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