A Letter to Myself

12/29/2011 09:39:00 AM by Alicia A

Dear 2011 Me-

You are a badass. Four time marathoner. Super mom. Awesome sister. Incredible friend. You have a Master's Degree. You're Angie's daughter... Margie's niece... Ricardo's granddaughter. You have a legacy of strength and glory running through your veins.

Going forward, you are no longer allowed to settle for ANYone who can't keep up with you, love you, support you and push you to be more. Not in love. Not in friendship. Not anywhere. It's time to step up to the plate and hit your full potential.

I love you. Now go forth and kick some ass. Starting with your own.

Sincerely-~2012 You
2 comments

New Years Resolutioners...,

12/27/2011 09:23:00 AM by Alicia A
As a die hard gym rat, this time of year is bittersweet for me. Most
days of the year, when I get to the gym at 5:00am for my daily
workout, I know the gym will be more or less mine. I won't have to
wait, I can crank out a nice hard workout at my own pace.

This time of year, however, we KNOW we will see a huge onslaught of
resolutioners. You know... the people who will come to the gym GUNG ho to lose the weight and get in shape. You can pick them out of a lineup- shiny new gym clothes coordinated from head to toe... going BALLS out on everything they do. You just know that they won't be able
to walk for a week... and there will be hoards of them.

I try not to be judgmental. I know that four short years ago, the die
hard gym rats looked at me and scoffed. 251 pounds of pure resolution
madness. And like me, I know that some of them will actually be
successful in their resolutions. But more likely than not, most of
them will give up. Because it's hard to be healthy. It takes work to
be in shape and have a nice body.

*sigh* God grant me the strength to not push their coordinated butts
off of the machines I KNOW they will be hogging starting next
Monday...
1 comments

NYC Marathon- quick and dirty

11/08/2011 02:17:00 PM by Alicia A


Quick and dirty race recap (full version coming soon):

What started out as an amazing race- strong pace, perfect conditions- ended up being a race I finished with my heart.

Through mile 13, I was on pace to KILL my PR. At mile 13, I felt my right knee pop, and it was a struggle from then on.

The heat (who knew that 55 could feel so HOT!!) added another layer of craziness to the whole thing. I was drained from the sun, and exhausted from trying to ignore the growing pain in my knee. By mile 20 I was feeling overwhelmed and done. My knee was screaming at me to stop, and my head was considering it.

Thank God that my heart was having NONE of it. I pushed a solid run/walk pace for a few miles, then started running (slowly) again until mile 24.

At that point, the pain was intense and I wanted to puke. The crowds in Central Park were my saving grace along with knowing that SO many people I care about were watching me online. So I pushed. And pushed some more. And managed to finish in just under 5 hours.

NOT my best race. Not even close. NYC was hard in a way I NEVER expected. But I gave it my all, ran a race full of heart and determination, and finished with dignity and grace.

I'm disappointed, and yet... proud. Strange mix.

Highlights: The bridges. WOW. I am in love with the bridges. Brooklyn has some really cool neighborhoods. Manhattan... well. Yeah. The Bronx was REALLY cool- loved the salsa music and the families. I felt like I was home! And Central Park was really fun.
Overall a great race. But not one I am inclined to ever EVER want to do again. Marking this one off my bucket list. :)
5 comments

Toeing the line

10/31/2011 07:20:00 AM by Alicia A

This Sunday, I will be lucky enough to toe the line at the NYC Marathon. For those of you who have run a marathon, you know what I mean when I say there is NO feeling like it in the world. For those of you who haven't, let me enlighten you.

You wake up on marathon morning, stomach full of butterflies. Adrenaline pumping through your veins. The air feels lighter, the blood in your veins more rich.

You get ready, paying attention to the details. Glide. Deodorant. Every piece of clothing adjusted just right. You eat your first food of the day, begin to hydrate. Then you leave for the race.

And when you get there, the electricity in the air is tangible. The hum of tens of thousands of runners and their cheerleaders fills the air with an excitement that is like NO other. You snap pictures, talk with friends- and even if you're there alone, you aren't really alone because every runner there is a friend.

The national anthem is sung... and for me, it is a time when I cry and say my race prayer. The one I say before every race- big or small. The one where I ask God to give me the strength to see this through to the end with strength and dignity.

The first waves go off... you move steadily towards the starting line... towards your new destiny. Because every marathon changes you in some way, and you know that you won't be the same person at the finish line as you are at the starting line. The nervous energy continues to build as you move closer to the line. And for me, I find myself retreating into that place in my mind where my inner runner lives. I block out the world until it's just her and me. Every step moving me closer to that place where my strength lives.

And then, suddenly, it's your turn... and that line you've been flirting with for months as you train, is before you. You take that first step, and the journey begins all over again.

Toeing the line is like nothing else in this world. And Sunday, I am blessed enough to be able to do it again.
2 comments

Finding time to train

9/24/2011 06:19:00 PM by Alicia A


Sometimes, finding the topic for a blog post smacks me dead in the forehead... I got lucky and had my friends inspire this one. In the past few weeks, I've had several of my friends ask me how I find the time to train for a marathon with everything that's going on in my life.

The answer is easy.

And hard.

The truth of the matter is that I don't find the time to train. I FORCE the time to train. I make training a priority, and I don't bail on that or myself.

I train early in the morning. I train late at night. I train right after work. I train during lunch. I train anytime I can fit in the designated workout so that I don't disrupt my kids' lives, don't disrupt work, don't impede on anyone else. During the week, my usual workouts (as I get closer to the marathon) average 90 minutes to 2 hours. I run. I spin. I lift weights. I do yoga. I get massages. I push my body to its limits, and then I pamper it back again so that it forgives me enough to do the next round of testing. I push. And then I push some more. There is no passive about that... those kinds of workouts have to be forced into my schedule.

The exception to this rule is my long run. It's hard to 'fit in' a run that is 2-4 hours long... runs like that have to be scheduled in and they require a lot of help and support from the people in my life. It means that my kids have to be patient and know that our weekend activities are going to start later than they want. It means that I have to squash down my post-long run exhaustion and suck it up so that I can DO those weekend activities. But mostly it means that I am not doing this alone.

And let me mention... sometimes forcing it means forcing myself mentally too. I can't lie and say that I am jumping at the bit EVERY single time to do my scheduled workouts. Far from it. There are days where I just want to go home, put on a pair of yoga pants and a tee shirt, and veg under a warm blanket (especially now that the days are shorter, colder, and the food is more comfort styled). But giving in to that urge takes away from the goals I have set for myself. Faster marathons... running for life... keeping my mind and my body strong and healthy.

So there is the answer. I don't *find* anything... I make it happen.

*** A quick side note. To all of my friends serving both here and abroad, you have my sincere thanks and intense respect. I could never say it loud enough to resonate with the amount of appreciation I have for you guys risking your butts so that I have the freedom to run mine off. Mil gracias.
1 comments

Looking into the future

9/19/2011 12:11:00 PM by Alicia A


In just about six weeks, I will run the New York City Marathon... six weeks until I experience a race that I have wanted to do since I started running marathons. It's a landmark race. Iconic. Something so much bigger than just me.

I look at this picture, and my stomach fills with butterflies. The bridge. The people. The start of a journey I never thought I'd take through New York City.

It will be my first real time there... and what a way to do it. Intimately. Through her streets, with her people there cheering me on through each mile.

Do I have fears going in? Absolutely. The late start time has me wondering how I will fare through the middle part of the day, as opposed to my usual morning marathons. Will my mind be clear after 5 hours of waiting, or will I work myself into a frenzy of doubt and anxiety? Will my body be able to push out 26.2 after being awake that long? Will the weather cooperate?

And yet... at the end of the day, it will be the highlight of the second half of my year. Bookending my racing year on either end of the country has a symbolism to me that feels right. Capturing the crap of the rest of the year in the middle, and allowing the marathon to pull my pain and disappointment out of me... and leave it there with my sweat, tears and blood.

Oh yes. There WILL be blood. Blood pumping through my veins. Carrying my strength and endurance with me through the city like a weapon against the world. Carrying my pride with me to remind me that I earned this race. Carrying the blood of my family, my people with me, reminding me that I am not alone and I have them pushing me through the pain yet to come.

I'm ready for this. I'm excited to experience this. I can't believe it's already here. 3 more weeks of actual training, and then it's time to taper down to the race. Wow.
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CO/NM Christmas (or other holiday) Card Fundraiser!

9/07/2011 08:07:00 PM by Alicia A



Do you live in the Colorado front range, or in the Albuquerque area?

Yes??

Do you want your holiday cards to look better than THAT monstrosity?

Yes??

Well then, do I have a FUN-draiser for you!

As you know, the holidays are approaching fast... which means that the time to get your holiday card portraits taken is also coming fast!

How would you like a one hour photo session + 25 holiday cards?

You'd like that?? WELL!

I am raffling off 4, one-hour photo sessions with none other than moi as your photographer! This will also include 25 cards using the image of your choice, and all images (non water marked). And the best part? I will do your pictures on-site for you! (for Albuquerque people- I will be there the first weekend in October)... estimated value is $100 per session!

To be entered into this drawing, donate $10 or more between now and September 15th and let me know that you're donating to be included in this drawing. It's just that easy...

So what are you waiting for? GOOD pictures are expensive... here's your chance to win a session for a $10 entry!

Donate online, or email/call me to make other arrangements!

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