This weekend I suffered a minor knee injury. I couldn't take it because I'm already seeing a chiropractor for some back injuries I'm nursing. Luckily, while getting a much-needed adjustment, the doc was able to look at my knee. Thank god it isn't as bad as I thought. Everything is in place and is strong. However, he explained that because I've been running so much, the cartilage was irritated and I just need to lay off the running for a little bit. He also advised icing the knee.
Therefore, I'm backing out of this Saturday's 8 mile run. I'll do a maintenance run either tomorrow or Friday just to get me back into the groove of things. However, I'm taking some time off. I'm surprised because the doctor was right. I just needed some rest. My knee was hurting on Sunday and Monday and right now I'd say I'm at 85-90% strength. Yea.
I'm learning that sometimes you just have to back out of an intense situation and think about the bigger fish to fry. Although I'm bummed about not running the 8 mile, I really have to focus on the upcoming 20 mile. That will be one of many tests for me. I'm also realizing that I need to change up my cross training schedule a bit and incorporate more strength training in my legs. This is something I try to avoid because my legs are already monstrous on their own. (I tell you, it's a total blow to my female ego when men aspire to have the "manly" legs I possess.) Oh well... you gotta do what you gotta do. So wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Sunday, June 26, 2005
feeling defeated...
Yesterday I ran an 8 mile recovery run with the group. It went pretty well. However, when I got home my left knee was feeling a little funny. Right now, it's not doing so well. I can walk and do all that stuff, but when I bend it or when I try to do a squat it hurts. ugh! Not that I thought injuries were beyond me, I just wish it wasn't my knee. I think something is wrong with my knee cap. I'm going to try to get a doctor's appointment tomorrow and have it looked at. Hopefully I'll get a good doctor. I hate going to the doctor because they really don't do anything except tell you to take some motrin and call it a day. Let's hope tomorrow will be different. It's in a brace right now, but I think I need to invest in a better one.
I also have some pain in my arches. Yesterday I learned why running in the sand is not a good idea. Some sand got into my shoes and socks and started rubbing against my arches (imagine sandpaper glued to your arches as you run). I tried to dust off the sand and re-apply body glide. However, the damage had already been done. No amount of body glide was going to help.
Lately, I've been experiencing nosebleeds. This is mostly because of the weather (or maybe even the stress?). I hate having them because let's just face it, nosebleeds in public just aren't sexy. Needless to say, I'm feeling a little defeated right now. My knees are not 100% healthy, my arches are blistered up, and every now and again, a stream of blood flows out of my left nostril. I know these are minor things, but I feel like physically, my world is crumbling down on me... and it's taking its toll on the mental. Oh, did I mention that I've been seeing a chiropractor because of a few corroding disks in my back? If any of you have some sound advice, that would be great.
Finally, I haven't been as academically productive as I would like to be. As I get older I'm realizing how personal problems really take a toll on one's ability to function. I'm also realizing that as I get older, people care less and less about what you're going through. So there goes that...
On a lighter note, I received my first donations for the marathon. Thanks for all your e-mails, calls and letters. Keep them coming!
I also have some pain in my arches. Yesterday I learned why running in the sand is not a good idea. Some sand got into my shoes and socks and started rubbing against my arches (imagine sandpaper glued to your arches as you run). I tried to dust off the sand and re-apply body glide. However, the damage had already been done. No amount of body glide was going to help.
Lately, I've been experiencing nosebleeds. This is mostly because of the weather (or maybe even the stress?). I hate having them because let's just face it, nosebleeds in public just aren't sexy. Needless to say, I'm feeling a little defeated right now. My knees are not 100% healthy, my arches are blistered up, and every now and again, a stream of blood flows out of my left nostril. I know these are minor things, but I feel like physically, my world is crumbling down on me... and it's taking its toll on the mental. Oh, did I mention that I've been seeing a chiropractor because of a few corroding disks in my back? If any of you have some sound advice, that would be great.
Finally, I haven't been as academically productive as I would like to be. As I get older I'm realizing how personal problems really take a toll on one's ability to function. I'm also realizing that as I get older, people care less and less about what you're going through. So there goes that...
On a lighter note, I received my first donations for the marathon. Thanks for all your e-mails, calls and letters. Keep them coming!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
booking the Hawai`i trip
I just booked my ticket to Hawai`i and I must say that I can't believe the marathon is just around the corner. I've decided to stay for ten days (Sept 15-25) because the last time I was in Hawai`i was five years ago. I'll be visiting Maui (for the marathon) and Oahu. If you know of any cool places I should visit, please let me know. Also, if you know of any cheap places to stay (or if you're willing to share your hotel points and timeshares), please share that info as well:) Okay... wishful thinking never hurt anyone.
I'm amazed at how supportive people have been so far. Some of you are totally coming out of the woodworks! Thank you all so much for your e-mails. It's been great and I know that the folks at Manilatown are definitely going to appreciate your help as well:)
I'm in a bit of a training slump, but am hoping to turn it up. It's crazy how silly problems can have a huge impact on your ability to function. Hmph!
I'm amazed at how supportive people have been so far. Some of you are totally coming out of the woodworks! Thank you all so much for your e-mails. It's been great and I know that the folks at Manilatown are definitely going to appreciate your help as well:)
I'm in a bit of a training slump, but am hoping to turn it up. It's crazy how silly problems can have a huge impact on your ability to function. Hmph!
Saturday, June 18, 2005
my donation letter
Saturday, June 18, 2005
My Treasured Friends and Family,
Today I ran 18 miles in San Francisco. I ran in the pouring rain through the Golden Gate Bridge, to the sunnier side of the city towards Pier 39, around PacBell Park, and back to Crissy Field. After over five hours of running, I was exhausted and my legs felt like they were going to fall off. However, I was amazed that I had completed such an amazing run. For the past 17 weeks I have been training for the Maui Marathon this coming September 18, 2005 and will run the 26.2 miles to raise money for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. Although most people may think that running this marathon is crazy, I have to say that after 17 weeks of training, this has been one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences I have ever gone through.
I decided to run for various reasons. One was a personal commitment to improve my overall fitness and mental well being. Since early 2004, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Naturally, this came as a total shock, as I was only 28 years old when I was diagnosed. As a diabetic, I needed to find creative ways to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Committing to this marathon was a great way to do this. Each week, I will be devoting my Saturday mornings to a long run and I will be conducting at least two maintenance runs on top of that. In thirty weeks, I will have run over 350 miles of training in order to complete the Maui Marathon. In becoming fit, I will be well on my way to ensuring that as a diabetic, I will live a long and healthy life.
Another reason I am running is because I know that the ability to run, walk and simply stand on my own two feet is a gift that many of us take for granted. I came to this realization when I was spending time with my older brother. He has an arthritic condition in his knees, which at the moment makes it painful for him to walk. Seeing him struggle triggered memories of my own father who had a difficult time walking and needed crutches to support himself. Each time I run I think about my father and how he would have loved the opportunity to simply walk a few steps without crutches or the excruciating pain from his stiff joints. By running, I celebrate the simple gift of being able to do so.
Finally and probably most importantly, I am running to raise money for a great cause that is near and dear to my heart. Today, many do not know that what is now the border of San Francisco's Financial District and Chinatown once stood Manilatown. Manilatown was a haven for elderly men and women who spent the prime of their lives serving this country. Many were war veterans, farm workers, and laborers. Over thirty years ago, this community was obliterated because of the city'Â’s plans for urban renewal. The event that symbolized the end of Manilatown was when the International Hotel (a.k.a. the I-Hotel), a residential hotel for the elderly, was demolished on August 4, 1977. Despite vehement community protest, residents were forcibly evicted from their homes by the San Francisco police department. Like many of you, I was unaware of such events. However, as an undergraduate, I watched Curtis Choy'Â’s documentary Fall of the I-Hotel and was moved by the longstanding struggle for community survival and the right to affordable housing.
Today, we all have the opportunity to honor Manilatown and the many people who passed on waiting for replacement housing. Because of the hard work of community organizations such as the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, the I-Hotel is rising once again. The proceeds of my fundraising will support operating costs and programming in the new Manilatown Center, which will be located on the first floor of the new International Hotel Senior Housing. This center will provide a modest venue for cultural exhibitions and serve as a community educational center. Therefore, I run so that generations will have a space where they can learn about their culture and history.
I am running with a new group called the Manilatown Running Collective, otherwise known as the Runbutans. We are a group of runners who have banned together to build community through fitness and community collaboration. We want to play a major role in helping the new Manilatown and International Hotel Senior Housing rise. It is for this reason that our motto is, "For our bayani (heroes), for our community, and for Manilatown and the I-Hotel, we runbutan."
I have committed to raise $3000 for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. Although I know it is a huge commitment, I am confident that with your support, I can reach this goal. Please contact me so that I can send you an official sponsor form. The form will have more details on where you can mail your donations. It is self-explanatory and easy to follow. Please make checks payable to the Manilatown Heritage Foundation and return them by Thursday, September 1, 2005. Again, proceeds will fund my trip as well as operating costs and programming of the Manilatown Center, which will open this summer. YOUR DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE so please donate generously. Also, please check if your employer will match your donation. That way, your contribution can go farther in helping this wonderful cause.
I can think of no better way to celebrate life than to accomplish this incredible feat, pushing my body beyond the limit while expanding my heart to make a difference in community building. Whether you contribute $26.20 (a dollar for every marathon mile I run), $50, $100, or $500 please contribute whatever you can. When I cross the finish line, I will not only be carrying my body across the finish line, I will be crossing it with you and with those who will benefit from the money raised. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at: jlrondilla@sbcglobal.net. Additionally, keep checking this site for updates on my progress:) Thank you for your confidence and unyielding support.
Sincerely,
Joanne L. Rondilla
My Treasured Friends and Family,
Today I ran 18 miles in San Francisco. I ran in the pouring rain through the Golden Gate Bridge, to the sunnier side of the city towards Pier 39, around PacBell Park, and back to Crissy Field. After over five hours of running, I was exhausted and my legs felt like they were going to fall off. However, I was amazed that I had completed such an amazing run. For the past 17 weeks I have been training for the Maui Marathon this coming September 18, 2005 and will run the 26.2 miles to raise money for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. Although most people may think that running this marathon is crazy, I have to say that after 17 weeks of training, this has been one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences I have ever gone through.
I decided to run for various reasons. One was a personal commitment to improve my overall fitness and mental well being. Since early 2004, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Naturally, this came as a total shock, as I was only 28 years old when I was diagnosed. As a diabetic, I needed to find creative ways to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Committing to this marathon was a great way to do this. Each week, I will be devoting my Saturday mornings to a long run and I will be conducting at least two maintenance runs on top of that. In thirty weeks, I will have run over 350 miles of training in order to complete the Maui Marathon. In becoming fit, I will be well on my way to ensuring that as a diabetic, I will live a long and healthy life.
Another reason I am running is because I know that the ability to run, walk and simply stand on my own two feet is a gift that many of us take for granted. I came to this realization when I was spending time with my older brother. He has an arthritic condition in his knees, which at the moment makes it painful for him to walk. Seeing him struggle triggered memories of my own father who had a difficult time walking and needed crutches to support himself. Each time I run I think about my father and how he would have loved the opportunity to simply walk a few steps without crutches or the excruciating pain from his stiff joints. By running, I celebrate the simple gift of being able to do so.
Finally and probably most importantly, I am running to raise money for a great cause that is near and dear to my heart. Today, many do not know that what is now the border of San Francisco's Financial District and Chinatown once stood Manilatown. Manilatown was a haven for elderly men and women who spent the prime of their lives serving this country. Many were war veterans, farm workers, and laborers. Over thirty years ago, this community was obliterated because of the city'Â’s plans for urban renewal. The event that symbolized the end of Manilatown was when the International Hotel (a.k.a. the I-Hotel), a residential hotel for the elderly, was demolished on August 4, 1977. Despite vehement community protest, residents were forcibly evicted from their homes by the San Francisco police department. Like many of you, I was unaware of such events. However, as an undergraduate, I watched Curtis Choy'Â’s documentary Fall of the I-Hotel and was moved by the longstanding struggle for community survival and the right to affordable housing.
Today, we all have the opportunity to honor Manilatown and the many people who passed on waiting for replacement housing. Because of the hard work of community organizations such as the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, the I-Hotel is rising once again. The proceeds of my fundraising will support operating costs and programming in the new Manilatown Center, which will be located on the first floor of the new International Hotel Senior Housing. This center will provide a modest venue for cultural exhibitions and serve as a community educational center. Therefore, I run so that generations will have a space where they can learn about their culture and history.
I am running with a new group called the Manilatown Running Collective, otherwise known as the Runbutans. We are a group of runners who have banned together to build community through fitness and community collaboration. We want to play a major role in helping the new Manilatown and International Hotel Senior Housing rise. It is for this reason that our motto is, "For our bayani (heroes), for our community, and for Manilatown and the I-Hotel, we runbutan."
I have committed to raise $3000 for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. Although I know it is a huge commitment, I am confident that with your support, I can reach this goal. Please contact me so that I can send you an official sponsor form. The form will have more details on where you can mail your donations. It is self-explanatory and easy to follow. Please make checks payable to the Manilatown Heritage Foundation and return them by Thursday, September 1, 2005. Again, proceeds will fund my trip as well as operating costs and programming of the Manilatown Center, which will open this summer. YOUR DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE so please donate generously. Also, please check if your employer will match your donation. That way, your contribution can go farther in helping this wonderful cause.
I can think of no better way to celebrate life than to accomplish this incredible feat, pushing my body beyond the limit while expanding my heart to make a difference in community building. Whether you contribute $26.20 (a dollar for every marathon mile I run), $50, $100, or $500 please contribute whatever you can. When I cross the finish line, I will not only be carrying my body across the finish line, I will be crossing it with you and with those who will benefit from the money raised. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at: jlrondilla@sbcglobal.net. Additionally, keep checking this site for updates on my progress:) Thank you for your confidence and unyielding support.
Sincerely,
Joanne L. Rondilla
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