5 Tips to Start Exercising

We have all found ourselves so busy with our schedules that our health becomes the last thing on our mind until something drastic happens.  Here are tips and a reminder to be proactive and get yourself off the couch:

1. Find a friend to join you

Depending on the type of person you are, it may be nice to have a companion accompany you to the gym or for a run. You can keep each other accountable on being more active if both of you have similar goals. If you have a friend that is already active, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to provide support and suggestions on getting started. Just ask them. 

2. Find an activity that you are comfortable with

Many people are intimidated with the gym especially the weight room because you see so many buff people. Remind yourself that they all had to start somewhere and they were not born that way. They were also in your place. If you feel that going to the gym is not right for you at the moment, find an activity that works for your schedule and you feel comfortable doing. Running is a great place to start. It's all about doing something. 

3. Set  reachable goals 

Taking some time to list reachable goals is a great to do before you start working out. It lays out your ideas and it can be a reminder and motivator when you're not feeling up for a workout.  When you're working towards a goal, you're more likely to stick to it. Try putting a specific date on some of them to see if you can reach your goals at that time. 

4. Schedule it into your week

It's easy to make the excuse of not having time for certain things during the day. We all have the same amount of time during the day so it's all about making it a priority if it's important to you. It's your health so I hope you make it important to you. Before your work week starts, make a plan of when you will fit in your 30 minute workout for at least 3 times a week. Organizing workouts into your week will save you a lot of excuses. Now go and schedule.  

5. Just start moving

Your workouts don't need to be so intense that you're out of breath and hurting. It's all about being active whether you're going for a 20 minute walk or doing some push-ups before sleeping. If you have a family, have them join you. Join your kids with an outdoor activity. Put the television remote down, and go outside. 

Deadly 18 Mile Adventure

"I could become the hunted if I don't beat the sunset", these words whispered in my head as I realized I was completely alone from human existence. My goal for this run was a general catch up to my training schedule. I got tired of my regular street runs, so I wanted to make this one more adventurous. Two hours later, I realized I was given too much of an adventure than I could handle.

With every new run I try, I map my route so I know the distance, landscape, and elevation. I routed the new run along a wilderness preserve I have not been to and it totaled to 18 miles between Irvine and Laguna Beach.  The elevation reached over 1,000 ft which would be the highest elevation I have run to date. 

The view of Irvine on top of a canyon

I got off work early, so it was a perfect time to try the route. It was my first time doing a long distance run in the late afternoon hours. I calculated my time to be 9 minute miles, so I predicted finishing the run right at sunset. I knew the best benefit of running at this time: I wouldn't suffer from heat and the scorching sun. What I didn't calculate was the dangers that came along for this ride.

The climb up the hills

All my gear was on and I left the house at 5pm. The first 3 miles me running to the entrance of the trail. From looking at the route, I knew the first 8 miles were going to be mostly up hill so the rest of the time would be downhill runs. I passed along an older couple that were walking along the trail. The first few miles were along the sides of houses and eventually I was at a high enough elevation to see all the house and places in Irvine. It was a spectacular view, and it was as if I could touch the clouds.

The view of no buildings or streets

The direction of the trail started making me head away from civilization. I passed a fellow runner and wondered how far he had run. From the looks of it, he didn't have a water bottle or other equipment so he may have done a few miles and looped back. I continued the run into the wildness preserve and the trail took me along upscale houses. The trail was high enough for me to see their beautiful pools in their back yards. I've always wondered about those nice houses on top of the hills.  How often do they see runners in their backyards? I'm guessing not often because I didn't run into another person for another hour.

Hand size tarantula

What changed my mood in the run was when I ran into a huge monster. It was a tarantula the size of my hand! I've never seen a wild tarantula in my life. I stopped and we had a stare down. I was hoping it was not one of those jumping tarantulas. I took a quick picture of it and ran around it. This was when fear crept into my thoughts. What else will I run into? This reserve was the home of all wildlife. I remember reading signs warning travelers of rattle snakes and mountain lions. At this point, I was not prepared at all. What would happen if I got bit by a snake or attacked by a mountain lion? I wanted to be more aware of my surroundings so I took my headphones off. The only sounds I listened to for the rest of the run was the soft whispers of Mother Nature.

Solitude in nature

Hill after hill, I was getting very tired. I finally ran into a biker coming down my way as he whizzed pass me. I ran up another hill after passing the biker and realized I could no longer see houses, highways, cars, or people. I was in pure solitude with nature. If I sprained my ankle, what would I do? Would a helicopter have to come get me if I got injured? I was now aware of the dangers of the area, so I took each step with caution.  Usually, I would enjoy this type of solitude and view if it was in the morning.  The timing of this run made me nervous because it put me on a schedule where I could not stop. 

The point of getting lost

I was coming up to mile 10, and I was relieved because it meant I was over half way done and the rest of the run was mostly down hill.  I could see the highway to Laguna barricaded by fences.  I took the wrong turn by going under the highway so I had to run back to the location and take the trail that was closed off.  I climbed in between the main gate and hoped I was going the right direction.  I was frustrated at myself for taking the wrong turn because it meant less time for me to get out of these fields.  The sun was so low that I was able to take off my shades without squinting.

It might sound nice that the rest of the course was downhill, but downhill doesn't always play well with your knees.  I felt like a horse galloping downhill and trying to keep my face from hitting the ground.  Running miles on a trail seemed longer than running on the streets.  It may be due to the rough paths and few distractions.  A grin swept over my face once I made it to mile 12 because I found a hiker and some mountain bike enthusiasts.  I had to jump over one more gated area and I landed too rough because I could feel my right calf almost cramp up.  I had to be very careful at this point because my legs could cramp up at any moment and I would not be able to move.  From the looks of it, I was near a ranch.  I was thankful that there were other people in the area, so they would be able to help if I passed out.

Throughout the first ten miles, there were no water fountains.  At the end of Bommer Canyon on mile 14, I found a fountain where I replenished my water.  I ate 3 gel shots at this point so my mouth was full of sweets.  I was finally out of the canyon and started running towards the next canyon that was very populated with people.  I recognized Shady Canyon because I run it on a regular basis.  The sun was setting and I was happy to make it out of Bommer Canyon without any scratches or running into mountain lions.  My walk/jog for the last three miles was used to reflect on the 3 hour adventure I just did and the lessons I have learned.

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Recovery Drink

After long runs, I usually have a nice cold electrolyte drink.  I take a cold shower and let my body get back to its regular speed after being out in the sun for hours.  Once I am ready to ingest food, I make my recover drink to fuel my body.  Here is a simple recipe that will give you the perfect amount of carbs and protein.  

1 serving
410 calories

• 1/2 cup fat free milk
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp chia seed
• 1 medium banana
• 1 scoop whey protein

1. Put all the ingredients besides the in a blender and mix until smooth
2. Enjoy!

First and Last Triathlon

Watching the calm ocean before hundreds of athletes enter

1...2..3...Go!  One hundred twenty three was my given number to my first and last triathlon.  It was an unfamiliar environment where I had to watch each person around me so I wouldn’t get lost.  I probably looked like a fool with my basic equipment and money saving techniques.  It started with a few kicks in the face during the swim, and it ended with everyone getting lost in the run.  

I began the race day at 4 in the morning.  I brought all my bags down which was packed with a helmet, wet suit swim trunks, goggles, swim cap, socks, race number, and sun screen.  The prior day, I rented a car and set up the bike rack on the back of the car.  It was surprisingly easier than I expected.  I left the house at 4:45am, and made it to the parking location at 5:20am.  The transition gates opened in 10 minutes, so I started getting my bike ready.  As I started moving all my equipment towards the transition area, I started becoming anxious because this type of competition was unfamiliar.  

Participants preparing their bike transition

It was a sprint triathlon composed of a ½ mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run.  Many of the participants had road bikes that cost thousands of dollars with those fancy magnetic shoes that attached to the pedals.  I had my commuter bike and used general tennis shoes.  Other people had full wet suits to help them transition smoothly from swim to bike.  I could only afford a swim short that replicated the the bottom half of a wet suit.  Underneath the wet suits were full tri suits.  I kept my swim shorts for the entire time and put on a tank top when I got to my bike.  Although my gear was not as superior as others, I planned on making it all work in my favor.

The first wave of people start the triathlon

The race started at 7am with the swim.  I probably should have practiced swimming in the ocean, but I took  the risk since all of my swimming has been at the school pool.  The organizers let the participants in the ocean in waves of groups; I was in the 3rd wave.  Once I reached the water, I started jogging through the water until I could no longer stand.  The water was murky followed with several kicks and slaps to the face.  Early in the swim, I was kicked in my face so hard that it lifted part of my goggles up so I was left with swimming the rest of the way with one eye closed so the salt water wouldn’t come in contact with my eye.  I am used to seeing what is under me as I swim, so it was a little frightening as my mind thought about sharks and other sea creatures that could be lurking in the area.  With accidental gulps of water, there was a possibility of drowning but then I would have wasted the entrance fee.  With a few more hits in the face and accidental consumption of ocean water, I finally got my pace down and was swimming with less worry.  

The athletes entering the ocean at 7am

I was finally able to stand and started my jog out of the water and towards the bike transition area.  Once I arrived at my bike, I put on my helmet, socks, and shoes.  I gulped down one clif bar before heading out on the bike.  I never imagined myself being one of those people in a triathlon.  I always was the outsider looking in.  Once I got to a steady pace, it was a beautiful ride along the coast and highway since it was closed for the event.  I didn’t officially do any special training for the biking session since I bike to and from work everyday and that totals to 10 miles a day.  I started getting closer to the second loop of the biking portion, and we were warned about road bumps.  The guy in front of me with his fancy road bike must have not considered the bumps to be dangerous, but it was another story once I saw him crash his bike and roll on the ground a few times.  He was okay, but I think he may have made a few hundred dollar dents on his bike.  During my second loop around the bike path, I noticed that my water bottle holder was becoming more loose.  Eventually, the bolt fell off and the bottle holder was dangling at my feet.  I didn’t want to stop.  I was closer to the transition of the run, and I couldn’t help notice all the kids from ages 7-14 next to me competing in their own race.  Besides the kids, there were also many older people ranging from my age to 70 years old.  It was impressive to see so many people being active and enjoying the event.  

Supporters watching on the coast

The 12 mile bike ride was over, and I finally reached the last leg of the event.  It was my favorite part because I consider myself more of a runner than either of the other sports.  I took off my helmet, tied a bandanna across my forehead, and put on my sunglasses.  I was ready to cruise down the beach.  I can say I was weak on my swimming and biking, but I am proud of the endurance I have built for running.  I was running at my usual speed of 8 minutes per mile and was passing participants every second.  It was my time to shine.  People were exhausted, but I was too excited because running was my sport.  The run was supposed to be two loops totaling to 3 miles which I do everyday.  People were questioning the length because someone’s GPS showed different calculations.  We found out that the volunteers mixed the turn around location with another run, so all the runners were actually running more than expected.  The times were now off.  Many people were disappointed because they couldn’t get an official time due to the major mistake of running distance.  I continued to run at my pace and was greeted by my friend at the finish line with a medal around my neck.  

After I finished the triathlon, I wasn’t as exhilarated as I was when I ran a marathon.  Participating in this event helped me realized my true happiness and enjoyment comes from running.  I enjoy the simplicity of using my own legs to traverse miles.  Although I may not be doing another triathlon anytime soon, I’ll still enjoy biking casually to work and swimming at the school gym.  On to training for the next adventure!  

My statistics from the entire event

Run the OC: Bread Marathon

I attached my chest armor that provided fuel for the long journey.  It was my jet pack that carried my gas for the next four hours.  I felt like I would be able to fly to my destination in the blink of an eye like Iron Man or become one with my camel spirit animal .  It was the latter.  My upper body was geared up to provide me everything I needed for the next 26.2 miles.  

 running route

This run was my third marathon with my previous marathon being a month ago.  It was spontaneous with no formal training.  The last minute decision to run to Fullerton was to make my run more adventurous and fun.  It was a new route where I would be able to see several cities in Orange county.  With Google maps, I was able to map my route from Irvine to Fullerton through various parks, bridges, and bike paths.  This was the first long run I got to test out my hydration vest that carried 2 liters of water.  I slipped my compression socks on that would make a big difference in my performance

The marathon was very different to the past two I've done.  Since my body was used to these long distance runs, my senses were tuning more into the surroundings.  Due to California's city divisions, I was able to easily move between cities either through their parks or under their highway bridges.   As I traversed between each city, I could smell, see, and hear differences in each place.  I ran through Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, Placentia, and Fullerton.  

 

 reaching the Tustin border

 

There was a huge difference after I left Irvine and entered Santa Ana.  Irvine is ranked the safest city in the nation; with this ranking, it comes with a community that is on the higher end of the socioeconomic scale.  It is rare to see any homeless people in Irvine; the opposite can be seen in Santa Ana.  Many times, California is seen as a perfect, lovely state, and it doesn't hone into the under-served communities, such as the homeless population.  People forget this community because many people drive above their homes (highway bridge) without even knowing.  I passed under several highway bridges and could see people living in tents and other appliances.  I remember seeing one of the tents with a lion teddy bear on top of the tent.  

 

 

 graffiti under the highway bridges

 

Each city also had distinct smells and land marks.  Every time I entered the city, I could immediately smell fast food in the air.  It was not pleasant.  The air smelled better when I got on bike paths located near the highways.  Once I reached mile 14, my eyes lit up because I recognized the Angel Stadium tower and the Honda Center.  My mind immediately told me I was in Anaheim.  It helped push me forward because I knew I was close to my destination.  I usually saw these structures when I was on the highway driving north.  The experience of running past these structures was surreal because I did not know that there was a path for running across these cities.  

 reaching the Angel Stadium

I decided to make my 20 mile destination to be 85 Bakery Cafe because I wanted to refuel with some bread instead of gulping down another runner's gel.  I consumed two energy gels by the time I reached the bakery.  If you have not taken an energy gel before, its like eating sugar in liquid form with a slimy texture.  By the time I reached the entrance, I was drenched in sweat.  I wiped my sweat with a small towel before I entered the store because I wanted to look semi descent.  I happily entered the shop; the only thing going through my mind was wanting to eat fresh bread and a sea salt iced tea.
 

 20 mile marker at 85 Bakery Cafe

 

The original plan for my run was to complete the 20 miles to the bakery, but I wanted to add another 6.2 miles to make it a full marathon.  During mile 7, I messaged my friend who lives in Fullerton to see if she would join me in the additional miles.  It was 9:31am, and I told her I would be in her area around 11:30am.  I got very excited when she agreed to run with me because it gets slightly lonely after 3 straight hours of running.  My music can only keep me entertained for so long.  

While I was in the bakery refueling with bread and a drink, I messaged my friend, "I'm at 85 eating bread lol meet me here?".  I knew that text would instantly make her laugh, and I was right.  Luckily, she lives right across the street from the bakery, so she came into the shop seeing me gulp down the iced tea and nibbling at the bread.  I would have vacuumed the bread in an instant, but the taste and texture of the mango bread was not enjoyable; only half was eaten.  

 refueling with mango bread

A car drive from Irvine to Fullerton usually takes me about 20 to 30 minutes (if traffic is nice), which translated to a 3 hour and 33 minute jog (20 miles).  It was unusual for my friend and I to think that I got into Fullerton without a car.  As we continued to talk while I slurped my drink, my body was able to get a nice, easy stretch and rest before finishing the last 6.2 miles.  

For the last miles, I did not have a set route, so we decided to run a straight path right to downtown Fullerton.  The run was very nice having company and being able to go at a pace where we both could talk.  My body was drained by the time we started, so I knew my friend's pace would be able to help push me in my speed.  As we finished the last mile of the run, I was very impressed with my friend because its been awhile since she ran 6 miles (10K).  It was both of our energy and motivation that helped us complete the run.  

I can now say I completed a one way marathon route from Irvine to Fullerton.  Once the marathon was over, I felt better than the past two marathons I've run.  My body was adjusting to the long distances, and I was excited to see what else I could do with my thunder thighs.  More running adventures await me, but I should probably take some time to heal and replenish my body.  

Once we got back to my friends apartment, we rested for a few minutes before heading to Banh Mi Che Cali.  There was no time to waste because my body was craving real food.  The first bite into the banh mi was breathtaking as if I was reliving my childhood when my mom would come home from the grocery store with my favorite sandwich.  I was savoring each bite of the sandwich.  Within a few minutes, it was gone and my stomach was satisfied.  It is after these long runs is when I really can enjoy food because my body is craving calories after losing over a days worth of energy.  I sat at the restaurant with a happy stomach and with the satisfaction of finishing my third personal marathon.  After lunch, my friend drove me back home to Irvine where I would spend the rest of the day being lazy and relaxing.  

 

 post workout lunch

 

I conclude this post with a quote from my running inspiration, “I run because if I didn’t, I’d be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe the fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run…to savor the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that, " Dean Karnazes.

running summary

30 Day Fitness Hopes & Dreams Challenge

I created this challenge to help you reflect on your fitness and help reveal to you different improvements you can do for yourself. The first 30 days of starting to become fit are one of the hardest because your body and mind are trying to change. The more honest you can be with your answers, the better self reflection you will gain. I hope the challenge can support the gradual change you plan on doing!

1. Why do you want to be fit?
2. Please explain your current fitness level.
3. What is your ideal body image?
4. What is your definition of healthy?
5. Why is it difficult to become fit?
6. What is the least favorite part of your body?
7. How has society and the media influenced your idea of body image?
8. Is fitness a long or short term goal for you?
9. Is working out a priority to you?
10. What is one piece of bad advice you got about fitness?
11. Is eating healthy or working out harder for you and why?
12. Name a person that influences your fitness.
13. What is your current food regiment?
14. How often do you workout a week?
15. What are your personal fitness goals?
16. What is your opinion on pre made fitness routine videos?
17. What is a diet?
18. Will becoming fit make you healthy?
19. Does fitness mean losing weight?
20. What motivates you and can it be applied to fitness?
21. How do you avoid over eating?
22. Why are you the way you are right now regarding your fitness?
23. What is your definition of fat, skinny, and perfect?
24. Will you make any daily routine changes to accomplish your fitness goals?
25. Will being fit make you happy?
26. What is one piece of good advice you got about fitness?
27. What is the favorite part of your body?
28. How has your family and friends influenced your fitness?
29. What will your fitness level look like a year from now?
30. How do you feel about your fitness after completing the challenge?

Fitting in a Workout During the Dog Walk

What is Snowball staring at so attentively?  She was watching me do my go-to body weight circuit workout.  Whenever I sleep in or miss my morning workout, I go to this workout after work because I know it will get my heart pumping fast and my shirt drenched in sweat!  Instead of my daily 3 mile run with her, I incorporate a simple yet effective free weight circuit in the middle of the run.  After years of doing many exercises, I've found the exercises in the circuit to be the most effective in giving me a total body workout.

The routine is the following:  I run half of the distance (1.5 miles) which gives my body a great warm-up.  Once I find a nice spot in the park, I start my 6 exercise circuit.  I perform 3 sets, each exercise is done for 1 minute each, and I take 2 minute rest periods in between sets.  It is ordered in a specific way so you give your body breaks between the high intensity exercises.  The order of the exercises are:

1. jumping jacks
2. push ups
3. squats
4. leg ups
5. lunges
6. burpees

After the 3 sets are finished, I do about 5 minutes of stretching.  I end the workout with a brisk run back home.  

I enjoy this workout because all you need is motivation and a timer.  Since it is a circuit, you can go at your own pace for the minute of each exercise.  Each exercise can also be modified to fit your fitness level whether it is doing knee pushups or jump squats.  Remember that it is important to have correct form when performing any of these exercises.  If you need help with form, click on the exercise above to get a YouTube video showing you how to perform the exercise.  Good luck and have fun! 

Chocolate Covered Banana Marathon

My entire body was in excruciating pain.  I could feel the twitches in my calves that were signs of unbearable cramps to come; my abdomen was piercing as if there was no food supply left to use; my knees were crying out for relief through each step.  Through all this pain, I did not gain a metal, free food, or an applause from friends and family at the end of the race.   I was rewarded with understanding the capabilities of the human mind and body.  I completed a personal marathon with a week of training. Let me explain how all this came about.

I was introduced to a quote that would reignite my passion to explore cities with my legs.  The quote by Dean Karnazes stated, "Unless you're pushing yourself, you're not living to the fullest.  You can't be afraid to fail, but unless you fail, you haven't pushed hard enough.  If you look at successful people and happy people, they fail a lot, because they're constantly trying to go further and expand".  The quote stuck with me, and I used it to explore the different areas of my life not knowing who this man was.

After doing some research about Dean Karnazes, I was surprised to find out that he was an ultra marathon runner.  I discovered that these types of marathons were composed of distances longer than traditional marathons (26.2 miles).  I only thought super heroes could teleport or fly miles of up to 50 to 100.  With further research, I found a few books that he wrote.

One of my goals for this year was to read more, so I picked up one of his books.  It was called Ultra Marathon Man.  I finally found a book that I could not put down.  I connected with every page of the book as I understood his feelings and his passion for running.  His adventures in running were amazing and mind boggling as he discusses his 100 mile run.  He pushes the limits of his mind and body.

I reflected on these types of runners and my running abilities.  I completed my first marathon on March 17, 2013 at the International Hilo Marathon.  The training was for four months.  As of now, I've been running short distances between 3 to 5 miles.  Running another marathon was not on my radar.

Since I signed up for my first triathlon, my workouts have been composed of daily runs with the dog, biking to work, and swimming for leisure.  I'm in the best shape of my life.  I feel more fit than when I trained for my first marathon.  I wondered if it would be possible for me to run a marathon in about a week without the formal training.  Reading Karnazes book ignited my passion and motivation to run.  It was then that I decided to run 26.2 miles on Saturday, April 25, 2015.  I had one week to prepare myself mentally to run that length.

Due to my past training, I knew what to do and not do.  The biggest change to my week was increasing my carbohydrate intake since I would need all the energy I could get when it came time to run.  I continued my daily routine of biking to work, swimming and lifting at the gym, and running with the dog after work.  I told a few friends that I would be running from Irvine to Newport Beach, and I knew some of them thought I was crazy.  How would it be possible for someone to run that length without formal training for months?

I took on this challenge to show that anything is possible as long as you put your heart and mind to it.  It was a personal marathon where I would have to find my own route, provide the water, and have a back up emergency plan.  I was nervous, but who said a challenge would be easy?

It was 7:50am, and I turned on my music with One Direction playing for the first two hours.  Ever since Zayn left the group, my inner fan girl for the group has been playing their music on repeat.  I am not ashamed.  I usually run an 8 minute and 30 second mile pace in my short runs, but I needed to slow my pace down to around 11 to 13 minute miles.  I was feeling great for the first 8 miles and kept a pace of 11 minutes.  During mile 9, I felt my right knee tensing.  It was bearable and would eventually disappear.

This marathon was much different than my first time.  There was no energy from other runners that could help me or friends in the crowd to cheer me on.  There was random bikers and runners that would nod their head or say a quick hello.  At mile 11, a biker shouted at me as I passed him, "Keep it up buddy!"  Having these random people support me pushed me through each mile.

I finally made it half way to mile 13 where I realized I did not bring enough energy gels to sustain my myself.  Luckily, I brought my credit card, so I decided to buy a chocolate covered frozen banana at a vender in Newport beach.  It amused me, and I knew it would get absorbed in my system right away for me to use.  As I was eating the banana, the thought of calling my friend to come pick me up did cross my mind.  My body could still run, so I needed to continue.

As I started to run, I noticed that my iPhone battery life was half gone.  I needed to conserve the battery, so I decided to turn off the music.  I was running the rest of the way with just my thoughts and hearing other peoples chatter.  I reached mile 15 where I would have to take the short ferry cruise across Balboa island.  I thought it added a nice change to the adventure.  The sign of the ferry said it was priced at 1.25 to get across, and I only brought $1.  I wanted to double check the price, so I asked the middle age couple in front of me about the cost.  They said it was a $1, so I was relieved.  It was just me and the couple that got on the ferry with a few cars.  I pulled out the $1 bill to hand over to the money collector, but the couple stopped me and said it was on them as they handed the guy a $5 bill.  I was shocked.  We started talking, and I told them I was on a personal marathon run.  They were very supportive and told me I could use the $1 for water or a snack.  With their kind gesture, I was fueled with positivity for the second half of my run.  

From mile 16 to 20, the path had many hills that I was not prepared for.  My abdomen started hurting, and I wishfully imagined that it was the pain of my make believe abs emerging.  I continued to tell myself that all I needed to do was put one feet in front of the other.  Another thought that frequently visited was not wanting to get leg cramps.  It was very painful the last time I got them on my first marathon during mile 22, and it almost stopped me from completing the run.  I tried my best to keep hydrated and balancing my electrolytes with the energy gels that I would take every 45 minutes.  

As mile 21 approached, I was getting minor twitches in my calves, and I knew that was a sign of the cramps to come.  Every time I felt a twitch, I stopped for a few seconds to massage and stretch both calves.  The muscles were as hard as a rock.  I had to repeat this process between mile 22 to 23.  I noticed that my bottled water was almost gone.  With every water fountain I found, I imagined it as Mario's question mark blocks to help me level up.  

Once mile 23 started, the twitches went away and I was able to run a regular pace without stopping.  I was relieved.  There was only 5K distance left to my goal.  My legs were in pain, and I could feel my upper body was very tense.  Throughout the run, I tried my best not to swing my arms too much to conserve energy.  I reached mile 25 with only 3% of battery life left.  I had to make a decision to turn off the app.  At that time, I also ran out of energy gels, so my energy was depleted.  I could not run my last 1.2 miles.  It was disappointing, but I tried my best to speed walk it back.  I felt light headed, so I knew walking was a good idea.  

It was a relief when I got home.  I immediately went to the kitchen to drink the gatorade and started making a smoothy.  My body was craving food.  I sat down and got my feet elevated; it was the best feeling.  I was surprised I was able to get through the run, but Dean Karnaze's words were repeating in my head throughout the rough parts of the journey.  I wondered if I could also become an ultra marathon runner.  With only 1% of battery life, I took one last photo.  I started the run with a smile, and I ended the run with an even bigger smile.  

WARNING:  If it is your first marathon, look for a beginners training schedule.  Do not attempt to run a marathon with one week of training. Your body will thank you later.