3 posts tagged “motivation”
That's right. Just ten days left for the big run! And how do I feel?
It's a strange butterflies-in-tummy feeling, and I don't know why. Perhaps, it's this picture...
The course looks rather large, twisting from the mainland to the island, over the MacArthur causeway into Miami Beach and back to the mish-mash, urban jungle of Miami. The city looks like a criss-cross of densely packed streets running perpendicular to each other. And the ocean? The ocean appears most menacing, dark blue and ferocious, as if
ready to swollow you right now. Or maybe it's just my weird imagination.
Mentally, I feel prepared, more or less. I have done 23 miles before, and although it was a tough run, I know 26 is do-able. It's a matter of time. This week, though, has been rather slow. I haven't been running, having taken a rest after last week's 8 mile run and the following pain in the right leg. The only activities were stretching, cross-training and strengthening. The pain's gone, thankfully.
There's a matter of getting new shoes, which I hope to do today. I've been looking for new shoes for the past month, after the current Saucony pair gave me a terrible ache in the right foot after the long runs. I need a wider model. I have a slight over-pronation in my feet, and the right foot is just a tad flatter. I'm going to try the New Balance 767. In the past week or so, I've tried the Asics Gel (I forget the model) which has a higher arch, but wasn't very comfortable for my left foot. Oh well. I just want ONE pair of comfortable shoes.
Some of you may know already, but others will pinch themselves, rub their eyes and do a double check.
I'm training for a marathon. Yes, a full twenty-six miles. And then point two.
Now, I'm not a big runner. So far, I've been a rather reluctant one, doing short 3 mile runs on the 'mill. Twenty-five minutes to half-an hour. That was good enough for me. I had thought of longer, five-mile runs, even tried a couple of times. Thoughts of longer runs remained just those... wishful thinking.
But now, it's the full monty. The big enchilada. The whole nine yards (pardon the pun)... and then some.
And I'm running for life... Not quite mine, but for others who I can help support.
So folks, here it is. I'm training for the ING Miami Marathon in January 2007, with the
National AIDS Marathon Training Program. These nice folks train people for
the half- and full-marathon, and in return, the people raise funds for
AIDS service organizations. One good turn deserves another. Or vice versa.
So, here's a request for your support
This is a worthy cause, and I would like to ask for your support! I'm raising $3000 for the Whitman-Walker Clinic for AIDS patients, in Washington, DC.
Did you know that more than one million Americans, and 40 million others around the world, are living with HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS? With more than 20 million deaths so far, AIDS is now the leading cause of death among all people aged 15 to 59 worldwide.
Regrettably, approximately 1 in every 20 adults in the District of Columbia is living with HIV/AIDS. So, the money I am raising will benefit Whitman-Walker Clinic, the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. The Clinic provides direct medical care, food, housing and other really important AIDS services -- to help keep people alive until there's a cure.
How *you* can help...
Please click here for a safe, electronic means of donating. Remember, your contributions are tax-deductible! (For outside US donations, please consult your local tax laws).
If this drive ends up supporting even one life, I think I will have succeeded
Thank you for your generous support!
Welcome to my neighborhood!
It's 35 degrees freezing cold in DC. 9 am on an otherwise perfectly fine Saturday morning in the Fall. The leaves have turned yellow, plenty of them on the ground, making a rustling sound as the wind blows. Trees with colorful leaves dot the large parking lot area. Gusts of wind blow, making one pull the jacket closer and tighter. In other words, a perfectly fine day to be in bed.
Several people dressed in warm athletic gear, head bands, gloves, trainers and other assorted paraphernalia are vying for a spot in the sun. Running on the spot, stretching, or otherwise trying to keep themselves warm.
So, what am I doing here? Damn fine question...
A few weeks ago, I decided to run long distance. Longer, I should say. Just for fun. Longer than my usual three or four mile runs which, until then, I thought were long enough for me and kept me in decent shape. Still, a thought lingered... Can I run longer? Should I? Would I? What would it take to run, say, 10 miles? How about 20? Isn't it just the same as running 3 miles?
As luck would have it. I chanced upon an ad in the local paper that said words to the effect: We'll train you for the marathon. Join us! Well, why not indeed? What's to lose? Once I saw the ad, I saw it everywhere. In the metro, in the Express, posters on the walls.
So I thought I'd give it a try. Just for fun, and see where it leads. If running several miles on a cold day - when the cheeks turn red, ears freeze, the nose get snotty, and the stomach starts to hurt - isn't for me, well then so be it. Until then, it might be worth a try.
That was several weeks ago.
And now, here it was - a freezing morning, sun playing peekaboo, gusts of wind. And 12 miles straight ahead.
