Rock the Block 5k - Find the FUN Under Pressure

Mom and Son for a 5k. As coach “O” once told me “You can’t race every weekend”… But… You can go to races to run and have fun! Find the fun under pressure.

Team W, Nick & Mom to Rock the Block. Nick’s strength to start fast, Mom’s strength to build up and hold. Plan: Nick to pace mom at the start and then try to keep with her the most he can, and whoever finishes first, cheers for the other at the finish line. Executed plan! Team W together for almost first full mile.

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 

On second mile mom got some rhythm and took over crossing Nick after the curve. Nick looked great! Good form and pushing hard under control. Mom kept going. There was a lady in blue at the front. “To get her, not to get her”, “You can. No, you can’t”… It’s a race mom! That is what I thought while lady in blue en la mira was getting closer and closer... The closer she got the more tempted to get her and done! Less than mile to finish. Forget about everything mom and go cross that finish line.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

Finish line crossed! I didn't even look at the finish time, I just turned off the Garmin, happy about getting it done and still alive. They asked me for the bib, I could barely breath... PLS wait, this running mom needs to resuscitate. J

Gave bib number back and went to look for Nick. Waited some, then walked, then jogged back… I couldn't find him. Mom got little bit worried and came back to find Nick enjoying snacks. He knew there were cinnamon rolls and was afraid they were going to run out of them. So he finished fast and went for them.

After enjoying some snacks we went to check results to see if he had some award to pick. Mom found a nice surprise! 2^nd overall fem and 1^st master fem. Hardware home! Nick got 10^th on his age with 25:24 and main mission accomplished when he said “I could have ran faster to get at least 3^rd”.

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”

― Maya Angelou

Run Like a Mother 5k – Like a Running Mom, Keep Things Under Control

Cool race. Close to home. I ran it and won last year. Great prizes that included hour massage, free entry for me and a friend for this. No reason to skip it. Dealing a little bit though, I must confess. “Defending 2013 Victory” vs “Being happy I am able to race, appreciating and enjoying what you have”.

Both things, but second first! So I laced my shoes and got there. Starting line, full of colleagues, all running moms. Suddenly, I found myself running with just one mom and a kid in front of me. I was not sure if race had started. I only heard 3, 2, 1 and a gun shot! A race, so no time for doubts. Just run. 

Even first position got fast switched from one mom to another I held my 3rd behind that amazing yellow t-shirt running kid who I got to pass before the 1st mile. On second place now. First mom “en la mira” 20 secs ahead, then 25… 30… I kept following her. 1st lap, then starting 2nd lap feeling a little bit out of my race comfort zone, so time to switch gears to “this is what you have right now, relax, focus and keep it”. And I did! Very proudly to the end to get my flower and finisher medal. 

BIG LESSON from this race “Like a Running Mom, Keep Things Under Control”. 

Following some Tips for Busy Moms that I applied to running. Have fun!

1. Rise Early	"It's wonderful for busy moms to wake up 15 minutes before their children and take a little retreat"	Wake up early enjoy breakfast and arrive early to find a comfortable parking place close to potty! Yeah!
2. Unplug	The average American home is a noisy place, thanks to the telephone, television, radio, and CD player. When you're feeling overloaded, try turning down the background noise in your life by "unplugging" some of these electronic taskmasters.	No GPS or stopwatch. No heart rate or cadence monitor! Unplug! Hummm… I hope this doesn’t include ipod.
3. Start Small	You're tired and just don't feel like making dinner, but you don't want to serve fish sticks again. So set a new, much smaller goal: "I will go in the kitchen and make a salad," or even, "I will go into the kitchen."	You are tired or sore to race or even run? Just get on those bright running shoes and favorite running t-shirt. Start walking and see what happens.
4. Be Here Now	Like the sixth-grader worrying about the SATs, our minds constantly bring future worries into the present. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, no to "anticipatory thinking." "The best way to avoid stress is to immerse yourself in the moment"	Just 1st mile? OMG! Still 2 more or 12 or 25 more to go? Start counting posts, chasing another runner, play with breath, arms, hands, fingers. One time, another time and repeat…
5. Adapt	Do you fall apart if dinner is not served on bone china at six o'clock sharp? "We get attached to how things are going to be". "But if your kids are at each other's throats while you're making dinner, maybe the most important thing at that moment is to get down on the floor with them"	Shoes’ color not matching short and t-shirt?  You’d better keep thinking where, when you are going to solve this issue and develop action plan with milestones and deadlines and whatever that keeps you worried about this stuff so that breath getting too much out of control doesn't bother you.
6. Talk It Out	"Self-talk" can help us control our emotions. When things go wrong, "It's not a disaster, it's an inconvenience." By developing an inner voice that, for example, encourages you to stay in bed when you're sick and let your husband clean up the kitchen, you become, in a sense, your own best friend.	Too sore or too tired to run? "It's not a disaster, it's an inconvenience." By developing an inner voice that, for example, do not run today if those feet are swelling. Cross train and prepare your favorite recipes, you become, in a sense, your own best friend.
7. Laugh a Little	"Laughter re-enchants daily living," Healthy laughter comes from Bill Cosby's gentle kind of humor that eases little annoyances.	Stretch those lips horizontally. Add 5, 10, 15 reps every other mile and for every camera around at the races.
8. Take a Break	Let's face it: We're never going to finish everything on our "to do" lists. The average mother runs 21 minutes short per day. Usually, the first thing to go is relaxation time. "We'll never have any downtime unless we schedule it," she says. You should be able to complete this sentence: "What I do every day to relax is...."	Learn how to take breaks and practice it all the time. Ensure you will never forget how to relax, take easy and enjoy.
9. Enjoy Nature	Sun, water, wind  -- the elements feed our senses and lead us toward serenity better than anything. It may mean relaxing in your backyard, drawing a warm bath, or going out for a brisk run. The important thing is to figure out what soothes you and then where to find it.	It is the same windy, rainy, cold, humid, hot, hilly for absolutely everybody so “the temperature and humidity slowered me down” it doesn’t count.
10. Just Let Go	"We have to recognize that chaos is a part of life". "Then we must recognize our own contribution to it. That's the only part we can control." The irony is that by taking steps that seem to signify giving up control  -- like "outsourcing" certain household jobs  -- you will actually be gaining more freedom to enjoy your family life.	Chaos is a part of running. Training plan not running in a perfect way? No worries. Just focus on the things you can control like the color of your shoes, the matching running sock, the after running snack and rehab smoothie. Outsource to nature and trust on God the rest.

And never forget. Run for fun or do something else!

One Ale of a Trail 5-Mile Trail Run - Let the Universe Correspond to your "Beingness"

All set up that morning. Trail run to cheer for mom, then Nick's soccer game and Sunday Lucas' two games. ALL4-1. The W Team, ALL4-1. We arrived not that early... I mean not early enough for "full warmup and so on", so while kids were waiting on line for restroom, running mom when for "short warm up and so on".

Starting line and still stretching some while talking with friends. On your marks, get ready, set and go! Started at the front but carefully on the side to let faster runners go. Rocky flat mile at the start, followed by grassy hills is a wonderful forest.

Relax, go, enjoy that "slam" feeling around trees. Green t-shirt runner there I go. Nice pace, I'll try to keep it, well for a while. I need to move forward. Yellow t-shirt next. This pace is fun! But again I need to move forward. Green t-shirt again? You got back? But you sound out of breath... Watch out. Still over 3 miles to go, and sorry but I will lead. Bye!

Almost mile 4, and one more to go. Passed a couple guys and it was really cheering when they told me "look you were holding your b_ _ _ and now go!". Last mile and a girl in front. Not afraid, I will go for her! Passed her and a couple guys cheering her "get her back!". But I was not going to let it happen. That girl had no idea where I was coming from.

Almost there! I can see the finish line. Go for it, crossed it. Nothing fast but delicious feeling of burning legs while trying to catch up breath and hug Lucas & Nick.

The Universe is full of diversity and choice and you get to experience the reality you choose, and you choose it by what you focus upon. Along the way, there may be stumbles and happenings which may surprise you; they will be indicators of tweaks you can make to improve your alignment and flow. When something surprises you, it is an opportunity to adjust your attention to what is important to you and BE from it. The Universe soon corresponds to your beingness by way of physical manifestations.

R’n’R 13.1 – Joyfully Pursuing Something Challenging

I wasn’t sure what it was. My whole me - heart, brain, soul, mind - was looking for something. Without even realizing I started with new things, from professional development to tune up some skills, journaling, nutrition, learning about recipes and twisting 180 degrees and percent my approach to life and running & training. I needed to separate myself from the pain and "hard effort" association to any activity.

Rock and Roll Dallas Half Marathon was my BIG G, “To be able to run it again and HAPPY!”

• HAPPY because: I am able to run this year vs being off road last couple years
• HAPPY even though: it will take me longer than the  1 hour 27min 46secs at a 6:46 pace 3 years ago

Event started car-pooling with friend Hector, who I offered myself as his co-pilot to enjoy some runners’ chat before race. As he has a trip to Buenos Aires, my home city, on mind he got me!!! I arrived little bit earlier than planned. I must confess I had a nightmare with traffic and catching the shuttle. I was a nightmare mixing a race in Buenos Aires, missing the “colectivo” (bus) that got me little bit nervous. 

Luckily we are in USA where logistics almost always work perfect. I felt very relieved once we parked and got the shuttle at the Fair Park. Runners were all around getting on their corrals. We got to warm up at the starting line with elites around, something very inspiring!

Another cool thing at the start happened when I was dropping my warm up clothes on the side of the corral and a lady around asked me if she could take them. It made me happy that someone was going to get and use those clothes!

I started with corral 2 set to finish in 1:45. Too fast? Too slow? No idea. I do not like to make race maths. I was just going to run respecting what my running angel had for me. My only promise to running angel was to smile at least every mile and in front of cameras. Started running and went front of corral and passing some runners. Mile 1 one, mile 2 and 3 and 4… I knew my BOYZ “W-Cheeling Team” were going to be cheering for me somewhere around there. I found them just before mile 5. It was amazing! They had built a banner I couldn’t read however my kids’ faces yelling GO MOM! Made it so special!

Mental splits? Math always makes things funnier, especially with running. So decided to set it at 5 miles + 2x(2+2) + 0.1 J. It worked perfect! W-Cheering team after the 10k, then again around 15k and again close to 11 mile. Wow! There totally exceeded my expectations. They were everywhere! I also got other running friends cheering go ROXANA, and one singing “Roxanne…”.

Mile 11, just couple more to go! Time to kick it hard? Hard for what? To set PR? Not this time. Just hard to finish happy! And I did so! Stellar end for my BIG G, meeting the race pilot Hector, the local most famous runner RunnerBwoy – Mojo – Mark, plus Angela, plus Julie and husband.

It was amazing! I really appreciate all, from being able to train, race, being with friends and specially having my BOYZ living the experience. As Deena Kastor mentioned at the EXPO: “Every Mile Teaches US a Lesson” and biggest lesson from running is to “Joyfully Pursuing Something Challenging.

That’s all about!

 

 

Dash Down Greenville 5k – BE Humble AND Proud (Contronym?)

I ran this race on 2010, 2011 however due to other events and/or injuries I wasn't able to run 2012 and 2013. So this year it made me really happy the fact that I was feeling healthy to run it, both as runner and runner's mom. We arrived hour earlier to be able to park and warm up nice.

While doing so we got to see Enoch Nadler, an amazing athlete, on his 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials. That really motivated and fired us! We went to start line, dropped our personal cheerer Lucas. National Anthem, count down and GO! Mom started few seconds behind the front, not sure about Nick who as most of the times dissapears at the start line.

Be Humble! Once a Brazilian Manager, CK, told me. “Be Humble! Do less, think more”. Even I've kept this phrase and humble word on my mind for years, I've never got to understand it. Few nights ago I had a dream. I do not remember too much, just my, also Brazilian, first running Coach O, yelling me “Be Humble! Do less, think less”, and that is what I am doing these days.

Today while working on this blog I've realized why humble word was blur on me. Even not an official contronym, single words that have two contradictory meanings, there is a humble side I am looking forward that includes: being modest, no arrogant, courteously respectful, low in height, level, etc.; small in size. However I am totally opposite of being humble by not being proud, having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, destroying independence or confidence and so on!

Coming back to the race Dash Down Greensville 5k. Nick was somewhere, if in front of me, plan A, I was going to pass him or meet him at the finish line. Otherwise plan B. Mom started running, just happy with what I have, full commands keeping all under control. Push but relax, all settles down. Saw friend Frances in the front and we got to run some together, moved forward chasing some fun green socks, mile 1, mile 2, found fried Hector. Moved forward, got friend Dawns cheers! And kept the fun for the finish line! 2 minutes faster than previous 5k and 200% more relaxed and feeling better. Then time for plan B and go get back for Nick and push him at finish line (another of my finish line pleasures for now). Found him and when he kicked I was not able to keep with him. He had such an strong finish!

After the race we got to see some friends and even not expecting award, when I went to to check results I found I had gotten 2^nd for my AG. Nick was 9^th on his AG.

I am on the same phase, both as a runner and a runner’s mom trying my best to be and teach:
“Be Humble: as an individual who does things without regard to personal gain”
"Loose yourself and give yourself. Things will come"

Nick could have gotten his own. Just need to listen more.

High 5! for Cowtown 2014 10k

“A great man (or woman) is always willing to be little.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.

― Saint Augustine

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.

― Confucius

Cowtown is a wonderful running event in DFW area. Always full or friends competing at the different races. As a personal running tradition I feel so happy about both my son Nick and I being able to run the 5k for the 3rd year in a row and me the 10k for the 5th year, respectively.

Even I started my running tradition with other couple races, such as Turkey Trot and Gary Burns, different events, other races, family and injuries pulled me from being able to keep my loyalty as Cowtown's.

This year rather than starting at the very front chasing fastest runners, I decided to start little bit behind in order to be able to catch a decent pace without getting hurt for trying to race with something I still do not have. It was a great decision that not only kept me SAFE but also let me feel SOUND, enjoy the race, finish STRONG and with a BIG smile.

This strategy worked perfect. Even chip time/pace are far and further from my "under 40'", after suffering some "running body shocks"  I got to learn BIG lesson. Am I taking "EZ"? No, not really. Just learning to enjoy the journey, that is ALL THAT MATTERS!!!

ps: runner at the end thanked me for pacing him! plus unexpected jewel besides finisher medal, I'll get AG one!!!

LET yourself GO to EPICITY land

After enjoying a delicious "Wind Tango" played with couple sweet bassons in the Double Reed Clinic at the UTA where dropped Kid#1, drove to a "Y" for Kid#2 to play during mom's workout.

While driving got to spot interesting places around. Was I going to run? Maybe, but not too much. Where? No idea. Workout? "Careful fun-cardio" before some "boring rehab @ the gym" :-)

Even I got to see some interesting places around, I had no idea where exactly I was. Att & Rangers  stadiums around, however I had no idea how far and how to get there from where I was... While getting ready to take off I got to talk with a young runner around who suggested me a little road to get to the stadiums. Just what I needed!

So I took off and let myself go. I took the little road, got to the stadiums area, ran around one, found a nice trail where walkers asked me "where does this trail end?" and of course I replied I had no idea!. I kept running, could't resist the bridges couple times and then time to "try to find your way back".

Of course I ended running little bit more than supposed to, and having to cut some the boring rehab @ the gym :-) BUT I got to enjoy one of those "good runs", kind of "epic" as I was running without any plan, or idea where I was, just enjoying a feeling of God driving and taking care of me.

Epic moments in life happen, we just need to let them happen to us.
LET yourself dive into EPICITY land. Thanks!