An old entry from another blog I had started and just found today! It's fun to see where I was at back then....since this post, I ran 3 more for a total of 7 marathons...I have been on a running hiatus for well over 2 years. It's time to get back into it.

Stay tuned.

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My marathon journey. . .

Saturday, October 01, 2005


After 9 months of no running (thanks to my Plantar Fascitis and bone spur in my left foot) I have started training for the Los Angeles Marathon again! It will be my third LA Marathon and my 4th marathon in my life.

I started running again about 2-3 months ago. Careful not to over do it! My left heel still feels sore after I run but it's at least 90% better than it was.
I have done a lot of research on this condition and have met a lot of runners who've had it, and outgrew it....who have had it for years....but are still all able to maintain a regular running regime!

I did see a podiatrist and an orthopedic specialist (who is also a runner) and I got some really cool custom orthotics for my running shoes. I feel no pain or discomfort when I wear them and I am sooo happy.

I ran my first marathon back in 1994. Not sure why I waited 9 years to train again but I did. After training with the LA Roadrunners in 2003-04, I ran a very hot LA Marathon in March 2004. It took me a little over 6 hours to finish. That marathon was one I will never forget! I remember at mile 20 looking up at a building that posted the current temperature of 91! At that point, our awesome pace leader had only one goal in mind and that was to finish and finish safely--which we did.....we walked a lot more than we had trained for....but it worked...we survived the 3rd hottest marathon in the history of LA's marathons.

After LA, I was in great shape and did not want to lose my runner's "base" so I kept running...and signed up for St. George Marathon which was in October of 2004. I entered and was chosen (this is a lottery style entry)to run. I, and a few other fellow runners drove to St. George Utah and ran the most incredible marathon ever....I will post more on that later....My PR was set there: 5hrs. 36 min!
(I can only dream of one day being a Sub 5!)

I kept on logging miles and continued training...and registered for the OC Marathon in December.
This was probably one of my most uncomfortable marathons...I went from one extreme to the other....with high winds and torrential rain....beginning 6 miles into the marathon, I spent the next 20 miles trying to keep myself warm and dry to no avail....going up and down the sidewalk did a number on my feet...I only finished this marathon because I was doing a fundraiser on my own for a young girl who was stricken with cancer. I ended up raising a ton of money to help the family foot medical bills etc...(I even got her aunt to run the half and raise more money) So, you see, I could not stop and I didn't....I got my finisher's medal and later I gave it to this young girl...

Soon after OC, I got the diagnosis and had stopped running altogether....I did some physical therapy and exercises....iced....it didn't take long for me to feel the running withdrawal. I missed running. I missed what it did for me....the "good" feeling....some call it runner's high...I had it after every run....

Only time could help...I learned to be patient and now I am ready. I am leading a group of mostly new marathoners and we are training to RUN/WALK the entire marathon at a comfortable pace. This is very exciting and I hope to see some of my runners post here!

Well...hope I didn't put any of you to sleep out there!

I look forward to meeting more fellow runners and sharing ideas and experiences!

Ciao for now. . .