My First Marathon

Hope you do not mind hearing a little about me. In 2002, after The Ohio State Buckeyes won the Nationals, my baby then 17 years old decided that was the university of his dreams. That of course was my nightmare. My baby was going almost 3000 miles away. Why not California State "Anything". Anything but, that far away. But how could I destroy his dreams, I just suffered silently, and helped him prepare for his new journey.

But, I needed something to prepare me for the moment he left and the duration of his studies. That year I decided to train to run a "Marathon". People still ask me " Why not a dog"? They require less time to train, and surely,training them is less painful. I finally said " Okay guys, if I do this for a good cause, would you stop picking on me"? So I decided to select a good cause and my choice was Train To End Stroke an endurance training and fund-raising program, benefiting the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, in which participants train to run or walk a full or half marathon.

I became part of this program shortly before I took my "baby" to The Ohio State University in September 2003. By the way, they gave me a gym bag which says, "I swapped my kid for this bag at Ohio State". Wow, they had no sympathy, they had to rub it in. In the beginning I could not stand to look at it, but then I started to use it to carry my training gear. Well at least I got something for all the extra out of state tuition I was paying for.

I trained constantly, and I finished my first marathon which was the The Los Angeles Marathon in March of 2004. And like they state in the movie Spirit of the Marathon," When You Cross The Finish Line It Will Change Your Life Forever". This event changed my life. It will also change your life.

As for the bag I traded for my kid, it's still kicking after the countless Marathons and Half-Marathons I've completed. It's a little faded to say the least, and I keep telling my son, that he needs to come home, so I can put it away. But, he's not listening. Sometimes I think he's challenging me, or maybe he likes the person I've become after my life changing experience of completing a Marathon.

Weight Management

Before 06/07 and After 4/09

Recently I’ve learned how to eat enough food, enough times per day, and the right combination to maintain a healthy weight appropriate to my height, age and stature.

I use to skip meals thinking that I would lose weight. I did this for years, and was always frustrated because I did not lose any weight. My weight never got out of control, because I was very active.

It wasn’t until I had surgery and I could no longer participate in the physical activities, and was still using the skip meals system that my weight got out of control. When I was able to return to the physical activities, I could not perform them at all.

I now have a new system which I’ve been using since July 2007. I have lost 55 Lbs. and still maintain my weight. The system works and is available free to all subscribers.

Some essential rules for the system to work are:

1) Drink plenty of water.

2) Eat small meals but more often, and protein is essential.

3) Eat everything but not all at once.

4) It’s important not to deprive yourself of any food category.

5) Use Isagenix Cleanse, and Isagenix Isalean Shakes.

Good luck everyone!

Endurance Runs

This component is very essential in training for a Marathon. I run during the week for conditioning but, on Saturdays my long runs are solely to prepare my body to endure the 26.2 mile distance.

I’m presently training for the Pasadena Marathon, and this past Saturday, to my surprise I had to run 19 miles. I don’t know what I was thinking but, I thought I had to run 14 miles. Since I like to know the mileage before the day of, so I can program myself and my body to accept that distance, I was a bit distraught. But, at the start I just said, okay the sooner I start the sooner I can take care of my plans for the day. Considering the difference in the distances, I was a bit behind schedule the entire day.

Since I had programmed myself for (14) miles, the last (5) miles were a bit of a challenge. The mind is very powerful! Had I programmed myself for the (19), I would have handled the entire distance well.

Instead of enjoying the entire run, there was a constant battle between my body and my mind for the last (5) miles. There were many arguments. For example, “My foot hurts”, “I thought I was only suppose to run (14) miles, while not stop at that?” “I’ll do (19) miles next week promise.” “The hill is too hard today don’t do it, stay on the flat course.”

It is very important to pay attention to your training schedule. Make sure you prepare and condition yourself during the week physically and mentally for the weekend endurance runs. Handled properly these long runs can be challenging in a fun way. When you reach the (22) distance in training it’s a GREAT feeling. Don’t mess it up.

At this point you are ready to tackle the 26.2 mile distance. You can rest assured that your mind and body will work together so that when you cross the finish line, you will be overflowing with joy and fulfillment.

Children Learn By Example

Being a good example for your children is the best way to enforce good habits. Your family’s diet is a major priority. Remember the saying,” You are What You Eat”. I truly agree with that statement, with one minor adjustment, it should say, “You are What You Eat and Drink”. And of course what the drink of my choice is water. Water, the vital substance which ensures the continued existence of all forms of life wins by far. So, my advice is for you to take the juices and soda out of your diet. Lead by example and encourage your children to drink more water. Water not only cleanses the body, it will give you more energy as well as promotes healthier skin and teeth. Water is the essence of wellness, and prevention.

I will always remember the enlightening comment from my 4-yr old nephew this past New Year’s Eve. I was “big boy sitting him” (I can’t say babysitting); he’s a big boy so he says. He wanted to stay awake until his family came home, so it’s late he’s yawning, and he tells me, “I have to drink my water so I don’t go to sleep”. I was amazed, he gets it! He knew water would give him the energy he needed to stay awake and wait for his parents.

This “big boy” drinks a large amount of water. He has clear skin, and no cavities, while some of friends his age who rather drink juice, already have cavities. His parents drink water and they seldom drink anything else. And as for the “Big Boy”, he learns by imitation. This good habit comes natural, and water is all that he ever asks for when he’s thirsty. Why not? He does not want to go to sleep and miss anything.

Post Surgery Blues

A couple of years ago, after my third marathon, I decided to obtain a Masters Degree. It was challenging as I was working full time and helping my son fund for my Bachelors. Adding icing on the cake, I had (2) surgeries which I had to recover from.
Homework, stress, the lack of time, and the surgeries did not leave much room for me to focus on maintaining a healthy body. As a result, I gained a large amount of weight.

When I started training again, I experienced every pain imaginable. My body was not accustomed to the excess weight. I could not finish (1) lap on the track. Frustration and fear set in. I thought I would never be able to complete another marathon.

In January of 2007, I started a strength training program. I later combined the program with a Weight Management Program in July of 2007. I was finally learning how to eat healthy and eat enough to maintain a healthy weight for life.Before, I was eating health foods, but not enough. I was depriving my body of the necessary nutrients it required to enhance my metabolism. I was forcing my body into hibernation mode, my body was storing fat it was not burning it.

Today, from not being able to run around the track once in 2007, I’ve completed (1) Marathon and (5) Half Marathons in 2008.I have lost 55 lbs, and 57.75 inches. My body fat was 42% in 2007, it is now down to 28%. In June of 2007, I wore a size 16; I now wear a size 6.

My Son's First Marathon

My son who is a natural sprinter would always tell me that he would never endeavor in the task of completing a Marathon. So when he sent me a text message in August of 2007, saying he was going to run the LA Marathon, I was truly shocked. My first reaction was to text back and say, "What have you been drinking?" At this time I was struggling with my training after my surgeries. When I realized he was sober, I text back and said," I'll do it with you".

I felt that this agreement would keep us both inspired. I was struggling with pain, and this was his first event. Since he was training in Columbus, Ohio, the training seem to go well until the freezing weather set in. My son is not the type to run 22 miles on an indoor track or any track for that matter. In his words, "It's too boring". So as you can imagine the text messages and my coaching tips were well taken until the mileage was up to 22 miles. I would text, "22 miles today", and he would reply," I tried but only made it to 16, will try again next week".

One month before the Marathon, the last text he sent was on replay. He never got past 16 miles. When I recommended new shoes one month before the Marathon. His reply was, "My shoes are fine. I don't have time working overtime at MS".

When he arrived in LA the weekend of the Marathon, I could not believe it. He had "nothing". All the items I recommended were never purchased. He had nothing to protect his "Jewels", his shoes were so worn one toe was sticking out, I don't recall if it was the left or the right, all I know it was a sad scene. It was too late to try new shoes, since it is wise and recommended to start breaking them in (1)month prior the event.

We did go shopping for "jewel" protection, nipple guards, body glide, a dry fit t-shirt and double layered socks. Needless to say, he was as prepared as he could be for the day of the event. But, there was another problem, he had promised his friend to go watch a live boxing match the day before the event. I don't think he realized that even a 22 year old needs a good night sleep before venturing out to run 26.2 miles, especially when that 22 year old did not train or prepare as required.

At the boxing match his friend had a little too much to drink so my son had to drive back to my house. His friend came in to sober up a bit before driving himself home. I'm in my bedroom trying to sleep, when all I can hear is my daughter telling his friend to be quiet because we had a Marathon to run in the morning. He was too drunk to even realize that he was sabotaging our attempt to sleep. My daughter called his sister hoping she could come to pick him up. When that failed my daughter called one of her friends. Her friend took her and my son's friend to the movies, and finally my son and I could go to sleep.

My son finished his First Marathon in under (4) hours. He slept for (12) hours, and limped the entire week. He could not understand why I was wide awake and could walk normally. All I could say to him was, "proper training, the right shoe and comfortable attire does make a big difference"!

Is Sneaking Fiber in Your Children's Diet OK?

When my children were young, I could get away with sneaking in some bran in the cream puff dough. After all they loved the homemade cream puffs I whipped up especially during the holidays. They even volunteered my services for any school celebration.

Now that they are older, that trick went the way of Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. I had to confess. They now know that being regular is not hereditary, it was the secret work of mom. It became very obvious when they went out on their own and they started having regularity problems. The answer, mom was not around sneaking in a little bran here and there.

Because I was sneaking it in, and not being honest about the importance of fiber in their diet, they grew up thinking that it was magically in their system. They did not understand why their friends were having problems and they were not.

My advice is for you to educate your children early on the importance of fiber in their diet. This way they start a good habit early in life and keep it for life. Don't make the same mistake I made. My children are now learning how important this is, and although I'm not a believer of the phrase " You can't teach an old dog new tricks", the difficulty they are having including this basic ingredient in their diet is challenging this disbelief.

You can still keep Santa, The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy a mystery, but please do not add "The Fiber" in your diet to that list.