Week 10 of 16: Where are all the guys, and yet another a video (or two, or three ...)

Just an observation: With very few exceptions (shockingly few, actually) the males of the species have been quite absent, both in the comments section as well as with donations. So, like, what's up with that?

What's that noise? Who is that talking?

Not to worry, it's just Bart Yasso of Runner's World ... the video is the second one below ... just click on pause.

Another video!

If anything, at least this blog is entertaining in this regard.

A couple of guys from my church, Josh Garcia (camera) and Alexei Agdigos (editing and overall production), helped with a video to promote the fund-raising effort for GK. Thanks (and raised hands finger snaps) for putting in the time, guys! (Note: They are among the only men thus far to lend support, which total three fingers of either of my hand ... yep, what's up with the rest of you guys?)

Check out the vid (and praise God the hair is growing out):



In case anyone was interested in the music, plus to give the band a plug, that was "The Way" by Telecast, off their debut CD "Beauty of Simplicity" a few years back.

So, just to recap, that's $2,300 to build a home for a family in the Philippines through Gawad Kalinga. As of today, we're up to $895! Awesome! And thank you so much those of you who stepped up in the past week! You, as well as everyone who has donated to this point (except for one, they are all women ... men, can you see where I'm going with this?) are truly a blessing!

To help out the cause, click here to access the fund-raising Web site. Giving online is secure through Active.com, and you will get an e-mail receipt along with the federal tax ID number to help you with deductions in April.

You can also give by check, and if that's the route you choose to go, e-mail me at alan.llavore@gmail.com (its only purpose, for now, is for GK donation inquiries).

The deadline to donate is Oct. 13, the day after the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

And in case anyone was wondering, the funds go directly to Gawad Kalinga through is U.S. foundation, ANCOP Foundation USA. Unlike other marathon teams raising money for worthy causes, your donation goes straight to GK's efforts and none go to defray race registration or travel expenses (in other words, I've paid my own way to Chicago).

So what happens if we don't hit $2,300? Well, for starters, I'd really be bummed. But even more important, a family will have to wait just a little bit longer to get a safe, secure place they can call home. And if you saw what I saw in the Philippines, you'd want to do whatever you could to alleviate the situation as soon as you could.

Also, please forward the link to this blog around to people who may be interested in helping out.

Thanks!

Q: So why run a marathon to raise money?

A: If I just came up to you and hit you up for a donation after a short presentation, would you give?

One reason why GK and other charity athletic programs are so successful is that many participants may never have given thought to running or walking a marathon or riding a bicycle for 100 miles. Motivated by a cause such as GK, that kind of enthusiasm only spreads. I mean, click on this link just to see what charities and causes are being supported by some of the nearly 40,000 participants in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12

Maybe, after Oct. 12, you just might be inspired to participate in a marathon, half marathon, triathlon or bicycle tour and support a cause, too.

Another video (or two, or three) of what Chicago may be like

This one is from Runner's World



This one is a link to a clip from "Spirit of the Marathon," a documentary about the 2005 Chicago Marathon and some of the every day people and the elite runners as they prepared for that year's race.

And finally, if I could only run this fast, is a link to the "official" course video from the BOA Chicago Marathon Web site.

Training this week and next

It's Thursday night as I write this, so I've had two runs and two gym workouts thus far. Wednesday, which was supposed to be 10 x 800 (about a half-mile) on the track at 3 mins. 30 sec. each, with a three minute rest between each set, was a total flop. Not to dis my employer, but the dirt track at Cal State San Bernardino is a mess (the university does not have a track and field team). After three sets of 800s of trying to jump over mud puddles, muddy patches and avoid ankle-breaking ruts, I gave up and ran around the perimeter of the campus. I'll hit that workout next Wednesday.

Friday, tomorrow, is an easy 8-miler.

Saturday: Maybe the hardest workout I've ever tried -- 3 x 10 kilometers, with a 1 minute break between each to hydrate and get a carbo gel down. The idea is to run the first one at about 55-54 minutes, the second at 53-52 minutes and the last one at 51 minutes or faster (at my last marathon, I hit the first 10K at that time, which is an 8:17/mile pace).

Next week
Monday: Easy 10 miles
Tuesday and Thursday: Cross-train at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at Cal State San Bernardino.
Wednesday: The 10 x 800 workout from last Wednesday ... at a track that has no mud bogs or ruts. Includes a mile or 1.5 warm up and ends with the same.
Friday: Easy 8 miles, hopefully really early before work, now that the campus goes back to a standard 5/40 work schedule (we were working 10-hour days Monday through Thursday during the summer).
Saturday: Another 20-21 miler at Bolsa Chica State Beach. It's the fourth, and last one, on the schedule.