The Best Run Thus Far

I woke up around 5:15 am and felt nauseous. This is normal for me, however I'm hoping I will get over it soon. As we drive to Ala Moana park the moon is setting towards the ocean. It is the most beautiful sight. The moon looks big and slightly red-ish. Truly an amazing sight. I was a little bit nervous about the upcoming 1 hour run. I'm afraid of getting short of breath and having to stop early. As we start out running towards Waikiki, the top layer of fat on my stomach feels as if it's tearing away from my muscles. The feeling lasts for 3 or 4 minutes. My hip hurts for the entire duration of the run, but I push through the pain. I feel pretty good until we get into Waikiki, luckily there are a few stop lights which helped me maintain my endurance. I feel steady throughout the entire run and don't have to stop. When we get back and stretch, I feel so great! This must be what they call a runner's high. My right hip ached a little bit, but the pain seemed to go away. It started to rain on the way back, but it made a beautiful rainbow out over the ocean. I soon learn that I had just run 4 miles. That's the longest I've ever run. I'm feeling so great! After a short nap, I'm off to my company picnic. I walked to the park and then played a lot of the games. I'm still feeling really good, where did all this energy come from. Breakfast: 1/2 power bar, 1/2 chocolate-chocolate chip muffin, scoopful of fried rice, sweet potato, 1/2 banana Lunch: 5 meatballs, rice, banana moochi, coconut moochi, potato salad, chocolate cake. Dinner: Chicken, rice, applesauce, more chocolate cake

A Boost of Energy

After Wednesday's downfall, I take Thursday off to rest. My muscles are very sore the entire day. This morning I felt better and went out to do the required exercise. It was 1 min run / 1 min walk for 18 minutes and then 2 min run / 2 min walk for 8 minutes. I felt good and felt like I had enough oxygen getting to my lungs. My knees and right hip were bothering a little bit, but I pushed through the aggravation. I had a very bad headache all morning and it just kept getting worse. I took 2 Advil, but that didn't help much. I then ate Reese Peanut Butter Cups and almost immediately felt better, maybe my blood sugar levels were low. I felt very energetic and happy throughout the day! :) Breakfast: Power bar, gatorade Snack: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Lunch: Rice, Salmon, Vegetable Croquette Dinner: 2 pieces of frozen pizza, 1/2 pint of Ice Cream

The Worst Run Thus Far

I woke up feeling very sleepy in the morning. I knew I did not need to wake up early to workout as I would be working out in the evening. I was a little nervous about training in the evening because I didn't know what to expect. I felt pretty good physically throughout the day. Throughout the day I keep thinking I may be a faster walker than I am a runner. It's sad but it's true. I'm not going to give up this soon, but if things do not get better, I may be better off walking. My right hip feels like it needs to pop. The feeling goes away but still makes me nervous. On the bus ride to Niketown, I felt nauseous. It is probably just my nerves. We started out running across the street. I felt so heavy and warn out just crossing the street. Every step was a struggle from the beginning. Immediately there is a sharp stabbing pain in my lower left side of my abdomen. When we reach the beach the sun beams down so hot on my face. This completely drains my energy. I trudge on. I'm so happy when I reach the half way point and start back. But I am also completely exhausted. The pain in my left side is now bone, but is replaced with pain in my right rib cage. After about the 2 mile mark, I need to walk. There is no way I can make it back without taking a break. I am gasping for air and feel more nauseous. I take a 4 minute walk break and start to feel better. I then jog back to the start. But I am so slow and sluggish like I'm running through water.

Hip Pain

I do not workout in the morning, I have planned this as a day of rest. I had a happy neutral feeling throughout the day. My muscles were a little bit sore but not too bad. My neck was tense throughout the day. My left shin is very tender and my right quadricep is still sort of painful. My hip felt a little weak and I am scared it may get worse. I try to gently stretch it out throughout the day. I need to take it easy if I want to make it to the marathon day with a good hip. Breakfast: Cereal, banana Lunch: 2 soy vege patties, 3 chocolate chip cookies Dinner: Fries, fried shrimp, tapioca pudding

First Monday Training

This morning I ran the prescribed training exercise which consisted of 1 min run / 1 min walk for 30 minutes. I felt good for the first 20 minutes. Then my leg muscles started to burn and ache, the running started to get challenging. I just kept thinking "I can do this". If I just follow the Beginner's training schedule, I can make it to the start line and the finish line. I just need to take it one day at a time. I felt so incredibly happy on my way to work and the feeling lasted all day. I did have a weird pain above my right knee in the morning. It went away in a 1/2 hour. Weight: 120 pounds Breakfast: 1/2 power bar, gatorade Snack: cheese, apple sauce Lunch: 2 soy chicken patties, 1/2 of a yucky tasting brownie from the vending machine Snack: Two oatmeal Toastables Dinner: Chicken pot pie, apple sauce, tapioca pudding

Day Off

Today I took a day of rest. I felt pretty good and went to see a movie. Breakfast: Bagel and cream cheese Lunch: Hershey Bar, Reese Pieces, Lemon fruit bar Dinner: Chicken burrito, tapioca pudding

The First "Official" Training

I get to Ala Moana Park a little before 6 am. It's so early, whenever I wake up before 6 am I feel slightly nauseous. Our goal is to run for 40 minutes. We start heading in Waikiki and then turn around after 20 minutes. I feel really good for the first 30 minutes, but after I pass the Ilikai Hotel on the way back, I feel my breath constricting. I struggle all the way to the park. As I am gasping for air, I think again of the children and their struggle for survival. I tried to get a lot of air inside of my lungs, but I was still feeling a bit nauseous. I struggled a bit more and then slowed down to a walk. After a minute or so, I start up running again to the finish. I wind up running for 43 minutes. I felt exhausted. After stretching and drinking some gatorade, I started to feel better. We headed into Waikiki to Niketown. The clinic on apparel and running shoes was pretty good. I really like the Dri-Fit fabric. I'm glad we receive a Dri-Fit shirt as part of the Team in Training. And as a gift, Niketown gave us all a pair of Dri-Fit socks. I'm thinking I want to run in everything Dri-Fit. I mentally add up the cost and know it's going to be expensive. But, I also know I can buy a little at a time. I feel good after a 1 1/2 hour nap mid-day. My right hip feels a bit ache, but nothing too terribly bad. Weight: 120 pounds Breakfast: 1/2 plain bagel, 1/2 banana nut bread, and another bagel with cream cheese when we get home. Lunch: 2 soy chicken patties, tater tots Dinner: Ravioli and sauce

So Far Away

I ran for about 28 minutes this morning. I felt better today than on Wednesday. I was still a little tired after running up the hill. I kept thinking of race day, it seems so far away. I can't even imagine how the day is going to go. I think to myself that I should just take it one day at a time. I haven't even started official training. I felt good but a little fatigued. On my walk to work, I am very slow and sluggish. My ribs under my right arm are very tender. My left calf and shin are sore and the right side of my neck has pinching sort of pain. It sounds as if my body is falling apart, however I am still optimistic about training and running the marathon. I know I can do it. Breakfast: Cereal Snack: Cheese, apple sauce Lunch: 2 soy vege patties Snack: Apple sauce and Oatmeal Dinner: Chicken pasta

Fundraising

I did not do any workout today, I was very lazy this morning. I physically feel good today, just a little bit of muscle fatigue. My right arm and shoulder were in a lot of pain from using the mouse at the computer. Today I work on Fundraising. I wrote up a list of who I would send out a letter to. I try to push the worries of foundraising out of my mind in hopes that I will meet my goal. My left leg and glute is still achy and sore. It made me a little grumpy and very uncomfortable, so I took 2 Advil around 1 pm. I start feeling better around 1:30, but am afraid to move and aggrivate my leg with more pain. Although the pain has weakened it hasn't completely gone away. :( Breakfast: Cereal Snack: Cheese, apple sauce Lunch: 2 soy chicken patties, 3 chocolate cookies Snack: apple sauce & oatmeal Dinner: Chicken, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, 2 glasses of red wine

The First Day

Today I started unofficially training (which means I didn't follow any instructions, just ran whatever I wanted). I jogged for 25 minutes this morning around 6:30 am. I felt pretty good while running around the school, but after trudging up the hill I started to feel very out of breath. I thought, "How the heck am I going to make it through 26.2 miles?" I was worried, but remembered what our coach, Jon, said. He would get us to the start line in good health. I believe him at this point and relax a little bit. I'm looking at this experience as my own "Amazing Race". If I can make it to the end, I will be very happy. While I was running and feeling weak and breathless, I thought of the children who have to fight Leukemia every day. This helps me put things into perspective and keep on going. I felt pretty good on my walk to work. After sitting in my chair for an hour, the left side of my neck started to feel tense and a little numb. I'm hoping this passes. I feel confident now about training for the next 5 months. I'm a little nervous and excited about the first official group pratice this Saturday. I'm tried harder to make the effort and get up from my desk at work every 1/2 hour to stretch. Sitting all day makes my muscle tense and painful. Surprisingly, my right hip feels good. All other parts of my body feel great too, it's just my neck that is in pain. In the evening, I got a weird pain up my left leg. My glutes are also aching, probably more from sitting than from running. The aches are quite annoying so I take 2 Advil. Breakfast: Cereal Lunch: 2 soy vege patties, 3 chocoloate chip cookies Snack: 1 cup of instant Oatmeal Dinner: Ravioli with sauce