Several weeks ago the leaders at Weight Watchers asked me to talk to the other members about running, as part of their spring into action Challenge. The members asked me when I started running and if I’ve always been a runner. So I thought it’s time I share my story of how I became a runner.
In college, the pressures of academic success caused me a lot of stress. I coped with this stress by trying run. I had a bulky Walkman with a recorded mixed tape of the latest hits of 2000. I would run one lap and walk a lap. I was consistent in trying to run, but I was more of a jogger/speed walker.
As a missionary, my second mission companion Hermana Lewis insisted that we run to stay in shape. I agreed, but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. The first morning we ran around our gated apartment complex, I remember my lungs burning and my legs feeling like heavy logs. Gradually my companion convinced me that we should run outside of our complex, I was super slow but I was a stickler to rules and kept her in my sight at all times. I eventually worked up to running 30 minutes without stopping. On our preparation days, we would hike Mt. Diablo and other local trails.
My missionary companions who followed Hermana Lewis were also runners, so I spent the remainder of my mission running nearly every day. I even worked up to running a full hour without stopping, which was a huge accomplishment for me.
Hermana Olsen and I discovered a trail in Joaquin Miller Regional Park, it was a refreshing change from the exhaust we breathed in while running on the sidewalks in Oakland (not to mention I refused to run in our neighborhood after the gunshots I heard near our apartment). The trails also overlooked the entire city of Oakland and the Bay Area. The mornings were misty and the rays of sunlight peep through the tall redwood trees. It's difficult to describe the beauty of it all.
This year I to registered for a ½ marathon at the Joaquin Miller Regional Park. I was so excited to return to my mission and run the very same trail my companions and I ran over 6 years ago.
Course map (click for larger image).
Check out the elevation profiles. The 1/2 marathon has a gain of 2,370 (no wonder I was DYING...literally!).
When I arrived to the race, I was shocked at how frigid cold it was. After snapping this picture of Acalias and I, I had to steal my moms over sized windbreaker jacket to keep me warm.
I guess I was looking like an armature runner because everyone assumed I was running the 10 K. Here I am stretching, trying to stay warm.
The trails were intense. I had set a goal to run the 1/2 marathon in 2:30...but that was before I saw what I was in for. Immediately after running past the starting line, I was confronted with this.
For some reason I don't remember the trails being this steep, while I was running them as a missionary.
I ran up this hill careful to avoid the roots and rocks. I figured I could pull ahead if I ran up the hill rather than walk it as many of the other runners did.
I was excited to take in all the beauty but if I didn't keep an eye on my footing, these roots would have easily caught my feet.
During the run I tried hard to stay on my toes, it was easy to do it up hill but down hill was nearly impossible. The trails were very steep and running on my toes surely would have let to an injury. I managed to get through the majority of the race without falling until the last 2 miles. The trails began to look like this.
And this.
I was feeling so fatigued that my legs gave out on me and I fell down one of the hills. The runner behind me later told me that it was a "graceful" fall but by the looks of all the bruising on my legs you wouldn't have thought so.
I was tired and I was so tempted to walk but my thoughts were that anyone can walk 13.1 miles. I had to visualize my smiling son at the finish line to keep trotting along.
My mom said that Acalias started kicking his feet in his excitement when he saw me making my way toward the finish line. Here is my little stud!
The last stretch is always the hardest. I tried to push myself before the 3 hour mark.
Pushing through the finish line.
Next time I will try to smile at the camera. I'm looking rough in this picture but with reason, it was by far the toughest race I had ever run in my life.
Notice my feet. My husband specifically purchased these shoes to reduce the strain I had been feeling in my joints and knees. They work wonderfully only when I run on my toes. I was tired and gave into running how I normally run, which is on my heels. I was so sore the remainder of the week and the following week I had to abstain from running to fully recover. Poor me. I learned my lesson. Don't wear vivarium toe shoes during races that are on mountainous terrain.
Me and my madre!
I'll be running This race next on August 20th!. I hope to run it in 1:55. I also hope to have reached Lifetime status with Weight Watchers. I have 8 more pounds to lose!
