Year of the Sneaker: Respect the Run

The new season of running is coming upon me (us- if your reading this blog). It starts with my 1st 1/2 marathon this Labor Day weekend. It's the Disney 1/2 and I'm hoping I can break my P.R. Considering my current long run time, this may be possible, but you can't cocky.

I want on an 11 mile run yesterday, my goal was to finish it in an 1:50, but 1:51 isn't so bad! average 10:06 min pace, which means I could beat my time. It was a very difficult run, with 1/2 of it being up hill (the green is the elevation)

As I was running and kicking some butt I kept thinking," I can beat my PR, totally." But you have to respect the race. I remember going into a run once, having done multiple 1/2 at that point, and thinking "I've got this." well needless to say, I didn't. I got my ass handed to me, it was hot, I was sore, my knee hurt, it just was NOT pleasant.

I'm pretty excited to see what new goals Disney 1/2 will bring me

Life Lessons: The importance of Passion

Today was a bit disheartening at work. I won’t go into it, but needless  to say, I began to contemplate passion and drive and its importance in doing what you do.  The wisest advice my father gave me is ‘love what you do.’ This great man instilled me with great sense of work ethic, but most importantly the importance of loving it. Coming from a man who’s an accountant, this means a lot because you know…it’s accounting.  When he was growing up he choose book keeping because his mother had told him it was lucrative. When my aunt and uncle were growing up, they were told they should study medicine because it was a good field. I know that these three great individuals would have chosen something else. My dad: a cook, my uncle: an architect or designer, my aunt: that I don’t know, I wish I was given the chance to ask her. I think he has pushed this point across because I think if he had felt more in control of the situation he would have chosen something different.

So here I am, 31 (almost) always thinking about what I’M passionate about. Because when you’re passionate about something,  the money will come. Why? because you will do so willingly and well. I’ve turned down positions because they weren’t what I wanted. I feel like I’m at a stage in my life where I can ask “is this what I’m passionate about” as opposed to “how much money is this going to make me.” Don’t get me wrong, money is awesome and I may not take a pay cut, BUT I will definitely ask myself “is this what I want to do.”  

Fear is the biggest extinguisher of passion to venture out. I know I’m guilty of it, and I battle with tons of “buts” and excuses, but I do strive to do what I love. When the passion runs out, then it’s time to step back, breath and ask yourself : Is this really what I want to do with my life?  Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe you just need a break, or maybe you just need to direct your passion in a different direction. 

Rather than be discouraged about what happened today, I will see this as an opportunity to further propel myself in the direction I want to go in, not in the one I’m forced to go in.  I have found that when I’m not ‘still with God’ and push something that it normally falls apart. I’ve had to learn that I can’t force something. I need to pray and run (I do some of my most intense prayers and request while running).  I have found it helpful to tell myself to be patient and ask myself :

1)      Are you making a decision because you are angry at an outcome?

2)      Are you opting to not make a choice because you’re comfortable

3)      Are you afraid?

4)      Does this decision help you meet your own personal /professional ‘bottom line.”

For right now, I will wait, but not for long, because I feel like some changes are coming, and although they are scary, I’m pretty excited.

Are you a MexiCan or a MexiCan't: Oaxaca

I'm watching Mexico, One Plate at a Time. It's cheesy as hell, but the main dude cooks dishes from Mexico with his daughter (who is barely tolerable in her cheesiness). I'm brought back to my many trips to Mexico and aaaaaaaaaaaall the awesome food I got to eat there. Being of Salvadorean background, there has been at times that I have had to hear about the animosity/rivalry between Mexicans and Salvadoreans, which I've never understood. Mexico is beautiful, El Salvador is Beautiful! Both their dishes are AMAZING! But today is my ode to Mexico, mostly because I have spent a considerable amount of time there, and watching this show has brought back many beautiful culinary memories filled that intertwine with the amazing women in my family. Today I thought of Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is this beautiful sleepy city which amazing Catholic churches in green limestone, bugambilia lined court yards, and the breath taking pyramids of Monte Alban. I had the luxury of being able to road trip through this  beautiful state with my cousins all the way to the beach. One moment your in desert- like areas and BOOM tropical forest! While in Oaxaca I got to body surf on the beaches of Puerto Escondido, tan near a turtle sanctuary, and go day unfortunately without bathing (not by choice)

The Grub

Tlayuda

Tlayuda (TLah-You-Dah) is magical. The first time I ate one was with my mother in the city of Oaxaca. A tlayuda is a big tortilla that's been toasted with black beans on top. It is layered with steak and Oaxacan cheese. The cheese from Oaxaca is my Achilles heal. The cheese melts beautifully! My cousins and I would often make late night quesadillas in my aunts kitchen with this cheese. And yes you see correctly, it is a ball of cheese. HOW AWESOME IS THAT! 

BALL-O-CHEESE

Now, if you ever get a chance to go to Oaxaca, go to the market place. It's a pretty big tourist hot spot, but man, if you can have a tlayuda followed by a pan with chocolate, your mind will be blown. The chocolate is rich and the bread is 'bland' so you can dip it in the chocolate. You soak the bread with the chocolate and eat away. I seriously can taste it now. 

I feel so blessed to have experience this, and it breaks my heart to see all the turmoil and violence my Mexican brothers and sisters are going through. It's such a beautiful, rich country, that to see it marred is disheartening. I hope that in my life time people will stop associating Mexico with violence. Mexico to me has become synonymous with positive female energy and woman camaraderie. My mother would take me and we'd see the painting of Frida Khalo. My aunt (may she rest in peace) would make fresh orange juice, cut me fresh jicama, all the while being a badass doctor that worked hard to help her patients . My cousins and I would gossip, relive messed up dates, and try to solve all our love problems over a tiny table in my aunts kitchen. When I speak of Mexico, I can't help but think of emotion, and food. Food should always be an emotional experience: beautiful, rich, and tasty.

AAAND I'm Back!

Well, at least I hope so. It gets hard for me to be consistent with my writing but my future SIL kind of inspired me to start it up again.Sept 2nd, 2012 I go back to the beginning. The Disneyland 1/2 Marathon. One year ago I began my official journey to running and since then I've done 3 1/2 marathons and a full marathon. Starting September I plan on starting training for LA again, except picking up my speed. The last 10 miler I did I ran in 1:37 which doesn't seem super good, but considering I was running a 10.5 min mile, I'm pretty proud of myself. I need to be better about speed training. I've upped my cardio to 1.5 hours 4x week (running, spinning, and ellipitcal). 

I'm excited...super excited :D

2011 Medal

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