The Results Are In...

This weekend was the big race, I trained hard for nine weeks in spite of my 2+ weeks of being sick slightly recovering only to get worse right before race day.

I headed out to LA on Saturday around 2pm and picked up my race bib before heading to my cousins Jeremy and Jodi's house. They live less than 4 miles from the start line. I made it to their house around 5pm giving me plenty of time to catch up with the family. It had been over a year since our last visit. I can talk for hours with Jeremy and Jodi, they are so much fun- and finally was able to meet their son Jr. After getting to bed at a very reasonable hour (9pm) and actually sleeping (thanks to my NyQuil), I didn't have to wake up until a little after 5am. I had a nice bowl of oatmeal, took my time getting ready and Jeremy dropped me off about 25 meters from the start line. I was there pretty early and headed straight for the port-a-potties. (I've trained myself to go there first even if I don't have to "go.") The lines are typically so long that by the time you get to the front you NEED to go. However, there was no in line. I found a few fellow Team World Vision friends and introduced myself. After saying my hello's I decided to try to get a short warm-up in. After doing my leg stretches we met together with the team captain of world vision. He had recently visited Uganda and told us of the "rain catchers" that were placed around the villages to catch the water and filter it for drinking water. So far, our fundraising has helped raise enough money to provide clean water for over 7,000 children! I say so far because apparently the fundraising does not end until 2 weeks after the race- which means if you are still interested in donating... you can!

After our team meeting, I decided to hit up the restrooms one last time, there was only about 15 minutes until the start of the race. By this time the lines were huge! I was a little worried that I would not get through the lines in time for the start of the race but I decided I would take a chance. Fortunately, the race was delayed just long enough for me to finish and find my place at the start line. After a singing of the national anthem, we were off! It was not as crowded as I expected and so getting settled into my pace was somewhat easy. The first mile was along the beach road. We passed several market shops on one side, and several homeless people on the water side. I also noticed the Venice Beach Fit club... there were several weights and machines that you see on TV where big muscled dudes tend to show off- I mean work out.

We headed inland for several miles and the beach was out of sight leaving me with just my pace and pavement to focus on. I can't remember how far we went but we eventually reached a wide sidewalk that ran along the sandy beach, still far from the ocean but no longer surrounded by buildings. I maintained my 7:40 pace the entire time, I felt really good. By about mile 7 we started to head up off the beach and onto a road at higher ground. Then it hit me, the most awful smell- worse than a dirty diaper. I can't really wrap my head around it somewhere between a garbage truck and poop. It was horrifying... for over a mile and then it started to disappear. Now we were really heading up a hill, a wide asphalt road. By now I noticed that there were several people running in the opposite direction of me, which just means at some point we had to turn around and head back in the other direction. I was thankful because that meant we eventually got to go back down this slow rising up hill. However, by the time we turned around we only had 3 miles left and my 2 weeks of sinus issues, mucus and inability to fully complete my training are starting to take over. No matter how much down hill there is, I know I probably won't be able to beat my best time, my hips are bothering me, my chest is starting to tighten and my knee is aching. As people start to pass me, it is starting to sprinkle... water. Which reminds me of my little sponsor girl in Uganda. It's all I can think about to push through the slow growing pains to finish with the best effort I can. As I see the 13 mile mark approaching I know I only have .1 mile left to go and I push through to the finish taking on the pace of two tall skinny men running along side me. I'm done! I pass the finish line, and check my watch. Here are my results:

Finish time: 1:43.55
Place: 360th overall out of 2,829 recorded finishers
Age Division place: 12th
Overall Pace: under 8:00
Gender: 69th place

Some Photos: http://www.marathonfoto.com/index.cfm?action=site.login My cousin Jeremy shot a few pictures as well. I am hoping to be able to post some of them on here as well.

It's a pretty good accomplishment I guess- for being sick and all. I knew I would be paying for my efforts over the next few days, but I was determined to run if my sickness didn't get the best of me; and for the short time during the race, it didn't. However, two days later, I seem to be as sick as ever, and now my muscle are fatigued. Thankfully these next few days are pretty low key so I can stay home and recover (hopefully).

I am happy to report that my fundraising goal has been achieved and I've raised an additional $100! Thank you so much for your support! I have been informed that the fundraising is still not over for another two weeks. If you would still like to donate, you are more than welcome to! CLICK HERE TO DONATE Thank you for taking this journey with me. It has been such a privilege to help Sarah and the other kids of Uganda. I plan on running again for their benefit one day.

Week 7

This week of training was pretty mellow. Recovering from being sick but still managed to get through all of the workouts. My training has me doing only 8 miles this Saturday... I say only because it doesn't seem like much compared to 12-15 miles. :-)

My first workout this week was repeat 1k's on the track [1k is .62 miles- a 5k is .62 miles 5 times equaling 3.1 miles. :-)] I had to do 5 of them in 4:08 or less each, with a 400 meter recovery lap. I finished all of them in under 4 minutes each! My new garmin watch is working great, and I even figured out some new stuff on it. I set up my workout and plug it into my software on my calendar and then upload it to my watch! Super cool! AND- I can download it to endomondo and share my workout with others... I'm a dork- I think that's cool.

Thursday, I ran around 1pm. Weird to think I was wearing a tank top, shorts and a hat Thursday, when last week I was wearing spandex pants, gloves, a beanie and like 3 tops! Only in Southern California! My workout Thursday was 2 miles easy (8:57 pace) and then 3 miles at 5k goal pace (7:22) and one mile easy. It was hard to go slow for the first two miles because I felt good, and I kept up the pace pretty well through the 3 hard miles. I started to get nervous at the end that I would not be able to hold the pace (I was averaging between 6:55 and 7:10 pace- and REALLY excited about that). I finished on a slight uphill but held my pace to the cool down. :-)

Tomorrow I have 8 miles, and then only a few days left until my training is complete and race day is next Sunday 8 days!!

Next Saturday I will be staying with family members that just happen to live about 4 miles from the start line and a mile from the expo location where I have to pick up my race bib. I am thankful that my cousins Jodi and Jeremy Glenn are able to let me stay the night. It has been a little while since I have seen them, so hopefully we will have time to catch up.

Looking forward to race day!

Mindie

Week 6...

This past week brought about its challenges. My Garmin GPS watch died several weeks ago and I was using my phone to keep track of my mileage and intervals with the help of the lap button on my regular watch. Well, the band on my regular watch broke... and I didn't really feel like doing 2000 meter repeats (5 laps) on the track. So my first run last week was mostly for mileage and I tried to keep the pace going even though I had no way to keep track of my laps.

Thursday I ran with my friend Teri at the Santa Rosa Plateau, and it was great fun. The only bummer was the fact that the hills and dirt slow down our pace, but having a buddy and talking the entire time not only makes the run go by faster but it is a great way to catch up with a friend. I'd rather have good company than just run to get a good time.

Friday we headed up to Reno for Christmas. We had a great time with family and we were able to relax (after the 8+hour drive) and needless to say that was my day off from running/exercising. Saturday I had a 10 mile run ahead of me but I was fortunate enough to have a new running buddy. I still had to wear my head phones, and gloves, beanie, pants, jacket and well... a leash. Duke, my parents dog, tagged along on my run in the cold (I think it was in the low 40's). Besides the occasional tree sniff, leg lift to pee, or dog-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-to-bark-at, he was a pretty good running buddy. Here is a picture of the cutie pie... if I didn't hate cleaning up after a dog, he is the one exception I would make to having a dog.

Duke

By the end of our second day of visiting even Kellen warmed up to both of the dogs. He usually doesn't really want anything to do with dogs and he was walking around the house following them! He played catch with Duke (and Fozzy, my parents other dog- a long haired wiener dog). 

Monday I was up in time to finish my workout and shower without getting in the way of anyone in the busy house. My parents, brother, sister and her family, and grandma were all staying together.

Unfortunately Monday I started not feeling well. I had a sore throat and the beginnings of a cold which prevented me from sleeping very well. By Tuesday I was achy, sore throat still, and now had the yummy mucus and snot to go with it. Duke was pretty sad that I had to take the day off from running. We walked to the park and played catch for a while and the kids played on the playground. 

At the Park

Wednesday we traveled home (and hit yucky traffic) unpacked, showered, started laundry and went to bed. Today I was able to complete my tempo run, and I even ran a little quicker than I needed to. Colin had an optional soccer practice at school so I was able to get in my 5 miles while Kellen played with the soccer kids (and pretended to drive our car). I did not have my head phones on, but sure had a lot on my mind and a little less than 2 miles into my run I fell. The side walk seemed to lift up and make a cone like shape on the ground and I didn't lift my leg up high enough to get over it. So, I tripped and my left elbow, hip and ankle broke my fall... along with both palms and some knuckles on my right hand. I debated turning around and walking back, but I got up and finished the run. The pain went away much more quickly that way. Thankfully it wasn't a really bad crash. I'm sure I'll feel it a little bit more tomorrow on my elbow and hip. I can't remember the last time I fell... I think it was when I was like 7 months pregnant and fell at a cross country race trying to get across the race area to see the kids run.

The small cuts always seem to hurt the most!

Saturday I plan on running my 12 miles with my friend Terri as long as I continue to feel better. 

I am now at almost $600 for my fundraising! My goal is $655! (Roughly $50 per mile- to help 13 people get clean water for life). Every time I use water now, or any utilities that we pay for, I realize how fortunate I am to have them. I can't help but think that there has to be a way to do more. I hope that by donating to World Vision it also makes your realize how blessed you are to have clean water and all your basic needs met. 

I hope you all had a nice Christmas, and Happy New Year to you all!

Mindie

Week 5 Completed

  

So on my "off" days from running (Monday's and Wednesday's) Colin and I have been cross training together. We completed the P90x Legs and Back workout today. We do not have a pullup bar that can be set up anywhere, so we use the resistance bands in the back yard. The band that Colin was using snapped in half while he was using it!! He was able to finish his workout with another band... this was an old one. 

I just finished week 5 of training and I ran 15 miles on Saturday. The only bummer was that I ran by myself. However, it was a new route thanks to my realization that Nichols road is now open. :-) It was in the middle of the day, so I was spotted by my mother-law, Shelley, on her way to work! Ha ha! Thought that was funny. It was a little bit of a bummer to finish on an EXTREMELY big up hill back home. :-( I will have to take a picture of that hill from the bottom. It is MASSIVE! I think it is like 500 ft elevation change from bottom to top.

Tuesday I ran 6 1/2 miles, it was supposed to be a 2000 meter repeat day, but I didn't feel like running 5 laps at a time on the track, so I thought I could figure it out on my phone- I bought my new GPS watch with my birthday money AFTER the run that day. I think I ran a little too close to lunch time because I had to use the restroom in a hurry during my run. And of course, no bathroom in site... at least that I knew of. However, just in the nick of time there was a random port-a-potty.

Not only was this thing where I needed it to be at the exact time I needed it, but it was freshly cleaned, had plenty of toilet paper, AND it had a working sinking with water and soap inside!!! Praise the LORD! I am totally convinced it was divine intervention. It is still there, so I may have to continue running that direction so that I can have a planned bathroom route from now on. Ha ha!

Tomorrow I will be running at the Santa Rosa Plateau with my friend Terri. She is running in the Carlsbad 1/2 marathon in January. Looking forward to a nice run. Then, the Lakeside Lancer Soccer boys are doing their annual hill repeats with lunch at the Gilliland's afterwards. I will probably run with them, but not up the hills since I will already have 5 miles under my belt. 

Friday we head to Reno for Christmas. I will be running 10 miles Saturday (in the freezing cold) and then some repeat 2 miles (in the freezing cold as well). I may take some photos with my phone in Reno, there are always so many pretty pictures to take up there. We are spending Christmas with Nana, Papa, Uncle Bobby, Uncle John, Aunt Cassie, Nolan, Mazie and Grandma Shortie! And I think we might be starting a new Christmas day tradition... UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS! Haha! (Good idea Bud).

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Week 4

Just finished a nice run at the plateau with a good friend of mine. I can't believe it has already been four weeks of training.
As I write this post, on my phone, I am rubbing out my hamstrings on my new foam roller.  It was a gift from my cross country athletes. I have had issues with my hamstrings forever and I think this will be what finally gets the knots out.

Thank you so much to everyone that has donated so far! I am almost half way to my goal! I will be running ten miles saturday morning while pushing kellen in the jogger. That kid if starting to get heavy!
Have a great weekend everyone!

Mindie

Week three of training- Team World Vision

Hi Everyone! I am now in week three of my training! I have already completed over 50 miles of training since I started just a few weeks ago, and my training only requires 3 days a week of running.

My second week of training allowed me time to myself (thanks to my husband having the week off from school) and I was able to complete my repeat 1200m on the track (that is 3 laps).

I also had to do a 6 mile run on Thanksgiving day! It was a good thing too, my brother in law Tymon made some yummy side dishes, and my mother in law Shelley baked a wonderful turkey. The night was cut short because our kiddo was acting up, but he was pretty tired. He went to bed at 5:30pm and woke up at 7 the next morning!

Saturday I had to complete 10 miles. My family was visiting from Reno and we met them for breakfast in Temecula. Colin dropped me off near Elsinore High School and I ran the rest of the way home! :-) It felt like a slow run, but I was still on pace. Speaking of pace, I am hoping to buy a new Garmin GPS watch this month to help with my training. My previous watch that I used for over 4 years finally died. They have a sale at Costco right now and I hope to get it by the end of the month.

This week Kellen and I will do the runs together again. He gets to sit in the jogger while I push. Tuesday wasn't so bad, but today is super windy! I just have to suck it up and bear it! Hopefully we don't blow away!

Have a great week everyone

Team World Vision

Alright, cross country season has drawn to a close, and I have started my next fitness project... however this one has a pretty great purpose.

I have signed up for another 1/2 marathon run in January so I started training this week. I will be running the LA 1/2 marathon on January 15th.I will be participating with a non-profit organization called, "Team World Vision." They provide water, food, clothing, education etc to those in need. Mostly to third world countries, but even to parts of America.

My family and I currently sponsor a little girl named, Sarah Atoo. She lives in Africa, she is 8 years old. (There is a picture of her on my world vision fundraising page). Yes, I am trying to raise some money for this great cause, and it is great. Every $50 raised provides clean water for a person in Sarah's village for life. My goal is $50 per mile. There is no penalty for not fundraising my goal, but what a great (and personal) cause!

MY TEAM WORLD VISION PAGE

If you are interested in sponsoring a child (it is $35 a month) or would like to make a tax deductible donation, OR join my team, please click the link above.

This was my first week of training. My goal is to complete 13.1 miles in one hour and thirty five minutes... which means I must run each mile in under seven minutes and fifteen seconds! Here was my first week of training:

Monday: Cross Training- INSANITY- (yes, my favorite)- Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Tuesday: 10 minute warm up, timed mile, 2 mile, 1/2 mile, 1/2 mile with rest in between each one, 1 mile cool down
Wednesday: Cross Training- INSANITY Cardio Power & Resistance
Thursday: 5 miles at mid-tempo pace (7:45-ish) 1 mile cool down
Friday: Day off
Saturday: 13 mile long run

My training plan is courtesy of Cecilia Ticsay... a fellow team beach body coach and lover of running. :-)

Still drinking Shakeology once a day... usually in the morning... LOVE IT! CHECK OUT SHAKEOLOGY
So there is it, my first week of training... keep checking back for new information about my training!