A.H.

Throughout history mankind has used significant events to mark the beginning or end of an age. Two particular periods we are most familiar with, as usually referenced in the modern secular western world, are B.C.E. (before the common era) or C.E. (Common era). These mark the significant achievements of humanity that propelled us from one consciousness to the next. For the modern technological age the Industrial revolution is often referenced as the progenitor of modern times.

Individuals do the same thing when they experience significant milestones in their lives. Finishing college or an advanced degree, starting a family, a new career etc.

For me the most significant physical event in my life has been the half marathon. This event has certainly sparked a solid commitment to maintaining a healthy and active live style. It would surely be a waste for me to just go back to being a couch potato! Plus the thing I enjoy most is running for a cause and that has made this new period of A.H. (After the Half) all the more special and significant.

Here are some pictures of that exhausting event. I finished the race in about two hours and thirty eight minutes even though the race clock read three hours fifteen minutes. That clock represents when the race started and my coral (the 20th one) didn't start until about thirty minutes after the official race started.

At any rate, thanks for all the contributions for CRSF and I hope you know I ran for every single penny of it!

May you be well, happy and peaceful!

Slowly getting back into the swing of things.

I went for a very short run last night and did some work on the elliptical this morning. I got back to weight training and I’m feeling really good overall. Actually I feel a lot better than I thought I would after the run. I am still going to take it slow getting back in to a routine but again I have to say that I feel great.

So many people at work and family have really been generous with their donations for CRSF and it has been really touching. I hope to keep doing things to raise money for this cause. This small step has given me some insight into things I can do in the future and I am certainly excited to see where it can lead.

13. 1 Miles... I Did it!

I really don't know where to start but I guess I can sum up my feelings by saying this race was both the most rewarding and the most painful thing I have ever done physically.

The funniest thing about my experience was that there was a man who juggled about four or five balls while running the whole race. Believe it or not he makes really great time. I was joking with my family and friends that I was determined not to let this man finish before me. I caught and passed him around mile 6 and was satisfied that I would not finish after a man juggling while running.

By the time I got to the last mile I was completely out of gas! I was walking the final strip and was about a half mile from the finish line when I see this man blow past me juggling! All I could do was laugh. It became a race to the finish but by the time I could get my legs going again he had already put too much distance in front of me, juggling the whole while and rubbing the humiliation in deeper. I crossed the line just behind him and thought this was probably one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me.

It was a great race! There were over twenty thousand people and everyone had a really great attitude. Couples, families and friends were all out there doing something really good. I was also really happy with how the locals supported us. They were out there cheering us on and spraying us with watter, it was really great energy.

I felt really good to be doing this for CRSF as well. I plan on doing this again next year and raising money for the orphanage. I hope to recruit a few family and friends to also run and try to raise money as well.

In closing let me just say thank you to all those who contributed to CRSF. We are living in tight economic times and I wish all those who gave and who plan to give a special blessing of wellness, peace and happiness!

Rafael

Hit and miss

Like most thing in my life this blog has been hit and miss. It certainly didn't shape up the way I imagined it in my head but hey I gave it a shot. At any rate the day is at hand and I have trained much in the same way I have updated this blog. I started out really hard and then kind of faded in the middle...Who am I kidding? I all but vanished toward the middle! It is the nature of things and who I have grown to be.

That being said I still trained and worked hard. I pushed through some injuries and realized that I could push farther than I thought I could. I am in the best shape of my life and I feel great. I think this experience will certainly be a force to propel me to live a healthy and active life style for years to come.

The greatest part of this has been trying to do something to help a cause that is dear to me. I am happy to be raising money for the orphans of CRSF and hope that the little work I do will go a long way in their lives.

Race day is just around the corner and I am excited to be finally doing this. It was an up and down journey but I learned something each time my feet hit the ground.

Stay tuned and be well.

Getting ready for race day!

I am fired up for the big race this Sunday! I thought long and hard about whether or not I would run with my IPod or not. I've decided to go without it. I want to be present for every step, every breeze and every ache and pain and I just want to run free.

Be well

Getting there

Had a great spin class today. I pushed myself beyond the point of exhaustion and couldn't get enough. My legs, and my knee feel uncharacteristically strong today. Tomorrow I will do Yoga and see if incorporating that on my off days will help as well.

New Regiment

Ok,

So I ran five miles on the elliptical this morning. It was a pretty good work out. I am going to try the elliptical instead of the treadmill along with spin class and some leg weights until the beginning of August to see if I can strengthen my knee. Around the beginning of August I'll incorporate some short runs and build up to about 8 to 10 miles and hopefully I will be ready by Labor Day. Man I'm cutting it close and I'm a little concerned about my knee. Obviously not too much because I have not gone in to get it looked at.

Getting there one short step at a time

I took a short run this morning. I felt great only the pain in my right knee still concerns me... Update on CRSF. The orphanage is working hard to meet the growing needs of children who are disaffected by war and the Asian Tsunami. They are always accepting clothing, computers and monetary donations. Currently I am working on trying to help edit the CRSF web site. It is quite a project, hope to be done soon.

Uh Oh!

I had some personal set backs and I have not been training the way that I should. I have practically had to start back at square one! I have an injury to my right knee and I need to work this out pronto.

More to come

New CRSF Web site is launched

I am happy to report that the new CRSF web site is up and running. It is clear that Rev. Kirama and his staff have worked really hard to get this site up and running. Take a look see on the site to get a better idea of the great work he is doing for the children and elderly in Sri Lanka.

Spinning my wheels

It has been so cold here the last few days. I have been wanting to get out and run on the street but wow it has been bone chilling cold! I have been been going to the spin classes at the gym and I am pleased at the progress I have made in those classes.

I am still running on the treadmill but I have to say that for a while each step has been near torture. It is so boring running in place! I really miss the variety of running on the street. I talked to a friend at work who suggested I run a variation workout to get some incline and speed variation. I am going to try this out tonight because the most I can run on the treadmill without feeling like I am going to lose my mind has been three miles. I want to at least make five my standard and move up to about eight by the spring.

I'll post how my experience goes tonight.

Running indoors

I've been alternating between spin class and treadmill running. I think these two training techniques will help me in the long run. I haven't been running out on the street for a while and to be honest I am looking forward to getting back out on the pavement.

I have also worked out an arrangement with two Sri Lankan organizations that will take donations for CRSF that will give donors the charity tax benefits.