Writing this blog everyday is a good part of this training because it's another component of my discipline: chronicling this journey.
So today was a mentor run & basically we just ran 2 miles and we were done. And tomorrow is a rest day! It's getting to the point where I'm a little bummed that we have a day of rest, but I know that come 10 miles my body will thank me for doing that.
Although, I achieved my goal of running the entire way, that still needs to stay a goal. My asthma has been kicking in & I am really trying to train my lungs. But this lack of oxygen is not allowing me to be an efficient runner. I am fatiguing because my body is not receiving enough oxygen to get me through. So my goal throughout is to run all the way...no matter what.
It's not my body that hurts after the run, but my lungs feel tight, my throat is very dry and burns, and I have serious cotton mouth because my lungs refuse the breath of air I send them. So this constant fighting of lungs versus breathing is the only major pain that has come along with this running.
The one thing I am trying not to be intimidated by are the hills in San Francisco. There are some hills on our Woodward Park route & sometimes they kick my ass. So I don't want the thought of hills during 26.2 miles to frighten me off. I try my best to retain a constant speed as I run up the hill, which can feel a little like torture, but I know there will be hills...So I hope to kick their ass when it really counts on Oct. 19th.
One thing that helped was the mini conversations I am beginning to have with myself, I almost stopped to walk, but something inside told me I could hold on, that I need to push through, because it's not the first 24 it's the last 2.2 miles...
But I ran the 2 miles straight through and I was even able to quasi-sprint the last 100 yds! The feeling as I crossed the point at which I started was as refreshing as cold water in 100 degree weather.
One thing that I am slowly changing is my mindset. I need to remember that my body is different it is not the same as it was when I played basketball, field hockey, and track and field. So now I have to learn how to love the shape of my body and realize I can sculpt it. But even then there is an underlying foundation that will determine how much I can sculpt and how much I can shape. So I have to learn to love what I've got to work with.
But every day that I run I gain a new appreciation and respect for what it has done for me. And so part of this marathon is giving back to my body and making it strong and healthy again. Remembering that my body has transformed to what my life has required of it and as I age so will my body. But if I take care of it then it will become my support system and carry me through other life changes.
My next goal is to run at a little quicker pace as well as run every mile even if I have to go at a snail's pace.
So today's exhaustion tastes like struggling. Struggling against gravity, against my perception of who I was with what I am today, struggling to learn to love the person I have become, and struggling to understand that every day is a chance to change.
I need to learn, even though my life has been a combination of pleasure and pain I need to give back to this world that has given me so much. Even as it took away other things. Running is teaching me to respect cycles and the changes that come because of that cycle.
Since you can't be there to cheer us on at our practices please go to our pages and cheer us on by donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We're running not just toward a finish line, but with your donations we're racing toward a cure!
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Thank you for reading my faithful readers!
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 11
I can't believe it will be almost 2 weeks since Casimiro & I started our training for the Nike Women's Marathon.
We each received our first donation from our awesome friend and supporter Angelica Ambrose! Thanks Gelatin Ambrosia! Your money will go to a great cause.
Today was cross training day and we did Pilates today. I love Pilates because it appears deceptively simple. By the end of the workout I was sweating and stinky. But anytime I do Pilates I always finish feeling really strong, which was no exception today.
Which was very nice especially after yesterday's workout. I needed something to boost my confidence & Pilates does that for me. Because its rigorous, graceful, and relaxing...Concentration is very important in Pilates which will be very helpful as we get farther up in miles. I will need to be able to focus and concentrate on running strong and efficient.
Again, having a motivating training partner is very helpful. And the nice thing about the workouts is that I do not want to miss a day because in my mind running a marathon means that every day counts toward a stronger body.
The taste of my exhaustion is the gentle ebb and flow of my breath in coordination with the movements of my body...YUM! *DEEP SIGH*
Please donate here are the links again!
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
We each received our first donation from our awesome friend and supporter Angelica Ambrose! Thanks Gelatin Ambrosia! Your money will go to a great cause.
Today was cross training day and we did Pilates today. I love Pilates because it appears deceptively simple. By the end of the workout I was sweating and stinky. But anytime I do Pilates I always finish feeling really strong, which was no exception today.
Which was very nice especially after yesterday's workout. I needed something to boost my confidence & Pilates does that for me. Because its rigorous, graceful, and relaxing...Concentration is very important in Pilates which will be very helpful as we get farther up in miles. I will need to be able to focus and concentrate on running strong and efficient.
Again, having a motivating training partner is very helpful. And the nice thing about the workouts is that I do not want to miss a day because in my mind running a marathon means that every day counts toward a stronger body.
The taste of my exhaustion is the gentle ebb and flow of my breath in coordination with the movements of my body...YUM! *DEEP SIGH*
Please donate here are the links again!
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 10
Ok, so today is the first day I finally understood the meaning of the phrase "pride goeth before a fall." So for those of you who have been keeping up with these training blogs, Day 1 I was so excited that I was able to run a 12.59 minute mile until today...
So for today's practice coach decided to break us into groups based on how we ran that first mile. Which was cool beans because if you remember from another blog I was always a sprint sport player so, technically based on my previous mile time 12.59 is pretty slow. But it ain't slow when you have to run at that pace for 1.5 miles after already completing one mile. And if that wasn't enough, we had to do the line.
So before I continue, let me recap the practice up to this point. We ran two laps straight (on our own at our own pace) took a water break and then ran two more laps straight.
Then coach says we are going to run 4 laps in teams that he created using our mile run. And then after the 4 laps a quick water break and then we would go again. My first thought was "ah shit, I'm f**ked," especially when I noticed that all the people on my team usually run ahead of me during our pacing runs...especially because we were running the line...If you've never run the line it consists of the following - everyone runs in a line and the person at the end has to sprint to the beginning of the line.
Which is cool when you're in great shape, but when the only shape your in is round (which unfortunately I am at present - just keepin it real for you folks!) running the line can be stressful.
Which brings me to the best part of this workout: I have stress induced asthma, and I haven't really had a major attack in a couple of years. Usually the stress that causes my asthma attacks is related to physical stress. Which is not a stress I've experienced for a while [insert embarrassed laughter here].
At first I was feeling good, we had already ran a mile and the pace was pretty good, but the people on my team were running at a 10 min/mile pace. Which is cool when you're only doing one mile and one mile only. But we had already run a mile and we still had another mile and a half to go....and we had to sprint about every 100 meters.
But after mile 3 I was seriously sucking wind. And for those of you that have asthma, basically when you're asthma breathing you sound like a balloon that is slowly leaking....every time you try to suck in a breath your bronchials in your lungs close off like a scorned lover with his back to you. And each breath sounds like that high-pitched noise balloons make when you let the air out slowly by constricting the balloon opening with your fingers. Which is quite appealing ;-)
Every intake of breath is being forced through this tightly squeezed tube. So basically, I am running and the poor person in front of me had to keep hearing this wheezy breathing behind her...which if you've never heard it before is a sexy as it sounds ;-)
And sometimes when my asthma turns on, my ability to screen my language turns off. So right around the time I started wheezing I had to sprint to the front of the line. And when I thought my lungs were going to burst into flames I muttered under my breath "fuck, fuck, fuck," but my teammates heard and they were like WHOA...and when I got to the front of the line I had to get a couple of "fucking shits" in there too...Which thoroughly offended my teammates because no on talked to me after that. OOPS...hopefully that was a one time team.
My body was fine, but my lungs were completely constricted. So exhaustion was kicking in because my muscles were barely getting any oxygen. Toward the end though, just when I thought I was not going to be able to take in any oxygen and I was literally going to collapse into a brown puddle on the Clovis West Track, I heard the coach's wife telling me "this is the most important moment, when you're body wants to give up if you can push yourself past that, you'll be okay" that's all I needed to hear, I took my last sprint and basically collapsed on the grass trying to get my breath back.
But my team in training teammates Donna & Casimiro both congratulated me on a job well done. And Sara one of my other teammates knew pressure points to help me breath, so that was very encouraging. And as I was signing out coach Jenny tells me remember it's not the 8 miles, when you're running 10 but the last 2 that are important. So I'm adopting that as my new mantra "it's not the first 24 miles it's the last 2.2 miles that count."
TMI warning...
And just because I can't resist...Those of you who have asthma will totally understand this...as you get your breath back your body starts to expel all of the liquid that has built up in your lungs. Which brings on several things: coughing, spitting, and sneezing. So essentially I was coughing and then spitting out this sort of foamy stuff, which oddly looks like snails when you toss salt on them...and I've been sneezing every since practice finished and oddly it feels good to sneeze...hmmm???
So today exhaustion tastes like air being sucked through a straw and my body and mind willing to push, but this time it's my lungs resisting like a petulant child refusing to go to bed. But this all this pain is definitely for a good cause SO...
Remember, I'm still in the game guys so in lieu of congratulatory high-fives if you can give me two high five dollar bills to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. One for me and one for my friend Casimiro who has been an excellent training partner. Your donation and our participating in this race will help those with blood cancers. Thanks All!
The links are below:
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
So for today's practice coach decided to break us into groups based on how we ran that first mile. Which was cool beans because if you remember from another blog I was always a sprint sport player so, technically based on my previous mile time 12.59 is pretty slow. But it ain't slow when you have to run at that pace for 1.5 miles after already completing one mile. And if that wasn't enough, we had to do the line.
So before I continue, let me recap the practice up to this point. We ran two laps straight (on our own at our own pace) took a water break and then ran two more laps straight.
Then coach says we are going to run 4 laps in teams that he created using our mile run. And then after the 4 laps a quick water break and then we would go again. My first thought was "ah shit, I'm f**ked," especially when I noticed that all the people on my team usually run ahead of me during our pacing runs...especially because we were running the line...If you've never run the line it consists of the following - everyone runs in a line and the person at the end has to sprint to the beginning of the line.
Which is cool when you're in great shape, but when the only shape your in is round (which unfortunately I am at present - just keepin it real for you folks!) running the line can be stressful.
Which brings me to the best part of this workout: I have stress induced asthma, and I haven't really had a major attack in a couple of years. Usually the stress that causes my asthma attacks is related to physical stress. Which is not a stress I've experienced for a while [insert embarrassed laughter here].
At first I was feeling good, we had already ran a mile and the pace was pretty good, but the people on my team were running at a 10 min/mile pace. Which is cool when you're only doing one mile and one mile only. But we had already run a mile and we still had another mile and a half to go....and we had to sprint about every 100 meters.
But after mile 3 I was seriously sucking wind. And for those of you that have asthma, basically when you're asthma breathing you sound like a balloon that is slowly leaking....every time you try to suck in a breath your bronchials in your lungs close off like a scorned lover with his back to you. And each breath sounds like that high-pitched noise balloons make when you let the air out slowly by constricting the balloon opening with your fingers. Which is quite appealing ;-)
Every intake of breath is being forced through this tightly squeezed tube. So basically, I am running and the poor person in front of me had to keep hearing this wheezy breathing behind her...which if you've never heard it before is a sexy as it sounds ;-)
And sometimes when my asthma turns on, my ability to screen my language turns off. So right around the time I started wheezing I had to sprint to the front of the line. And when I thought my lungs were going to burst into flames I muttered under my breath "fuck, fuck, fuck," but my teammates heard and they were like WHOA...and when I got to the front of the line I had to get a couple of "fucking shits" in there too...Which thoroughly offended my teammates because no on talked to me after that. OOPS...hopefully that was a one time team.
My body was fine, but my lungs were completely constricted. So exhaustion was kicking in because my muscles were barely getting any oxygen. Toward the end though, just when I thought I was not going to be able to take in any oxygen and I was literally going to collapse into a brown puddle on the Clovis West Track, I heard the coach's wife telling me "this is the most important moment, when you're body wants to give up if you can push yourself past that, you'll be okay" that's all I needed to hear, I took my last sprint and basically collapsed on the grass trying to get my breath back.
But my team in training teammates Donna & Casimiro both congratulated me on a job well done. And Sara one of my other teammates knew pressure points to help me breath, so that was very encouraging. And as I was signing out coach Jenny tells me remember it's not the 8 miles, when you're running 10 but the last 2 that are important. So I'm adopting that as my new mantra "it's not the first 24 miles it's the last 2.2 miles that count."
TMI warning...
And just because I can't resist...Those of you who have asthma will totally understand this...as you get your breath back your body starts to expel all of the liquid that has built up in your lungs. Which brings on several things: coughing, spitting, and sneezing. So essentially I was coughing and then spitting out this sort of foamy stuff, which oddly looks like snails when you toss salt on them...and I've been sneezing every since practice finished and oddly it feels good to sneeze...hmmm???
So today exhaustion tastes like air being sucked through a straw and my body and mind willing to push, but this time it's my lungs resisting like a petulant child refusing to go to bed. But this all this pain is definitely for a good cause SO...
Remember, I'm still in the game guys so in lieu of congratulatory high-fives if you can give me two high five dollar bills to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. One for me and one for my friend Casimiro who has been an excellent training partner. Your donation and our participating in this race will help those with blood cancers. Thanks All!
The links are below:
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 9
Hello all and welcome to Day 9. I was looking back at some of my other blogs & I kind of sound like I'm on one of those reality tv shows or someone found this mysterious diary logging some strange ritual.
But this is Day 9 for the Nike Women's Marathon, yes. Beautiful day literally and figuratively. The sun was out but there was a great breeze and the weather was like being in the Bay Area. And my favorite number is 3 so for those who love math 9 is 3 squared YES!!!
Ok, well today was the upper body and the core. I was really surprised how strong my upper body actually is considering my previous physical lifestyle [snicker, snicker]. And I can definitely tell that a strong upper body and core muscles will help carry me past the 10 mile mark. It just feels really good to get comfortable in my own skin again. To feel my muscles getting stronger, lengthening, holding me up, improving my posture, helping to match my outer strength with my newly developing inner strength. It's like the petals of a flower blossoming open attempting to increase its surface area to capture as much of the radiance of the sunlight as possible.
My physical strength is doing just this allowing me to become more positive and therefore able to take in that radiance so that I can absorb it and share that with those around me.
Each day, the taste of exhaustion becomes layered and transforms each time I combine it with a different flavor. Exhaustion with confidence tastes like a spot on hardwood floor warmed by the sun.
*DEEP SIGH*
Don't forget that each step my friend and I take is a step closer to helping those with blood cancers, the links to donate are below. Think of this as a jog-a-thon for adults.
Abrazos!
Just copy & paste into the address bar
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
But this is Day 9 for the Nike Women's Marathon, yes. Beautiful day literally and figuratively. The sun was out but there was a great breeze and the weather was like being in the Bay Area. And my favorite number is 3 so for those who love math 9 is 3 squared YES!!!
Ok, well today was the upper body and the core. I was really surprised how strong my upper body actually is considering my previous physical lifestyle [snicker, snicker]. And I can definitely tell that a strong upper body and core muscles will help carry me past the 10 mile mark. It just feels really good to get comfortable in my own skin again. To feel my muscles getting stronger, lengthening, holding me up, improving my posture, helping to match my outer strength with my newly developing inner strength. It's like the petals of a flower blossoming open attempting to increase its surface area to capture as much of the radiance of the sunlight as possible.
My physical strength is doing just this allowing me to become more positive and therefore able to take in that radiance so that I can absorb it and share that with those around me.
Each day, the taste of exhaustion becomes layered and transforms each time I combine it with a different flavor. Exhaustion with confidence tastes like a spot on hardwood floor warmed by the sun.
*DEEP SIGH*
Don't forget that each step my friend and I take is a step closer to helping those with blood cancers, the links to donate are below. Think of this as a jog-a-thon for adults.
Abrazos!
Just copy & paste into the address bar
Roxanne Villaluz's Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.'s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 8
Today was a day for Pilates. Because my IT band is inflamed I am really trying to stretch out my muscles so that I don't strain it and make it worse.
It felt great today. I had forgotten, however, how strenuous Pilates can be. But afterwards it felt great to work on my core because that is what is really going to get me through those miles of the marathon.
Ok, so the TMI has begun because sometimes when you work out a lot after not having worked out at all, your system starts to clean itself.
So let's just say that I could have started a campfire with the gases I was emitting today.
But I digress. It was pretty funny because that use to happen when my basketball team would have a really tough practice. And luckily they weren't gas mask worthy.
All in all, I feel myself getting stronger every day and this strength is reminding me that I can run this marathon. And it will be doable.
Today's exhaustion tasted like muscles lengthening and strengthening.
Lengthen and strengthen your dollars today by donating to LLS support my friend and I's training for the Nike Women's Marathon
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
It felt great today. I had forgotten, however, how strenuous Pilates can be. But afterwards it felt great to work on my core because that is what is really going to get me through those miles of the marathon.
Ok, so the TMI has begun because sometimes when you work out a lot after not having worked out at all, your system starts to clean itself.
So let's just say that I could have started a campfire with the gases I was emitting today.
But I digress. It was pretty funny because that use to happen when my basketball team would have a really tough practice. And luckily they weren't gas mask worthy.
All in all, I feel myself getting stronger every day and this strength is reminding me that I can run this marathon. And it will be doable.
Today's exhaustion tasted like muscles lengthening and strengthening.
Lengthen and strengthen your dollars today by donating to LLS support my friend and I's training for the Nike Women's Marathon
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 7
I reached my first goal today! I ran 2.2 miles straight! I was so excited. And the best part about today's training was that when we were approaching the end I thought it was the half way point and I really could have run one more mile.
Wow, this is amazing for me. I know for me what made it easier for today's run was the rain. I really love running in the rain because your running provides the heat and the cool air and rain act as a cooling system.
Each day of training motivates me and every time I complete a practice successfully that goal of 26.2 miles is definitely in my grasp.
Especially since I spent so much time on the couch this past semester and to go from no exercise a week ago to running 2.2 miles straight is very exhilarating!
So I am going to continue my goal and make sure I run at every practice.
My next goal is indirectly related, by Wednesday of next week I need to have my fundraising letters completed and sent out. And I need to start working on my fundraising website. And make sure I start advertising for fundraising for Casimiro and I.
And what I thought was a pulled hip flexor was actually my Iliotibial (IT) band which is basically a band of fibers that act as a stabilizer along the side of your leg originating from the hip to just under the knee. So I just need to really stretch my lower body so I don't cause damage to my knee and the rest of my leg.
Exhaustion tasted like wind in my face, rain in my mouth, my sweat-drenched, rain-soaked hat, and the sound of feet pounding the road. Delicious!
And there is nothing more delicious than donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), so please donate to my and my friend's pages to help support us and the society as we train towards a cure!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Wow, this is amazing for me. I know for me what made it easier for today's run was the rain. I really love running in the rain because your running provides the heat and the cool air and rain act as a cooling system.
Each day of training motivates me and every time I complete a practice successfully that goal of 26.2 miles is definitely in my grasp.
Especially since I spent so much time on the couch this past semester and to go from no exercise a week ago to running 2.2 miles straight is very exhilarating!
So I am going to continue my goal and make sure I run at every practice.
My next goal is indirectly related, by Wednesday of next week I need to have my fundraising letters completed and sent out. And I need to start working on my fundraising website. And make sure I start advertising for fundraising for Casimiro and I.
And what I thought was a pulled hip flexor was actually my Iliotibial (IT) band which is basically a band of fibers that act as a stabilizer along the side of your leg originating from the hip to just under the knee. So I just need to really stretch my lower body so I don't cause damage to my knee and the rest of my leg.
Exhaustion tasted like wind in my face, rain in my mouth, my sweat-drenched, rain-soaked hat, and the sound of feet pounding the road. Delicious!
And there is nothing more delicious than donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), so please donate to my and my friend's pages to help support us and the society as we train towards a cure!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Addicted - training rest day
Okay, so this summer I decided I had to put myself out there and do something I normally wouldn't do: challenge my writing and show it to more people. I have realized over the past year that I have a new addiction: writing.
I almost overdosed this semester on it, but like every addict, even one bad trip isn't enough to keep you away from it. How did I even get here? Ah, the song of any person addicted to something they sometimes wish they weren't. And I only say this because sometimes, I can't stop. I get a great idea and I don't stop, not to eat, sleep , shit, meditate, change the channel, drink, sometimes I even forget to breathe. Because for me the action of words coming together is like breath, sometimes my words feel like my lifeblood poring from my fingers to the page.
And so sometimes, when I get so caught up, I don't know how to feel about this new found addiction. But I do remember my first word hits. I received my first taste of creative nonfiction in the Fall of 2007. Since that day I have searched for opportunities to push myself further in this genre. After taking my first and only "Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop" at Fresno State, I have become a greedy participant. I want more. A writing and word junkie looking for her next fix and just like all addicts the thing that keeps me away from the opportunity to get a really wonderful word hit is funding.
Of course, as I stand here with my cup hoping that my words are tip worthy, I understand anyone considering filling my coffers wants to know where the money will go? I can definitely say that any coins that plop in my cup will go to feed my writing habit. A habit that I do not want to quit and that thankfully will not release me from its wonderful grasp. And the next legitimate question is why I am not able to feed my own habit? My funding has been very limited since I decided to return to school to obtain a single subject teaching credential in English Literature.
Therefore, in order for me to devote time to gaining competence I wanted to devote more time to learning and focusing in on the coursework. Consequently, I traded full-time work for part-time work, which affected the size of my bank account. As a single mom of a 9-year-old boy, we have always managed to get by and even with less money coming in we have always had the essentials: food, water, and clothing.
And even with my writing addiction the size of my bank account has not been a big issue. Because up to this point all I have needed is my laptop, my gray matter, a printer for hard copies, and a willing audience. But, now that I have the opportunity to feed my habit with a much larger fix money is suddenly becoming an obstacle.
But I hope that somewhere amongst the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and other particulars of language, my words will be good enough to get me into the writing workshop this summer.
Sometimes when words come it's the reversal of any high, instead of ingesting something like alcohol to feel euphoria, it's the action of producing that pumps my adrenaline, it's the action of putting myself out there that gives me my fix.
When you finally find the pulse of your passions, don't ever lose how you found it and don't ever let anyone take that away from you.
I hope I'll find myself in July, drunk on words.
I almost overdosed this semester on it, but like every addict, even one bad trip isn't enough to keep you away from it. How did I even get here? Ah, the song of any person addicted to something they sometimes wish they weren't. And I only say this because sometimes, I can't stop. I get a great idea and I don't stop, not to eat, sleep , shit, meditate, change the channel, drink, sometimes I even forget to breathe. Because for me the action of words coming together is like breath, sometimes my words feel like my lifeblood poring from my fingers to the page.
And so sometimes, when I get so caught up, I don't know how to feel about this new found addiction. But I do remember my first word hits. I received my first taste of creative nonfiction in the Fall of 2007. Since that day I have searched for opportunities to push myself further in this genre. After taking my first and only "Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop" at Fresno State, I have become a greedy participant. I want more. A writing and word junkie looking for her next fix and just like all addicts the thing that keeps me away from the opportunity to get a really wonderful word hit is funding.
Of course, as I stand here with my cup hoping that my words are tip worthy, I understand anyone considering filling my coffers wants to know where the money will go? I can definitely say that any coins that plop in my cup will go to feed my writing habit. A habit that I do not want to quit and that thankfully will not release me from its wonderful grasp. And the next legitimate question is why I am not able to feed my own habit? My funding has been very limited since I decided to return to school to obtain a single subject teaching credential in English Literature.
Therefore, in order for me to devote time to gaining competence I wanted to devote more time to learning and focusing in on the coursework. Consequently, I traded full-time work for part-time work, which affected the size of my bank account. As a single mom of a 9-year-old boy, we have always managed to get by and even with less money coming in we have always had the essentials: food, water, and clothing.
And even with my writing addiction the size of my bank account has not been a big issue. Because up to this point all I have needed is my laptop, my gray matter, a printer for hard copies, and a willing audience. But, now that I have the opportunity to feed my habit with a much larger fix money is suddenly becoming an obstacle.
But I hope that somewhere amongst the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and other particulars of language, my words will be good enough to get me into the writing workshop this summer.
Sometimes when words come it's the reversal of any high, instead of ingesting something like alcohol to feel euphoria, it's the action of producing that pumps my adrenaline, it's the action of putting myself out there that gives me my fix.
When you finally find the pulse of your passions, don't ever lose how you found it and don't ever let anyone take that away from you.
I hope I'll find myself in July, drunk on words.
Addicted - training rest day
Okay, so this summer I decided I had to put myself out there and do something I normally wouldn't do: challenge my writing and show it to more people. I have realized over the past year that I have a new addiction: writing.
I almost overdosed this semester on it, but like every addict, even one bad trip isn't enough to keep you away from it. How did I even get here? Ah, the song of any person addicted to something they sometimes wish they weren't. And I only say this because sometimes, I can't stop. I get a great idea and I don't stop, not to eat, sleep , shit, meditate, change the channel, drink, sometimes I even forget to breathe. Because for me the action of words coming together is like breath, sometimes my words feel like my lifeblood poring from my fingers to the page.
And so sometimes, when I get so caught up, I don't know how to feel about this new found addiction. But I do remember my first word hits. I received my first taste of creative nonfiction in the Fall of 2007. Since that day I have searched for opportunities to push myself further in this genre. After taking my first and only "Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop" at Fresno State, I have become a greedy participant. I want more. A writing and word junkie looking for her next fix and just like all addicts the thing that keeps me away from the opportunity to get a really wonderful word hit is funding.
Of course, as I stand here with my cup hoping that my words are tip worthy, I understand anyone considering filling my coffers wants to know where the money will go? I can definitely say that any coins that plop in my cup will go to feed my writing habit. A habit that I do not want to quit and that thankfully will not release me from its wonderful grasp. And the next legitimate question is why I am not able to feed my own habit? My funding has been very limited since I decided to return to school to obtain a single subject teaching credential in English Literature.
Therefore, in order for me to devote time to gaining competence I wanted to devote more time to learning and focusing in on the coursework. Consequently, I traded full-time work for part-time work, which affected the size of my bank account. As a single mom of a 9-year-old boy, we have always managed to get by and even with less money coming in we have always had the essentials: food, water, and clothing.
And even with my writing addiction the size of my bank account has not been a big issue. Because up to this point all I have needed is my laptop, my gray matter, a printer for hard copies, and a willing audience. But, now that I have the opportunity to feed my habit with a much larger fix money is suddenly becoming an obstacle.
But I hope that somewhere amongst the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and other particulars of language, my words will be good enough to get me into the writing workshop this summer.
Sometimes when words come it's the reversal of any high, instead of ingesting something like alcohol to feel euphoria, it's the action of producing that pumps my adrenaline, it's the action of putting myself out there that gives me my fix.
When you finally find the pulse of your passions, don't ever lose how you found it and don't ever let anyone take that away from you.
I hope I'll find myself in July, drunk on words.
I almost overdosed this semester on it, but like every addict, even one bad trip isn't enough to keep you away from it. How did I even get here? Ah, the song of any person addicted to something they sometimes wish they weren't. And I only say this because sometimes, I can't stop. I get a great idea and I don't stop, not to eat, sleep , shit, meditate, change the channel, drink, sometimes I even forget to breathe. Because for me the action of words coming together is like breath, sometimes my words feel like my lifeblood poring from my fingers to the page.
And so sometimes, when I get so caught up, I don't know how to feel about this new found addiction. But I do remember my first word hits. I received my first taste of creative nonfiction in the Fall of 2007. Since that day I have searched for opportunities to push myself further in this genre. After taking my first and only "Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop" at Fresno State, I have become a greedy participant. I want more. A writing and word junkie looking for her next fix and just like all addicts the thing that keeps me away from the opportunity to get a really wonderful word hit is funding.
Of course, as I stand here with my cup hoping that my words are tip worthy, I understand anyone considering filling my coffers wants to know where the money will go? I can definitely say that any coins that plop in my cup will go to feed my writing habit. A habit that I do not want to quit and that thankfully will not release me from its wonderful grasp. And the next legitimate question is why I am not able to feed my own habit? My funding has been very limited since I decided to return to school to obtain a single subject teaching credential in English Literature.
Therefore, in order for me to devote time to gaining competence I wanted to devote more time to learning and focusing in on the coursework. Consequently, I traded full-time work for part-time work, which affected the size of my bank account. As a single mom of a 9-year-old boy, we have always managed to get by and even with less money coming in we have always had the essentials: food, water, and clothing.
And even with my writing addiction the size of my bank account has not been a big issue. Because up to this point all I have needed is my laptop, my gray matter, a printer for hard copies, and a willing audience. But, now that I have the opportunity to feed my habit with a much larger fix money is suddenly becoming an obstacle.
But I hope that somewhere amongst the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and other particulars of language, my words will be good enough to get me into the writing workshop this summer.
Sometimes when words come it's the reversal of any high, instead of ingesting something like alcohol to feel euphoria, it's the action of producing that pumps my adrenaline, it's the action of putting myself out there that gives me my fix.
When you finally find the pulse of your passions, don't ever lose how you found it and don't ever let anyone take that away from you.
I hope I'll find myself in July, drunk on words.
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 6
Well today, my exhaustion was almost overpowered by a sense of pride. If you read Day 4 I pulled a hip flexor at the second coach's practice. At first it seemed like a general pulled muscle so I went home did the R.I.C.E thing.
But every time I would get up to go do something I would feel this stabbing pain near my hip. So Day 5 I took it easy and swam for 30 minutes using mostly my arms. So if my arms aren't killer by the end of this, I really did something wrong.
Anywho, I stretched and rested after the swimming and iced it quite a bit. So when I woke up this morning I had a dull ache, but very little pain. So I thought, I can go to practice no problem.
I am a very, very stubborn person and I decided that I just needed to tell my body it wasn't hurting and I could run through the pain. But then humility crept up on me telling me that I don't need to push myself this hard so early on in these low mileage practices. Because soon enough when more mileage is added on I will be putting my body to the test.
So I really had to talk myself through this. I could push myself to run thereby injuring myself permanently and having to drop out of the training even before mile 5. Or I could swallow my pride along with some exhaustion and humility rest up get back to almost 100% so that I can continue on.
I have to say that doing the team thing has been great because we have mentors and coaches & both of them have been very supporting and supported the decision that I made today. Which is such a shift from the old days where my coach would yell at me to suck it up.
This time I'm not sucking it up and pushing myself to injury I am sucking it up to realize that I have to rest so that I can continue on.
Exhaustion tasted a lot like pride washed down with humility. And it tasted so good!
Tomorrow is a rest day before Saturday practice. So my faithful readers you can take a break from reading about my training & maybe I'll post something a little more creative.
So stay tuned my faithful fans (oh wait, didn't I swallow humility today, oops!)
During this break, please donate to the LLS using the donation pages provided below. My friend and I are training together!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
But every time I would get up to go do something I would feel this stabbing pain near my hip. So Day 5 I took it easy and swam for 30 minutes using mostly my arms. So if my arms aren't killer by the end of this, I really did something wrong.
Anywho, I stretched and rested after the swimming and iced it quite a bit. So when I woke up this morning I had a dull ache, but very little pain. So I thought, I can go to practice no problem.
I am a very, very stubborn person and I decided that I just needed to tell my body it wasn't hurting and I could run through the pain. But then humility crept up on me telling me that I don't need to push myself this hard so early on in these low mileage practices. Because soon enough when more mileage is added on I will be putting my body to the test.
So I really had to talk myself through this. I could push myself to run thereby injuring myself permanently and having to drop out of the training even before mile 5. Or I could swallow my pride along with some exhaustion and humility rest up get back to almost 100% so that I can continue on.
I have to say that doing the team thing has been great because we have mentors and coaches & both of them have been very supporting and supported the decision that I made today. Which is such a shift from the old days where my coach would yell at me to suck it up.
This time I'm not sucking it up and pushing myself to injury I am sucking it up to realize that I have to rest so that I can continue on.
Exhaustion tasted a lot like pride washed down with humility. And it tasted so good!
Tomorrow is a rest day before Saturday practice. So my faithful readers you can take a break from reading about my training & maybe I'll post something a little more creative.
So stay tuned my faithful fans (oh wait, didn't I swallow humility today, oops!)
During this break, please donate to the LLS using the donation pages provided below. My friend and I are training together!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 5
I use to dislike swimming until now. Now it's a great way to push myself to do better. I am definitely not a strong swimmer, but swimming has been the best cross training because it's low impact, highly aerobic and great for strength training.
Especially because I pulled my hip flexor and it is killing me. Getting in to the water and swimming helped buoy me up and I wasn't really worried about hurting myself.
Because of some prior commitments, today's workout was 30 minutes of swimming and some light stretching. My body is really beginning to feel it and every day I can feel my body give way and understanding that we are in fact running a marathon.
It was resisting me for awhile, like butter under a hot knife my body is acquiescing and allowing me to push it beyond the limits of what I have been doing these past two years.
Today was also an excellent day because aside from being able to say done with day 5 I have finally completed my last paper for my English Subject Matter Competency. Now it's on to my teaching credential programs and I can't wait to get into the classroom.
So on top of getting ready for this marathon, I am deciding to relax and prepare for my final year!
Today's exhaustion flavor is relief, the feeling of being done and moving on. As I stepped out of the pool I took a deep breath in and the breathing out like a modified sigh was today's taste of exhaustion.
til tomorrow!
Help the LLS don't let others sink...please donate to the LLS using our donation pages
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Especially because I pulled my hip flexor and it is killing me. Getting in to the water and swimming helped buoy me up and I wasn't really worried about hurting myself.
Because of some prior commitments, today's workout was 30 minutes of swimming and some light stretching. My body is really beginning to feel it and every day I can feel my body give way and understanding that we are in fact running a marathon.
It was resisting me for awhile, like butter under a hot knife my body is acquiescing and allowing me to push it beyond the limits of what I have been doing these past two years.
Today was also an excellent day because aside from being able to say done with day 5 I have finally completed my last paper for my English Subject Matter Competency. Now it's on to my teaching credential programs and I can't wait to get into the classroom.
So on top of getting ready for this marathon, I am deciding to relax and prepare for my final year!
Today's exhaustion flavor is relief, the feeling of being done and moving on. As I stepped out of the pool I took a deep breath in and the breathing out like a modified sigh was today's taste of exhaustion.
til tomorrow!
Help the LLS don't let others sink...please donate to the LLS using our donation pages
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The Taste of Exhaustion - Day 4
bile in the mouth, trying to choke it back, forcing my body against its will to run every lap.
The taste of exhaustion is bittersweet because today I ran every step of the way. Today was a day for the coaches to watch our running form and my form was on point.
But when it was time to do our stretches, I was feeling some heavy discomfort on my left side, which to my chagrin was a pulled muscle. So tonight I was writing and icing my muscles and I am hoping that tomorrow when I get up I will have the familiar ache and stiffness, but that I will be ready to go tomorrow for swimming.
And I definitely want to be ready for Thursday's longer run.
Each day I learn what exhaustion tastes like: today exhaustion tastes like muscles resisting what the mind wants it to do.
I hope tomorrow's exhaustion tastes better.
Please make a donation to LLS and support us as we train towards a cure
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
The taste of exhaustion is bittersweet because today I ran every step of the way. Today was a day for the coaches to watch our running form and my form was on point.
But when it was time to do our stretches, I was feeling some heavy discomfort on my left side, which to my chagrin was a pulled muscle. So tonight I was writing and icing my muscles and I am hoping that tomorrow when I get up I will have the familiar ache and stiffness, but that I will be ready to go tomorrow for swimming.
And I definitely want to be ready for Thursday's longer run.
Each day I learn what exhaustion tastes like: today exhaustion tastes like muscles resisting what the mind wants it to do.
I hope tomorrow's exhaustion tastes better.
Please make a donation to LLS and support us as we train towards a cure
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Taste of Exhaustion - Day 3
Ok, so I've never trained for endurance before (as if this isn't obvious). Most of the sports I've played have required as much energy as possible in the shortest amounts of time. With the exception of field hockey, but I was the goalie, so it was still short bursts of all my energy.
Basketball & track and field just require you to run through the pain for no longer than 15 minute intervals with breaks in between. But training for this marathon requires me to sweat, run, swim, strength train for 60 minutes of exhaustion and a little more than mild discomfort.
So I have found new and inventive ways to trick my body into doing what I need it to do even if it wanted to give up 5 minutes ago. Never has the phrase "mind over matter" been so true. Okay so it may sound really dumb, but I basically say one more minute or one more pull up or one more backward push-up. Funnily enough if I take it one at a time I can get through a lot.
I discovered this because after yesterday's "hot walk," I thought 60 minutes of swimming would be much easier than 30 minutes of walking under the sun.
Of course, after 30 minutes of swimming I realized that one thing that is required when you swim is consciousness and if you can't keep your head above water you need the ability to breathe underwater. Unfortunately, I didn't think I could remain conscious for another 30 minutes of swimming & I don't have gills so we (my training partner, Casimiro and I) had to figure out something else.
So we decided to do exercises in the pool, which I have done before using a stair in the deep end and the diving board. After 50 reverse push ups, 33 bicep curls, and 33 tricep extensions and treading water in between sets I thought I was gonna drown. But I figured were done until I looked up a the clock and noticed we still had 5 minutes left of the 60 minutes. So we said "fuck it" let's just swim.
Normally, I would have thought it's just five minutes, no big deal and gotten out of the pool. But then I thought about the 26.2 miles and I realized that every minute, every step, and every intake of air I take gets me one step closer to the finish line in San Francisco. Which takes me to my ultimate goal sprinting across the finish line. I know it sounds insane. But every race I have ever run, any time I have had to run or swim, or whatever requires me to cross a line or beat a time increment, I have pushed myself to go as fast as I can until I cross whatever line I need to and this can be no exception. Even if I only sprint the last 50 yards I want to cross that finish line going as fast as I can.
So today I learned that the taste of exhaustion is sweat, sometimes tears, muscle fatigue, desire, doing your personal best, and pushing yourself until every fiber of your being says no more and you ignore it and keep on going.
Until next time my faithful readers!
And until next time, I hope to see you as a donor on our LLS pages!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Basketball & track and field just require you to run through the pain for no longer than 15 minute intervals with breaks in between. But training for this marathon requires me to sweat, run, swim, strength train for 60 minutes of exhaustion and a little more than mild discomfort.
So I have found new and inventive ways to trick my body into doing what I need it to do even if it wanted to give up 5 minutes ago. Never has the phrase "mind over matter" been so true. Okay so it may sound really dumb, but I basically say one more minute or one more pull up or one more backward push-up. Funnily enough if I take it one at a time I can get through a lot.
I discovered this because after yesterday's "hot walk," I thought 60 minutes of swimming would be much easier than 30 minutes of walking under the sun.
Of course, after 30 minutes of swimming I realized that one thing that is required when you swim is consciousness and if you can't keep your head above water you need the ability to breathe underwater. Unfortunately, I didn't think I could remain conscious for another 30 minutes of swimming & I don't have gills so we (my training partner, Casimiro and I) had to figure out something else.
So we decided to do exercises in the pool, which I have done before using a stair in the deep end and the diving board. After 50 reverse push ups, 33 bicep curls, and 33 tricep extensions and treading water in between sets I thought I was gonna drown. But I figured were done until I looked up a the clock and noticed we still had 5 minutes left of the 60 minutes. So we said "fuck it" let's just swim.
Normally, I would have thought it's just five minutes, no big deal and gotten out of the pool. But then I thought about the 26.2 miles and I realized that every minute, every step, and every intake of air I take gets me one step closer to the finish line in San Francisco. Which takes me to my ultimate goal sprinting across the finish line. I know it sounds insane. But every race I have ever run, any time I have had to run or swim, or whatever requires me to cross a line or beat a time increment, I have pushed myself to go as fast as I can until I cross whatever line I need to and this can be no exception. Even if I only sprint the last 50 yards I want to cross that finish line going as fast as I can.
So today I learned that the taste of exhaustion is sweat, sometimes tears, muscle fatigue, desire, doing your personal best, and pushing yourself until every fiber of your being says no more and you ignore it and keep on going.
Until next time my faithful readers!
And until next time, I hope to see you as a donor on our LLS pages!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Day 2, Check!
26.2 miles the approximate distance between Fresno and Mendota: the number of miles I am eventually going to run in October 19th, 2008
Feeling inspired I had the best idea. According to my Team in Training schedule I was supposed to do 60 minutes of cross training. I thought perfect a 30 minute walk in the neighborhood near my parent's house, then follow that up by swimming for 30 minutes in their pool.
Sounds like a plan right? Of course, I decided the best time to take this walk would be umm about 1:30 in the pm. But all I kept thinking about was the relaxing dip in the pool.
But after 15 sweat-soaked minutes out in the 100+ degree weather, I realized why we (Xavier, my friend and partner in training, & I) were the only ones outside not in a car. But I pushed on, knowing that my training was definitely for a good cause. Plus I looked back and saw my 9-year old son sweating, but nevertheless right behind me encouraging every step of the way. And when I looked over at Casimiro he was just doing it!
So I uselessly wiped my profusely sweating forehead and pressed on.
I think what was killing me too was trying to keep my walker's form. We have been encouraged to cross train so I had to force myself to walk not run. Although, I understand the importance of form I always feel like an uptight school marm or the Road Runner when I'm speed walking.
My arms tight against my sides, swinging like mad with the tight little steps.
But I digress. So after 30 minutes of walking on hot-ass concrete while cars drove by spewing fumes we made it back to my parent's house where the cool pool awaited.
So excited to be inside with central AC, I didn't mind stretching and sweating before getting into the pool.
Feeling good & stretched out I went outside only to discover that the pool needed to be skimmed. Because as much fun as that would be I did not want to swallow pine seeds, bloated bugs, and whatever else falls into a pool. Once I finished swearing, skimming, and sweating some more. I jumped right into the cool water.
Finally, I was totally ready to relax & then I remembered we first had to swim for 30 minutes straight. But I was ready. So I started my breast stroke and I'm pretty sure I heard my entire upper back and arms scream from disuse. But I pushed through until my arms went numb and then I happily swam. And I am proud to say that we (I & Casimiro) swam for 30 minutes straight. After about 30 minutes of relaxing, I got out of the pool to be reminded immediately that water buoys up tired muscles. Thereby, fooling one such as myself to think that I handled those 30 minutes like a swimming veteran
So basically, getting out of the pool was like trying to extricate myself from tar, wearing steel toed boots.
But I am excited to say that I did it! Another day under my belt. Although I am thoroughly exhausted, each day is providing more and more evidence that I can run those 26.2 hilly SF miles & make it to the end smiling.
Please donate and help me and my friend raise funds for the LLS
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Feeling inspired I had the best idea. According to my Team in Training schedule I was supposed to do 60 minutes of cross training. I thought perfect a 30 minute walk in the neighborhood near my parent's house, then follow that up by swimming for 30 minutes in their pool.
Sounds like a plan right? Of course, I decided the best time to take this walk would be umm about 1:30 in the pm. But all I kept thinking about was the relaxing dip in the pool.
But after 15 sweat-soaked minutes out in the 100+ degree weather, I realized why we (Xavier, my friend and partner in training, & I) were the only ones outside not in a car. But I pushed on, knowing that my training was definitely for a good cause. Plus I looked back and saw my 9-year old son sweating, but nevertheless right behind me encouraging every step of the way. And when I looked over at Casimiro he was just doing it!
So I uselessly wiped my profusely sweating forehead and pressed on.
I think what was killing me too was trying to keep my walker's form. We have been encouraged to cross train so I had to force myself to walk not run. Although, I understand the importance of form I always feel like an uptight school marm or the Road Runner when I'm speed walking.
My arms tight against my sides, swinging like mad with the tight little steps.
But I digress. So after 30 minutes of walking on hot-ass concrete while cars drove by spewing fumes we made it back to my parent's house where the cool pool awaited.
So excited to be inside with central AC, I didn't mind stretching and sweating before getting into the pool.
Feeling good & stretched out I went outside only to discover that the pool needed to be skimmed. Because as much fun as that would be I did not want to swallow pine seeds, bloated bugs, and whatever else falls into a pool. Once I finished swearing, skimming, and sweating some more. I jumped right into the cool water.
Finally, I was totally ready to relax & then I remembered we first had to swim for 30 minutes straight. But I was ready. So I started my breast stroke and I'm pretty sure I heard my entire upper back and arms scream from disuse. But I pushed through until my arms went numb and then I happily swam. And I am proud to say that we (I & Casimiro) swam for 30 minutes straight. After about 30 minutes of relaxing, I got out of the pool to be reminded immediately that water buoys up tired muscles. Thereby, fooling one such as myself to think that I handled those 30 minutes like a swimming veteran
So basically, getting out of the pool was like trying to extricate myself from tar, wearing steel toed boots.
But I am excited to say that I did it! Another day under my belt. Although I am thoroughly exhausted, each day is providing more and more evidence that I can run those 26.2 hilly SF miles & make it to the end smiling.
Please donate and help me and my friend raise funds for the LLS
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
the hottest day
This is the official start of my "runner's" blog. I say runner in quotes, because until I finish the marathon I am a runner in training. Aside from fundraising my other goal will be to be able to remove the quotes from "runner," when I cross the finish line.
I actually woke up this morning at 5:45am ready to run, which is good for me especially since I only get up that early unless I need to go bathroom (I know it's TMI), but I suspect that as I add mileage to my training the TMI will only get worse.
I officially finished two one mile intervals. And I ran up my first hill after running 1/2 mile. Of course I had to slow down and walk just a bit because I was determined to race up the hill and after doing that I got more than just runner's high.
The second mile interval was timed & I was really proud of myself because after walk/running one mile with a hill, I sprinted the last 200 yds of this second mile interval crossing the "finish" with a time of 12 min 59 sec, which was so great for me because I am a certifiable couch potato.
The most exercise I get is walking to and from Fresno State & from my apt. to the mailboxes.
Although, I walk/ran both miles, I am glad to say that I walked about 5% and ran the other 95%. The best part of this experience for me is learning to pace myself and set very small goals that will be achievable so that I am spurred on for the next challenge.
So my next goal is to be able to run two miles without walking. When that happens you will definitely hear about it.
The one thing I will definitely need to remember is to put sunscreen on my face, get a pair of sunglasses and a hat. There is nothing more thrilling for an out of shape use to be athlete than running on asphalt at 7:30 in the morning while Fresno's blazing hot sun beats down on your black head of hair, trying to suck in as much polluted air as possible so you don't collapse.
But in reality I have to say that every time I thought I couldn't do it, I looked down at the Team in Training bracelets we were given & the names of the people we are running for & I knew that stopping was not an option.
So my first day of training was wonderful, but I know muscles I didn't even know I had are going to hurt, but this pain can be no worse than the pain of chemo, continual IV injections or whatever other pain blood cancer patients must endure.
On that sentimental note, until tomorrow all!
Please donate to LLS...instead of a high-five how about a five dollar for LLS!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
I actually woke up this morning at 5:45am ready to run, which is good for me especially since I only get up that early unless I need to go bathroom (I know it's TMI), but I suspect that as I add mileage to my training the TMI will only get worse.
I officially finished two one mile intervals. And I ran up my first hill after running 1/2 mile. Of course I had to slow down and walk just a bit because I was determined to race up the hill and after doing that I got more than just runner's high.
The second mile interval was timed & I was really proud of myself because after walk/running one mile with a hill, I sprinted the last 200 yds of this second mile interval crossing the "finish" with a time of 12 min 59 sec, which was so great for me because I am a certifiable couch potato.
The most exercise I get is walking to and from Fresno State & from my apt. to the mailboxes.
Although, I walk/ran both miles, I am glad to say that I walked about 5% and ran the other 95%. The best part of this experience for me is learning to pace myself and set very small goals that will be achievable so that I am spurred on for the next challenge.
So my next goal is to be able to run two miles without walking. When that happens you will definitely hear about it.
The one thing I will definitely need to remember is to put sunscreen on my face, get a pair of sunglasses and a hat. There is nothing more thrilling for an out of shape use to be athlete than running on asphalt at 7:30 in the morning while Fresno's blazing hot sun beats down on your black head of hair, trying to suck in as much polluted air as possible so you don't collapse.
But in reality I have to say that every time I thought I couldn't do it, I looked down at the Team in Training bracelets we were given & the names of the people we are running for & I knew that stopping was not an option.
So my first day of training was wonderful, but I know muscles I didn't even know I had are going to hurt, but this pain can be no worse than the pain of chemo, continual IV injections or whatever other pain blood cancer patients must endure.
On that sentimental note, until tomorrow all!
Please donate to LLS...instead of a high-five how about a five dollar for LLS!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
Any goal begins with first step
Hello all my wonderful readers! Well tomorrow is the start of a new adventure, one that I had attempted to take two years, but sometimes life intercedes and you make the best of it.
But this time I have the appropriate support and I am so very excited.
I will take my first steps in my training for the Nike Women's Marathon the first towards the final goal of stepping across the finish line after taking a 26.2 mile running tour of San Francisco.
The adrenaline is pumping so hard right now I hope I can get some sleep!
My friend Casimiro Llamas, Jr has so wonderfully agreed to join me on this journey. But more importantly this training is to help raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. So be on the lookout.
You all know how much I love asking for help [insert sarcastic smiley] so this must be something very important to me, because I will be asking for lots of help in the next 5 months.
Stay Tuned because I will be updating all of you on my progress every day!
I will try my best to make these entertaining so that you can't wait to read what I'll do next...or at least enough to make you all feel as if you must must donate to this very worthy cause!
Instead of congratulations, donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society would be a wonderful way to say congratulations to my friend and I on this wonderful new journey!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
But this time I have the appropriate support and I am so very excited.
I will take my first steps in my training for the Nike Women's Marathon the first towards the final goal of stepping across the finish line after taking a 26.2 mile running tour of San Francisco.
The adrenaline is pumping so hard right now I hope I can get some sleep!
My friend Casimiro Llamas, Jr has so wonderfully agreed to join me on this journey. But more importantly this training is to help raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. So be on the lookout.
You all know how much I love asking for help [insert sarcastic smiley] so this must be something very important to me, because I will be asking for lots of help in the next 5 months.
Stay Tuned because I will be updating all of you on my progress every day!
I will try my best to make these entertaining so that you can't wait to read what I'll do next...or at least enough to make you all feel as if you must must donate to this very worthy cause!
Instead of congratulations, donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society would be a wonderful way to say congratulations to my friend and I on this wonderful new journey!
Roxanne Villaluz’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/rvillaluz
Casimiro Llamas, Jr.’s Team in Training Website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cllamas
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