26.2 miles of greatness

I did it! I can’t believe it, I ran my first marathon!

All weekend I just wanted it to be over, but once I was in it, I couldn’t believe I was doing it, and sincerely enjoyed it. There were times where it was really difficult but overall, I was really humbled by the experience. I ran the first 14 miles relatively comfortably which was a really big deal for me. I am really looking forward to running another half marathon because after training for a marathon, I feel like the half will be a little easier to manage, and maybe I can start working on improving my time.

After mile 14, I took my first walking break. It started to get really difficult between mile 14 and 22, so I walked a few times, if I remember correctly, around 4 or 5 times from about a quarter of a mile to half. Running after a walking break was really difficult and I knew that when I took my first break, but I really needed it. Once I start running again for about half a mile, it became easier to continue. Around mile 23, I refused to stop again until I reached the finish line, I have no idea what came over me, but I just ran as fast as I could until I saw that finish line. The determination every time I saw the next mile made me keep going.

One thing that really got me a little off key was that my runkeeper was tracking me at a mile ahead of all the mile markers. So everytime I thought I was done with a certain mileage, I was actually a mile behind. It was really weird but after a while I just ignored my runkeeper and kept moving! 🙂

This whole experience taught me that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. A few years ago, I never would have thought that I would be running a marathon. Honestly, if you have determination and are willing to put in the work, there’s no reason you can’t achieve your dreams.

Mind Over Matter

I think we’ve all heard the phrase mind over matter. I never really indulged in it’s meaning until I fully understood what it meant. Our minds are so intricate, from such a young age, we take in all kinds of experiences around us that shape the person we become. And those thoughts that our mind forms engage in every aspect of our past, present, and future.

I never thought i’d be a fit person. I used to doubt so much about myself, and I can’t even begin to explain how much running brought me so much confidence and happiness. I am generally a positive person, but I didn’t realize how positive until these last few weeks of marathon training.

There comes a time, usually during my interval runs, where i’ll sprint, and I always surprise myself how much I can tolerate it. I pride myself on being a ‘slow but steady’ runner, but I often wonder if it’s stopping me from increasing my speed. My average pace is between 12 and 12.30 minutes per mile, depends on the type of run it is and how fatigued I am. Because that annoying thought kept creeping in my mind, last weekend, I tried to push myself. I ended up running 8 miles with an average pace of 11.15. Which was amazing for me, I clocked in at 22min at mile 2, and wanted to keep the momentum going, so I kept shooting for the same pace. I was really happy when I finished 8mi in 90min. I felt okay, I didn’t feel extremely exhausted. And I couldn’t believe that my pace was increasing. I’ve heard a million times before that once you train for a long run, your short run pace eventually starts to increase.

This past week, I didn’t really run as much as I should have. I got to the gym on Wednesday to try to get a few miles in. I ran about 2 miles but I just couldn’t run anymore on the dreadmill. I ended up walking the rest of my intended run. I was super bummed going home that day. But thinking back, I know it was all about my attitude, I was basically forcing myself to go to the gym to move my bum. And I should have really pushed through and not allowed my brain to think I couldn’t continue. And as much as I felt so refreshed after, I was still disappointed that I didn’t get to actually run 4 miles.

On Sunday, I wasn’t going to allow myself to miss another run. I laced up and left the house with a very real intent to have a great run. With my 8 mi run in the back of my mind, I started my run without pushing myself, and I found myself clocking in the first mile under 11 minutes (which was better than last week). I was really happy because I didn’t even feel like I was pushing myself more than usual. For every mile after that I tried not to slow down and I kept trying to run a little faster or at the same steady pace. Around mile 4, my mind was trying to quit on me, I changed my mindset, and kept my eye on the prize. It was simple as that. I wanted it, so I got it. I ended up running 10 miles in 1 hour 52 min which is awesome for me. A few weeks ago when I ran 10mi, I ran it in 2 hours and 5 minutes. I couldn’t believe how much time I shaved off and I wasn’t even particularly trying. I have to admit after finishing 10 miles, I started wheezing but to be fair for a huge part of the run, I was running against the wind, so I was pushing myself more than I usually would to get through.

My marathon is in less than 2 weeks now, and i’m nervous but fairly confident that I can do it. Last Sunday when I ran 20mi, I was so happy. I couldn’t believe it, especially because instead of dragging my feet the last few miles, I actually was enjoying it and flying by. It was a much better run than my 18mi run, and I was glad that it was because even though it did get difficult and I had to walk sporadically around mile 12-15, it made me really positive that I can run 26 miles. It’s going to be tough, I know that, but since it will be a route i’ve never run before, along with the energy of running with people, I am confident that it’ll be really great. For the past couple weeks, I have been training my mind to think positively about my marathon, and I hope it’ll pay off in the end. 🙂

Determined to succeed

On Sunday, I ran 18miles. My stomach was in knots and I was feeling really uneasy the whole time. From the moment I stepped out of my front door, something didn’t feel right. I don’t know what was going on, needless to say it was a really difficult run. At times, I was forcing myself to keep going, and other times, where I was flying high without a thought of pain in my mind. Quitting wasn’t an option but I almost allowed it to happen a few times. Generally, while running a distance i’ve never done before, in the last mile or less, I am beaming because of my accomplishment, but this time around I just wanted it to end. It didn’t even hit me until hours after that I just accomplished a new milestone!

I think part of the issue was that I had to run 8 miles the day before, and even though I always run the day before a long run, it was never so much mileage in one weekend. In total, I ran 26 miles this weekend. But if i’m counting my runs from the whole week, I ran close to 45 miles, which is not a normal weekly occurrence for me.

Although Sunday’s run was very difficult, it helped me visualize the marathon a little more clearly. My 16mi run a few weeks ago, was kind of deceiving cuz I felt exhilarated the whole run, and it definitely helped me feel confident and ready for my marathon. But having an off day running 18mi, gave me a more realistic feel of what the marathon could look/feel like if i’m not better prepared. I learned something about myself this weekend, when I almost threw in the towel so many times, I didn’t and wouldn’t allow myself to. I’m really proud of myself for that. Overcoming that mental challenge of wanting to quit was such a huge win for me. Because now I know that no matter how tough a situation is, I can always overcome it with patience and determination.

In a couple weeks, i’ll be running 20 miles, as my last long run before the race. (As I typed those words down, my stomach did a flip.) I know it’ll be another new milestone, but overcoming the hurdle of running 18miles, has given me a new perspective, and come race day, i’ll be prepared to cross that finish line confidently, God Willing.

Goal Digger

This post is SO overdue, it’s been sitting in draft for too long! After thanksgiving, having ran my third half marathon and completed the 10K Turkey Trot within 5 days of each other (check out my pretty medals 🙂 ), I hit a minor slump. It’s not that my body was exhausted, it’s just how my mind has always operated after a long run/achievement, I take a break. Which is definitely something I need to change, I was feeling a little sluggish but I forced myself to run once or twice. Mostly because i’m training for a marathon, and cannot afford to miss training days.

I happened to be listening to a teacher of mine speak a few days ago and he reminded me that the only way to learn or excel in something is to go out and do it, i.e. no one is going to do it for you. And even though I know this in the back of my mind, it was a really important note for me to hear and be reminded of because of the mental blocks i’ve been having recently. My heart and soul intends to wake up early to go for a run but when I wake up, my mind absolutely shuts the idea of getting out the door. As much as I wish I could achieve my goals by having someone else do them 😛 I obviously have to do them myself, otherwise they wouldn’t be MY goals now would they? So in my mind, after hearing my teacher’s point about achieving goals, I would silently remind myself why I was training for a marathon every day. I keep thinking how it feels to push myself out of my comfort zone, and how using up every ounce of my energy feels. It sounds crazy, but completely exhausting myself on a run is one of the surefire ways to release my stress and just makes me feel good!

It just so happened that two days after I was reminded of goals, I had to run 14mi for my training. All week, I mentally prepared myself, that it was going to be great, and that there’s no reason why I couldn’t do it. Just to make things a little more interesting for myself I changed up the route that I was running. I got up around 7am, started running around 8am. Around mile 5 is when the rain started pouring. For the next 9 miles, it just rained and rained, and some areas it was SO windy that I was basically running in place, LOL. The whole experience was exhilarating. Every time a car passed by me, I thought they must think i’m crazy, I was soaked from my scarf to my socks; I would have thought I was crazy. 😛

Loved this. I already know i’m gonna be feeling all of these simultaneously on race day 😉 lol

Since my 14mi run a few weeks ago, I have exceeded 14, and ran 16. My next long run will be 18 and then the longest will be 20 before the big day. I’ve been secretly dreading 2016 to get here because it just meant I was closer to D-Day aka Marathon day. I have so many mixed feelings about my marathon, but i’m praying for success. Even though I have never run 26.2 miles before, after running 16 miles, I somehow was able to envision it. It felt possible to do, it’s going to be so painful but I also know, God Willing, it’s going to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Stay tuned for a post about tips for training for a half marathon!

Progress Report: I’ve set a goal for myself to stay awake after 7am everyday, and so far I have been on track. I’m trying to get myself used to waking up early, so that I can get out of bed and run since i’m awake! 🙂 My resolution for the new year, is to try to run everyday even if it’s as little as a mile.

Song of the week: Glory and Gore by Lorde

because running taught me how to live…

It’s hard to find moments of clarity in the chaos around us. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised to find it last night. I went to an event to watch a friend graduate from a seminar that she took for self-improvement. As I listened to the speaker give his spiel about the seminar, it hit me how desperately, we as a society, are in constant search for finding a deeper meaning. The speaker talked about how focusing on one’s self in the midst of so much stress, drama, etc. around us can be very hard. As part of the event, he had us sit in a group, the only criteria was that we didn’t know anyone. He has us go around in a circle, and tell one goal that we had for ourselves in 2016, and as a listener all we had to do was clap and say awesome, you can do it. After we did this exercise and I heard so many goals being shouted out, I looked around the room and saw so many unfamiliar faces, and it dawned on me how very similar we all are.

In our world, we are constantly bombarded with so much negativity and hatred because of how different we are from one another. And it’s absolutely ridiculous because at the end of the day we are all born the same way, we all function internally the same way, and we will in fact all die. I sincerely dream of the day that people won’t be judged by their outward appearance. I truly believe that as a society, we need to respect our differences and move on. We don’t have to agree with everything everyone does, just have respect for a fellow human being and not allow differences to fuel anger or hatred in our hearts.

I have found a fraction of this dream in running. Besides the fact that running makes me feel good, it makes my day, when I pass by another runner. It seems so minuscule, but those days when someone smiles back at me, nods, or says hello to me while running, mean so much to me. That solidarity with no judgement, that “I got you” nod is the best form of unity that I crave. Those nods, hellos, and/or smiles have gotten me through so many runs. It’s really just a small gesture but it’s a huge boost of motivation when someone is doing the same activity, and you both feel and understand what you’re each going through. Honestly in that moment, we may be physically and outwardly different in every aspect of our lives but what’s inside of us, that drive, that passion is what actually makes us similar. It’s powerful.

My journey in running is making me realize so much about myself. I used to think it was cheesy when I saw or heard people say things like “running taught me how to live” but now I totally get it. It brings me a lot of inspiration and motivation in my day to day life. And on those days when i’m feeling extra slow and lazy, reminding myself that running helps make me a better person is what gets me out the door.

Long runs and positive vibes

I’m proud to say that i’m officially registered for my first marathon. This weekend, I mustered up the courage to sign up for the LA Marathon. I’m still nervous about it but more excited to challenge my mind and body.

My training for my marathon started a few weeks back, but for some reason or other, I haven’t been able to catch my Sunday long runs. This week I was determined to run my long run, mostly because I needed to stop being lazy, but also because I needed to know that I could do it before the Berkeley Half Marathon this upcoming Sunday.

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

Friday night, I decided to move my long run from Sunday to Saturday, because of scheduling conflicts. I woke up on Saturday, drank my coffee, and ate my oatmeal, and mentally prepared myself for my run. Around 3pm, I left the house for my 11mi run. I haven’t run that long of a distance since the SF Marathon 3 months ago. I was highly motivated to run mostly because I just kept my thoughts in a positive mindset. If I hadn’t, there’s a good chance I would have given up around mile 6 or 7, which is around the mileage i’ve been running lately. With each mile I ran, I pushed myself a little harder, as well as keeping in mind that I’ve done this before and not to let any sort of fatigue bring me down. I kept thinking about signing up for my marathon, and remembering how good it feels to cross that finish line.

Song of the Week: Hell Nos and Headphones by Hailee Steinfeld

Motivation Monday

I woke up in a mediocre mood today, because you know… Monday. It was raining, which was actually a great thing but on a Monday, it just felt blah. The time passed by quickly throughout the day, and I didn’t really get around to walking at work either. In the instance that I didn’t get to catch my walk at work, a negative thought and albeit lazy thought entered my mind that I would get stuck in the same rut I got stuck in last year around the same time. The time change, and the weather makes it super difficult for me to get outside to run. Thankfully, I took that thought and kicked it in the butt. I vowed myself that I was going to go to gym before I went home.

Applies to all workouts – It just helps untangle that web in your mind.

I went to the gym for the first time in a couple months, got on the elliptical for 20 min, and the treadmill for 30. It was such a short but effective workout. I didn’t run because I have a run in the morning, but I got my heart rate higher than normal. I got home with a ton of energy, and it completely changed my day and mood. It’s amazing how just moving your body and finding that motivation to just go can change everything.

Song Of The Week: Hello [DJ Mike Massad Remix] by Adele

At least I can say that I’ve tried

So much for posting a few times during my trip 😛 Oh well! I’m back in CA as of almost 3 weeks ago! Needless to say, running in Egypt was a total bust. I ran 3 times in the month that I was abroad but walked a whole lot. I ran once at my cousin’s college campus, once along the beach, and once on a track in the middle of Cairo. The last run on the track was the most difficult. I ran for a mile and a half, and had to stop. My lungs couldn’t take it anymore. The weather in Egypt has always affected me, and while I can comfortably say I don’t have asthma when i’m in California, while in Cairo, I always seem to have a flare up. The humidity and the amount of pollution in the air is a bad combination for my lungs.

Thankfully, a week after I landed back in CA, I ran a few times, and it felt really good to breathe in the fresh air. I was a little slower than usual just because I had to get my body back to the groove after the month off, but after that first mile, it was right back to my regular routine.

I started training for my first marathon this week. I haven’t signed up for one yet, i’m pretty much decided on the LA Marathon on February 14, 2016. But I can’t bring myself to sign up for it just yet. I’m really nervous, and I know that no matter what happens, I can at least say that i’ve tried. But it doesn’t mean the nerves haven’t settled yet. I need to just stick to my training plan, and pray for the best.

As part of my training, (and because medals are so shiny and pretty!) I am participating in my 3rd half marathon on November 22nd in Berkeley. The cool thing about running this half is that because I ran the SF Marathon, I’ll get a San Francisco to Berkeley medal along with the completion of my Berkeley Medal. On top of that, i’m planning to participate in the San Jose Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving which ALSO makes me eligible for the Berkeley 2 Silicon Valley Medal! As if I’m not crazy enough, I also signed up for the she.is.beautiful 10K in March. I’m hoping by then though that running 6.2mi after running 26.2, will be gravy. Also praying that my body is ready for what I’m about to put it through over the next few months.

Song of the week: Confident by Demi Lovato

13.1 again!

I did it! I completed my 2nd half marathon! It was brutal and incredibly tiresome but when I think back, it makes me smile. There were a few tears, a lot of sweat, and 100% determination. I started off knowing that I wanted to try to beat my time from my first half marathon which was 2:55. I was determined to shave off at least 5 min, and since my training has been relatively faster, I was really pushing for 10 min.

I began running at 8:35 am – I was part of the 5th wave of the 2nd Half Marathon which started in Golden Gate Park. It was relatively cool with no sign of sunshine. It was really amazing to run with all types of people with a wide range of run experience. Started off strong, didn’t run too fast, just kept a steady pace, and tried to just enjoy the experience.

About 3/4 of the way through mile 2, I was feeling a little funny, so decided to stop to use the bathroom, I wish I didn’t because it totally wasted 5 min of my time, but oh well!

Continued running solidly until about mile 9.5. I was pleasantly surprised by the downhill running. Most of the uphill was really subtle so it was manageable but the downhill was quite steep, and it really took a toll on my body. At this point, the sun was out and beaming and I got a side stitch that just wasn’t going away. I tried really hard to try to ignore the pain because I didn’t want to stop running to walk but eventually I had to take a break, I walked for about .10 of a mile, and picked back up again. Ran until about mile 10, and at that point the pain was excruciating, nothing I did was helping. I tried to adjust my breathing, and taking in longer breaths, I tried to drink more water, but it just didn’t work. I had to walk, so I did.

I started walking, and tears started welling up in my eyes. The pain was really difficult to deal with but I wanted to run the whole race. I texted my family, and my brother just told me to walk for a little bit, and then try to pick back up. I did exactly that, after half a mile of walking and deep breathing, I began running again. The pain was still there but very lightly. It kept trying to creep back but I wasn’t about to stop again, so as soon as I started to feel the pain again, I would flex my core, and surprisingly it worked. I kept doing this for the last 2.5 miles. It was a struggle, but I just couldn’t wait to see that finish line. I knew that the race ended after the Bay Bridge, and I just kept my eye on the bridge. Once I passed AT&T Park, it was just a mile left. There happened to be a Giants game that day, so the area around AT&T Park was vibrant, and that last mile was filled with cheers and “you got this!” It was really humbling to run that last mile. I ran the whole time with my eye on that finish line, and as soon as it was in reach, my legs picked up speed and I booked it. I was not expecting to beat any of my time because of the few stops I had to make, and even though that kind of bummed me out, I decided to not let it deter me from celebrating that I just ran in the SF Marathon, and that I had a lot of fun. I stopped my runkeeper and was pleasantly surprised to find that I beat my time by 8 min! I finished in 2 hours and 47 min! I was so excited to see that, not only did I beat my time but had I not stopped two times, I would have beat my time by more than 10 min!

All in all, it was such a humbling experience to participate in this race. I ran alongside marathoners, who were well into their run at mile 15 when I was barely on mile 1. Every single runner I ran alongside inspired me, and I kept thinking what a great community to be a part of.

Progress Report: I found a Marathon training plan that starts in September which might be difficult because of travel plans but I like the pace of the plan, so we’ll see – still looking for a marathon to participate in.

Song of the week: Cool for the Summer – Demi Lovato

Live Fully

What a weekend! Feeling so incredibly inspired and rejuvenated.

On Saturday, I woke up at 4am, had breakfast, got ready and headed to Capitola for an awe-inspiring morning with the she.is.beautiful team. We did a short run along the beach and then a 90min session of yoga alongside the sound of crashing waves and the serene skies. It was the most invigorating, bonding experience ever. I only knew my sister but left feeling a little closer to everyone there, it was an infectious feeling of unity and love. I can’t even begin to explain the appreciation I have for the she.is.beautiful team, they put on amazing, inspirational, and unifying events that will leave you on a high for the rest of the week.

For the morning run, it was optional as part of the event but I really wanted to partake in it, of course my sister and I had to wake up a little earlier but it was worth it. This was my first run in Ramadan to run in the morning and needless to say for the rest of the day, my mouth felt so parched, sunset could not come soon enough. Thankfully I had a busy day ahead so dealing with that distracted me from my incredible dry mouth. I started the run keeping my usual pace but was pleasantly surprised when I saw my pace on runkeeper, I was doing a lot faster than I ever ran. After 2 miles, my pace was still the same, I couldn’t believe I was running at this pace. Towards the end of the run, the trainer who led the run pushed me to finish the run faster, I usually run super slow because of my longer distances but was so grateful that she pushed me. I really want to increase my pace and running with a group really helped me do that. It’s amazing how running with a group of people uplifts you and helps you to reach heights you never knew possible!

Still on the high from Saturday, I woke up Sunday, after much needed rest, with the intention to do my long run (10mi). I planned to go at 5pm but ended up leaving nearer to 6pm. I kept telling myself you can do this, you’ve done this before. Last time I ran 10mi was a year ago! And I was grateful to know my body was still able to handle it. After my run, I noticed I ran in the shape of Louisiana! My dad claims it looks like Africa, but I don’t really see it, haha.

Unfortunately didn’t get a chance to do my run yesterday because my knee has been hurting from my long run, but I have a brace on, hopefully it’ll be okay soon so I can finish off the month strong with a run tomorrow. Can’t wait to go back to morning runs! 🙂

Progress Report: I am ready for my half marathon! And I have officially set a goal for myself to run a marathon by December 30th.

Song of the Week: Although I haven’t been listening to much music this month, Fight Song by Rachel Platten has been one of my go-tos in every run.