All Team Training!

March 12th was an All Team Training Session for my Team In Training. Belonging to the Greater Los Angeles TNT (Is there a Lesser Los Angeles? Just wondering) we have many areas and teams. Our teams are Long Beach team (that covers my area and am a proud member of that team), South Bay, San Gabriel Valley, West LA, as well as our hiking, and triathlon teams. This was going to be a great chance to train and meet many new people. Add a picnic after, and I was a happy camper...er, runner.

Meeting in the famous Griffith Park, I drove there early to get good parking. As always, driving down the 5 and passing Glendale Blvd, my knees and feet suffered pain as I remembered the Los Angeles half marathon and remembered the hills I ran in that area. So much painful memories for that area (worse on the 101 fwy as that was where I was really hurting).

Anyway, we all met at Griffith Park and it was a great turnout! So many people there, helping set up and mingling and all dressed in TNT training shirts, ready to run. After a great group stretch, we all split off into pace groups. I decided to join the 13 min/mi group. I know I could run a bit faster (probably 11 or 12 min) but didn't want to push myself hard, especially since I missed the last practice due to a wedding (apparently it's a rule I have to be at my sister's wedding).

We met at the Merry Go Round (L.A. natives would know the area) and started by doing a loop around the Old Zoo (I think it was featured in Police Academy! Someone check that for me!) OK, when I find out who plotted the course, I will hurt them! My groups pace was 3/1 interval. (3 minutes steady run/1 min walk) and once we started up into a zoo, we hit an incline. A pretty good one.

Ok, lets be clear. Inclines are good exercises. The work out the whole body and provide the strength you need for tough terrain, like the hilly course we may be facing in San Diego. But my team hasn't started hills! We been running at the beach! And I wasn't the only one suffering! While my groups leader kept at it, most of us were panting and breathing hard after the first 3 minutes. (Seriously it was that bad! I wasn't used to running inclines)

After that bad start, we were ok for the next couple of minutes. About 12 minutes into the run we were doing a decent job at our pace, and while it was a bit of inclines here an there, no major problems. Until about mile 2 or 3. That's when things got ugly. A hill a long constant hill. No leveling off. Just a hilly curving path, with no break until we peak and start going down.

Oh fuck this.

Yeah I cursed. Loudly. Wasn't alone. The walking coach was guiding us, telling us how to climb so as not to hurt ourselves and get tired on the incline (short strides, many steps) but it wasn't cool! Just a steady climb. Ok, it wasn't a mountain, but it wasn't a mole hill either! And that was before we got to the horses

(Did he say horses?)

Griffith Park has horse rides. And a troop of boys were out riding the ponies, through a narrow dirt path, that we are suppose to run. So we let the heavy bigger animals go through and gladly (yes we were breathing hard) let them pass.

(Wait, breathing hard? Horses? ummm) Oh yeah. Bad time to be breathing hard, when a pack of horses just trotted by. Smelling. Badly. Not to mention the little presents they left on the path (good way to learn to breath through the nose though. You DON'T want to breath with your mouth in those smelly conditions)

Lucky that was the peak, and it was a good downhill run after that. And I got lucky, since I had slowed down tremendously when we hit the hill and lost my pace group, having met up with others in the group that caught up to me. So we formed our own group and continued at a 2/2 pace. This group, I come to find out, belong to the South Bay, where I happen to work, and, to my surprise, has a certain Thao Nguyen, (ok I found out her name after the event when she found me on Facebook. Yes. I said she found me. No its not like that!) who I remember made a video (again not like that!!) for TNT and is a friend of Julie, a fellow TNT member and friend I met in Phoenix (and a fellow Long Beach team member...)

After the hill, it was an easy run. One in our group started cramping (Christie I think her name was. Just in case you were wondering. Ok, I was showing I was into getting to know my fellow team mates) so I encouraged her on while the rest of the group was a few strides in front. The upshot is Christie is also running SD and we may pace the race together (GO TEAM). After the practice, I was invited to the South Bay mid week training (after work running! yay!) and ate a hearty meal!

Ok, after adding the South Bay on FB, Thao has since discovered I am friends with Julie, and Julie is happy because we can now work in tandem to corrupt her to the Kogi BBQ truck. And Thao was surprised that I knew about her (small world)

Okay, back to the practice. After a six mile run, I returned to form and forgot the lesson i learned from my first half marathon, and didn't stretch, AND only had one bottle of water. That was a no no, as I didn't have a hydration system yet, and also didn't bring any electrolyte beverage, so sometime later, I had a headache, felt warm, and my stomach wasn't feeling to good. Yes, I was Dehydrated. So after dousing with some salty food and water, and a nap, I eventually recovered, but it was a reminder I needed a water bottle.

So that was it for my all team training. New friends, new experience, and a reminder that I need water and fuel, something I will go into next time. Preview: Gatorade isn't necessary for every workout.

Shoes! (yes again!)

OK so when I started prepping for my first half marathon back in October, I had a pair or Reebok shoes that were juuuuust on their last legs. I normally don't buy Reebok anymore (or Nike for that matter) after I bought a pair of New Balance shoes and they lasted way longer than any other shoe. But these Reebok's gave me a good run and I was pleasantly surprised. Either way, I was going to run a half marathon, and decided to go back to New Balance. 2 weeks till the race, I went to the discount shoe store, bought some new shoes, and prepped to run.

Yeah if you read my blog, you know that was a big mess. basically lost a pair of shoes because I hadn't broken them in properly.

The New Balance 1012

The New Balance store in the South Bay (Torrance) helped me pick out a shoe for me, the NB 1012, and while it wasn't a looker, it was a great fit. It has stability control, so i had less rolled ankles, and got less tired because of it. After the race, I went back to the store for a new pair.

Now, here's the catch. Where as before, the associate knew what he was doing, the one that assisted me didn't look all that confident. He suggested a new model, but as I found out, it didn't have the same support as the previous one, and I felt the difference later, This new model, New Balance 1226, was not for me. I was using a insole that i bought with the other shoes, and now it was beginning to get in my way. That was my fault. I should have gone with the previous model again. But noooooooooooooo. I had to go with the one that looked a bit cooler. I never learn.

Lucky for me, my TNT team had a shoe clinic after we started training and we got a great talk with the owner of Runner's High in Belmont Shore. His store has been a supporter of TNT, and he knows it's not about the price of the shoe, but how it fits. And he confirmed that the 1226 was not for me, but when I told him I had the 1012, he was all for it, saying that was a better fit for my foot, minus the insole i bought, saying that i don't need it anymore. He also recommended a Brooks shoe, probably a Brooks Beast or Addiction, and since i believe i will try brooks also just so i can make an informed decision on my brand choice

Remember, brands loyalty is nice. Brands love their loyal customers. However, quality changes, and you must be willing to break your brand loyalty if their quality changes or you find something better. I love New Balance, but since I haven't tried Brooks, I can't make a decision on my brands. I will say i am falling in love with running stores. If you find the right store, you shouldn't have a problem with your running needs ever again.

Updates

Wow been a while since I been on this. Doesn't help that my desktop computer SUCKS! But cleared out some things and now I have time to blog a bit.


Since last time I have started continued my training with Team In Training (TNT) and have made steady progress. We have gone from running time wise (from 45 minutes to 75 min) to distance (started at 6 mi). I have been both exercising with my trainer as well as running on my own. I am convinced that the workout with my trainer was the major difference in my quick recovery from Run Rock 'n Roll Phoenix.

I also broke out my fuel belt again that I bought at the expo, but haven't used it since. I am now looking for a good water/fuel belt because as the belt I have shows, there aren't many for fat people (it's ok. I am fat and ok with it), making it difficult to access since my belly overhangs it. So I am looking for an armband fuel pocket, and a suitable way to hydrate during my runs. Any ideas? Leaning toward the Fuel Belt water bottle grip they have. It has pockets and leaves a lot freedom on my body.

Also, I missed one training session due to my sisters wedding, which left me winded that following week. Took a while to get myself back into condition. Missing a workout throws you off a bit, but its good to miss one now and then because it prevents your body from plateauing.

Anyway I will be writing about my shoes and also my hydrating plans in the next two blogs. You have been warned.

Lesson's learned

I DID IT! I finished my first ever half marathon! And faster than I gave myself credit for! Hurray!

Those where my thoughts more or less after I had finished the race. Until I sat down on a curb to drink my water and Cytomax, eat my bagle and banana, and try to untie the zip tie for my bag. And I was feeling the pain in my foot from the pounding it took. And why were these shoes feeling so funny? And I can't get up....

Finally after getting up, and walking to my car, and driving home, I figured this was the price I was paying for my foolishness of running a half marathon. But finishing felt great! Yeah, I was conflicted. Getting home, I went for the hot shower, and lots of water. Wasn't feeling hungry, but I ate a bit, and then tried to nap.

It wasn't long before I couldn't walk. And felt very weak. And my body was overheated. And yeah in pain. And the pain and stiffness stayed with me all week. couldn't move fast, bend over, and yeah my foot was in pain.

And all those tips I looked over and didn't pay attention to came to mind. I messed up and now I was paying for it! What tips? Well...

1. Shoes- I read you were suppose to go to as running store, a store specifically meant for runners. They could tell you what type of shoe you need and what would help. I instead went to a local store and bought a pair of generic running shoes. After I had healed, those shoes no longer fit right, and they were relatively new too. Both mistakes I found out when I visited my local New Balance store. They told me I should have broken them in, with a break in time of about 1.5 to 2 months to run a long distance. Also I should have a second pair to break in evenly. Trade them off so I have a choice come race day. As to my foot, I found that my ankle rolls a bit, and I have low arches. So with a new shoe to stabilize the foot so it won't roll, an insole to support the arches, and also a wide shoe (needed a wide shoe which I didn't use, which was why I hurt) I was ready to start training. *Note- money should not be an option if you plan on running. Unless your foot is absolutely perfect, you need to spend the dough for running.
2. Cool down period- Big mistake I made was not cooling down properly after the race. Sitting down and taking a hot shower were not good things as I found out. I didn't stretch, and my body temperature was up. Sitting (or lying down) caused my muscles to stiffen up, and led to some of the aches I felt during the week. I should have kept moving after, allowed the muscles to adjust and stretch thoroughly also. A massage wouldn't have hurt either. Also a cold shower to cool down my body and heal my aches. Advil to help with all the aches was also something I didn't do. 
3. Running tips- this part was through observation. With the whole street closed, I chose to run near the curb, on the right hand lane. And since the street is curbed to allow rain to go to the edge, it meant my feet were hitting at different angles. And that's where my pain was. On the edge of my left foot, which was hitting first. I should have run in the middle of the street to avoid the angle issue.

So those were the lessons learned. I chose the school of hard knocks to teach me. Learn from my mistakes. Save yourself the trouble.

What started it all

The second half of 2010 was pretty good. I got to see a free Weezer show, won some prizes via Twitter, and Radio station 98.7 in Los Angeles had hooked me up with some good prizes including a Jimmy Eat World meet.

Then one day on 98.7's (@987la if you wan to follow them on Twitter) Facebook page, I noticed a posting for the first Rock n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon. 98.7 was a sponsor of the race, and had been given out free entries into the race. The posting basically said first three to post get free entry. I blame the early morning and lack of caffeine in my system for what I did next. I posted. And gave them my info when they sent me a message. A day or so later, they called and gave me the code to enroll into the race for free.

To be honest, when talking to my friend Ken on the day of Weezer, I had mentioned the Half Marathon, and told him about the free concert at the end, along with details of what we will see on the route. I mean, Neon Trees, a new up and coming band that had a hit on the radio, was going to do a free show. So we half jokingly said we should do it.

And now here I won an entry into the race. Actually two entries. The station asked if I knew anyone who would do it also, and I told them I could find someone. So I thought of Ken. I was NOT going down this road alone!

Less than a week and we both were registered. No formal training. Just go for it.

We went to the Fitness Expo and got lots of valuable advice, tips, free stuff and information. It was there that I also found out about the other races in the series. To be honest, Vegas is the one that caught my eye. Maybe I'll do that at the end of the year.

Maybe.

Race day came. I was at the start line early. I was ready (ok as ready I was going to be). It was 5:30 am (was awake at 3 am. It is a sign of insanity I tell you). I felt out of place. Until I saw the Elvis runner. And the Tu-tus. Ok, I felt normal.

My friend Ken got there around 6 but I couldn't find him. His wife, my friend Charlene was tracking both of us on her phone. We waited for the start.

I was in the last coral because I put a finish time of 4 hours, because frankly I didn't know when I would finish. He was somewhere in corral 14 I think. the start was at 7:30 but with the corrals, I didn't start untill almost 8. With a final BANG, we were off.

I surprised my self at how well I managed to maintain a pace. By the time I crossed the 5K mark, I felt I was pretty good! In general that was my feeling of the whole race. I was doing damn good!

Until around mile 8.

The course was a lot of inclines so it was a bit rough, but by mile 8, my feet were hurting. I wasn't aware of the cardinal rules of shoes, and I was paying for it. One important rule is to go to a running store and get a professional look at your feet and stride and suggest a shoe. I just went to the local store and bought a regular pair of running shoes, and I was paying for it! The shoe was ok for regular exercises and the amount of running I normally do (less than 3 miles really) but was not the right shoe for me AND an endurance race. The second rule was just as crucial. I hadn't broken them in. I had bought the shoes about two weeks before the race, and that contributed to the problem. But more importantly, at the end of the race, the shoe no longer fit as before. It felt skewed. So I learned the hard way.

Another lesson I learned was to run in the middle of the street. The pain in my feet also was rooted in the fact I was running on the street, but running near the sidewalk. Since the streets are curved for rain runoff, my feet were not hitting evenly on the ground: more one foot hitting higher and at an angle than the other. Guess which foot hurt the most?

Even so, with pain and hills (Beaudry? Really? You had us go up Beaudry???) I finished the race in 3:12:48. I was so proud of myself! I thought I would finish at least 3:30. Yay me!

After I was taught the lesson of the need to move, stretch, and cool down after a race. I will cover these in a later blog, but I will say that by not doing it after the race, I paid, and I paid a stiff penalty!

My first blog...who am I

So I decided to get a blog and start blogging after 2 of my new friends and twitter buddies sort of, kind of, talked me into it. And since I have started this year with the CRAZY idea to do 5 half marathons, decided why not, since this will help keep track of my descent into insanity.

Wait did he say 5 half marathons?!?

Yes I did. To some of my friends, running 1 is an accomplishment in their books, even though they haven't done one yet (its on their to-do list apparently. Personally I think its on their bucket list). But I said, "What the hell! why not?" and here I am. Granted, I already had one under my belt (Los Angeles last year, which I will blog about separately) and this year I already ran another one (Phoenix, AZ. Again more on that on another blog). The next one is San Diego, and that one, for me, is for all the marbles since I decided I am actually going to train for it by joining Team in Training (TnT for short) and also raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

So I decided to have this blog. To make it easier to post my progress, talk about random stuff, and hopefully get useful feedback. It's like Myspace, without the porn spam (you guys still remember Myspace right?)

So, to make sure no one calls me a liar by not telling you who I am, as the tittle suggests, here is who I am.

My name is Antonio Hernandez. I'm 31 years old, live in the city of South Gate, CA, work as inventory management for a car part re-manufacturer, but have a BS in Mathematics. I been working on cutting down my debt (school loans) but plan on jumping back into school soon (this year! I hope) to become a Math teacher. I am overweight, but still am running half marathons (so you can not give me an excuse for being lazy) and trying to lose weight, which is another reason for this blog (guilt. It's powerful). I like traveling to places, music, all kind of books (not Twilight! begone!), movies (I repeat, NOT TWILIGHT!) and just generally having a good time.

So there you are! Me in a nutshell. I will be blogging a bit more later about my training, running experiences, etc. I hope you guys do come back while I figure this thing out.