One Week Left before my first 10k

I realized this morning that my 10k race will be in one week. I'm-freaking-out. Mainly because I have not been training as well as I should. I only got to run ONCE this week and it was a simple 2 mile loop just to make sure my leg was ok after last weekends 6.5 mile run/ foot injury.

My foot felt 90% better the next day and felt a little tender but otherwise good by Monday. So I ran on Tuesday and it went fine.

However I didn't get to run again at all this week. I got to do small hikes during work sure, and I got to try out a belly dancing class on Thursday so at least I haven't been completely idle this week but still.

I'm going to just have to do my best next Sunday. I'm going to try my best to get multiple runs in next week before the race but I don't think I'll be running 6 miles straight again until race day. (It's not really recommended to over-exert yourself right before a race anyway.)

I suppose that's not a bad plan. Plus this race is mainly to get me moving. Get me motivated. I'm thinking that I'll try this race, see how it goes, and then sign up for a new 10k later next month to get better.

Maybe by May I can sign up for a half marathon and try that out.

So I suppose in the end I'm just going to wing it. Honestly that's EXACTLY how I do everything. 


"Hmmm, I don't really know much about this job. Let's wing it!"
or
"I didn't really study for this test... Aw well let's wing it!"

Yeah. That's me all over.

Every once in a while I get small pointers from my co-workers and believe it or not they've helped. I suppose I should thank them... and ask for more tips!

Wish me luck next week!

Nervously enthusiastic

-w0rld

Running 6.5 miles... and an injury.

Today was the day. I was finally going to be able to have the time, the motivation and the plan to run 6 miles non-stop as part of training for the 10k race I signed up for at the end of the month.

I got one of these suckers.

I waited a few hours in the morning, had breakfast, chatted, and used the facilities. I put on my new sports bra, old sports shirt, over shirt and slacks. I laced up my running shoes grabbed my phone and it's new arm band I got at Target a week or so ago. I set Pandora radio on "Club Music and was ready to go. My run on Wednesday helped me find a new loop that would take me around for 4.6 miles. All I had to do after that was do the 2 mile loop I've gotten used to and TA DA! I'd complete a 10k run! More than that actually.

It was a great plan. I'd run 6 miles before but I had to stop after the first 2 miles last time because I don't know about you but running makes me have to visit the little girls room like you can't believe. It's annoying, uncomfortable and a hassle. I'm learning to work around that body fluke. But anyway the first time I ran 6 miles a few weeks ago I had to do a potty break after 2 miles and then complete the next 4 miles. So I ran 6 miles but I had to stop.

Yeah, maybe one day right? LOL

This time I wasn't stopping. It was interesting because most of the run was going to be on pavement but there is an almost 2 mile stretch next to a highway. I found out that there is a horse trail parallel to the highway and I figured it would be a better, safer route to take than have to move to let cars pass every five minutes. It was good because I didn't have to worry about traffic but I am NOT used to trail running and although I've done some of that stretch once or twice before that horse trail always changes with weather and erosion so I had to be very careful of where and how I stepped.

After the two mile trail running stretch I headed back to camp down a curvy trail, made it back to my starting point and kept going. I was going to do another, smaller 2 mile loop to finish my 6+ miles.

I had to motivate myself to keep going on that last stretch but I did it. I finished my jog in 1hr and 28 minutes. Most of that time was spent either watching where I was stepping, day dreaming about cooking or enjoying the view of all the gorgeous ranch houses I passed along the way. But when I finally stopped and sat down, relieving my feet of my weight I was able to feel my feet and legs throbbing. Talk about pounding the pavement. A minute later I started feeling a piercing pain in my left arch. "Aaah sh**" was all I could say to that.

Right about there, yes. 

This wasn't the first time I'd felt a bit of pain in my left arch. I figured the last time that I stepped wrong during a hike and my foot had swelled up. I had iced it and elevated it and eventually the pain went away. So today when I felt my left arch hurt, and as the minutes continued the pain got stronger and stronger, I knew I was in trouble.

By the time I finished stretching, went back to the house and took off my shoes my left foot was in agony. My first instinct is to use 'arnica' and massage it. But I don't have 'arnica', don't even know what it's called in English, and my foot was in too much pain for me to want to touch it.

Eventually, after google-ing foot cramps, texting my mom, and feeling my foot out I left my room and hopped to the fridge where I knew we had ice packs. My roommates gave me suggestions and one of them handed me a book called Fix you Feet. I gratefully accepted everything, wobbled back to my room, elevated my foot, put on the ice pack and opened the Foot book to heel and arch pain.

Gotta love it. 

Eventually after putting on and taking off the ice pack and stretching my foot to localize the pain I realized I was starving. I needed to get up to cook lunch and take some Advil. (I learned the hard way that you can't take Advil with an empty stomach so I NEEDED to eat something before I could indulge in pain killers.) So I wrapped my foot up and headed to the kitchen.

I heated up tomato soup, added garlic, garlic salt, oregano, baby spinach and slices of grilled chicken. I had to limp run to the smoke alarm to turn it off because apparently my kitchen doesn't appreciate the smell of smokey garlic cooking. I had to call the Fire department and tell them it was a false alarm, but finally I got to sit and eat.... and take Advil. LOL

Now I'm in bed with my wrapped foot slightly elevated and the pain killers are taking effect. In a few hours I'll inspect the damage and I might add a hot press.

I'm a little bummed I got hurt but I'm hoping that the foot will get better soon and that it mainly had to do with over exertion and lack of hydration on my part (I definitely didn't have any water on this run, and it was a warm sunny day too.)

Do I regret running this far. Not at all. I'm actually ecstatic that I was able to finish such a long run. This is the farthest I've ever run non-stop EVER! I know now that I have to take care of my feet if I'm planning on continuing this running regime. I really hope that by tomorrow my foot is better. I need to keep training to be ready for my 10k at the end of the month.

Wish me luck and remember to take care of your feet!

love
-w0rld

Epic Hiking Adventure

Yesterday morning I woke up excited. I knew that by the end of the day I was going to be exhausted. I knew that by the end of the day I would be scratched up. By the end of the day I would be sore, dirty, gritty and achy. I didn't care because this morning I was going to go on an Epic Hike.

I live in the mountains above Palm Springs, in an area called Garner Valley. I've hiked around this area a bit and I've posted those adventures on this blog as I do them. Yesterday wasn't just any other hike. Yesterday was the long "knee pounding" hike that would take me, my co-worker and my boss (lol) from the mountains down to Palm Springs. An elevation loss of 6000 ft. 600 feet of rock, sand, and spiky bushes. Oh it sounded wonderful!

And so it begins.

The hike started up a gradual switchback incline to the top of the Pacific Crest Trail where we would meet our highest elevation before we started descending. Here is a picture of me at the highest point.

From there we went down one mile and reached Cedar Springs full of cedar and black oak trees. Beautiful.

Once we walked past Cedar Springs we had to re-find the trail because it wasn't clearly marked. Once we did we ended up in an open ridge. I couldn't get over how amazing the 360 degree view was. 

Once the ridge passed we noticed a post and a sign on the ground. The sign says "By Authority of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians." We reached reservation land.

We started switchbacking quite a bit and the whole way we could see Palm Springs in the background, reminding us where we were going, and how far we still had to go. 

Eventually we could see palm trees and the canyons!

                                 

When we saw an oasis ABOVE us we knew we were getting close. 

 We round a corner and we see civilization! Cars! I must have taken a step back when I saw people coming up our trail. We hadn't seen anyone for hours. LOL

 We make it down to the palms and I take my shoes off slowly and soak my feet in the cool water.

We made it!

Going on this hike was more than just a fun trip for me. It reminded me of how far I've come in my journey. How, although, I've worked in the field for a few years I never felt comfortable being active. I never really felt I was an equal to my 'more fit' partners. Today, although the first 2 miles were slower for me (I will never be able to hike fast uphill. It's just not going to happen.) The rest of the trip I was able to keep up and even lead part of the time. It was a wonderful experience. I was able to geek out a little bit and my access and love for landscapes didn't escape my eye nor my camera. LOL. These are the kind of adventures I love to take because they remind of how far I've come and how much more I have to go.

I love it!

love

-w0rld

My COASTAL 5k January 28, 2012

Yesterday morning I woke up around 5:45 a.m. nervous yet ready to run my second 5k. I decided to spend the night at my friends house since he lives about 15 minutes away from the L.A. beach that would host the race. I got ready silently, ate a toaster waffle, had some water and by 6 a.m. I went outside to do a practice jog around my friends block. I wanted to warm up but also wanted to feel my outfit for anything annoying or distracting and make any necessary adjustments.

By 6:30 I was ready to go, woke up my friends with a morning greeting and received sleepy "good luck's" in return. I chuckled gratefully out the door.

When I arrived at the beach parking lot sunrise was at it's finest.

I stretched and walked over to the registration tables to pick up my number and T-Shirt. I was happy they had the right size for me. I really liked the long sleeve cotton shirt.

The morning was chilly and I wasn't sure if the weather would warm up enough for me to not need some sort of sweater so I put off pinning on my number and decided to power walk/jog the beach strip while I waited for 8:00 a.m. and the start of the race.

This wasn't the road we would be running on but the road crossing the actual beach. 

Me early in the morning as I power walk the beach in wait for the main event.

By this time I wasn't very nervous and I was happy seeing people coming, meeting, greeting and registering. Although I didn't recognize anyone I had a lot of fun watching all the different kinds of people; different ages, different sizes, different nationalities, people with dogs, people with strollers, pregnant, wrinkled, short, long, athletic and not.. etc. All this people watching kept me from getting angsty but I couldn't help taking this picture of the infamous finish line. LOL

"I will be crossing you soon enough my friend, and it will be glorious!"

By 7:45 a.m. the parking area was packed. There were hundreds of people there waiting for the start of the 5k and/or waiting for the 5k to commence so they could get ready for the 10k.

By this time my family showed up and I was excited.

Mom and Grandma there to support.. and hold my camera!

Soon after meeting up with family I had to leave to the start of the race up the hill from the finish line

Heading toward the start of the race. You can see the start by the tent on top of the hill.

I decided to hang in the middle of the giant crowd and to the right. From my experience in my last race I knew now that there would be a lot of people passing me in the beginning and I didn't want to be in the way. I also didn't want a lot of people in my way as I knew I would slowly (but surely) start to pass others as time progressed.

The race was a big loop along the main road above the beach. It was a little bit of a tease because looping back I could see the finish line coming closer but I had to do a long round-a-bout and then run down a ramp before heading toward the actual finish.

By the time we rounded and headed down the hill the man that I had been keeping track of and eventually catching up to, fell behind me as I picked up my pace for the last half mile. I started keeping step with this awesome and fluorescent-ly dressed woman by the time I saw my family cheering me on near the last stretch.

Go Elina Go!

Right after zooming past my cheerleading squad I spotted the 3 mile marker and knew it was time to start gunning it. By this time I was speaking my simple mantra out loud "Keep going." Breath "Keep going." Breath "Go." Breath "Go." Breath "Go." Let me tell you it helped!

I start to pick up the pace the second I see the 3 mile marker in yellow.

 I'm sweating, I'm breathing hard and I'm running. Not jogging or 'trotting', I'm running. I cross the finish line.

Crossing the finish

I look at my time and my mother comes running up to me yelling the number; "34 minutes and 20 seconds Elina!" I beat my race time by 1 minute and 10 seconds. I happily yet tiredly rejoice

Yay!

As I'm hugging my dad we're asked to pose for their website, so we do.

Happy day~

We spend some time going around the booths and looking up the up coming spring races and then I spot the result sheets. So I go and find my name.

-I finished 173rd in a race of I don't know how many.

- I finished in 18th place in my age division

-I crossed the finish line at 00:34:21 

-My pace was 00:11:04 which the best time I've had...ever!

I put on my race shirt and take one last accomplished picture by the beach before we head out and meet up with friends for lunch in West Hollywood. What a great day!

I did it!

You can too.

love
-w0rld

Yesterdays Hiking Adventure

Yesterday I went on this beautiful 6 mile hike just around the corner of where I live. I knew that there were a ton of trail heads near me but I hadn't had much time felt comfortable going on them without a map or some sort of direction. Since I bought my local hike book I decided to try out this hike. It was a nice overcast day and the trail ended up being this gradual climb (uuhhgg uphill!) but believe me the view at the top was worth it.


The start of the trail. I loved this little rock bridge

After about half a mile I finally reached the switchbacks up the mountain. It was a really gradual climb and not as bad as I first made it sound. This is the view of the valley from halfway up the hill.

When I finally reached the top I was able to see the desert on the other side!

After that I still had about a mile left to go to get to the spring I was headed to. As I walked I suddenly saw large patches of snow, and it reminded me that yes, it is winter isn't it? LOL

When I finally got to the spring there wasn't much water yet (it's supposed to rain tonight so I guess I should have waited huh?) but I was thrilled to find this little frozen stream. Hilarious!

Running in to two gentlemen on the way back we talked about the lack of water on the spring and how beautiful everything was. I love running in to people like that. When I reached the peak again I took this picture.

before heading back down and finishing the morning feeling great.


Isn't nature fun!

love
-w0rld

Hiking in the San Jacinto Mts/I signed up for a 5k!

Hello everyone,

It's been so busy all week and before I knew it it was the weekend and my weigh in/CDCC check in is tomorrow.

I wanted to update before checking in simply saying that this week has been better.

The week started off mediocre on food in take, water and lack of exercise but around Wednesday/Thursday I finally started to get my act together and started paying more attention to my food and tried to make time for some form of physical activity. It helped that, depending on the schedule, my job sometimes requires hikes and running around. Working with 5th and 6th graders can do that to you.

It really started Thursday night, after a minor mental breakdown (probably had to do with hormones or being a girl, I'm not sure) and complaining for weeks that I didn't want to jog at night because it's been so cold I finally bit my lip, put on some layers and my headlamp and did a quick jog around the camp. A total of 14 minutes makes me believe that I probably ran around 1 mile. It wasn't much but it was the push that I needed.

Yesterday was a big day. I ran around with kids in the morning, went hiking with co-workers in the afternoon, went jogging with a buddy in the evening (it was so nice of him to keep pace with me although I knew how slow my pace must have been for that running fiend.) and not only that but that night we went to karaoke and I probably danced for 2 hours straight. (What can I say, Michael Jackson and old classics do that to me. LOL)

What hiking around my "backyard" looks like. Gorgeous neh?

My co-workers and I are supposed to be training for a 5k and I finally registered! It's official now, I'm running on my first race next weekend!

It's pretty awesome because this race is benefiting the Boys and Girls Club that actually started the Science Camp that I currently work for. It'll be a great opportunity to support the club as well as represent the camp, not to mention I get to finally fulfill my goal of running in a 5k! If you can't tell I'm VERY excited~ LOL

Today I went hiking again, trying out different trails from the ones my co-workers and I did last night. It was nice to move around and get acquainted with the trails, partly because I need to know them when I lead hikes for work but also because it's just damn gorgeous and I can't get enough of it.

I'll check in tomorrow with my Weigh In and more specifics on how things in the challenge are going.

Until next time!

<3 w0rld

My First Tango Lesson

I've been home for almost a week and my mom asks me:
"There's an Introductory Tango class for visitors on Sunday. Wanna go with me?"

My instant answer was "Hell yes I do!"

Back track a bit: I love dancing. No let me rephrase, I. LOVE.DANCING. But I've never taken any classes and until late high school/college I pretended I didn't like it for whatever dumb reason I had at the time. One of my life goals is to take dance lessons in ballroom or in anything really. Moving around a lot (and lack of funds) has pretty much prevented that. So being able to get a taste of a Tango class seemed like an amazing opportunity.

We called the studio to get more information and it was pretty much a sample class for visitors to get a taste of the course and current students to help and show their stuff. It seemed perfect.

So Sunday arrives and after getting lost a little we find the studio. We walk in and sure enough it's a nice sized room full of mirrors and bars and very few people. I get nervous. It was smaller and less busy than I expected(I guess the entire world isn't a tango enthusiast like I was). I could tell my mom was a little nervous too so we walked around and went to the second room where there was a table with dancing shoes and another table with tango cds. Tango music filled the studio.

I striked up a conversation with a woman who worked there and after her description of the teacher and general chit chat I felt better and my mom and I sat down to wait for more people to trickle in.

Completely un-related comment: It's raining right now as I type this and I'm getting super giddy. I love rain!

Finally the dance teacher came. Older man all in black with a bit of a belly, perfect posture and although the top of his head was bald the rest of his flowing gray hair reached his shoulders. Fair skin and skinty light eyes, this man WAS an Argentinian Tango master.

He was intense from the get go and explained that this class wasn't about learning steps and that Tango wasn't about a routine choreography. You work for the music and the music doesn't work for you. So, the first step to seeing if Tango was for you was to "listen to the music" and if you didn't feel something for it then the music wasn't for you.

He kept saying things like "stop thinking" and "Stop worrying about the steps and just listen!"
"I'm not going to teach you how to count. You already know how to count. There is no counting!"

In other words, this guy was awesome.

We all stood in a straight line. He taught us how to stand. Then how to walk. Then how to groove. He then separated the men from the women and thought us the basic steps. Turned around and taught the women the coordinating steps. Then paired us up!

I'm not used to having a partner when I dance. I'm usually the lead. I couldn't be the lead this time because I didn't learn the male steps! So I was relieved that I was actually going to dance with a guy for once. LOL

The guy I ended up with was pretty suave-ly dressed and apparently a current student because he helped me and corrected me (nicely) as we went. He complimented my fast learning skills and I thanked him. More current students had come at this time and were helping all the newbies as we switched partners.

I got to dance with almost the entire male audience and I admit more than a couple of times I would look over to the mirrors and see (and feel) myself in perfect sync with my partner.

"Holy shit. I can dance!"

Now, I know I can 'dance'. Most people who meet me, then see me dance end up commenting on it with awe and each time I laugh and thank them. But this was a class. I was dancing with current students. It was TANGO! And I could do it. I did it. It was awesome.

By the end of the night most of the new people had left (where did they go? Where was I? Oh right dancing suckers! HA!) and my mom and I sat down for a breather. (Btw. I got my dance craziness from my mom and although I hadn't been paying much attention to my moms progress I was no where near surprised when people were going up to her saying things like "You're really good!" or "I was watching you and you can really dance." LOL) The only dancers left were the current students and I was watching their fancy moves.

My mom decided it was time to go and so we said our goodbyes. Thanked everyone and shook the teachers hand. As we were walking to the door one of the guys came up to us and told us that it could be intimidating and that its just like coffee. It could be an acquired taste. I laughed and patted his arm and told him not to worry we were hooked before we walked through the door.

As we drove away we excitedly recalled the night and talked about which dancers were easier to dance with and how comfortable we felt with the moves etc. We were both at our element then and I was so happy to see my mom so excited.

To top it off it was raining! This place is so dry in the summer I welcomed the weather.

Over all an amazing night. It just proves to me that I WILL make it a priority to take dance classes. When? I don't know but either way it WILL happen.

love
-w0rld

Weigh In: Saying Goodbye to Catalina Island

I know it's late. I'm really trying to keep on top of everything and this blog is no exception. Little efforts are what really matter. So here I am. Late but here. Let's do this!

Current Weight: 207.0 lbs (I had to use a different scale so this is the most accurate I could get.)

Work Out Achievement(s): I should really change the title of this section to "Reflections" shouldn't I? LOL It really ends up being more about reflections than achievements. Last week was my last work day in Catalina Island. From there I spent the rest of the week kicking back and chilling on the island before finally going home. I got home Sunday night and I DID weigh myself yesterday with the house scale.

One of the last real work outs I did on the island was a final hike up Hermit Gulch trail. I've mentioned this hike before. 1.7 miles uphill until reaching the ridge. I started the hike in the early evening after the heat of the day went down. Once up the ridge I decided to go up a pseudo trail and planted my self in a position to watch the sunset. It was a clear day with just enough clouds to make an effect. I could see San Clemente island more clearly than I'd ever seen.

View from where I was laying down to watch the "show". LOL

Absolutely beautiful. I was surrounded by white sage also so the wonderful smell and the fantastic view was the treat I gave myself to say goodbye to the island. At that time of day no one was up there (not that there's a lot of traffic anyway) and the peacefulness was pure bliss.

However, once the show was nearing it's wonderful finale I realized I was wearing my prescription sunglasses, a sleeveless shirt, and no head lamp. Although the biggest land predator is a small fox I didn't feel comfortable being found in the middle of a pseudo trail at night so I literally ran, skid, and jumped my way back down the hill to make it out of the trail before dusk ended. LOL.

It was a great little adventure. I never tire of these little ventures and I hope I continue to have more as time passes. I would never have done anything like this before my weight loss journey. I wouldn't have even fathomed the idea of hiking up a 2 mile hill in the first place, believing I simply couldn't do it so why even think about it. Oh how things have changed.

-------
I'm home now and I have to worry again about my binge eating the second I come home. I've already started and in order to stop myself today I left the house and went to the closest book store. I spent some time reading up on how to reading body language (two of my favorite hobbies is learning about body language and analyzing peoples handwriting. LOL) and staying away from the coffee shops baked goods section.

Before I left I bought a new, shiny lime green (<---my favorite color) journal. I decided that I'm going to write my thoughts down every time I start noticing myself head for the fridge when I'm not hungry. Understanding what my feelings are is the first step to understanding why and when I use food to fix my emotions. Right? A part from that for the last few mornings I've been going to the local high school with my mom and walking the school track before she has to go to work. It's pretty mellow but it's a great start to the day and I know that the pace we go, although slow for me, is challenging to my mom and I've been wanting to spend some active time with my mom. It's been a great time to talk and catch up. I'm rarely home so this is some nice quality time. Baby steps right? I need to start making/re-making good habits. I can do this!!


Goal(s): I'm still trying to keep up drinking sufficient water a day and being active at least 30 minutes a day. From there I'm adding writing in my new journal once a day (at least) and getting my affairs together before starting my new job/adventure.

Wish me luck. This can be done!

love
-w0rld

Weigh In: My last jog on the West End

Hello Everyone,

I know I've been a bit distant lately. First I was going through some sort of melancholy phase and then I went on my trip to Mexico. I flew in to LAX 2 nights ago and now here I am!

Although I didn't post it my weight before my trip was 199.6 lbs. Now that I came back -- and after indulging in some delicious Mexican dishes -- I weighed myself this morning to see the damage. Here it is.

Current Weight: 202.8 lbs (Predictable.)

Work Out Achievement(s): I was actually pleasantly surprised I didn't gain more weight than this and although I haven't been eating the healthiest food in the last couple of days I KNOW I can get rid of these few pounds in a couple of weeks.

Honestly, the hardest thing is forcing myself to go back to blogging. This break really opened my eyes on how easy it is to lose a streak, and how hard it can be to try and re-start the habit.

But, like other times, simply logging on to blogger and reading some amazing entries gave me that final push to get off my ass... and in to my running shoes!

Tonight is my last night on the western side of the island. Tomorrow will be my last day. I realized that unless I woke up really early tomorrow morning I would miss my chance to get one more jog in this gorgeous area of the island. Since I hadn't been jogging in almost two weeks there was no way I was going to pass up this opportunity.

I decided to take my camera this time.

Stretching before the run.

The start of the jog

Passing by the section that burned earlier this year. :(

After turning to start the long stretch to the end of the road.

I can see the end of the stretch. Do you see the benches past the palm trees?

Reached the end of the strip and take a second to take this pic of the "Pregnant Indian Princess" Do you see it?

Turning around. You can now see all I've jogged and what I have to re-jog to finish the 2 mile stretch. I love this bench. "Never trust a skinny chef."

This road is called Ballast Point. This is the actual 'ballast point'. The story being that old ships would drop their ballasts here and therefore created this stretch of sand.

Cute older couple, 12 o'clock!

Final stretch. Take a left, up the hill and you're done!

All done! Sweat is beautiful right? LOL

Can I just say taking pictures while jogging is HARD! But that's what I got. Catalina is a beautiful place isn't it? Gotta love it.

Goals: I'm going to take it one day at a time right now. I think most of my slump had to do with the fact I didn't make it to my goal weight by my birthday like I had hoped/promised myself. So for now I'm just going to take it one thing at a time and just try to go back to healthy habits. Drink enough water. Exercise 30 minutes a day or more. Eat veggies and fruit. Stay away from processed food. Etc.

Wish me luck and I'm happy to be back!

-w0rld