Spring

 Where have we been?... March has come and gone and spring is here! I love, love, love springs. I love cherry blossoms and colorful tulips spring forth out of the ground. I love the cool sunny weather and I especially love pastel colors.

We had a busy month in March. Acalias and I flew out to Utah for two weeks. Traveling has become more adventurous now that my little toddler must be entertained. Thankfully we had one layover, Acalias walked and walked and walked so he was too tired to put up a fight to get his wiggles out.

We spent lots of time with family, it's always so much fun to watch how Acalias interacts with his cousins.

My siblings and I had been preparing and planning for mom's surprise 50th birthday. Mom was surprised and we had a wonderful time sharing our favorite memories of her, playing games and feasting on traditional Polynesian food.

Acalias got his first hair cut too!

We enjoyed spending time with family.

I also took a ton of pictures of my family, check out my Website!

Now that It's mid-April I'm finally easing up on my marathon training. Since January I've been running 45-50 miles a week and strength/weight training 3-5 days a week. The time commitment has been like a part-time job but I've really enjoyed it. Several weeks ago I ran 21 miles maintaining an 8:40 pace (flat terrain no hills at all), I was so thrilled! I've learned a few tricks that have kept me from burning out and crashing. I'm excited to see how well I do in my marathon 12 days away!!

Mandy and I after her first 20 miles, we were thrilled, she is preparing for her first marathon!

I took this pic below last week during our 16 miler run, West Virginia has some beautiful scenic sites.

Acalias is growing and learning so much. He loves animals, 

in these pictures he spotted a dog and it made him so happy.

The simplest things me this little boy so happy. This year he had a blast finding Easter eggs. 

Derek has just completed his 2nd round of rotations in Internal Medicine with Cardiology and Nephrology and is currently rotating in Geriatrics. We enjoy seeing him when he is not so busy. Soon we will be making major decisions as to where we will do his residency after graduation May 2013. Our current top pics are: 

1. San Antonio, TX, and Dallas, TX             2. SLC, UT           3. Kansas City, KA

I just pray that we will get into the residency that will be the best fit for our family. 

For Easter we didn't do anything too extravagant. We didn't even have to buy anything, Acalias and I took advantage of the City Egg hunt and friends invited us over for their egg hunts. We're trying to think of creative ways to celebrate the true reason for the season. 

And of course, I had to make myself another dress. 

check out the actual pattern I used.

I look forward to posting the results of how awesome I do in my marathon in several weeks:)

New River Gorg-eous 1/2 Marathon

Grandma Nativa, Acalias and I traveled to Beckley to stay with our friends the North's the night before the race. Derek stayed behind to prepare for his surgery rotation and watch Skofeild. We stopped by a few scenic look-outs so my energizer bunny could get his wiggles out.

Scenic look-out an hour outside of Clarksburg.

New River Gorge

We had a great time catching up with our old friends and Acalias enjoyed interacting with another child close to you age. It's crazy to think about last October, our babies were so small then. Children grow so fast.

These two were so fun to watch together.

The race didn't start until 11am, we met up with the Bishop family at the Ace resort where the race began.

Pre-race pictures.

It was cold that morning but I was happy that the sun was out.

Starting line.

I set a goal to run it under 3 hours, I figured that the elevation wouldn't have steep inclines like the trail run I participated in, in California. I started off in the middle of the pack. I love fall and I love spring. The colors were so beautiful to look at as I ran. There weren't too many big boulders to jump over so I was happy about that, I'm a wuss when it come to leaping from boulder to boulder.

Beautiful right?

This is what I love about trail running!

At about 1hr 35 min into the race the sun had warmed me up so I removed my long sleeve shirt. I was feeling confident that I could possibly run the race in 2:30. I fueled up and found an upbeat song on my i-pod. As soon as I was getting into my rhythm there was a slight decline, my foot snagged a root or rock and I went flying through the air. This time it wasn't graceful (a woman told me I fell gracefully at my last race) my face thumped the ground so hard that I felt like my brain shifted. I remember groaning as I rolled onto my back. I just laid there for a few seconds, shocked at what just happened. The runners ahead of  me and behind me crowded around me. I was embarrassed. Warm fluid ran from my nose, I thought it was blood but it was mucous and it flowed like the sink faucet. I had scraped my arm, chin and lip. The runners helped me up and handed me all my gear that strewn about the area. I just stood there reassuring them that I was ok and to keep running, I didn't want to hold them back. I re pinned my bib and took the Tylenol that I had in my hydration belt pack, my head was pounding. I continued to run at a slow pace, the fall had forced me to be overly cautious. The thing about trail running is falling tends to happen to everyone. The moment you look up to enjoy the scenery you inevitably fall. I love the fall leaves but the leaves hide what lies beneath them, rocks, roots and even slight declines.

I approached a fork on the trail and I had the option to run the 8 mile route but I continued with the half-marathon. I hate to train for a 1/2 only to participate in a smaller race. I headed toward the half-marathon route trail. The leaves were plentiful, and the trail was nice and wide. I ran the next stretch of about 5 miles alone, I thought that I may have taken the wrong turn. I didn't see a single runner for what seemed like forever.

I was excited to see a living, breathing being after miles and miles alone.

Yup, my chin is still oozing with blood but at a least I have a smile on my face.

I decided since there wasn't a single runner near me that I'd relax, enjoy the trail and snap more pictures.

I also switched my i-pod from music to a podcast, Jillian Micheal's show (I just discovered them and I really, really enjoy running to them, it's like running with a friend and I didn't feel so alone)

Running towards the finish line, finished at 2:43 (19 minutes faster than my first trail run, even with the fall!!)

After the race.

This may be an annual race for me, first I need a pair of trail running shoes.

I ran into the guys that helped me out when I fell. One had to call the ambulance he had rolled his ankle. I have a love hate relationship with trail running. I love the challange and the beauty that surround the trails but lets be honest I do not like falling.

I usually don't stay long for the award ceremony but they fed us a delicious free burrito.

 I was surprised to hear my name over the intercom, I placed 3rd in my age group 20-29. Sweet! 

My #1 fan!

 I look forward to the upcoming trail races in the spring!
Please don't forget to vote this week:)

100% Weaned

The day has finally come, Acalias has finally accepted whole milk. Grandma Nativa knew before arriving to West Virginia that she was expected to help me wean Acalias. She is a decisive 80-year-old woman and she took the assignment seriously, every time I wanted to give in she reminded me of her responsibility to help. I can't decide which was more difficult, the beginning or end of breast feeding. Both were very painful, physically speaking, but I'm proud that I didn't give in and give up. I have high expectations that my child's health will live up to all the statistics of  a breastfed child:)

So long to the crying child pulling my shirt off in public...hello to the tantrum and biting phase. Acalias is bouncing off the walls with energy, he's into everything. Although, I feel so depleted of energy by the end of the day, I'm really enjoying this age. He's trying to communicate with words more, I love walking in on him talking to Skofeild. He mimics our voice intonations to a T. I'll have to catch him yapping away on the phone with the camcorder, he paces around just like his dad.

We've been enjoying Grandma Nativa's company. She thinks everything Acalias does is so adorable, he couldn't possibly do anything wrong in her eyes.  Derek and I have been going on dates every weekend, we haven't really been out alone and it's so nice to go out alone. We miss him when were out, but it's nice to have grandma as our live-in nanny for several more weeks.

I've been trying to learn all of Grandma's rice variations and sell the recipie to the highest bidder in my family:)

 Acalias refueses to eat anything else!

Derek is completing his fourth rotation this week and will be starting Surgery rotation. He's been practicing his suturing, he's heard horror stories of how students get yelled at all day in the surgery rotation. He's doing well, he is impressive in his ability to recall information he's learned years ago. I know that he will become an amazing doctor, Acalias and I are so proud of him.

This week I'm tapering down my miles, I will be running my last official long-run race of the year. It's a half-marathon (13.1 Miles) Trail race at the New River Gorge. I don't know what to expect so my goal is to run it under my last race The Cinderella 1/2 Marathon Trail Run in California, at least under 3:00 hours. I've made a few running friends that I met from the local library Mother Goose Time . I'm currently deciding on which marathon to run (I'm considering this one, this one or this one. I hope to run 2 marathons next year with a hand full of 1/2 marathons and participate in my first triathlon in June (I need to learn how to swim first). I will run the Boston Marathon one day so I need to step it up and improve my race times. I'm currently running 9-9:30 min/mile, which is 6-7mph this winter I will train at 8:30-8:50 min/mile on the treadmill, I need to be at a 7 min/mile to run the Boston.

Here are few pictures from the last few races I ran, the Labor Day 5k Fun run (23:00-placed 1st in age/female category).

Valley Falls 10 Miler, it was a beautiful run but unfortunately I had to tap out. I started the race 20 minutes late (due to our dysfunctional GPS)and once they began removing the flags from the trail I was paranoid of getting lost forever in the woods. I sulked all day but I will redeem my self this Saturday:)

The falls. A perfect place for a family portrait.

It's a beautiful park, It was really cold and dreary that day.

We're excited to discover more of our new area.

Parkersburg, West Virginia 1/2 Marathon

My alarm clock went off at 5:00am on Saturday morning. I get so excited for races, the anticipation of it makes it hard to sleep. I made arrangements for a friend to pick up my packet so that I wouldn't have to get up at 4am. Parkersburg is an 1:20 minutes west of Bridgeport so we had to be on the road by 5:30am.
I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to the roads here, there are no lights and a lot of foliage so it's hard to see with the hovering mist of humidity. I'm such a bossy passenger, I'm so easily startled and I tend to be worse when I'm anxious to get to the race on time.

The race didn't start until 8am so we walked around with Acalias who loves to people watch. I'm not one to expend much energy running around the block to warm up like other runners do, maybe it would improve my performance if I did. I'm amazed when I watch the Kenyans stroll by with their fellow Kenyan runners, I think I speak for most runners when I say we are envious of how fast they can run. A 4-minute-mile would probably cause my heart to stop! I was excited for the race but annoyed that it started so late, it was already hot by 8:00 am. It was the first race I had been to where a lot of runners were shirtless. Weird. It's almost like being at the pool...old, young, thin, thick, it must be a trend that I didn't know about.

A few minutes before the starting gunshot went off.

There were over 1,000 runners in this race (2 mile & 1/2 marathon) and walkers as well, we were packed in on the streets. 

Me giddy with excitement to start the race already.

Wishing I had friends alongside me, I really need to join a running group,

it's nice to have someone to run with.

I uploaded a new play list for this race to keep me moving and grooving. I'm impressed with runners who run without music, the only time I did that was while I was on my mission. Last night after I organized the play list, I played the songs to help me visualize my pace. Acalias is so funny he would come wobbling in bobbing his rythemless body to the music. I wish I caught it on tape, he can definitely brighten up my mood on any given day.

Finally the gun sounded and I was on my way. I'm careful in the first few miles because I don't want to expend too much energy too soon. It's disheartening to see people walking by the 3rd of 4th mile holding a hip or their stomachs. Too much effort goes into training to be foolish and start off too fast. I set a goal to keep my heart rate at 170 throughout the entire race. I figured that if I kept my heart rate at 170, I would run a 9-minute-mile. The course looped throughout the country, I felt like I was taken back decades in some areas. One large man wore a pair of ragged overalls, shirtless in and old pickup truck blaring country music. Others sat around in their rocking chairs on their porches smoking cigarettes. Nothing like breathing in smoke while running up a hill. Good ole West Virginians, gotta love em.

I felt good throughout the race, my heart rate was at least 175-178 but as the heat increased around mile 6, I felt my head begin to pound. I thought to myself, I'm so hot I could melt into this asphalt! I should really train in various climates...but I really have no desire to...I can't stand the heat. I started drinking more water and Gatorade. I didn't pack any Gu because most races provide it along the course. I was hoping they would provide fruit, candy, anything!  I was let down every water stop. I'm ravenous by mile 8 but I figured Gatorade was my best option to get me through...thank goodness I ate the doughnut Derek brought me home last night too. By mile-10 I was at 1:34, I was so pleased with my time I thought I would definitely make my goal of 2:00. I began to push but by then the heat was so intense. Along with the water and Gatorade the water stations started offering ice and water sponges. I began putting ice down my shirt, in my sports bra and down my back. I should have put a few pieces in my thick head of hair...but I didn't think of that until now. I had my water bottles on my hydration belt filled with water and Gatorade so at each water station I began pouring water on my head, my face.

At mile 12 I see the LDS missionaries handing out water, it was so refreshing to see them serving in the community. I started running on my mission so I began thinking about the tips that all my previous companions gave me to keep me running hard.  I cranked up a fast beat song and pushed, onlookers had their hoses out so I paused a few seconds but kept on my way. My Timex beeped 2:00 and unfortunately I was still running. I saw the finish line at 2:03 and ran through it at 2:05:50. It was a bittersweet ending. I wanted to run it under 2:00 and I am still determined.

Not the greatest pics, but it's the real deal.

Me sweating and so tired.

More finish line pictures here, behind the runner with the pig tails and here,

I look like I'm raising the roof with my arms flailing everywhere.

I beat my first 1/2 marathon (in 2006) of 2:07 so that made me happy.

 I placed 20th out of 53 in my age group (age 25-29),

444th overall place out of 909 1/2 marathon runners. 

Mommy & Acalias post race picture.

We have one after every race that I've run since he was born, it's our little tradition.

Derek said he cried when he saw me running towards the finish line, he wanted to go to me right away.

I hope to run this 1/2 marathon (depending on Derek's schedule), this 5k Halloween Hustle (it'll be my first race in costume, so exciting!!) 5k Turkey trot to end this years running season.

I really do plan on giving you a tour of our home one day.

Running in Bridgeport

Skofeild and I have been enjoying all the routes in Bridgeport. We have sidewalks and wider roads to run on! I'm a little crazy and wake at at 5:30 am to get my runs out of the way while Acalias is asleep and his dad is still home in bed as well. It's a bit creepish with how dreary things look with the darkness and humidity but it's a whole lot cooler than running later in the morning.

Stroller + dog + intense heat & car exhaust= an awful run!

There are allot of killer hills in this area. Hills are not my strong point so I've incorporated some steep hills at least 4 times a week. Thankfully Derek has several days when he doesn't have to be in until 9am so it gives me more time to run.

The best thing about running so early is the quiet calm. Most people are still asleep, the deers are frolicking about and I get to witness the beautiful sunrises.

I'm nearing the peak of this hill of Ridgeway drive.

This phone picture doesn't do it justice, it's so much more amazing in person.

This is the real deal, I didn't edit any of the following pictures.

This is at the peak of Ridgeway/Shearwood road run. The pictures were taken on two different days. The second picture was taken this week when a cold front rolled in, it was 58 degrees! So glorious for a woman like me who sweats way too much.

This makes waking up early to run so worth it!

I spotted a deer from a distance, they are all over the place but Skofeild likes to scare them away before I could get too close. I snapped a few pictures from a distance, as we drew closer he didn't move so I took more.

I love this picture. Good thing he was on top of the hill, Skofeild didn't notice him at all.

This was at the end of our 10 mile run this past Saturday near the trail head at Bridgeport park.

Not such a glamorous picture of myself but who looks great after miles of running? I had to highlight Skofield, he's kid-tested, mother approved. He is a great protector, without him I wouldn't be able to run so early in the morning. Anyone or dog who has ever approached me is instantly put in their place. I have some fun stories of how protective he can be, we're lucky to have him.

This year my goal was to run 1,000 miles. It's still my goal but it's been a bit harder than I had anticipated. I didn't add sickness, stress, fatigue into the equation. You'd think that stress would help motivate me to run but if and when it keeps me up at night, I'm far too tired to get up in the morning to run. Acalias still has his bouts of sleeplessness in the middle of the night and I opted to pack and unpack the week prior and after our move. Some days I just don't want to run at all! That's when I strap on my Rollerblades or strap Acalias into the trailer and head to the trails near our home. To date I've run 511.4 miles, I'm behind so somehow I need to log 122.15 miles each month to make my goal by 2012. That is 10 miles more than the 20 miles per week that I had planned...I hate to set a goal and fail so I'm going to push harder.

Acalias and I frequent this trail near our home. If only I was into fishing, the lakes are stocked with trout so there is always several people there fishing. It's a nice scenic paved trail. We give it two thumbs up.

The Parkersburg 1/2 Marathon is this coming weekend. I'm so excited! I feel stronger and I hope to run in better time than my last paved road race (2 hrs 18 min).

Stay tuned. Next week I will give you a tour of our new home...