THE BIG DAY IS HERE!!!

Coincidence, fate, destiny....complete madness...whatever you want to call it...I made it here today. I'm heading out to run my first MARATHON, 26.2 miles at the age of 26.25!! YUP that is how old I AM TODAY...and Nico is 26.1 months old TODAY...and as my sister so AWESOMELY pointed out last night when I couldn't sleep....TODAY's date adds up to...i'll let you guess:

I drove the course yesterday after packet pickup and I was EXHAUSTED! But today is a new day...and I have so much to look forward to! 

TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY!!!

1st MARATHON----2 days away!!!!

So this morning, a Friend sent me an email that really made my day! 

She sent me a PDF of a presentation she saw...where the subject was RESILIENCE. She told me: 

"Each of us has our own story, our own setbacks and our own triumphs...and its all apart of our journey through the "human condition." Its amazing to see how resilient humans are and can be."

Here is the definition of RESILIENCE: 

Getting stuff done when ______(aka poop) happens!---keep in mind i have a 2 year old YAK BACK that records and repeats everything i say, so I must now START SPELLING things...lol. 

Thanks Brit! Resilience truely is the ability to recover or adjust to misfortune or change (i don't know about the easily part)....and i truely hope that it means the capability of a strained body to recover--to bounce back--after being subjected to all kinds of stress-- like ASPHFAULT, ANOTHER BODY, and NO SLEEP!! 

This slide was so beautiful I just had to share it all! Resilence is what enables us not only to survive but to thrive despite our changing enviornment. That's the thing about CHANGE...it's the only CONSTANT IN OUR LIVES. Nothing ever remains the same....I guess that's why my blog's description says:IN ONE MINUTE, MY WORLD CHANGED! NOW I BEGIN TELLING MY STORY OF HOW I CHANGED WITH IT. 

 There are a lot of things that I thought I would never be able to do, but just as this marathon keeps proving to me, THE HUMAN CONDITION is INCREDIBLE....i'm amazed at what I have been able to achieve and continue to do besides the emotional and physical setbacks. I don't want to be a person that is constantly blaming those circumstances that surround me...for my inability to live a fulfilling life! Its always our choice! It's our choice to thank those around us who give us the opportunity to stop everything and start over from scratch. It's our choice to look at the things that are making us suffer or causing internal conflict when we look in the mirror and CHANGE that about OURSELVES. We are the only ones that should be amazed at who see see staring back at us in the mirror every morning (wink wink).

As the reality of this marathon creeps closer and the pain from my bike accident 14 days ago still hasn't allowed me to run more than 8 miles...I realize that success and failure are subjective. Sunday morning's race will be run to push my limits--obviously the physical ones, but my limits of courage as well. I'll be needing a MONUMENTAL amount of courage for this next chapter as one story ends and another one beautiufully begins. I will need courage to not back out, and NOT GIVE UP on myself, on my goals, on my dreams, and on the future that I see! I need courage to continue to love my life and be thankful for all the amzing people in it who challenge me everyday to BE BETTER. 

Like my friend Brittney said: Each of us has our own story, our own setbacks and our own triumphs...and its all apart of our journey..."


I hope that you all get to experience a "MARATHON" challenge that will force you to PUSH YOUR LIMITS....a challenge that will humble you and at the same time help give you a LIVING reminder of what RESILIENCE truly means!

Picture was taken on our first run together...can't wait for the post race cheers

With that said....HERE's to an amazing MARATHON--rain or shine!

CityRace Urban Adventure Hunt

GroupOn Special today was:

The Daily Deal for Los Angeles Monday, June 20, 2011 follow us:

$35 for Entry for a Team of Two in the CityRace Urban Adventure Hunt from Race/LA ($70 Value) $35 Value $70 Discount 50% You Save $35

Set out on a fun-filled oceanside adventure!

You'll have a blast in this exciting oceanfront pursuit! From the historic Santa Monica Pier to the colorful Third Street Promenade (with a few secrets in between), this lively hunt takes you through the very heart of this sunny and diverse community. From sun and sand, to street performers and surfside skeeball, Santa Monica has all the ingredients for the perfect urban adventure hunt!This hunt is moderately challenging.

Sunday, August 14
11 am

REGISTER NOW!

So we signed up for the LA City Race!!

San Diego 1/2 Marathon

San Diego Half Marathon was this morning!

I new it was going to be difficult and painful...BECAUSE I didn't train like I should have. But once the race got started, my goal time shifted all around. Yesterday I was talking about shooting for 1:45. Then as I walked into my corral I saw the 1:40 pacer and I said...Let's do it. In the first couple miles I was feeling good and even had my eyes on the 1:35 pacer for a while, but then dropped back to BEHIND the 1:40 pacer. Around mile 8 I passed the 1:40 pacer guy with my only goal being to come in IN FRONT of him!!! I used a couple (random) girls along the way to help me pull me to the finish.

I was really happy with the results...knowing that I didn't train like I SHOULD HAVE for this race, and that it was pure competitiveness that took over and got me through the 13.28 miles of ROLLING HILLS, highways, and blisters. I want to give myself a really chance to perform well by PREPARING the right way...I know it'll be good! The leader in my age group race in the front pack (3 place). With my San Antonio Half marathon time from October(2010), I would have gotten me 11th place in this age-group. Next race goal is top 10 in my AGE-GROUP. By the way, this race was the first time I ran with the 25-29 year olds!

Here are the Official Results:
Overall place: 392 of 17152 runners
Gender Place: 73 of 11538 women who ran this morning.
Division Place:21 or 2596 Girls between the ages of 25 and 29.

Official Time: 01:37:14

I must note, the course was a little long...just wanted to throw that out there. Not making excuses for my time. But...13.1 is a half marathon...and every step counts...and I did a couple(a lot) of extra steps. My GARMIN read 13.28 miles at the finish.SO DID a lot of the other GARMINS!! Rant done. Thank you.

Kelly, Josh, and Andy (Kelly's PT school friend) were also in SAN DIEGO for the Race. Kelly and Andy ran the Relay (8miles/5miles respectively). Peter, Nico,and Josh got to hang out and run around like crazies trying to cheer for the 3 of us. This was just a training run for Kelly since she is training for the NAPA to Sonoma VALLEY Half Marathon on July 17th....WHICH we are also going too---but to cheer and support and DRINK WINE =).

Here are the Official Results for Team Convex on Concave:

Kelly Ran 1:09:23 for her 8 mile leg of the relay which is an (8:34 pace)

Andy ran 41:02 for his 5 mile leg of the which which is an (8:12 pace).

They placed 23 place out of 295 teams who ran.

They also placed 11th out of 113 Co-ed teams who competed.

After the race we hung out at the 4th floor Hyatt Pool in Downtown San Diego...A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!

Nico got a floaty that he LOVED. We got to tan and relax a little before driving back home for the HEAT GAME! GO HEAT!!!

I will add Pictures when they are posted!

Luz Mila's Visit!

Luz Mila,my Godmother, came to visit us here in LA for 10 days!!!
She got to hang out with Nico's friends
Hang out around our apartment and complex:

1st paleta (popsicle)

"Cheers"ing with daddy

We went to Santa Barbara for the day last Saturday and toured on a trolley after Peter's Race---WHICH he won 1st Place:

5k race that was all on Sand

We Toured Santa Barbara:

We are at Aldo's Restaurant before heading back to the car:

We stopped at Lee Cabillo Park on the way back home for some Paddle Ball and Rock Climbing:


Toured Hollywood and Beverly Hills and spotted a celebrity.

(Griffith Park Observatory)

With the HOLLYWOOD hills in the back

Beverly Hills...On Rodeo Drive

AND
But our favorite part of the whole trip was that she BOUGHT ME a SEWING MACHINE!!!!

I have been wanting one for a while now.

Luz Mila helped me make a Messanger bag for our hammock that doubles as a book bag!! And then she made Nico a pair of jean shorts!

Yesterday we finally Got our SEWING ON!!

Gracias Luz Mila por venir a visitar y pasar tiempo con MI REY! Te esperamos por aqui pronto por que necesito aprender mas cosas de la costura!! La maquina fue el mejor regalo que me hubieras podido haber dado!!!

MIL GRACIAS!!!