the road after Kaanapali

I just got back from what feels like an eternity. Ten days away from home is a long time. I’m enjoying a few days here and will then be on my way to DC for a conference. Life normalizes after October 2nd.

On the plane back to Oakland, I proudly wore my Maui Marathon Finisher’s t-shirt. A woman sitting near me on the plane noticed and started talking to me. She ran Maui with Team-In-Training (this was her second Maui marathon). I told her who we were and she said she saw us at the marathon (the red is hard to miss amidst all that purple). She also noticed us during our training runs at Ocean Beach. In usual fashion, we compared marathon notes. I told her we were among the very last to finish. I also described how most of the tents were gone, so we couldn’t take advantages of the perks like the massages and Starbucks. (I know. I’ll get over the whole Starbucks thing… eventually.)

She was curious about our group and I told her how we run together and finish together. She said, “Oh, Team-In-Training isn’t like that. We eventually run by ourselves and cross by ourselves.” Although I failed to catch her name, I felt bad for her. Here she was, a totally fit, multi-marathon runner who probably made it in time for the perks. And here I was, out of shape (even though I do run), single marathon runner with absolutely no intention of running another one. I was also envious of her feet because I highly doubt her tootsies went through the hell mine went through with all the blistering and such. Anyway… I felt bad because she ran with a HUGE group but eventually crossed alone. To me, marathon running is a team sport. To cross the finish alone makes one the absolute loneliest number.

As I mentioned before, I’m still processing this whole thing. At this point, I have to say that as a runbutan, the victory did not end at the finish line. I don’t think I would have pulled through the recovery without the generous nature of my teammates. Although I didn’t get to know everyone, I cherish what we have all been bound to.

As you may know, I’ve had a blister problem since we hit the 20 mile training. From there, even short runs have been unkind to my feet. After the marathon, I went to bed in agony nursing my monster-sized blisters. I couldn’t walk that day and the ones that followed. Like I already said, the coaches were great. They called to check up on Tzel and I. When they found out we hadn’t eaten yet (it was after 9pm and we came back from the marathon at about 4pm), Alex and Cici came to our room and gave us pizza, leg cream and salonpas to nurse our aching bodies, and made sure we were hydrating properly.


Coach Cici playing with her new ukelele.

The following night was the victory party. Although painful, I made the short journey to be with my fellow runbutans. (I’ll share more about that night in another entry.) I always knew that this team was unique, but hearing about everyone’s journey shed new light for me. Each person was battling something during the run and each person had a unique story to tell. It was great to know that although we had so much and so little in common, we were all comfortable enough to share.

On the plane ride back to the bay area last night, I was reflecting on this whole experience. One thing that came to mind is that I am incredible lucky to have the friends that I have – both new and old. For me, I realized how beautiful and kind everyone is - especially after the race when I was in my recovery state. The small, simple and yet meaningful things that people shared and people did for me were immeasurable.

On the walk back to the condo after the victory party, I was in terrible pain. I had to take off my slippers and walk barefoot on raw feet on the pavement. It was fine until we crossed the driveway, which had small pebbles that I kept stepping on. Camille and Diana were with me and in my breaking point of agony, I sat down on the pavement in tears telling myself how much I hated my feet. Immediately, Diana made her way to the room to carry the things we were bringing back while Camille sat next to me in silence, consoling me in my moments of weakness and pain. When Diana came back, I got back up on my feet to go to the room. She kindly walked in front of me sweeping away the small pebbles so that I could walk on a clear path to the room.


The lovely ladies of D107: Camille, me (the adopted child), Diana, Tina and Maria.

The following day I was set to leave Maui for Honolulu to meet up with my best friend. Again, everyone was kind and friendly. The ladies of D107 provided a place for me to stay, while Ronnie and Jose returned the pots and pans to the front desk for me because I couldn’t walk the walk. Also, a good chunk of the team was at the airport at the same time as I was. With the help of Tina and Maria, I made it to the airport with good company and laughs as we drove my the infamous “team bush.” My luggage was extra heavy and having to wheel that stuff in with bad feet was quite a chore. Coach Herb was kind enough to take over and turn in my luggages o’ goodies.

Tired and sweaty, I was secretly dreading the walk to the terminal. Again, the runbutans came to my rescue and requested a wheelchair for me. Faith was kind enough to wheel me in (as I was nervously thinking, how in the world is this tiny thing going to wheel in my monstrous body through the gates?). In truth, I had fun simulating a roller coaster through the terminals. I’ll never look at that airport the same again. The team stuck around with me as I went through security and made sure I made it to the gate.

Again, as fate would have it, Coach Patrick was on the same flight as me to Honolulu. He took care of me during the last leg of the flight by wheeling me to the plane and carrying my things. In Honolulu, he went on to haul our luggage to the waiting area (as I sat on my lazy injured ass). His sister picked us up from the airport and they took me to have my first official Leonard’s malasadas before taking me to my hotel. Patrick also went the distance by taking me and my best friend Caroline out to dinner the next evening and then spent a day with us around the island on Thursday. We ended the evening by watching a UH women’s volleyball game (something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid). He even called to check up on me and my feet before he headed back to the bay area on Saturday. Yea for caring coaches:)


Coach Patrick lounging at the airport before heading out to Honolulu.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m fiercely independent in nature. It’s from my dad. I’m not used to needing so much help and am even worse at asking for it. It was wonderful being taken care of, but deep down inside I was totally embarrassed and felt like such a weakling. My first night in Honolulu, I sat in my hotel room alone and started crying because so many people were there to witness me at such a terrible low. But even at my lowest point, they managed to carry me and take care of me. They answered my moments of need before I could muster up the courage to ask (they probably knew I wouldn't be able to ask). I see now that this is why in three years, the runbutans have a 100% finish rate.

The team really stuck it out with me by making light of everything. When I was getting wheeled all over the place, Celisse and others kept telling me to be proud because I have battle scars to show my accomplishment. Faith had a ball speeding down the aisles of the terminal. Alex shared is butter mochi, Cici played her ukelele, and Herb kept cracking dirty jokes! After a dismal post-marathon, Tina was her positive and wonderful self. When we parted ways with the folks going back to the bay area, Patrick was actually happy to wheel me in to our terminal because it meant we would get first dibs on our seats. I couldn’t help but be happy on the outside because I was surrounded by nothing but love. That is the beauty of this team. Our unconditional love for each other didn’t end at the finish line. Instead, it carried us beyond that and continues to do so.


Coach Herb demonstrating one of his dirty jokes. (Insert laughter here.)

This is why I felt bad for the Team-In-Training woman. Although she probably crossed with good time and will go far in her running career, she will never have the honor or luxury of being a runbutan. The finish line was her end point. For the runbutans, the finish was just the beginning.


P.S. The day I arrived in Honolulu, I watched the finale of Rockstar INXS. Unfortunately, MiG Ayesa lost. Oh well, it’s not about the finish, it’s about the distance. With that, I’m sure MiG will go far.

A letter to the coaches

It's a few days after the marathon. Apologies for taking so long to post. I didn't realize how long it would take to process the whole journey. Also, as usual, I got major blisters on my feet. This time they were on the balls of my feet which made recovery a little different. Let's just say that these damn blisters were so big that the nurse in the medical tent (yes, I had to go straight to the medical tent after crossing the finish) had a blast announcing how big and disgusting my blisters were while I was sitting there in pain and defeat. Enough about the lack of professionalism in the medical tent.

I'm writing this entry for the coaches. It's a little winded, but I promise that there's a point to it all. So here it goes...…

In 2000 while I was watching the Olympics, I witnessed the US Men's Volleyball team's disappointing finish. I'm a volleyball fan and one of the standouts on that team was Mike Lambert, a Stanford alum whose career I've been following since he was a Cardinal (boo! hiss!). I remember Lambert's first game as a freshman and thought the Cardinals wasted a perfectly good scholarship on a tall, lanky Hawai`i island boy who couldn't hit the ball over the net to save his life. Here he was, playing in his second Olympic games. In 1996, the US Men's Volleyball team didn't do well either. In 2000, hopes were high and Lambert was supposed to lead the way for the team.

In their final game, they lost and didn't even make it to the medal rounds. In fact, I don't think they even won a single match. It was the most disappointing loss for the team since they medaled in 1984, 1988, and 1992. Meaning, their losing teams were also the teams that Lambert (and some others) were on. I've seen Lambert lose before, but this time around he looked completely defeated. It was like someone totally sucked the life out of him. I felt bad.

The next day I was surfing the net and ran into a letter that announcer Paul Sunderland wrote to Lambert. In the background was a picture of Lambert looking defeated and beat down. In the letter, Sunderland wrote about what it means to be a champion and what it means to win. If I recall correctly, Sunderland wrote that the true sign of a champion has nothing to do with what he wins. Rather, it has more to do with how he loses and the lessons learned when face to face with defeat. He went on to say that he has had the pleasure of watching Lambert's development on and off the court and that he has become a world-class athlete. Losing a series of games does not change the champion you really are.


Team Bullet X Marisigan: Tzel and me.

This story comes to mind because I saw that look of defeat again. Only it was in the face of Coach Rex. On Sunday, the runbutans completed a grueling course and were met at the finish line with no Starbucks Frappuccino, no time clock, no finish line banner, no complimentary massages. Instead, we were met with delays in the medical tent, grumpy workers and volunteers who wanted to go home and were upset we took so damn long to finish, and again, no Starbucks Frappuccino. I was too busy nursing my poor feet that I didn'’t really notice. All that mattered to me was that I finished, survived and completed with the 29 other people on the team.

The next day I went to get a massage with Ricky and Angie. Coach Rex was nice enough to drive us to and from the spa. From the get-go I could tell he was upset about the whole thing. He looked like the Lambert I remember sitting on the floor, head buried in his hands, totally defeated. Like Sunderland, I would like to extend a message to Coach Rex and the rest of the fantastic runbutan coaching team...…

As a member of the runbutan team, I can honestly say that I joined not knowing I would complete the thirty weeks of training. Crossing the finish line was in some ways uneventful. For me, it was uneventful because I couldn't take a picture of the finish line for my thank you cards. Other than that, not having all the frills waiting for me was no big deal. (With the exception of the Starbucks thing - I'm still not over that.) I think Coach Rex felt defeated because for the past thirty weeks, he led the coaches and the runners throughout this process. He was the grand daddy of it all. And like a father, to see any of your children uncared for or not receive any love at the finish has to hurt. Rex was hurting for all thirty of us even when we didn't realize there was any pain to be felt. Rex felt it even before we had a chance to absorb any of it.


Coach Rex videotaping during the victory party.

My message to the coaches is this: there are not enough thank yous in the world to pay you back for the time, dedication and love you all put in to the team. For most of us, this was our first marathon and your guidance throughout this process is what brought the runbutans to the finish. You helped me accomplish something that I never thought would be possible. You helped me test my body, mind and spirit beyond its limits and let me know that anything, including obtaining a Ph.D. is within reach. The night after the marathon, being surrounded by the team also reminded me that we didn't run for the sake of running. We ran because running symbolized different parts of our personal lives and the future of our people. To start together, run together and finish together was a sign of our dedication to ourselves, the people around us and the history that is behind and ahead of us. None of this would have happened without the coaching team. During the marathon, every coach's stop was inspiration to go further and further. Seeing you brought life back into our aching bodies and tired legs. It was your mana and your love that helped us cross the finish line - whatever that finish line was to each of us.

A time clock, a finish banner and even a Starbucks Frappuccino are not signs of a successful finish. No team in that race trained harder or showed the strength and tenacity that we did. For elite athletes, finishing a marathon in two to three hours is easy. Sticking it out with thirty other people through the thick of the Maui heat for over nine hours is something that even the world's best athletes could never do. But the runbutans did it with grace and heart. It is a rite that very few people could claim.

Although I'm sure watching the runbutans take a beating was no easy task, just know that pain is temporary. IT bands will bounce back, blisters will heal, and bodies will be re-hydrated. Coaches, there is no need to bear the burden of the team'’s pains because the victory that you led each and every one of us is so much greater. Salamat and Mahalo for the journey and the many roads that lie ahead.


The 2005 Runbutans.


P.S. In the end, Lambert ended up playing beach volleyball with the legendary Karch Kiraly. Sometimes defeat leads us to legends.

in the dark of night

I've been obsessed with the show Rockstar: INXS these past few weeks and this Tuesday they finally announce their winner. I'm keeping fingers crossed for Mig Ayesa:) Hence, this should explain the title of this blog. It's a line from their song "By My Side." During tomorrow's run, I'm going to secretly dedicate my run to Mig in hopes that he wins. Filipinos really need their rocker and hopefully by this time next week he'll be the one.

Also, I'm writing you from Maui. In the dark of night. Hours away from the marathon and the start line. We're lounging in the dark of night by the pool to eat our last meal (semi) together. I can't believe we're here and that we've come so far. By this time tomorrow I'll be done with my ice bath and lounging in the room, eating something meaty and beefy, recovering, and looking forward to my 85 minute over-priced massage.

At this point, I can only picture the start and the finish. I'm not sure what's going to happen in the middle. All I know is I came all this way to run and complete this race. Fingers crossed and prayers made, I hope to cross that finish. (Besides, I really want that finishers t-shirt and all the cool complimentary stuff you get like... small samples of Xango mangosteen drink!) I've done all I can do and just hope that lady fate is kind and carries me to the finish. Since we arrived on Thursday, I've been averaging about 4-6 liters of water to keep me hydrated. In the bay area I was averaging about 4 liters. I think I'm good on hydration.

The dark of night in Maui is beautiful. It's midnight black. The sky is clear. The moon is full. Luckily, the heavens have been listening because the weather is not as hot as I was anticipating. There's 40% chance of rain which means that if that does happen, I won't conk out so quickly.

The team is in high spirits and although they're all here, a part of them is missing them. But that's just me. Thinking ahead. The usual pessimist.

But I'm off. To eat my burger and pack my things. I'm off to run this race. Fingers crossed. Prayers made.

totally freaking out!

The coaches warned us about the butterflies kicking in before marathon day. However, I didn't think they would come so soon.

I leave for Maui in about ten hours and am doing minor last minute touches on the packing. As far as I can tell, it's going well. However, I've suddenly become nervous about this whole thing. My best friend told me to just relax. I'm trying.

I have been trying to take it easy during this taper period. The blisters have all healed and I visited the nice people at Foot Solutions in Fremont. It looks like the blistering is from my orthotic. They're old and don't fit my feet anymore. They're actually forcing my arches to go a little too high and that's what's causing the blistering. They gave me a replacement set which I think fits a lot better. When I'm ready and can afford it, I'm going to have to get custom ones made because my feet are really bad. I'm hoping the rest I've been taking pays off on Sunday.

I'm freaking out and off to pack!

the rules of dating (over Mexican food)

Yesterday I went to the run, but didn't run. Instead, I took a nice walk with Cici and Celisse while the team ran. Afterwards, we went to La Pinata in Alameda for lunch.

Getting to know the team has been a little difficult because the team is so big. With over 30 runners and coaches, it's hard to keep up with and get to know everyone. So this lunch with about nine people was nice. Over piping hot Mexican food, we got into the age-old discussion of dating. If I'm not mistaken, everyone at the table was currently single, so having a group of 20-30 somethings bitching about dating is always a fun thing. I was glad that my failed dating life was the norm as opposed to the exception. (As great as the conversation was, I still didn't get my question answered: Why are men such complicated creatures?!)

As we were all sharing and getting to know each other, a part of me became sad. The marathon is about two weeks away. The team has been training together for six months now and after the marathon, it will all be over. No more training Saturdays, no more bitching about injuries, not more post-run pigging out. I'm finding that the last few weeks of training are crucial, not just because of the marathon preparation and the injuries we have to nurse, but because we have to treasure each other's company. This is why I'm totally bummed about missing the last run next week (I have to work in order to pay for the trip).

In my pace group, there's just me and Tzel. After the marathon, she's moving to the Philippines for a year. Running with her has been so much fun because considering the amount of hours we spend on the long runs, we always manage to keep conversation going. Tzel amazes me because she's had to battle so much at such a young age. Despite that, she manages to keep her spirits high and is unwilling to compromise who she is in order to accomplish what she wants. Very few people are this gutsy. I'm going to miss the inspiration. I'm also going to miss the silly, girlie conversations with Coach Angie, Coach Cici and Tina. Of course, there's Rickey's sarcastic’ comments, Mark's chanting in his bright red tights, Coach Herb's Pinoy-esque jokes and funny dancing... these are just a few things that come to mind when I think about the group. I don't have to worry about missing Coach Alex and Coach Rex because I always see them and know where to find them.

Although I am frantically preparing for the marathon, I know the more important thing, and the thing that will count in the long run, is remembering these moments with everyone. I'll forget the mileage, the routes we took, the injuries I had to nurse. But the things I will remember are the conversations we had, the silly comments that were made, and all the funny dancing.

special thanks!

Hello all!

I just wanted to say hello and send out a special thanks to all of you who have supported me throughout this journey. As of today, with your generous donations, I have reached my goal of raising $3000 for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation (insert a standing ovation here and take a bow). In the beginning, I wasn't sure I could reach it, but you all have been so gracious about donating to this wonderful cause.

As our training is winding down, the team's fundraising seems to be at full speed. Although I have reached my goal, please don't let that stop you from sending in your donation (especially if you haven't turned one in yet). The team's goal is to raise $50,000 and right now we're at a little under $30,000. The grand opening of the I-Hotel last Friday truly inspired me and I hope that it inspires more people to donate to this great cause - whether it be time, money, or prayers, every bit helps.

Again, maraming salamat and I'm looking forward to running the Maui marathon with you in spirit!

runbutan survey

Runbu Nickname: Joy, Jo, Jo-jo, "My GSI"
Age: Older than most on the team (29 and still going).
Pace Group: Bullet X Marisigan
Hometown: Dededo, Guam
School: James Logan H.S., UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley
Occupation: Graduate Student, Freelance make-up artist/skincare specialist
Favorite Running Location: Crissy Field, the Pier, wherever it's flat.
Favorite Sports Drink: Water with Nuun electrolyte tablets. Endurox Recovery drink.
Favorite Sports Bar/Gel: Can't have them. But I do like soy pretzels and gummies for snacks on the runs.
Running Shoe: Motion Control. Saucony Grid Stabil (but I'm in the market for a new brand).
Running Store Where Bought: Transport in Berkeley.

Why Do You Runbutan? For the health and survival of our community. For the preservation of our history. To encourage future runbu-runners.

Note To Your Supporters/Donors. Thank you for your generosity and support for such a great cause. We wouldn't have made it to the finish without you.

To Whom Do You Dedicate Your Running? To my father who had arthritis and couldn't walk without crutches. To my brother who is recovering from knee surgery. To the people whose memory we run in. To future generations whose world I hope is so much better than ours.

Other Hobbies: Health wise? I spin and weight train at the gym. I also practice a self defense art called krav maga. For leisure, I read, write, and love photography. I'm big on the arts stuff such as good concerts and theater (even though
my budget doesn't allow for much of this). I also make jewelry (if time permits) and other various crafts.

Favorite after-run spot: The nearest burger joint or Hawaiian BBQ place with good company, of course. If it's a LONG run, my bathtub filled with ice.

Running Testimonials: I joined the group because I hated to run and had never run more than three miles at a time. In truth, I still hate running. However, I do it to maintain my health. Filipinos and other people of color are plagued by various chronic diseases such as diabetes and I'm no exception (I have type 2 diabetes). I feel that keeping healthy is the most important thing we can do for our communities. We have to live and survive in order to lead the revolution, right? Besides, I'd like to be around to watch our communities continue to rise.

those we honor

Lately I've been curious about the four people who the runbutan teams are named after. While doing a little searching, I found the following images on the Manilatown website:


Wahat Tampao. He was the secretary-treasurer of the International Hotel Tenants Association. As you can tell, he was an energetic man with a passion for his activism.


Tung Yee. On the Manilatown website, Bill Sorro wrote this about him:

Mr. Tung Yee
Whose smile breathed new life into the old I-Hotel
New meaning, essence of home
Old man, Proud Chinaman
Tung Yee who stood tall in the face of greed and corruption
The little ones of Portsmouth Square sing in your honor.
Their voices undulating like the xiao carried on the Chinatown winds,
following as the Gaurat, a song of praise in your name
Tung Yee, Proud man, Proud Chinaman

Although I didn't manage to download an image of Vicky Manalo, I did find her picture here . Of course, she's the one in the middle. Currently, she lives in Southern California.

Still no sign of Bullet X Marisigan...

headline news

Check out the article about the I-Hotel grand opening. Enjoy!

p.s. If you're thinking what I'm thinking, yes, I noticed the absence too. This is what happens when people are too afraid to be Filipino specific. Although I understand the politics, I do not forgive the silence.

Manilatown comes home

Today I went to the grand opening of the new International Hotel Senior Housing. It's been a few years since I have visited the corner of Kearny and Jackson. The last time I was there was a few years ago when friends from UCSB were in town and we all decided to have dinner in Chinatown. At the time, we wanted to visit the site because the new I-Hotel was under construction and it was refreshing to see that what was left of Manilatown was more than just a hole in the ground.

Since it had been a while I wasn't quite sure how to get to the site from the Montgomery Street station. After receiving what I knew were bad directions to Chinatown, I decided to take a leap of fate and told myself to just walk in whatever direction I thought felt right. Within a few moments I reached Kearny Street and went from there. It didn't take too long to find the Hotel. The KRON news van and the congregation of beautiful brown people were enough to let me know that I made it to my destination.


The new International Hotel Senior Housing.

I was amazed at the amount of people that were there. The grand opening went from 1-5pm. The major festivities started at 1pm (the ribbon cutting, speeches by alleged dignitaries, etc.). Since I got there at about 3pm, I figured the crowd would have died down. I was wrong. The crowd was in full swing. People were pouring in to celebrate a magnificent victory in the longstanding struggle for affordable housing. There were so many generations of people there to be part of this historical event.

As I was walking up the sidewalk into the hotel, I was ambushed by a strange inexplicable energy. It was like something that had been dead for a long time had suddenly emerged and was screaming out loud. When I entered the main area, the first thing I saw was the legacy wall. Right then, it hit me. For the past six months, I've been trying to figure out the various reasons for running this marathon. All this time I thought it was because I was trying to prove something to myself. Now I know that there is so much more to the 26.2 miles in Maui that have absolutely nothing to do with running. I was here, standing at the crossroad between a silenced past and a present that was trying to be heard. At that moment, I realized that I am now a part of that present that is trying to be heard - as a runner, a scholar, an educator, an auntie, a daughter....


The legacy wall. The bricks you see are the remains of the original I-Hotel. The glass in front of the bricks features a list of donors. Bridging the past and the present, this part of the building also features an art exhibit of the I-Hotel struggle.

As I was looking at the photos of the old-timers who were forcibly evicted from the original I-Hotel, I saw reflections of my own father who would have been 78 years old. I don't think my father knew about the I-Hotel, and unfortunately, he didn't live long enough to see what kind of woman his youngest daughter turned out to be. Like my father and these old timers in the photos, I hope that past generations are looking at us from above with some sense of pride. I hope they know that we have not forgotten them and we are trying to break the silences of their pains, struggles, hopes and dreams.

Like most people, I always wonder why my life has taken on such a strange series of paths. I was never supposed to be a graduate student. In fact, I was supposed to be an engineer just like my father. But sometimes a daughter has to disappoint in order to stand on her own two feet. My life is not necessarily filled with wise choices. However, it is filled with choices that I do not regret. I can only hope that the man they call Fernando understands.


On the roof of the new I-Hotel. It has a lounge area for people to enjoy breathtaking views of the city.

In truth, I was not prepared for the amount of emotion that was running through me as I visited a site that has meant so much to so many generations. One thing that struck me was seeing a photograph of Wahat Tampao, a former resident and outspoken leader of the struggle. I clearly remember his face from Curtis Choy's film Fall of the I-Hotel, but as a college freshman, I had no idea who he was. Currently, the runbutans have four different teams, all named after an important person in Filipino American History. (Also, we're called the runbutans after the tropical fruit rambutan because early Filipino American sports leagues used to name themselves after tropical fruit from the homeland e.g. the mangoes.) The great thing is that the people we honor are not necessarily big-named heroes. Rather, they are the everyday people who make up the intricate details of the fabric of Filipino American history. The four teams are: Vicky Manalo, Wahat Tampao (the first team I ran with), Bullet X Marisigan (my current team) and Tung Yee.

Sadly, I don't know who everyone is. The people we honor are not in history books. They are everyday people who were brave enough to make an indent in history. Mostly, their legacies live in the hearts and minds of the people who were lucky enough to know them or hear about them. My teammate Tzel actually knew Bullet X, a fireball who was mostly known in activist circles in San Francisco. I wish I knew more about the woman whose legacy I honor each time my flat feet hits the pavement. All I do know is that she passed away a few years ago in a sudden car accident. Although I don't know much about Bullet X, I'm glad to know I run in honor of such a phenomenal woman.

If any of you know who these people are, please share their stories here. The most visible one is obviously Vicky Manalo because a park was recently named after her. For those of you who don't know about Vicky, she was a gold medal Olympic diver who had to use her mother's maiden name because she had to hide her Filipino-ness in order to compete. See? That silenced past and a present that is trying to be heard for future generations seems to be the re-occurring theme in Fil-Am history. This kind of pain is why I sit in front of the computer screen filled with tears. It's pride and rage meeting all at once.

Needless to say, the corner of Kearny and Jackson was filled with various degrees of emotion. Although no one has officially moved in yet, seeing the units and imagining the new I-Hotel community was so exciting. This grand opening is long overdue, and we should all be proud to be part of something so special.

There were a lot of senior citizens there experiencing the space, hoping that they would be lucky enough to have a mailbox in the main lobby. Some of the people looking at the units with me were already making plans for what the rooms would look like with their own belongings. Although I don't know specifics, I do know that assignments have not been granted yet. Amidst the chattering, I could hear hope and preparation for disappointment. The lottery list is long and although 104 units is a lot, it's not nearly enough to satisfy the demand for low income senior housing. This brought me back to reality. Although a wonderful victory, the struggle goes on.


A view of the city from one of the corner units.

I was able to take a self-guided tour of the building. The view from the rooftop is amazing. There's a comfy lounge area with benches and tables for residents to spend their days and nights over looking the city. As I was taking pictures of what residents of the new hotel would see everyday, I couldn't believe how much of Manilatown was obliterated. Can you believe that about ten blocks of what is now the financial district used to be a thriving Filipino community? It absolutely blows my mind.

The units are also very nice. There are 104 studio and one-bedroom units total. Each unit has its own bathroom, storage spaces and kitchen. I have to mention this because apparently, the original I-Hotel had communal bathrooms. To the handful of surviving residents who get to live in the new space, this should be a real treat:)

Of course, the location is fantastic. It's in the heart of Chinatown, a block away from the Financial District, and public transportation is nearby. That way, they have access to so much and it's easy for families to visit. I'm sure someone is city hall is bitching and moaning about all the high rent they cannot charge for such prime real estate. I'm also sure we all know what to say to those selfish jerks!

I stayed at the event for about an hour and a half. I went alone and there was only so much I could take. My head was spinning and I really couldn't wait to sort out my thoughts about the day. Also, I had plans with near and dear friends in Berkeley. All in all, it was a beautiful day that marked an awe-inspiring rebirth of something great.




Nikko the hockey player. Brendan the charmer.

The two beautiful children above are my nephews. I don't have kids and don't plan on having them anytime soon. Right now, renting my nephews is just fine because at the end of the day, I get to keep my sanity:) Nikko is an amazing hockey player who will be one of the first (and few) islanders to grace the sport with his coconutty presence. I predict that he is going to one day make islanders all over the world walk a little taller and hold their heads up a little higher (he already makes me do this). Brendan is cute, charming, incredibly funny and full of personality (just like his godmother). Although he hasn't figured out what his aspirations are just yet (except to be the greatest yu-gi-oh player ever lived), he at least knows where his talents lie. The world awaits him and I get front row tickets.

There are now millions of reasons why I run. For me, looking at the faces of these two amazing kids echoes the motto of the Manilatown Running Collective: "For our bayani (heroes), for our community, and for Manilatown and the I-Hotel, we runbutan."

Conquering the big 26.2 miles

As I write this, I am sitting up in bed, feet elevated and in complete pain. All this time I thought I had the whole blister thing figured out… nope. My left foot has a blister half the size of my cell phone and my right foot has a blister that is as big as a silver dollar. The right side started to bleed tonight and I had to “perform surgery” and cut some of the skin open in order for the blister to breathe. I know… too much information. However, I’m sitting here in agony and just need to let it out, okay? I hate blisters and am dreading the actual marathon in Maui because the idea of spending half my time in Hawai`i bedridden waiting for blisters to heal just isn’t appealing to me. I’m at a total loss because I have NO IDEA what to do to make them stop. Ugh! Calgon, take me away.

Blisters aside, I’m coming off a pretty decent weekend. Saturday was our trial marathon. I completed the 26.2 mile course in exactly eight hours. Don’t ask me how. I just did it. Unfortunately, I lost my teammate Tzel at mile 17 because her knee gave out. I ran the rest of the way with Coach Alex. I have to thank these two because without their company, the eight hour run would have been totally agonizing.

I want to say that at some point I wanted to give up, to throw in the towel. But to do so would be a big fat lie. I came that morning, thinking I would finish and I did. Slowly, but surely, I crossed the 26.2 mile mark. I wanted to cry at the end of it all, but the tears weren’t there. I wanted to be happy and ecstatic, but those feelings weren’t there either. In truth, the only thing going through my mind was, “This is the last marathon I am ever going to run!” Diana videotaped me saying that and the coaches said, “We have it on film so that after your third or fourth marathon, we have something to look back on.” Fat chance. If there’s one thing I know about me, it’s that when I declare something, I pretty much hold on to it. So again, I declare that this is the last marathon I ever plan on running. From here on out, I will do half marathons at best. The blisters are just a little too much for me. I am happy that my only injury is the blistering. Right now, everything except the sore feet is in perfect health. Even my knees are good.

Before each run we send out dedications. Who are the people and what are the things we are running for on that day? I usually send out a quiet dedication to help me think about who and what I’m running for. Last Saturday was the first time I shared my dedication. I dedicated that run to my brother, who was preparing for surgery. For those of you who have read my donation letter, you know that he’s having a tough time with knee injuries. This past Monday he had surgery on his left knee. His recovery seems to be okay right now. When I sent out my dedication, Coach Rex said, “I’m sure your brother will join our team next year.” When all is well, I think Gerry running a marathon is totally doable. It’s just a matter of him believing he can do it. Maybe this is why I wasn’t so emotional when I finished the run. Instead of it being about me, I felt like I had to complete the run to ensure that my brother’s surgery would be fine. For some reason, when you run for someone or something other than yourself, you take it as if failure is not a choice. You just do it. Maybe I finished hoping it would tell me that Maui would be fine and that every other chaotic thing in my life would be okay. Maybe it was that one thing I had to complete to remind me that we all have obstacles in our lives, but when push comes to shove, we can break through those challenges.

Okay… enough cheese.

On a lighter note, the International Hotel will have its grand opening THIS FRIDAY. The info is posted below. I hope to see some of you there for this historical occasion!

August 26
International Hotel Manilatown Center
Grand Opening Celebration
1pm-5pm
3rd floor community space
848 Kearny Street @ Jackson
San Francisco CA

For more information www.manilatown.org/events or call
415-777-1130. A project of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation

getting ready for 26 miles

Hello all!

This weekend I didn't do the 8 mile short because I was at a wedding. (A lovely one at that.) Therefore, I made up the mileage today by running a little over 7 miles at Coyote Hills. It was a terrible run. I thought I figured out the blister thing, but I didn't. I have a small one on the right foot - even though I taped up and everything! Today I learned a number of lessons...

Lesson One: The importance of socks.
I finally figured out my brand of socks. They're called Balga and for some reason, they wick away moisture the best for me. Thus, causing less blisters. Yea. Now I know that any run over 3 miles I have to use my balga socks.

Lesson Two: Be patient with your body.
The team and I are gearing up for the practice marathon on Saturday. Today's run went horrible because I ran it later than I wanted to (I scheduled this for Sunday, but wasn't healthy enough (or just too lazy) to do it.). An hour and fifteen minutes into the run, I had to stop and take a short break and started walking for about two five minute rounds. Then, I started running again. After about a mile, I stopped and walked the rest of the way to my car because I could feel the blister forming and decided that running 26 miles with a healing blister was not a good idea.

Lesson Three: A run is only as successful as your mind lets it.
I don't know what's going on in my head right now. However, I feel like I could have had a better run if I was more focused. Problem is, I don't know what's clouding my energy right now. ugh...

Lesson Four: I can't run a marathon alone.
Marathon training is so much better with other people. I think today's run went sour because (like most of my maintanence runs) I ran a long distance alone. Running long distances is so much better with company. The runbutans have taught me that marathons really are a team sport.

Lesson Five: Maybe it's fear.
I never thought I'd make it this far. Although I'd hate to sound ultra cliche-ish, maybe coming to the end is freaking me out and I can't help but think about what this process symbolically means in my life. If I don't finish the marathon, will that foreshadow my failures in life? Today when I ran, I was trying to get in extra mileage (the normal route I take is about six miles), so I took an additional route that I've never taken before. I didn't know where I was going or where it was going to lead me, but I just kept running. Something inside me clicked and I decided I didn't want to run anymore. I didn't want to know where this path was leading (also, I had to watch for time). So I turned around and later nursed my injuries. It's not that I failed at this run, I just realized that although my reasons for doing this marathon are all noble, I haven't figured out what the deep-seeded reason for completing this marathon is for me. Not knowing is freaking me out. Then again, maybe it's fear.

On a lighter and much happier note, the donations have been pouring in and I have raised over $2000 so far. YEA!!! Keep those checks coming and don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about this great cause! Special thanks to my mom for mailing out all those envelopes for me (even though she didn't want to do it) and my Auntie Lily for reminding people to turn in their checks. They have been my donation cheerleaders. Yea for moms and aunties:)

Send out prayers that I survive the run on Saturday:)

generosity

Hello all!

I just wanted to say thank you for your kind generosity. So far you have all helped me collect over $1000 for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. Yea! Again, I'm so excited because marathon day is coming closer and closer and the checks have been pouring in. Thank you so much for recognizing what a great cause this is and for supporting my journey towards completing my first (and only) marathon.

Right now I'm feeling healthy and happy. I'm trying to get back on my training schedule and it's going well. The blisters are healing and I've figured out how to run without them returning (well, let's keep our fingers crossed). Although there are some injuries, the team is in high spirits as we head into the last leg of training.

For those of you that were able to attend the I-Hotel events, thank you. Unfortunately, I missed all of them, but will go to the one at the end of the month. Hopefully, I'll see some of you there:)

Reminder: Donations are due September 1st!

Hello All!

August is here and we're getting closer and closer to September 18th, the actual marathon day. Six months ago I would have never imagined myself making it this far in the training. It has been a long and tough road with the most challenging part of the journey ahead. Thank you all for your e-mails, letters and responses to my blog. Your support has been so encouraging - especially during moments when I’m in severe pain or when I have to sit out on a run because of an injury.

They say that timing is everything and I am so excited that I chose this particular time to run this marathon for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. This month is filled with events commemorating the International Hotel eviction as well as celebrating the official grand opening of the International Hotel Manilatown Center. The information is posted below. If you happen to be in the bay area, I urge you to go and witness decades of hard work and struggle to keep the legacy of the International Hotel alive.

As a friendly reminder, I am one month away from my fundraising deadline. So far I have raised a little over $500. Granted, it is a little farther away from the $3000 goal. However, I’m confident that with your help, this goal will be met. Please contact me if you would like to donate. Every little bit helps. Please remember that your donations are completely tax deductible and they are going towards a wonderful cause. ALL DONATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 1st. If you are having trouble turning in donations by this date, please contact me. Again, thank you so much for your time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at: jlrondilla@sbcglobal.net.

For our bayani, for our community, and for Manilatown and the I-Hotel, we runbutan.

Sincerely,
Joanne L. Rondilla



Come join us for the RISE of Manilatown and the commemoration of the 1977 eviction of the I-Hotel!

Sponsors/Support: International Hotel Senior Housing Inc. | Chinatown Community Development Center
| Kearny Street Housing Corp. | Chinese Progressive Association | Kearny Street Workshop

August 4
I-Hotel Eviction Commemoration
Candlelight Vigil
6 pm-9pm
Jackson Street @ Kearny
San Francisco CA

August 6
Premiere of Rise of the I-Hotel
1 pm-5 pm
Koret Auditorium
Main Library
Larkin & Grove Streets
San Francisco CA

August 26
International Hotel Manilatown Center
Grand Opening Celebration
1pm-5pm
3rd floor community space
848 Kearny Street @ Jackson
San Francisco CA

For more information www.manilatown.org/events or call
415-777-1130. A project of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation.

getting back on my own two feet

This weekend I missed the 23 mile run because I was in LA for a friend's wedding. In truth, this was a blessing in disguise. If I ran the 23 miles and couldn't make it to the end, I would have been devastated. Instead, I ran as many miles as I could to make up for what I missed. Although I intended to run a full 23 miles during the week, I only made 17 miles because, as stated before, I developed a massive blister (again) on my left foot.

Here are some notes about blisters in case any of you decide to run high mileage. If you have a large blister, I recommend that you shower and stuff before you decide to nurse it. When you nurse your blister, try to do this toward the evening so you don't have to walk around on a raw foot. I'm not sure if my tactics are recommended, I just find that this is what works for me. I find that big blisters (I'm talking quarter size and larger) have to be popped, drained and then cut open. It's not a pretty sight at all, but this promotes the best healing. Let it air out at night and put some neosporin on it to help it heal and keep the bacteria out (also, keep the area clean!). If you're a diabetic like me, caring for blisters is totally important. During the day, if you have to walk around, protect the blister with medicated blister pads. This ensures some cushioning and makes walking a little more bearable. Also, it seals off all the dirt that can infect your blister. You might also have to use moleskin around (NOT directly on the blister - OUCH!) the area for extra cushion. At night, clean and let the blister breathe. In a few days, your foot will be functional again.

I've been told various things about blister prevention. I hear taping your foot with moleskin will prevent the blisters (along with proper shoes, socks and body glide where the mole skin isn't present). Also, I read somewhere having an adequate amount of sodium in the body helps. And that's my lecture on blisters.

The running has been so-so. I'm trying to get excited again, but the blisters have been frustrating. I need to regroup and refocus. Hopefully, I'll be out of this slump soon.

training notes to myself

This weekend I had a bad run. In the tail end of the training, it's important to make sure I know my running routine and stick to it. It takes a while to develop and figure out what works and what doesn't, so notes are important. This section is really more for me than anyone else, so don't feel you have to read any of this.

By Wednesday (before the Saturday runs) I have to stop with the caffeine. No more lattes. Replace all those desires with iced tea (because for some reason, hot tea doesn't do it for me - unless it's a specific kind of hot tea). No alcoholic beverages (not a big thing because I'm not a drinker anyway). If I haven't done so already, I have to be in the mindset of good, healthy eating. It's true that what you eat can totally affect your run, so it's important to eat consciously. DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

Thursday is carbo-load day. What works for me is this:
Breakfast: potatoes and Morningstar veggie sausages
Lunch: noodles (hot soba noodles from Semo Sushi...my favorite!)
Dinner: noodles or potatoes (maybe some whole wheat pasta or something, paired with chicken)
Each of these meals must be complimented with 1-3 servings of veggies and fruit. Snacks should be fruit, veggies, or pretzels. Of course, DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

Friday: Rest is of the essence. Get to bed early. Eat light. Make proper arrangements: pack the running bag with: socks, clothes, sweat towel, slippers, dry snacks (such as soy pretzels), band-aids for blisters (just in case); set up the mini-cooler with the ice packs, fruit and a recovery drink; make sure my blood meter is set to go with strips, cleaning cloth, and tissue; pack my waist belt with: water bottle, electrolyte tablets, pain killers, lip balm with SPF, pretzels; fill gallons of water. Take a shower the night before and set aside clothes for the run. Of course, DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

Saturday: Wake up at least 1 1/2 to two hours before you have to leave the house. Head straight to the kitchen and set up a large glass of water and have breakfast: two pieces of toast with a peanut butter-flaxmeal mixture and sliced bananas. If needed, have an additional piece of fruit. Take medicine (sibu, first round of pain killers, and metformin). Go back to the room and get ready. Lather up in sunscreen. Use up that body glide. Get dressed (don't forget: knee braces, hat, watch and ID bracelet). Pack the car and drive.

Have a great run. Do not take goo or glucose tabs. I'm better off with actual food. All the artificial stuff brings my sugars way too high and makes me feel loopy. Stay hydrated and re-apply that lip balm. Stay calm, patient and healthy.

After the run: STRETCH. ICE. EAT (feel free to indulge. I deserve it!). ICE. REST. ICE. STRETCH (for good luck). ICE (for even more luck).

Listen to what my body is telling me. Rest, hydrate and ice accordingly.

And this is my training routine.

more and more blisters

I didn't realize how much the 20 miler would wipe me out, but it did. I had to take an entire week off. Instead of training in full swing afterwards, I slacked off a little bit and missed a maintenance run.

This past weekend when we ran our 8 mile short, I totally paid the price for it! I had a terrible short run. Maybe it was the heat. In my heart of hearts I know that it was because I didn't train properly. We're down to the wire and each day I feel like I'm training all over again. It's like there's something new I need to tend to each time I'm out there running. Have I been training wrong all this time? I'm not sure. I'm frustrated and feel defeated.

I'm not sure why this happened, but I developed blisters AGAIN! So my training isn't hindered by the amount of running, it's that I have to wait for these damn blisters to heal. I don't get it. I never had a problem with them before. I'm wearing the same brand of shoes I wore before (only this time I had to go 1/2 a size bigger to prevent my toenail from completely falling off). I'm wearing the right socks, body gliding as needed and all that other stuff. It's killing me. I hate blisters and I feel like I'm doomed to have even more of them. I'm diabetic, so I don't think this is all very healthy. I'm nursing them as best as I can. Any advice?

We're set to run the big 23 mile run this Saturday, but I won't be joining the team. This weekend a good friend is getting married in LA. While everyone will be conquering the 23 miles, I will be setting up my make-up kit: washing brushes, setting up palettes, hoping that I have enough foundation for all the people I have to do make-up on. Depending on how these blisters heal, I'm not sure how to make-up the 23 mile run. I'm totally freaking out about this! Maybe I should try to get in as much mileage as I can. Or maybe I should take the time to re-group mentally and figure out how I'm going to conquer the rest of the training. I'm at a loss here.

20 miles is (not) a big thing

On Saturday I ran the big 20 miles in San Francisco. In truth, I really didn't think I would make it. I've been having some minor problems with my knees, legs, feet and shoes... okay, maybe all those things were just fine and my real issue was the fear of failing to conquer the big 20 miles...

...but I did it. I completed the 20 mile run in about six and a half hours. It's a long time to be running and I'm realizing that completing the marathon is going to take much longer than I had anticipated. But right now, none of that matters because I only care about finishing the actual race and living to tell about it:)

I didn't realize that completing the 20 mile run was going to have an impact on me, but it has. Again, I really didn't think I was going to make it. At mile 6 I could feel blisters begin to from on the soles of my feet. I take back the thing about sand in my shoes in an earlier post. Those blisters from two weeks ago were from my shoes being too narrow. I found out the hard way what the consequences of too narrow shoes are. I could also feel a little irritation on my knee, but that went away by mile 8 (or maybe the pain killers just kicked in. who knows?). Regardless of what I was feeling, something inside kept telling me to keep going. So. I. did.

Don't get me wrong. I didn't run 20 miles alone. I have a great runningmate named Tzel who keeps me company in our two-person strong team "Bullet X" and makes great conversation to help the time go by fast. The city of San Francisco provides a great landscape to run in. The Runbutan coaches are also phenomenal because they keep us hydrated, fed and motivated to make the distance. With that, I would like to take a moment to thank them because they really help through some really tough times in the run. I also have a supportive family and fantastic friends who are willing to see me in my post-long run pain. Finally, I do my best to maintain my strength, nurse my injuries, and be fairly healthy. After all the technical support, it's really you and what you think you're capable of doing that determines whether you're going to finish the long runs or not.

I'm noticing a pattern when we go on these long runs. The first 6-8 miles of running for me is always the hardest because that's when all my concerns are running through my head and when I think I feel like my body is ready to give out. Once that's over, I reach a state of delirium where I think anything is possible and turning back would be tragic, so I just keep going. The last leg of the run gets hard again because I don't have any sense of where the finish is, so I tend to show down a bit and loose all sense of time and speed. It's also the time when I feel "the wall" creep up on me, so to avoid meeting "the wall," I slow down, ask fate to give me a little bit of strength, and hope I make it to the finish. So that's my state of mind when I'm running those long distances.

Reaching the finish line was AMAZING! Our group is big (35-40 people), which is why it's hard to bond with everyone. But at that moment, I could see that although we don't really know each other, we really are in this together. Hearing the cheers was the sweetest sound I've ever heard. Unfortunately, it's the aftermath that's most painful. My legs were sore and stiff. It took me FOREVER to walk back to my car and put on my slippers. When I got home, I found that my left foot had a blister the size of a sliver dollar, and my right foot had a blister over twice that size. I never thought I'd enjoy taking ice baths, but marathon training makes a person delirious, so even the craziest things seem pleasurable. This ice bath lasted 20 minutes. I know. I'm crazy. But pain makes you do crazy things. By the end of the night, my legs were ultra-sore and the soles of my feet were raw. I could barely walk and fell asleep through the two films my best friend, housemate and I watched.

I know what you're thinking... With all the post-run pain, is the training really worth it? It's an evil question, but one that I ask myself every day. In truth, the answer changes for me depending on my mood:)

On the drive home from SF I began to cry. I'm not sure why. Tears just randomly started streaming down my face and I just let out a good and probably much-needed cry. In reflecting back on the drive home, I cried because I was in total disbelief that I made it this far. I didn't think I was going to make it past 10 miles of training. But like my running pattern, I just reach a point of delirium and figure it would be tragic to go back. I cried because I realized that it's official, that I am running and going to complete this marathon. I'm actually going to do something not only for myself, but something that is beyond myself. I don't think I've ever stepped this far out of my own comfort zone. I cried because I did something great, but still don't know if what I'm doing is good enough. I cried because these mixed feelings are so bittersweet and I don't know how to feel about all this. In fact, I'm still processing things.

For now, I'm still recovering from 20 miles. I'll tell you how it goes.

GET YOUR SPORTS GEAR ON!

Hello all,
I just wanted to remind you that this happens THIS WEEK! IF YOU WANT THE DISCOUNT, YOU MUST RSVP TO AVI HANGAND at ahangad@sportsbasement.com! For those of you that need some gear (or just like to look athletic and fashionable), take advantage of this shopping party! The sportsbasement has TONS of stuff (clothes, shoes, gear, etc.) and most of their items are already marked down. Coming to the party allows you to save another 10% (while another 10% goes to Manilatown). So RSVP and join the Runbutans as we get our gear on for the Maui Marathon!


YOU'RE INVITED!
Runbutan Sportsbasement Shopping Party

Location: Sportsbasement Presido/Crissy Field
610 Mason Street, the Presido,San Francisco,CA

When: Thursday, July 7, 5:00pm to 8:00pm

Phone: 415.437.0100, ext. 34

Shoppers of the world UNITE!!! Help the Manilatown Running Collective (AKA- the Runbutans) BY JOINING US AT THE RUNBUTAN SHOPPING PARTY!!!!!

If you rsvp to Avi Hangad (ahangad@sportsbasement.com) AND come to The Presido Sportsbasement on THURSDAY, July 7, from 5 to 8 pm, YOU WILL GET 10% off your purchases. In addition, Manilatown Heritage Foundation will get 10% too. Yup...10% to you...10%...to Manilatown...and we'll take the store over!

Sportsbasement and the Runbutans will also provide free refreshments (beer, snacks, and other goodies). We'll also raffle off some prizes.

So if you run, walk, cycle, camp, row, swim, yoga, go to the gym, stay active, or, sit on your butt and want to look good doing it...JOIN US at the RUNBUTAN SHOPPING PARTY.

details:

You must RSVP to Avi Hangand at ahangad@sportsbasement.com and let her know that you'll be joining us at the Shopping Party for the Manilatown Running Collective. Please rsvp by July 4.

See you at the shopping party! It's gonna be FUN. Please forward this to everyone that you know. Everyone deserves 10% off.

Email Avi (ahangad@sportsbasement.com) or Rex (rex@runbutans.org) if you have any questions.

For directions to the Presido Sportsbasement check out link below-

http://www.sportsbasement.com/content/genericcontentmain.jsp?ruleID=182&itemID=0&itemType=GENERIC+CONTENT&showChanges=true

back in the groove of things

After a one week hiatus I am finally back to my training routine. I figured out what was wrong with my knee. During my last long run, I decided to wear an arch support. Apparently, my left knee doesn't like that. Yesterday I went on a 10 minute machine run and I was having similar pain. When I took off the support, my knee was fine. So there you have it. Go figure.

My legs are a bit sore, but they're healthy. My left knee sometimes bothers, but proper training and strengthening should fix it right up. I'm getting ready for the big 20 miler. Please send out prayers:)

This weekend we celebrated the 4th of July and my mom's 66th birthday. WOW! Way to go mom:)

This Thursday is the Sportsbasement party. Please see details in the "GET YOUR SPORTS GEAR ON!" entry. I hope to see you there. Please take advantage of the great deals available to you:)