Taking a leap

So yesterday approximately 10 am in the valley the sun is warming up the park as my friend Heidi and I pull up to start a morning run. To warm up we walked at a fast and steady pace 2 times around the track that circles the park. As far as I can tell the park is about 2 football fields big. (not positive on this though) Then we started to jog. We did this a couple times then walked and repeatedfor about 7 laps. I'm not quite sure about the distance that we tracked but we went for a full hour.

During this time we caught up on life as well as shared about our fascination with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who's completely addicted. LOL

On our 4th lap we passed a baby bird that had been pushed out of its nest to learn how to fly. Unfortunetly he wasnt flying but the baby bird kept trying. It got me thinking about life and how we all go through that. I remembered about how I moved to Vegas at 18 years old on my own. I wasn't quite sure how to do it but I figured it out. It also got me thinking how throughout life this process repeats. Since we aren't given an instruction manual on life sometimes we just have to take a leap out of our nests (our comfort zone so to speak) and make it happen and we don't always have a mama bird pushing us. This marathon is like that for me right now. I've taken a leap for a good cause and now I have to make it happen.

"Your persistence is your measure of your faith in yourself" ~Brian Tracey

So what is it that you haven't taken a leap on? JUMP! :)

Day 1

I have never considered myself a runner up until this week. I've been practicing yoga for the last 3 years so cardio not my thing. However I'm getting over that little story since I have registered to run a marathon!! LOL

I have to be honest the other day after I posted this blog and declared "I'm running a marathon" to the world I got a little scared... Ok a lot scared. I thought, "What have I done?! Up until this point I haven't run and now I'm in a marathon. I must be out of my mind!"

Then I remembered why I registered. To raise money and be a stand for a cause I believe in and to push myself in a way that I can't imagine. So many great things will come of this!

So I called my medal winning runner friend who runs 6 miles or more as weekly workout with no problem to run with me!

We met up this morning at her house at 9am with her 2 little boys in their stroller ready to go. We walked onto her neigborhood street and off we went. We took it at a steady jogging pace. I went just over a mile before I had to start walking. She taught me how to breath to keep a steady heart rate going. (2 steps to each inhale and exhale) This really helped since after a while my brain starts to psych me out telling me I can't breath.

After taking a short walk break we jogged the rest of the way to the almost 2 mile mark. I started to feel pins and needles in my calves and I felt a little woozy so we paced ourselves with a brisk walk for about 4 minutes then continued to jog. I pushed as much as I could until that woozy feeling came back. At this point I could feel every muscle in my body tighten up. Something I'm not too used to since I have been training to stretch and loosen these particular muscles( like my hips). We walked a steady pace the rest of the way.

I realized on our way back my yoga practices are really going to help with this running journey. The regulating of my breath. Keeping a meditative state with a focus. (we call this Drishti in yoga, where you focus on one thing in front of you to keep balance and a clear head) and not to mention all the stretches I know to keep my body loose. Yay for yoga and running!

So my actual training with a group and coach starts towards the end of next month (June) and since it takes 21 days to build a habit I'm starting now!

3.5 miles in 50 minutes. Not bad for a yogi.

THANK YOU SARAH!

Dear Friends and Family,

I've decided to take on an amazing challenge to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Over the next several months, I'll be training to complete the Honolulu Marathon, and I'll be raising money to support AIDS Project Los Angeles. I've never done anything like this before, running 26.2 miles. But the work of APLA is so compelling, I feel I need to do my part.

AIDS continues to be a devastating health problem in the United States. At last count, 1.2 million Americans are now living with HIV, and 56,000 more become infected each year. Fortunately, here in Los Angeles, we have an incredible organization that is working hard to stop the spread of HIV. They also provide food and home health care so that people affected by HIV/AIDS can continue to live full and productive lives.

I hope you will support my efforts by making a tax deductible donation. To find out more, please visit my AIDS Marathon Home Page by clicking on the link below.

I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,
Angela Strom

http://apla.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=NationalAIDSMarathonTrainingProgram_Index

How this crazy adventure all began

It's a brisk summer night on May 19th 2010 as my boyfriend Davy and I are strolling down the street enjoying a romantic evening. We had just finished a delicious veggie sushi dinner and we started talking about traveling. As I look to my right I see a flier that says... Run the AIDS Marathon in Honolulu, all expenses paid! I laughed as I said, "Well there we go baby! all we have to do is run 26.2 miles!" as I took the flier and put it in my purse. The more I started to think about it the more I became intrigued with the challenge, intrigued with the possibility of who I could be if I finished something so gigantic, especially for someone who never runs! I became inspired by those that start and finish this type of journey and it called to me. It's no coincidence that this popped into my life when it did (as I currently work at Lululemon Athletica). It's no coincidence that it happens to be a cause I truly believe in. I have contributed to 2 AIDS walks in the past.

Now here I am 2 days after our date staring at this flier and looking at the website.
What will this take of me? How can I do this?! The website tells me that it is a training program. Each week for the next 6 months I will meet a trainer and with a group of other marathon participants to build our bodies for the 26.2 mile run. OMG! Can I really do this?!

Flash forward 2 days... I have been obsessively dreaming of my success in the marathon.
I see my boyfriend and friends cheering me on as I cross the finish line. I have made it and I start crying because I have just conquered the biggest thing I have ever taken on and I did it with the people I love!

I wake up... I can do this!!
At this point I'm terrified since I know that this is something I want to do. I have to do. So I keep it to myself and start peering in to runners lives since I happen to be surrounded by them. Ironic? I think not! LOL

As I finish my day at work I realize that if I don't declare this and make it reality I will always wonder what it would be like. So... spontaneously I shout it out... I am going to run the AIDS Marathon in Honolulu!!!
"What?", they say. "Really? That's awesome!" (I have immediate support).
I say, "yes I am registering tonight when I get home".

Its now the evening of May 23 and I am sitting at my computer. My stomach turns as I fill out the form and give my credit card information. I have friends and of course Davy hanging out and supporting my quest as I hit enter.. (snap... my picture is taken)

OMG I AM RUNNING THE AIDS MARATHON 2010!