Damn Them All!

...the Internet for keeping me up late last night...

...my new bed for being so comfy that I slept in two more hours than I should have...

...the weather for being so perfect that I HAD to take advantage of it to take a light jog...

...my eagerness to run that I forgot to apply sunblock...shiet, I'm going to pay for that one...

...my stupidity for not bringing any water/Powerade with me...I saw stars again!...

...the corner store with the $5 credit card minimum...dude, I just need a drink so I don't pass out!...

...the corner store (again!) for having the NEW Peanut Butter Twix candy that I had to buy TWO...there goes my workout! Double Damn!...

...the 6 blocks I live from the beach...just when you think the workout is done, there's still that extra distance to get back home...ugh...

...the break that I took after the marathon...the couple of weeks of NOT running has made a huge difference! I feel that I'm almost back to square one...almost. Must....keep...up...with...it...

...the report cards...double, triple, quadruple d-a-m-n...

*Why the hell are these things conspiring against me??? I need a coffee to think this through...LOL!*

NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON
October 21, 2007

I did it! My first marathon! After three months of on and off training, I was able to complete 13.1 miles...AND, I didn't have to crawl over that finish line!

Prior to the run itself, NIKE sponsored an Expotique in Union Square for all marathoon participants...and as Mommy Hernandez put it, "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FREE STUFF!"

On Friday night, we went down and aside from picking up my running bib and packet, we also got a free manicure! Now ok, so just because it's free doesn't mean the quality is the greatest...but it was still a nice treat. There were free snacks, drinks, giveaways, and massages, but that line was way too long. Even though it was two days before the race, you could definitely feel the excitement in the air.

Along with the excitement, there was a definite anxiety that I was having. Would my training pay off? Would I give up? Could I do this? It kept me up on Saturday night into the wee hours of the morning! All in all, I must've had about 3 hours of sleep! But come Sunday morning, I was up and ready, Team in Training jersey on, bib #14735 on, sunblock, hat, shoes...I was pumped.

RACE DAY- Sunday

It's said that there was a total of 23,000 participants...that's a whole lotta people! The start line was at Union Square, but to even get to our designated areas was pure hell. They let people start according to how fast one could do a mile- we were in the 12-14 minute group. But aside from the actual runners/walkers, add in the equation all the family and friends who came to support their loved ones. And oh yes, all of the anxious runners who decided that it was okay to push and shove their way through...not cool ladies! By the time we were given the go-ahead, it was approximately 7:20am when we passed the start line.

As pathetic as this will sound, we were not even into the first mile when I started lagging behind Mommy Hernandez and CuznJ. I felt a tweak in my back and my first thought was "oh shit, not now!" I had to slow my pace even further until I found a good and comfortable groove. Maybe it was somewhat of a blessing because as the sun came up over the Bay Bridge, it made for a lot of Kodak moments that I couldn't pass up. So yes, if you can imagine, in the midst of a marathon with thousands of people running, there I was snapping away at the picturesque views of our beautiful city...and hey, I wasn't the only one!



Sunrise over the Bay Bridge


Among the many places that we got to pass through included the following: the Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park and Ghiradelli Square (with clear views of the Alcatraz), the hill of Fort Mason (another awesome view of the Golden Gate Bridge), the Marina, Crissy Field, SeaCliff neighborhood (hello Robin Williams!), the Presidio, Cliff House, Golden Gate Park (near the buffalo and polo fields), and finally the end at Ocean Beach. Talk about a beautiful running course...and yet again, another chance for me to fall in love all over with our beautiful city.

A couple of things that I found funny...first of all, a guy running in a dress is always something to chuckle at! The fact that he was the center of many photo ops was pretty hilarious. Another was the fact that people were shedding clothes left and right...but leaving them in the streets! It's like that Hansel and Gretel story where the kids leave behind bread crumbs to make sure they don't lose their way...it was the same thing! After a while, the jokes kept coming..."..anyone need a new jacket?....who needs the mall?..." It was such a random thing, whether or not they would come back and retrieve their articles, I highly doubt.

Another thing that I thought was pretty awesome was the fact that there so many out-of-state participants. Because I registered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, we were under the umbrella of Team in Training, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter...and our purple jerseys proudly displayed that. Amid the sea of purple, there were delegations from Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Minnesota and many more. It was inspiring to see pictures of loved ones pinned to their jerseys, the people they were running in honor and/or in memory of.

A big motivating factor throughout the course were the many TNT coaches and mentors. They were out and about running among the crowds, others were shouting from the sidelines that we were doing an awesome job. Plus, there were so many volunteers who were handing out drinks and as you took one, they'd tell you to keep on going. On top of that, there were so many supporters with signs, giving everyone the thumbs up, yelling that we look beautiful and that we can do it. When we were in the hills, a few supporters kept repeating, "Don't let that hill control you! You control the hill! Ya'll can do it...keep going!" At the Embarcadero, there was a Gospel choir; in GGP, there was an Irish band (go Irish- hee hee!); near the Marina, there was a Cheer Squad and near the finish, a high school cheerleading squad, along with their pom-poms, were giving everyone high fives. It was neat!

So how did I do? Like I mentioned, I backed off of Mommy Hernandez's pace almost from the start and basically did the run by myself. While I did a lot of walking to compensate for my back pain, I DID run a good portion of it...that, I'm proud of. The time limit for the entire marathon is 6.5 hours. With the training that I was doing, I originally thought that I'd be able to complete the course under 4 hours...I was averaging 15 minutes per mile. BUT, what I didn't take into consideration were the damn hills of San Francisco! OMG...the hills K-I-L-L-E-D me! There was a point, I want to say at Mile 6, that as I was making my way up slowly, I swear, I began to see stars. At first I thought it was the sun shining in my eyes, but I had my hat and shades on...and when I blinked, I just saw white. It freaked me out because I've never experienced that before and my initial thought was, "Oh my god, I'm going to pass out!" Luckily, they have water/Gatorade stations every few miles and I was right near one. After I drank some Gatorade and had a Luna gel, I was good to go...in fact, it gave me a boost of energy to run. Lol...whew! Talk about some scary shit!

At Mile 10 near the Cliff House, I had the most painful cramps in my thighs. It was so unbearable that I literally had to squat and stretch for five minutes. I've had those before, but only since I started training for the marathon...but wow, this gal does not take pain well! Knowing that I was approximately three miles from the finish, I plugged on. As I made my way down to Ocean Beach, it's such a tease because the Finish Line is in view. But with 3 more miles to go, the course takes you into Golden Gate Park and back out to the Great Highway. Mile 12 is dubbed the Chocolate Mile...lol, because that's where they give out free Ghiradelli chocolate squares for that extra boost of energy! I tell you...it helped because as I found myself back on the Great Highway, the energy in the air magnified. Family, friends, and supporters were lined up and cheering everyone on...and as tired as I was, I was determined to run it in! By the time I crossed the Finish Line, my end time was approximately 4 hours and some change.

At the Finish, you're greeted by guys in tuxes holding up silver platters with these lil' blue boxes. As a NIKE Women's Marathon participant, everyone gets a silver sterling neckace from Tiffany's! WOW! (..."It's all about the free stuff!...") Now for this simple gal, I've never had anything from there, so I was pretty stoked. It's really nice...on one side, there's a silhouette of two runners; on the back, it says, "NWM SF 07" along with the NIKE swoosh symbol and the Tiffany trademark. You also get a pink t-shirt that says "Finisher." At the TNT tent, not only did I get free lunch, but I also got a pin that says, "13.1" along with the TNT logo. Mommy Hernandez was right...it's all about the free stuff! Lol!

Needless to say, I'm damn proud of myself! As I look back at how 2007 started, I was a wreck. But as the year progressed, it only got better. The decision to do things for myself has made me stronger and more confident. Through this marathon, I wanted to prove to everyone that I AM okay...that I AM moving forward...and that divorce has not brought me down. It really did bite the big one, but with time, the hurt lessened a little bit every day. I stuck to my resolution that 2007 would be MY year..and it has been. And hey, it doesn't hurt that some of my clothes are feeling a little looser, too! ;-)

Running this marathon is a huge accomplishment for me...and I'm determined, more than ever, to do even bigger things in this second-chance-at-happiness-life of mine.


Thanks ya'll for the support...it's meant the world to me. Much love...

p.s.
Pics to come soon!

p.p.s.
I'm S-O-R-E as hell! Didn't make it to work because, well, I just couldn't move...but I did find some energy to head to NIKETOWN for guess what...a FREE massage!

Where Does the Time Go?
MnM's lil' update...in no particular order

Okay, so it's been a couple of weeks since I last updated. It really got crazy after Back To School night...I got deathly sick (that's what it felt like anyways...), had a few dinners that I just HAD to attend, and oh yes, on top of that, still go to work. I did leave work early one day, but I basically tried to be a trooper and ride it out. My kids were, surprisingly, very good on the days that I was sick. Works wonders when you ASK them to be on their best behavior...ironically when I started feeling better, they didn't bother to be quite as cooperative as before. Ha...and so goes another day in my class.

Marathon training. Shit. Because of said sickness, I lost a good week of training. I always expect to get sick in the beginning of the school year. Getting used to a new set of kids' germs is taxing, but after the initial whatever it is I had, I'm good for the rest of the year. Training, on the other hand, has slowed down. It's coming down to the wire...October 21 is just around the corner! I'm not totally buggin' about it because I'm not doing it for the time, but still, I want to do my best and make it over that finish line in one piece. Maybe I'm whining about it too much, but after I finish, I know for a fact that it will be a major accomplishment that I will be proud to have completed. Pray for me, ya'll!

So....Desperate Housewives, eh? I'm not a fan, only watched a few episodes when it first debuted, but wow...that comment. It's ignorance and downright f*cked up. Of course, had it been any other cultural group, there would be outrage nonetheless, but man. My cousin in Texas took the opportunity to call the local radio station who were discussing the matter. 'Course everything is recorded and then played back, right? When things aired, all the comments basically reflected the whole "what is everyone so mad about?" because the Philippines is "a country of whores". WTF? This is in freakin' Texas....good Lord. By the time they aired my cousin's comments, she said that hers was the ONLY comment against the episode. That's pretty freakin' sad. Makes me sad for our country...and yah, totally peeved. Sometimes, I swear, I think it would be better to live elsewhere where there aren't so many ignorant and close-minded idiots.

MySpace. Lol! I can't believe I'm going to freely admit this, but that site is so damn addicting! Not that I have hundreds or thousands of friends...in fact, I only have 25, most of whom are my younger cousins. It really is a great way to keep in touch with them and to see what they are up to. Like D had mentioned in his blog, I, too, am constantly checking if I've got comments or whatnot. Plus, I love updating my moods and the music that plays...lol...it's pathetic!

Apartment hunting...sucks. But it seems like it may be in the stars for me sometime soon...keeping my fingers crossed!

Dating....LOL....yah, that TOTALLY SUCKS! Okay, I'll admit it now...it's been "interesting" to say the least. I'm not adverse to meeting people for some Starbucks, but all I gotta say is that if YOU ask ME out...and then I have to pay for EVERYTHING? You are a waste of my time...a total DUD! I want to be impressed...is that so much to ask for? Apparently! Living the single life among the rest of my married/happily taken friends has, I've found, provided much entertainment in their eyes. Lol...it's all good! Just as in my (failed)marriage, it's all about living and learning. And oh yes, it's gotta be about having FUN, too! lol...still, no more duds! Can't a gal be swept off her feet???

Fleet Week. I love watching the Blue Angels! Went to the Marina Green, met up with my sis and family, and enjoyed the airshow....was totally awesome! I haven't been for a while and to be among the crowds of people was exciting. Not sure if I can do the crowds all the time, but to hear all the gasping, the oooh and aaaahhh, was fun. It was a beautiful day in the city, perfect to be out and about. Pictures to come later...

Back to the apartment hunting thing...I was reading the paper today and saw how airfare out of the country is dropping for certain places. My goal is to be out of the house by Christmas...BUT, if I push that out of the way, might I be able to head out to, say, Europe for a week??? 'Tis funny, too.....airfare to Ireland is the cheapest! Ironic!

We shall see....

Week in Review

Man oh man, was I GLAD when Friday rolled around or what?! Talk about e-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-o-n! And to be quite honest, I have no one to blame but myself...as usual. Lol! Let me give you a rundown of my week...

*Last Saturday, my sis, her fam, and myself headed downtown to attend the grand opening of ARTE, a collaboration of the three kuyas of Likha- Rudi, War, and Jay. On display (and for sale), they had authentic costumes, jewelry, accessories, instruments, and paintings from the Philippines, mainly from the tribes in which they visited on their research trips. It's a small place and it got packed quickly. Although we didn't stick around very long, here is a pic of a cool painting that I totally dig...

Pandanggo Sa Ilaw


We decided to head to the Metreon since they've never been before...these East Bay people...lol. We walked around checking out the place...there seems to be a lot of construction goin' on or at least changing up of some of the stores. We went outside towards Yerba Buena to take some pictures (you know how we do...) and heard music and a crowd? What was going on? Turns out that it was the Ukelele Festival! It wasn't the traditional Hawaiian chillin' on the beach ukelele music...it was contemporary, indie-like...but nevertheless, pretty cool. I automatically thought of Firemarshal J 'cuz I know how he's been teaching himself. After hanging out at the playground for a bit, we decided to go eat, but had to walk back through the Metreon. As we were, a lady with a clipboard approached us. Uh oh, we thought...survey! But get this...

They've got this Leonardo DaVinci exhibit happening at what used to be the Discovery Store...pretty huge and totally mind boggling...neat that we were able to get free admission! How? Well, the lady was "recruiting" families to do a commercial...yes, as in on TV...to appeal to more families to attend the exhibit. Unfortunately, they already had chosen families with dads and they only needed a mom with kids (sorry BroMan!). My sis agreed and we gained free admission while they filmed the commercial! Kinda neat...there was a camera guy, the mic guy (i forget the technical term...), umbrella lights, and the lady who recruited them. Ate was giggly-nervous...Nico was deer-in-the-headlights nervous...and there was Sabrina, all calm and cool. Lol! I think she's made for the spotlight! In any case, after a few takes, it was done! Hopefully, we'll be able to catch it...if you're watching Channel 7 this coming week and you see it, let me know!

*After service on Sunday, I had lunch with a really cool family from church. The week before, I had sat next to them, struck up a conversation with them during the welcome-and-greet-your-neighbor portion, and later on, exchanged contact info. She asked how long I've been attending church and after sharing my story in a nutshell, she told me that her sister was in almost the same exact situation. We had lunch at Hillsdale Mall at Nordstrom Cafe...didn't even know they had one up there! Food was YUM and the company was even better. A very nice and welcoming family...very cool that I can now say that I know someone at church!

*TNT training update: I finally got off my ass and went for a bike ride around Lake Merced...TWICE. Okay, first off, it's been YEARS since I've rode a bike...not that I've forgotten...more like, damn, my bum hurts after 8.8 miles! Plus, as I pushed myself a bit more, I began feeling muscles that I've barely used...hell, barely even knew was there...and really paid for it the following day. 'Tis a good thing, I'm sure, but sheesh...the pain! As for the rest of the training...it's coming along. I'll be hitting my month-left mark this week....aiya! And my fundraising is coming along slowly, too...SOOOOO if you'd like to support me (pretty please!), check out my TNT site...thanks in advance!

*Farewell Dinner: headed out to the East Bay for Phil and Sharmila's going away party. Met up at Outback and boy, saw some people whom I haven't seen in a while! It's always so great to have these mini-reunion of sorts. Though many people couldn't make it last minute, it was still a night full of laughs and reminiscing...and even when the restaurant closed, we took the lil' party outside on the patio for about another hour! Looking around the table, it's just neat that I've known everyone for a long time...we're talking about 14 years! Just thinking how we all met, how we were all in PACE, how we partied and did some stupid stuff, and how we've grown...wow. Almost got me teary-eyed...almost. I think because I know I'll be having dinner with lil' bro again, I won't waste time getting sentimental just yet.

Phil & Sharmila...I'm gonna miss you guys!



Thanks Jose for having us at Outback!


...with the Rosario fam...old roomies reunite!


The dudes...menses...little boys...


Half of the Get-Along-Gang...


So what he missed dinner and came five minutes before the restaurant closed! JP- I've missed you, too!


*Other than that, yours truly has NOT been sleeping well...but you better believe that when I'm at school, I'm ON IT as I should be. I'll credit adrenaline, but at around 4:30pm, I start my downhill crash...it never fails. I think between Wed/Thurs, I had a total of about 5 hours of shut-eye. Not good. Hopefully next week will be better in terms of getting more rest!

*btw: this is my 500th post! Wowzers and yay for me!

Marathon Update



I'm proud of myself and disappointed at the same time. Disappointed that I haven't been able to participate in any of the group/team runs, but proud that I've been getting into a routine that is getting me out there. So far, I've stuck to the Great Highway because it's easier to gauge the mileage. Like I mentioned before, the strip is a total of four miles back and forth. I actually have been surpassing the strip and continuing on halfway towards the Cliff House. Because I've yet to work on endurance training, I can't seem to run very far nonstop. I've been using the stoplights as my marker. I run from light to light, but admittedly so, I can only run 3/4 of it before I start walking to catch my breath. Of course, I keep moving to maintain activity; by the third light, I can pretty much make it down through the remaining lights with a mini walking break in-between.

Now that school is starting, I'm determined to get a run in everyday after work. My goal is to up my mileage to 8 miles by mid-September; that way, come October, I'll be able to do 12 miles by the marathon...without passing out, that is! I've also yet to start biking, too...man, I really gotta get on it!

*Just wanted to say a quick THANKS to those who have already donated to my fundraising project for Team in Training (TNT). I will be sending out a letter and email out very soon, so if you get doubles, my apologies in advance! It's such a great way to raise awareness...and raising funds for research and patient services by running is what I'm committed to do.

Here's the catch though...if you've been thinking of donating, please do not delay! I have only until OCTOBER 5, 2007 to raise $2,100. So check out the link on the right-hand side to my personal TNT page and whatever you can do to help would be most appreciated!

Hope you're having a good weekend ya'll...

Week Two Update

The training is coming along. Within these past two weeks, I've tried to change up my walk routines, mainly just to figure out where I am most comfortable. I've tried walking the trails around Fort Funston, going around Lake Merced, and doing the stretch along the Great Highway. Among the three, I'm favoring the beach. Mileage-wise from Sloat Blvd to Lincoln, it's approximately two miles one way. Going back and forth for a total of four miles takes me a good hour. To the well-trained runner, it may not seem impressive, but it's definitely a whole lot more than what I'm used to doing...and I'm proud that I've stuck to a routine thus far.

Today was different. The conditions in the East Bay are way different than what I am used to. For the most part, I've been starting with flat terrain; the surrounding neighborhood here is full of hills and the inclines got me breathing heavy. On top of that, it was one of the first times where I actually wished for fog instead of the beautiful and sunny weather! Both factors slowed me down and I doubt that I did the anticipated four miles...but still, I walked for an hour regardless.

I did try jogging for a bit. As a novice runner, the suggested time to run is 4:1....run for 4 minutes, walk for 1 to cool down, and repeat. MnM can be backward or "baliktad" and while I do maintain the numbers (4:1), I'm running for 1 minute and walking for 4 instead!

Pathetic, I know...

But because of the time crunch that I am in to ready myself for the marathon, I am more aware of the food choices I make and of the need to "just do it" and be active someway. One thing that I do have to work on is cross-training. I was banking on retrieving my personal mountain bike from Minnesota, but seeing that venture is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN (...long story...), my sis is kind enough to let me borrow hers in the meantime. I'd like to invest in another one, but I can't seem to swallow the fact that the one that I DO have is going to be auctioned off really soon. But I digress...

So biking is on my list of cross-training activities! Plus, I'm getting excited for school to start again...again, this may not sound impressive, but I'm going to try and make P.E. time with the kids a mini-workout, too....even if it means running laps in the schoolyard! Then, I'll change it up and perhaps we'll do some core conditioning exercises...my students do not know what they're in for this year! Lol!

I have not been able to join the mentor runs on Thursday, the team runs on Saturday, nor have I been able to join Mommy Hernandez (who is running the NIKE Half Marathon AGAIN!) Thursday evenings at NikeTown. I really have to get on the ball!

Continue to wish me luck, ya'll!

Marathon Training

I still can't believe that I actually signed up for a marathon. It's something that I told myself I would do "one of these days" and well, one of those days has come.

I am attempting to run the NIKE Women's Half Marathon on Sunday, October 21st. It's a 13.1 mile course that starts at Union Square in downtown, weaves through many scenic parts of da city, and ends at Ocean Beach along the Great Highway.

Joining this marathon is three-fold for me.

First of all, I am so out of shape that it's ridiculously scary. I've never really been one to spend loads of time in the gym nor am I anywhere near being the sporty type. I've come to accept my supposed inherited genes and while I was never truly content with having the body type that I do have, I figured that this was how it would always be. Not anymore.

Secondly, the rollercoaster of emotions (as I've been calling my divorce) has been really intense. It's a known good that when people find themselves in intense or stressful situations, they find comfort in food. That was me. I'm disappointed at how much I let myself go. I told myself time and time again that "life will begin once I sign the papers." Once I signed, I became a new person...and this desire to do so many things, things that I've never really done before, took over. Take hiking, for example. To be quite honest, I was so proud of myself for making it through in one piece! Ya'll may not think the hike was nothing, but it was HUGE for me. That day got it in my head that something like a marathon was not out of reach. I'm trying to be more open to new experiences and running this marathon is definitely up there on the list.

Last, but definitely not least, I'm running for a good cause. Because I joined through Team in Training, I am raising funds that will go towards finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood cancers. There have been so many people that I know of who have been affected by various cancers and raising money for research, for awareness, and for a cure is the least that I can do. I just want to do my part...and you can, too!

While I do the running (or jogging, walking, crawling...), you can help by sponsoring me and making a donation. My goal is to raise $2,100. If you're interested, visit my TNT site and you can make a tax deductible donation for any amount...anything will help!

Thanks in advance for helping out for such a worthy cause! And WHEN (not if...) I do cross that finish line, I'll treat you to a yummy and nutritious Jamba Juice smoothie. Sound good???