Week 14 and 15 of 16: Food, pictures, marathon memories and boring stats ...

26.2 miles in Chicago on Oct. 12 ... check out the Bank of America Chicago Marathon by clicking here.

One more thing on fueling the runner ...

I put this first so that you can pause the video. If anyone has any ideas on how to get these Runners World vids from launching on their own, leave your ideas on the comment section below.

Treats


I like that I can have candy corn!

Fundraising update!

Wow! From just under $1,600 to $1,800 in one week! Thank you to those who contributed to helping me build a home through Gawad Kalinga for a family in the Philippines. And remember, this is not just one house, but helping to build part of a larger community with the aim of its residents becoming self-sustaining.

Here are some photos of the SoCal GK Village:

More can be seen by visiting http://gkdavao.multiply.com/photos/album/1/SoCal_Heros_Run_Socal_GKVillage to see the reason I, and the other GK Heroes, run, and the fruit of your contributions. And more on Gawad Kalinga can be found at www.gawadkalinga.org.
Here are a few more ways to learn about GK and what we do ...
HERO'S RUN 2008: LOVE the Poor
Lead Others ... be Voices to Empower the Poor
www.ancopusa.org/herosrun
www.gkherosrunlongbeach.multiply.com
Looking for more info? Want to join the cause?
E-mail: gk777herosrun@gmail.com

There is still time to donate! If 20 of you can contribute $25 each, that will put us at the $2,300 goal to build that home. If we go over, great! That will help get the fund started for another home.

To donate online:
Go to the Active.com fundraising Web page at http://www.active.com/donate/gklongbeach2008/alanllavore The good thing about donating online on the secure server is that your account, and GK's account are credited right away, and Active.com e-mails you a receipt with the federal tax ID number for your records.

To donate by check:
Leave me a note at alan.llavore@gmail.com, and I'll send you the form with all the info ... some of you may have gotten a copy on the blog update e-mail.

Thanks in advance for all you do for the poor!

And, here's a song by the David Crowder Band, called "Remedy." It's a reminder to me that, as a follower of Jesus Christ, have to put my faith into action. I can talk all the cool and intellectual theology I want, but if it never gets off the sermon notes page, if it never gets beyond the pulpit, if it never leaves the Bible study or the church, all I've done is expended air. And it's more than just telling people about Jesus ... it's also doing for others what He would do ...

"Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"

James 3:14-17, The Message paraphrase Bible by Eugene Patterson

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."

Augustine

Article:  Charity running drives team racing

Tue Sep 23, 2008    

By Elliott Denman / Special to Universal Sports

The loneliness aspect of long-distance running has never been as false as it is today. To many thousands of dedicated runners around the world, their sport has become the ultimate team game.

With the question, "Who are you running for?" being asked more frequently than ever, it’s the charity runners who are the driving force and the major impetus behind the big movement to team racing and training.

To many fans, team sports are only those where balls, pucks and other objects are passed between teammates. But, as runners everywhere now attest, that notion is simply outdated. ... 

A total field of over 45,000 is expected to run the 31st annual Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, and at least 15 percent of them will represent charities, reports Marianne Caponi, the event’s director of marketing and communications.

Read the entire article by clicking here.

Boring stats time!

I went back over the training log out of curiosity. Turns out I've logged the most miles ever this training cycle, which was fairly short as they go .. well, for me, anyway. For 3 months and one week, here are the numbers:

June 23-30: 42M
July 1-30: 155M
Aug. 1-31: 196M
Sept.1- 27: 168 (plus 10M on Sept. 29, for 178M)

Total mileage not including Oct. 1-12: 571M

RnR 2008 buildup Jan.-May: 433M (RnR PR = 4:06:38)
RnR 2007 buildup Jan.-May, includes PF Chang's Half and LA Marathon: 572M (RnR PR = 4:09:33)

Marathon story

My first marathon was the 1999 Suzuki San Diego Rock n' Roll. My Dad paid my entry fee as a Christmas present the year before, and the deal was that he would be out on Barnett Avenue, which runs very near the U.S. Postal Service building where he worked and is at about mile 25 on the current marathon course. Only, he never got a chance to cheer me on -- I had pulled a calf muscle at mile 16 and had to walk the rest of the way, and he had to get back to work (we planned that I would pass by during his lunch break).

My Dad passed away from liver cancer in June 2003, and I didn't get to run RnR again -- or any marathon for that matter -- until 2005 (I did RnR run it in 2000), which was my first marathon after his death. So when I made the turn onto Barnett that year -- after fighting off some pretty massive cramps in my quads (kinda neat: I could see the muscles moving when I wasn't) -- and saw the post office, I almost lost it emotionally, wishing he was out on the curb watching me pass. I forgot about the cramps and just dug in for the finish ... it ended up being, at that point, my fastest marathon at 4:36 (that's minus the bathroom break at mile 10.5 :-) ... official time was 4:40:42).
For Father's Day and his birthday, I left my race bib at his grave site, a sort of "thank you" -- not only for him getting me into my first marathon, but for all he continues to be for me. And it's something I've done for every San Diego RnR Marathon since ...

Marathon history

1999 San Diego Suzuki Rock n' Roll 6:25:58
2000 San Diego Suzuki Rock n' Roll 4:47:27
2002 Los Angeles Marathon 5:26:37
2005 San Diego Rock n' Roll 4:40:42
2006 Los Angeles Marathon 4:49:26
2007 Los Angeles Marathon 4:33:38
2007 San Diego Rock n' Roll 4:09:33
2008 San Diego Rock n' Roll 4:06:38

Half marathon history

2000 La Jolla Half 2:09:31
2000 Long Beach Half 2:00:31 (can't find the official results online, going off memory)
2002 San Diego Half Marathon (Carlsbad) 2:11:54
2003 Southern California Marathon (Irvine) 2:10:xx (can't find the official results online, but it was a slow race)
2006 Long Beach International City Bank Half Marathon 1:56:59
2007 P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll Half Marathon 1:56:54
2007 Long Beach International City Bank Half Marathon 1:53:27

Training this past week and this coming week ... and I'm getting antsy ...

Week 14 recap
Monday: easy 10 miles ... yep, easy 10
Tuesday and Friday: WAS to be weight training at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at Cal State San Bernardino (I'm gonna work -- again -- to get there this week ... plus I need to renew my membership for the coming year). I worked late on Tuesday and Friday, I just figured, no worries, it's the miles that count now.
Wednesday: 8-mile tempo run (2 miles warm-up; 6 miles at 10K pace just to stretch out the legs and remember what it's like to go that fast) Honestly, I felt really sluggish at the beginning, and felt (phantom) pain in the knees. Plus, it was hot, even at 6 p.m. But, overall, still within the average time for that particular workout. And, the average heart rate was lower this time around.
Thursday: 8 miles easy -- yes, really easy
Saturday: An easy 14 miles, with the last three at my planned marathon pace, just to remember what it's supposed to feel like. Actually, it was 13 miles ... which gave me a total of 40 for the week ... cut it short because the object of longer runs until Oct. 12 is just to stay loose and maintain fitness.
Sunday: rest day, with core exercises

Week 15
Monday: easy 10 miles ... yep, easy 10
Tuesday and Friday: OK, I should really get there this week, especially to renew my membership for the year ... plus some time on the rowing machine and some core stuff; likely no more weights until after I get back from Chicago.
Wednesday: LAST 8-mile tempo run (2 miles warm-up; 6 miles at 10K pace just to stretch out the legs and remember what it's like to go that fast)
Thursday: 8 miles easy
Saturday: An easy 10 miles in Long Beach with the GK Heroes. All of them will run in the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and Half Marathon, which also is on Oct. 12
Sunday: rest day, with core exercises ... start packing for Chicago!!!

Weeks 12 and 13: 'Dude, what's for dinner?' and taper quirks

(If you hear noise, again, it's the video below ... just scroll down and hit pause until you are ready to watch it ... sorry, Runner's World likes that auto play version.)

First, a huge thanks to all who contributed in the last week ... we're now at $1,575.00 ... just $725.00 short of the $2,300.00 goal that will build a home for a family in the the Philippines! Awesome job, and I thank the Lord for you, and everyone, who has given to the cause to help Gawad Kalinga make a lasting difference in the lives of the poor in the Philippines.

So that means we're in the homestretch ... we're just passing the 24-mile marker and the 40 kilometer marker is just around the corner ... the finish line is near ... and after such a long journey it's a welcome sight. This is the big push, the finishing kick, the final sprint ... if at least 29 people can contribute at least $25.00 each (figure that's a week of going without a venti mocha frappaccino or a large Jamba Juice drink or a Jumbo Jack combo meal, if you go daily), we will reach that goal. I'm hoping that we'll get there before Oct. 12, the day of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

To give, click go to the online giving page at Active.com by clicking here. To give by check, please contact me at alan.llavore@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance!

'Dude, what's for dinner?'

So today (Sunday) as the day was winding down at church, the conversation turned to food. I guess the topic came up when, in the lobby where the youth and young adults were hanging out, I saw a McDonald's large French fry container and a few Jamba Juice cups. They all know I'm a runner and currently training for the BOA Chicago Marathon, we ended up talking about fast food. In general, we talked of how we avoided Mickey D's, though the yogurt fruit parfait is OK to get. The BBQ chicken sandwich at Carl's Jr. got good marks, and so did Chipotle and Qdoba, two Mexican restaurants. Which is all making me hungry right now ...

Anyway, you might be thinking what long distance runners who are not elite (or pro) level, but very serious about the sport and work hard to do as well as they can, have in the pantry and 'fridge. Many are good about watching what they eat, and strive to eat as healthy and balanced as they can.

Then there are runners like me. Not that I totally tank on a healthy diet, but because it's just me (and Taylor, my guitar) at home, I have to hit that really fine line of healthy, good runner's fuel, and quick and easy to prepare. ... and easy to clean up after. It's really too fine a line that I often miss than hit.

But, overall, I do hit the basics: 60- to 70-percent of what I eat has to be carbohydrates because carbs are fuel for endurance athletes. No high protein diets here, despite all the stuff that you hear and see on TV and all the diet fads that you see on the best seller lists. For endurance athletes, low carb diets short us on the energy we need to train AND get through a typical day. As with anything, there are good carbs and bad carbs ... whole grain bread is a good carb ... beer (made from fermented grain) is a bad carb ... fresh (and even frozen) fruits are good carbs ... fruit-flavored gummy bears (in excess) are bad carbs ... Get the idea?

So I'll get the majority of my carbs from whole grain breads, rice and pasta, as well as fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe (my favorites), whole grain cereal (raisin bran rocks!) and oatmeal with honey drizzled over the top (on cold mornings or evenings) ... if I go fast food, like after a workout that goes too late for me to cook (then clean up after), I make sure it's a place such as Pick Up Stix or Panda Express (Chinese) or San Sei (Japanese) mostly because they give you rice in pretty big quantities ... and San Sei has an awesome teriyaki salmon dinner with grilled veggies and two salads for under $10 ... or even Baja Fresh for a grilled veggie burrito or a mango chicken chipotle salad ... not the best alternative compared to cooking at home, but the best at, say, 8:30-9 p.m. on any given night.

So that leaves 40 to 30 percent of the diet ... of the remainder, I'll go 30 to 20 percent protein (grilled or baked chicken, grilled fish, or grilled steak) and no more than 10 percent fat (nothing special there, since most processed food has fat) ... interesting thing about fat is that it, too, is energy. If you remember high school biology, you might remember learning about the great whales who feed all spring and summer, then rely on their blubber (fat stores) for energy as they migrate. But too much fat, especially in inactive people (those who don't exercise for at least 30 minutes continuously at least three times a week) is a serious health hazard. Consistent exercise helps you burn that off to healthier levels.

A typical day for me would go like this: coffee and cereal (or Pop Tarts) for breakfast; a sandwich and kettle cooked potato chips (Poore Brothers are the best!) for lunch; fruit from home (watermelon and cantaloupe) and rice and baked chicken or grilled steak for dinner ... or if I'm lazy (and didn't go fast food), cereal or oatmeal. Of course, I hydrate throughout the day, drinking as much as 2 liters or more of water, and usually a 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade.

One convenient package for me has been a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole oat bread or whole wheat bread. It's a great blend of carbs (bread and jelly), protein (peanut butter) and fat (peanut butter), especially after a long run or hard workout.

To keep me sane, though, I do allow myself treats along the way ... like last week, I had a small bag of orange slice candy (and a co-worker "made" me have some peanut M&Ms ... and week before, some Twizzlers ...yes, ow, ow, twist my arm to make me eat that stuff ... ). Since October is very close, candy corn will make its way to my desk. And a Carl's Jr. western bacon cheese burger (with fries and onion rings) is another indulgence I'll enjoy once in a while.

For an easy to understand article on fueling (sensibly), and for just good tips on eating well, click on this Running Times article. For a really cool cookbook (and a way to help two funds, The Ryan Shay Memorial Fund, named for the marathoner who died during the 2007 Olympic Trials Marathon, and the Jenny Crain "Make It Happen" Fund, for Jenny Crain, who was badly injured when struck by a car while training) check out "The Runner's Cookbook" by clicking here.

Also, check out the following video of the women from the Brooks-Hanson's marathon team during their preparation for the women's Olympic Marathon Trials in April. Note: I would not try the Red Bull-Gatorade mix ... just the thought makes my stomach seize with all that sugar.

Tapering down (a summary of last week's training and the coming week)

Tapering is both a welcome time in the training cycle as well as a difficult time.

It's welcome because you know, after 12 to 13 weeks (or 18 to 19 weeks in some cases) that training is winding down and the really hard stuff is over. Race day is just weeks away. Now it's a chance for the body to absorb the training, for little injuries to heal, for soreness to go away and to get as fresh as possible when you get to the start line.

It's difficult because race day is near, you have no really long runs on the schedule and your mind starts playing tricks on you. I tend to get a little antsy, and I also get "phantom" pains -- like, my foot would start hurting for no apparent reason, or my hip flexors will seem a little too tight and sore. There is really nothing wrong with me physically, but it's just something that has happened before the last few marathons.

The other mind game that goes on are periods of self-doubt, such as "Did I train well enough?" "Did I have enough long runs?" "Did I do enough speed work and tempo runs?" "Did I stop weight training too soon (or too late)?" Thankfully, I've kept a training log the last three years, and that keeps me from panicking.

So the training now is just to stay loose, to maintain fitness and not go stale, and just to stay sane by giving me something to do. Nothing I do now will add to my fitness for Chicago, but a lot I might do could take away from it ... so it's time to just be smart ... and stick to the plan that I drew up months ago that I know has worked for the last three marathons I've done.

Last week's training

Monday: 10 miles easy ... and an awesome nearly full moon that rose over the mountains as I turned a corner into the last mile of the workout. Kinda neat how God does that. ...

Tuesday: It was to be a weights in the gym day, but I skipped it (only the second time this season) and did about 30 minutes of core exercises at home. My abs were a little sore for the next two days after that.

Wednesday: 8-mile tempo run with 4 miles run at 7:45/mile. That seemed easy, which means a) I'm ready for Chicago and b) I need to be careful not to over-do it.

Thursday: 8 miles easy ... just concentrating on staying relaxed.

Friday: Again, was to be a weights in the gym day, but I decided to save the legs (and energy) and re-do Tuesday's core routine in advance of the last 18-miler at 6 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday: A really relaxed 18-miler with the GK Heros, where I took a mile or two to push. It was at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, just down Victory Boulevard and not too far from where I used to live in Burbank. I kept mostly to the horse paths because of the soft dirt trails, but it was challenging because of having to dodge the, uh, horsey land mines along the way. The support along the route (along Crystal Springs and onto Zoo Drive) and the post-workout food from the GK volunteers was awesome!

Sunday: No run, but some core exercises for about about 20 minutes.

This week

Monday: easy 10 miles

Tuesday: Weight training at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at Cal State San Bernardino (I'm gonna work to get there this week ... plus I need to renew my membership for the coming year).

Wednesday: 8-10 mile tempo run (2 miles warm-up; 6 or 8 miles at 10K pace just to stretch out the legs and remember what it's like to go that fast)

Thursday: 8 miles easy

Friday: Weight training at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at Cal State San Bernardino (classes at Cal State San Bernardino start on Thursday, so hopefully Friday won't be too crowded ... or I'll try to go in the early afternoon, workload permitting)

Saturday: An easy 14 miles, with the last three at my planned marathon pace, just to remember what it's supposed to feel like.

Sunday: rest day, with core exercises

Week 11 of 16: Wrapping up the hard stuff, easing into the taper

Before I get to this week's entry, props to my friend Patrick Brien, who stepped up with a donation. So ... where are the rest of you men? Just wondering ...

Now, on to our regularly scheduled blog entry:

Woohoo! If you go to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon site, at the bottom of the page, they have a countdown going. As of today, Thursday, Sept. 11, it said 30 days (and some hours and minutes ... and seconds ...)

Gotta say, I'm getting stoked 30 days out from race day. I'm coming off two really good, hard workouts: the 3 x 10K marathon simulation last Saturday and the 10 x 800 meters (also known as the Yasso 800s named after Bart Yasso ... see the video on last week's blog) workout Wednesday night. While I messed up the marathon simulation by going out too fast (the first mile was in 8 minutes ... like what was I thinking?), I was able to do some on-the-fly adjustments to keep all three sets fairly even at 53 minutes and change. The Yasso 800s were just long ... it was very dark when I finished on the track. You know the expression "we closed the nightclub," which means you stayed until the bitter end? I guess you could say I closed the track ... virtually no one was left by the time I got done. The point of the Yassos is that, given one has trained well, if you make it through all 10 800 meter sets (about a half mile each), the average time is a very good predictor of what you'll do on marathon day. I averaged about 3 minutes 40 seconds to 3:35 or so (the fastest was 3:26, the slowest 3:45). That, according to the workout, means I'm in shape to run a 3 hour, 40 minute to 3 hour 35 minute marathon.

All good on paper ... but I still have to run the race. Otherwise, what's the point?

Speaking of running the race ...

One of the recurring Bible passages that kept coming up in the last couple months, especially when I really need a kick in the rear to get going, was this:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, New International Version

In more modern-day language, we might understand it this way:

You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, The Message paraphrase by Eugene Patterson

I've subjected myself to training through the summer, which I have never really done before, and which has been the most challenging marathon build-up since my first one (when everything was the great unknown). It wasn't easy sticking to the schedule -- try running 10 miles after a long day at work, or 20 miles at 6 a.m. on a Saturday when you could easily be sleeping in. It wasn't easy to make sure I ate reasonably well (more on diet and such next week), and it wasn't easy giving up other things I would rather have been doing (like, well, sleeping). And it sure wasn't easy asking people for money, especially with gas prices going up along with other expenses. But, as the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth nearly 2,00o years ago, there was a reason to "beat my body and make it my slave," and it was more than just for the medal and T-shirt at the end of the race.

The prize is more lasting than one race. It's to call attention to the poor, more specifically, the poor in the Philippines, and the effort of Gawad Kalinga to improve their lives. A lot of people can talk about how sad it is that the less fortunate live the way they do, and that something ought to be done about it. But talking about it only goes so far. As James wrote in his letter to the churches:

Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? James 3:14-17, The Message

And then follow this idea with and equally awesome grouping of words Augustine penned:

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.

So I trained, I sacrificed (yeah, even sacrificed some of my treasure to the cause as well ... you know, live what I talk, right?) with the idea that one family will benefit from our collective effort ... yes, you are in on this, too. I can say I love the poor all I want, but if I never follow it up with tangible action, all they would have been is just empty words. I'll let you all in on a secret that was shared only with a room full of people in Antipolo back in January. I was asked to preach the last Sunday our mission team from my church was there, and one of the comments I made was that I would do what I could to be an advocate for them back in the U.S., a land that has so much more opportunity and so much more material wealth than many of them will ever experience, than many of them would even hope to imagine.

This effort is just one way I am advocating for them.

The goal remains $2,300 to build one house for one family. As of today, Thursday, Sept. 11, we are at $945. An awesome effort, and I thank the Lord for you who gave. We still have a little work to do, and the deadline is Oct. 13 to hit that goal.

To give online, please go to my fundraising page by clicking here. It is a secure server, and Active.com will e-mail you a receipt with GK's federal tax ID number for your records. (ANCOP Foundation USA is the U.S. fundraising arm for GK.)

To give by check, please write to me at alan.llavore@gmail.com, which is set up soley for this effort, and I will send you details on how you can do that.

And, please, forward the blog link and the fundraising page link to others who you think may be able to help.

Oh boy! More videos!

This is where I got the idea to run Chicago ... well, I had the idea already; this just nailed it down for me. A bunch of people I train with (at the time we were gearing up for the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon in June) got together to watch "The Spirit of the Marathon" earlier this year, and afterward, I figured, why not this year? And, thankfully, I was able to get in with GK and help out the cause at the same time. As a runner, what more could you ask for?



The movie is coming out very soon on DVD, if you are interested.

And ... A lot can go wrong in a marathon ... and sometimes it goes wrong for everyone at the same time. The 2007 Chicago Marathon was halted because of high temperatures and humidity. Check out the video from the Chicago Tribune.



Training the remainder of the week (11) and next week (12)
Friday: Here's praying I can get out the door before sunrise for an easy 8 miles ... Update: whoops, didn't quite make that one ... so Friday is the rest day, and Sunday is the easy 8 miler
Saturday: 20 miles at Bolsa Chica State Beach, the last 20 miler before Chicago (and the fourth one in this training build-up)
Sunday: Easy 8 miles

Monday: Easy 10 miles
Tuesday: Cross-train and core work at the Student Fitness and Recreation Center at Cal State San Bernardino
Wednesday: Tempo workout, 10 miles total: 2 mile warm-up, 6 miles at 10K pace, 2 mile cool down
Thursday: 8 miles easy
Friday: Cross-train and core work at the Student Fitness and Recreation Center at Cal State San Bernardino
Saturday: 18 miles at Bolsa Chica State Beach with GK (some are doing 20-23 miles, but I'm starting to taper down my mileage to get the legs fresh for Oct. 12.)

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.

Week 9 of 16: Overcoming the blahs ...

I'm not sure what it is, but the past week has just been flat in so many ways. Maybe it was the let down from our annual church summer camp, or that I ran 13 miles that Sunday evening, and followed it up with 10 miles the next night. Could be, maybe, a post-Olympic let down (like, what occupied my seldom-used TV other than that?), or just that flat spot that sometimes happens during a 16-week run-up to a marathon. Or, it could be that I looked at the fund-raising progress to $2,300 for Gawad Kalinga, and see that it hasn't budged for a couple weeks ... and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is Oct. 12.

Whatever the reason, and even though physically I feel great, I had lost a little enthusiasm, and getting on the trails or into the gym was just a workout, or just a chore, rather than being something that is a building block to a much larger effort: to raise $2,300 that would build a home for a family in the Philippines and to run a sub-4 hour marathon in Chicago (maybe even 3 hours, 30 minutes, fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon in my age group).

Then I came across this video posted by Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall and Josh Cox (BTW, he's working towards a master's in Christian apologetics at Biola, where I earned a certificate in the same discipline a few years ago).

The way I see it, the Lord used it to speak volumes to me ... maybe He will to you, too ... check it out:



Talk to any veteran marathoner, and he or she will tell you that it's a given that you'll hit dead spots in training: the legs are just dead, or you have no energy, or you're just not motivated to get out there and do the work. Mentally, emotionally and spiritually you just get that blah feeling.

It's interesting, because during the marathon, you do hit a mile, or two, or a bunch of them, where you feel like that. As you push through those flat spots in training, it prepares you to push through those rough spots on race day. And, along with just physically putting one's head down and plugging along, for me, it helps that I fall back on my relationship with Jesus Christ. Not that I watch "The Passion of the Christ" the night before a race, but, like Ryan Hall, I remember His pain and suffering for me, which was meant to restore all mankind's fellowship with God, which God designed from the very beginning, but was ruined by the fall of Adam and Eve. And, I remember grace, amazing grace, that God so freely offers all of us.

Then I figure, what's a few days of the blahs or a bad mile or two (or three) in training or in a marathon? If I can pour myself out as Jesus did, as Ryan Hall describes, both physically and spiritually, in training and on race day, and point to my Lord and Savior for bringing me through (Isaiah 40:27-31) ... well, it's pretty awesome stuff when you sit down and think about it ...

So I'm doing this because ...

The goal remains to raise $2,300 to build at least one home for a family in the Philippines (see the Aug. 10 blog entry for vids from GK as well as a mission trip I went on in January). As of today, we're STILL at $620. That's great, and I thank all those who have already donated to the cause.

But we can do better ...

And I'm praying everyone else will be listening to God's still, small voice for His direction as well. Deadline to donate will be Oct. 13 -- the day after the marathon, if you are waiting for me to finish it before contributing -- but please don't wait that long.

To give online, please click here. The advantage of giving online is that your donation is instant, and Active.com will e-mail you a receipt with GK's federal tax ID number for your records (yes, your donation is tax deductible).

However, if you can only give by check, please leave e-mail me at alan.llavore@gmail.com, and I will send you info on how you can give that way.

And don't forget ... please pass along the link to the blog and the fund-raising page to family, friends and co-workers ...

Training this week
So even though I had the blahs, I still managed to do this:
Monday: 10 miles easy
Tuesday: cross trained at Cal State San Bernardino's Student Recreation and Fitness Center
Wednesday: Tempo run, 2 mile warm-up, 6 miles at 10K pace
Thursday: cross trained, core work at home
Friday: Easy 8 miles
Saturday: 20-21 miles at Bolsa Chica Beach with GK Hero's group
Sunday: Rest day, finish up the month's study in the Book of Jonah with Jonah 4 at church (yet another object lesson to look beyond one's self).

Training next week
Monday: Easy 10 miles
Tuesday and Thursday: cross train at Cal State San Bernardino's Student Recreation and Fitness Center
Wednesday: Track work, 10 x 800 (about a half mile) at 3 mins., 30 sec pace, with 3:30 recovery
Friday: Easy 8 miles (last Friday off for the summer before Cal State San Bernardino goes back on a regular 5/40 schedule)
Saturday: 18-mile "marathon simulation" ... 3 x 6.19 mile loop, with 1 min. between each set; set 1 @ 55 mins; set 2 @ 53 mins.; set 3 @ 51 mins. or faster

Week 8 of 16: I can’t count, but that’s OK

I've been trying to number the blogs to correspond with the number of weeks until Oct. 12, the Chicago Marathon, but somewhere along the way, I miscounted. I'm actually in week 8. It doesn't affect anything other than confirm for some of you why I went into journalism instead of accounting.

Anyway, lots of stuff this week. It's been kind of busy on my end with a lot of stuff, including trying to keep up with the Olympic track and field coverage. Unfortunately, for me anyway, NBC has done a poor job of it. I still have not seen the women's 10,000 meter race from Aug. 15 online, and I couldn't wait until past midnight to see it on TV. So essentially, I've given up on that (but I did tape the women's marathon, and plan to do the same with the men's marathon). To make up for it all, flotrack.org and runnersworld.com have kept me up-to-date, and Flotrack has been really great with a lot of in-depth coverage - see the Deena Kastor vids below as an example - that the network hasn't done. (Well, except for Michael Phelps … major props to him, but aren't there other athletes competing in these games?)

More importantly, though, Christine, my daughter, sent me some pix of my granddaughter, Maya, due to make an entrance into the world on Dec. 31. Yes, the baby is a girl, and as the photos show, she's got some long legs! Here's the deal … only Maya can call me "grandpa." Good thing I have about a year or so to get used to the idea before she starts talking …

Training … 8 weeks to go!

This week's training began with a 10-miler on Monday; a day off (and laundry day!) on Tuesday; 8x800s on the track at between 3 minutes, 19 seconds to 3:32 each, plus a total of 3 miles warm up and cool down on Wednesday; weights and core work on Thursday; 10 to 12 miles early Friday; church camp Friday-Sunday in Oceanside (yay!); and for sure, an easy 8-miler on Sunday when I get home from camp.

Next week
Monday: easy 10 miles
Tuesday and Thursday: weights and core work at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at Cal State San Bernardino
Wednesday: 8-10 mile tempo run at about my 10K pace
Friday: really easy 8 miles
Saturday: 20-21 miler at Bolsa Chica State Beach with GK
Sunday: Rest day (for sure!)

The fun part about training for the Chicago Marathon is that I'm coming in to training cycle in shape rather than working to get in shape. Much of that comes from having been consistent with training for the past two years, beginning with the build up to Long Beach International Bank Half Marathon in 2006. In other words, I'm not starting from zero as I have with marathons prior to the summer of 2006.

For that reason, I've been able to run two 20-milers in training two weeks apart and really early in the training cycle, which will allow me two more workouts at that distance (along with a couple 18- and 16-milers in between). I used to dread those really long runs, but now, because I'm actually out there with a group that has water stations along the route, with people providing encouragement, it's been so much easier this time around. Even better is that we all share the same goal: to run a marathon or half marathon as a way to help the poor in the Philippines.

And it helped that Liane, who's been coordinating things for our GK run group with our coach, Gregg, had these really great pastries from Portos after last Saturday's 20-miler. (Yes, do click on the link!)

Long runs serve many purposes in marathon training. Among them is to get the body used to being out there and moving for a long time. Another is that it serves as sort of a dress rehearsal for race day by addressing a bunch of questions: how will I react to running a certain pace; can I go out at a certain pace and run the last half slightly faster; how does my body tolerate heat or cold or wind or rain; can I handle the race day sports drink; what will my refueling strategy be; will a certain pair of shorts or socks cause chafing or blisters? As one of my fellow coaches with Team in Training liked to say, the long run days help you prepare for things that can go wrong on race day. Kind of like a really long problem-solving session.

It's also a time for meditation for me. With my senior pastor on vacation this month, and me filling in for him, I've had the opportunity to teach from the Book of Jonah. Last Sunday, we were going over the third chapter of that book, and the long run the day before helped me frame the message. Mostly, during the run, Chris Tomlin's updated version of "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" kept going through my head because that was the main thrust of Jonah 3. It also helped me decide that we'd sing that song as a congregation, too.

Here's how it sounds when Chris Tomlin sings it:



Even though it's possible that I'll be running along the beach trail with a bunch of other people, there comes a point where you kind of go on auto pilot and just empty yourself before the Lord in prayer and worship. It's those times that He speaks to me in His still, small voice, to guide me through a particular problem, to help me make sense of a Scripture passage, to help me heal from whatever hurt I might be carrying, to reset my priorities, to just revel in the idea that I can run as far as I can, further than I would ever have dreamed of when I was a little kid wheezing from asthma.

It's no wonder that Ryan Hall, the Olympic marathoner, calls the roads his sanctuary.

And while running can seem like a pretty shallow, self-centered thing to do, I also think that God shows us (if we are paying attention) how we can turn it into something that brings Him glory as we help others.

Check out this video from Ryan and his friend, Josh Cox:



So, in a way, even though I haven't been entrusted with running talent to the level of Ryan Hall, I've still been given that same talent, just a little less (OK, a lot less). And it's up to me to be faithful with what I have been given, to use it to where it can do the most good - not to hoard it for myself, or to run for my own glory, or to bury it in the ground by sitting on a couch watching TV all day, but to glorify God by using it to find a way to help others.

And that's how Gawad Kalinga falls into all of this. I know, I am repeating myself, but I have to remind me, and some of you as well, that even if we don't have much, we can still help the less fortunate. God provides us with enough to do so, I believe. A lot of times, we just need to be still and listen for His voice as He directs us.

The goal remains to raise $2,300 to build at least one home for a family in the Philippines (see the last blog entry for vids from GK as well as a mission trip I went on in January). As of today, we're at $620. That's great, and I thank all those who have already donated to the cause.

And I'm praying everyone else will be listening to God's still, small voice for His direction as well.

To give online, please click here. The advantage of giving online is that your donation is instant, and Active.com will e-mail you a receipt with GK's tax ID number for your records.

However, if you can only give by check, please leave e-mail me at alan.llavore@gmail.com, and I will send you info on how you can give that way.

And don't forget ... please pass along the link to the blog and the fund-raising page to friends and family ...

Until next time … enjoy the vids and the pix of my granddaughter, Maya.

God bless you all!

Alan

P.S. In a previous blog, I mentioned that one way to raise money to donate is to collect those water and soda bottles that you may not be taking back to the recycling center to collect your CRV. I did that for two weeks, and now my car trunk, a box in the garage and a bag in the kitchen are nearly full. I guess I'll be heading over to the recycling center in a few days!

P.P.S. Again I ask, where the heck are the guys' donations and the guys' comments on the blog? Just wondering ... yeah, and callin' y'all out, too ...

Deena Kastor interview before the Olympic marathon. Hopefully this will give you and idea of what it takes to run at a world-class level.


Deena Kastor interview the day after the Olympic marathon, when she had to drop out after 3 miles when she suffered a broken foot.

Week 6 of 16: Audio visual aids

Rather than being verbose this week, I thought I would post a couple of videos that (I hope) explains why I do what I do.

First up, a YouTube vid on Gawad Kalinga:

This vid was put together by Earle Zulueta, who was one of the members of the missions team to Antipolo, Philippines, with my church in January 2008. The trip left lasting impressions on all of us. The title shot may look familiar to a lot of you ... :-)

OK ... with the Summer Olympics well underway in Beijing, here are a couple of vids by Josh Cox on U.S. Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall ... I include these because of something he said in an interview on RunnersWorld.com: "I have found that when I am running for myself, it is easy to throw in the towel when things get tough but, when I am running for others, I don't allow myself to give anything less than my best."

OK, so why am I doing this again?

It bears repeating ... if only to remind me that this is much bigger than just running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12.

The theme the GK Heroes running (and cycling) are using this year is "LOVE the Poor." The word LOVE is actually an acronym for Lead Others ... be Voices to Empower the Poor. Augustine of Hippo wrote hundreds of years ago: "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."

It's a tangible, deeper love that see injustice and seeks to correct it, that encourages people to better themselves, shows them how to do that, and in turn, to be a blessing to others.

So, while the goal is to raise $2,300 to build a home for a family in the Philippines, the long-term goal is to build communities that are self-sustaining and eventually contribute to the fabric of the nation (gawad kalinga = to build a nation).

If you haven't already (and thank you so much to those of you who already have given), please visit my fundraising page for Gawad Kalinga by clicking here. Also, please forward the link of that page and this blog to others you know so that they will have the opportunity to help, too. Spread the blessing that the Lord has given you by being a blessing to others.

On the training calendar this coming week

Last week's brief recap: took a couple days off, which were easy days on the calendar, so nothing lost, and much gained by way of recovery. Fun on the track last Wednesday, where I did six 800 meter (about a half mile) repeats at my 10K pace minus 50 seconds ... haven't had that much fun in a workout since ... since ... whoa, since high school! :-)

Monday: 8 miles easy

Tuesday and Thursday: Cross training at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at Cal State San Bernardino

Wednesday: 10-mile tempo run, 2-mile warm-up with 6 miles at slightly faster than planned marathon pace, 2-mile warm down

Friday: 8 miles really easy

Saturday: 20 miles at Bolsa Chica Beach with GK

Week 5 of 16: A fire, an earthquake, a new PowerBar favorite ... and a 20-mile run

I don't know if interesting is quite the word to describe the last week ... so I guess I might let it describe itself ...

As mentioned in the previous posting, my neighbors and I had to evacuate our apartments early last Sunday (July 27) when one of the units upstairs caught fire. Apparently electrical in origin, the firefighters were able to confine the smoldering flames to an interior wall, as opposed to a common wall the unit shared with another unit. There was one anxious moment (for me, at least) when smoke drifted above the roof line. At that point, I was thankful for renter's insurance ... and began the mental preparation to call the insurance agent as soon as it was all over. But it never got to that point (a big praise to God for that one), and Taylor (my prized Taylor 410ce acoustic guitar) and me were back home after about an hour. The smoky aroma hung around for a couple days, but Febreeze (citrus scent) is a wonderful thing. My apartment smells like an orange grove.

Thursday was the 5.4 magnitude quake that was centered near Chino Hills, which is not too far from here. I was at work, in my office, at Cal State San Bernardino. Initially, I thought the banging was someone on the roof (we've had workers up there doing whatever they do up there) ... then when the ground started rolling, I kind of sat there, looking out to Theo, our student graphics assistant, and wondering how dorky I would look if I ducked under my desk. By then the shaking stopped, and I walked out into the main office, where Sid, my boss had put on his hard hat that is part of our emergency gear (like an idiot, I left mine in my garage at home). Like a lot of people, I learned later, I contributed to overloading AT&T Wireless' network by sending out text messages to check on friends. Thankfully everyone was OK. As for me, the emergency work gear is going back in my car trunk, and I'm going restock my earthquake survival kit ... the last time that was done was shortly after 9-11.

A special treat came in the mail. Not a plug, but I've been using PowerBar products since 1991, when I was heavy into cycling. As a coach for Team In Training, I was offered the chance to join PowerBar Team Elite, which allowed me to get PowerBar products at a deep discount, plus some really cool swag. Even though I'm no long part of the PowerBar program, I still use their products, and I was really curious about some new flavors they have that supposedly are like fruit smoothies. So I ordered a box of assorted flavors: berry blast, tangy tropical and creamy citrus. Of the three, berry blast has become my new favorite, with the "traditional" wild berry now second. I guess it's kind of like having Jamba Juice without the brain freeze and the fear of it melting all over you.

Training during the week remained consistent. As I told a couple friends who asked how it was going, I haven't trained this consistently since high school cross country (my senior season in track was spent on the sideline with a bad hamstring injury). The highlight workout of the week was a 20-miler along the beach with the GK Hero's Run team, from Sunset Beach down to Newport Beach and back. It was overcast and cool, and except for a slight stomach problem (I am so thankful for restrooms every half mile or so in Huntington Beach), it was my fastest 20 miler in training. The last couple miles were pretty hard, though, I just kept telling myself this wasn't just for me, but for a family back in the Philippines who will soon move into a new home once we (yes, you guys, too!) raise $2,300 to build it for them. A friend remarked the other day that I looked really fit (I think it was the tan and the buzz haircut I'm sporting for the summer), but it is nice to know that the fitness is showing up in the workouts. I'm just praying that I'm training smart enough that the best run will be in Chicago on Oct. 12, and not in training.

The funny part was after I was done, and while I was walking around trying to wash the lactic acid out of my tired legs, I mentioned to one of the GK support crew that I really wanted to just sit on a block of ice. So she went and filled a plastic grocery bag with ice, which I thankfully placed on my quads, then hamstrings, calves and feet. It made the ride back to the Inland Empire (about a hour) much, much more bearable.

Just for fun, check this out. It's from Josh Cox, an elite-level marathoner, fellow San Diegan and a brother in the Lord. This was filmed while Josh was up in Mammoth in 2007 training with Meb Keflezighi (2004 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon and a fellow San Diegan) and Dan Browne (member of the 2004 USA Olympic marathon team). All three were training to qualify for the 2008 USA Olympic marathon team at the trials back on Nov. 3, 2007 :



OK, so why am I doing this again?

It bears repeating ... if only to remind me that this is much bigger than just running the Bank of American Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12.

The theme the GK Heroes running (and cycling) are using this year is "LOVE the Poor." The word LOVE is actually an acronym for Lead Others ... be Voices to Empower the Poor. Augustine of Hippo wrote hundreds of years ago: "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."

It's a tangible, deeper love that see injustice and seeks to correct it, that encourages people to better themselves, shows them how to do that, and in turn, to be a blessing to others.

So, while the goal is to raise $2,300 to build a home for a family in the Philippines, the long-term goal is to build communities that are self-sustaining and eventually contribute to the fabric of the nation (gawad kalinga = to build a nation).

If you haven't already (and thank you so much to those of you who already have given), please visit my fundraising page for Gawad Kalinga by clicking here. Also, please forward the link of that page and this blog to others you know so that they will have the opportunity to help, too. Spread the blessing that the Lord has given you by being a blessing to others.

And if you think that a small amount is too small to give ... well, there is no such thing ... But if you still feel that way, let me suggest this: Recruit family, friends, co-workers and collectively raise money for the cause. Think of all the water and soda you drink during the course of the week and CRV that goes unclaimed by you when you toss the plastic bottle (hopefully in the blue recycling bin). Why not collect that over, say, a couple weeks, get the CRV and then donate that to Gawad Kalinga? Get a two-for-one in the process ... help the environment and help a family with a new home.

This week's training schedule:

Monday: 8 miles
Tuesday and Thursday: cross training at Cal State San Bernardino's Student Recreation and Fitness Center
Wednesday: 6x800 meter (about a half mile) at 3:30 to 3:45 each, with about a 3 minute recovery jog between each one
Friday: 16 miles
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: 8 miles or rest

And finally ...

So far those who have donated (save one) and commented on the blog have been women. Which is great, I have no problem with that. But the observation is this: Where are the males of the species?

Just wondering ...

Weeks 3 and 4 of 16: Learning about sacrifices, pt. 2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Yes, it's been a while ... even though the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be my eighth, I've never trained for a fall marathon. While I've done fall half marathons, the training is not as intense, and I can usually let the heat of summer pass before really cranking up the miles.  And while I knew what to expect training-wise in preparing for Chicago ... well, knowing what to expect and actually experiencing it are two different things. Training through the heat in the Inland Empire, even though I run in the early morning on weekends or evenings after work, is still pretty hot. It may not be smoggy Beijing hot, but IE smoggy hot isn't exactly training in an air conditioned gym. Add to that the occasional monsoonal humidity, it can be really draining.

So I'd get home, shower, stretch, eat then sit in front of the computer to write ... and ... nothing ... a couple times I dozed off, which is kind of unusual for me, because other times of the year, I'm a little amped up from the workout and it takes me a while to wind down.

So, what's this got to do with sacrifice? 

Well, like it says in the letter to the Hebrews quoted above,  there is the idea of Jesus giving up His comfort, His throne in heaven, His human life, to go to the cross and redeem all of mankind from sin. Not to be preachy, but that's the core idea of sacrifice. He gave up something in order to have something greater happen. It's not just giving up something ... that's called abstinence, or even just giving it up. But it's giving up something near and dear to you and knowing that, at some point, something good will come of it that not only benefits you (though it may not, at least not directly), but benefits someone other than you.

That particular verse came to me in the late miles of the LA Marathon in 2006 for Team In Training.  TNT raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society It was the first marathon I ran after my Dad's death, and while I knew what to expect, I had forgotten the specific feeling of the experience. And I was feeling a lot of hurt at that point. For some reason, the phrase "for the joy set before Him endured the cross" kept coming to mind. At about mile 22 or 23, I saw the Jose family, who attend my church. Joseph Jose was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease, a blood cancer, back in 2003. But three years later, and cancer free, he stood with his family to cheer for me. And I was reminded in a very tangible way that it was for Joseph, and everyone else suffering from a blood-related cancer, that I was running a marathon. Granted, whatever pain I felt then, and feel during training now, and will feel in Chicago on Oct. 12, is nothing compared to, say, undergoing chemotherapy or living in poverty in the Philippines -- and it's definitely NOT going to the cross bearing the weight of all mankind's sin. 

But the idea, the, (ahem, CICF congregation take note) application of that passage to my daily life is to set aside my comfort for the joy of knowing, that somehow, someone will benefit from what I am doing now by training with Gawad Kalinga. I know I sound like a broken record, but I have to keep reminding myself that running Chicago just isn't for me, that training just isn't a way to stay in shape (and keep people thinking I'm much, much younger than I really am) -- that there is something much greater at stake here. Not to be melodramatic, but the idea of focusing attention on poverty, specifically poverty in the Philippines, and also do something about it, and to recruit you all to also help in a small way, reminds me that there are things much bigger than my momentary tiredness or pain from training.

The theme the GK Heroes running (and cycling) are using this year is "LOVE the Poor." The word LOVE is actually an acronym for Lead Others ... be Voices to Empower the Poor.  I like how Augustine of Hippo put it hundreds of years ago: "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."

It's a tangible, deeper love that see injustice and seeks to correct it, that encourages people to better themselves, shows them how to do that, and in turn, to be a blessing to others.

So, while the goal is to raise $2,300 to build a home for a family in the Philippines, the long-term goal is to build communities that are self-sustaining and eventually contribute to the fabric of the nation (gawad kalinga = to build a nation).

If you haven't already (and thank you so much to those of you who already have given), please visit my fundraising page for Gawad Kalinga by clicking here. Also, please forward the link of that page and this blog to others you know so that they will have the opportunity to help, too. Spread the blessing that the Lord has given you by being a blessing to others.

And if you think that a small amount is too small to give ... well, there is no such thing ... But if you still feel that way, let me suggest this: Recruit family, friends, co-workers and collectively  raise money for the cause. Think of all the water and soda you drink during the course of the week and CRV that goes unclaimed by you when you toss the plastic bottle (hopefully in the blue recycling bin). Why not collect that over, say, a couple weeks, get the CRV and then donate that to Gawad Kalinga? Get a two-for-one in the process ... help the environment and help a family with a new home.

Breaking news ... 

Some excitement this morning (Sunday, July 27) ... There was this annoying smell of smoke coming from outside my apartment at about 7:30 a.m. But I just figured it was coming from the park across the way. I had been up for an hour or so, and was getting ready to do some core exercises when there was frantic knocking on my door. Turned out that it was a police officer who was evacuating everyone in my building because an upstairs unit was on fire. 

Funny, along with grabbing my phone, I grabbed Taylor, my guitar (it's a Taylor 410ce ... those of you who know me well I think understand ... those of you who don't, yes, it's OK to laugh). Turns out the fire was in a wall in the apartment above and across from my unit. While smokey, the firefighters were able to contain it to that unit. I think the last of us were finally allowed to re-enter our apartments after about 90 minutes or so (I was allowed in after about an hour).

So along with thanking the firefighters, I'm also praising God that it wasn't any worse than it was.

The training calendar

Week 3 was pretty intense in that the week ended with an 18-mile run in the heat and humidity. That was fun ... not. But it's all good, since the weather in Chicago isn't exactly predictable. So preparing in the heat actually is a good thing.

Week 4 was a recovery week: The mileage dropped, and the workouts are not as intense, which allows the body to recovery and get stronger. Endurance athletes call it "absorbing the training."

Week 5 plan:

Monday -- 8 mile easy run

Tuesday and Thursday -- cross train at Cal State San Bernardino

Wednesday -- 8-mile tempo run (steady run at near marathon pace after 2-mile warm-up)

Friday -- easy 8 mile run

Saturday -- 18-20-mile run at Bolsa Chica State Beach with GK Heroes

Sunday -- rest