Snow covered Fuji-san

So, I run 3-4 miles every Wednesday morning with a great group of ladies.  Today's run totally sucked, though!  The wind was strong, dry and cold, making for a miserable 4 miles.  But as I turned the corner, I caught a glimpse of Mt. Fuji covered in snow off in the distance.  And that made my miserable run a little less miserable.

At the gym

I hate to admit this in writing, but I haven't been running.  The last time I ran was before the March 11th earthquake.  The earthquake totally fucked up my shit screwed up my schedule, especially with the whole evacuation back to the States for 4 weeks, and worrying whether or not my kid was going to start glowing green and continue hiding under tables every time he heard a loud noise.

Now, it's not that I can't run.  I'm just choosing not to.

So lately I've been going to the gym and working out.  I've been doing Body Pump and a few other workout videos with a friend.  Yes, I have friends.

Well, yesterday when I was working out, the foam mat I was lying on, while doing 80,000 crunches, smelled like stinky vagina.  Seriously!  I ain't joking!  And, I promise, it wasn't my stinky vagina I was smelling or my upper lip!

No!

The last person who had used the mat must have had the nastiest smelling kooter ever and somehow managed to get their stinky kooter smell all over the foam mat I was using.  It was so nasty I'm sure it would have gagged a maggot, assuming maggots can gag.

I thought about telling the Japanese guys that work at the gym in the front office area, but I didn't know what to say.  Hey, this mat smells like rotten fish, wonna smell it?!  Or maybe, um, this smells bad, can I throw it away?  Or, hey, this mat smells like a stinky vajayjay, oh wait, you don't know what a vajayjay is, well, let me show you...   

Can you believe it?!  I'm at a loss for words.  I'm not sure what to say or how to complain about the mat.

And if I do complain about the mat, I'm sure I'll always be remembered as the-very-small-brown-foreigner-who complained-about- the-stinky-vagina-smelling-mat.  I'm not sure I want that label.

It's snowing

So, this morning when I woke up I knew I had to run.  My half marathon schedule dictates that I run 4 miles today, but when I looked out the window, it looked like it was raining.  (Rain plus 36 degrees equals hypothermia!)  But, luckily, it started to snow and sleet, so I thought what the hell.  I geared up and headed out.  And I have to tell you, it wasn't that bad out there.  I had on 3 layers and was warm.

The only bad part was when the wind was blowing snow and sleet right into my eyes, blinding me.  I never knew snow could sting when it gets into your eyes!  But I think we have toxic snow here courtesy of all the pollution.  So, if I go blind in a few days, you'll know why!

On the right path

Today I ran 7 miles, and it felt so good!

My running buddy took this picture of me this morning.  Since it was about 27 degrees outside, I was all bundled up.

Here we go again!

Here I am running the Tokyo Marathon a couple of years ago. 

I just signed up for another 1/2 marathon.  I know, I'm crazy.  I think this will be my 4th or 5th half marathon.  It's crazy to think I've forgotten how many I've completed, but I have.  Shit, I'm getting old!

Anywho, my training has begun, and I can't wait to cross that finish line.

The half marathon is April 10th.  Wish me luck!

(I'll keep you posted on my progress and training.  Hell, why don't you join me and train with me?  Huh??!!)

With Fuji-san smiling down

I ran an awesome 7.25 miles this morning.  The air was crisp, the sky was clear, my lungs felt great, but my legs were sore, courtesy of my Cindy Crawford workout video.  Thankfully, my sore legs and ass didn't stop me from running.  Instead, I ran strong and hard, finishing in about an hour and fifteen minutes.  I could have ran quicker, but my fellow running buddy was having a bad day and wanted to quit a few times, so I slowed down and talked to him to keep his mind off the hurt.  It worked, and we both finished strong with respectable times.

As we ran, off in the distance, we could see Mt. Fuji's snow covered dome glistening in the morning sun.  It was a glorious sight that reminded me why I run.

It was like a little piece of heaven right on earth.

Week #2 of Tokyo Marathon training complete...barely

****Caution: F Bombs below!***********

Well, I ran 3 miles Tuesday, 4 miles Wednesday, 3 miles on Thursday and 5-ish miles on Saturday.
Saturday's run was a mess.  Since Husband is STILL away, I got a babysitter to watch Jude, so I could run long on Saturday.  I hate waking my kid up at 5:30 AM on a Saturday.  And, the babysitter promised to be at my apartment at 5:45 AM, so I could meet my running buds at 6 AM.

Well, the sitter never showed.  I called her multiple times. I called her parents, and I even banged on her door (she lives on the 9th floor of my building), but she never made a peep.  I figured she was dead or not home.  So, at 6 AM, I got Jude up, made him pee, put some clothes over his pjs and met my running buddies who patiently waited for me.  I loaded him up in the baby jogger and proceeded to push the 70 pound rig and kid 6 miles.  Well, let's just say it sucked big, fat, donkey balls! And, on our route, there was construction.  The construction workers laid a gravel road for foot traffic; however, my baby jogger is not equip for gravel roads.  Needless to say, Jude got nauseated and almost threw up everywhere.  I was so incredibly pissed!  Jude was so "car" sick that he ended up missing his karate lesson.

So, I was pissed off at the world because:
(1) Husband should be at home and not a world away!  He should be the one to take care of his child when I need him to.
(2) It seems I can't rely on anyone for anything!
(3) It's my goal to run another marathon, but other people seem to be sabotaging my goal!
(4) My poor, sweet kid was woken up at 6 AM on a Saturday, by me, to only become nauseated and sick.

Maybe the Gods are trying to tell me to give up my goal.  Maybe I'm being unreasonable.  Maybe having my own personal goal is just stupid.  Maybe I should give up all my fucking goals because they sure as hell don't seem achievable when no one else is willing to help.

All of this just seems like a waste of my fucking time!

The Grape Race 5K

I'm the one in the pink hat, with the pink shirt, and pink sunglasses, standing behind  Jude (the big kid) in the yellow, Ironman baby jogger. 

I ran this 5K about 2 weeks ago.  It was a pretty race, but the hills were killer, and I pushed Jude up those hills in the baby jogger.  I know, what the hell was I thinking?  I can honestly say that pushing a 40 pound kid in a 30 pound stroller up giant, ass hills is worse than running a marathon.  Yes, worse!  There were several times where I swore I was going to die because my heart was about to explode out of my chest.

Thankfully, I survived without any injuries!  Praise God or Jesus or Allah or whomever you praise!

Week #1 of Tokyo Marathon training complete

Yahoo!  I ran 3 miles Tuesday, 4 miles Wednesday, 3 miles Friday, and 5.2 miles today (Saturday).  I would have ran Thursday, but I had the crappers!

The running is slow, with heavy legs and heavy breathing, but everyday it gets a little better and a little easier.

I'm so glad I got my running mojo back...just in time for Tokyo Marathon training!

Week #1 of Tokyo Marathon training complete

Yahoo!  I ran 3 miles Tuesday, 4 miles Wednesday, 3 miles Friday, and 5.2 miles today (Saturday).  I would have ran Thursday, but I had the crappers!

The running is slow, with heavy legs and heavy breathing, but everyday it gets a little better and a little easier.

I'm so glad I got my running mojo back...just in time for Tokyo Marathon training!

Inspirational

If he can do it, so can you!

Worn out

Even with 2 gi-normous, painful lumps on my head and a massive headache, I still mustered up enough strength this week to run 3 miles on Tuesday, 3 1/2 miles on Friday, 4 miles on Saturday and 3.2 miles on Sunday.

Let's just say I'm one tired midget, Mexican momma who can't wait to take a nap today!

My running mojo

I think I found my running mojo again.  Thank God!

My running mojo gets lost in the summer, but it usually comes back in the fall.  It typically hits me when I'm running in the dark, and a cool breeze slaps me in the face, cooling off my hot, sweaty, greasy, flushed cheeks.  There's nothing better than that cool breeze... at the moment when you think you are too tired to keep going, when you think you are about to give into the hurt of your exhausted body, that breeze containing your mojo hits you, awakening your senses, giving you the power and strength to keep going, to push it beyond what you thought you were capable of.  That's the moment you know it's back.  You're thankful for its return, so thankful.

Now the goal is to keep it.

**************************
Dear Mr. Running Mojo,

I missed you, but I'm glad you're back.  It's good to see you!  I hope you stay for a while.

~Weenie

Training for Tokyo Marathon 2011

So, I started running again.  I'm starting to gear up for Tokyo Marathon 2011.  I'm not particularly excited about this race because my favorite running buddies have or will be moving away, leaving me, forcing me to run alone--something I loathe.

And, I'm not a real runner, I'm a social jogger.  My favorite part about running is chatting with my friends.  The running part is just the catalyst that allows me to run around scantily clad through the streets of Japan cursing and telling stories.  If I weren't jogging, I'm sure I would have been arrested years ago and thrown into the loony bin!  I'm sure of it!

So, I'm kind of on a search for new running buddies.  If you know anyone in the Tokyo area that would like to jog and train with a difficult, overly opinionated, medicated, loud, foul-mouthed, midget, Mexican, asthmatic momma with a bad attitude, please leave a comment or e-mail me.  I promise I won't bite, unless you want me to!

My new kicks

Okay, so this year's Tokyo Marathon was a flop. I was stopped in my tracks courtesy of a couple of injuries. But the injuries have healed, and I'm ready to get back on the road.

Since I'm starting a new training season, I decided to buy some new shoes (pictured above).

I hope my new shoes can carry me to my goal: Tokyo Marathon 2011.

Wish me luck!

Falling Apart

So, I went to the doctor yesterday for my asthma check-up. The asthma is okay considering I've got a nasty cold that YaYa gave me, imported all the way from Texas! So, I mentioned to the doc that my knee has been hurting when I run, and he took a look at it. I also mentioned that my left heel has been hurting off and on for about 3 months.

His diagnosis: I've a got a cold (that YaYa gave me!!!), Plantar Fasciitis, and IT Band Syndrome.

He said I can continue to run until the pain becomes unbearable.

He didn't discourage me from running the marathon, though. He just said I might not be able to walk for about a week or so after the marathon.

So, now I must make a choice. Do I keep running and attempt to run the marathon with an aching, stinging knee, or do I quit running and give my Tokyo Marathon spot to someone else? Since I'm kind of wishy-washy when it comes to decision making, I'll have to ponder these questions for some time. I'll let you know what I have decided when I decide it.

I could be done

During last week's 17 mile run, at exactly mile 15.5, I experienced a stabbing pain in my knee. It started in my upper, outer thigh and then went directly to my outer knee. Each step was painful, like someone jabbing a needle directly into my knee. However, when I stopped running, the pain stopped. So, I walked/ran the last 1.5 miles in agony.

Courtesy of the Internet, I have diagnosed myself with IT band tendinitis. I've had this running injury before, back in 2003 when I attempted to run my first marathon. It's an overuse injury that just requires stretching, icing and rest, something I can't really do because I'm in the most important month of marathon training.

So, some decisions must be made and soon.

I refuse to run a marathon with an injury. That's just dumb, and I don't want to cause serious or permanent injury to my knee just to run another marathon. Remember, I've already successfully completed 2 marathons. I don't have anything to prove to anyone. I know I can do it.

So, the questions are: will my knee get better in time for the marathon, and can I run a marathon without training properly?

When I find out the answers to these questions, I'll let you know.

Running on empty

Sometimes I'm a complete dumb ass. Sometimes I have a lapse in clarity and do things I shouldn't do. For example, Saturday I ran 8 hard miles, and then on Sunday I decided to run a 10K (6.2 mile) race. What the hell was I thinking?

When I woke up late on Sunday morning, and by late I mean 7:15 AM, I should have known I was too tired from Saturday's 8 mile run to even attempt a 10K race. But, I didn't listen to my inner voice that was screaming, "Don't run today, you moron, your legs are sore and tight, attempting another 6.2 miles at race pace is a stupid effing idea!" No! I didn't listen. Instead, I laced up my ASICS Gel Evolution running shoes and headed for the race.

Needless to say, I ran my worst 10K race ever. Whatever! At least I covered the distance, and I wasn't the last person to finish the race. Small victories do count, ya know!

Note to self: Don't bite off more than you can chew!

What a blur!

This weekend flew by! It was almost like a dream. I didn't get much accomplished, but I did run 6 miles on Saturday and attend a ball with Husband. I would post the pictures on this useless blog, but since other people are in the pictures, I will respect their privacy. (If you know me, you can see them on my Facebook page.)

So, this week is the end. The end of how things are and the beginning of how things are going to be.

Two of my really good friends are leaving this week. These two ladies are amazing in their own way. Both are strong, competitive, smart, funny, determined, inspirational, witty, but, most of all, willing to put up with me and my shit. When I met these ladies, we all had a goal in common- the 2009 Tokyo Marathon. Although, one of them did not run the marathon because of personal reasons, she was with us through all the training and hard work. There is no doubt in my mind, she IS a marathoner.

Through 6 months of 5 AM runs through the streets of Japan, we developed a unique friendship and respect for one another that will last forever. We have been there for each other to push, and to inspire, to make it 20 miles together. We never failed to accomplish what we set out to do. And we always did it together. We accomplished it together.

As I've mentioned before, the friends you run with while training for a marathon are the best friends you will ever have in your entire life. When you wake up at 4:30 AM to run 8 miles, you are tired, scantily clad in short running shorts, tank tops or tights. You reveal your whole self, your inner self. Your running buddies see you beat down, exhausted, and sick, but they never let you quit or feel defeated. They carry you the way with their words, their actions or their lies. And you do the same. When they are too tired or too exhausted, you tell jokes or stories to help them focus on something else other than the pain of running 20 miles. When your hips ache and your knees scream with pain, you hide it and tell them everything will be okay. You tell them that soon it will be over and a dream will be accomplished on a Saturday morning when most people are still asleep.

The friendship we developed during marathon training is an amazing one I will always cherish. Even though they are leaving, and I may never live in the same city with them again, it doesn't matter. The friendships we created while marathon training will last forever. They will always be with me where ever I go. For that, I'm grateful.

On training for another marathon

This week started my official 2010 Tokyo Marathon training. I've been waking up at the butt crack of dawn to run. (The butt crack of dawn = 4:30 AM.) So far, it's going well. But by 5 PM, I'm one tired midget, Mexican momma!

I'm just glad I found my running mojo!