4-15-2013

I'm saddened, shocked, angry. Today's tragedy in Boston, has deeply put a mark in my heart. While I could only dream of qualifying for this marathon, I am an avid runner spectator, I soooo look forward to this annual event (since I started running), no one was expecting what took place. I'm thankful that some runners that I know, participants in the race are ok, I can't imagine their emotional estate, like many I can't understand how "humanity" and respect for life is fading; while I agree, there is more good than evil, I can't ignore how unfair someone's choices can scar us forever. Today, I thought no one would show to do track, I even texted my co-leader Miriam, but she was on her way, my heart lit up, when I saw more runners getting to the parking lot, Keith, Holly with their two girls, then Lindsey, Brandi, Eric and Lenore, and Warren.... We all knew about Boston, but there's something about runners... we also knew that there are no words to express our sadness, no words were needed, no words were appropriate, nothing can fix what was broken. A marathon is a special kind of run, not many can accomplish, endure, the very disciplined training, it takes 26.2 miles to cross that finish line, at least 3 months of strict diet, and well appointed dedicated training. Boston is special, is the mother of the marathons, not just anyone qualifies for it, those runners are fast! They come from all over the world to run 26.2 miles, today was a nightmare, a worldwide attack that took place in our country. It is unavoidable to hear about it, it hurts my heart to think that what took place today, could have been avoided. I know is extremely sad, but we need to let it sink deep, we need to see that this madness has to stop, that those whom lost their lives.... Won't be forgotten, it is traumatic, the world needs to tender their hearts, we need to come back to Love! We runners won't be stopped, by the incoherence of some, we runners stand united, and will run farther to show that there is hope, that we are made with strength, that when we run, we give it all. Prayers of strength and comfort to the families who lost their loved ones, and to those that are still battling for their lives.

3 years later...

It was 2010 when I signed up for my very first 5K, 2 weeks from today trinrun will celebrate their 7th Annual Run in the Garden 5K. I now can call myself a "seasoned" runner, this time I wont' have the "worries" of a newbie (nothing wrong with that) Here's a list of the things that went through my mind, as I "understood" I had just signed up, for my first 5k, with no experience, with no training!: 1. What did I just do? (after clicking confirm registration ) 2. What am I going to wear ( easy... get comfy running shorts, wicking shirt, good socks (stay away from cotton), and last, but not least get the right shoes, this last one... is a big one! even for a short distance as a 5K you can do some very uncomfortable/hurtful damage to your feet, get fit by a professional, by the way, running shoes are supposed to be at least 1/2 inch big, allowing room for expansion) 3. I just don't want to throw up. Not during the race, not at the finish line! (I didn't and was so proud of myself for not having that feel, until I got close to the Finish, and saw a "spill" another runner had left. It does happen, but chances of throwing up, are seldom, specially when you are going "slow" faster runners, giving it all, are the ones that... really leave "it" all at the race!) My take? watch what you eat, not just the day before, but specially the week before the race. If you are not a morning eater, don't worry, you will be fine, just make sure you are hydrating during the week, and if you feel that you want to get some water at the water stops.... do it! Always listen to your body. Just so you all know... I made it! you can too! Sign up! at the store or online and please come say hi Saturday April 20th 3 years later, this race holds a very special place in my heart, and I will keep recommending it as a first for anyone, with the desire of becoming a runner. A last note: Ideally you want to train for any race, this 5k is open to runners, walkers, joggers, everyone! so, if you are curious, just come out and walk the distance; or do what I did, "jog" along, you will finish! Every first time is a Personal Record :) It took me 34 Minutes and 39 sweet seconds to finish my first 3.1 Miles. Runner mom. Here is a pic of my first running bib and mug (I was so lucky they were giving out mugs that year, now I'm addicted to shirts, and their shirts are awesome!)

Long Distance Running Season is over... for now!

The Princess Half marathon, was definitely a different experience, I have to confess the medal this year, is beautiful, the shirt is finally not white! the expo... it was fine for me, because I was staying at the Coronado Springs where they hosted the expo this year, and I didn't go the first day (well, my friend Minh got my packet for me :) he went through the storm of people), I went on Saturday, so the masses were dissipated and me and my hubby got to stroll around for a while. I have participated in this race for three years now; the first one, being my very first 13.1 and by all measures this year (to me at least)was the hardest running race I've been in. To begin, I have to tell you I am not over trained, nor I am under trained, I was "ready" that week was a little busier than normal, but I was looking forward to the race, it was going to be "special" and it was in so many ways, I got to meet Amber and Dennis and Landin Larkin the founders of Noah's Light Foundation (Noah's mom and dad and Noah's little sister), and I was thankful that I ran this race for them, and thankful to all my friends that helped me raise the cash to meet the goal. Had a great pasta dinner the night before, was presented with a great surprise! I have suggested the Bondiband to Rachel (from Noah's Light Foundation) and that night... they gave all of us runners a bright green Team Noah Bondiband! that I wore proudly at the Princess Half and of course on my training runs since. Back to the race, turned out, it was 100% humid... and I couldn't tell, because, I honestly didn't check my phone to see what temperature we were going to greet, and well... the breeze was cool, it felt fine (while standing in line at the corral)Started running with Andee (a friend that I met through the LBV Club), we started talking about what goals we had for this race, I told her I would love to PR, she said "I'll be happy with anything under 2" I said: "under 2 for sure!" dear readers, I had to eat my words for the entire 13.1 miles, first mile, I even told her, my first mile is the hardest, she agreed saying: is the warm up! the feeling of the first mile stuck with me for the entire race, at the 5k mark we were sweating, terribly, I though... what's wrong? the breeze is cool? why does it feel so hot? (trust me I know hot! like the full marathon in January, that was hot!) but this, felt, odd, I felt heavy, out of breath, I wanted to give up, I wanted to stop, at mile 10 I did stop ( I kept going and stopped running with Andee at mile 4.5 I think, I said to myself I'm just going to go, I'm not feeling it) I asked for Tylenol, and a handful of Biofreeze I knew that wearing the wrong shoes was not helping and my right leg was taking a bullet for the entire run, do not ever run in worn out shoes, don't think what I did "oh, it's just one last run!", I was getting ready for that "lovely" overpass and "adorable" curve/incline at mile 11, so I thought I'll take all the help I can! I looked at the Garmin knowing that I needed to push hard if I wanted to "for sure" get it under 2, did I mention my husband was waiting for me? I wanted him to see me finishing "for sure" under 2 (yes, I have done it at the OUC and at Mt. Dora in December last year! and at the Half in Disney in January for Goofy!) well, "for sure" it didn't happen the hardest mile (I know I've said all of them were hard) was mile 11 to 12, where my mind started playing all kind of scenarios, as of just walk it, it will be just a mile of walk, just stop take a break... all kinds of negative thoughts, like look you just got passed! again, and again!so, when I got to the 12 to 13.1 mark I said, well if it's going to hurt, let it hurt, but I want to finish this as soon as I can! fastest mile! For sure didn't finish under 2 (not even close) I got a 2:02:03 FOR SURE! Just so you all know, weather is always unpredictable here in Florida, we had the "perfect" race weather the weekend after the race, just like for WDW Marathon weekend... and feel that the breeze is cool? DO not trust that! humidity check the humidity, as it could be the worse condition to run under.. I stopped at every water stop except the first and last, I'm thankful that through the training I have done with my friends I have engraved deep in my heart and brain, not to ever! ever! give up! just keep going! I know at Noah's they didn't care about my time, I was the one setting a goal, after all I felt that I could do it "for sure" under 2, and wanted to PR for Noah, I know he would care less... I can't wait for a next one!

Princess Half Marathon quest!

Yes, I didn't sign up on time for the princess, because WDW Goofy was in my mind, and I thought, what if I get hurt, or I can't run that soon... so I failed to sign up for it. Little did I know everything happens for a reason. right? yes! yes it does, and that reason is so that I would still want to run the princess, and would have to find a "way" in... I found it! and it is called Noah's Light Foundation what are the odds that they would still have a spot.. for me! I took it, and I will happily and with more meaning will run the 2013 Princess Half as part of their team. Which means, I am raising money for this foundation, which means I need all of my friends to help me on this one, which means, that what started with a selfish quest, will end up for His glory! yes! I will... with your help raise some cash, so that the research to cure Brain and Spine tumors in children will soon come to fruition and the light we are seeking, will never hide from any other child, because one more child is too many! Please join me, and help me spread the word. Silvia

Welcome 2013!

and with that welcome, tic roc.... time is up! get up and go run your first Goofy, First Full Marathon ever! Half went good, kept it under 2 hours (slightly) 1:59:32! Sunday came, not much nerves (which surprised me) a little worried about the weather, but what one can do with the weather, she always does as she pleases! Ran with Tom the first 14+ miles, and oh man, being in the back... way in the back.... was a little painful, first we started at 6:10 not at 5:35 (as the A corral started) leaving us with a crowd... that, well... it just really looked like we were part of a parade; I get that sign of a cheering person saying : "ugliest parade ever!" it was ugly! from walkers, to runner/walkers that would just suddenly stop in front of ya'! yikes! the sun was out, the humidity rose like no other day, not one day of training felt like this was a day to remember. I decided to leave Tom behind... I know he understood, that it was or I go, or I stay with you, but in the process I might hurts you! it was one's life or the other's. I left him close to mile 15, i couldn't take it anymore, I kept saying i feel hot, i'm sweating like there's no tomorrow, my right shin hurts, where's the medical tent! should I stop? all those ugly thoughts went through my head, and I am so thankful I shook him like a dog, and left it at the medical tent at mile 15 where I biofreeze any bad thought! Tell you what, going through the ESPN was not as fun as I pictured, Mile 20 was a disappointment, maybe not, but by that time, it was soooo hot, nothing could made me wow at that point; my shoes were soaked! soaked! i started contemplating at mile 22 to take off the shoes and go barefoot, i was loosing it! those ramps to go to the studios, ugh! brutal! and I was so optimistic that the overpasses from the half were gone! make no mistake the overpasses on the half, are nothing! mile 23, mile 24... finally I made it to the Boardwalk! were the Three Little Pig Challenge awaited... great stop to grab a huge medal and BACON! then I knew I was just 2 miles and change away from completing my goal, I was a survivor! I saw Miriam and Pam at mile 25ish where I gave them my pig medal and bacon. I entered Epcot through some country that I vaguely can recall, I think it was England... not loving those "little" inclinations, loving seeing people in the park cheering on.... then I knew I was almost there. When I passed the Choir singing "God is Great!" I didn't even cry, I had the biggest smile. I had it in me, I could run harder,I was getting so close to see my honey and Sebastian and Sarah! saw them, and my eyes teared up; then I had to shake it off! and go strong! and I did! I finished! I crossed that mat! 26.2 (well.. close to 27 miles with all the weaving) done! in 4:39:30 Got my first Mickey very special medal, and went straight to get my Goofy medal, and receiving it from two very special people Lenore and Eric, right there with Lenore I lost it, I cried! she cried! what and amazing indescribable feeling, no, I can never explain it! yes, you have to do it!

December came and went!

Training was done! races as part of the training were OUC Half the 1st followed by my very first 22 Mile run, Thank you pam for being there with me all throughout!Chose to run from the butterfly garden towards Minneola. It got done! no injuries :) Let me say that this run was done after racing and setting a new PR for my half. OUC Half done in: 960 SILVIA LYNCH 387 35 61 295 44:33 1:29:58 1:59:52 1:57:52 8:59.8 WINTER GARDEN, FL Pretty happy with that! Next race was Mount Dora Half! December 16th, ouch! reset the PR thing, I ran with Keith who I "paced" we finished in: 6 Silvia Lynch Winter Garden FL 293 35 105 1:55:59 Kudos to my friend Pam who did the FULL marathon ( I could not picture myself going twice through all the hills I went through on the Half!) Tapering began, tis time for real, and as the days went by, my heart pounded harder, was able to "distract" myself a little with all the festivities that Christmas brings. The year ended for me having ran a little over 1000 Miles 1013.35 to be exact! Picture from OUC and from Mt. Dora with Keith,Tom and Miriam.

November got here!

Training is definitely on! after the amazing 20 Miler run, I have "scaled down" a tad, 18, 16, 10; and ready to start back up! Can't believe how time flies, and I'm amazed at how "committed" I am :) I was (well, still) sick, and even during the sickness I have shown up, and done my part, not at 100%, but the miles have been logged! Looking forward the the Orlando half the first of December, and to the Mount Dora Half the 16th! I think I have found "my pace" and I am happy that is way better to when I started; I never thought I could be this "fast" I totally recommend not giving up, and not to conform to where you're at, we can always do better! Join this month trinrun will be hosting their annual Tri & Run Gobble Wobble 2012, benefiting Matthews Hope,The Heritage Foundation and Nehrling Gardens come out to burn some calories before the big feast, and help those in need; a win/win for all. p.s. I'm getting my new Asics tomorrow! This whole Goofy challenge gets more real by the second, I know I'm now thinking what I'll be wearing....