Crud, I Should Probably Update!

Well, it’s been a long time since I updated, and quite frankly, that’s because every time I thought about doing the blog, I also thought about everything else I had to do, and then NOTHING got done.  I’m trying to be better about that this year, 2011.

Well, to give some of the updates, first of all, during the holiday, there was just no training being done by me -_- Okay, I admit it. I did walk my dogs when I could, but the weather was horrible and I had a cold that wouldn’t go away, and while I COULD have practiced (uncomfortable as it would have been), I didn’t.  I suck.

Another update?  I got a PUPPY!!!  Geeeee!!!

He is so cute.  His name is Mosie, he’s 4 months old, and he’s supposedly a sheperd mix.  About the only times I really walked during the holidays was when I was walking him (slowly, since he doesn’t quite get the whole concept of walking on a leash) and then walked Sadie seperately (since Mosie refused to walk with Sadie).  But we took him yesterday on a cross-training exercise, along with Sadie, and he was EXHAUSTED afterwards.

Anyways, before we get to that, I want to mention we did a Saturday training last Saturday, which involved hills.  Lots and lots of hills.  It was horirble.  We were supposed to do 7 miles, but my training partner and I only did 10.  We were both really hurting by 7, but an old injury to the back of my knee was really flaring up, and I just didn’t want to push it since I was already stopping every hundred yards to stretch out my knee injury.  We decided since this coming Saturday is “on your own” training, we would do the 10 then.  We should be tapering back as we get closer to our marathon, but that still leaves us with two weeks before to taper down our mileage.

Anyway, back to yesterday.  Yesterday, we went to a very hilly area in my home town to train with my dogs.  It was a crosstraining day, so we didn’t run, but just walked up this rather steep hill.  It took us a little more than an hour and a half (but it was probably because we kept stopping for several reasons.  *Cough* Dogs *Cough* Not to name any reasons or anything…  (Dogs just wanna SNIFF everything).

Poor Mosie was so tired at some points, I  had to carry him.  Plus, it was freezing cold.  Gina kept telling me I should get jackets for my dogs.  I’ve considered rain jackets in the past, so I might look into it.

Voila, pictures!

First off, this is my dog, Mosie, sleeping in his bed.  Isn’t he cuuuute?

My training partner, Gina, met my dogs for the first time.  And my cats, but that’s not pictured.  Also not pictured: Gina trying to steal my cat, Valentine.

My dogs and I at the tippy top of Sweeney Ridge Trail.  Very pretty, very windy.

Gina on top of Sweeney Ridge trail with my dogs.  Yep, Mosie is a-fallin’ down.  Altogether, I don’t think it was more than 2 miles walked, but it was a very steep hill, which is what we were using to cross-train.

Another view from the trail, with me and my dogs, Crystal Springs Resevoir in the background.

Gina and my dogs in front of Crystal Springs Resevoir.

Me getting in the way of a picture Gina was trying to take of the resevoir.  It wasn’t on purpose, as you can see by the expression on my face.

There we go…

That’s all for pictures.  Today, we’re going to do a run.  We’re trying to be much better about our training now before the marathon.  Wish us luck!

Buddy Run, 2

So I’ll admit…I haven’t done any training since the last buddy run. But there is a good reason for that. I was doing some volunteer work with the GGRO. I didn’t get any pictures with those FABULOUS birds, BUT I have some pictures of my tracking our bird, Athena. Athena was a bird we were radio tracking: a juvenile red tail. She didn’t go far, however, and stayed in Half Moon Bay. Then we went on to track another bird: Bonnie, but it was my last day of volunteering, and Bonnie didn’t go past Marin. But that’s another story. Still, as proof, here is my picture of my during telemetry. Oh yeah, I look so good -_-

Half Moon Bay, in front of Bob's Pumpkin Patch at Sundown

Anyways, I have some great pictures, but I’ll post those later.  So, I’ve had alot going on.  I didn’t work out on Monday because my bird was suddenly sick, and I rushed her to the bird hospital.  Unfortunately, she died from metal toxicity (she had apparently been chewing on the window sill, and the paint was toxic.)  My baby girl, Lolita, died.  This is the news I heard first thing, Tuesday morning.  Here is my little Lolita.

Lolita on bottom/left, Ruisenor on top/right. She was the best bird ever.

I won’t get into that.

So there has been a lot going on, and I have been ignoring my fundraising and training duties.  So yesterday, we did our buddy run, Gina and I.  The run went fairly well, but for the fact that Gina fell at the beginning.  Here’s proof or her injury.

Ow.

Stupid paved roads!

I feel for her.  Falling while training or walking just sucks!  But she didn’t let that get her down for our run!  In fact, we were able to do a steady pace, 2:1 walk:run, and didn’t stop except for the cool down.  4 miles!!  We were jazzed =).

2 mile marker, and turn around point

Go TEAM!!!

I look horrible, as always, and it was a bad angle, but hey, I had to get the picture!  Anyways, 4 miles might not seem like a lot for most people, but remember – we have previous injuries that kept us from even TRYING to run this far before.  My foot has been holding up, as well as Gina’s ankle, and our asthma is NOT kicking our butts!  So we’re very pleased with ourselves.  By the way, that shirt I’m wearing?  I got it from the Team in Training shop.  It has the Team in Training logo in front, and it says “Run like a girl” in back.  This is the box it came in.

Cat not included.

Aside from training, tonight is the Coach led run, and I sent out my first wave of “letters” today.  Well, more like my Facebook campaign.  I’m a little nervous – people can get really upset with you for asking them for money, and I get that, but I just hate when people let you KNOW they are upset with you.  But I can’t spend my time fearing the outcome and NOT ask for donations.

By the way, if you would like to make a donation, you can click on the donation button on the side.  It says “Donate Today” and has the Team in Training Logo on it.  Any contributions are greatly appreciated!

Anyways, if anyone has any fundraising ideas, please let me know.  Last time someone gave me a suggestion, it was to hold a mud wrestling event, where his friend did the same and raised $4,000.  Interestng event, but something where I can actually not be embarressed to ask for attendees would be better!

I’ll talk to you guys later! Happy donating! ; )

Unofficial Buddy Run

Today, I met up with Gina, who is not only running the same marathon as me, but is the same speed as me.  I had told her about my not so fun buddy run yesterday, and we decided to have our buddy runs together on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays to not only avoid embarrassment and possible injuries, but to not slow down our other team mates and mentors by our un-matched speed.

On the schedule, it said to either run, do cross training, or do a little of both as long as it’s between 30 to 50 minutes.  We decided to run the entire 50 minutes…well, walk run.  We’re not at the level where we can run a straight 50 minutes yet.  And I brought my camera, so I can do a little photo journaling here.

 

Me before going out for the run.

We ran Sawyer Camp, a popular trail in the Peninsula where we did our first major run.  I was sore as hell from last night’s “I can’t run as fast as you can!” fiasco, but since I’m not training tomorrow, I figured I could do with a final last push as I don’t know if I will be able to run again until Monday.

We started off with walking for a few minutes so we could warm up and stretch.

Gina stretching before run

Me stretching before run

Then we decided to do 2:1 run:walk, which was a TAD too much for us…which we realized when we slowed down to a slower pace than when we were walking, haha!  Or so it seemed.  Then we switched to 2:1 walk:run.  My calf was killing me.

Near the turn around point, I stopped to stretch out my calf, and we ended up finding scat.  It was really, really gross.  So of course, we decided to take a picture of it!  Yes, it IS as big as a water bottle.

EEEeeeew! What animal did that come out of?

We had a good chat, and it was sooo nice being able to talk with someone and work with someone who is at my pace – very different from the last time I trained for a marathon!  Took my mind off the distance and we didn’t push each other too hard, but we made sure we stuck to the correct training.  And we also discussed our Fundraising strategies.  (Please remember to donate! Button on the side panel takes you to the donation page!)

Sawyer Camp Trail, overlooking Crystal Springs Resevoir. Love it. I command you.

When we finished, we had run almost 3 miles (turned around after my calf started really hurting) and did about 49 minutes!  We’re holding strong to our ~15 minute mile!  By the end, we’ll TOTALLY be faster than this.

I’m really looking forward to this season’s training and fundraising.  When I first did team in training, I felt a lot of the stuff I did, I did alone.  But 5 years later, I have a running buddy, plus I’m more sure of myself to go out and harass ask people for donations.  Anyway, it’s late, and I have to get up early tomorrow. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to donate!

First Buddy Run

So, let me start by saying that we officially started our training on the 4th of November.  Remember, remember, the 4th of November…but not for the reason that poem was invented.  No, we had kick-off on the 4th.  That was getting us geared up, giving us the skinny on why we’re doing this, being introduced to our Honorees – patients affected by a blood cancer – and going over ideas for fundraising.  That day went off without a hitch, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Saturday was out first long run training day.  We could choose to go either four or two miles if we were doing a half marathon.  As I had not run in a long time (since I injured my foot last year), I thought I could probably get by with four miles.  Hah, NO.  I crapped out early on, and if it weren’t for another girl who was trying to do four miles and ended up doing two with me, it would have been a very sad and depressing day.  And I found a running partner! Yep, that same girl who is my kind of slow!

Today, though, we had a buddy-run day, which my mentor set up.  I showed up just as they were leaving for their run – her and the other guy who lives close enough to have her as a mentor ^_^  Anyway, they run a good 9 minute mile.  I, on the other hand, can barely do a 15 minute mile.  Notice the discrepancies?  Yeah, they would run out in front, and when I was out of sight, run back to me.  I was doing a LOT of walking rather than running.  It was just too much for me.  It was embarrassing – I felt pathetic!  But I did manage to finish 3 miles to their 4 miles.  See, at 1.5 miles, I stopped and stretched while they continued on.  It was a total mile they ran without me, going there and back, half a mile each way.  I was better able to handle the ridiculous running pace, but walked most of it as it was mainly uphill.

I don’t think I will be going to another buddy run.

It’s just not fair to them or to me.  I push myself too hard to catch up with them, and they have to run too slow to not let me get behind.  I’ll just take my dog out.  She’ll be my “buddy” run!  Even IF she stops every two seconds to sniff something.

Now, I’m soooooore!!!  Saturday – 2 miles (which may not seem like a lot, but I live a rather sedentary life).  Sunday, rest, but did volunteer work, so I was at LEAST moving around.  Monday, trained by myself, about 30 minute run with my dog (not including warm up and cool down), then 23 minute cross-training with the Wii Biggest Loser game.  That was a workout, lemme tell ya!  And then today, 3 miles?  It’s a lot for muscles that don’t usually do more than climb an uphill trail for 30 minutes (walking).  Running is a WHOLE other animal.  Ridiculous!

Tomorrow, (well, actually, TODAY, since it’s 2:30 in the morning when I write this), I will be doing a training session with my training partner, Gina.  She’s more my speed.  I will also try and grab some gear before-hand.  I need real running shoes.  Not the worn out ones I have from 5 years ago, and not my precious, precious MBT shoes.  I love them to bits, but they are meant to help my walking, not my running!

Until, happy running!

Hello, Everyone!

My name is Carla Menjivar, and I am training for the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon in San Francisco.  I am doing so with Team in Training, a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  With this training that Team and Training provides, the participants (such as myself) will be raising money to go towards research, as well as helping patients and families affected by blood cancers.  I hope you will come back often, as I will try and update everyday.