The Enlightened Warrior’s 1st Race

It finally happened on July 26, 2009, San Francisco Marathon event. The journey took almost one entire year of training and endurance, but my daughter finished her first event. She even has the medal to prove it although she (almost forget to get it) after crossing the finish line.

Her Pre-Race preparation was as organized as her training. First she was not able to pick up her packet and goodie bag, due to a few unexpected auditions which came up. No matter, I figured out of way to pick it up for her, she was not dodging this one.

In checking her athletic attire, and equipment, I noticed many things missing. Her answer to all the questions about where they were was “I’m going to use yours”. It’s a good thing I brought an extra water bottle. Imagine that!

Despite all the dodging training and previous events, she did well. She only missed her target finish time by 2 minutes. But, you have to see her face in the picture of her crossing the finish line! Something is missing a “smile” maybe. After all, it was the finish the line.

I’m very proud of you “Enlightened Warrior”! You ran the San Francisco Marathon’s First Half-Marathon, the tougher of the two. And you can now say that you ran the Golden Gate Bridge. An additional token to compliment a very memorable event.

Next?

Listen to Your Body

This morning the alarm went off, and I was not too happy. “You’re tired anyway just take the day off”, the little voice in my head repeated on several occasions. I quickly pressed the snooze button, and contemplated the thought of just sleeping in. The alarm went off again, and the little voice kept torturing me. I pressed the snooze button again

.

When the alarm went off again, I jumped out of bed, before the voice kicked in. I quickly drank my (2) glasses of water, and was wide awake before the temptation of going back to bed even crossed my mind.

I finished my normal pre-run preparation, and went out on my run. But, just in case the little voice was right and I was tired, I started my run out slow. I finished (6) miles and felt great.

This I owe to my commitment and conditioning.. Be true to yourself. After all, if you decide to run and your body simply is not ready, you will know, and you will stop. And is okay also, we all have those days. But the important thing is to listen to your body. And you can listen to that little voice when it tells you, “It’s only (6) miles, come on you’ve finished several marathons".

Yoga

For me yoga and running are an excellent combination. Yoga gives me more strenght in my core muscles which allows me to maximize my runs.

I have a Yoga Cardio as well as a Yoga Flex routine. Both are (20) minutes long, and the time is well worth it. When something unexpectedly develops, and I can’t find time to do my yoga routines, I suffer the morning of my next run.

So, take the time to do at least one, if you cannot find time for both. Alternate the two if you need to, but it is important to include Yoga in your life so you can become a stronger runner.

Pieces of The Puzzle--The Color Orange Has It!

The orange color fruits and vegetables are great fat burners. Want some ice cream? Mix it with cantaloupe. How about some cottage cheese? Add some carrots to that mix. I always have plenty of baby carrots, and ready to eat cantaloupe. It’s easy to grab so I have not excuse.

For me taking the time to prepare healthy snacks is more that worth it. I lose weight, and save money, since I don’t support the fast food industry. You guessed it, another piece of the puzzle.

Sunblock

Be sure to apply sunblock lotion before going for your runs. There are many on the market, but the one that works best for me is Neutrogena Ultimate Sport.

Here are some the benefits...

1) The lotion has an SPF of 70+. It is also ultra sweat proof and waterproof.

2) It will not clog your pores or cause breakouts.

3) It is oil free and PABA free

4) It is the #1 Dermatologist recommended sun care.

Pieces of The Puzzle--Water Anyone?

I can’t stress this enough. Like a ritual, before I start my run or may work out I consume (2) glasses of water. It’s refreshing and a big eye opener. I drink water during my run or work out to stay hydrated.

Before each meal I drink (2) glasses of water. I eat total of (5) smalls meals this gives a sure total of (10) glasses a day. And I also sip water all day long. So, water is a very important piece of the puzzle to maintaining a healthy weight.

Your Feet Are Your Prize Possession

It is not a good idea to dig out an old pair of shoes and start training. Your feet are your prize possession and they deserve better than that. I always treat my feet with plenty of care not only before and after my runs. I’m often asked jokingly asked if they are insured. My family and friends can be comedians at times.

Treat your feet well and they will help you complete the mileage. Visit an atheletic store and get measurements and an analysis to determine which running shoe is best suited for your running style.

Also, it is important to add proper socks to your athletic gear. And if you feel you need extra cushioning make sure you replace the insoles in your shoes with an atheletic pair of insoles. All these little extras will help make you runs more pleasant, and help your journey to the finish line with happy feet.

Very important suggestion, break your new shoes in a month before your event. Make sure they are comfortable. You do want to start and end the run with your shoes on.