Feeling Blahhhh!!!

Well, I've got a another race in 23 and I've done no running since I got back from Disneyland. I started getting sick the Thursday we got back and I am still sick, not happy about that all. I am finally feeling a little better today so I am hoping that I am on the mend. I have to be in San Francisco at 6:30am tomorrow morning for our Coached Run. I don't plan on running, I want to feel 100% before I get back out there again or I'm gonna relapse and that's not gonna do me any good. Our coached run this weekend will take the runners through part of the Nike course so that should be fun and interesting for everyone. I will be helping out with the water stop. I hope it's not too cold out there. I think I'm going to be on the Great Highway. It can get pretty chilly out there with the ocean being right there.

Have a great weekend!

More Fun Disney Pictures

Disneyland Half Marathon - COMPLETE :o)

Saturday

We met at our house at 5am to start our drive to Anaheim, we managed to pull onto Disney Drive around noon. We grabbed some lunch and then headed over to the Expo to pick up our race packets. The expo wasn't too big so we didn't spent much time there. We checked into our hotel around 3 and took a little refresher nap and then headed out for dinner around 6. We had some yummy pasta at Mimi's Cafe. We wanted to eat dinner around 5 but the restaurant was packed the best we could do was 6 and even then we waited for a really long time. Because we had to be up at 3am we literally ate and rolled into bed. I think we were all in bed and asleep by 8:30. We were all exhausted from getting up early and the long drive so it wasn't too hard to fall asleep even though it was early but little did we know we'd be woken up at 9:30 by a loud noise that sounded like we were in a war. We weren't but that's what it sounded like. For about 30-45 minutes we got to hear the VERY LOUD fireworks coming from Disneyland. It was the last day of the 50th Anniversary Fireworks so they went on forever and were super duper loud. We all had a hard time falling asleep after that and then it was the 3:00am alarm doing off :o(

Sunday - Race Day

We got up and got ready, had our morning breakfast and headed out at about 3:45 to catch the 4am shuttle. There was a shuttle stop right in front of our hotel so that is where we waited. We got the race in about 10 minutes which meant a lot of standing around but we were told to be there by 4:30 so we were. We hung out in the area which would later be the finish line area. Around 5am they had us walk over to the corrals and sit there until the race started. I wasn't really cold but cold enough to not be happy about standing around so long. At 6am sharp the race started. I started out running with Phil and Olivia. We all run at the same pace so there was a good chance that we would start and finish this race together. My training hasn't been great and of course my eating and sleeping for the last few weeks has been horrible so I figured I would finish in about 2:40. I felt really great during the first 6.5 miles. I had even broken away from Phil and Olivia for a bit and was running at a little faster pace without filling too tired. It was awesome running through Disneyland and the California Adventure Park. Sure looks different when there aren't a bazillion people running around. The employees were out there cheering us on and that was cool especially since it was so early. Around mile 7 or so I heard Olivia call my name, her and Phil had caught back up to me and we started running together again. When we got to mile 9 or so I really had to go to the bathroom so they went ahead and I stopped. There was only one person in front of me so I wasn't there too long. At this point Rocky was flying by and was well on his way to finishing in about 2:15. I guess him and Lindsay had gotten separated at some point because he was running alone. By this time we were about to enter the Anaheim Stadium. It had definitely warmed up a bit and I was feeling it. By the time we got out of the stadium we were at mile 10 and there was a water stop at about mile 10.25, that's when I felt I really needed a break. My fingers looked like sausages and I was tired. I walked from mile 10.25 to mile 11. It was a much needed break but since I only had 2.1 miles left I needed to get running and just finish the darn thing. I started a very slow run and not long before we hit 12 miles Lindsay was calling my name. She had slowed down quite a bit and was running alone but managed to catch up to me. She was also having a hard time. We ran the last bit of the race together and pushed each other through. We crossed the finish line holding hands :o) I finished in 2:41:21. Not too bad, I figured 2:40 so I was only off by a minute. I did not have a great race but it wasn't horrible. I did get dehydrated though and this is the second race, Napa Marathon was the first, that I have some major issues with my electrolytes. I have noticed that even though I do not take my gels and gatorade together that after a while of it all being in my belly I start feeling sick so I stop taking the gels and drinking the gatorade which is not not good especially on a hot day. I end up feeling horrible during the end of the race which is why I slow down so much. I also end up feeling very sick afterwards and takes me a while to recover from having a very sick nauseaus feeling and a horrible headache. I am going to start trying endurolyte pills and hopefully those will help me and I can stop taking the gels and gatorade all togther. I have a few weeks to play with that before my next race.

I have to say that it was a great race. The water stops were very well stocked and had bottled water water not that icky hose water like we've had in other races. The finish line was a bit chaotic but they had lots of yummy food, water and Powerade for us. The medal is awesome and we got dri fit shirts in our goodie bags. The only thing I can think of they need to improve on is the timing of the shuttles and that we really don't need to be there at 4:30am. I would definitely do this race again.

After the race we headed back to the hotel. We picked up some beers and ordered a pizza which was delivered to the pool. We did our ice bath in the pool and had pizza and beer. Hee, hee...what better way to have a post race meal :o) We got cleaned up, took a nap and then headed out to California Adventure. It was a nice park but not worth the money. There wasn't much to do there. We had dinner at a very yummy Mexican restaurant Downtown Disney and then headed back for some much needed sleep.

Monday

We had breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen and had a blast with Goofy, Pluto and few other characters. We then spent the next 8 hours at Disneyland. We drove home on Tuesday.

Today my legs feel like they are going to fall off but I think it's mostly from the two days of walking at the two parks. It was a great fun filled weekend though and I'll definitely do it again next year.

CONGRATULTIONS.....Rocky, Olivia, Lindsay, Phil & Karen. I had a great time on our road trip, the race and hanging out at Disney :o)

and also, CONGRATULATIONS to all our other friends that ran the race. It was fun seeing you all down there and I hope you had a great time.

and YES, you did read correctly I have another race coming up. Last Thursday we wer given an opportunity to sign up for the sold out Nike Marathon. I signed up race day is in about 4 weeks.

I'm Back :o)

I will post a Disney update soon but I just wanted to ask everyone to keep Brenda in your thoughts today. She will be getting her marrow transplant later this evening.

Disney in 3 days!

Well, we leave for Disney on Saturday and our race is on Sunday and I have to admit this will probably be one of my worst performances. My training hasn't been great and let me just tell you what my eating has been like the last week. My parents have been in town since Saturday and I took the last few days off work to be with them. Here is how my eating feast went.

Saturday - Burrito for lunch, pizza for dinner
Sunday - Big Breakfast, starbucks coffee/muffin for lunch and the YUMMIEST crab dinner. We had calamari for an appetizer, I had the crab roasted in garlic and butter, wine and ice cream for dessert.
Monday - not much for breakfast and dinner but had a hamburger with mushrooms, swiss cheese and avocado for lunch and a side of union rings.
Tuesday - Salami Sandwish for lunch and dinner
Wednesday - Fresh Choice for lunch which should be healthy but I overate.

and lots and lots of soda. I also have not worked out since Saturday.

so, when I write next week about how bad I did, I'll have to look back at this post and remind about how bad I chose to eat this week. OH WELL, I had fun hanging out with my parents and this weekend I am going to the happiest place on earth. No matter what I will finish the race and at the end I'll get a super cool Disney medal.

GOOD LUCK to everyone running this weekend, we'll see you all at Disney.

Also, please keep our friend Brenda in your thoughts. She has gone back to UCSF to get ready for her Bone Marrow Translplant. She has a long recovery road ahead of her.

TOOOOO Busy :o(

I have been insanely busy at work and have had no time to update :o( boo, hoo. I am taking a few days off so I need to make sure stuff is squared away here. Of course I've got like ten thousand other things going on.

I did want to write real quick though about darn Power Bar getting rid of my Power Gels. I am so sad. Those are the only gels that work for me and don't make me sick. Of course I didn't find that out 4 months ago when I started training, I find out 10 days before I am suppose to run my half marathon. I am going to be trying some new stuff this weekend and praying that it will work and not make me sick. Power Bar decided to re-vamp the Power Gel, it now has 4x the sodium and I guess it's a lot thinner. I tried it a while back when it first came out but it made me feel icky but at least they still had the old kind. I had no idea that they would get rid of the old one though and only have the 4x Sodium. BOO, HOO time to start trying something else. I am not happy :o(

THE MISSING PIECE?

Am I the missing piece to saving someone’s life? I got the call today that I never imagined getting, it's not something I think about at all...well I have recently only because of Brenda.

In 2004, Ms. Olivia twisted my arm and dragged me to the A's Fan Fest at the Oakland Coliseum along with a few of our other TNT friends from our 2003 Spring Season. It was a fun day and I got into the hunt for A's players. We were there for what seemed forever stalking the Oakland A's players. We had a great time and manged to get quite a few pictures with the players and quite a few autographs. Towards the end of the day our friends had had enough and they all left. It was just Olivia and I roaming the coliseum to see who else we'd find. We came to a room where the National Bone Marrow Organization had set up an area for blood typing. I am a big baby when it comes to needles and wasn't so sure I wanted to do it BUT there was an incentive. A picture with Barry Zito and Bobby Crosby and a signed T-Shirt...SIGN ME UP. I think of it now and geesh what a selfish girl I am. I wasn't even thinking that some day I could save someone’s life. That of course has changed since meeting Cole and Brenda and the rest of our honorees. Olivia and I signed up, we gave blood and were signed up on the Bone Marrow Registry. We got our signed shirt and managed to get a picture with Barry Zito. I only was able to get a picture from a distance of Bobby Crosby. We were happy girls and that ended our day with the A's.

Today, 2 years and 7 months later I got THE CALL. The National Bone Marrow Registry called me today and I am a match. I am not sure right now if I am excited or super nervous. The only thing I know right now is that I am a match for a 61 year old male with Myeloma. I was asked if I wanted to do this and I said YES of course I do. I am not a match for Brenda but I am still a match and I could potentially save someone’s life. I was asked about 60 something questions on the phone and since I am pretty darn healthy we will go ahead and proceed. The only concern is that I may be to small...HAA, HAA...I laughed when she said I was tiny. I guess compared to the guy who needs my cells I am tiny. I will go in on September 11th (wow, what a day to pick) for more blood work. They will run lots more tests on my blood and see how close of a match I am and if I will be a better bone marrow or stem cell donor for him. It will be between 6-12 weeks before I know what is going to happen. I can't believe it.

Of course I had to call Brenda and tell her. She thought it was awesome that I may be a potential match for someone.

I do too, but I will admit I am nervous. I have a lot of reading up to do about this. This may not work out but I am hoping it does.

I will do this for the 61 year old man who needs me to do it and I will do it in honor of my friend Brenda who'll be going through her own transplant in a few weeks.

Circuit Drils Are BACK!

Circuit Drills are back at our Track Workouts, well they were back last week but I wasn't out there. I have to say I AM SORE today :o( but I love doing the drills and it's a good sore to feel. Here is what we did.

2 lap warm up

run 1 lap
then do run dills (toe walks, heel walks, skipping and lunges)
run 1 lap
set #1:
15 squats
25 crunches
6-10 push-ups
15 squats

run 1 lap
then do set #2
12 bench dips
10 supermans
12 bench dips
6-10 push-ups
15 squats

run 1 lap
repeat set #1:
15 squats
25 crunches
6-10 push-ups
15 squats

run 1 lap
repeat set #2
12 bench dips
10 supermans
12 bench dips
6-10 push-ups
15 squats

run 1 lap - hard
and then 1 lap cool down

I was pooped last night and felt pretty dehydrated even though I had drank water all day long. It was a bit warm last night so that didn't help. It was a good workout and like I said today I am sore but it's a good sore.