Why do I sign up for these things? That’s usually what I ask myself sometime during the week of the marathon, and mile 18. Just as I always suspect, this year’s marathon will
be another hot one. I ran my first LA Marathon back in 2004 when we had record
high heat and every mile or so, I’d hear the ambulance sirens zooming by. I remember being on Olympic Blvd. around mile 15 when I noticed the temperature listed on the electronic bank sign read 95 degrees. Sure it was probably off by a degree or so, but that’s pretty darn hot. You’d think by now, I’d be used to the heat, but I never am.
be another hot one. I ran my first LA Marathon back in 2004 when we had record
high heat and every mile or so, I’d hear the ambulance sirens zooming by. I remember being on Olympic Blvd. around mile 15 when I noticed the temperature listed on the electronic bank sign read 95 degrees. Sure it was probably off by a degree or so, but that’s pretty darn hot. You’d think by now, I’d be used to the heat, but I never am.
LA will certainly present challenges on Sunday. Lately, my training hasn’t been the most encouraging. For the past few weeks, I’ve developed a bit of discomfort in my left knee and I believe it was the same discomfort I felt a month or so before my big race in January. Since that race, I haven’t felt any pain or achiness, but that changed recently. Aside from my
Saturday morning long runs, my weekly mileage has been kept low, and I’ve been trying to do more strength training. However, the power is in consistency and I haven’t been the most consistent with it. That’ll change after Sunday when I can focus on lower mileage and increase strength and flexibility.
Saturday morning long runs, my weekly mileage has been kept low, and I’ve been trying to do more strength training. However, the power is in consistency and I haven’t been the most consistent with it. That’ll change after Sunday when I can focus on lower mileage and increase strength and flexibility.
Of all the things in life we can control, such as how many cups of coffee we have in a day (at least for some people), weather is definitely not one of them. So I’ll be taking whatever the day is giving me and giving it my all. I’m truly blessed to be able to run and walk 26.2 miles no matter how the day will be because this particular race means a lot to me.
On March 16, 2014, I sent my aunt Lucy a text with a photo of my sister who was wearing a long-sleeve tech shirt she got from the Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run and I wrote, she likes to “celebrate Christmas all year round.” Next thing I know, our aunt started to call my sis, Christmas All Year and me, well, she called me Running Shoes. We called her, tia Bronco,
because she was a huge fan of the Denver Broncos.
because she was a huge fan of the Denver Broncos.
A few years ago my aunt was stricken with cancer and it progressed aggressively last year. My dad would call time-to-time letting us know her status since he was her caretaker
after my uncle (her husband of nearly 40 years) died suddenly earlier in the year. It was a very tough year indeed. Of course, I was always dreading getting “the call” from my dad. That call came the morning I completed the Griffith Park 10K back in November.
after my uncle (her husband of nearly 40 years) died suddenly earlier in the year. It was a very tough year indeed. Of course, I was always dreading getting “the call” from my dad. That call came the morning I completed the Griffith Park 10K back in November.
I fucking hate cancer so much. It’s true and I won’t apologize for it, but I do take comfort in knowing she’s no longer suffering. The pain or suffering any runner feels during a tough race is nothing compared to the pain that millions of people, like my aunt, feel every single day. We may struggle up a mountain, or during a very hot weather race, but they’re just struggling to stay alive.
For the San Diego 50 Mile race in January, I dedicated a mile to several people. Mile 49 was dedicated to my aunt. On Sunday, March 15th, I will be running the LA Marathon and every single mile will be dedicated to her. Every. Single. Mile. Because her birthday is on Sunday, March 15th and she will be with me. Marathons are a celebration of months of training but on Sunday, I will be celebrating my aunt by running and walking down the hot streets of Los Angeles, enjoying and loving every minute of the day. Why do I sign up for these things? I know the answer.
This one’s for you, tia Bronco.
This one’s for you, tia Bronco.
Thank you for reading and Happy Running!