Pictures and final reflections

So, I am now over a week out from the marathon and life has slowly returned to normal. I'm coping with the fact that I can't eat whatever I want without gaining a few pounds, and am now knee deep back in the grind of school.

Looking back, this was a totally worthwhile experience. I apologize to people who have seen me personally since I finished. I know that I haven't appeared all that excited about finishing, but truth be told being done almost feels like a let down. The training has been such a huge part of my life for the past 5 months; no longer having that leaves a little bit of a void.

I've posted a few pictures here in the blog, but you can also find a full spectrum of pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/mnarui/NikeWomenSMarathon# I took a disposable camera with me on the course, so the pictures above were taken during the race with Martin and Susan.



All in all, the experience has been amazing. For now, I am temporarily retiring from marathons but will continue training for 1/2 marathons. The biggest reason being that I have a dissertation to write and the training is so time consuming, it would make it hard to finish. I have already signed up for the Indy 1/2 marathon this May. This will likely be my next major race.

Finally, a big thanks for all of your support. It's been a blast!

Mitsu

It's OVER!

Hi all!

Okay, so I am happy to report that I finished in one piece, but I have to say that those hills in San Fran are BRUTAL!

Because of these rather brutal hills, as soon as we started, my immediate goal became to finish. I should also say that I been running for the past two years with two friends, Martin and Susan, that I met through Team in Training last summer. They convinced me that I should do this event this year, so the three of us went into this event together.

The three of us made a pact that we would start and finish the race together. Now Martin has been hurt with some back and leg issues for the past couple of weeks so he hasn't run all that far in the past couple of weeks. Needless to say, he started hurting at mile 8 and we knew it would be a struggle for him til the end. But Susan and I knew that it would be important for him to finish so we encouraged him throughout the race and stayed with him til the end, even though it meant that Susan and I were doing more walking than we originally intended. So in the end, I finished in a little over 5 hours. It was lengthy but nonetheless it felt good to finish. The three of us were able to cross the finish line hand in hand, which to me meant more than any time I would have finished in. With a course as brutal as this one, it truly becomes about racing for a cause and not about any personal gain. This was apparent to me throughout the race.

Now the weather here in San Fran is some of the strangest I think I have seen. It starts out cold and foggy (meaning you need as many layers as possible) and by the middle of the afternoon it can be sunny (meaning you shed all those layers) and by early evening you need all those layers again. Of course on race day, the sun decided not to come out so we basically had cold and rainy for the entire race. For much of it, I lost the ability to feel my arms and hands. Some of the views were great. I took a disposable camera so I will be able to post some pictures once I get them developed.

It's now the next day, and I am still in some pain but walking around and seeing some of San Fran really helped. I have to admit though I didn't see as much as I could have. I simply don't have it in me today. So, I broke down, paid $4 and have been using the internet for the past few hours. I figured my health is more important than seeing the sights of San Fran.

I'll post more in a few days (including my official time and photos) but til then, I wanted to share the experience.

Thanks for everyone's support!

Mitsu

p.s. Thanks to my fabulous friends for getting me a gift certificate for a massage place. I am happy to report I will be getting fully recovered on Wednesday!

One week to go!

Hard to believe that there is only one week to go until the big day! Needless to say, I am overcome with a sense of relief that the day if finally coming. It's been A LOT of work and I'm looking forward to seeing it culminate next weekend.

Training wise, I am now tapering. This week I have runs of 5, 5, and 3 miles. This is to allow your body time to rest before the big day. This is the week that I also become like a bear needing to hibernate for the winter. The goal is to load up on food in preparation for the beating that my body will take race day.

Race details. This link should take you to the official race site. I am hoping that there will be some way for you to track my progress in real time on race day but they have yet to post how to do that. If they do not, you can go to the site by the end of the day and they should have posted the results. If there is real-time tracking, I will make sure to send that info along. You can also see a pdf of the course by following the link (or http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/40000_2032_course_map_v7.pdf). I am most worried about miles 7-10 if you look at the elevation guide on the bottom. They are pretty much up hill.

Finally, a big THANKS for the support this summer. The words, both in person and in e-mail, have meant the world to me, and I cannot fully express my support. I'll make sure to post an entry afterwards to let you all know how it goes.

22 miles and a cloud of dust!

Okay, so today was a new first for me in training, the 22 mile practice run. Now to back up, last summer, I followed the "novice" training schedule since it was my first major long distance race. Since then, having run several half marathons, I felt I could handle the "veteran" training schedule. The novice training maxes at 20 miles; the veteran schedule at 22.

Several factors were rather against me today with the run, actually, probably only one factor, the weather. I had made arrangements with some TNT friends to meet at 7am instead of 8am to get some miles out of the way. As I am driving to Antrim, I am greeted to torrential rain and lightening. It actually managed to stop by around 7:15 but that meant that the rest of the morning was really humid, warm, and with little wind. Now, these conditions make it hard to breathe; also sweating does little to cool a person down, yet you sweat more when it's that humid. My running partner was sweating so much his socks were drenched; his feet were swishing for most of the run.

The other problem at this distance is "hitting the wall." (I put in a link for those interested learning more.) Yes, it is a phrase coined by runners when one is completely spent and depleted of all energy. I distinctly remember hitting the wall last year at around mile 21 during the marathon. I wouldn't say that I completely hit the wall today, but there were a few moments where I thought I might break down. Having a running partner though makes it much easier to get through that rough patch.

So, with now only 5 weeks til the big day, the long milage goes down from here (meaning it'll be 18, 20, 16, and 12 miles). I know that sounds like a lot but I'm relieved that I have now maxed out. I've finished running for a few hours now, and I basically feel a dull ache from my hips downward. In the end, I know that all of the pain and suffering is for a great cause. During the tough runs, I am reminded that my pain and suffering in that moment doesn't compare with those who have survived cancer.

Finally, a huge THANK YOU to all of you that have shown your support, in words and/or dollars. I am happy to say that I am only $40 from reaching my fundraising goal of $2870! If you haven't donated and had intended on donating you can go to this link http://pages.teamintraining.org/coh/nikesf08/mnarui or e-mail me at mnarui@gmail.com to get info about mailing a check. Even a few dollars would be much appreciated.

Hope all is well as the summer winds down with you all.

Mitsu

ps. In case anyone wanted to know, I ran for 3 hours 45 min and 30 seconds this morning ;-)

7 weeks to go!

Hi all!

So, yes, there is indeed only 7 weeks until the big day! The training has been going well. I ran a 1/2 marathon a couple of weeks ago in Dublin. It was about 90 degrees, sunny, with very little shade or wind along the way. I finished in 2 hours 59 seconds (9:15/mile). I had aimed to finish under 2 hours but with the weather conditions, I was grateful to finish as I did. Today, I ran 8 miles in the heat and humidity. (It was nearly 90 degrees.) 8 miles is now considered a "short" run, and I'll be running 19 come this Sunday. In a couple of weeks, I will hit 22 miles and eventually 9 miles for the short runs. My body is starting to feel the effects of this as well, as I am finding that my legs are in a constant state of contraction. It's hard to believe that San Fran will be in my future before I know it!

I have been frequently asked if I have a goal in mind this time. My primary goal is to just finish. I have repeatedly heard that there are several killer hills along the way. The course, however, appears to take a very scenic route. (If you are curious, the following link should work.) I will likely be carrying a disposable camera along the way. In addition, by finishing I will receive a special Tiffany & Co. finishers necklace that will be handed to me by a San Fransisco firefighter. So, indeed there will be no time goal, just to finish in one piece. I am also going to take an extra day to actually enjoy San Fran. While we have all of Saturday free, being the day before the race, I need to take it easy, so I won't be able to enjoy the city as I would like.

Finally, I am amazed at how much more fit I am compared to this time last year. It's now not uncommon for me to run 7 or 8 miles under a 9 min/mile pace. (And still be standing afterwards!) I have shaved nearly 30 seconds/mile off my "slow" run pace, which means I can now talk comfortably while running about a 9:20 mile. I know that I hear many comments about people not sure they can train for a marathon but let me reassure you that it is possible and if you stick with it, you'll be much healthier as a result!

Okay, enough reflecting for now. I'll likely send one more update before the big day!

Update from C-bus

Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I have updated on what has been going on with training and life in general. As far as life, my family and I recently had a unique opportunity to have President Gee, current president of Ohio State, come and visit my parents restaurant in Troy, OH. I know that you are probably wondering how in that happens, so to make a long story short, Gee wants to visit all 88 counties in Ohio, and during each visit, he wants to visit w/ current students' families and particularly those who own small businesses. My boss at OSU told me about it, and I submitted our names to be considered. The local paper covered the visit, the link can be found here. Apparently, in the actual paper, I am shown photographed with Gee. My parents did not make it into the paper. (Unfortunately, soon after this picture was taken, Gee's son-in-law passed away in Philadelphia. His son-in-law was recently in a serious car accident.)

As far as the rest of the summer, I have been working at the hospital and slowly working on chapters of my dissertation. In between, I am trying to find time to get training in. Most recently, I ran a 10 mile race. It was very hot and humid that morning, as evidenced by the attached picture. I had a goal to run in 1 hour and 30 minutes (aka 9 min/mile) but with the heat I wasn't sure if I could do it. I finished in 1 hour 29 minutes 50 seconds ;-)

As I struggle to run in the heat, I am reminded of the people that I am running for this year. I know that a little heat and humidity pales in comparison to painful chemo involved with diseases like leukemia and lymphoma. Believe me when I say that it is a HUGE motivation to get through training.


Fundraising has been going slowly, but I am also realistic and know that the economy is not good for many people. So, I am also doing a fundraiser and selling Panera coupons. For $12, you can coupons good for 18 bagels or for a variety of baked items, including loaves of bread, brownies, cookies, and bagels. By purchasing one of these coupons, you can save anywhere between 25-35% off the regular price! If you are interested in purchasing one, send me an e-mail (mnarui@gmail.com) and I will be more than happy it to mail it to you.

Finally, I have heard from many of you that you keep forgetting to donate, and it's not too late! You can go to my website at http://pages.teamintraining.org/coh/nikesf08/mnarui to make a donation. You can also contact me to mail a check.

I've been blessed to be free of any major injuries to this point. In the coming weeks, I'll be running on average about 12-16 miles on the weekend and about 6 during the week. I'm hoping that my good luck continues.

Hope this update finds you all healthy and well.

Reflections on Africa

So, I have made it back from Africa safe and sound. It's strange but in the days I've been back, I've been in a bit of culture shock. On Saturday, I had my first hot shower in about a week and finally got to use a blow dryer for the first time in two weeks. I've gotten around to posting some pictures. They can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/mnarui/Ghana

I'll do my best to summarize some major points of the trip here

People: The people in Ghana are amazingly friendly. There is a kindness to their demeanor that is hard to describe. At the same time, the reality is that they are living in a third world country, so they view tourists as a way to potentially advance themselves socioeconomically. So, while I saw incredible kindness and welcoming, I also experienced "the hustle" on occasion. I particularly enjoyed interacting with the children. There is such an innocence to them. I often got mistaken as Chinese and children would yell "Hi White Girl" as I was walking down the street. Also, for the first time, I saw children cry b/c they had never seen a White person in their life.

Food: Ghanaian food consists of lots of carb and meat with few veggies. We were often considered special guest in many establishments so they would break our special foods for us. The problem was that these special foods were always the same thing. Breakfast would be toast with eggs (either scrambled or fried). Lunch and dinner were generally steamed and fried rice, pasta, fish and chicken (with occasional guinea fowl) with the bone on, french fries, cooked cabbage and fresh fruit. They also put gravy on their rices which were very heavy in oil.

Weather: Hot and humid with heavy rain at times. It's funny b/c I went for a run today and when someone said it was humid, I had to laugh b/c it didn't compare to what I experienced. Crazy thing is that it was their wet season, which is generally cooler in temp. I can only imagine how hot it would get during the dry season.

Shopping: This deserves it's own category b/c it's an experience. Merchants expect you to bargain and barter for goods. If you asked someone what the price was they would quote you a price. If you attempted to walk away, they immediately say "Give me your best price" and you go from there and negociate your offer. They also liked bargaining with t-shirts and other items from the states. (I ended with a nice wood carving with my shoes that I was planning to get rid of at the end of the trip anyway). The merchants are relentless and it made shopping a stressful but interesting experience.

I could go on for a very long time but I'll stop there. Enjoy the pics and send any questions about them my way. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Now, it's on to writing chapters of my dissertation and training for my next marathon (and of course planning my next adventure to some far off land!)

Link for Donations

Hi all

Until I figure out this blogger, I am just going to create a post with the link to make a donation

http://pages.teamintraining.org/coh/nikesf08/mnarui

Thanks!

Mitsu

I'm Back!

Yes, the title says it all! By now, many of you recieved a letter regarding my new goal to run the Nike's Womens Marathon in San Fransciso for Team in Training. (Also, I apologize for not putting in the date, but the race is Sunday, October 19, 2008.)

Why put myself through this again? Last year, I learned about people who had been touched by the disease. My dear family friend, Richard Jordan (the picture is with his wife, Pat) was one of those people. It seemed fitting that if I was going to do this again, that I would do it for people like Richard.

I have also been frequently asked since last fall about my running schedule. Yes, I have kept up with the running. On May 2nd, I ran the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (1/2 marathon distance) as the culmination of my winter training. I managed to run it in 1:59:32 (9:08 / mile average), which I consider amazing since I was pretty sick with a cold the week leading up to the run. My goal for winter training was to improve my speed, so it was very satisfying to see that happen.

Basically, running has become a priority and something that gives me internal strength. So, while it sounds a little crazy to be writing chatpers of my disseration while training, I think it will only help me through the summer.

Quick update for now. More to follow!

Mitsu