Oops, I missed the mile marker!

Date: April 29, 2006
Location: Lafayette/Moraga Trail
Weather: Overcast
Run Type: Mentor Run
Miles accomplished: 10 miles
Time: Boo...i left the time going after I finished. =(
Pace: ?

Ms. Brenda....*sigh*. Flair is not for everyone. I'm a pretty bland guy. No condiments, no dressing. So naturally my blog is dry and unexciting. But if you want more flair (like you do cowbell), i'm gonna try to give it a go. It may a take a few revisions throughout the weekend, but i'll make it happen! *whisper* but just don't go critiquing all that fast. Give me some time to figure it out to make it better. Much thanks. ^_^

Let me start of by saying, I was very excited to run this trail. I've never had the chance. I attended all Saturday runs last season, but this one trail eluded me. [flashback] After my exciting performance at the Nike Half, I followed it up with the 14 mile run at San Leandro Marina. As you know, the Marina has those golf ball sized jagged rocks on the trail. I developed a blister on my inner foot and the pain subconsciouisly caused me to screw up my form and I ran with outer portion of my foot (which I never use). I ended up straining my foot and could only walk with my heel and toe. Being the crazy follower of the schedule, I didn't want to miss a beat, at the expense of falling behind. Knowing full well I was not able to run, I made the trip to the Lafeyette/Moraga Trail. The warm up run to the start line, was not good. I was in pain. My ego was so huge that I convinced myself to stick it out. When it was time to stretch the quad, I could not stand on one foot. It was a 10 mile run that day and during the first 1/4 mile, the pain was so excruciating. After 3/4 of a mile, I came to my senses and headed back. I ended up making my foot worse, which forced me to see Dr. Klein after the experts in Kaiser couldn't do a thing. [end flashback] So today's run was important to me.

It was also an emotional because our honoree, Michael dedicated today's run for his friend Dennis. Dennis, like Michael, has CLL; however, his symptoms have gradually returned with a vengence. For the past few months Dennis could only take infrequent short walks. Keep in mind, Dennis had done two century rides with TNT in 2005. I had to appreciate that I was able to be out there and run. That was definitely important because it would come back and kick me in the ass as a reminder later in the run.

The trail's scenery was beautfiul as there are waterfalls and nice looking bridges. The path itself was not to die for. It was so lop-sided, I couldn't find a perfect place to stay on course. But I was just being grumpy because I was not feeling it. I did the first mile and I felt it took too long to warm up and in my mind I was thinking maybe I only wanted to do 6 miles. The schedule called for me to do 7-9 miles. Keep in mind I didn't run last weekend, but I should be able to do the miles...no problem. By the second mile, the body didn't feel any better. I kept thinking, perhaps it was the In-N-Out burger I had for yesterday's lunch which was causing me to feel like yuck. I hung with my two mentees who are going to Humboldt next weekend and I was really contempleting to run with them till the end. Yeah that sounds all nice and mushy, but realize they are doing their final taper run which was only 6 miles total. The turnaround was at mile 3 and I needed to take a break. I went to the restroom and in my mind, I knew I was trying to wimp myself out. I wasn't injured, I just felt like crap, but I could still run. Yes, something that many people can't do, which I take for granted. I decided to continue on as I waved goodbye to my mentees.

I was running alone until I bumped into Lauren. She introduced herself and we talked. It turns out she's missed quite a few Saturday runs because she went to New Zealand and Australia most of the season. She missed out the 14 miler last weekend and was determined to do 10 miles today. For whatever reason, I could not see all the mile markers this morning and when I told her we should be approaching 4.5 miles, she said we already passed it. I laughed it off and decided to stick with her and turn around at 5 miles. We ran back together most of the way until her troubling knee forced her to slow down around mile 8-9. The run back felt a lot better than going and I was in my groove. My troubling calf did act up right around near the finish line. I definitely need to strengthen them. I'm glad I didn't wimp out and settle for 6 miles because it ended up being a great run. Word spread that it was my b-day and that I got my first condo and many sent their heartfelt congratulations and love. It felt good.

Track Thursday - B-Day Edition

Date: April 27, 2006
Location: Wells Middle School (Dublin)
Weather: Warm
Run Type: Track Workout
Miles accomplished: 2
Time: N/A
Pace: N/A


So what does one do for their birthday? One goes to Track! Yup, no skipping out on training just cuz it celebrates the day I was born! Besides...i've turned 21 about 8 times now....hehe ^_^

A new low turnout (8 showed up), but we must give props to Rocky, who made the trek from Oakland and being a little tardy, got to only enjoy the 1/2 hour for he which was there. This must have been the shortest track workout ever. Well Coach Al was unable to make it (hopefully still riding high from his film debut) and Mentor Rudy took over. The goal was to run the first mile as fast as you can and then do the second mile at a very slow place. My first mile was 8:28 and I was exhausted. A big factor was the blazing sun still warming up Dublin at about 73 degrees at night. I've been so use to training in such cold temps, that this new climate is so foreign to the body.

Training has felt blah thus far. Maybe it's cuz i've skipped a week, but it feels like training has been going very slow...if that makes sense. For whatever reason, i'm feeling impatient and feel like I should be doing my 20 mile run by now. Is it because i've already had one season under my belt (with virtually no stopping between seasons) and my body is just in the "running mode" and just naturally is ready to more?

Bad Phil

Date: April 25, 2006
Location: Iron Horse Trail (San Ramon)
Weather: Moderate Temps.
Run Type: Buddy Run
Miles accomplished: pretty darn close to 5 miles
Time: 1:00:34
Pace: N/A


Yup, Phil did not run this past weekend. =( Instead he had "all you can meat" at a Brazillian steakhouse and probably gained like 5 lbs in the process. It's not good when you can feel your heart working triple-time.

So tonight I was going to make it up! With me holding down the fort, I single handedly increased the buddy run time to a whopping 60 minutes! Well actually, many of the participants had wanted to run farther and longer last week, so I figured tonight we be just good as any other time to take the leap from 45 minutes to 60 minutes of non-stop running. I ran back and forth with participants making sure everyone was okay, so that provided more time on the feet. Yeah it wasn't 15 miles, but it sure felt like it. That serves me right for not running!

It's good to make a grown man cry.

Date: April 20, 2006
Location: Wells Middle School Track (Dublin)
Weather: Sunny, but Windy
Run Type: Track Workout
Miles accomplished: 2 miles ?
Time: ???
Pace: N/A

Left work in sunny Alameda and arrived at windy Dublin. Strange how east bay weather varies by City. Anyways, today's track workout was to work on negative splits again. Good news is my mentee Patti, does not have broken ribs! Yeah!! She came out to track and was able to run at a pretty good pace. She's still not a 100%, so I told her to ease her way back in.

Only 10 people showed up to track and i'm beginning to think the cancellation of the 3 track workouts while we were switching locations had a big impact. Those who did show up, got to hear about how Coach got to carry the Olympic torch. Hearing him describe how much of an honor it was to do it gets better every time I hear it. When asked by a participant how he got selected, Coach said he was nominated by a letter from someone he trained. Coach then went to his car to pull out a letter he just received earlier today. He had one of the participants read it out loud to everyone. It was a letter of gratitude from a high school student for how much Coach had molded and inspired her to be a better runner and a better person. As the letter was read out loud, tears came strolling down Coach's eyes. Coach choked-up said, "This is what it's all about. It's stuff that money can't buy."

As the late Jackie Robinson once said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." No doubt...i've been impacted.

East Bay Rocks!

Mentee Injury Bug

Date: April 18, 2006
Location: Iron Horse Trail (San Ramon)
Weather: Sunny and Warm
Run Type: Buddy Run
Miles accomplished: 3.67 miles
Time: 37:42
Pace: 10:16

My training has been going great, but I wish I could say the same for my mentees. I had one mentee drop out after she severly injured herself at the first Coach's Run. In the past 2 weeks, 2 of my mentees had freak accidents. Because of the horrid weather, one slipped on her wet driveway, landed on her back and thinks she may now have broken ribs (she's still waiting to hear from her x-ray results). Just today, another mentee, who had already endured the stomach flu and head cold, had unexpected surgery for her appendix. I'm just trying to keep them calm and cool as they are freaking out.

14 miles - WOO HOO!

Date: April 15, 2006
Location: Heather Farms (Walnut Creek)
Weather: Overcast and Wet!
Run Type: Coach's Run
Miles accomplished: 14 miles
Time: 2:33:10
Pace: 10:56

First things first....much thanks to the flu recovering Rock (who's not even doing an event this season) to hang with all of us "consistent" runners for the entire 14 miles today.

That's right....I chalked up 14 miles today. Not the same running high as when I first achieved it last season, but it was certainly another proud moment. I was excited that I chalked up another half marathon time. I don't remember my splits after 13.1 miles, but I finished 14 miles in much less time than I finished the Nike Half Marathon back in October. Definitely good signs.

I got out to Heather Farms around 7:00 am where I found a bunny-eared Capitan Jeanette organizing the water stops and Birthday-girl Katie with the rest of the 7:00 am gang beginning their runs. Rocky soon came jogging in and since I mentioned I was paceless this run, he offered to pace. We headed out to Pleasant Hill on the Canal Trail for 4.5 miles out and 4.5 miles back. During that time, I felt great and even with the pouring rain, it didn't slow me down. It actually felt great since my body temp felt like 89 degrees. (I just like how I am my own thermometer and really have no basis for what I say).

After heading back to the start line, we had to go out towards Concord for 2.5 miles out and 2.5 miles back. We picked up Monique, Nova, and Matt at the water stop and we pretty much clumped as a group for those 5 miles. Again, the rain was off and on, but when it rained, it was pretty freaking annoying. By mile 13.5, my right calf tightened. I eased up as I know what that had done to me in the past. That's what slowed me down in Arizona. I definitely to work on the calf muscles if I want to improve my time. If I can a pace like what I had today for 26.2 miles, i'll be one happy marathoner.

After waiting for the last few runners to come in this morning, I swung by Jamba Juice to pick up a strawberries wild w/protein boost and El Balazo for a fatty carnitas burrito. My stomach was very satisfied. Took a short nap to find afterwards my knee was a little sore. I took an ibuprofen and I now feel a lot better.

I just need to rest more. Happy Easter!

Pics from Saturday's run:

The one and only Coach Al
(star of "Runners High")

Honoree Joseph and his lovely wife at the water stop

Nova, Coach Gary, Monique

I was suppose to be in this pic, but I left myself out of it cuz I wanted
Coach Gary to look like a P.I.M.P. ^_^

It's 26.2 miles from East Oakland to anywhere they wanna go

Runners High is a powerful documentary following the Students Run Oakland (SRO) organization as they try to succeed in training at-risk East Oakland youth for the Los Angeles marathon. Our very own Coach Al(phonzo) stars in the documentary.

Story: When teenagers from one of the nation’s toughest neighborhoods in Oakland, California sign up to train for a marathon, they begin the journey of a lifetime. Runners High is an intimate, character driven documentary of struggle, courage, and hope. During a season filled with conflict and possibility, four of these teens bare their dreams, joys, tears and fears. As several stumble under pressure in emotionally charged moments, others realize the journey begins with the power and commitment to accept responsibility for their own futures. Runners High shows that no matter what happens next, one season of training to run 26.2 miles can change your life forever.

>>View the trailer here

Runners High Will Have its World Premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival and Screen at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival

SAN FRANCISCO SCREENING TIMES:

Monday, April 24 • 7pm AMC Kabuki
Thursday, April 27 • 10am AMC Kabuki
Saturday, April 29 • 3:30pm AMC Kabuki
Tuesday, May 2 • 8:30pm El Rio
For more information about the festival and tickets, go to http://sfiff.org/fest06/index.html

Congratulations to Mama Lisa!

Did I mention the East Bay has the best coaches in the entire world? Congrats to Mama Lisa! Mama Lisa completed her 100^th Ultramarathon this past weekend! She ran the Umstead 100 miler in 27 hours 58 minutes and 18 seconds! And she did not sleep during that time. Simply amazing!

Track Workout

Date: April 13, 2006
Location: Wells Middle School Track (Dublin)
Weather: Sunny and Warm
Run Type: Track Workout
Miles accomplished: 2 miles (so that's what they say, but my time doesn't reflect that)
Time: 15:00
Pace: ???

Here's my attempt at adding "flair". What everyone doesn't get to hear about is my commute to track workouts. Half the time, it's a struggle to get there within the one-hour time frame I have. I work in Alameda, so getting out to buddy runs and track workouts in Dublin after work is quite a commute. Typically the drive is okay and I can get there in about 45 minutes. Those who know me, know that I am an on-time freak and it pains me to be even one minute late. My preference is to be at least 10 minutes early. Therefore i'm use to driving like a mad man...weaving between cars and pissing people off. I don't like it, but I can't help it. Yesterday's drive from Alameda was surprisingly fast as I was at Castro Valley within 20 minutes. Perhaps it was Spring Break...whatever, but I thought..."finally, a relaxing comfy ride." Plus, I needed get from point A to point B as fast as possible because I needed to go #1. Then as I drove past the Center Street exit, all vehicles come to a screeching halt. Oh no....that's not good. Tuned to AM740 and heard that the stop and go traffic was imminent for the next hour or two to get through Livermore. Not good....my bladder could only hold for so long. 20 minutes pass before I can even get to the next exit. I waited in the long exit line to get out of the freeway and I was able to drive on that side road all the way to Dublin. I ultimately got to track workout with 1 minute to spare. When I got there, only Richard and Coach were there. Said my 'hi"s and ran to find a restroom.

Ok...so track itself was great. The temp was probably about 74 degrees. The middle school there is quite nice and the track, although minature in size, is very comfy on the feet. All in all, we did approximately 2 miles. The first mile was a run at 10 seconds below our marathon pace. The second mile was speed intervals: Sprints along the straightaways and jogs around the curves. I was sucking wind at the end, but felt great. I don't want to jinx myself, but this season's training has been going great and i've been having a lot of fun.

Training Recaps

Date: April 8, 2006
Location: "Ironteam Trail" (Lake San Antonio)
Weather: Sunny and Warm
Run Type: YOYO
Miles accomplished: ????
Time: 55:46
Pace: ???

This past Saturday I was out camping and volunteering water stop duties for the TNT triathalon team at Lake San Antonio. My own training schedule called for an 8-10 mile run this weekend. After the water stop on Saturday, I forced myself to do a YOYO run. Since I was unfamiliar with the trails of Lake San Antonio, I had no idea where to run. Fortuantely during the drive back to camp, I saw the Ironteam run on this grassy trail. So I decided this is probably a good trail to run. So I headed out and ran in the opposite direction of the Ironteam. I came across 3 ironteam members during my run and hollered a "GO TEAM!" and "Go Ironteam!" and it seemed to give them a boost. Boy did they need it. They were in the middle of completing a half marathon after a morning of 50+ miles of bike riding and 2+ miles of swimming in the lake. I bow to their excellence. Plus they had energy to party the same night.

As I made my turn around, I got screams from on-coming vehicles and bicyclists....shouting "Go Ironteam!" I quickly corrected them, cuz I wasn't worthy of such praise. I was flattered though....do I really look like i'm capable of doing an Ironman?....haha.

Date: April 11, 2006
Location: Iron Horse Trail (San Ramon)
Weather: Wet, Rainy, Semi-bright
Run Type: Buddy Run
Miles accomplished: 3.67
Time: 38:39
Pace: 10:31

My first bright buddy run of the season! It sure was nice being able to see where I was running. I went at my own pace today and felt pretty good. It was raining, which kind of sucked, but hey....NO WIMPS!, right?

New Track

Date: April 6, 2006
Location: Wells Middle School Track (Dublin)
Weather: Clear Skies and Bright!
Run Type: Track Workout
Miles accomplished: 2 miles
Time: ???
Pace: ???

We have a new track in Dublin! It's a shortened track and 4 laps doesn't quite make a mile, but it's quite comfy to run on. It reminds me of the Ygnacio Valley Park. Since track was cancelled the past 2 weeks, Coach continued where we left off. He had us run an easy mile and then run at marathon pace. That was what we did in Concord 2 weeks ago. Thanks to daylight savings it's so much brighter during the runs and no head light is needed!

Weekend Running

Date: April 1, 2006
Location: Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal (Alameda)
Weather: Overcast, Drizzle
Run Type: Coach's Run
Miles accomplished: 12 miles
Time: ??? (I forgot re-start my watch) =(
Pace: ???

Headed out with Patti and O and they made the run seem super quick. Did the 5 out and 5 back and for the first time there, I did the 1 out and 1 back after the finish line. It was pretty tough considering everyone was stuffing their faces silly with food as we tried to get in another 2 miles. We had our honoree potluck and since i'm so slow, I missed out on what Michael and Brenda had to say. Well, I got my 12 miles in Alameda, which i'm very pleased with. Last season I ran Alameda before the Nike Half and was only able to complete 8 miles because my knee took me out. To know i've conquered Alameda is a big confidence builder.

Team Balance Staff

Date: April 2, 2006
Location: Iron Horse Trail (San Ramon)
Weather: Overcast
Run Type: Friend's Run
Miles accomplished: 3.16 miles
Time: 34:30
Pace: 10:55

I usually don't run on Sundays, but my friends wanted to get back into running. So I agreed to be their running partners. I was still somewhat aching from Saturday's 12-miler, but felt I could squeeze a couple more miles in. I started off sluggish and really didn't want to run anymore, but I got in my rhythm and felt great till the end. I think running Sundays will help give me the extra miles I need, particularly after the 20-miler.