! Be sure to warm up with a slow run before you head out for a speed workout. Cold muscles tend to get injured more easily that warm ones.

~ stretch! Stretching after your workout helps increase muscle efficiency and effectiveness and prevents pains, tightness, and cramping. However, it is important to remember that you should avoid stretching a tight or injured muscle or tendon. Stretching leads to small tears in your fibers and can prolong recovery. Only stretch if you are pain and injury free.

~ strength train! Strength training helps build muscle mass which will help take pressure off of your joints. Strong leg muscles will help your knee, strong abdominals will help your lower back.

Following these simple steps is easier to do than you think and will keep you running well into the future!

Todays’ Running Tip: See above!