Clothing

I recommend the proper attire for training as well as racing. Do not use cotton. It’s best to use fit dry loose clothing. This type of material will prevent your body from overheating. I’ll always remember being asked to go into the Ladies room and take my cotton shirt off and replace it with a fit dry one which someone was nice enough to loan me for my first race. I never experience overheating, but I saw many male participants get rid of their cotton shirts along the route. I was thankful and still think about how that fit dry shirt saved me.

My favorite socks are Wright Sock Double-Layered. Before I started using them, I would get blisters. I’ve been using this type of sock since 2005, and if I do get a blister it’s because I laced up incorrectly, or my toe covers were not properly positioned.

Shoes are the most important piece of you attire. I always make sure that the material which surrounds the area around my toes is a mesh material. The reason for this is that when you run your entire body swells, and of course your feet are the most venerable.
Leather or any other type of material will not allow your feet room to expand.

I ran with a pair which had leather material surrounding my forefoot. I ran (5) miles and my feet felt like they were on fire. I lost circulation and was in extreme pain. This happened approximately (5) years ago. I spent over $100 on the shoes, and had to buy another pair. I never made that mistake again.

I now get my shoes from Road Runner Sports. They have a policy, by which if you have a problem with the shoe you purchased, no matter how many miles you’ve traveled in them they will exchange them for a new pair at no charge. You have (60) to test run your shoes.

I always wear a hat. The hat keeps me cool during the hot summer days, and keeps me warm during the chilly winter.

Wear the best and you will perform your best.

Be True to Your Training

Before I started my training, I placed a great deal of time on a Conditioning and Strength training program. I later combined them with a Weight Management Program. The programs combination taught me how to eat healthy and maintain a healthy weight for life. The best part was that the healthy foods just gave me much more energy and strength.

Once I developed strong, regular conditioning and strength training habits, I applied the system to my ultimate desire to complete another Marathon. Training to complete a Marathon requires about (6) months preparation.

My goal during the week is to complete the exact or as close to as possible to the amount of miles I’ll be running on Saturdays when I do my endurance training.

I continued my conditioning and strength program during the week, but increased distance for my Saturday runs gradually. The distance increases from (1) mile the first week of training to (22) miles two weeks before the marathon. It is very important to increase the distance gradually to avoid injuries and set backs. It is also important to be true to the distance requirements on Saturdays. Although the preparation does not call for you to complete 26.2 miles the actual marathon distance during training, it’s only 4.2 additional miles on the day of the marathon which you have to go.

I remember finishing my first Marathon which “changed my life forever”, I immediately anxious to start training for the next event. I thought it would be easy. I thought “I just ran a Marathon; the next one will be much easier”.

But, it was not that simple. First my body had to recover from the event. In order to recover properly, I had to take it easy, somewhat like the beginning of the training. It takes (1) week per hour of the duration the event. If it takes someone (4) hours to complete a Marathon, their recovery time is (4) weeks. After these weeks, the Saturday endurance runs can be challenging again.

Remember be true to your training to guarantee an exciting finish, and a rewarding life changing event.

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.

Never Too Young To Start.

I can’t stress enough the importance of placing your children in an exercise program as early as possible. My two were exposed very early. I not only followed a Prenatal Exercise Regimen, I also followed a Post Natal Exercise Regimen, and the Newborns had the Opportunity to watch “Mommy” while she exercised.

I don’t know if they were aware of the conditioning process, but I use to play classical music from the time of conception. The enjoy listening to this type of music today. This past year my son who is now 23 years old took his girlfriend to see “The Nutcracker Ballet”, and my daughter who is now 25 years old, and performed in the "Nutcracker" from the time she was 4 years old until she was 17 years, had to see the ballet this past year as well. In our family Christmas is not Christmas until we see a performance of “The Nutcracker”.

It was not always this way, my son use to say “not again” every year his sister performed. But, today he misses it. It’s amazing how conditioning works not only for the mind but, the body as well.

Now its my little nephew’s turn for conditioning. He has been to a few of my race events, and has seen all my medals. He has wanted his own medal for about a year. So, on February 1, 2009, he ran in the “Surf City Kids Run”. This was his first run, and it was a little overwhelming for him at first. When he has been to my events he has always been at the finish line very excited and yelling “Auntica”.

There was a bit of drama before, and during the run. He was a little concerned about having to run with all the “big people”, since this is what he remembered from my past events. But, we assured him he would be running with kids his size.

Secondly, the crowd at the Surf City Event was huge, and the commotion was too much for him at the start line. But, in the end when the crowd was cheering for him, the “Little Ham” in him prevailed, and the run to the finish line was great!

He received his first medal, it is a Surf Board. I could not wait to see him and his medal. I was participating in the Half-Marathon event, and all I could think of, was rushing to the Finish Line to see my nephew with his medal.

The size of the medal is perfect for him. I hope that this is the first of many for him. And I hope that I continue to lead by example. It is important to remember that our children are the future, help them lead a healthy life, and they will follow your example and continue the trend. Inspire and train them well in prevention through wellness and exercise.

Columbus Marathon, “Not”

To continue on my quest to inspire my children, I made a commitment to participate in the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon. My son and his friend had made a commitment as well after the Cincinnati Flying Pig event in May 2008.

The Columbus event was scheduled for October 2008, and we all had plenty of time for proper training and conditioning. This would be my son’s friend first event. We were all excited that he had made this big commitment. His family was excited too.

As time went on, I learned that a few other friends were also going to participate. It was going to be great we had our own little group. And I was really looking forward to this event.

I had a few events scheduled before October and one in both November and December. So I had to be very careful not to over train. Several times I considered not participating since I had to travel to Columbus, Ohio, and kept remembering the “flight from hell”, when I traveled to Cincinnati in May.

Since giving my word is a very sacred to me, I went ahead with my plans. I registered, and booked my flight. I never thought about booking a hotel, because the start line was a few blocks from where my son and his roommate live. My son and I both agreed that I might as well stay in their apartment, and we could all walk to the start line.

As the date got closer, I was wondering if my son was going to participate. He kept saying he was not training well enough. But, since that had not stopped him from running his 1st and 2nd Marathons, I thought that in the end he would participate.

A week before the event, I heard a definite “no” he would not participate. I guess he finally got it. He finally realized what I had been telling him. The best experience is achieved with proper training. He also gave me the weather report the week before. He said it was warm. I was glad to hear the part about the warm weather.

The morning of my scheduled departure, I received a call from my son. He told me it was cold and the forecast for that Sunday, the event date was “Cold”. Too late now, I was in line going through security. I could not change my plans as far as for the attire I had packed.

Finally the day of the event came and only (One) from the original big group was participating. That individual was me. I traveled all the way from Burbank, California to the start line in Downtown Columbus. And the group from around the block,that could walk failed to participate.

The weather was cold, and after running (1) mile, we ran by where I was staying. Believe me, it was very tempting to go back inside and crawl back into bed. But, I had to continue. After all I was the sole survivor of the original group. At least one of us had to finish the task of crossing the finish line.