my dates with the lake

so here i go training again. yes, i'm training for the rock n roll marathon in vegas, dec 6.

i ran with my sister this weekend, and although she likes to think of herself as slow...she's a quick one. i was feeling really sluggish last saturday. prolly b/c i'm always drained around this time every month. for some reason no matter how much i want to work out, it's sooooo freaking hard. my legs are heavy, my lungs are closed, it's a big struggle. and 2, i haven't been on my running routine. but as hard as it was, and as slow as i felt, i pushed my way through it. and to my surprise, i actually finished at the time i usually finish 53min.

so last night...i kept telling myself you have to get a 7.5 mile run in. i got home from work, ate a little bit for some calories/energy, changed, and was on my way to the lake. as i got closer to the lake it was getting darker and darker. i didn't really mind b/c i figured everyone runs the lake at this time, so it should be well lit right? WRONG!!!

it wasn't until after i started running that i realized that the lake has NOOOO LIGHTS! as i got further and further around it got darker and darker. there's even a section of the lake that is PITCH BLACK (right before the gun range and apartments). I could hear people coming closer but couldn't see them until they were about 2 feet in front of me. pretty freaky! so, i decided that 1 lap would be enough for the night.

but...all in all...it was a good run. i knew i wasn't going to be able to get the extra 3 miles in, so in the last half i pushed myself extra hard. and maybe i pushed myself b/c i was lightweight afraid of what might jump out of the bushes and just wanted to be done lol! either way i shaved 3 minutes off my time and ended in 50 mins.

i hope to break the 50 min marker before the vegas marathon.

Next Stop - Vegas!

My next event is going to come much faster than I would have anticipated.

Arlynn asked me to run the Rock n Roll Maraton in Vegas and I was a bit iffy at first. I told her that I would decide after the Nike Marathon was done.

Obviously, I decided to do it. It will be along the strip so it should be an interesting run. And, there aren't many hills if any, so I'm hoping to come in some where between 2.30 and 2.40. I'd be SUPER HYPED if I came in at 2.30.

We'll see how this goes. I will get back to my run/workout schedule on Monday. I'm in rest mode, but have been itching to run. Maybe I can get a run in on Sunday morning. =)

Run Like a Girl

I've always wanted to run the Nike Women's Marathon here in the city and this year I finally did. Needless to say there was much excitement leading up to last Sunday. I felt like I've been waiting for this day forever. I know most girls say that about their wedding, but this is where I get my kicks. Finishing an event, a 12k, half marathon, triathlon, a hard workout...but the best feeling of accomplishment is beating my time!!!

My first and only official marathon was the Kaiser Permanente Half in January 2007. My official time was 2hr 51min. I ran the Bridge t oBridge 12k (7.5) last month in 1hr 31min. Sooo, I was hoping to get in about 2hr 45 min. I would be estatic with a time of 2hr 30min, but I knew I had to account for the hills.

I was actually kindda relaxed before this event. Not as frantic as normal, but I forgot my water bottle (rookie move). I got my pre sports massage on Friday, and was running with my friends, so the chit chat must have helped the nerves.

We finally crossed the starting line at about 921am. Arlynn and I were talking and she suggested that we not even think about walking until mile 6. I told her I was shooting for mile 7. She looked at my crazy and asked, "you know that's on a hill, right?!" I shrugged it off and said "It's ok, I'll try."

Running through mile 6 which was already on an incline and you can see the bigger incline coming up on mile 7. This was a mountain! The elevation map goes from practically zero to 295'. But, I pushed my way through, slowly but surely and didn't even think about walking until between mile 8 and 9. Goal #1 ACCOMPLISHED!

I walked for less than a total of 3 min in between mile 8 and 9 and then picked up the pace again. We started a huge decline coming up on the Great Highway, and I thought to myself, downhill is not a resting point, push through and make up some time. I kept looking at my watch and didn't even think that I would break the 3hr point, so I did what I do on my bike during a decline, spin those legs like no other. I was passing people up left and right and wasn't getting winded. =) But, right before mile 12 by the soccer fields, I was starting to hit the wall. My legs were getting tired and heavy and my stomach was starting to cramp. Now the talking to myself really begins. "Come on, Mel! Only 1 more mile. One more mile!" Coming up on the race shoot, my cramping is getting stronger, but I see the finish and look at the time. I beat the 3hr mark! Hell yeah! I do the time in my head and I came in at about 2hr 46min. OVERALL GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!

After the finishline, there were firemen in suits passing out the infamous little blue boxes with our gifts, an official Nike Women's Marathon Tiffany's necklace. Ahhhhh! The feeling you get when you are done!!! It can't really be explained. You are just on a natural high.

Here are my official race results

Running Diva Results:
Deb: 2.03.22
Jess: 2.16.46
Melanie: 2.47.36
Marlene: 2.50.20
Eileen & Arlynn: 2.55.38

And the only Running Diva to do the FULL MARATHON
Janelle: 5.18.32

And...dun da da dah!!! Our Official Nike Women's Marathon Tiffany's Necklace.

the upper left hand corner says "Run Like a Girl"

Oracle Open World

Last week, Oracle had their big yearly event, Oracle Open World. Basically, we offer classes on how to use the products we have, announce new products coming out, etc etc. If you need something to compare it to, I would say, it's like Apple's MacWorld.

Every year that I've worked for Oracle I've worked in the Oracle Open World bookstore. And, every year, I hear about the concert that Oracle provides for their partners and costumers. I think one year they had Earth, Wind and Fire. I never paid too much attention b/c I never got to go. Well this year, I had the privilege to enjoy myself. I heard that Aerosmith was performing, which was cool, I was just excited to be invited. Then, I seen the line up...

THE WAILERS were on the bill. THE WAILERS! OMFG! I GET TO SEE THE WAILERS. (For those of you that are a bit slow...Bob Marley and the Wailers...insert "ooohhhhhhh" here...) Now I was amped!

This whole Oracle Open World concert is HUGGGEEEEEE! It was on Treasure Island, enough said. There were 2 concert stages, a beautiful huge outdoor one, and a concert tent, carnival rides and games, food tents, beverage bars with beer and wine...oh and did I mention EVERYTHING IS FREEEEEEE!

The first thing we did when we got in was ride this ride like Drop Zone in Great America. We positioned ourselves to see the stage b/c Aerosmith was already performing. OMG! I could not believe my eyes. The view from the top was spectacular. If I could be up there long enough to take a picture, it would have been amazing.

So, we ate food, drank a little bit and wandered around. I made sure to be close to the outside stage b/c that's where the Wailers would be performing. I managed to wiggle myself all the way to the front. And, I'm sure glad I did. It was the best raggae performace I have ever seen in my life. I was brought to my perfect euphoria...dancing and being lost in the music. Needless to say, this goes down in my life recordbook.

The outdoor stage

View from the front

The Best Reggae Performance of My Life

Bridge to Bridge Run

Yesterday, I did the Bridge to Bridge Run in which all proceeds go to the Special Olympics in Northern California. All runners/walkers could chose from either 12k (7.5 miles) or a 7k (4.5 miles). I opted for the 12k, of course. My intentions were to use this as a training day for my Nike run in 2 weeks, which I did!

I also encouraged my cousin, Mae, who has been running with me for the past couple of months to do this run with me. She was hesitant to do the 12k but she stuck it out and finish strong with me.

As for the run...it was a beautiful course. It starts off along the Embarcadero in front on the Ferry Building and goes along all piers, including Pier 39 and Aquatic Park, then it ventures up the steep hill that connects to the Marina, into the Marina and through Crissy Fields, under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Presidio.

Thankfully my Ironman trainings were frequently in this area and I was rather familiar with the course's surroundings and I felt really comfortable. I even got to see some swimmers at Aquatic Park who are training for Ironman 2010, and saw Anthea, one of my coaches from Lavaman. I shouted a couple of "Go Teams!" to the few people that were wearing TNT swag. Once a TNTer always a TNTer!

The weather couldn't be better for a run either. I couldn't have asked for a better day. According to my watch to when I passed the start line it was 902am, so I finished in 1 hr 30 min, exactly what I was expecting/aiming for. Mae and I crossed the finish line together =)

Here's my clocked time, but I didn't cross the start until 9:02am so minus 2 min.

this is me approaching the finish line. my hair is all over the place! i thought it was a cool picture.

i don't like this picture very much, but the fact that i'm not touching the floor at all was uber cool to me. I'M IN THE AIR!

Here we are planning on crossing together! I'm all smiles, Mae is feeling the burn. lol She finished strong and that's all that matters.

golden gate bridge run

last night arlynn and i made plans to run the golden gate bridge. i haven't walked across the golden gate bride since i was 12 or 13 so i was really excited. we started out somewhere around the marina/presidio and ran across the golden gate bridge and back. a total of about 7.5 miles.

when we started it was extremely cold already, and i felt like i wasn't going to make the whole 7.5 miles. my chest was tight and i felt like i was already winded. but, i found my stride somewhere right before this massive hill we had to overcome. it's not too long but it is pretty steep...anddd there's another incline right after it. but we both got through it and found ourselves at the entrance of the bridge. it was soooo cold and windy. the wind was whipping my hair around all over the place. you could barely see a couple of feet in front of you b/c the fog was so thick. but we kept on trucking and it didn't seem to affect our stride at all. by this time, i was completely warmed up and was feeling REALLY good. my stride felt right and i was just feeling really good about the run. we finally reached the end of the bridge and stretched ourselves out for a couple of mins before we took on the last half.

at the end of our run, i was feeling really good about myself and how i did. i haven't run that much in awhile and i thought i would feel really worn, but i felt great. this had me wondering if i should be running 2 laps around the lake instead of 1 and some. this is a task that i hope to conquer next week.

arlynn...thank you for being a great running buddy. the route was awesome and we must do it again!

MUSIC MAKES ME HIGH....

ok this blog is lonnnnnnnng over due. my past two weekends have been filled with GOOD COMPANY and AMAZING MUSIC! two things in my life that i can NOT live without.

last weekend was D2S (http://distortion2static.ning.com/) celebrated their 8 year anniversary. If you don't know about them check it out. It's a locally produced hip hop show that has come a very long way. i remember seeing the show when it first launched and thought to myself that i really wanted to be a part of that. unfortunately, that didn't happen. but, i am glad to say that i do know all of you and we've shared many fun nights. CONGRATS!

tia and me @ the D2S celebration

sunday was time to have fun at "Doing it in the Park." t, zay, drea, nala, gizelle, jess, and i got together and enjoyed the sun and good vibes at golden gate park. we got our blankets set up in a sunny area on the grass and basically chilled. the djs as always were not disappointing. THANK YOU TRIPLE THREAT AND MR E. when i wasn't catching up with people i haven't seen in forever, i was dancing in my own world. "what a day, what a day, what a day"

then, it was off to "Doing it After Dark" a continuation of "Doing it in the Park." Get it? "Doing it in the park, doing it after dark." It's a song for those of you that don't know. anyway, mike, arther, joey, mae and i made it out there pretty early b/c we didn't want to wait in line. this also gave a chance to get some drinks at the bar before the line would be RIDICULOUS. but as always, the great music had me on the floor the whole night. i was looking forward to this event all week, and i was definitely not let down.

me, geezy, tea and nikki enjoying ourselves

this weekend i was looking forward to TRIPLE THREAT'S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. omg what a line up! goapele performed and although i've seen her many many many times, her performace on saturday had me really going. zumbi from zion-i also put on a good show. and then it was miguel's turn, that would be mr. e for all of you that follow the dj scene. i've heard him dj before but i never really got to soak it in. OMG...I WAS AMAZED! his first set was ALL VINYL, and really had me movin. hit after hit after hit! i can tell you that i was sooooooo proud to say that he calls me "coach." i was yelling my head off for him. and then...the moment that i was waiting for thriple threat comes on and does what i've only seen on screne. i've seen scratching before and i've been to a few competitions, but i've never seen triple threat do their thing in person. omg...droollllll! I WAS IN AWE! completely astounded, i was entranced by their skill, and lost in the music (which for me, is the best place in the world). apollo, shortkut, and HOLY MOLY vinroc. everyone knows that shortkut hands down has got to be my favorite dj ever. like i said, he never fails me. but, i have to give love to vinroc. HE KILLLLLLEDDDD IT! me = mouth wide open.

being IN-LOVE with music, i totally appreciate GOOD dj's. and i MUST highlight GOOD dj's. the ones that know how to look at the crowd and know what to play for them. andddd...adjust so the floor doesn't clear. (side note: to all you wannabe dj's out there...if the floor clears it's a big red flag to change your song selection. you have to learn that you are there for them, you have the power to make or break a night. floor clearage is a BIG NO NO! ok ok, not that i'm a dj, so why would you take advice from me, but i'm just sayin.)

i can truely say i was in the company of not good dj's but EXCELLENT dj's. i am still dumbfounded by what i witnessed and moreover, ENJOYED!

tea, me, and mae (aka aga)