COUNTDOWN TO LV RnR BABY!!

Venting about a victory...

4:47 PM by Ali


For those of you who don't know, an American man won the NYC Marathon this past weekend... after a VERY long hiatus from the podium (do any of you remember Alberto Salazar? Yeah, me neither- too young!)... this should be an amazing reason to celebrate, right?

Right?

Sure. For most of us. However, some jackholes have taken it upon themselves to be asshattish and look for a reason to deride this incredible feat by Meb. These are asshats from the same camp as the 'birthers' doing the same thing to President Obama... they're questioning his citizenship.

Granted, Meb was not born in the US. But he HAS been here 22 years, and is legally an American citizen. Did you read that? AMERICAN CITIZEN. Legally. No questions about it.

And STILL that is not enough for the naysayers. Because according to them, a 'true' American didn't win this weekend.

What??

True American?? Please. None of us, save those of us who are a member of a Native American tribe are 'true' Americans. Not. A. Single. One. Of. Us. All of us are children of immigrants of some sort- some here voluntarily, some not. But the fact remains, that we are transplants to this amazing country. We don't own the exclusivity on this land.

Meb passed the tests- INS style AND running style. He is a result of American-based training. He is OURS.

So to you naysayers? I say fuck off. Seriously. Fuck. Off. Being an American is more than looking the part... and by being asshats, you make me ashamed to lump myself into the same camp as you.

I hope to God that the rest of the world knows that Americans aren't all intolerant bastards.

Meb? Congratulations. You really do make me proud to be an American.
3 comments

Life isn't *just* about running... (a non-running post)

2:59 PM by Ali
As you all know (especially those of you who have been here for years- scary, huh- YEARS), this time of year is usually very hard for me. I usually spend this last week of October in a serious depression- missing the original version of my son- AJ, and crying about what we lost that day.

This year is different though... I'm not depressed. That kind of freaks me out... I'm not 'over' this... not by a long shot. And yet... I don't feel the need to mourn this year. AJ is a happy kid... he's strong in his own way. And believe me when I say he does NOT feel sorry for himself. He's just... AJ. So if he's happy, why shouldn't *I* be?

I recently read a post by a disabled man. In it, he was venting about his mom... and what really caught my eye was something along these lines 'she is so sad because of what happened to her... what happened to HER?? it didn't happen to her, it happened to me.'

And you know what- he's right. This didn't happen to me, it happened to AJ. And thank GOD he was young enough that for him, this new reality is just reality. He can't remember his infancy, so to him, this is just life. And yet, he still manages to smile, and smile a lot. It's one more lesson that my beautiful boy is teaching me... one that I think I'll hold on to for a long time to come.
Happy Halloween, everyone. I mean it. Enjoy it. Dress up. Act like a kid again. Smile. Laugh. Enjoy being alive. We will... and I'll post the pictures up after we go trick or treating.

For now, enjoy these pics taken at the coffin races this past weekend:




2 comments

Playing around...

5:44 PM by Ali


Today I had the BEST day I've had in ages. And it started off with a horrible run... painful. My shins and left calf declared war on me, and after 4 agonizing miles, I had to concede the loss to my legs. I walked the last 1/2 mile to the house feeling dejected and angry. After a PR run last Sunday, it was humbling to have such a bad one only a week later.

But when I got home, things all changed. My daughter was waiting at the door for me- and she was cheering for me. I told her that my run was bad, but she didn't get it. 'But you got to play for an hour, Mommy... how is that bad?' I started to go into the usual grown up answers about what makes a run bad, and finally decided to just shower and shake the run off.

I was enticed after my shower into playing with my daughter. We ran around the yard until the snow stopped us. We danced around the kitchen to cheesy hip hop music from back in the day. We baked muffins. We laughed. We had fun in that way that kids are best at having fun- unstructured, unplanned, and uninhibited. And it made me rethink my running.

For months I have been obsessed with my times, my performance, every little detail related to my run... and that's not a bad thing... and yet... it is. It's horrible because it takes running from something natural and fun, to something that is work and boring... and grown-up.

As adults, we really tend to lose touch with having fun. Not going out for beers fun. Not watching a movie fun. But pure, unadulterated fun- running, and playing, and feeling the wind in our faces. We forget how good it feels to just let loose and move. We are so worried about looking cool that we don't stop and just PLAY.

To hell with that. Running is fun. It's pure... look at any playground during recess, and you'll see RUNNING. Tag. Chase. Running from one piece of equipment to the next. Kids rarely walk, they RUN... and why wouldn't they?? Running feels good, it makes us free and strong.

I can't say I won't track my details (for one thing, my coach needs them to help me become a better runner)... but I think for a while I will remind myself that running really is a way of playing. I do it because it's fun, and it feels good. I do it because I can... so 'bad' runs be damned. I'm pretty sure my daughter will never tell me about a bad game of tag, right?
3 comments

1/2 Marathon #2- done AND PR'ed baby-

8:12 PM by Ali


This weekend I had the good fortune to be able to go home... AND race. Racing is amazing. Going home is amazing. Racing AT home... well, there are few words for how great that is.

The weekend started off really nicely- with a visit with some friends. MUCH needed, and it set the tone for what ended up being one of the best weekends I've had all year.

Saturday took me to the Expo (LOVE the expo) and to pick up my race packet. Bib #1077- lucky 7's!! I have to admit, the lucky 7's were a sweet surprise. So... the good stuff. Can you believe I FAILED at carb loading?? Who fails at carb loading?? Oh yeah... *I* do. I have to admit, for a former fattie, carb loading still comes with a lot of difficulty for me. Still, I know how important it is, so off to lunch I went. No dice. NO dice. I tried to choke down some lunch, and managed about 15 bites. NOT good. Tried to eat some candy during Where the Wild Things Are... again, NO dice. Race nerves were in full force, and I felt like I was chewing paste. GAG! Fine... after the movie, we decided to get the kiddos some ice cream... nope. ARRRGH!!! Dinner rolled around... pasta time! I LOVE pasta... LOVE it... and, three for three on the failed carb loading attempt. I managed to gag down 4 ravioli and a few bites of bread before I decided it was a loss. Good thing I was able to chug down Gatorade throughout the day... hydration and some sugar. I knew it wasn't enough, but had to be good enough. I finally gave up on the day, and let myself pass out around 9. What. The. Fuck. What a mess!

I woke up on my own at 5 am... RACE DAY! After the debacle that was my first 1/2 in Phoenix, I was nervous. No, make that sick-to-my-stomach, dear GOD am I doing this, out of my mind freaked out. I got up, walked around the block a few times, and made my breakfast- waffles w/peanut butter. Yep, you guessed it, gagged through about 1/2 of the waffle and a few bites of banana before I gave up. Slammed some more Gatorade, and got myself ready. There is something VERY therapeutic about gearing up for a race. Tights- check. HRM- check. Glide- check. Sunscreen- check. Shirt w/bib- check. Got to the race in time to see the 5k'ers take off and was met with a HUGE surprise- my Dad was there to see me off!! WHOA!! Great shock, but it really hyped me up.



*BOOM* Race gun went off. I let the adrenaline of the other racers pace me and settle me in, and I just let my legs move. The morning was cool, the sun was rising over the mountains, and I was savoring all of the sights of my hometown. And it worked. The first 9 miles passed like nothing- smooth, easy miles. I was GUing every 3 miles, and it was breaking up the race into smaller runs... perfection! At the 10 mile mark, I was on pace to finish in 2'20! WHOA!

WHOA is right. Seconds after passing mile 10, I hit the wall. HARD. My legs got very heavy, and my brain felt so tired. SHIT! I slowed to a fast walk, popped a GU (a few miles early) and some Gatorade and poked my iPod (yes, Josh, I used my iPod) until I found a power song... and after about a minute, I was good to run again... for about 10 minutes. Then I slowed AGAIN to a walk. WHAT THE HELL. NO! More Gatorade, more power song, and I pushed on again. Over and over. Rinse, repeat. I did this horrible dance until mile 12.5... and then it hit me. I was almost done, and was about to PR the race. PR. The. Race. YES!

I rounded the corner, and saw my family cheering for me- signs in hand, screaming my name. 9 people there for me, and only me. It was all I needed to see. I pushed through the last 100 yards with everything I had left in me.... and PR'ed by 22 minutes.

22 minutes. Holy God. I went from a 3h5m 1/2 marathon in Phoenix in January (complete with a calf tear at mile 10); to a 2h43m 1/2 marathon in Albuquerque in October. I've been running again for 4.5 months. 0-13.1 in 4.5 months. Oh. My. GOD. Wow. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!

I'm happy. No, I'm fucking thrilled. THRILLED. I'm proud of myself. Proud of the work that I put into this. And while this isn't THE race I'm looking to nail this year, I am really glad that this is the race that sets the stage for Las Vegas.

And for once, I'm hoping that what happens in Vegas will NOT stay in Vegas.

YEAH BUDDY.
7 comments

The hazards of being a runner...

9:17 PM by Ali


Since I started running, I've heard from people how 'dangerous' it is for me. I'll tear up my knees. Give myself a heart attack. Encounter a wild animal. And while I don't agree with any of them (well, maybe the wild animal once since I've already had an encounter with a deer), I understand the sentiment of the worries for the 'dangers'.

Last night I had a far scarier experience. I was running at twilight, and my two fears were creeps (in cars or out walking) or tripping over an unseen hazard. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what I really encountered out there...

It was late in my run. I was already at that point in my distance when I knew that home was just over the hill, and I was pushing hard, but it felt steady and good. I'll admit it, I was pretty lost in my music, the scenery (orange and gold leaves lining my trail), and how good it felt to run... so when the car pulled up next to me, I was rather surprised. A bit scared- a woman running alone always fears stuff like that, even with mace in hand. I foolishly relaxed when I realized it was a car full of women. They didn't slow to a full stop, just enough so I could see their laughing faces moments before a cup came flying at me, and they sped off screaming God only knows what... it was a nearly-empty Big Gulp cup, and yes, it hit me.

My initial reaction was fear- what the fck was in the cup?? Then I was confused- why?? And then I pushed harder- I just wanted to get home, and off the craziness of the road. It wasn't until my husband freaked out on the 'assault' that the anger set in. What. The. Fck. I wasn't bothering anyone. I wasn't on the street. I was out, enjoying the 'art of movement' (as my awesome friend Ron calls it).

What possessed those women to throw something at me? Why?

After chatting with others about it on Twitter, I learned that I'm not alone in this- and it's not an isolated incident. WHAT?!?! Why??? What is it about someone out exercising that is SO threatening to some people? What makes them think it's okay to throw cups, batteries, fruit, and trash at runners/cyclists?? What makes a driver think it would be funny to veer their vehicle at someone in 'jest'?

Jennifer offered to fight dirty to get them back. Gregg thinks I should run w/a bow and arrow (which lead to a whole other interesting 'cupid runner' conversation... but I digress). But mostly, people were upset for me. Me? I hope all four of the women in that car get raging diarrhea and hemorrhoids. I hope the heartburn from their 7-11 snackfest was vurp worthy. But mostly, I hope someone, someday throws trash at THEM for trying to better themselves.

In hindsight, I'm a bit upset- though not enough to stay off of the trails or the roads. I have as much right to be out there as they do in their cars. If anything, it will ultimately make me a stronger runner- one who will be able to run hard enough and fast enough to get away from jackholes like them.

Be safe, runners/cyclists/walkers. Be strong. But mostly, be happy. :)
11 comments

Running in the shadow of greatness...

1:40 PM by Ali


There are people in this world who make such an impact on your soul that you are forever changed because of them. My Grandpo is one of those people.

Gentle, kind, warm, inspiring. He was the first truly amazing role model I had in my life, and that lasted his whole life... he was a scholar (a rarity in Latinos of his era), a family man, an athlete... he was creative (he built his house almost from scratch!), artistic (photography is the other great gift that he gave to me)... spiritual... humble. He was all that I wanted to be... all that I want my kids to be!

In a time when physical fitness was not the norm, he was out there running, 10 miles a day, every day of his life. He ran marathons until Alzheimer's no longer allowed him to run. He pushed his grandchildren to be more active. I posted this waaaaaaaay back when about my first 'fun run':

Let me preface this by saying that my Grandpo was an amazing runner... he ran until he was physically unable to do so at the age of 75. He encouraged all of us to do the same... and I miss him every single day.I was a chubby child... a harbinger of things to come, I suppose. My Grandpo was determined to 'fix' that. So one lovely Saturday morning (a typical Albuquerque summer day), he picked up me and my brother (an equally chubby child) up for some 'fun'. It was Grandpo, so we thought- hey! A movie... maybe the zoo... ooh, maybe Uncle Cliff's (a local amusement park)...Har-de-har-har... what we did was go downtown for a run. No, not to WATCH, but to run. I don't think I had ever run further than from the living room to the kitchen for some fresh tortillas... I remember it vividly (in technicolor!)... the sights, smells, sounds. It was a one mile 'fun' run. I thought I was going to die. That mile seemed to stretch out to forever. Why, God, why? My Grandpo loved me! This wasn't 'fun', this was hell!And then I crossed the finish line... I remember getting a medal, and the smile on my Grandpo's face... and then and there an addiction was born. I haven't always nourished that addiction, but like a silent flame, it's burned on in my heart since that day. For me, it's how I keep my much loved, and much missed Grandpo alive. That flame. So, while my first run wasn't much 'fun', most of my runs since have been.

I still think of that run. Often. It's been 22 months since I took that fateful first run after allowing myself to get fat. 22 months, and I will never stop. This time next year, it will be 32 months... and so on and so on. There are times when I feel like I am running in a shadow so large I will never be able to cast a shadow of my own. How will I ever be as amazing as my Grandpo was?



Last weekend, my daughter ran in the pumpkin fun run. She finished first of all girls. FIRST. And when she finished, she and I stood at the finish line and cheered the other runners in... and when it was all said and done she said 'mommy, now I'm a real runner like you.'

Like me? Me?? All I've ever wanted to be is a real runner like my Grandpo.... and here's my six-year old sweetheart telling me that she's a real runner like me

Maybe that shadow wasn't ever meant to keep me running in the darkness... maybe, just maybe it was meant to help me cast a bigger shadow for my kids... so that they can cast an even bigger shadow for their kids. Maybe someday, Bella's kids will say 'I want to be a real runner like Grandma Alicia'. (yikes, that was scary to type... but I digress.)

I love you Grandpo. You were my idol then. You're my idol now. And next week, you will be running with me- close to my heart, as always.
2 comments

LONG run... the report...

4:28 PM by Ali
Long run... let's see... where to start. I pushed off about 90 min later than I wanted to- closer to 8 than 6:30. It was COLD- below freezing at 6:30 w/freezing fog. Thought waiting would be better.

So, I had my husband drop me off by the Air Force Academy. The fog was so thick I couldn't even see the stadium! Wild! I felt really good... ready for a long run. I started off slow... like 11-ish pace. Just warming up and enjoying the trees- all oranges and golds. Lovely!! Of course, at mile 3ish, I had to pee... horrendously. Luckily there was a hidden spot, so I ducked in. (stopped my timer... probably not kosher, but hey... ah well... lol). Pushed off again, and was just in the zone. My thoughts were just free flowing, one into the next. Really cleared out my mental cache... I had a lot of gunk in there that needed clearing out.

I was GOLDEN until mile 10... (I was gu'ing every 4-ish miles). At mile 10, my legs got really heavy and my lungs started to hurt. So... I sucked up my pride and started taking some walk breaks- run 5 min, walk 30s... that got me through to mile 11.5. I felt golden again, so I pushed- a lot faster, oddly enough. Unfortunately that's also where the big hills kicked in. My quads were starting to protest, so I had to really focus on pushing an even pace. I think I ran faster uphill just to get through them!

I kept my eyes off of my Garmin and just ran at a pace that felt good... letting my thoughts and music push me through. It's weird, but my shuffle ALWAYS ends up on All Nightmare Long on this one brutal hill by the house. *insert twilight zone music* Seriously.

The weather never broke- I did the whole run in sub-40 degree temps with thick and heavy fog. Never took my beanie or my gloves off. Whoa!

When I got home, I finally looked at my Garmin. How the HELL did I push a pace that fast??? I sure as hell don't manage that on shorter runs?? Weird. But I'll take it. I really stretched out- like 30 min worth. Then showered, and strapped ice to my legs- we took my parents to lunch, so my time was short.

All in all it was amazing. Really really amazing. I did it. I think I shocked myself. Ha!
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