Chicago Marathon In The Books!

my victory !

After months of training and fundraising I finally  ran in the 2013 Chicago Marathon. With the help of many supporters I was able to raise over $3600 to help fund research in the fight against blood cancers. I am extremely proud of myself for these two accomplishments and wouldn't have passed up the opportunity to join in the cause I so dearly care about. 

Next let me tell you how the race went.  first of all traveling with a baby and a hubby is an adventure in it self.  I had never traveled by airplane with a baby and it was not easy.  There is so much stuff to carry and bring.  Its enough to stress you out and it DID!  anyhow we made it to the hotel in one piece and settled in.  We then got to the race expo which was well organized and huge! I was in race over load and bought what I could and left with a tired hungry hubby and baby.  Once we left the expo of course we had Chicago style pizza and wish we ordered more. after the pizza we went to bed and had another day to go before race day, since we arrived on Friday and the race wasn't until Sunday. Anyhow Sunday came and went and we enjoyed the day and sight seen and I rested for most of it.  

The evening before the race we attended an inspiration dinner where all the participants in Sunday's race who fundraised for the leukemia and lymphoma society attended. We were reminded why we were there and are purpose for running.  To raise funds for research and now that we did our part it was time to enjoy our race on Sunday.  After dinner I prepared my gear I was to wear for race day and set out my food I would eat.  my daughter continued to be a curious little thing and was grabbing all my stuff and eating my food and I started to panic . I freaked out a bit but in the end nothing was really non replaceable before the race.   all the while restrictions of what we can and can not bring into the race was running in my mind and I was going nuts on what ifs.  I needed to just go to bed. 

Ok race day arrives and me and two of my buddies set out to race a great race. we meet up in the lobby and I pray with my buddies because I needed Jesus to be with me.  we then got to the race entry and waited in the super long lines for the bathrooms.  we made it to our corral and said if ether of us has to stop we wont wait but it was up to ourselves to catch up.  this was each others individual race.  I had a feeling we wouldn't be together for very long and I was right.

At the beginning of the race we three (Leah Ledesma, me and Jennifer Ibarra) were running great. we saw our loved ones at the 1 mile marker and were moving well.  but at 3 miles we started to spread out and by 6 miles we all were on our own. I knew this was going to happen so I was mentally prepared.  I was on par to finish at 4hrs and 40min if I stuck to my pace. come mile 12-15 I was feeling a little tired and needed a friendly face and that's when I saw my team manager Simone who cheered me on and gave me hug. that was enough to get me to keep going. 

At mile 18 I saw my coach (Tim) I was feeling awful and really was hating life.  Tim reminded me what I had on my shirt and why I was running this distance.  those words kept me going for a few more miles until the wheels came off at mile 22!  I thought I'm going to finish this under 5 hours and get a PR (personal record) then a major debilitating cramp hit on my right side and I had to sit on the side walk.  BAD IDEA apparently every runner passing me shouted "get up" patting me on the back and telling me to get up. another coach from a different organization even said "its all mental now get up!" I was in pain but forced my self up.  I saw the 4:40 pacer in eye sight and pushed forward. I kept up the pace and pushed through the wall.  I ate a small banana on the course that was offered along with a few pretzels. one coach came up to me and asked how I was and I said I need another gu, I ran out . The coach finishing up a gu in his hand says "oh I am all out"  I was ready to punch him in the face. this is now when  I had a few emotional out bursts too. so much so I cried out so loud with sobs I scared a few people and some older men came over and hugged me and said "you can do this!"another man shoved gu in my face and I took it. I thought this marathon would never end. 

By mile 24 I still was on par for a 4:40ish finish even with all the sobbing and cramping. but then boom another cramp and I was done!!! I cried out and sobbed and prayed for this to be over.  so I dug deep down and ran and stopped, walked , ran walked and so on I kept pushing myself to finish. the crowds never ended on this race, so they saw all of me crying and sobbing and yelling in pain. the crowds saw my name on my shirt and shouted " Victoria your so close" Victoria you can do this" Victoria we are so proud of you" each time they shouted out I denied it all.  I was so angry but the crowd cheered louder.  at mile 26 I had meters to go and I could barely run let alone walk and this was on a hill! my PR gone. passed the 5 hour mark for sure so I ripped off the picture I had of my sister on my shoulder and I said " Alex this is all for you baby sister.  I need to finish this. lets do this. I gave the picture a kiss and cried as I pushed forward to the finish line. I knew I needed something a little more.  As I turned the 2nd to last corner I hear "Victoria, over here!" it was scott and my baby ALEX!! I cried out wanting so badly to hug them but there was police blocking the crowd and I couldn't get too close.  but I saw them and scott said " Victoria I love you, you can do this"  I said  " I dont know how but I will" (or something its all a daze now"  then as I turned away from them a police officer looks me in the eye and says "victoria your doing great your almost there" I finally got to the final turn and see the finish . I lift my arms and with a shout " Alex this is for you"  I kiss her picture once more and move to the finish.  I didn't care what the clock said I finished and that's more then many could do.  

The race was big and filled with so many people and expectations.  I had an expectation to finish with a faster time but didn't .  What I did finish with was a spirit of accomplishment and a victory no one could take away.  Someday these stories will be told to my daughter and I don't want to have regrets or tell her I want to forget that race ever happened because it wasn't my best, when in reality it was my best at that time.  I left all I had out there on that race course and I tried and I won because I did what I said I would do. Raise money for cancer and run the Chicago marathon and I did.  

thank you for cheering me on !  until the next one which probably wont be for a while.  

race buddies

mile 13

so happy to be done! 

Double Digit miles!

Wow its been a while huh? I have been hearing from many of my friends about previous blogs I wrote and how inspiring they are. Really? well I guess I better get blogging....

This past weekend I finished a 10 mile run with my run buddy Jen Ibarra who is a great partner.  She listens to me complain and whine about whatever comes to me.  Since it has been two years I am a little rusty at preparing for long runs.  sure I have done a few half marathons since I had my baby, but nothing can compare to full marathon training.  Even though its 10 miles which I have done before for my half's, this ten miles doesn't mean my taper (slowing down before your race day) is near, it means the big long, time consuming miles, 14, 16, 18, 20!!! miles are coming.  Now I have to think twice about what I eat,what I drink before training, and during the week. 

Not only is the training tough at times so is the fundraising. I raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I have to raise $3500 in order to get to my marathon in Chicago.  Sure I could have gone on my own but that's not the point.  The point is while I run its my time to reflect on the world around me and how I can make it better and for me its funding cancer research.  Everyone has their call in life, some go to the far ends of the earth and preach the Gospel, others manage big businesses, while others stay at home and raise their babies.  I am a teacher and love it, I am a wife and blessed with a baby but all this can vanish in a day when cancer comes calling. I lost my sister to cancer and know the pain it has on a family.  

So I run! I run long distances and think happy thoughts and PRAY. Oh yes I pray! Some times for myself but mostly for all the people I know and have heard about. I ask God to help me be the light and today that light is directed on the ugly cancer that is in the waiting for its next victim, but I will not let it have a chance. I want to fundraise as much as I can to help those researching and making great leaps and bounds to find the best treatments and ultimately the cure. 

I look at my family and thank God for them every single day because each day is a gift.  I run for them and I run for YOU! please consider donating to my efforts.  if you have thank you, and if you could pray for the needed funding that would be great too! Click on the link to donate today. 
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/chicago13/vpon

We Are Blessed 

One more Season!!!!

Yes you heard it right I signed up for another TNT season because Cancer isn't Cured yet! 

After having my daughter and figuring out motherhood I wanted to get back to my running and I did. As I was running again with my buddies from Team In Training I missed joining the fight against cancer.  I kept thinking have I done enough? can I do more ? and I can do more, I can do one more season.  There have been one too many deaths from cancer in the past year of people I know and just today I learned another friend has been diagnosed with cancer.  Why is this happening ? The year is 2013!! haven't we progressed enough in science to find a cure yet??? 

Everyday I look at my daughter and think will she have to deal with a loved one with cancer? Will she get cancer? since the lost of my sister Alexandria I fear this and want to do everything in my ability to not have to fear it.  Which is why I run with Team In Training to support an organization that does research to find a cure. This season I will be training for the Chicago Full marathon in October and hope to raise a lot of money and see friends win their battle with cancer.

Please consider joining me in this fight,  donate today and stop this horrible disease from taking another loved one.http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/chicago13/vpon

She has arrived!!! welcome to the world Alexandria Meilin Pon

Alexandria Meilin Pon
born April 10, 2012 at 11:29 am
6lbs 13oz 18 inch long 

It has been a while since I have written a blog and since I have a moment while my little one sleeps I figured time to write.  My last blog was about my final race before I took a sabbatical but then got a chance to run in the Nike Women Marathon a few weeks later I ran that and then stopped racing.  All through out my pregnancy I continued to run until about 6 months and after I couldn't run anymore I continued to go to the gym and work out all the way up until Alexandria was born.  I think because of my exercise and staying  on track with what the doctors asked and watching as much as I could what went in my mouth I had a pretty good pregnancy.  

daddy, mommy and baby!


The road to giving birth to Alexandria didn't have many bumps but the major one was Alexandria being in the breech position at 36 weeks and because of this a natural labor was out of the question and a c-section was needed.  many advised me to have her turned by doctors or try alternative medicine.  I opted not to have baby turned by doctors due to high risks and it didn't sound right.  I did try alternative medicine such as chiropractic care and muscle and pressure point therapy.  Of course nothing worked and Alexandria stayed breech and the c-section was scheduled for April 10th 2012.  

Me, Alex and Dr. Kimberly Lee

                                              


I was  blessed to have my doctor perform the surgery and it to go so smoothly.  I was told by so many people how rough c-sections could be and what will happen.  I was very thankful to know all this and mentally prepare for the c-section.  I prayed for comfort and the strength to do this and God truly answered.  My c-section was to me easy! no vomiting, no allergic reaction to the epidural, and it was only 1hr and 15 mins total.  My husband was by my side and together we waited to hear our baby cry.  as we waited for Alex to come to this world Scott talked to me to get my mind off the surgery (since I was awake for the c-section) we talked about the races I would do, and where I will run next.  while we talked Alex was born at 11:29am on April 10th 2012 and came out with her arms in the air as if she finished a race, just like her mommy would do after all her races.  Alex weighted in at 6lbs 13oz and 18 inch long.  


we stayed at the hospital for about four days and then took our baby home.  since I had a c-section my recover is a little longer then a normal labor would be.  since our home is two stories I am to stay downstairs and not climb them until about 2 weeks after the c-section.  so we moved downstairs and are learning how to care for a infant.  It continues to be a learning curve but my natural instincts as a mother has kicked in and moving right along.  Scott as well is learning but so happy to be a daddy and I have enjoyed watching him love on our daughter.  
while we learned how to care for our infant my grandmother Elida Yebra (my mom's mom) discovered an infection and kidney stones and along with that had a mild stroke the day after Alex was born.  So many family members ran to grandma's side and I was stuck and couldn't share my blessing with her until grandma got better.  after much prayer and a long hospital stay for grandma she was released to go home and return for potential surgery for the kidney stone removal possibly later this week.  needless to stay grandma is getting better and staying strong and she will get to see her great grand baby!

Great Grandma Yebra finally meets Alex

Alexandria Meilin is a blessing from above and has been prayed for before conception and is loved.  God is good and with out Him none of this would come to be.  Thank you family and friends for your support, love and care.  

Psalm 139:14

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.wonderful are your works; my soul knows it well."

The Pon Family 

Yes I am OK! Just taking a walk break

just before we started our race 

Robin and Mary our tag buddies 

Today I ran rock and Roll half in San Jose and it was a blast. my goal was to listen to my body and not over do it and to stick to my run walk system of 2 mins run and 2 mins walk. My friend Maria from work also ran with me and it was her first 1/2 marathon . I knew if I ran with Maria who was a newbie at this would keep me at a good pace. Not once during this race did I feel out of breath or extremely tired. I did start to feel sore in my legs and butt (why who knows) and Maria and I stopped a few times to stretch. The whole time I keep thinking wow this is easy I love this pace and I dont care if people pass me. I did see many friends on the side lines and in the race that I got to thank and cheer on. Around mile 2 or so we ran into my friend Robin and Mary and played tag with them until mile 8 or so. The best part was the cheering from my friends on the sidelines such as Stan who was one of my coaches two years back who cheered me on. The next cheer group was my awesome TNT peeps who were loud and crazy with their cow bells which were at mile 5 or so and they just gave me energy to keep going and to keep my friend Maria going to.

cow bell crew Jen janine and leah but many others not here

approaching mile 12 

As we continued on I started to see more TNT peeps and they looked at me with this strange look and with out words asking "why are you way back here? and why are you walking so much?' finally a good TNT friend Sue ran by my side and said "hi Victoria how are you ? are you doing alright?" with such concern I couldnt hold my secret anymore I shared with her "well I am taking it easy because I am 12 weeks pregnant!!!" I got this big hug from Sue and yet again great support from my awesome friends. I loved sharing my friends with Maria and showing her what it means to run in a race with great support. The next funny look I got was from my friend Mike Z who asked "are you OK?" I laughed and said "yes I am just taking a walk break" I was so surprised with myself and how well I was feeling and good thing too because my friend Maria needed all the support I could give to push her to finish.

mile 10 looking strong 

Around mile 10 my running buddy Maria was feeling the miles and was falling behind but I kept our pace and cheered her on to keep it up. I was so proud of Maria and her will power to keep going. Once I reached close to mile 12 I saw my crazy friends again , the cow bell team and they gave me that boost of energy I needed to keep going. My friend Sue who was out supporting joined me for the next mile or so and ran with me while I cheered every so often to Maria who was falling behind to keep going. Finally we got to the last mile and I was met with my good luck charm Coach Tim who has been there for almost all of my races and once again I shared my secret with him since he knew of Scott and I's struggle to get pregnant. I got a great big hug and encouragement to finish. I Told Maria to run a bit more and she did until we hit the alameda and Maria looked as if she was done. I could have kept running but I wanted to run Maria into her first 1/2 marathon finish so I made a deal with her. The deal was we can walk until we get to the left turn to the finish and then we are going to run in and finish strong. Maria was not looking like she wanted to run when we got to the turn. I grabed her hand and said lets go! I cheered her into the finish shouting " you got this Maria, your a strong mama you can do this, reach deep and push forward almost there" needless to say we finished strong and we celebrated Maria's first Half with a big hug . It was the best moment to be at and I was so proud of my friend Maria and myself.

we finished

Our time wasnt my personal best but its a record to break for Maria and I am proud of that. we finished in 3 hours and 17 min and 10 sec. Now its time for me to slow done hang up my race shoes and pick up some baby booties and grow my baby. until next season run buddies I will see you on the sidelines cheering you on.

Trail to Remember

This past Saturday marked the 12 years my sister closed her eyes to this world and opened them in heaven. Many things have come to pass during these years and I still miss her which will never change. A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to join her with a few others to the Angle Island 12 k run on August 6th. I thought to my self "well that's a day I usually stay away from other people and just sit in solace" I decided to join them and change the trail race into a run to remember.

I haven't been training hard core like many of my friends since I decided to take a break from full marathons this year. But I have been training lightly by running shorter distances and walking up hills rather then charging them. This type of training I thought would not help me for this Angel Island run but it did!

As we all lined up and waited for the count down to hit the trail I reminded myself to enjoy this and take breaks whenever I felt like it. Once we started my friends were off and I trailed in the back of the pack with a smile. I smiled because the Island was soooo beautiful and because I didn't need to prove anything. I was simply here to take time and enjoy the trail and take the needed breaks I longed for when I was training for full marathons. I must say the trail didn't seem super tough. Yes there was hills big ones! but I walked them and looked around thinking of my sister and forgetting the stresses that wait for me in my daily life. I talked to people along the way and took pictures when I remembered to.

The last two miles I flew down the trail since it was down hill and it was a blast. The girl in front of me asked if I wanted to pass and I said "no your doing fine, I like this pace" I followed that girl all the way to the end. usually I want to pass people on the trail but this time I didn't I was ok being at the back of the pack. Alex I am sure was smiling along with me as I ran and hiked this Angel Island trial . It was a great day to remember her and I had her picture pinned to my water pack and a few times I looked down to see her smile in the picture just so I felt like she was

really there. I know she was.

me and friends at lunch

A Runner's Journal entry

Lets do this!

Its been a while since I last wrote here but here I am. A lot has happened since my last race as well. This recent race I ran , The Jungle Run in Los Gatos was suppose to be a great run full of fun. Well let me just say it wasn't.

Lets back up a bit into the reason why I chose to run this Jungle Run. A few months back I experienced some personal set backs and it truly rocked me emotionally and physically to the point I didn't want to run. I love to run and when I stop running and wanting to, there is a problem. I wasn't in the right frame of mind and was struggling. Struggling to find myself again and have faith God can move mountains and me. There were people there who pulled me along and encouraged me during this struggle but it was me and only me who was going to push myself forward. It took courage to say I need help and my loving husband was there to ask me "what do you want to do?" my reply "I want to run and do a race" Scott "then run, race, sign up for what ever you need to get back to yourself".

I knew I needed time to just sit and wait and once I was done feeling sorry for myself I got off the couch and ran. I picked the Jungle Run because it was the only one where I had to quickly ramp up my miles and run to prepare for a half marathon in a few short months from May. I trained and prepared for this suppose easy run. Little did I know it would be an up hill battle the whole way just like my personal struggle.

I will wave hi now cuz im finishing.

Focus....

When race day arrived I felt unsure but ready to run. I chose to do a run walk ratio of 4minute run and 1 min walk . The first Hill I took easy and it felt great but come mile 6.5 I saw how much slower I got and how heavy my legs felt; I knew this was gonna hurt. The race was quiet and everyone seemed focused. There was no crowds to cheer you on and all I had was my own demons discouraging me.

Once I realized this race is not going to be a personal record for me I changed focus and pulled from deep inside of me to push me forward. I felt alone and then told myself you are not, there are people waiting for me to finish, people running cheering me on, and God is there with me the whole way. My angles in Heaven were there too whispering "GO we are here". So I kept going all the way to the finish. clocked in at 2hrs and 20min, not my fastest time nor my slowest but its completed and now on to the next thing. Rest :) and then more running :)

This race was about healing for me and pushing away myself doubt and greatest fears. At my last church service we attended I took away one thing "GOD IS GREATER THEN MY BIGGEST FEAR" Whatever is next for me I know I need not to fear for God is there with me.

Im carrying my medal because I am

too tired to put it on.

Oh the joy of an ice bath :(