Road to 50k Week 13 - WE Out Here, NOT Me Out Here

We are now exactly 5 weeks from Race Day. The last 13 weeks have been every bit a challenge, every bit a struggle, every bit a reward and a testament that when we focus on the end goal & have a team of people rallying behind you and alongside you, there is no reason you can't make possible that which at one time seemed impossible.
I returned on Sunday from November Project Summit with a very different mindset, one that told me I was capable, I am believed in, I have people all over the country rooting for me on this journey.

I did make some time to get out and just do life this weekend whether it be a Coastal Walk & Icecream with Gretchen or the Secret Bench Sunset Hike with Grant on Monday. Let me tell you, that the sunsets descending that hike were beautiful as we were out there being part of it, but looking back at the photo of it, it's such a blessing to be able to be part of something so beautiful. Remember, the saying is "WE Out Here", not ME Out Here. Life is beautiful, never stop exploring, but remember an experience is meant to be shared. Find people worth sharing them with.

On Tuesday I had my Long(est) Run to date 22 Miles. I pretty much ran from Solana Beach to Carlsbad & then turned around and ran back. I felt great. I felt amazing actually. I had fellow runners along the coast exchanging smiles and thumbs up. I had someone, whom I still haven't figured out yell my name out of their car to encourage me. Your body is capable of so much more than you believe it is.

On Wednesday, my man Brogan Graham (founder of November Project & fellow NPSD Tribe Member) stepped in and surprised November Project San Diego by leading the workout. Yes I had run 22 miles the day before; however, I had been wanting since becoming part of NP to see the day that I'd get to be part of a BG led workout so with the racing sprints and timed cap running loops, I pushed myself so much more than I thought I could because these past few months have taught me I can go beyond where I want to, I can push past what is comfortable.

On Thursday, I returned to Performance 360 to take a Primal Workout Class with Coach Brenna on her last day at P360, before her move to Denver. Well worth the return to P360.

On Friday, David kicked our butts at DownTown Fridays at the SD Convention Center Stairs & I followed it up with a Coastal 5k prior to work.

Saturday, rest day. Yeah nope. Sorry Lauren. When you get a text asking you to do a 9am Progressive Strength & Conditioning at Performance 360 OB, you show up. Correction, depending on WHO the text is from, you just show up. Hadn't taken a class with Coach Lenny for a looooong while & it was great to take the class with Grant then grab breakfast in OB before I had to head into work.

Life is good & for once in my life, I'm simply enjoying living it with the people I am blessed to have as part of my journey.

5 Weeks til 50k.

Never Stop Exploring... And remember it's WE Out Here, NOT ME Out Here.

NPSD 9.19.2018 - Race Everything - No Longer Just A Hashtag

Primal at P360 - 9.20.2018 = Coach Brenna's Last Day

Road to 50k Week 12 - Welcome to Milwaukee (NP Summit)

So this week was a mix of everything: Training Run at Just Run on Sunday, Lululemon La Jolla Run Club Monday, Coastal 5k on Tuesday, Torrey Pines Trail Run Wednesday & Rush Cycle Interval Ride on Thursday before flying out to Milwaukee for November Project Summit & the North Face Endurance Marathon Relay.

Speaking of Summit, if you know me, you know I actually have hardcore social anxiety. I often times finish an NP workout, go to coffee than have to rush home to nap a few hours and recharge my energy. That said I knew Summit was going to be go go go & I was slightly terrified of having to be social for so long. A lot of self talk and reassuring from friends went into the weeks leading up to summit.

That said.... Welcome to Milwaukee.

This weekend at NP Summit, the workout with November Project Milwaukee, the Marathon Relay at The North Face ECS Wisconsin, the beach party & sandcastle competition on Lake Michigan, that epic Friday morning workout, the socials, the NP Dry Run event, the people I met and seeing on a grand scale so much of what November Project means & has meant to others and sharing what it has been to me was a much needed shakeup at this stage in my training & in my life. Not a single person I met has not had their lives impacted in some way and while I shared my journey I heard so much from others that inspired me about their journey & met people who I didn't even know who mentioned how my journey inspired me. I cried running on the trail when my friend ran up behind me and told me how much I was inspiring her. I was surrounded by so much support and belief and people who were excited for what the next chapter of me holds.

During the race it was in the 80 to 90s and we were running through Kettle Moraine Forest. So many people I saw running two legs. They're beasts. They're everything I aspire to be. They have something I don't. They - hold up wait a minute WHAT?!?! And it was through seeing my friends pushing themselves and still cheering me and everyone else on that it all made sense. Tje only thing keeping me from being anywhere near that level is MYSELF. So I stood my ass up and I ran a second leg, totaling 13miles on my first ever trail race & my first ever endurance event. Yes, people of my size can still go out there and get shit done. No excuses

But what I realized more than anything is the self realization I gained this weekend. There was a mental shift, a change in my belief in myself & a change in my vernacular. I realized I was no longer saying I'm training to do a 50k. I was saying I'm doing a 50k in October & I'm training right now. A minor change, but my focus shifted to the fact that I'm GOING TO DO THIS & making the action of doing so the lead to my statements. The excitement and support I felt from people I only just met reassured me that I can do this & I have people all around the world cheering for me and believing in me.

I contantly tell people that my story, my perseverance, my accomplishments are not meant to be impressive; however, this weekend was more inspiring & impressive than I could have ever imagined.

The North Face ECS Wisconsin 9.15
18

NP Summit Beach Day - Summitsaurus Rex

NP Summit Milwaukee Workout

Road to 50k Week 11 - Slippin & Sliding, Swimming & Becoming More

Week 11. Just 6 weeks til the Lake Hodges 50k. I'm gonna be totally honest and say it, I screwed up this week. I forgot I had a Work Class on Thursday & tried to change my Long Run from Monday to Thursday so I could do November Project Monday. The result was a missed Long Run and smaller mid length runs this week. However, not all was lost. It also helped me to overcome one of my biggest fears. My own body.
For years I had made excuses as to why I would not enter the water or swim with others. I used any and every excuse and at the end of the day, the truth of the matter was - I'm not happy with my body.
This week, November Project San Diego held an awesome Labor Day Workout which had us doing Open Water Swimming in Ventura Cove, running and body weight exercises and ended in an epic slip and slide into the bay. I loved it so much that I actually went back on Tuesday to swim with Kelp Kabobs, a side group of NPSD who focus on open water swimming. Two days in a row, I did back to back open water swims - my first and second ever & it's because of the trust I have in my tribe that I was able to get over all my hangups and just get into the water and enjoy myself.
Tuesday night was my Run Strong Class at Movement Space SD, followed by one of my favourites, Recover Well which is a mix of guided foam rolling and myofascial release along with restorative yoga. My left heel always gives me issues and it was so tight and tense that I was in tears as I was applying pressure and rolling it out with a lacrosse ball.
Wednesday's November Project Workout paired us in teams to complete an ascending number of exercises mixed in with Bridge Run Repeats at Balboa Park. As I had missed my Long Run, I showed up an hour an a half early and ran 6 miles before the workout.
Friday, I ran from Pacific Beach to Mt Soledad - I can see myself doing this often even after my 50k training is up.

And Saturday was awesome. The first Saturday of every month, my gym Performance 360 has a Free Community Workout. It was awesome going back to P360, as this was only my second time back in almost 2 & 1/2 months since starting my 50k training. Grant joined me and I'm pretty sure I looked like I had stepped out of a sweat lodge by the time we were done with the Burnout of 7 Minutes of partner Hell Trots. Was great to see Coach Kyle and my girl Cali and a bunch of my P360 people.

I'm super excited for next week in Wisconsin for November Project Summit, traverbaling to November Project Milwaukee and running the Marathon Relay at North Face Endurance Wisconsin in Kettle Moraine.

I had a great Labor Day BBQ in Mission Beach with a bunch of my November Project friends. And on Thursday, a few of us went to dinner at Isabel's in Pacific Beach. Loved the chile relleno and plantain fry things. And and and Wonderland OB has this like Whiskey Peanut Butter Slushie. We tried to go to try it and they were all out that night :( Oh well we still ate nachos tho

Performance 360 OB: Free Community Workout September 8th, 2018

Labor Day 2018 - The end of excused. The start of Open Water Swimming

NPSD Post Labor Day Photo

 

NPSD Labor Day Bonfire

A Lot Of Past Went Into This Not Impressive Present

This is a story about a boy named Joalby. 

Long, long ago (14yrs ago) in a land far away - well, not so much far away, but in San Diego there was a very different Joalby. This different Joalby gave the impression of a happy life with friends and parties and drinking excessively. What people didn't know is just how unhappy Joalby was underneath it all. 

At age 23, Joalby was approaching 400lbs, was wearing a size 5x or 6x shirt, wore size 50-52 pants, had to get clothes at specialty big and tall shops, and was extremely depressed. 

It took Joalby years to figure out he alone had the ability to initiate a change in his life and ensure a better future for himself. With the help of several trainers, workout communities, organized sports organizations and a love for running, Joalby was able to drop 140lbs and begin to rebuild his body. This is a story that is still ongoing. This is a story that was not easy - a story that found Joalby going through addiction, being held at gunpoint, years of back pain, reconstructive surgery after the weight loss, a sexual assault and found him coming out as a much stronger, healthier and happier person. 

The Joalby you know today was formed just as much through the struggles and dark times as he was by the people who guided him through the fitness world and running community that ultimately saved and improved the quality of his life. This is a story that maybe one day will be told, but for now - I'm just gonna enjoy where I'm at now - because I know what it took to get me here. And more importantly I know that the person I'm at now is only in for great things and great moments to come.

 

Age 23 (March 5th, 2004) vs Age 27 (September 7th, 2018)

 

Road to 50k Week 10 - Long Runs & Monkey Business

Alright so lotta things this week. Seems like not a lot, but yeah lot of things. Due to my work schedule this week, I had to change out my long run to Wednesday. This meant I instead went to November Project on Monday to Kate Sessions for Adult Recess and an awesome game of Telephone incorporating laps of Kate Sessions, as well as the best game of Plank Freeze Tag.

Tuesday, I did my shorter run from Pacific Beach to Bird Rock and back and ran in to fellow NPer Lindsay during my run.

Wednesday!!! Dun dun dun. My long run this week was 21 Miles. I was sad that my friend Sam was moving away so after working a 12hr shift and getting home around 1:30am, I STILL woke up at 4:00am and started my run at 4:30am, just so I could get to November Project SD at the end of the workout and say goodbye to him before he left.
My long run took me from Pacific Beach through Midway & Rosecrans, over to Pacific Hiway, up through downtown to Balboa Park. I made it on time to say goodbye and participate in the burnout. Then I said goodbye and I ran a few miles through Hillcrest before reversing my run and heading home - Total Mile 21.03
That same evening, I along with close to 1,000 others participated in Sunset Yoga Under The Sails at the Sails Pavilion in the Convention Center of San Diego. Yoga was led by my run coach & yoga instructor Lauren Padula with DJ Kanoya presenting the tunes. What made this so epic, other than the presence of NP throughout, was by far the flashmob we helped to lead mid class.
I was running and dancing around all evening, which led to Lauren and several other people telling me to stop and not understanding how I can still have that energy after running the 21 earlier. Ended the night with Tacos at The Taco Stand.

Friday, my girl Iva tried to kill us all by making us one legged hop up the stairs of the Convention Center. Haha, so much fun... But yeah that was killing me all day after that. I think Iva may have been the only one who finished the entire workout that day actually.

And Saturday!!! A few gorillas got loose from the San Diego Zoo and I joined Bodies in Motion to help catch them. We had the best of times and the best part is, I had a group of friends I met through San Diego American Flag Football League join me this time. Having Grant, Tim & Jessica, John & Tyrone there experiencing first hand WHY I love this entire free fitness community I am a part of was awesome. Grant & I ended up being the first ones to catch the gorillas. I fell behind after keeping up with them for 3 stops. Grant killed it and kept on them for the entire workout. Seriously best times ever. Quite possibly one of the most challenging weeks physically, yet the funnest of my training thus far.

In other news, my friend in 5nSlime released their new album "Mandala Effect" this week. I had a blast at their listening party pool party. Check out the new album, it's a pop-rap-electronic hybrid mix of fun songs. I was lucky enough to be asked to record a part for the album. Love these guys. Check out 5nSlime and get their new album.

Bodies In Motion - The Great Gorilla Getaway (Jungle Loop)

Best of times with Grant, Tim, Jessica, John Thomas & Tyrone at Bodies in Motion

Yeah buddy. Grant & I were the first ones to catch these guys

November Project SD with a strong showing of support for Lauren leading Sunset Yoga Under The Sails. This is only a portion of the NP Tribe that showed up to take part