That’s the longest I’ve ever run/hobbled/crawled in my life. Ever. Now only five additional ones on race day!! Hah… Time to puke!
Also, the two Marc by Marc Jacobs clothing items I listed on eBay are still available, and all the money will go to my fundraising efforts…. Click here and here to check out the auctions or here just to donate. :) I’m only $305 away from my fundraising goal!
Also selling this Marc by Marc Jacobs denim jacket to raise $$ to fight cancer! eBay listing below:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280753445061?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Selling this cute pink Marc by Marc Jacobs top to raise $$ to fight cancer! Check out the listing below!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280753445061?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
To be honest, I’ve had a hard time finding the motivation to do much cross-training. I feel like I spend all my time running and I’ve had to struggle to fit in strength training. Of course, I know core strength is super important and that’s something with which I’ve always struggled. (On the other hand, I barely need to do much for my legs ever because apparently I evolved for deadlifting, hah).
Anyways, I’m skipping weight training for a while to change things up and try to regain some enthusiasm, so I’ve been searching YouTube for free body weight workouts. To try to get going this morning I found this “wake-up yoga” routine which was just okay.
It is *really* meant to just wake you up, I guess, because it mostly involved patting and slapping your muscles rather than actively stretching. I preferred the sequence I found yesterday; even though it was gentle it was still a little more active. I like this instructor’s accent though.
Essential pre-workout supplement ;) Double (or triple) espresso!
Fun with chia seeds…
It’s been a while since I posted here — I’ve been busy training and fund-raising ;) — but I’m back!
For a pre-run snack today (had 6 miles on the schedule), I had my usual PB/toast combo and decided to make some chia fresca.
Yes, the chia fresca looks disgusting, admittedly. I first read about it in the book Born to Run, which, in a nutshell, chronicles the journey of a few crazy American distance runners as they attempt to keep up with Mexico’s native Tarahumara Indians.
The Tarahumara regularly run distances equivalent to ultramarathons, often fueled largely by a cornmeal mixture and this drink, which they make with chia seeds, lime juice, and sugar.
I mixed it up based on a few different recipes I found online. The taste was fine — not sweet, although the texture would have weirded me out if I was more squeamish or picky. The seeds soak up water quickly and develop a gummy texture, and kinda float to the bottom of the water so they look like amphibian eggs, quite frankly.
Yesterday, when I planned to run at least 6 miles, I bonked really hard at the 5.5-mile mark, even after eating some caffeinated Shot Bloks around my usual 4ish mile point. Today, I ate my usual toast/peanut butter snack, and drank the chia fresca and felt AWESOME. I didn’t have to eat the Shot Bloks and felt super great all the way through the end of 6 miles. I could have kept going if I had re-fueled at that point, but I forgot to take anything besides water with me.
It could be the placebo effect, the fact that I got more sleep today, or the fact that I did my training run in the evening when I naturally have more energy. Either way, I’ll take it, and I’m going to keep experimenting with all these variables as I continue my half-marathon training.
Other great news: I am more than 70% of my way towards my fundraising goal!! I only need to raise $320 to hit my target. I am reading more and more good news about research on blood cancers, and a friend of mine who was diagnosed earlier this year just got a cancer-free scan after several chemo sessions! And, running is getting easier and easier every day… So, I am pumped to continue this journey.
Nike Free Run +2 … Just ordered these to run in. So excited!! I’ve been wearing low-support shoes/going barefoot for over a year to work up to these guys. I just couldn’t deal with the thought of wearing Vibram Five Fingers AND a fuel belt ;) I’ll post a picture of THAT baby soon.
Training update: Up to about 5 or 6 miles at a time depending on the ()@#*@(#* heat. It’s raining here (AGAIN) and I only have NOW, basically, to fit in a run so I’m gonna hit the cursed treadmill… And YES I watch Chariots of Fire for inspiration when I’m stuck running indoors! hahah! Anyone have any other similar suggestions that are available on Netflix Instant?
Other good news: I’m MORE THAN HALFWAY to my fundraising goal of $1400 to help beat blood (AND OTHER KINDS) of cancers!! Just a little bit more to go! Click here to visit my Team in Training fundraising page, there are cookies in it for you! <3
The Twitter movement originating from @abolishcancer has been using social media — and engaged musicians on social media — to raise awareness of childhood cancers! Today, September 1, they’re asking people to donate $1 to the childhood cancer charity of their choice. Why not donate to fight leukemia?
While the five-year survival rate for children with the most common form of leukemia is now 85% (yay! it was just 4% in 1960), there’s still a long way to go:
A donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society can help, no matter what the amount! If 25 people donate just $1 each that’s enough for an information session with a sick child and their family to educate them on the most up-to-date treatment options. At $50, that’s enough to pay for a support group… and it goes on from there.
I guess I need to buy more of these funky dri-fit types of shirts and shorts…. Anything over 30 minutes in this weather and it’s like I bathed in my clothes :( (Also on the wish list: compression socks, but why on earth are they $25-$50 for some damn socks?!)
Team in Training jersey (yes it’s huge). (Taken with instagram)
My name is Arielle, I'm a 27-year-old freelance writer from Miami, Florida and I've just undertaken one of the biggest challenges of my life -- I'm running a half-marathon with Team in Training to help beat leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers.
Click here to read more about why I'm doing this and to skip right to my donation page!
If you're wondering more about me, I'm around the web elsewhere at these places:
Official-ish web site: ariellecastillo.com
Twitter: @ariellec
Personal Tumblr: ariellec.tumblr.com
Completely unrelated Tumblr about vintage ska, reggae, and soul (nerd alert): sweetsoulfulsounds.tumblr.com
