26 weeks of training starts September 21

There are 213 days before next years marathon and 33 days before I begin 26 weeks of training. Next years marathon will be held on Sunday, March 20th, 2011 and I am so looking forward to it. I'm not going to lie and say I'm actually looking forward to the actual training, because let me tell you, it's going to be tough. A beginning racer like myself is suppose to train 3 times during the work week and again on Saturday.

The problem I am going to have, is finding the time during the week to train. My son will be arriving in October and I will be working nights again. When am I suppose to squeeze in 4 miles, 3 times during the work week? Saturdays are suppose to be the long runs, and I can see myself doing them in the mornings, but how I am going to manage training during the week, remains to be seen. However I am determined and one way or another I will do it.

My training will start with runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. They will start at 2 miles each day and gradually work themselves up. They will average at 4 miles and peak at 5. It may not sound like much but Saturdays will be long runs. Saturday runs will start at 3 miles and will also gradually increase over time. My Saturday runs will be intense. As I look at my calendar, I can see plenty of 10 mile runs, 12 mile runs and even a 20 mile run on Saturday February 19th. The Saturday runs are what really get your body used to the distance.

I don't care what my timing is during the race. The only thing I care about is finishing the race, no matter what the time is. I have wanted to complete this marathon for many years. Last year seemed like it would be the year and of course it was not. When last years marathon came, I actually saw some of the participants later that night when I went out to dinner. They had finished their goal and they wore their medals proudly. I promised myself that would be me next year.

I can't wait until I pass the finish line and look up to see my wife and son waiting for me. That vision is what will keeps me going. This years theme, like last year will be "Stadium to the Sea", but it my eyes it will be "Stadium to my Family".

On your mark...

The Road to LA Marathon 2011 has been silent and collecting dust for a long time. Time to wipe off the dust. Training for the 2011 LA marathon begins in a couple weeks.

Constant updating on it's way!

Thinking...

Thinking it's time...

Still Alive

My brother told me the other day he was wondering if I was ok... I havent tweeted or blogged in a while and there are a couple reasons why I haven't, nor my wife.

The thing is, like I was telling Mona I never really have enough to say that I feel is worthy of a blog. Whenever I read people's blogs, they seem to be paragraphs and paragraphs. I never really feel like saying that much. There are times when I feel like blogging about something, but it's just one small topic I want to talk about and doesn't carry enough weight to become a huge blog. So in the end, I just don't blog.

Another reason of course I haven't blogged is because we have been busy with doctor appointments. All is well and we are very happy. Mona has had a couple ultra sounds done and they have come back great.

With her blessings, please enjoy the following pictures of our super baby.

Four weeks

Nine and a half weeks

The Sunday that should have been

This Sunday will be the 2010 LA Marathon. Back during the summer I had given myself the goal of competing in it. As fate would have it, I quit soon after giving myself the goal. As time went on I kicked myself for giving up so quickly, but at that point it was too late to get race ready.

This Sunday I will tune in, and in fact it won't be out of disgust. I will tune in and learn. Learn about the route, learn from observing and learn what I need to do complete the race next year.

I have given myself the goal of completing the 2011 LA Marathon and this goal will be accomplished. Sunday will be part of my training.

We Interrupt This Program...

P90X was put on hold this week..........We're having a baby!

It's Thurday night and as this week finally comes to an end, I find myself with the time to reflect on what happened this week.

Sunday

Sunday we were at my in-laws hanging out and relaxing, when all of a sudden my mother in law and sister in law come out running showing me a pregnancy test Mona had just taken. They were yelling that Mona was pregnant. They came at me so fast, it took me a second to realize what they were even saying. I was staring at a pregnancy test that had two lines showing up, they kept telling me 2 lines meant she was pregnant. At first glance the second lined seemed to be a bit faded so I asked where the test was bought from. They said it came from the dollar store, at that point I asked them all to go and buy a brand name tester. Not that I didn't believe she was pregnant, but I told them I didn't want to let myself be brought up to a High of exciteness, only to be brought back down to a LOW. So off they went and 2 more tests later, it was confirmed that Mona was pregnant.

The joy I felt is undescribeable. Let me just say that later that night while Mona was taking a shower, I literally collapsed in tears in the bedroom from happiness. I have been emotionally and mentally ready for a child for quite a few years now I believe. I think you know you are ready to be a parent when you feel that certain feeling inside of you.

Later than night we gave my parents and brother Michael the good news. Obviously everyone was very happy and my dad even through out the idea of naming the baby Oscar III if it were to be a boy. My brother Eric had already gone to sleep so the next morning is when I gave him the good news. Sunday night we went to sleep feeling happy, however uncertain of what was going to come next.

Monday

Monday we both went to work and Mona made her appointment to see a Doctor at the Kaiser building for the next day.

Tuesday

Tuesday I only went in to work for only an hour and left to go with Mona to her doctors appointment. It was nice to meet the doctor who will be with us through this journey. His name is Dr. Sacks and even though we have only met him once, he has already grown on us. He is wise, caring and at times even funny. He spent time with us going over any and all questions we had and gave us a taste of what is to come. We then went over to see a diet specialist name Terry, who went over with Mona, the do and don't about carbohydrate counting. It will not be easy for Mona to stay on this pregnancy diet, but she knows I will be there to help, even when she thinks I am doing the exact opposite.

Wednesday

Wednesday was a day to finally relax our minds, but it was hard for me to do that since I work evening on Mondays and Wednesdays. Just when I think I can relax after having dinner, I always have to get ready again for a few more hours of work. As much as an inconvience that it is, I am thankful that I have the extra work. During this time of layoffs and cutbacks, I have been one of the lucky few in our district that has actually gotten more work. And for that I am grateful.

Today I find myself slowly getting used to the idea that I will be a father soon...An idea that I have wanted for a some time and am probably still in shock with. Little things run through my head conserning the future, such as what color I will paint the baby's room. How often I will have to get up during the night to help do my share so Mona doesn't do it alone. So many responsibilities coming my way that I haven't even thought of, but I will tackle them as they come. It won't be easy, but it will be well worth it.

The most common question I have been getting is whether I want the baby to be a boy or girl. And of course my answer is always that I do not care whether it is a boy or girl, I just pray for the baby to be healthy. Now I also won't deny that every guy probably favors for their baby to be a boy and at the same time I am sure there is a part in every mom who also would like a girl. And I'm sure that is true in our situation, but as god as my witness I promise this baby whether it be a boy or girl.............WILL BE A DODGER FAN!

Let me just finish by saying this blog was intended to be a way for me to share my experiences as I get ready for next year's marathon, which by the way has not changed at all as I still intend to race next year. However you better believe I will also update on this new course in our lives.

Award and Day 2

Today I received my first award. Granted it was my wife awarding it to me, but it was an award nonetheless.




So here are the rules:!


I must list 6 things I master in
I must award this to 6 other people I think are masters in friendship and blogging

1.) Computer Technology : I can fix a computer in my sleep. I can hack into somebody's wireless signal in my sleep ( Not that i ever have! wink wink) I can download pirated movies and watch them on my plasma in no time!

2.) BBQ Ribs : I love to cook country style ribs on the pitt.... Boiling them for an hour is the key people!

3.) Washing clothes

4.) Making people laugh :)

5.) Planning and making things happen

Today was day two of P90X, 30 minutes into it, I almost gave up! I was exhausted and felt like I couldn't finish. Somewhere in me though, I got a second wind and kept going, telling myself that it was fun to feel the burn. I did not give up and no looking back I am so glad I didn't. My whole body is sore right now, but it will be well worth it.

I BROUGHT IT!

I officially started my P90X program yesterday and Tony Horton would be proud......I BROUGHT IT! It was one of the most intense workouts I have ever had. 5 minutes into it I was asking myself what I got myself into and I kept asking myself that for an hour and a half. Yesterday was day 1 so I did Chest and Back along with the Ab ripper DVD.

Today my body as expected feels really sore, especially my arms, but I am thinking positive about it and they are good pains! As Tony says it feels great to feel burn.

I did my before pictures, however I will not be posting them until I finish my program and post both before and after pictures. I have all the equipment I currently need, they include yoga mat, dumbbells, push up stands and resistance bands.

I have weighed myself and I will again next Monday. I hope to update with good news then.

Come Feb. 15th I will BRING IT!

I've been thinking recently that failing at running at this years marathon is actually the best thing that could have happened to me. I never would have thought to get in shape before hand, I thought that running would naturally bring me to shape while also getting me ready for the long distance run. Boy how I was wrong. I am starting to realize that I probably would have killed myself out there trying to finish. It's all about getting your body in shape first and then conditioning it to finish the 26 plus miles.

Starting Monday Febuary 15th I will have a new best friend. His name is Tony Horton and he is the host of p90x. I will be starting the 90 day commitment. And I will as Tony puts it...."Bring It!".

P90X

As I said in my first blog, one of my first steps at completing a marathon is getting into relatively good shape. I'm not saying Mr. Universe shape but a lot healthier than I am now. I have been reading up on the DVD program P90X and it seems like it is something worth trying. It involves 13 weeks of training, in which you follow a carefully planned calendar. Some days are intense, others are not and since you are constantly changing the workouts, you confuse the muscles. Confusing the muscles is important because then you don't hit the plateau where you don't see improvement. This from what I've read is where other exercise programs fail.

So I am hoping on starting this Sunday, just need to get a couple of dumbells.

The Whittier Greenway Trail

The Greenway Trail is a 5-mile trail that was completed last year in the city of Whittier. It's span is perfect for those trying to get in shape or in my case, getting ready for a marathon. Since I live near the 2 mile mark I have made myself acquainted with miles 1 and 2, having ran those miles quite a bit. I've gone through Whittier High School, Parnell Park and over the Norwalk blvd. bridge. It's a nice way for people to get away and relax. I wish more people would take advantage of it. Below are some pictures I took a few months back while I was on my first training session ( 1 of only 4 :( but any way enjoy the pictures, and in the near future I will keep you all updated on my journey.

The Past, Present and Future

The Past

I should be 75 days away from running my first marathon. Finishing the LA Marathon has long been a goal that I have quietly kept to myself for many years and I thought this year would be my year. However if you've seen me lately I am anything but "race ready". Over the summer I had mentally prepared myself for the race. I had even gone as far as to put up huge monthly tables on a wall showing me how many miles I had to run in order to be ready for the March event. Plus the fact that the race would originate from Dodger Stadium and run itself to the Santa Monica Pier made me even more excited. Before my training began I started what I called my pre-training runs, that were actually more like 4 mile walks on the Whittier Greenway Trail. I did this maybe 5 times before quitting cold turkey. I always had an excuse why I couldn't go out and train and days became weeks and weeks became months and now it is too late to participate in this years event.

The Present

Today I find myself sadden that I've let a great opportunity pass me by. I find myself needing to get healthier which is part of the reason I also was up beat about the race. I figured that while training for this race, I would naturally lose weight and of course that would be a plus. In reality I have probably gained weight. I find myself sadden that instead of participating in the race I will be watching on TV, probably turning it off immediately in disgust with myself.

The Future

I believe I've given myself a very realistic opportunity by allowing myself more than a year to get into race shape. I will not need to follow the guidelines for most new people which says they must train for 6 months. I am allowing myself more than twice that amount. I am allowing myself more than a year, 14 months to be exact and that actually brings me hope. I can concentrate on doing it right. I can concentrate on losing weight and then conditioning my body to make the distance. A distance of 26.2 miles. I don't care about timing, I could care less what my finish time is, I only ask of myself to finish and pass that finish line.

So why is this blog going to change anything? If you couldn't do it before, why can you now? Are you really going to stick with it? You're just going to make yourself look bad and be the butt of a joke! You're all talk but can't walk the walk!

These are all thoughts that are running through my mind and probably yours. I am here to show you, you are wrong. I am here to prove to myself I can! Welcome to my journey.