July 30th Workout

Only one mile this morning. I tried something new and took Charlotte with me in our mei tai baby carrier. She was relaxed and smiling until I turned onto Tustin Ave and I picked up speed. Don't know if she didn't like going fast, didn't like the fast cars zooming by, was just tired andor hungry, but she threw a fit all the way back to our apartment, trying to stand up on my hips and arching her back. By the time we entered the door she had nearly twisted herself out of the baby carrier.

We're only going 5 miles on Saturday. Should I get back out there later today and start over or do at least two more miles? It would be nice, but it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't happen.

July 28 Workout

This morning I went on a 4.4 mile course with Charlotte. We stopped at the grocery store to pick up bananas and tomatoes on the way, and she slept through most of it.

July 25th Team Training

Today the half-marathoners and I completed an 8-mile course which took us from Heritage Park to Hicks Canyon Trail all the way up to Portola, then over to Yale before we retraced our steps. I ran across some intersections but mostly walked.

The last mile or so my left arch started to feel like it was cramping. Not so painful that I needed to limp or anything, but annoying. Back at Heritage a physical therapist was there to evaluate injuries, so I spoke with him. He suggested that perhaps the underlying issue is instability in my hips/lower back and if I work on strengthening muscles in that area the cascade of tightness and pronation that begins as those muscles get fatigued won't happen. I've had twinges in my arch and seemingly random leg aches most of my life, and this isn't the first time that my hip/low back/pelvis has been suggested as a root cause. I'm interested to find exercises that I can do on my own.

On another note, two people today commented on my appearance of weight loss. I did notice that the hydration belt that my walking buddy Pat lent me did fit more loosely today than it did even as recently as last Saturday, and my pants have been fitting more comfortably too.

Fundraising Update: 38.5%!

I'm 38.5% of the way to my $5,000 main goal, and 92% to my mini-goal of $2,100 by the end of July.

Will you help me cross the fundraising finish line?

Can you trade :

One night out at the movies?
A new pair of jeans?
One nice dinner out?
Getting your car detailed?


For:

Increased federal funding for biomedical research
Collaborative public-private sector research efforts
New blood cancer medications
Ensuring patients access to high quality healthcare

Please click here to make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. Give generously -- every dollar counts!

July 23rd Workout

This morning I went 3.3 miles. I left home at 6:11 and returned at 7:09.


View Larger Map

July 21st Workout

Today I went 3.5 miles in about 60 minutes:


View Larger Map

July 18th All Team Training!

Today the Orange County, Inland Empire and Temecula marathon, half-marathon, triathalon and century ride teams joined up at Heritage Park in Irvine. Before we headed out, we found out that our teams combined have raised more then $350,000!

I completed a 7 mile course today. I'm a little sore (and I think I need to trim my toenails), but feel great overall! The cold melon and otter pops at the end were a very special treat too. :)

July 16th Workout

Today I pushed Charlotte in the stroller. We went up through the Meredith Parkwood neighborhood again, cut through the south end of Portola Park and came back down Mabury and home. I estimate it was about 2.95 miles, and it took me about 50 minutes.

July 14th Workout

So I didn't get up early enough to go for my walk this morning before work. After work I decided it was too hot to walk outside, so Charlotte and I went to the mall. I made about 4 laps of MainPlace Mall in about 50 minutes before Charlotte got too fussy to continue.

Charlotte adds:

060

0
0.bcfffff g
,

I tried to use a pedometer. I think I went 2.5 miles.

Fundraising Update: 33.2%!

My wonderful in-laws gave generously to the cause, putting me a third of the way to my $5000 goal. Thanks, Mom & Dad!

July 11th Team Training

Today's course ended up being 5 miles along Hicks Canyon and Peters Canyon Trails. I started at 7:15 and finished at 8:50.

July 9 Workout

Yesterday evening I walked a 2.8 mile course through the residential neighborhood to the north of my home:


View Larger Map

I took Charlotte in the stroller and she fell asleep by the time we turned onto 19th from Sherry, and slept until we got back to 17th Street.

July 7 Workout

This morning I took Charlotte with me on a 4-mile course. We went up through the residential neighborhood to the north of us, across Santa Clara, a loop through the cemetary and then east on Santa Clara to return down Tustin and Old Tustin to our front door via Williams and Wellington.

I'm not sure what time I left (probably close to 6:30), but I returned at 7:45.

Fundraising Update: 31%!

You must have received my fundraising letters, because I've received a lot of donations by mail recently. Thanks go out to:

• my good friend Grace Nguyen
• my dad's cousins Sam and Joyce Weber
• my in-laws' neighbors Don and Velma Espindula
• my in-laws' family friends Pete and Darlene Gaalswyk

To date, I've received $1000 in donations through my website, and another $560 in cash and check donations.

That's $1,560, or 31% of my $5000 goal.


I also have another short-term goal: $2,100 by the end of July. Only $540 to go!

July 4th Workout

I was out of town in Tulare visiting my inlaws, so I missed the team training. Rather than taking a week off, I got up early on the 4th and went for a walk with my husband and baby. Adam joined me for the first four miles. We walked between Road 140 (Lovers Lane) and Road 124 (Oakmore) and back. Every 8 numbers represents a mile, so that was a total of four miles. Then I walked alone down the canal to Avenue 224 (Bardsley) and over to Road 140, back up to Avenue 232 (Tulare Avenue) and back down to Avenue 228, which was another two miles. Even though it was early, it was already quite a hot day, so I didn't focus on speed as much as just completing the course.

July 2 Workout

First of all, I'm celebrating that my baby girl is 10 months old today!

Today I decided to incorporate some hills into my workout. The nearest hill to me is the Santa Clara 55 Freeway overpass, so I headed there via 17th Street and cut through a residential neighborhood (Deodar to Avalon to Pasadena). Over the hill I went, then up Yorba and to Rainier and down Ethelbee past my grandmother's house (currently occupied by my sister's family and my brother). Back over the hill and down Santa Clara to Ridgewood and through the residential neighborhood there (Ridgewood, Camino, Millwood, Catalina, 20th, Millwood, 19th and Sherry). Sherry turns into Cabrillo Park Drive once you cross 17th street, so then I was home.

According to Google Maps, my course was 3.9 miles. I left at 6:30 and returned at 7:40. I had to stop for three long lights along my way, so made pretty good time overall.

Also, I accidentally discovered the joy of running when I had to sprint across Santa Clara to avoid an oncoming car. I jogged or ran three time during my course and can feel a big difference in my fitness level from when I started back in May!