Running Thoughts: Two Days Away

So here we are, at the last stretch- just a couple of days away from the big event.
Are we ready? I suppose as the saying goes, hope for the best, expect the worst.
Hopefully the weeks of training will pay off or at least minimize the pain of recovery.

And by the end of the Run- you should "walk it out"...


But our purpose has shifted as most of us on our team if not all, have decided to focus the event on a greater cause...as we want to support our medical missions team as they head to Mongolia later this month.
If you by chance come upon this site, and you've enjoyed our journey thus far- we like to ask if you'd like to partner with us as we do this- together.



:: HPM Short Term Mission Team to Mongolia ::
The Trip: October 27 - November 4

:: Quick info about Mongolia ::
-The proportion of the population below the poverty line is estimated to be 36.1% in 2004, and both the unemployment rate and inflation rate are high at 3.3% and 9.5%
-50% of Mongolia's population is Buddhist-Lamaist, which is related to Tibetan Buddhism. 40% is listed as having no religion, 6% is Shaminist or Christian, and 4% is Muslim.

:: The Purpose ::
Young Nak Church's HPM (Healthcare Professional Ministry) short term mission team will be working with long-term missionaries in serving at the Yonsei Friendship Hospital: treating poor, underserved patients with little or no ready access to medical care, teaching nursing/medical students at a school founded by missionaries, and setting up mobile clinics in partnership with New Life Church. The team will be donating many boxes of medicines + supplies, and specific medical equipments that are in deep need. They plan to teach + educate the local doctors about the proper use, maintenance, and cleaning of such equipment.

:: Projected Team Goal ::
$10,000 - $15,000 to cover the cost of medical supplies/equipment

Donating is simple as following this link:
http://www.ynem.org/paypal/2007smtfall.htm

Trainer's Corner: Final Week

Afternoon, Ladies & Gents:

Our race is this Sunday. I wish all of you the best of luck. For many of you, this is your first race. And for others, you can consider yourself vets. As in any sport, it's 90% mental, 10% physical.

I want you to begin mentally preparing for the race this weekend. During the quiet time of the day/evening, I want you to close your eyes and think about these things:
Friday:
- what is it going to feel like after work?
- what are you going to eat? what's for dinner?
- what are you going to wear for saturday's expo? for sunday's race?
- the weather's going to be perfect... perfect running weather...
- you are hydrated and still drinking plenty of water...

Saturday:
- you wake up to a perfect morning...
- breakfast is good... water tastes good...
- get changed into your perfect clothes set out the day before...
- you are stretched... you are relaxed... you feel strong... YOU ARE STRONG...!!
- your drive to the expo is perfect... no traffic... parking is not a problem...
- the weather's perfect...
- the check-in goes smoothly... everything's in your goody bag... you know where to put your bib number... you know the run route... you know where all the aid stations are...
- you greet other friendly competitors...
- how is the conversation? how does the sun feel? how does the wind feel? how do others make you feel? good, don't they?
- lunch is good... digestion is good... water tastes good... the butterflies in your stomach gives you energy...
- carb dinner is delicious... company is pleasant...
- what time do you sleep? although you toos and turn, you sleep well...

Sunday:
- you wake up on time...
- breakfast is good... it digests well...
- parking is perfect...
- your running shoes feel good on your feet...
- you are greeted with smiles when you meet your friends... it's a bit nipply...
- the sun hasn't risen yet as you wait in line for the bathroom... pleasant conversation...
- the use of the bathroom is smooth... yes, there is toilet paper!
- you stand in the crowd with your friends...
- the run starts and the crowd slowly begins to shuffle into a run...
- you pass the first person, then the second, then the third... you filter out the crowd until you find the pack you can pace with...
- mile 1... mile 2... aid station goes without a hitch... mile 3... mile 4... aid station is perfect... mile 5... mile 6... you feel strong... you turn around... how high is the sun by now? what's the lighting like? what's the size of the crowd around you? how do your feet sound pitter pattering on the ground? what color is the ground? what's the air smell like? who's with you by now?
- mile 7... mile 8... aid station is perfect... mile 9... mile 10... perfect aid station... the volunteers hand you the cups perfectly... mile 11... mile 12... you hear a crowd and you hear music... mile 13... you're in the final chute... you are not exhausted and you feel strong!!!
- how does it feel to cross the arch of "finish"? what are the volunteers telling you as you hand them the timing chip and the bottom on your bib number? who is there to greet you? what's the name of the song the band is playing?

I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE A PERFECT WEEKEND... A PERFECT RACE... A PERFECT CELEBRATION OF GOD'S GIFT TO US ALL... OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH... AND A MENTAL FOCUS AND WILL TO FINISH THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US...

Running Thoughts: Week 16

We're comin to the home stretch...we're only a weekend away from the big event.
Last week's 12 miler at Long Beach was pretty rough. The big pay-off of course was the nice scenic backdrop- of the Queen Mary and Pacific Ocean.
My running rhythm was totally thrown off with my sudden urge to use the public restroom...hopefully I'll prepare myself to not have to go through that on the day of the event. In time, I was able to get back into the rhythm.
Overall, it was definitely an accomplishment, and a good mental exercise- for things to come.
I also made the mistake of not putting my knee support, as I totally felt my knee giving way at the final mile...thus I had to walk the last mile. So the past few days, and even now, I felt the residual effects of the 12 miler- the soreness-- recovery sure sucks doesn't it? haha...also been watching my right knee, hopefully it'll be all good to go for the big event.

So am I ready? I think I am. Are you?

For a little inspiration...
Chariots of Fire - Liddell's final race 400m


And a catchy rockin tune to get you all amped...

Linkin park faint
Uploaded by the_black_sun

And nothin' ain't complete with a bit of gospel groovin'...

Kirk Franklin- "Revolution"

Running Thoughts: Week 15

I normally would write this on a Friday morning, but thought I give myself a little headstart and do it on a Thursday night...so here we go...with week 15!!!
It's just about two more weeks til the big run at the LBC.
Quite a journey thus far to say the least. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty amped.
I felt we've been through a lot the past Saturday mornings- braving the elements: from the rain to the extreme heat--
our surroundings: from the familiar Rose Bowl to the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice to the track field out in timbuk 3.
And our many postrun excursions to the Corner Bakery (sort of our unofficial sponsor for our training)...and last weeks postrun hangout was really nice as we hit up a Belgium Communal Cafe in OldTown Pas- thanks to Connie.
And I'd say just maintaining a steady routine in my personal training has helped despite my crazy hectic schedule...and somehow I was able to juggle through it- thick and thin. It's been fun. Hope this will continue.

But now we've arrived...to our final long distance run of our training...oooh ahhhh.
Although this Saturday's run seems a bit daunting, having ran the 10 miler a couple of weeks back helped big time.
So the 12 miler doesn't seem so bad, although waking up early on a saturday morning to drive down to Long Beach might be the true challenge.
But the pay off is this...


(photo courtesy of daviding)

We'll be running this Saturday- at the city that Snoop Dogg built- the LBC. Definitely a big treat for us eventhough the run will be quite a challenge...there will be plenty of visuals to keep our minds at ease as we run the 12 miler.
Hey we're at the homestretch...let's do it!

Here's our run, if you guys aren't too sure, and let's give it up for Darren for putting together this crazy fun course.
LB 12.3

From Long Beach's very own--

Music Videos - Sublime - What I Got
Uploaded by da_h5n1

And a couple of weeks, we'll be doin' an 'Encore' of this run, so thought I throw this in for fun:

Running Thoughts: Week 14

(image courtesy of okansas blog)

Time sure flies doesn't it?
We are less than a month away from the big day!!!
Last Saturday, we went off-roadin' with a 5 mile trail run...which was actually pretty fun. Quite a change of pace from running on the pavement, and also some legwork on the hilly inclines...

I came across this site as I was preparing to write my entry.
Random, yes I know...that's how I am at times.
TrailRunner: One Dirty Magazine offers up an interesting article by a veteran coach for those interested in reading quick tips. I'm sure some of us already know these tips, but its good to be reminded, sorta a refresher as we're coming towards the end of our training for the Long Beach Half.
Top 10 Tips to Running Right

This weekend, a good number of our team will be out on a retreat, thus leaving a few of us to run tomorrow. Since so many of us enjoyed the trail run, and a few of us missed out on it last week- we're bringin it back.
Rumor has it, that we may even be getting some rain later today- and possibly tomorrow...*crosses finger* Hope the rain passes by real fast.
If worse comes to worse, how about running in the the rain?

Pasadena, CA:
(source: weather.com)
Tonight: Friday
T-Showers
Low: 59° F
Precip: 60%
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tomorrow: Saturday
AM Showers
High: 73° F
Precip: 40%
Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

YouTube: Ollie and Jerry- "There's No Stoppin Us" (1984)
from the Breakin' movie soundtrack

Running Thoughts: Week 13

photos courtesy of christina from our beach run

Its hard to believe we're just a month away from the actual run itself.
Last week's saturday run of the 10 miler wasn't as painful as I thought it be. Maybe its because I have this strange infinity with the beach- as I pretty much lived by the beach my whole life...so it felt very familiar to me, and almost like home. Another thing that helped me a lot, was that in my personal training I've been running the hilly areas of my hood. The uphill and downhill legwork really did pay off.
The soreness didn't hit me til much later, but I felt like I accomplished something that day. A big personal milestone- I mean 10 miles, that's alot! hahah...

So yesterday, being Thursday, I thought I change up my personal run routine. I had my small group (LifeGroup) that met on Thursday nights at Young Nak Church, so thought I squeeze in a run, prior to the actual gathering. So to change the familiarity of things, I decided to run into the city from the church.
Here's the route I took...



I started off at Spring (which turns to Alameda)- right up to the street prior to the actual 101 freeway- darted uphill to Broadway- running right through Chinatown- back towards the church. I also did my cool off walk around the church hood.

Good luck to the folks who are going to run the Nike Remix tomorrow--
looks real fun. I'll have to hit it up next year.
Here's one of many hip hop acts that will be there at that event:

Naughty by nature - hip hop hooray 1993
Uploaded by trapux

The rest of us will be at the Bowl...see ya there!

Words of Inspiration

"Luck is a residue of planning, skill, and perseverence."
-unknown