Year of the Sneaker: LA marathon

It's over, all said and done! My day started at 4:10 am and finally crossed the start line almost 12 hours ago. 5:28 hour later (longer than originally anticipated) I was done. We were incredibly blessed that the majority of the storm that was anticipated to hit us all weekend, only did the day before. I did slower than I would have liked, but considering it was my first marathon, I'm just happy I finished. I initially was paying attention to the music I was listening so I could write my power songs on my blog, but after mile 20 it was all a blur. So let me break down my experience for you as best as I can. 

Mile 1-6: Downtown L.A.  I actually tripped on mile 2 and I thought "Ok, so I get injured after 6 months of training 2 miles into this thing?!" Luckily I was fine. Around mile 5 I actually took off one of my shirts, it was quite and ordeal. I didn't even think of the marathon at this point, because I was only 6 miles in. At the top of a very steep Bunker Hill: Vomit. I saw that as an omen. 

Funny things I heard or Saw: 

* A guy yelling "Who needs a thighmaster!"

* sign saying "26.2 to your vacation." (I wish)

* Coolness: Chinese dragon's 'dancing' as we ran through  

Miles 7-13- Somewhere in L.A. I was looking forward to the 1/2 mark, because we had a support tent at mile 17. I figured by then I could break down the remainder of the marathon by 3 mile increments. Scott hit the wall at mile 12, which I know really upset him. By mile 14 he started getting muscle fatigue and pretty sever cramps.

Miles 13-20- Hollywood/Rodeo Drive- I had to pee at mile 19. I had been holding it since mile 1, chalking it up to nerves at that point.  Scott and I parted ways at mile 20 after a pinky swear and a kiss saying "I wont hold this against you." I forged ahead thinking, it's only 6 more miles. Scott's Dad and sister had started following us on bikes, cheering us on. This was sooo amazing, you need support. 

* Funny signs: "You training lasted longer than Kim Kardashian's Marriage." I also really enjoyed the drag queen cheerleaders in West Hollywood!

Mile: 20-23-  Brentwood- I started walking a couple of hills

Mile 23-26.2- Santa Monica -This had to be the longest stretch for me. My toes wouldn't crack. If I stopped I got butt and foot cramps. Mile 25 I almost started crying, and had to tell myself to "MAN THE FUCK UP." I zoned out the pain until I saw that beautiful orange sign at 26.2 ahead, and I just kept saying "just a little more, just a little more" I don't even remember what song brought me in. 

* Chick holding a sign: "Make that wall your Bitch" was motivating. About mile 23 I heard "I love L.A." on my ipod (that sentiment was kind of questionable by this point)

After I crossed the finish line I was in a daze, and wrapped in foil like a baked potato (Those suckers do wonders!). I felt bad for having left Scott, but I know he was running for my sake when he was really in pain. It was magical to finally meet up with him and give him a great big hug. His words "It's so good to see you."

So here I am, my feet killing me. I probably did some damage to the outside part of my foot, and I know that this soreness will reek havoc on my body tomorrow morning. I feel like a badass. Scott said that what fucked him over was his mind on mile 12 which shows that running a marathon requires a great deal on mental endurance. You have to run in pain and numbness trying to convince your brain to keep going. 

Although it probably wont be my last, right now I'll just be happy walking to the mail box. 

Year of the Sneaker: LA Marathon – 2 days to go and very much counting.

So it’s finally here. After 6 months of training and what seemed like a good idea 6 months ago is finally here: The L.A. Marathon! (Heads up, never sign up for anything after finishing a race. Those runners highs make everything seem like a good idea.) I got sick earlier this week, which was not bueno, and had me a feeling a little nervous. But, it seems I’m very much on the mend! (thanks to all my concerned friends for checking up on me J).

Training for a marathon is no joke. It requires dedication probably more than stamina. I have to say that the training and running is 90% mental 10% physical. There were many times when my body was saying “eff you, we’re done” and I was like “uh no we’re not.”

For those of you who say “I can’t run a mile.” It isn’t about what you can and can’t run, it’s about if you believe you’re capable of it.  I know, sounds cheesy, but believing in your capability to train and dedicate is what’s going to pull you through running in the rain, heat, and up hills.  You will learn a lot about yourself as you train. I learned that I can actually convince my body to keep pushing forward and how incredibly important it is to have personal cheerleaders along the way.

Things I’ve learned in training:

1) Don’t layer too much. There is nothing worse than over heating. Yeah you feel cold now, but trust me, you’ll get warm.

2) If you think you wont chafe, you will. I would love to show you my permanent scars under my boobs and on my shoulders. Lube up before you run!

3) Never join a marathon or ½ marathon because 1) it sounds like fun 2) you’re doing it to make someone else happy 3) you want to loose weight.

            - it isn’t always fun, and you will have serious moments of “FUCK THIS SHIT”

- Running is a personal thing,  and doing it for someone else may end up making you miserable in the long run (no pun intended)

            - I’ve gained 10 lbs since running. Part muscle, part voracious appetite!

4) Pushing yourself is important- both for physical and mental endurance

5) Everything tastes magical after a long run

6) Buy a Garmin forerunner. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get mine! This thing is awesome and great for continued speed training.

7.) Watch what you eat. You don’t want to embarrass yourself because you decided to eat beans the night before.

 8.) Sports bras should keep you nice and compact and prevent jiggling

9) Shin splints will make you bruise from the inside out

10) I never thought there would be a time when I would be more excited about buying running shoes and clothes than regular clothes.

I don’t intend on this being my last marathon, but instead the 1^st  of many. I hope my future will hold some Ragnar events, triathlon, and maybe someday, qualifying for Boston.

Bra Burnin: for my future daughters

10 things I hope my daughter’s will see in their future:

1)      Equal pay for equal work, not this 80 cents for every dollar a man makes

2)      The end of Slut, whore, and any other word that demeans a woman’s sexuality. We need to stop accepting the words as regular lexicon. These words were invented to demean us. Don’t use them against each other. The word bitch is another blog entry.

3)      Have their anger be validated, not seen as a result of some hormonal monthly thing. We get mad because you’re a douche not because I have a uterus.

4)      Politics that no longer use our bodies as issues of debate. (FYI MOST guys I know are SOOO cool with birth control)

5)      I want them to be ok with their bodies, accept every perfection and imperfection

6)      A BAN ON PHOTOSHOP

7)      Not feel the stigma of owning a cat without being deemed a crazy cat lady (ok that one is for me)       

8)      I want the be able to walk at night or alone without fear or the need to protect themselves

9)      A world that teaches “don’t rape” instead of “don’t get raped.”

To be loved for who they are, not what they look like

Bra Burning: Yei Women's Day!

Do you have boobies (big or small)?

Do you lack an Adams apple?

Does you’re uterine linning cause you grief once a month?

Do you have a vagina?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions  you’re a woman! Congrats!

Today is the international day of the Woman. I’ve heard many a man say “Oh I would hate to be a woman.” First of all, shut the fuck up, that’s insulting to my gender to think that being a woman is a horrible affliction. Being a woman kicks ass. As a gender, we have seen major advances for us brought to us by the women’s movement. The pill has allowed us to now have a choice as to when we will have kids, therefore opening up our futures to more career advances (See, right wing crazies,  the pill isn’t just about us getting our ‘whoring’ on).

Recently we (us ladies) were having a conversation about the ‘man-demic’ that is going on (i.e. guys not calling back, or being slackers). I had suggested that a women we have seen a lot of doors being open and we are no longer needing to conform to just one role: housewife and mother. We now can choose if this is the path we want.  It seems that men have been stuck in the same role for a long time : breadwinner. Why can’t men choose like we can? Slowly we’re seeing more men be the stay at home dad, and taking less ‘traditional’ roles, which I think is great. No one should question a man’s masculinity for taking non-traditional roles just like a woman should seem less ‘famine’ if she opts for more ‘masculine’ roles.  If as women we can transcend our gender expectations, why can’t men be offered the same  chance. But I digress, this blog is about celebrating women, the man-volution topic although interesting can wait.

As we celebrate the amazingness of women, we need to recognize that 1) we need more than just one day 2) many women in the world are still being oppressed and denied basic rights  3) we, in the U.S. , are seeing a rise in legislation that is keeping women from basic health care access and impeding or our reproductive rights. We must continue to fight for ourselves and our sisters.  

Celebrate women’s international day by donating to charities that support women and children:

Here are some ideas, there are TONS more

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ (Planned Parenthood shouldn’t be synonymous with Abortions. Planned parenthood provides reproductive healthcare for women who sometimes cannot afford or have insurance)

Kiva.org/women (connect you to women who need loans)

http://www.projectsister.org  (helps those who have been sexually assaulted, the majority of which are women)

WOUGNET (Women of Uganda Network)