A New Blog and a last look back at 2008

I started running in January 2006.  I moved from my previous hospital to my current one.  I saved about 2 hours of commute time.  That allowed me to start running and getting into shape.  At the time a mile seemed a long way.  When I ran a 5K in Feb 2006, I nearly passed out at the finish.  Slowly I started to build up the mileage and ran a 8K and a 10K.  I enjoyed the whole race experience, the runners, the cheering crowds, the reward ( food) at the finish.  I decided to sign up for a half marathon and a full marathon... one week apart.  The half was on Memorial Day 2006.  The full was the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego, June 4, 2006.  I didn't know anything about carbo loading or tapering.  I assumed that if I could run 18 miles in my training runs, I could run a marathon.  The half marathon went well.  I came in under 2 hours, so I was quite pleased.  I expected to run the full at a similar pace.  I learned the hard way that there is a small gap between the 10K and the Half; but a large chasm between the Half and the Full.  After mile 13, it was a struggle; and by mile 16 it was painful.  I limped the last few miles to the finish.  I thought never again.  I've run a marathon, that's it.  It took about 4 months for the painful memories to go away, and I had the desire to sign up for another marathon.  (Las Vegas, 12/06) 

After that I was hooked on the adrenaline rush or perhaps its a dopamine rush.  I went on and ran over 25 marathons and half marathons in 3 years.  I even accomplished my goal of running back to back marathons in Spring of 2008.  I went on and had more marathon adventures including resuscitating a "Down" runner at the San Francisco Marathon.  I recently set a PR at the Rock and Roll San Antonio Marathon.  Now I am training for an Ironman Triathlon for 2009.  I joined the Ironteam ( Team in Training) and will compete in the Wildflower Long Course ( Half-Ironman) Triathlon in May 2009 and then the Vineman (Full-Ironman Distance) Triathlon in August 2009.  If you can help me reach my fundraising goal I will really appreciate it.  See attached link. 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/VineFIrn09/achinlpw9v