My final run along California coast

What a beautiful place to run along the coast in Monterey! I was so blessed to have great friends at my back and a scenic route before me. Each step I took along this 13 mile training run was a reflection of how far I have come from day one of ever running. I glared at the ocean which went on for miles and back at my friends as they laughed and cheered me on ward. I had the best time on this run and I must say it was by far the most fun I have had on a run in a long time. I must mention my husband was there to support me and my team by helping at a water stop and his support always means a lot to me on these runs.

Fun group of buddies at my back

This will be my second to last post before I Toe the line at the Royal Victoria race in Canada and would like to ask you all to please send names of loved ones you would like me to run for. Every year I ask because these names bring me inspiration and strength when I run my marathons. Even if its the same name form last year send it in.

I want to thank all of you who have given to my fundraising efforts this year and if you haven't and would like to please do so today! I am soooo close to my personal goal of $3000 I need a near $100 to reach it!!!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/RoyalVic10/pon

Until next time ; Go Team!

Look at the view!

20 miles at Natural Bridges

Wow I am so glad I have finished my 20 mile training and now my mileage will go down as I prep for my marathon in October. Today going into this run I had nothing on my mind just "lets get this over with". Sue Funk joined me again for this run and it was great to have a partner for half of the run. I say half because Sue wasn't feeling well and had to turn around at mile ten. I on the other hand was feeling great and running strong until I got to mile 13. once I reached mile 13 I knew I have another 7 miles to go. I had no idea how I was going to finish this and continued my running pace I needed to meet my time goal of 3hrs and 30mins.

As I pushed myself I dug deep with in as I usually do and again I laughed because the last time I was at Santa Cruz with my sister she didn't have fun. My sister Alex had such an attitude at times and would let you know it if she didn't want to do something. so reaching into my memory bank I remembered when Alex wasn't so happy with our trip to the beach one time and as I was running today I could hear my sister saying "your on your own with this run, I didn't like it here before and now look at you running 20 miles and hating it good luck with that" I smiled and thought yeah she would say that. I ignored the thought and looked at what I loved! This run is mine today, I love the beach but my sister didnt love it like I do. In a way my sister told me to run this 20 miles for myself because I have come to love running.

Needless to say I finished my 20 miles with in 3hrs and 35mins.! and if I consider the marathon distance I just might make my goal of 4hrs and 30 something minutes with 26.2 miles. whoo hoo 4 more weeks before race day!

(The trail I ran along for about 8 miles)

Thanks again for all your support in this I am just $600 away from my goal of $3000. Together we can make a difference and stop cancer donate today !

click here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/RoyalVic10/pon

My running buddy sue on the right and friends along the way on the left!

18 miles and still going!

This past Saturday in San Francisco I ran with my Team In Training Group 18 miles. My last blog I posted how lonely I was and of course people read this and replied with "what ?? you should run with us" I felt so loved to have such a great team that not only cares about my training and fundraising but about my enjoyment too.

When I began my run Sue Funk said to join her and Lydia Sanchez since we all were running 5minutes and walking a minute. So I joined them and had a great run all the while talking about life and whatever came to mind. Sometime during the run Lydia had to make a bathroom break and was falling behind just a bit so told us to keep going since we were moving faster. We thought should we wait? we made the choice to go ahead not knowing Lydia would soon get lost on the trail. Off we went Sue and I and we did rather well but when we got to our turn around water station we checked to see if Lydia checked in and no she hadn't. We knew we had a lot of people out and our Team Manager was looking for her on her bike so we continued on our run.

At mile 16 Sue and I were feeling like crap and hating the run around Lake Merced. I wanted to be done with this run and was finding it hard to keep going. As soon as I was beginning to hate this run I ran past a shooting range. I heard the guns shooting and it triggered a memory of my sister Alex. I remembered when my dad took me and my sister to the shooting range and with every target that was put in front of my sister she was hitting them. We had a blast that day and the memory of it made me smile. I soon realized it was a reminder why I run and to keep going and finish strong and on target like my sister would want.

At Mile 17 Sue decided to walk the rest in and I said good bye and finished my 18 mile run. As I waved good bye I stepped up my pace so I could finish this run soon. As I got closer to 18 miles I realized the course was marked longer then it should be and in fact this 18 mile course is more then 18 miles it was more like 18.5 miles. Once my watch told me I completed 18 miles I slowed my run down and I started my cool down. I finished my run strong and with a smile and enjoyed a great accomplishment with some amazing friends.

By the way Lydia was later found by our Team Manager Simone and was escorted the rest of the way :)

Thanks again to all who have donated to my cause and just as a reminder to those who still plan to donate please do so soon so I can make my deadline of Sept. 20th and my goal of $3000. Click here to donate: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/RoyalVic10/pon

Me and my friends enjoying our much deserved rest.

A Trail all to Myself

Today I ran 14 miles at Waddel Creek in Santa Cruz and it went pretty well. The only downer to this run was I was alone for most of it. My usual running buddies were ether away this weekend or started at a different time. I started my run with four people but fell behind them since they were speedies and I am well, not. I later came by a few other runners who were so kind to let me join them for their 9miler. we ran together very well but I had to say good bye to them to continue on to my 14mile turn around. I felt pretty good during my run and once I reached the water fall it was a well deserved treat!

after looking at the water fall for a few minutes I decided to make my run back down the mountain. While I was running I started to get lonely and pulled out the camera to take some pictures of myself and the trail. This lasted 5 minutes and then I was done and had to just run this alone. I started to look at the beauty around me and just take in the quiet of the trail and what I was doing, Running! when I finally finished I was ready to head home and enjoy some relaxing for my legs with a bag of ice ! Others who ran this trail today took nasty falls and hurt their ankles, thumbs, legs and a few others were stung by some crazy bugs! needless to say I got pretty lucky to not having any of these things happen to me.

Thanks again for all your support and if you would still like to contribute to my fundraising please do so at http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/RoyalVic10/pon

I am still short by $800 and hope to reach my goal by the end of August so please help if you can.

A New Hope

If you’re a Star wars Fan you will recognize the title of this update. Just as in episode 4 of Stars Wars or to some the first Star wars. I too am chasing after a New Hope. I wanted to update many of you on how my training has been going for my upcoming 4th marathon (see the Star Wars Connection yet?). Yes I have a personal Goal to beat my time of 4hrs and 45min but I also have a new hope to find leading drugs to help fight against all blood cancers. I have a new hope because I continue to meet survivors and find out the new procedures and drugs that are working today! But the only way I can continue to help the process of curing cancers is to get the funding I need to continue ground breaking research. That funding can only come from you and me.

This past weekend on one of my training runs of ten miles I was thinking about many things. The first thing I thought of was my sister and who she was and what made me laugh about her and what I loved about her. I remembered her pursuit of things she desired, especially when she had a goal to travel to New York with her school. My sister Alex did everything in her ability to raise the funds she needed to get herself to New York. Man that girl did everything from car washing to recycling to house cleaning. I also remembered her attitude and the way she approached life. Alex faced life strong willed and could care less what others thought. As I continued on my ten mile run I thought to myself “I have learned a great deal from my sister even while she has left this world. She taught me to face reality and laugh at challenges and not give up”. On these long runs I get to spend time with my sister and I love it so much.

So I fight for Alex and all those who continue to fight for or lost their lives. I have a hope that one day someone in a Lab will say “I got it!” I want to be the person who helped put a cure in the hands of the dying and be able to run free without the worry of “will I ever have to face cancer with no chance of survival and will anyone I love as well?”

Please join me in my New Hope of one day finding the cure. As a friend said once before if you can’t run why not fund? To donate please follow this link http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/RoyalVic10/pon

Thanks to all who have contributed so far, be it by finances, services, and raffle prizes or by prayers and encouragement. I will keep you all posted as I continue on in the miles. I have raise so far $1940 and need to raise $3000.

With High Hopes,

Victoria Pon

These people keep me going they are the survivors !

Not meant to play in the Mud

Wow what did I get myself into? is what I asked myself when I saw what my partner saw, the hill we would have to run and ride a bike on. Let me back up a bit to explain this latest race I was in which is called "Muddy Buddy" This race consist of two people, one bike, 4 obstacle courses, 6 miles and one mud pit! What you did at this race is one buddy biked the first mile while the other ran that mile. once you completed your mile you go through an obstacle course and hop on the bike if you just ran or start running if you just biked . So both me and my buddy Jen would switch off from the bike during our six miles.

During the whole race I keep telling myself "really Victoria you signed up for this ??? Dear Lord please don't let me fall off this bike" I would also make the passing comment to runners on the road " I would rather be running then biking right now!!!"

Needless to say we finished only to have to crawl through a massive mud pit. I waited for my buddy Jen to finish her bike ride since we had to go through the mud pit together. Jen crawled like some maniac as I like a girl screamed and complained and going way too slow through the mud pit.

When we finished I looked to Jen and said " um once is enough for me this is my last Muddy Buddy" Jen agreed with me as well. I later went online and checked our time and we did rather well for being first timers at this. We finished in 1hr 35 min and 24 sec. not to shabby I might say!!!

Yes it sounds like fun from the outside but when you never really biked and your on a rough trial the whole race is tough and then your forced into this mud pit only to destroy your loved running shoes and clothes just doesn't feel good in the end. But FUNNY OH YAY!!!

Lets just say I like running and have a new respect for all you bikers!!! Now on to my marathon training and finding a cure for cancer which is so much more fun for me . Donate today to help me to my finish line in CANADA!!! http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf10/vpon

So Happy to be Done!!!

Wind and Rain cant stop me!

What a race I had in Santa Cruz Half marathon. The race began at 8am and as I stood at the start I feared I would be too cold, it would be too wet and windy. I also feared I didn't dress for this weather correctly. By mile one I took off my lovely garbage bag which warmed me so and ran at a good rhythm. I had on Capri's and a long sleeve with my TNT purple tank which had my sister Alex's name on it to remind me and others around me why I run.

The people were great who I passed and ran along side of. I had high hopes to beat my personal record of 2 hours and 7 minutes but wasn't so. As I ran thought the dirt trails I got stuck behind many people who I had to struggle to pass because of the small trail we shared. When I saw Coach Tim I knew I was far off my goal. As I said hello to Tim and ran past him he replied " what do you need ?" I said " to run faster" I laughed as I continued running knowing full well my goal was out of sight.

Two miles away from the finish I was thankful for the rain and heavy winds to have held back but then I spoke too soon. I was running along the shore and I looked to the waves and boom a wave smashes into the rocks below and sprayed my face along with others. we all laughed and said that felt great! then the winds kicked up and we all had to hold on to our hats and I nearly lost mine three times.

Once I finally saw the finish and the crowds I ran a little faster with a big smile! This was my best finish ever because no one was near me to block me. I pointed to the sky in memory of Alex and thanking God for getting me through. I then moved to the finish to hear my name "here comes Victoria Pon from San Jose" sooo excited to hear my name since I am always near too many people for them to pick my number out to read my name.

As I crossed the finish line I shouted for joy and then I heard Scott say "Victoria over here". I then gave Scott a victory kiss and we made our way to lunch with friends.

We celebrated with our TNT Alumni and had a great time and it was a great way to end our race. But wait not with out an ice bath, oy vay how I hate them but love how it helps my recovery.

next race could be Giants half in San Francisco but not sure yet. stay tuned for my next adventure!