Margarita's Ultra Blog!

Volunteer for my Car Wash Fundraiser

2011-06-18T17:25:00.001-07:00

Hello there!

I'm doing a car wash fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Sunday June 26th in Walnut Creek. I am looking for a fewvolunteers to help out between the hours of 9 am - 11:30 am and 11:30 am - 2 pm. I'm in charge of making sure this is a successful fundraiser and it's something I've wanted to try for a long time. I've put in many hours of preparation for this fundraiser but I still need your help.

I'm asking you to donate your time, if not we'd be happy to take an online donation or cash donation to wash your car. Also looking fordonated or borrowed supplies i.e. hoses, buckets, soap, towels, sponges, etc. On top of that I still have about 150 chocolate bars to sell. They are $2 each and I have delicious milk and dark chocolate. Please don't make me have to eat them all myself! You can donate directly toultramd.blogspot.com.

Don't let this fun opportunity pass you by. Below are the details of my car wash...

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team In Training Fundraiser Carwash

Please join us in our fight to stomp

out blood cancers and find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and as an added bonus you can get a clean car.

DATE: June 26, 2011

TIME: 9 AM-2 PM

COST: $5

LOCATION: 76 Gas Station

690 Ygnacio Valley Rd

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

925-945-1158

Hope your weekend is well and Have a very Happy Father's Day!

Margarita Duran

510-755-2509

I'm training for the Skyline Ultra Marathon, 31.6 miles, to help find a cure for blood cancer.

http://ultramd.blogspot.com/

Please click on the link above to make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and keep track of my training progress.

Please come support my fundraiser

2011-04-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Book Sale Fundraiser

2011-02-24T21:48:00.001-08:00

Good evening friends, family and fellow TNT'ers!

I would like to have a book sale to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. If you have a book or several books you'd like to donate please contact me. I will take any book. You can either drop it off at my house in Pleasant Hill or I can make accommodations to come pick up your books if you're not too far away. I'd like to have the books no later than Sunday March 20th.

This is the perfect opportunity to help support my efforts of raising $1500 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. If you'd really like to donate money instead please go to my blog at ultramd.blogspot.com. Some employers double or even triple employee contributions so make sure to ask your employer if they match donations.

p.s. I'm still selling yummy milk and dark chocolate bars for $2 a piece. Get them before they're gone!

That's Gina modeling my chocolate bar. Yum!

Love ya'll!

Kickoff to Spring 2011

2011-02-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2011 was the first day of my Ultra training season. I'm on the left, Brian is the Web Captain next to me, Chris Kern is the Fundraising Captain next to Brian and Monique Winkler is one of the Coaches on the right. This season I'm not only a participant but also a Mentor for 7 East Bay participants and Honoree Captain for 3 honorees on our team. As Mentor, I help guide the participants, answer questions, organize carpools and socials, and help with fundraising. I also help report any concerns to the team manager or coaches. As Honoree Captain I keep in touch with our honorees, Laura Warren, Mark Zafra and Justin Estrada, and report back to our team. Laura Warren has had Hodgkin's twice, had breast cancer and was currently re-diagnosed with breast cancer. She's is a strong person and always has a smile on her face. I love Laura! Justin Estrada was also diagnosed with Hodgkin's, went into remission and was re-diagnosed with Hodgkin's. He recently underwent a bone marrow transplant from his sister. We are still waiting to hear the "R" word. He's doing quite well and having fun socializing with everyone on Team in Training. Mark Zafra is currently in remission! He had Hairy Cell Leukemia but has been cancer free for several years now. He has such a great story and is so inspiring. I would like to someday see a cure for all cancers. I've lost a few friends to cancer and I've learned that being on Team in Training has helped me be a better friend and more understanding of those suffering from it.

Laura Warren

Justin Estrada

Mark Zafra

Another ULTRA Fabulous Running Season

2011-02-18T20:08:00.001-08:00

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!

I've decided to join Team in Training for my 5th season. This time around not only am I going to be training for another ultra marathon, 32 miles, but also returning as East Bay Mentor and Honoree Captain. I have a lot on my plate but ready for the challenges I am facing this season.

My first and ultimate challenge is to raise $1500 by July 1st. These very important funds are to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and hodgkin's disease and to help improve the quality of life for anyone suffering from these blood cancers.

I'm extending an invitation to anyone who has run at least a half marathon to join me raise funds and train for an ultra marathon. Here's a little blurb about Team in Training's Ultra Marathon...

" The six-month ultra marathon training program consists of three phases -- base, strength-building, and distance -- tailored to multiple athletic ability levels. The team will train on scenic trails all over the Bay Area. Designed with the busy person in mind, the training calendar outlines five to six days of training per week. Most weekday workouts are 45 to 90 minutes or less, with longer workouts reserved for the weekends.To join the ultra marathon team, you should be injury-free, able to run on hills, and have a good pair of running shoes. Additional athletic prerequisites (this will be a challenging course) and gear requirements (including attire, trail running shoes and water gear) will be discussed upon registration."

If you have any questions or would like to try a trail run please contact me. It's become a passion of mine and I would love to share this experience with you. If you'd rather not please make a contribution to my website to show your support and put a smile on my face : ) Remember to check with your employer to see if you can double your donation by having them match your contribution. This will guarantee a successful fundraising season.

If you'd like to continue reading about my ULTRA journey you can catch me on my fundraising website at http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/skyline11/margaritaeduran@yahoo.com.

I will be updating my site tonight where I will be featuring yummy belgian milk and dark chocolate bars. Please place an order soon as they will be going quickly! $2 minimum per bar.

On a break

2010-11-29T20:20:00.000-08:00

It's been quite some time since I posted anything on my blog. I was going to wait to resume my blogging about ultra running till January but I found something I thought was funny and I wanted to share it with you. My next ultra season begins in January. Since my first ultra race I've only ran one marathon and have been pretty lazy since then. I read, "Born to Run", which is a fabulous book. Still working out 4 days a week to include spinning and taking a sprint fit class. Next month I plan on moving my working out up to 5 days. So here's what I wanted to share with you...

you know you're a runner when:

your first thought when you look at the weekly weather forecast is"when can i fit in my runs"

you have more running clothes than regular in the laundry pile

you smirk when non-runners ask how long your marathon is

you get an invitation to a wedding & u automatically think about what race the date will conflict with

you're always hungry

at least one of your website addresses or email addresses has the word"run"or "runner" in it

you know where your illiotibial band is

you no longer hate portaloos...in fact there have been times when you've been very happy to see one

you wear your running watch even when you're not running("it matches right?"

you've had your running shoes for 3 months & you know it's already time to replace them

you know exactly where one mile is in any direction from your front door

your runs are sometimes longer than your commute to work

your running buddies know more about your bodily functions than your significant other

you're excited for your next birthday because it means you'll be in a new age group at races

you get jealous when you're in the car & you pass runners

it hurts to spend $2 on a protein bar,but u will happily spend $30 on a tshirt just coz it says drifit on the tag

you can describe how to get from your house on a 10 mile run the short, fast way/the long ez way/the hilly way

u wish there were more hours in the day so u could run doubles

people think you're in far better shape than YOU think you are

you think the best part about 5am on Sundays is that there are fewer cars

when you hurt, you figure you'll run through it rather than visit a dr.

you believe that cake,chocolate & beer is carbing up

u generate more laundry than a newborn

you freak out when someone asks"so how was your jog" grrrrr

if u trip & fall u can pause your nano before u hit the ground

you believe that waking at 8am is sleeping in

you are not embarrassed to show someone where your hamstring"really hurts"

u always wear running shoes..yr old running shoes r now your walking shoes,you have a pair for racing,2 to alternate...a pair for trail..

you're giving someone directions & u say"its only 5k up the road"

u can say things to non runners like"its just an easy 6 miler"&mean it

you have plenty of water bottles & safety pins

you can wake up at 4am but not get to work til 9am

your spouse wants a night out,but u catch hell because u fall asleep before the movie starts

you have nooooo idea what to do with yourself on yr rest day & tapering is the only time household chores get done

you can pronounce all those funny Kenyan names

your most expensive shoes get changed at least 3 times a year

u not only eat gels,but u know the best flavor in every brand

u can forget birthdays major holiday events & anniversaries but not the date of your next race

u try to convince people to do a 5k race coz its"only"3 miles

when it hurts worse to take a shower than keep on running

your socks come in 2 categories:running/others

you have to explain to people why u cant run in the cotton tshirt u got in yr race pack

when u have a favourite icepack

u read this list..see how much it applies to u & think its normal

Race Day-Skyline 50k 2010

2010-08-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

“I am only ONE, but I am still ONE. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something.” – Helen Keller

Here I am. Cool and confident before the race around 6:15 am. I wasn't nervous about the race but I had one thing I had running through my mind over and over again. Coach Tim Corliss, from my Summer season last year, always said "Go out like a pig. Die fast". It's hard not to go out fast when it's race time. It's when all that adrenaline starts to spread all over your body and everything just becomes exciting. Then I begin to question myself at the start line and try to calm myself down. I try to re-assure myself that I'll do great. I also try to determine where is the best place to start so that I'm not too far ahead with the fast runners or too far behind so that I'm not stuck behind the slower runners. I've learned from Coach Tim that if you're in the front yes you will feel great and run fast because there's a heard of bulls ready to run you down but your energy gets depleted so quickly and it's hard to recover from that once your body gets going. Practice, practice and more practice is the only thing that will help me improve. That's why I've completed the Pirate's Cove 30k, Presidio 10, Oakland half marathon, Western States training camp, and the Double Dipsea all before my Skyline 50k race. You may think I'm crazy but I like practicing. Anyway, on to my race. Next picture.

In the picture to the right my teammates and I joined hands and listened to our honorees speak. At this point, Mark Zafra, had just given us a boost of motivation by inspiring us and telling us how much it means to him that we have had a hand in saving his life. Mark has been in remission since 2005 and has survived Hairy Cell Leukemia. I honored Mark during my race by wearing his picture on my race singlet.

Don't know if you can tell but I was getting teary-eyed also thinking of my personal honoree Socorro Jauregui who passed away earlier this year.

By-the-way, the two guys next to me are soooo fast. Wish I could keep up with them.

Our last team picture before the race.

There I go at just over 3 miles. Feeling so fresh and so clean.

This is Skyline Gate. By now I've ran about 15.5 miles and feeling good. My Coach Mark told me to slow it down for the next 5 miles so that I'd have a lot of energy for the last 8-10 miles. Supposedly those were the easiest miles of the race. I took his advice and ralked the hills.

Finally, my victory lap! As soon as I heard the crowd cheering for me across the lake I sprinted to the finish line. I couldn't wait to stop running. Although the last 8-10 miles were supposed to be the easiest, they were definitely the hardest. It's an extremely challenging goal and all you have is your mind to get you through it.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

Mental toughness is what it's all about. This is exactly what I was thinking. Why am I doing this again? Who can I think about? How many more miles? Why do I feel like this? Did I eat enough? Did I eat too much? Should I drink more water? When will I get to the finish line? How much longer is this going to take? It's so hot. I'm emotionally drained. My body is tired. I can do it. Just keep going. You can do this. You're almost there. Oh my God...I'm almost there. Just 5 more miles. I'm hyperventilating. I'm going to start to cry. No...concentrate. Wait till you get to the finish then you can cry all you want. You can do this Margarita. Mama Lisa had us do more challenging runs than this. Oh my God. There's Shawn. Good thing. Even though I'm fading and it's my last 1.25 miles I see someone I know. Shawn was great. He kept talking to me even though I wasn't talking back.

Although you probably can't tell from the picture above, I did cry. It was great proving to myself that I could do it. Everything that I was taught for the last 7 months finally came together and just like that, it was all over.

I'd like to leave this Ultra Journey with a few last thoughts. An honoree I've know for a while now, Justin, was wearing a shirt that I thought was appropriate for this event. The shirt read,

"If you think an endurance event is tough, try chemotherapy".

A MILLION THANK YOU'S TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS. EVERYTHING COUNTS. YOUR DONATIONS IN CASH OR TIME AND YOUR LOVE, THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Fw: Inspiration!

2010-07-31T13:21:00.001-07:00

One of my teammates put this video together of our ultra training season.

Here's a little inspirational video starring my ultra team...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8PTHGL_dzM

Sorry for the fuzzy pics (it gets better... then worse)

Race day info-Sunday Aug 1

2010-07-26T21:12:00.001-07:00

Hello my loved ones!

Sorry for the delayed race info that you've been so patiently waiting for. I can't really remember everyone that was interested in getting my race day info but here you go. It will be nice if you come out to support me but if you can't I completely understand. This will be a long race so if you'd only like to see me pass by for a few seconds then I will do my best to give you the play-by-play that I expect to happen.

I am running my first 50k, which is 31.65 miles, this Sunday, August 1st. It will start and finish at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. Click this link for directions to Lake Chabot http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=lake+chabot+castro+valley&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Lake+Chabot&gl=us&ei=o1FOTMjLIYfksQOu6dAP&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA. The race starts at 6:30 am for the slower runners and at 7 am for everyone else. There will be about 200 runner's plus their crew so please plan to come early to get a good parking space. The parking lot is pretty big but it will not fit everyone. If you'd like to park in the parking lot then please remember to bring cash as there is a $5 parking fee. If you don't want to pay or the lot is full then park along the street.

There are 7 water stops along the course. I will only stop if I need to get a quick bite to eat or refill my waterbottles so don't expect to see me for too long at the water stops if at all. I'm hoping my run goes smoothly. If that happens then here is where I expect to be more or less around the following times and water stops...

Grass Valley @ 7:52-7:54 am
Bort Meadow @ 8:15-8:19 am
Big Bear @ 8:52-8:57 am
Skyline Gate @ 9:52-10 am
Big Bear @ 11:03-11:13 am
Bort Meadow @ 11:40-11:52 am
Honker Bay @ 12:43-12:57 am
Finish @ 1:19-1:36 pm

For directions from water stop to water stop you can click on the race link I provided down below. Then click on Course then Aid Stations. The column that reads "Crew" would be the column you're going to be looking at. Click on the "yes" for the water stop you'd like directions to. I've never driven to these water stops so I'm not sure how good the directions are.

In case you have not been to Lake Chabot and would rather not try to find me on the course, their is a lot to do. You can fish, bbq, ride your bike, play volleyball, hiking or you can go for a nice walk.

Weather conditions can vary. The average high/low temperatures for August are 75/53 degrees F. Expect cool conditions and even fog in the morning and bright sun from mid-morning on.

If there's anything I haven't covered please feel free to email or call me. Here is the race link for more information http://www.skyline50k.us/.

One last thing, please let me know if you plan on coming to cheer me on so that I can look out for you. It will also help me get through the race to think of where I might run into you.

Love you all and wish me luck!

Margarita Duran

I'm raising money for blood cancer research and training for the Skyline 50k Ultra Marathon to raise awareness. Check out my website http://ultramd.blogspot.com or http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/skyline10/margaritaeduran@yahoo.com.

590.55 miles in the past

2010-06-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

Yes that's right. I've ran 590.55 miles since I started my season in January. Feels so good to know I'm one month away from THE race day. This weekend is a short 2.5 hour training run. No I'm not bragging, it's just that we train so hard that 2.5 hours is nothing in comparison to the following weekend. July 10th is the longest training run we have this season, 7 hours of trail running. We'll be covering part of the race course from Lake Chabot in Castro Valley to Redwood Park in the Oakland hills and back. Yes I am very nervous to even think that I'll be running for 7 hours! The most I've ran in one training is 5 hours and 15 minutes! Those 5 hours and 15 minutes covered one of the most brutal and memorable training runs at Mission Peak in San Jose.

The picture up above is of Mission Peak in San Jose. We arrived bright and early at 7:30 am to try to beat the heat. I couldn't believe how many people were there that early in the morning. It was packed by at least a hundred cars and we had to park about a quarter of a mile away. Sounds pretty silly. Anyway, my coach said we weren't going to warm up because our warm up was going up the hill. That was no hill. She lied to us. We went up and around for about 2.75 miles. My calves were on fire but I pushed on. The heat was blazing down on us for the first hour as we climbed away. Once we reached the top the weather changed. It was still hot but it was really windy. I looked down in amazement to see what I had just climbed. I couldn't believe I had climbed all that way and didn't stop. That's what ultra running is all about. We keep going no matter what challenges lie ahead.

Speaking of challenges, the team, as a whole, got lost. We ran for 7 miles before we found where we got off course. By that time half the team decided to go back because we were so low on water. The other half, including me, decided to keep going to the water stop. It was a hard decision to make because I wasn't sure if I could make it to the water stop, which was another 4 miles away. It took us about 3 hours to get to the water stop after 11 miles. Thank God for our volunteers that day. They had sponges soaked in ice water, chips, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pretzels, gummy bears, water and electrolytes and so much more. It was so nice to see them. My mentor, Ellen, was one of the water stop volunteers that day. I told her that I didn't have a good feeling about going back. I had the option to get in the car and be driven back to my car or keep going. I decided not to give up and keep going. I knew that no matter how bad I was feeling, because of the heat, I could make it that no matter how long it took me that I could do it. I don't like to be mentally defeated so all I could think of was making it back to the start. That sense of accomplishment feels so good to me. It confirms all the training I've done is working. That will get me to the finish line on August 1st at Skyline.

Click on this link if you want something funny to watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-hCuYjvw2I. If you've done a race you'll understand but for everyone else this is pretty much what you'll see after a race.

16 weeks and counting

2010-05-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Many of you are familiar with the "No Wimps" shirt. That's something we've been taught to say and have been taught to think. It's been 16 weeks of training and believe me I've had to really remind myself every week why I'm dedicating myself to this cause. I can think of many people that I've known, heard about, or just met that have inspired me to continue going. Just yesterday I had a family party at my house and my uncle invited his friends. In speaking with my uncle's friends I came to find out that they were Lymphoma survivors. Most of their family has had Lymphoma and they've all survived thus far. My uncle's friend, Charro, told me how she was told that she was not going to recover and had very little time to live. She is now in remission and she is loving life. It was wonderful to hear her story and see how much she enjoys life through her bright smile. Although she is still recovering from the chemo and radiation, she is going to do the Disney marathon later this year. I'm happy to know that the funds you've helped me raise has had a hand in helping Charro and her family. I've raised $2340 of my $2500 fundraising goal in these 16 weeks and I have several more weeks before I'm done. This is the most I've fund raised and I couldn't have done it without my special donors. Thank you!

This was my most recent run in San Anselmo at Sleepy Hallow Park. I took it nice and easy. I ran in the back of the pack because I have missed three Saturday training runs. The first Saturday I missed I was in Las Vegas visiting my father that had quadruple bypass surgery and a heart valve replaced. This was out-of-the-blue and I had to stop what I was doing to go be with my dad. I've always wondered what would happen if something came in the way of my training. I've wondered how it would affect me. Well, Mama Lisa, my coach, told me to take it easy while I was away. She said that I'm one of the few people that train myself the hardest and push myself. It felt really good to hear her tell me to relax a little. Unfortunately I take the training calendar very seriously. So I followed Mama Lisa's verbal training schedule while I was gone. She told me to continue with my training schedule on Wednesday. I did that but Wednesday was a 10 mile run. Not thinking anything of it I wore sandals that day. I hadn't worn sandals since last year. Guess what? I hurt my calf wearing sandals just by walking in them. I didn't trip, fall, or hit anything but I must have been clenching onto my sandals throughout the day. By late afternoon my calf was aching as if I had torn my muscle. I was a little worried. I iced and took it easy, again, for the next few days.

Well, when I returned from Las Vegas I tried to run again but my muscle hurt too much. I had a race I was looking forward to since the beginning of my season. It was a race that Team In Training had scheduled as part of our training. The race, called Quicksilver 25k, was to take place in San Jose. I did everything I could to help my calf get better but I twisted my ankle on the opposite leg the day before. It wasn't in God's plans for me to run that race. Oh well. I got to sleep in. So that was the second Saturday I missed with my team.

The third Saturday I was all better but I had a fundraising event. I was at the Oysterfest in San Francisco pouring beer all day long. All the tips were to go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I had seven lovely people donate their time to help me fund raise. Together we raised $720 in tips. Not too shabby right? Needless to say it was a long day and a lot of fun.

I missed my team and I was so happy to run with them on Saturday. I've been running on my own throughout the week and it's been quite difficult. I've learned that it takes a whole lot of motivation and determination to get through the lonely workouts every day. You see the picture to the right? Well, we saw wild chickens, wild turkeys and deers last Saturday. It was a beautiful and gorgeous day.

I'm looking forward to spending this weekend with my team again. We're going to spend the weekend in Auburn. We will be doing day 2 of the Western States Training Camp. The Western States Training Camp is a 3 day training of 70 miles total in preparation for the 100 mile race that takes place on that same course. Hundreds of ultra marathon athletes get together to learn from each other on techniques, running attire, nutrition, etc. The training weekend is split up into 30 miles Saturday, 20 miles Sunday and 20 miles Monday. After the runs they have speakers and dinner. I'm excited to be a part of this experience and learn from more experienced runners. Here's a little bit of interesting information about Western States from my coach.

"Western States is the oldest 100-mile "ultra" event; the grand-daddy of them all. That's one of the reasons that it is so hard to get a spot each year. How did it get started?

In 1974, Gordon "Gordy" Ainsleigh was the first to run the course of the Western States Endurance Run. At the time, only horses participating in the 24-hour Western States Trail Ride used the trail. When his horse went lame prior to the race, Ainsleigh decided he would run the torturous 100 miles of mountain trail from the Squaw Valley Ski Resort to Auburn, California, rather than look for another horse to ride. Ainsleigh, amazingly, completed the 'equestrian race', without a horse, in 23 hours and 47 minutes. This was the fabled beginning of the Western States Endurance Run, and the beginning of the modern sport of ultra distance trail running." This is why 100-milers (and many 100-Ks) to this day, still give out Western-style belt buckles (usually) for finishing. By the way, Gordy still runs the race after all these years and wears a number 1 bib number. I hope you get to meet him next weekend." Here is the link if you'd like to check it out http://www.ws100.com/.

Happy trails!

Training race

2010-04-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Pirate's Cove 30k

Training race? What's that? Well, prior to our 50k on August 1st we have to enter ourselves into races that will prepare us for our actual event. Since Ultra Marathoner's need to have experience prior to an Ultra Marathon we have been encouraged to do several races and have our team come support us.

The picture above was the start of my first 30k (18.6 mile) trail race at Pirate's Cove in Sausalito. I wasn't nervous but I was the only one on my team to do the 30k. I decided to focus on completing the race without getting hurt and to learn how to run a trail race. The start of the race immediately went up. There were too many of us on the trail so we had to walk and it was a pretty steep climb to begin with. I began the race almost all the way in the back of the pack. I wanted to watch the others in front of me to see when they would walk and when they would run. It helped me get through the race and preserve my energy. I did exactly what my coach, Mama Lisa, told the team to do. I kept myself well hydrated and ate every 20 minutes. I looked forward to eating and drinking every 20 minutes because I felt the electrolytes and Gu working almost immediately. It replenished my energy enough to keep going. After several miles of running I got into a groove. I was with the same runners for the rest of the race. If I wasn't ahead of them, they were ahead of me but not by much. I made sure I didn't fall back by being either in front of these people or just behind them. I spoke to one woman that had done that race before and she was in pretty good shape. It was my goal not to lose her. There was another couple that was running together and they motivated each other to keep going. The lady had an M-dot tattoo on her lower leg. I stared at that M-dot and new that she would get me through the race. Without speaking to the couple I stayed with them.

In the end I saw my other coach, Mark. Mark gave me that extra boost of energy to leave that couple behind and race to the finish line. I finished my race in 3hrs 40 min. It was nice to see most of my team cheer me in as well as my mom, grandma, aunt and boyfriend. That felt good. I was proud of myself. I was proud to have finished the most challenging race I've ever done. Soon after I went into the outside showers they had and rinsed myself off in the chilly water so that my body could get rid of the lactic acid that built up over the course of the race. I try to be as good as I can when it comes to finishing a run and suffering just a little bit more just so that I don't regret it later. Icing or chilly water on the muscles right after a run is important so that the recovery doesn't hurt so much later. On the ride home I also ate a Power bar, a tangerine and drank a soda. I've never had a soda after running but it tasted soooo gooood! It's amazing how picky I am after running and how much better food tastes. I will look at the selection of food and some of it I just can't imagine eating and normally what I do pick tastes so much better than if it was just a normal snack or meal. I want to thank everyone that came to cheer me on at this race. I always get so emotional when I think of who comes to support me. I love you all!

Time to party!!!!

2010-04-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Take a break and come enjoy Azul Lounge with me. Dance the night away.

New shoes!

2010-03-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

I just bought new shoes! I love these shoes. They only weight 6.9 oz and they feel like slippers. They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. I ran with them for them once last week for about 2.5 miles but I also used them yesterday on my long run. They were amazing! They are the most flashy shoes I've ever worn and I'd like to keep them as clean as possible but that's really not an option with trail running. They were absolutely filthy after our run yesterday so I had to hose them down when I got home.

We ran for 3 hours through Huddart Park in Redwood City. The run was led by my coach's friend, Milo. Milo is an ex-marine and he definitely trained us like a marine. I felt like I was at boot camp. He did a great job leading us through the woods and gave great advice throughout the run. He told us to begin nibbling after 20 minutes and to continue to do that throughout our long runs. A few weeks ago I had to work on hydrating myself and now I have to learn to eat during my runs. I have some shopping to do this week to replenish my training essentials. I use Nuun electrolyte tablets for my water bottles. I love it because it doesn't have very much sugar like Gatorade or Powerade. Nuun tastes more like water and keeps me from getting a "sticky" mouth while running. I have to get some Cliff Bar shot blocks. Those are also to replenish electrolytes but are chewy. I also like the Gu bites. They taste so good and have a good amount of calories in them to take during long workouts. I need to get more Powerbars as well. I like the chocolate flavor but I just discovered a new flavor that I love. It's called the Performance Energy Honey Roasted Nut. Yummy!

My fundraising is coming along well. I just place another order of 300 chocolate bars. I'm hoping to sell them within a month. So far I've raised $671 of my $2500 goal. It's been steady but I would like it to be ahead of my goal. If you know anyone that would like to purchase my chocolate bars or just donate to help out my cause please give them my information. Every single penny counts to get toward my goal of helping fight cancer and put an end to this.

My coach Mama Lisa is fighting cancer. She was just diagnosed a few months ago but she has decided to continue training us. She loves what she does and wants to be there for us. She begins her chemotherapy this week. After the scheduled chemo she will have surgery in a few months to remove the masses she has. If all goes well she will then continue on to receive radiation. I just hope that this brave woman doesn't go through the pain that my friend Socorro went through. It's not fun having cancer but I know Mama Lisa will always put a smile on her face for us. We all love and support her. She and others like her thank you for your generosity.

February summed up

2010-02-28T23:13:00.000-08:00

Inspiration Point, Tilden Park, Orinda

My goal in training with Team in Training is to raise money to find a cure for blood cancer. I am raising awareness to help fund the research needed to find a cure. The goal for my event is to raise $2500 by July 15th. So far, for the month of February, I've raised $399. First and foremost I want to thank all of you who believe in me and support me in reaching my goal. 75% of all the funds raised go toward my mission. Unfortunately, I am behind on my fundraising. To be on track I need to raise at least $417 per month. Please help me exceed that for the month of March.

I am doing my part by training for my Ultra Marathon that will be on August 1st. This past weekend we trained at Inspiration Point in Orinda. We ran for 2 hours on pavement but also through a lot of mud and sludge. I looked like I had a mud bath by the time I was done. So far I've ran 92 miles since I began training for my event. It hasn't been easy but I just think about the reason why I'm doing this and it helps me get through these challenges. I've been really tired and very gracious for my rest days. I've been eating a lot, especially salty foods. I crave salt after my long runs. I've never had that feeling before but it satisfies something my body wants.

I've learned a lot since I began training with the ultra team. The first thing is that I need to hydrate myself a lot more than I've been doing. My coach, Mama Lisa, has us weigh in and weigh out after our long runs. The first time I did it I lost 12 pounds. Can you believe it? I couldn't. This was a huge eye opener for me. I definitely have changed when and how often I hydrate myself while running.

I also learned about traversing. While I was on the run at Tennessee Valley my teammate, Craig, told me that was his favorite place to traverse. I didn't really know what that meant until I watched him bounce from side to side and down a really steep and muddy trail along the coast. As soon as I saw him do that I began to follow in the same manner and it came so easily. It made me feel so adventurous. I didn't feel the need to hold onto anything and just let myself go. Needless to say it was so much fun!

Ultra Marathoner Benefits

2010-02-22T23:33:00.000-08:00

Look at that view! That is Tennesee Valley, Mill Valley. That was where I ran on Saturday. We ran for 2.5 hours up and down and all around this valley. It was the most challenging run I've had yet. I've always been pretty competitive with myself but I had to learn on this run that I had to put that aside. I had to think about making it to the end and doing what was best for my body. I've heard several times that ultra marathoners do walk. We have to walk to conserve energy and to restore our energy when we are climbing up valleys, hills and mountains. I think I did a pretty good job at conquering Tennessee Valley. I experienced one of the most beautiful runs I've ever been on.

Inspiration Point, Orinda

2010-02-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

Inspiration Point

Today was my second long run of my season. I accidentally ran 11 miles last weekend, which was only supposed to be 10, so I just decided to only do 10 today. Well, I've also been sick since last weekend. I've been so excited to train and follow my calendar that I was just trying to ignore my ailments all week. I followed my training calendar Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but not Thursday. Thursday I was convinced I should take an extra rest day before I get too sick to train. I felt really bad about taking the day off from training but I knew it was the best thing to do. I was a wimp on Thursday. Friday, luckily, was a rest day. I didn't feel bad for taking that day off. So today I ran at Inspiration Point in Orinda, which is part of Tilden Park. Oh I dreaded running there since it's a challenging, hilly run. I'm also still sick so I was pondering taking the day off again but I didn't. Mentor Stephanie told me that I would feel better if I ran so I did it. I ran my 10 miles and thought several times about stopping to walk but I thought about my friend Socorro. Socorro's story is on the "Why I Run" page. She inspired me to keep running. I thought, why give up? She lived with unbareable pain and had no choice and she had to keep going. She inspired me not to give up. She and all those out there suffering from cancer are the reason why I run. She was a great friend and I miss her.

My first weekend of training

2010-02-08T21:38:00.000-08:00

I arrived at the Berkeley Marina at 7 am on Saturday to run 11 miles. It rained off and on and I ran through several large puddles. My shoes were even spraying out water with each step. I took 2 weeks off from working out before training for my ultra marathon because it will be a long journey and I know I will be very tired. Although it was a good idea to relax a little I was unsure of how my run would go. I did it with no problem. I was amazed at how well I performed.

I also got the chance to sell some of my Team in Training chocolate bars to my fellow teammates. They are so supportive. I am asking for a $2.00 donation if you'd like to order some.

Spring Season Kickoff

2010-01-31T14:34:00.000-08:00

This was kickoff yesterday. I arrived to meet hundreds of new participants and alumni to begin our new spring journey. My ultra team is pretty small because this is a new event for Team in Training. I'm happy to be the guinea pig for a new challenge. We are currently made of up about 17 including staff. When Mama Lisa, my coach, reviewed our training calendar I was pretty surprised to find that I'd be more committed to this than I thought. Aside from the fundraising I'm happy to get a start on, I'll be putting in 2-3 hours of training in a day to start. That will gradually increase to 4 hours or more as the season continues. In preparation for my actual event on August 1st, I will be entered into 3 races along the way. I will be dedicating my time to fundraising and training in the name of finding a cure for blood cancers. I'm happy to do whatever I can to improve the well being of those who have to endure the poking and prodding of nurses and doctors in order to save their lives. I will be running for those who can't. I will be running to make a difference. 75% of all donations goes directly towards finding a cure.

Team in Training chocolate

2010-01-24T20:36:00.000-08:00

I am excited to report that I have ordered Team in Training chocolate bars to sell as part of my fundraising efforts. These nice and creamy chocolate bars are being imported from Belgium. I know many of you out there have a sweet tooth so please feel free to order as many as possible. I will be receiving my chocolate bars in 2 weeks. I'm happy to take orders in advance. The chocolate bars are $2.00 each but if you'd like to donate more please do! I can't wait to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Babysitting and more

2010-01-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

As you all know, I'm raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while training for an ultra marathon on August 1st. Please contact me if you'd like me to provide any babysitting, pet sitting or house sitting services. The rates are negotiable but please keep in mind it's a donation going for a good cause. The money will be going towards research to find a cure for blood cancer. I am CPR certified and have several references I can provide upon request. For more information please visit my website http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/skyline10/margaritaeduran@yahoo.com.

My New Ultra Blog!!!

2010-01-21T17:50:00.000-08:00

I became a participant with Team in Training over a year ago to reach a goal I used to only dream about, to run a marathon. With the training support and inspiration I received from the awesome coaches, staff, fellow trainees and honorees I achieved that goal and so much more! My next event will be my first Ultra Marathon, a 50k Endurance Race through the trails of Redwood Park. I can’t wait!