Up and Running

Running with the 10:30 pace group in Riverside. Jessica is in the purple top.

Home stretch.  All smiles after 9 miles.   My right knee has been sore lately.  I read on a running forum to try an ice bath.  It works magic! You aren't as sore the next day.

Chasing shadows.

Running Inspiration: 50/50 by Dean Karnazes

Need some running inspiration while you train for your first marathon!? Check out this book 50/50 by Dean Karnazes. . This book is about a guy who runs 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days! Now, I don’t have a desire to run 50 marathons in 50 days but some of the lessons he learned along the way have helped me tremendously with my training.

Along the way, he uses the various obstacles and inspirations he encounters to present a number of running tips. Some of the topics he discusses are: Marathon race day preparation, fueling, hydration, mind games, music, shoes, visualization, strength training, diet, and sleep.

Overall at the end of each chapter he gave me great reasons to lace up and run wild! I just really enjoyed his outlook on running and his positive spirit.


***marathon training update***

I think my middle of the week runs and cross training have been paying off. What also helped me was that I finally purchased a fuel belt. Plus I took a power gel at about 45 minutes into my run and the goo definitely gave me that extra push to finish. I ran 8 miles on Sunday at the 10:30 pace!! Woo hoo!

The Road to L.A.

Training for my first L.A. marathon has been really challenging. I usually do really good at the start of the run but towards the middle of the run I start to lose momentum and all of a sudden I'm plagued by thoughts of stopping.  Its those damn hills!  I'm still trying to learn to love the hills.  Most of the time I'm chasing my pace group.

My goal for this race is to finish never mind how long it will take me . We are on mile 6 so 20 more miles to go.  Luckily the Loma Linda Lopers has different pace groups you can train with .  There are several groups ranging from the 7 minute mile group to the 17 minute mile group.  Jessica and I started off in the 10 minute mile group but later dropped down to the 10.5 mile pace group.  So far we are keeping up with are two weekday runs and the one long run on Sundays.

Every Sunday we meet at the Drayson center for our short lectures.  This past weekend was on water stop etiquette!    We stretch together and then off we go to our different pace groups.

Here's a picture of the Loma Linda Lopers.  Jessica and I are in the second row in the front. There is usually a flood of pink people running down the streets in Loma Linda on early Sunday mornings.  What I love about joining a running group is that you get to meet so many cool people! Plus everyone is always giving you great running and motivation tips.

Everyone needs a running buddy to keep you accountable.  Jessica is my running inspiration and I'm so glad she's on the road with me to L.A. 

Mile 3

I'm back on track and it feels great to start training again. After finishing the Xterra triathlon the intensity of my training went down hill. OK, truthfully I've been a little lazy. Now I feel like I'm starting from scratch! So I've dusted off my mountain bike and bought new running shoes to get me started again.

Aside from my goal to train for the Xterra championship in Saipan next year, Brit inspired me to start training for the L.A. Marathon in March 2009. My running buddy, Jessica, and I joined a local running group called the Loma Linda Lopers. This running group has been around for over 30 years and has over 250 members in the Loma Linda chapter alone. You can't miss us because most of us are wearing our hot pink tank tops and are along the main streets in Loma Linda.

What I love about this running group is that you get to train with people who truly enjoy running and the challenges of it. Every Sunday mornings we meet up at 6:30 and have really great lectures on proper stretching, weight control, shoes, motivation . . . Then we break off to our different pace groups and go for our long runs in the morning.

We are following a weekly schedule which consists of two weekly runs on our own and a long run on the weekend with our pace groups. So far we are on Mile 3 of 26!!! A long way to go but I know we'll eventually get there!

Gobble Gobble

Dang. Now I know why they called the bike race "Tough Love" up Mt. Tapochou. Not even your mama can help you! Call us insane to run up those steep gravel hills at 6 am on a Holiday but it was so much fun. My calves were on fire. We ran the Turkey Trot Race from Lower base to Capital Hill all the way up Mt. Tapochou on Thanksgiving Day. The run up was a killer but what a spectacular view from the top!

What I love most about training and doing these races is that you get to meet alot of cool people on the island. The sports community on Saipan is huge and I just love how active everyone is here. I've made friends from beach volleyball, scuba diving, soccer, swimming . . . you name it! It was good to see alot of familiar faces.

The Piersons and Moreno also came out to do the Turkey Trot. My only goal was to make it to the top alive! The song that kept me going was Till I Colapse by Eminem. Its a song about digging deep inside yourself and finding something that you thought you never had to give you that second wind. The run was tough but the reward was worth it: another stunning sunrise.
I think the Turkey Trot is a great tradition to keep up on Thanksgiving day. Back home in California my friends and I had the Turkey Bowl! A bunch of us would come together and play a friendly game of flag football before we all celebrated Thanksgiving with our families.


********Gobble Gobble*********

This year I got to celebrate Thanksgiving twice. Lunch at the Blaylocks and Dinner at the Maycocks. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for obvious reasons: great eats and having the chance to spend time with those you love and care about. Though I really miss my family back home in California I still am fortunate to have my Saipan family. Here's some pics of our dinner at the Maycocks. We had a yummy potluck dinner and the best pumpkin, cherry, and apple pies!








Here's some pics from my lunch at the Blalocks. Sara and Kelli made a traditional Thanksgiving meal from scratch and it was so yummy! I really loved Sara's home made cranberry apple sauce and the turkey was cooked to perfection. At the end of our meal we went around the table and talked about the things we were thankful for. Everyone had some heart felt thoughts and funny things to say. Love hanging out at the Blalocks because there is never a dull moment! Right, Harry?!





As I look back on this year I realize that I have so many things to be thankful for. Here's my list in no particular order:

My faithful flossing patients, for making me feel what I do matters.

My jack hammer Handy Dandy Cavitron tool, for helping me get this betel nut crap off my patient's teeth everyday. My hand would really die if I didn't have this tool. (Pictures taken with patient's consent. Look away if you can't stomach these pics)





My ipod, for helping me escape my daily grudges. Music does wonders.

The internet, for letting me explore and discover things and amazing sites that I never thought I'd ever get to experience.

My health, I'm so lucky to be able to do the things I love to do.

My family, for always being there. I'll be home soon.

Manang Janice, Angie, Mel, and Rae, for being my life lines.

AC, for helping me snooze at night.

Mandi Asian Spa, for the infinite pool that over looks the ocean.

Truoung's Viet Restaurant, for their yummy avocado smoothies.

Tre, for the best deep tissue massages.

Saipan SDA Youth, for lifting my spirits every week.

Friday Night Bible Study buddies, for your encouragement and your insights about a loving God that does exist.

Moretti, for making me smile and laugh everyday.

Scuba buddies, for being my guardian angels and experiencing a whole new world with me.

Java Joes, for your iced Chai drink.

Saipan, for her sunsets and sunrises that put my soul at ease.

Golden Gate Bridge Run in Pics

I had this strange urge to do a morning run across the Golden Gate Bridge. Aubrey was game to do a early morning run with me. So happy that we did. Such a great view and the weather was perfect. Overall I think the run was just under 4 miles.







I heard there is a marathon run from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay bridge. I'll have to come back for that one. My flight leaves in a couple of hours =( So sad to leave SF. One last blog post to come on my trip to the Wine Country-Nappa Valley.

Defending My Ipod Playlist

First off nothing beats the sound of nature when running. In Saipan, there is nothing as peaceful as running the trails through the wilderness and on the beaches. You are left with only your breath and your footsteps. Of course if you want a total new experience you need to run with the Hashers!! For the days when I need an extra kick to get out of bed, I run with my trusty Ipod.

I have set out to make the perfect 4-hour (alright five hour) running playlist. My playlist serves as one purpose: to distract! They need to take my mind off the marathon three minutes at a time otherwise I start to get tired.

I really do believe that the choice of your songs is important. You’d be surprised how a song can affect your pace. I tried running with a shuffled mix of songs but I found out very quickly that the order of the songs really does matter. I need structure! There must be order and it must make sense!

My #1 song on my play list right now to get me pumped up: Lose Yourself-Eminem

The other bands that follow are Staind, Incubus, Metallica, POD, Prodigy, Soundgarden, Beastie Boys, Anything electronica to keep my pace up. Hmmm, probably all bands you didn't expect that I listen to.

And then I have some pick me up songs by different artists to keep the run entertaining like Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Lou Bega’s Mambo Number 5, Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Lepard, and songs from ABBA.

Curious. What songs are on your top playlist?

Change Is Good

Most people are uncomfortable with change. I think its easy to get stuck in a routine or set in your ways. I'm so tired of having a set schedule especially when it comes to training. I get restless. I usually hit Gold's Gym or Beach Road for my morning runs. Beach Road is nice for a run because of the view of the lagoon in the mornings however the fumes from all the cars passing by really bothers me.

For a change early Friday morning EJ and I drove up to Suicide Cliff and ran from the base of the hill all the way up to Suicide's look out. Its a gradual steep incline run and it's a killer on my legs. I'm so glad we did that. I love the north part of the island because its so green and it's away from everything.

When your running, there is nothing out there but you and the road. My thoughts are silenced and I am left with the feeling of numbness. Numbness is good. Sometimes I think i just need time to zone out and forget about . . . I think I have come down with a case of island fever and am longing for my trip to San Francisco. 17 more days till I can breakaway . . .

Thoughts on Running

I started running as a reaction to the road. Before I moved to Saipan, I use to commute 65 miles one way to work everyday. Traffic and long commutes to work became a daily routine. Actually, it is a way of life out here in Southern California. I was so busy working that I had put on 10 pounds over a year without noticing. I was just too tired to exercise after work. One day, I looked at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t fat but I wasn’t healthy either. That’s the day I bought my first pair of running shoes, and I haven’t quit running since.

I started running 20 miles a week and I lost the weight fast. I feel so much sharper now. I consider myself a beginner, but I like that. I enjoy it more when I feel like I’m learning a lot. My shoes are the one of two things I’ll take everywhere with me. The other is my ipod.

I went running with the Sacros at Mile Square Park in Orange County. Michael and I sprinted towards the end and I almost won. We ran a good four miles tonight. While I was running I thought about my morning run in Saipan. There is a trail on Beach Road that I run every other morning. I get up just before sunrise, drive down to Beach Rd and start running.

Running has been a safe haven for me. It’s my time to reflect. It's quite addicting actually. Early morning it’s quiet, the water is like glass, and as the sun comes up her coral rays scatter across the ocean. I look around and think, what a luxury.

Sometimes I hate getting up at 6 am for a run after being up so late. But I tell myself I can go back to bed as soon as I’m done. Usually, I’m dumb enough to believe it.