Long Beach Marathon: Post-race report

I rocked the Long Beach Half Marathon yesterday and I feel awesome. I jogged/ran the whole distance and according to the official race results, my average mile split was 11:18 and I was running at about 5.3 mph--that's better than a car in rush hour on the some LA fwys! I'm proud of me! Total time: 2h:28m:5s

Highlights? (1) I hit my high running alongside the beach (must have been in Belmont Shore) with small waves crashing to my right. (2) There was a water station at Mile 9 that was playing Pitbull's "Ay Chico (Lengua afuera)" and was so tempted to stop running and shake my booty. A little reggaeton can go a long way! (3) After Mile 10 the course looped back near the same water station and I was also able to hear MJ's "I wanna rock with you." (4) At about Mile 3, I passed a runner that had to have been older than 80, maybe even 90. He was accompanied by someone who was probably was his son and who told an inquiring dentist that the super-aged runner was a retired MD running yet another marathon. Can't get much more awesome than that.

Training could have been more rigorous but it was consistent: I signed up for a circuit training weight course at school that I attend two times a week and I have been running about 5 miles a week since May, increasing the mileage in the last month before the race. I have a few strange traditions and rituals I do/complete before a big run, some too private for the internet. I'll share one: I listen to music on the way to the race to pump myself up and to get a song in my head to mentally sing, kind of keeping a cadence. For this race, Viva! The Killers.

Races are fun! Nothing compares to the energy of the runners lined up at the start line. My adrenaline rushes, my pulse races, my spirits are high. The half marathon distance (13.1 miles) is perfect for me. The distance is long enough for me to get in the zone (runner's high) and to hit a short yet surmountable "wall."

Unlike Revlon 5k run/walk, the LB marathon saw less people with tribute signs--the ones that pull at my heartstrings--but there was a good share of runners and walkers with the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. It's so motivating and inspiring to dedicate your run to someone who cannot be there themselves because of illness, injury or death. That seems starkly morbid, but I didn't know how else to put it. I didn't have anyone specific to run for, but I had a handful of people on my mind: a friend's father suffering from cancer and running a fever this weekend; another friend's baby whose corporeal heart shall one day be as strong as the love he gives and receives; my grandma and last living grandparent whose mental faculties and memory are slipping as her body gives way to age; and at the risk of sounding egotistic I run for my health, my future and myself.

I made it a goal of mine to run 300 miles between May and the end of the year and signed up for the half-marathon as a way to help myself keep up the mileage. For those of you who also visit my facebook page, the number in my status represents the number of miles I have run so far. Big thanks to those who openly (or telepathically) root for me and my running achievements. If you want to run, it's all possible.

Run, Baby, Run!

Things to See and Do - 5/3

See a film or three at the Asian Pacific Film Festival. There are many films in 58 Program events and 3 venues to choose from. $8 students/seniors/member-$10 general admission per Program.

Visit the gardens at the Huntington Library, especially this one. My parents fear that I am turning Chinese. I tell them the word is turning Chinese. $15 weekdays, $20 weekend.

Three MOCA Venues: Free Every Thursday!

Pasadena Roving Archers. I really don't want to tell people about this one because it's so crowded as it is. I tried going once but I got lost and by the time I got there, the parking lot was too full.

Sorry I didn't post this sooner. I was too busy trying to get life in order this week! :)

Things to See and Do- 4/25

I've started this list in my browser's bookmarks of things and places I'd like to do and visit. Instead of hoarding them all for myself until I get to do them, I thought I'd share on a regular basis. For some events/places, I will not be able to do because of prior engagements. If you do end of doing any of these, let me know how it goes!
.
Velvet Hustlers & Weird Lovemakers: Japanese Sixties Action Films - April 25, 26, 27 (7:30pm)
(TIckets & Location) $10 General Admission
.
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - April 26 (10am - 6pm) & 27 (10am to 5pm)
Admission to the Festival of Books is free. Parking is $8.
.
Wicked! - Until Sept 2008
$35 - $98. I've only heard good things about it.
.
Watch the Grey Whale migration - Now through 4/30
$25 adults / $20 children under 12, seniors over 60.
"Sightings are guaranteed: you will get a free trip if we do not see whales or dolphin!"
Another option for a whale excursion
If you wanted to make a whole-day adventure out of it. More pricey.
.
Critical Mass - every last Friday of the Month
More info! Where is my bike anyway?
.
2 EARTH DAY EVENTS
Eco-Fair at Universal Studios - Sat, April 26 (10am - 4pm) Free! And Free Parking for hybrid vehicles.

City of Pasadena GREENING THE EARTH DAY & Armory Center for the Arts FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL - Sat, April 26 (10am - 4pm) Free!


Enjoy, everyone. And I hope you have and fun and safe weekend!

Anti-rock campaign (kick-off)

So I'm thinking that I need to actively shove off the rock I have been living under and (re)discover the world around me. In conjunction with The List (see list to the right of this post), I will be gettin' out of the house, exploring my environs, and interacting with the world. Documentation will occur here at this blog and here. <--- Check this site out! You'll like it.

OMG these shirts at the Mental Floss store are awesome. Some of them blow threadless ones out of the water. Might depend of what kind of messages you like to send with your clothing...

If only I lived in a place like Bozeman, MT... I could eat bison once a week. Leaner than chicken, more protein than beef. Alas, I like my sunshine-filled comfort zone. So I'll have to settle for bison from local farmer's markets or online.

826 in Los Angeles since 2004!? [Damn this rock I've been hiding under. I have a feeling I will continue to curse it until I die. Excuses, excuses.] When I first went to the Pirate Supply store in San Francisco, I fell in love. Can't wait to visit! Thank you Dave Eggers, McSweeney's, and 826 National for continuing to cultivate creative writers and fuel imaginations.