Week 16 & 17: Recovery and 20-Miler

I was slacking off on my update so I am combining my week 16 and 17 update.   Yes, yes I know.  I should post an update once a week, but life gets in a way and between my training, my job and being a mom – I have a very little time left.   So I choose to nap instead of writing my update.   Heh.

Week 16: Recovery Week

There’s not much to report for this week.  Remember when I twisted my ankle during my 17 miles run?  Yeah, that turn out bad.  It sprained my ankle quite a bit and in result, I have a swollen ankle for a while and my shins were paying the price.   My physical therapy ordered me to stay off my feet and not do any run at all.   So the only run I did this week was the one before I saw my physical therapist.  I went out to Seattle Waterfront and did 3 miles with Ryan Malcom (t).   That was actually pretty painful run.   I didn’t realize my ankle was in that bad of the shape (literally) and my shins were screaming in pain the entire 3 miles.

I spent an hour on elliptical machine on Thursday as well as Saturday.   In between, I tried to do some walk, but I literally limp around so I skipped them.   My stubbornness really carry me over to the stupid line, I guess.   Lesson learn here – when you twist your ankle in mile 1 – do NOT continue running another 16 miles.   Got it.

Week 17: Twenty Miler

Big week.  I saw my physical therapist on Monday and she cleared me for easy run on the treadmill.  I was antsy.  I haven’t run for almost a week and just want to get out and run.  Wow.  I never thought I actually said that.   I never considered myself a runner, until recently.   I never felt antsy for not able to run.   I usually get antsy for not able to go out and hike for a while.

Anyway, I ran 3 miles on Tuesday and Thursday.  At the treadmill.   I did okay.  Shins were still tender, but ankle was better.   On Friday, my PT cleared me for my long-run with a big warning to be very, very careful and to listen what my body told me.    I was excited, until Saturday morning came along.

It was COLD morning.  About 37 degrees.  No rain, but it was definitely wet in the trail.  Oh, did I mentioned COLD?   I really didn’t want to go outside, let alone run 20 miles but most of my friends already know I’m going to do this, and I just can’t face them if I didn’t go out.  Accountability.   I’m tellin’ ya.  It really does work.

So here I was.  On 37 degrees Saturday.  Out on the trail.   I wore my base layer, my Portland Half-Marathon short sleeves shirt, and my running jacket.   On the bottom, I have my capri and wore my compression sleeves.   Plus the gloves.   I was ready.   I started the run with fairly slow pace.   My PT told me to run 2 minutes slower than my normal pace which I had no problem to do so.   I ran the first 6 miles or so with Jimmy May (t) and I just love his company!

I was doing really well for the first 17 miles.  Then, I didn’t understand why – but mentally, I was done.  It just – I was beat, mentally.   I wasn’t hurt or in any pain but those last three miles turn into the hardest three miles I ever ran.   I wasn’t sure if that’s what they called it the ‘wall’ but I know I struggled.   I broke down in tears, because I was frustrated.   I need to get myself together, but didn’t know how.   My husband, John, who rode his bike alongside of me, tried to entertained me, humor me and he even sent the tweet out

That was awesome.   There was one tweet after another John tweeted that, and that’s even after many-many encouraging tweets I had during the run.   I’m telling you, I have a really awesome friends who are so supportive on things you do!   I finally finish the 20 miles and was never been so happy to see our car in the parking lot!   John had brought me my parka jacket, the jacket that I used for my climbing as I was immediately shivering when I stop running.   I stretched, drank more water and ate some banana and we head home.

For those who were there for me on during my run, and continuously sent out encouraging tweets and Facebook messages.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  Very, very much.   It meant a lot to me.   I know some of you can vouch for this too.  That was what kept me going.  Some of them made me giggle, and some of them made me burst into laugh.  Some of them ticked me off and lit fire under my behind, but all of those tweets help me in their own way.   I love them.

Below are just some of them that I can capture.   It’s so awesome and I am so thankful to have this many support.  Just look at these tweets below. They are really, really great.

 

Fundraising

Not much going on here as I haven’t done much.  I sent out first email and got some donation out of it.   I need to start kicking into a high gear.  My race is 6 weeks away.   If you happen to read my post all the way to this point, please visit my fundraising page at http://tinyurl.com/RobelMarathon.   Every dollar mean a lot.   Beside – what are the better ways to try to get tax deductible, right?   End of year is around the corner and your donation is 100% tax deductible.   And you are helping ME.  And thousand of others who are affected with blood cancer.

Week 15 – Another High Mileage

I am going to start this post by ranting a little bit.    This is still fresh in my mind so I want to get it out there.    I ran into my someone I know earlier and he asked me how my Portland Half went.   I said — it was awesome!  Then he asked me about my time.   I answered proudly – 2 hours 46 minutes.    He gave me this look and continued said – wow, that’s pretty slow.   Did ya walk it? I was in shock and completely speechless with that comment.  I didn’t even know what to say and almost mumble and try to justified my time, but then I quickly become mad.  Really, really mad.    My tears started to welled up in my eyes and to avoid any awkward situation, I made up some excuse and walk away.   Then I got even more mad.     I worked really really hard for my half and I am proud with my accomplishment.   My time might not be the most awesome one for others, but it was for me and to have the nerve to ask if I walked it, that just plain rude.    I did the course.  It doesn’t matter if I run it, walk it, or run/walk it.   I did the whole 13.1 miles.  The entire thing!

I am surrounded by awesome people around me and sometimes I forget that there are rude and not nice person out there.   The one that like to question your accomplishment and put you down for all the hard work you did.    I let that kind of person get to me and question my own accomplishment.  Even for a few seconds!

Allright, enough ranting.   I feel better.   I mentioned this incident to my #sqlrun ladies and I love that they are angry for me.   Thank you for being a continuous supporter for me.

Monday:

I was feeling under the weather and even stayed home from work, so I didn’t do any work out

Tuesday:

I was still feeling blah and decided to just do an easy run around the neighborhood.   I did 3 miles loop around the my girls’s school and feel okay afterward

Wednesday:

Did 30 minutes walk around my office.   It was a gorgeous day out

Thursday:

I decided to hit the gym and did 3 miles on the treadmill.   I felt great

Friday:

Rest

Saturday:

Big day.   It took me over two hours from the moment I got up to the time that I actually laced my running shoes.   It didn’t really want to go out and run.  It was a 35 degrees morning!    Facing with the thought of having to explain to my #sqlrun peeps on why I didn’t do my run, I sucked it up and hit the trail.

I started with a steady pace, a bit slower than normal.   Thanks to my new Zensah Compression Sleeves, my shins felt really good and I didn’t even feel any pain on it.    It was beautiful on the trail.   The ground covered with orange leaf and it was absolutely stunning.   Before long, I hit the first mile and shortly after, I stepped on slippery rock under the leaf and as I balance myself, I twisted my ankle really bad.   The sharp pain shoot from my ankle towards my hips.    I let out a big yelp, stopped and hunched over.   I was supposed to run 17 miles!!    I started walking, tried to shake the pain and continue running.   I slow down my pace and felt okay in my ankle so I kept on going.   Around mile 8, I started to feel some shooting pain again, and as I was trying to asses what it was, I tripped over a branch on the trail and almost fell!  Fortunately, I regain my balance right away and didn’t injure myself in the process.   I kept on running.   I managed to get my focus back and maintain my pace.    Around mile 11 – I felt the same shooting pain and I almost lost it.   I was frustrated.   I had 6 miles to go and I really didn’t want to quit it.   Tears falling down on my cheek as I tried to motivated myself and push through the ankle pain.   I started to feel other part of my leg, like quad and hamstring started to hurt.   I must have been compensated the ankle pain and totally messed up my running form, in result, put me in the world of hurt.

I slowed down my run even more, and even take more walk break but I kept on going.   At mile 15 – I broke down into tears.   At that point, I was exhausted.   The pain took so much energy out of me and I just want to be done.   However, I didn’t want to quit so my stubbornness kinda took over.    I took a deep breath and kept on running.    At mile 16.5 – I had the pain pretty much everywhere on my left leg and I decided to walk the rest of the half mile.   I power walked and finish the entire 17 miles.

It took me about an hour before it actually hit me.   I just did 17 miles.   I twisted my ankle, tripped on a branch, cried, curse and yell but by golly, I did 17 miles.   Thank you for everybody who tweet me.   You have no idea how big the different it made.

Sunday

I woke up very sore and stiff.   I did my usual stretched, iced and even soaked my legs in a cold water – but boy, I was in the world of hurt.   My ankle swollen and my whole quad, hamstring and shins on that leg are in pain.   Not so much on the shins, thanks to my compression sleeves.   I was limping around and couldn’t even put my weight on that leg.   I stretched more, and more and took ibuprofen every 6 hours.   I was whiny and miserable.    Then Allen White (t) told me to go out and run in a slow pace for 2-3 miles.   WHA?  I mean.  Seriously?  You want me to run with THIS ankle?   I was desperate though as I really need to feel somewhat decent, so I figured – allright, let me give it a try.   If it hurts so bad, then I stop.    So I went to the gym and started to walk on the treadmill.   It was bad the first 10 minutes but then, my ankle, quad and hamstring started to relax and I cranked the treadmill up and started to run.   A mile went by and another mile and before long — I hit 3 miles without even feel any pain.  I stepped off the treadmill and didn’t feel a lot of pain.   I felt so much better!   I’m so glad that I listened Allen’s advice!!

Fundraising

I raised $1,425 total as of today!  I’m so blessed to be have many generous and kind friends!  I’m still far from my goal though, and still need a lot of help.   Please visit my fundraising page at http://tinyurl.com/RobelMarathon to learn more about why I’m doing this.

Week 14 – Recovery Week

I never quite understand what recovery week means until this past week.   After I ran 15 miles – most of my muscles were so tight the next day.  I did my usual iced-stretched-iced-stretched routines but my shins were not cooperating with me.   I was doing fine Sunday, but Monday – I have a hard time to just go up and down the stairs.   This is the same shins that’s been bugging me before my half-marathon.   In a nutshell – I’m somewhat taking it easy this week, and only did my recovery run (another new terms for me!)

Monday

I walked for 30 minutes.   I actually felt great afterwards

Tuesday

I ran 3 miles around Seattle waterfront and wow, I was hurting the entire time.   I had to actually ran about 2 minutes slower than my normal pace.   Overall – it was an awful run.   I was so happy when it’s done

Wednesday

I did another 30 minutes walk around downtown.   I’m starting to take a liking on this walk between my running days.  It gets me out of the office and get my downtime workout in.

Thursday

I changed to my running clothes around noon, but never really made it anywhere.   I worked through lunch and still have my running clothes by the time I got home around 8pm.   I wasn’t a happy camper.   I didn’t make it as a priority.  Bad Yanni.

Friday

It’s my day off, so after I dropped my girls to school, I decided to run around the neighborhood.   I started by the school and just did a loop around on somewhat flat street (my neighborhood is very hilly).   I managed to get my 3 miles in and felt very good afterwards

Saturday

My non-long-run weekend.   Since I’m still in recovery week, I didn’t have a long run today.   Instead, I was only scheduled to do another 3 miles.   I went to my favorite trail in the morning and did my 3 miles.   My shins still hurts but not as much.   It took so much energy to run when you have some pain!   I was exhausted when I was done

Sunday

Rest

Fundraising

Big shout out this week to Brent Ozar (t) and Erin Stellato (t) who were being very generous on their support towards my fundraising!  I am slowly getting up there and still have a way to go.   I sent an email out already and hopefully things are moving fairly quickly.   For those who are looking for more tax write up for 2011, here is your chance!   Every dollar counts and your donation are being used to save life.   Please visit my fundraising page at http://tinyurl.com/RobelMarathon

Week 12 and 13: Rest and High Mileage

Week 12:  Rest

I’m combining week 12 and 13  recap as I don’t have much to recap on week 12.   It was a week after Portland Half Marathon and I was attending 2011 SQL PASS Summit. I was too busy to squeeze in the time to do my run.  Um.  Yeah.  Who am I kidding.  Let me rephrase that.  I did not make the continuous training as a priority.   There I said it.

I did, however, managed to run 5 miles on Sunday with Jimmy May (t) who is currently training for Las Vegas Rock & Roll Half-Marathon at Bridle Trail.  We had an awesome run together!  It was cold and misty, lot of hills but I felt great!

Week 13: High Mileage

Monday:

I did my strength training at home.  Not as much as I should be or as intense as I would’ve done it if I were at the gym, but I did what I could in while doing the house chores and get my girls ready to go to bed.    I did hip strengthening exercise, squat, lunges and some core exercise.

Tuesday:

It was gorgeous day out and I decided to run during lunch time.   I walked towards the waterfront and ran 4 miles at Seattle Waterfront.   It was perfect fall weather.  Sunny, but crisp cold.   Overall, it was a great run

Wednesday:

Cross Training or Walk Day.   I opted for the walk instead and did 30 minutes walk around my office.   It was misty but I really enjoyed the walk and glad I took the time to do so

Thursday:

I did 3 miles loop at Centennial Fields Park.   It was another gorgeous fall day and I love that little park.   It was a loop around the community park that have a path towards outside it.   My girls played at the playground nearby while I ran.   I felt a bit sluggish during this run as I came down with a cold the night before.

Friday:

Rest day

Saturday:

Big day for me as my schedule called for 15 miles.  Yes, that’s FIFTEEN miles.  I was a bit overwhelmed the night before since I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the number fifteen.  It seems so… well.. a LOT of miles!   I know, I know – it’s only 2 more miles than the half-marathon and I did that one already.   I can do the math too, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was a bit overwhelmed with the number.

I was up early but really had a hard time to move.   I really, really didn’t want to go but I had promise Jimmy that I would meet him at the trail head so we can run together.  So I dragged my bum out of the bed, laced up my shoes and head out.   We went to Snoqualmie Valley Trail — my favorite trail which was so pretty with different shades of color on the trees.   It was cold and misty with very little of sunshine.    I did my usual 3-1 Galloway technique (3 minutes running, 1 minutes walking) and it was amazingly awesome.   I felt great the entire run and not even once I had to talk myself to keep running.   Jimmy ran for 11 miles and he stopped, but I continued running.   I hit 13.1 miles and realized that my time was 6 minutes faster than my half-marathon time!  I was sooo excited!  I broke my personal record!!    3 hours and 2 minutes later – I finished my 15 miles with a huge grin in my face.   That was the farthest I ever run and I felt awesome!

 

Sunday:

Rest

Fundraising:

New beginning on the fundraising front.  I have a new goal.  I plan to send out my fundraising letter this coming week and other than announcing my crazy adventures in my blog, I haven’t done much.   However, if you are reading my blog all the way to this point, please visit my fundraising page at :  http://tinyurl.com/RobelMarathon.   You can read on why I am running and while you are at it, pull your credit card from your wallet and skip a latte this week and join me in this adventures instead  <smile>.   Any amount is greatly appreciated!

 

My Next Crazy Adventure: Coast to Coast Challenge

I had so much fun with the Portland Half-Marathon and am so proud of my accomplishment that I want to take it to the next level.    I want to keep pushing my limit and see where it will take me.

Life is short and   I want to be able to look back and say, yep, did that, done that, oh did that one too, so did that one.   Is that too much?   Maybe, but I’m going all out.   I had a second chance to look at life differently and I want to encourage others to do the same.

No, I’m not going to sweet talk others to climb the mountain, or run a marathon.  However – I am challenging everybody to go after things that you always want to do.  Whatever that is.   I know we all have that one thing or two that we always want to do, but there’s always something prevent us from doing that.   My challenge to you — make the time to do that one thing while you still have the time, health and ability to do so because, well, you just never know.

Life is too short for you to not go after your dreams.

Allright.  Enough with being all wise and mature.   I want to go back to being crazy.

So without further ado, here’s my next crazy adventure — I’m going to run a full Marathon.   You would think that I would stop there, right?  No, not me.  I have to go a bit more.   To be exact — I’m going to do the Disney Coast To Coast Challenge.

Yes.  I mean exactly what that page said (assuming you clicked the link).   I’m going to run Walt Disney Marathon at Disneyworld on January 8, 2012 follow by TinkerBell Half-Marathon at Disneyland on January 29, 2012

Wait.  I’m not done.

I’m going to join Team in Training again and help them raise money to fight blood cancer.   I had absolutely an awesome time with the team, and the support from the coaches, staff and alumni during Portland Half-Marathon was incredible.    On top of that – I feel like I’m involved in something important because I will be part of an incredible team who works very hard to raise the money for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for their patient support and blood cancer research.     I am a living example of what this organization do.   Because of their cancer research support, ten years ago, the medicine that I currently take is available for the public.   This is the medicine that allows me to have a normal life.   As normal as you can be as a survivor.   I’m one of the lucky ones.   There are others that are not as lucky as I am.

The second half of this challenge is the fundraising.   This is where all of YOU can get involved since I will need a lot of help to reach my goal.   Details about the fundraising can be found here.

I know that some of you have been so generously supporting me in my previous fundraising efforts and I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart, however, I am going to shamelessly ask again for your help.    Why?   Because not only you are helping ME, you are giving me and the rest of the blood cancer survivors hope.   You are helping give the families of the survivors tremendous support because that’s what the money you are giving is for.    Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offered incredible support to a particular patient AND their family.   I know it because I was at the receiving end of that effort.

So there.  That’s my next crazy adventure.   Hop on and join me.   You won’t regret it.   You will save lifes.   You will save my life.

Week 11: Portland Half – Race Recap

Wow, where do I start.    Well, let try this — I RAN HALF-MARATHON!!!

Yes, I am squealing as I said that with a full blown excitement since for me personally, this is a huuuugee accomplishment.   Never in a million years, I imagined myself to do a long distance run, let alone ran 13.1 miles.   Who does that?  I mean – WHY anybody in the world do that?  I used to questioned that.   I’m a mountaineer.  A hiker.  I am certainly NOT a runner.

Training Recap

Six months ago, my friend Karen Lopez (t) asked me if I want to join SQL Run, and I was probably intoxicated when I told her –  Sure, why not!  Before I knew it, I was on the list of people who were going to run (see her post here).  At that time, I was busy preparing myself for the climb (remember my Mt. Rainier climb preparation – I was quite busy then) and didn’t think much about it.  I told myself – I’m pretty fit, I can do this, and I can start my training after my climb.

Fast forward a few months, I climbed the mountain and it was time to get serious with this running business.   I joined Team In Training and I have to do (another) fundraising, shortly after my fundraising for the climb as well as training for the half.    That was eleven weeks ago, and boy, I was so wrong with ‘I’m pretty fit, I can do this easily’ part.

I was injured.  Multiple times because I wasn’t building up my endurance slowly.  For those that know me, patience really not my strongest suit.  I felt like I can run more, and that’s when it backfired.   I stuck it out though.  I made a public commitment that I was going to do this, and I wasn’t going to quit.  I was too embarrassed to quit, even though there was many, many weeks that I didn’t want to run anymore.   There.  I said it out loud.

Then along the ways, something changed.   I was starting to like it.   Then a few weeks after, I was starting to love it, and before long, I was actually enjoying my running time.   The sound of my breathing, the shoes hitting the ground,  the ever changing scenery as I ran.  The peace in my mind as I created a void for just myself during my run.   The opportunity to just reflect and just be.   That’s my escape.   For those who know my personal battle with cancer, you know that I also have challenges after challenges during this training and there was time that I actually thought I had to literally drag myself for the entire course of the half-marathon due to never-ending fatigued that I experienced as a side effect of my newly dosage medicine.

It was quite an experience, and I’m not even talking about the race yet.

Fundraising and Inspiration Dinner

As I mentioned above, I joined Team In Training as a preparation for this race.   Team In Training is part of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and they raised money for blood cancer research and patient support.   Obviously, this organization hold a very dear place in my heart as I am their living example of what their organization can do, and what the result of the research do to a patient.

I have to give a shout out to my SQL Community.   This community is so generous and awesome!  I just get done with the fundraising for American Lung Association for my climb which I raised over $10,000 and I turned around and start another one and I raised $2,350.00!!  Waaaay more than what the minimum required or what my personal goal was!   I have very generous friends who believe in my cause and supported me all the way.   I feel so blessed!

The night before the race, we were invited to an inspiration dinner hosted by Team In Training.   I have invited Brent Ozar (t), Rob Farley (t) and Ryan Malcom (t)  to join me and my husband, John for the dinner.   It was EPIC!  Right from the start, we are greeted by Team In Training alumni, coach and volunteer and I am not talking by just ‘Hi, how are you, nice to see you here‘ greeting.   They are all dressed up in purple, with all the bells, sign and full blown cheering us!   It was pretty awesome!!     There must be over 300 peoples on the ballroom!   Those were runners and their families, coaches, alumni and volunteer of Team In Training.

The event started with announcing the numbers and statistics.  As a group, we raised over half-million dollars for this event!  That is very impressive!!   The slide on the projector was displaying the pictures of the survivors, honorary members and the loved one that we lost.  It was.. bitter sweet for me.   Then my name was called to the podium.   It’s my turn to say a word or two.

I stepped in to the podium and thank everybody for their effort.   I’m one of the lucky one and the reason that I can stand before everybody at that very room is because 15 years ago, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society decided to fund research of my current medicine, which was then approved and made available to public 10 years ago.   This medicine allow me to have a normal life.  As normal as you can be, when you are a survivor.    Because of it, I was able to climb the mountain and was about to run my first half-marathon.   I want everybody there to know that their effort and hard work actually do save life and give hope.   To me.   And to the rest of the survivor and their family.   There were tears everywhere, and I hope that was tears of joy.

 

Race Day

I woke up at 3:30am and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I tossed and turned and finally decided to get ready around 5am.   I have to meet the rest of my team at their hotel by 5:45am.    I was a bit nervous and antsy but I knew that I’m ready for this moment.    We had a team meeting and chatted with our running coach and started to walk to our corral.   I was placed at corral W.

Our corral started to move around 7:20am and at exactly 7:27am – I crossed the start line.   There were so many people around me that I had a hard time to even walk!  I started my application to track my time, turn my audiobook on and started my run.   I did 3-1 Galloway method, which was run for 3 minutes and walk for 1 minutes.

It was hard to get into a rhythm because there were so many people but after the first mile, I finally get into my zone.   5 miles went by so fast and I didn’t even realized them.   My coach out of nowhere run alongside of me an d started to chat and made sure I was okay.   It was a pleasant surprise!!  He ran for a couple miles with me and went off to the side of the road to check on the other TNT runner.   I saw John and Ryan at various point during the cross with their big sign and smile!   It was so awesome!!   There so many spectator and especially, Team In Training supporter!!!

I heard my name called and I looked up and I saw Erin Stellato (t).   She was waaaay ahead of me, but we ran into each other on this one stretch of the course and it was so, so awesome to see her!!    Shortly after, I saw Jes Borland (t) who literally screamed her lung out when she saw me!    Shortly after, I hit the 8 miles marker and turn around on that stretch and I saw Karen, Brent and Rob Farley went the other way.  I high-fived them, screamed their name with a huge grin in my face and went on with my running.    Somehow, I missed Rob Drysdale (t) and Allen White (t) on that stretch.

Around 10 miles mark, my coach run alongside me again and gave me some encouraging wisdom to power me for the rest of few miles.   I was pumped and not even once I had to talk myself to keep running!

My running app told me that I have a mile to go and I was pumped!   I ran faster and harder and crowd was just chanting and cheering all of us!  I can’t express with words how I felt other than awesome!   I kept on running and I heard my name shout out LOUD.   I couldn’t really see where the voice came from but I knew that was Jes and Erin.   I kept on running and I saw them on the right side, behind the fence.   They were bouncing up and down, screaming my name loud and I was in heaven!  I looked at to the left side and I saw Ryan, Bill and Doug holding #SQLRUN sign.   I ran even faster, my tears started to fell and I barely can see anything as I started crying.   I lifted both of my hands up and crossed the finish line.   I did it.   I finished!  Upright and smiling!!!

I got my medal and space blanket and walked towards the food line, which by the way, AMAZING.   Got my finisher shirt, roses, trees and pendant.    I had one thing in my mind.   I want to see my husband, John.    I knew he was there by the finish line, even though I can’t see or hear him.   I kept walking and found myself by the Team In Training tent.   I signed off, high-fived a lot of peoples, ate more foods and saw Rob D., Ryan, Bill, Mike and Doug.   They were standing by Ray of Hope tent.   I joined them and chit chat for a bit before I caught a glimpse of John in the corner of my eyes.   I ran towards him, literally leaped into his arm and I lost it.   I cried my heart out.   This was a huge accomplishment for me as I had so many, many challenges leading up to this point.   Not even a year ago, I was undergo three weeks radiation and since then, I climbed the mountain and now, ran a half-marathon!!

Runner Reunion

After a hot shower, stretched and a lot of water, I went to have lunch with the rest of my friends I mentioned above.   It was the most delicious brunch I ever had!   We chatted, we took pictures, we drank, we ate and we had so much fun!   I looked around the table and found myself tear up a bit.    I had amazing support, amazing friends and amazing group of runner.    I’m very proud to call these people my friends, my new extended-family.   I love them.  Because of them, I can proudly say now that I am a runner.

Thank you.   Thank you for your support, your encouragement, your friendship and most importantly, thank you for being in my life.

Lastly, I want to thank my husband, John, who put up with my whiny days, drove me at the wee hours and rode his bike alongside with me while I did my long run without even a single complaint.

I can’t do this without you.

What’s Next

I have the next crazy thing line up, but I think I’m going to save it for a different post.   Stay tuned.   You will know soon.