HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Sign In
  
Rough-Fit > Blog

6/3/2008

Long Beach Marathon - Team Rough-Fit!
long beach half & full marathon 2008 Welcome to the first runner’s blog for Team Long Beach Marathon (LBM)!!! My name is Marc Fernandez and I have been running ever since I met Lindsey 15 years ago She beat me running a 3 mile loop around the hills of Irvine and I vowed never to let her beat me again! (I’ve been successful for the most part, but I let her beat me every once in a while to keep her interested. Ha, ha.) This log will be posted on the Rough-Fit blog site on a regular basis. Lindsey and I trained for Comrades in 2005 and 2007 together. Comrades is a premiere 56 mile ultra-marathon in South Africa with a strict 12 hour time limit. The training regimen includes running 6 marathons and over 1,000 miles in 7 months to prepare for Comrades. That’s right, we ran a marathon a month from December to May in 2005 and 2007! As many of you know, we both finished Comrades in 2007. She beat me by 2 minutes!!! 2 minutes after 11 hours and 49 minutes of running over 56 miles. This blog is meant to share some of the things we have learned from years of training and running long distances. Whether you are an accomplished runner or a novice, the nuances of running are best learned from someone beforehand instead of learned by yourself through trial and error. You’ll have plenty of trial and error as you determine what works for your body and your style. I’m just going to try and short circuit some of the learning curve Here is how the format will flow: • I will post my runner’s log every weekend after my long run. • I will try to focus on one specific topic each week like: o Nutrition o Training o Equipment, etc. • I will post the log directly to the Rough-Fit blog at: http://www.roughfit.com/sites/Rough-Fit/Blog/default.aspx I look forward to the Saturday morning runs with you and breakfast gatherings afterwards!!!  Sincerely, Marc Fernandez North Tustin, CA 92705
Posted at 3:52 PM by Marc F. | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

12/11/2007

Week 2 Comrades Blog Post

Comrades 2008

OK, OK, I know! I am 2 days late!!!!

I had a great week this week with my brother coming down to visit with his 3 kids. (All in their 20’s)

Lindsey and I ran early Saturday morning so we could have plenty of time to visit. Well, we got back from a 2 hour 13 mile run by 9:00, and everybody is still snoozing! We go out for breakfast, one of the main reasons I run, and when we get back, they are just rousing themselves from a good night’s sleep! Oh to be young and carefree againSYMBOL 74 \f "Wingdings" \s 11

As you look at my running log you will notice I missed 2 days of running this week but managed to get all but 4 of my miles in. As you are building your base, don’t stress over not running exactly to the program or exactly to your plan. Only you can tell if your body is ready for the workout you have planned for yourself that day. Listen to the creaks and pops. Staying healthy and fit is the paramount goal!!!

So this week, I will focus on training and stretching:

  • During the week I try to train at various levels of intensity.
    • Longer runs tend to be at 85% of my race pace.
      • If I run 9:00 miles I will run at 10:00 pace.
    • Short speed work is quick and intense. Fartleks are great speed work!
      •
    • Training your body to run at both levels of intensity is important to achieve a strong balance between speed and endurance.

Next week we’ll talk about nutrition for long runs!

HYPERLINK "http://www.roughfit.com/sites/Rough-Fit/Discussion/default.aspx" http://www.roughfit.com/sites/Rough-Fit/Discussion/default.aspx

Posted at 9:56 AM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

12/3/2007

MFernandez Runner's Log #1

Comrades 2008

 

Welcome to the first weekly runners log for Team Phila Jabula!!!

 

My name is Marc Fernandez and I have been running ever since I met Lindsey 15 years agoJ (She beat me running a 3 mile loop around the hills of Irvine California and I vowed never to let her beat me again! I’ve been successful for the most part, but I let her beat me every once in a while to keep her interested. Ha, ha.) This log will be sent to Team Phila Jabula Members AND prospective Team members.

 

This weekly log is meant to share some of the things we have learned from years of training and running long distances. Most of you are already accomplished runners but the nuances of ultra running are best learned from someone beforehand instead of learned by yourself through trial and error. You’ll have plenty of trial and error as you determine what works for your body and your style. I’m just going to try and short circuit some of the learning curveJ

 

Lindsey and I trained for Comrades in 2005 together. We ran all of the daily runs and weekend races leading up to Comrades for 7 months. We ran 6 marathons and over 1,000 miles in preparation for Comrades 2005. She went to South Africa in 2005 but I could not make it due to scheduling conflicts. (Read that, my daughter’s graduation fell on the same day!)

 

With her first hand experience and knowledge of the race, and my determination not to let her beat me, we planned our trip back to Comrades in 2007. Again, we both trained for over 7 months and ran over 1,000 miles plus 5 marathons getting ready for Comrades 2007. As many of you know, we both finished and she beat me by 2 minutes!!! 2 minutes after 11 hours and 49 minutes over 56 miles. So you can see where this is going.

 

I hope you all get to join us in South Africa for Comrades 2008. I hope you all get to see me beat Lindsey across the finish line because I can’t let her win 2 years in a row!!!

 

Here is how the format will flow:

·         I will send my runners log every weekend after my long run.

·         I will try to focus on one specific topic each week like:

o        Nutrition

o        Training

o        Equipment, etc.

·         I will send the log directly to all of you via email and it will be posted on the Rough-Fit blog. http://www.roughfit.com/sites/Rough-Fit/Blog/default.aspx

·         Team Phila Jabula members can easily communicate with fellow Team members via the Rough-Fit discussion board.

http://www.roughfit.com/sites/Rough-Fit/Discussion/default.aspx

·                 Team Members should register at the following link: http://www.roughfit.com/rfwebv2/modules/membership/register.aspx

·         Team members also have access to the Rough-Fit P.O.G. system to track your daily, weekly and monthly goals as we count down towards June 2008! (More on P.O.G.s next week.) http://www.roughfit.com/rfwebv3/Member/POG/Default.aspx

 

I look forward to meeting all of you during the comings months and participating in a truly life defining event that is Comrades!!! (Pls let me know if you want to be removed from this distribution list.)

 

Sincerely,

 

Marc Fernandez

Posted at 12:28 PM by Marc F. | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

9/12/2007

100 Days left, Biggest Loser and Maintenance
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1627013,00.html It’s Biggest Loser Season again. I was delighted and thrilled to see some of the contestants had maintained their weight. On the flip side, the reality of quick weightloss gone sour was evident. The winner of the first season now hovers back around 300lbs. With a little over 100 days to go before the end of the year, the realism of yet another “new years’ resolution” potentially slipping away starts to haunt us. It’s easy to say, I can’t do it now because the holidays are near and there are all these traditions that we follow. Growing up on a farm in South Africa, we did nothing low fat (didn’t even know that existed). We had huge vegetables gardens and did fullcream milk, butter, fresh roast potatoes lathered in butter and gravy, alongside rice and two kinds of meats. We ate well, lots of sauces and yummy bread. I still LOVE that food. We also spent hours riding our horses, corralling the sheep, collecting eggs, working alongside the gardners (for fun!!!), playing soccer with the kids who lived on the farm until it was dark. Our activity level exceeded all the great food intake so we stayed lean and healthy. Then off to college and even though I played hockey, squash, swam and walked everywhere, the increased amount of book time meant I needed to consume less calories. I did not adjust – the result was 15 years of up and down dieting and gaining. Even though I remained very active, I never got a handle on the complete “lifestyle change” thing until about 7 years ago when my Dr. told me I was obese and needed to lose weight. Although I was active and had just run a marathon, it was a huge wake up call for me. I did not look back and never want to go back to the place I was. I believe that until we face the realism that weightloss is hard but maintenance is even harder, we will never truly be able to withstand the ups and downs of maintenance. You will invariable gain some lbs here and there and it is important to rapidly regroup and track your success so you can build on it one step at a time. Make a difference today, don’t wait until tomorrow. There are always 100 tomorrow’s. If we allow it, something will always get in the way of our health. And yet, it is the one thing we can not buy more of. I love the holidays, I love the food. But I now love the process of finding healthy alternatives to the traditions that impaired my health. For the past 3 years various family members have spent the holidays with me. They dined extremely well on gourmet dishes and each of them left leaner than when they arrived. My lifestyle has adjusted. When those extra pounds creep up (which they will and do), I have to adjust again. It’s not easy but I feel so much better for it and I know my inner workings thank me. One common theme of the Biggest losers is that the few who have kept the weight off have completely overhauled their lifestyles. They recognized that their current way of operating could not support them in weight maintenance and they made the choice to severe their ties to the things (jobs, people, emotions, surroundings, behaviors) that weighed them down. I encourage you to think about what’s weighing you down and preventing you from being Phila Jabula with your health. And then, severe the ties and lighten up… Love it, Do it.
Posted at 11:47 AM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

8/27/2007

Rough-Fit Hero's
I have really wrestled with the Runners World nomination because I don’t consider what I did heroic so I spent several days contemplating my unease with the nomination. This week I am in a much better place and wanted to share my thoughts with you. Firstly, I was uncomfortable with the word hero until I dug deeper into its definition – a sandwich!! OK, maybe they didn’t mean that kind of hero but rather a champion: someone who fights for a cause. I found that meaning so much more apt than imagining an Arnold Schwarzenegger type hero. But the reality is that I don’t believe one person can singularly be a hero, they’re always surrounded by a team of people to support them. Hence the name of our project was TEAM Phila Jabula, Comrades in Health. Without the team’s contribution, there were no Comrades in Health. On a larger scale, I thought that each and every Rough-Fit member was an extension of TEAM Phila Jabula – those that contributed to the fundraising before, the blanket contributions, clothes, shoes, toys, child sponsorships etc. Additionally, there are people in Rough-Fit that are champion’s everyday and it’s their sense of commitment and dedication that inspire me. Here are just a few of the projects that make you all HERO’s in your own right:
 • Jill and her passion for Relay for Life and her enormous role in Rotary. Her zest for being a part of anything that improves the greater good.
• Donna is a singular hero for championing the cause of Jason every day. I hope to see much more of Team JJ on the road. • Julie and her house building activities in Mexico.
 • Lori and her global activities to enhance the lives of children.
 • Allison and her search to find a program that initiates change at a grassroots level
 • Mary at more levels than you imagine – from packing band lunches in a Title 1 school to helping me pack Pear Packages for promoting healthy living in Tustin, to marching in the streets to raise awareness for countless efforts.
• Val for her endless support of any “greater good’ initiative and her dedication to pediatric dentistry.
• Traci, Joby, Adrienne, Tammy, Trish, Lisa, Bill, Lizzie, Scott, Janell, Nancy, Sheila for their support of numerous Rough-Fit events and activities – such as Relay for Life, Rubber Boot Race, supporting the SCC Cross Country Team etc
• The Diaz and Bell Families for their support of Rubber Boot Race.
• Tustin Family Chiropractic for their endless support of Rubber Boot Race and any other fund raising we have had!!
• The Decrona’s for their support and purchase of Rubber Boots – donating dollars to the Rubber Boot beneficiaries and then donating boots to the homeless in Santa Ana.
• Tammy, Marc, Sheila, Lori in their support for MS. • Team Phila Jabula, Bill, SD Bill, Lori, Julie, Tammy, Marc, Marc, Donna for exploring the world of my home country and going above and beyond on your vacation.
 • Jen, Lizzie, Sheila, Donna, Lori, Tammy/Marc, Julie, Bill/Mary for supporting the education and well being of a child in Africa.
 
I know there is much more good that is done by you all and this is just a sprinkling of what a small group of you do on a regular basis. Not only are you champions of the greater good but by showing up to Rough-Fit each week, you’re champions of your own health. That gift to yourself, allows you to be a greater gift to others. Thank you for all being HERO’s!!! You ROCK and make me Phila Jabula!
Posted at 9:46 AM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

8/2/2007

Celebrating Five Years of Fitness...
Wow, how time flies!! And yet so much has happened. So many lives have changed, so many have stayed the same. My last day at Intel Corporation was August 2nd, 2002. I had job offers to go to another Web Hosting Management company and my husband had just been laid off from another “Dot Com victim”. I could not find it in me to hit the streets and do something that I was no longer passionate about. We jointly decided that I would start Rough-Fit with my then personal trainer as a partner. We never imagined how much Rough-Fit would become our lives. After a few months, my business partner moved to Florida. Joby was one of the first people who I met that made me realize this “job” was going to be more than just counting push ups for people. Joby inspired me to be a better trainer, to learn more. Others joined in early January(Allison and Diane – imagine what kind of neighbor Allison is, she gave Diane Rough-Fit for Christmas) when the wind blew so hard that we could barely see or move. They were both another gift to Rough-Fit. While many have come and gone, these three individuals remain pillars of strength in Rough-Fit. They in turn have become their own pillars of strength. One night at the “old’ mosquito infested park, Lisa joined us for a butt workout. She could barely walk the next day but I think it was the swatting of mozzies on Alan’s bald head that had her convinced this was the right group for her. Lynn and Alan brought along their daughter Kerri who would show up in her pajamas and different color hair every few weeks. All have moved away but I got to go to Kerri’s graduation and was so proud of the strong, healthy, lean young lady that baked a healthy sugarless cake! I met Traci N at the then new Starbucks on Redhill, and felt like a first date – she called me from an ad in the paper. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to challenge this healthy looking boxer. She challenged herself and has broken boundaries that were hard for me to even envision back then. After 6 months, I realized I knew very little about the body and training despite my certification. I made it my mission to educate myself through the best resources available and have continued to do so. Some great memories of people like Fran and Fiona, Grace and Jenny Guernay (namesake Jenny’s Hill), Joy, Judy and Jimmy, Rick, Rean and Randy, Luli, Lisa and Larry, Marcie, Mimi and Michelle, Gerri and G, Jasmine, Julie, John, Jimmy and Jeanne, Kathy, Cathy, Kathy, Cathy, Kathy – did I say Cathy?, Leslie, Linda, Linda and Linda, Karen, Koos and Kate, Shawnie and Suzanne, Sarah and Sandra, Michelle and Michelle, Lisa M, Good Lisa, Bad Lisa, Erin and Evy. The list goes on and their faces flash before me like it was just yesterday that every one of them begrudgingly did push ups and then told me how strong they felt. It’s the folks that I see everyday that still make Rough-Fit what it is. Adrienne curled up in her chocolate mat and her detailed analysis of every chocolate there is. Bill and his yawns that signify he’s heard enough of my lectures and then goes out and does what I say anyway. He has transformed from an “I won’t do more than a 5k” person to a “I want to do the following marathongs (oops slip of the keyboard there), next year” guy. And, Marc Z who re-defined the word “nest” and like every man chose it to rhyme with chest (the politically correct version). I remember the day that Jen P came over to my house and drank and ate her first veggies since she was 2 – she gagged. At her wedding she still looked like a high school girl, this summer she is all grown up and wants to eat more fruits and veggies so she can be a good mother one day. SHE was training me to be a better swimmer - how the tables have turned. I remember almost everyone’s first 5k in Rough-Fit – except Margo who always did things in stealth mode, on her own – her first 5k and then her first tri. I remember being aghast that Mary had ZERO capability of standing on one foot in Whole Foods, now she only loses her balance when she’s talking and she got rid of those funky little things around her knees. I recall Tracy M who told me she just wanted to lose 20lbs, at Starbucks on 17th street, “then she’d be fine.” What a long road she has traveled! I remember Kathy D signing up to fix her knee and back, now she worries about her miles for her ½. I remember the first Rewards we had at my house and how overwhelmed I was by how many folks showed up, we did that twice and then couldn’t squeeze any more people into the space. I recall the generosity of so many towards the Relay for Life and how Rough-Fit members were the biggest party there – Traci N and I doing cartwheels around the track, having wheelchair races and sending people flying, cooking breakfast and the Penso family camping out with us. And all the other initiatives that people have so generously supported – Tsunami, Katrina, Kayamandi, Rubber Boot Race, Movies in the Park, Dinosaur Dash. I remember all the hikes(Whitney, Baldy, Holy Jim – which turned into Holy crap), the 5ks, the 10ks, the ½ marathons and marathons. Some great moments were the 5k in Tustin where you made your own number, the trail run where you were served soup at the end and waited for folks to start because “some people were on their way”, the many mudruns, the first OC ½ where the wind blew and the icy weather betrayed the brochure promise of “sunny California”, the Chicago marathon in blistering cold that everyone would do again, this years unforgettable Comrades experience. I could write on for hours about all the wonderful memories we have but thank heavens they’re in the newsletters so you you can read them at your leisure. I remember meeting Jeannine at the 9am class and she emphatically told me she didn’t run – she turned into one of the most amazing natural runners we’ve ever had. I believe it was destiny that she stumbled onto Rough-Fit – she continues to be a cornerstone of the Rough-Fit infrastructure and is a saint to put up with my scatterbrain ideas. I recall Tammy who also told me she didn’t run because of her knee and how I was wasting my money on registering her for Comrades and how she too is one of the most natural runners I know. She also, has achieved Sainthood in working with me! Some of the folks you don’t even see or hear about that continue to help us run a reasonably smooth operation – Susan R, Bonnie, François, Kristin, Lizzie and Koos. Triana and Ann are also two people who you never or rarely see but have been tremendous coaches for many other folks. They too have changed people’s lives. The rewards event with Karaoke, Val and the chip clip are unforgettable. Our shirts went from white v’s to grey, to white, to white with red sleeves, to blue wick away. Our flyers moved from promoting what we did to telling others what you did. If I had to sum it all up, Rough-Fit is an extended family to each of its members. Everyone is rooting for everyone to be successful in their quest for healthy living. Like family, there are days when you hate being around them and/or your trainer. I know not everyday is a day you LOVE IT at Rough-Fit but most days are great and you all still “ROUGH-FIT, DO IT.” I know nearly everyone will rebel against our guidance because it’s hard, it’s inconvenient and sometimes it’s a truth you don’t want to hear. But for those of you who continue on, my hats off to you, you exhibit one of the most important “P’s” of success – Perseverance. I have to also include in these memories Dr. Stark, “The Boys” (State of the Art), Joanne, Maria at Whole Foods Market. My sincere heartfelt thanks for making Rough-Fit what it is. Without you all, we could not exist. Once again, my final memories are of my husband who packs and unpacks the Rough-Fit Van, who packs it for the events, and unpacks it for the hikes and then rearranges the Rough-Fit room and tolerates late nights of emails, yapping and every vacation linked to a physical activity. I could never have done this without him. I encourage you to visit some of the old newsletters to rekindle some old memories that are sure to make you smile and feel “Phila Jabula” (Alive with Joy!).
Posted at 2:15 PM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

6/27/2007

San Diego Bill's Interpretation of Phila Jabula Comrades in Health Trip
June 2007 An excerpt from Bill's reflections to friends and family: As many of you know, I spent Father’s Day in South Africa running an ultramarathon called the Comrades. The race began in 1921 to honor the “comrades” who had served in WWI. What began as a uniquely white South African male experience has evolved into a national event on a par with the National Rugby team whom we happened to have watched on the eve of the race defeat Australia. No advance reading about this course can prepare one for the actual experience. I was blessed with the opportunity to join the “Phila Jabula” (“Alive with Joy” in the native Zula and Xhosa languages) team from Orange County under the leadership of Lindsey Coen-Fernandez, the founder of Rough-Fit through which she helps people expand their capacities through long distance running. Comrades is LONG distance running (56 miles) that is self-described as “The Ultimate Human Race.” In the June 2007 Runner’s World issue, Amby Burfoot describes what he considers “the world’s greatest footrace.” He wrote: “The distance alone makes Comrades intimidating. The infamous climbs make it tortuous.” Lindsey is a native South African who grew up watching the 12 hours of live TV of the race. She witnessed year in and year out the exploits of the greatest Comrades runner of all time—Bruce Fordyce. From 1982 onwards, he finished first 9 times, along the way setting the records for both the Up and the Down runs. His Down run time of 5:24 was finally broken this year. Up and Down runs? Well part of the tradition of Comrades is that in the odd-numbered years like this one, the race begins in Pietermaritzburg and winds its way to Durban, 2800’ feet lower on the shores of the Indian Ocean. In the even-numbered years, the race begins in Durban and works its way up to the former British colonial inland stronghold. Lindsey’s efforts to bring Americans who had never run a marathon, let alone an ultramarathon, to Comrades and her pairing this with working in one of the shantytowns (Kayamandi) building a prefabricated house that she and the runners had financed caught Bruce’s attention. He served as a long-distance coach (from a long distance) by e-mail. When the Phila Jabula team got to Durban days prior to the race, Bruce graciously took us on a drive of the course, a pre-race ritual that he has done for over 25 years. Talk of intimidating! Burfoot used the word tortuous to describe the course. That is an understatement. There are five “named” hills—Polly Shorts (392’ elevation gain over 1.1 miles); Inchanga (475’ elevation gain over 1.8 miles); Bothas (382’ gain in 1.4 miles); Fields (610’ in 2 miles) and Cowies (334’ in 1.3 miles). By contrast, Heartbreak Hill in Boston rises 95’ in a half-mile. The numerous “unnamed” hills were certainly no less daunting and judging by the multi-linguistic expressions of pure disgust, they were being given names that are simply unprintable in polite society. There are barely 3 miles of relatively flat surface cumulatively in the race, most of which is in the final approach through Durban’s main street to the cricket stadium where the last 600 meters are run to the delight of the crowds in the packed infield and in the stadium seats. Driving the course elicited continual expressions of incredulity; running the course made it absolutely apparent why the race is the ultimate human race. Bruce was delightful. He’s a character, laconic in his manner and delivery, developed no doubt over years of public appearances where he has transcended being a Comrades hero to being a spokesperson for many causes in South Africa and beyond. As a young runner, he wore a black armband in solidarity with the oppressed natives in pre-Apartheid times. He spoke with respect about the race and the course rather than about himself. He would give tips saying things like “whatever you do, just keep moving forward; don’t stop.” Or, “keep looking down so that you don’t trip on discarded clothing or water/energy sachels.” He might also have said, “keep looking down so you don’t get disheartened by the ever-rising or steeply descending grades that lay ahead.” Or, he’d say, “I run to the trees here and then walk” (at Fields Hill). It was never about him. Two weeks previously, I had been at the Expo for the San Diego Rock N’ Roll marathon to listen to Dean Karnazas, the ultra-marathon man, speak. It was all about him. Bruce is the genuine article. The race began in the dark in front of the Pietermaritzburg town hall. I was nearly crushed in the push to get into the assigned corral before the 5:15am cutoff. I now understand how people can get crushed to death standing up in soccer stadium riots. If you were not in the corral by the assigned time, you went to the very end of the pack of 12,000 runners. No big deal, you say, for your time is measured from when your chip crosses the start. Oh, not so. A Comrades tradition is that runners have 12 hours to complete the course from the sounding of the starting cannon. In fact, there is great drama associated with the 12 hour cut-off time. As the 5:30pm approaches, the director of the Comrades Association takes a stance at the finish line facing the runners that have entered the stadium and are doing everything in their power to finish in 11:59:59 or better, and with upraised arm points a starter’s pistol heavenward. The crowd begins the agonizing countdown even as it tries to urge the gasping runners to find one more breath, one more stride, one more meter to the end. The gun goes off stranding those who have yet to cross the finish. These runners who have endured for 12 hours across the undulating hills of Kwazulu-Natal are considered non-persons, a fate shared for so long by so many in South Africa. There is no record of their effort or participation in the race. The next time they dare again to attempt Comrades will be their first race. This is one more of the unique traits of Comrades. Twelve hours earlier, the mob of runners broke into the South African national anthem. The four stanza hymn, Nikosi sikelel’ iAfrika, is in Xosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English. I had heard it ring out in the national rugby match, so I knew what I was hearing. Then multiple amplified renditions of the theme from “Chariots of Fire” play until the last minute before the mayor shoots off the cannon, when the tape recorded voice of Max Trimborn, a local runner, who to calm his nerves before the 1948 race, let loose with a rousing cock’s crow and began a tradition that has become a legacy since his death in 1985, crowed. The mob in the corral was so tightly packed that you would be hard pressed to slide a credit card between folks. It brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “global warming.” But as the race made it’s way slowly up Alan Paton Way, space gradually became apparent. Bruce had warned us that we should not discard our over-shirts until well into the early phase of the race. The frost in the grass attested to the wisdom of his words. When I tried to open an energy bar about 10 miles into the race, my fingers were so cold that I couldn’t unwrap it. But the sun rose in the east and at about 25 kilometers into the race, we had climbed to the race’s highest elevation (2854 feet) at Umlaas Road. As the sun got higher in the sky, we could see the Valley of a Thousand Hills. In 1948, Alan Paton began his landmark work, Cry, The Beloved Country, with the words: “There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa…. The grass is rich and matted, you cannot see the soil…. Stand unshod upon it, for the ground is holy, being even as it came from the Creator. Keep it, guard it, care for it, for it keeps men, guards men, cares for men. Destroy it and man is destroyed.” Thus begins a very powerful work, one that addressed virtually every issue that the current South African society is grappling to arrive at just solutions to more than four hundred years of Apartheid. It is merely 13 years since its end and the transformation of South African society is dramatic. As I looked across the hills and valleys to the mountains on the horizon, I reflected on the fabulous experience that we had the previous days with Lindsey’s family and friends. These white South Africans shared their stories of growing up in a South Africa that no longer exists, happily so in many ways, and of the current realities in which they are deeply involved. From starting a shelter for abandoned children with AIDs, to working in business-governmental partnerships to bring about true economic change, to a son who is a world class tumbler representing his nation in international competition, to working with church-based NGOs in Kayamandi, a shantytown of 27,000—Lindsey’s family and friends brought history to life. What a wonderful gift these days in Cape Town had been. Reverie is hard to sustain when one is trudging uphill or absorbing a pounding on the steep downhills. The granddaddy of them all appears just prior to the halfway mark. You come around a curve on the ever-rising road and before you opens a truly horrifying sight. Imagine coming around a corner on a ridge to see that the road continues to wind upwards along one side of the canyon, then turns slightly downward as it dips into the valley, only to turn very steeply up for as far as the eye can see until the top of the ridge on the other side. The further, imagine that on this road is multiple lanes of nearly stalled cars crawling their way to the top, not knowing what lay over the next ridge. And this my friends is the hill called Inchanga. A race this long must be broken into chunks mentally to give any hope of achieving goals. My first goal was to finish before that dreaded 12-hour pistol shot signaled non-personhood. However, what I really wanted was to finish in less than 11 hours to earn a bronze medal, which is awarded to those who finish between 9 and 11 hours. I had been very intimated on Friday by our course review with Bruce. I had a very troubled sleep wondering whether my goal was achievable. After tossing and turning through various pace scenarios, I settled on a plan to break the race into 4 half marathons (13.1 miles) and the final 3.6 miles. I had read a research article in Marathon and Beyond that concluded that women do better than men in the Comrades because of their tendency to run a steady pace throughout the race. So, I decided that I would run each half marathon segment in between 2:30 and 2:40 hrs. and then have about an hour to do the final 6 kilometers. When I reached the other side of Inchanga, I was on pace amazing enough. The race attracts all kinds of people. We met a group of Orthodox Jews from Johannesburg at our hotel two evenings before the race. Three had run multiple Comrades; two were newbies. One described a member of their club who was blind. It turns out the man was running his 20th Comrades. There is a lead runner who alerts the runners ahead that a blind runner is coming. The blind person is accompanied by another runner who is tethered to him by a short rope. By verbal commands and varying pressures on the rope, the companion runner guides the blind person to the right or the left to avoid other runners. This gets to be mentally draining when about two-thirds through the race all runners are feeling spent and are withdrawing into themselves to find the needed reserves to continue running. I passed the blind runner one time. His goal was to finish in under 11 hours; he finished in under 10 hours! I also passed an Englishman a number of times during the race who was a double above the knee amputee. He too finished better than his target of 10 hours. There were 35 men and 13 women from the US. There were 299 men and 24 women aged 60 or older. The kilometers continue to pass, as do the hours. Bruce had reminded us to remember that we would be running all day. Just keep moving forward. We pass the Wall of Fame, a place we had actually visited on our car journey with Bruce. The retaining wall is made of pavers, each with a Comrades medallion. On closer inspection, the medallion has a name plate and year documenting winners and other finishers. Many contain a dedication memorializing one who has died. In January, Melinda and I had run the Phoenix marathon. It was her first marathon since her stroke. She did great, finishing in slightly over 4 hours. We called my Dad for his 89th birthday. He was usually reticent to speak on the phone because of his hearing problems, but on this occasion he was excited about the prospects of reading a book that Elli had found for him as a present. His voice was strong, filled with a thirst for learning. It was the last time we talked before his death. On Thursday before Comrades, my Uncle Tom, my mother’s brother and a man of very special influence on me, succumbed to cancer. Both of these men, although different in many ways, were avid learners and had little use for political correctness or for those who felt entitled to things without working hard to earn them. Both were master craftsmen who took great pleasure in building what they needed with their own hands. Both loved photography and working in the dark room. They carried me through the difficult patches of this race; I simply ran between them as they supported me as they had in life. I needed to finish this race so that I could earn the right to purchase a block in the Hall of Fame to dedicate to both of them. I got to the 39.3 mile mark (three half marathons down) within my time parameters. My longest training run had been 40 miles and my race day time was consistent with that training run despite the far more difficult terrain. My legs were beginning to get sore, but another Comrades tradition assisted me. PTs (physiotherapists) were located at several of the water stations. Despite Bruce’s warning to keep on moving, I stopped a number of times for heat rubs. Each time my temporary relief enabled me to pick up the limbs and refocus on form. The kilometer markers display the remaining distance, as contrasted to the distance already run. Early in the race, this can be disconcerting since the marker is a poignant reminder of how long this race actually is. But in the latter stages, as each number gets one digit less, there is hope that a finish is within the realm of the possible. Cowies Hill represents the last major upward thrust of macadam. From its peak, there are only 9.3 miles to go to the finish. Now the reason for calling this a DOWN year becomes painfully evident. The course moves on to a freeway that makes most downhill roller coasters look nearly level. In California, it would be like running down the Grapevine on I-5 or the Cajon Pass on I-15. The road is often slanted on an angle to permit rains to drain from the roadway surface. People who run the San Diego marathon complain about running the stretch of State Highway163 due to this type of slated surface. They ain’t seen nothing compared to this finishing portion of the Down Comrades. By this point in the race, the body is screaming for relief. Yet now the true pounding occurs because running downhill at such steep inclines simply erodes the legs. Ultimately, the body rebels. I suffered that fate about 3.2 miles from the finish when my left hamstring suggested that if I wanted to finish, I’d better let up on the pounding. I walked the rest of the way home. The truly frustrating part was that the flattest part of the entire course lay ahead of me. This was the end of my plan to maintain an even pace throughout the race. Yet all was not lost. If I could simply keep walking at about a 15 minute pace, I would make my goal. Each time I tried to run, I’d get a little way and that hamstring would rebel and threaten me with extinction. The minutes sped away and the11 hour mark was becoming endangered by my inability to survive the downhill pounding unscathed. I turned toward the cricket stadium, past the Hilton and the Convention Center. I would not walk into the stadium so I began ever so tentatively to run again. Despite resistance from my aching hamstring, I keep moving forward into the stadium. I spy the two spiderman balloons indicating the Phila Jabula cheering section and it buoys my spirits. I turn the final corner in the grass infield and see the Comrades chairman readying his pistol to indicate the 11 hour mark and the end of the bronze medal group. Then, as I approach the finish line, I hear the announcer say my name and the chairman reaches out to shake my hand in congratulations. I did it! The bronze medal has been earned with my 10:51:45 time. I felt very happy that I had achieved my goal. I felt nauseous for a few minutes after sitting down. On to the medical tent. Todd Lord had told me once that after a particularly draining triathalon he got a double IV and had the best recovery ever. So I got one for myself and I felt much better. This was an absolute since I was going to be spending 33 hours in silver bullets and airports in less than a day. I was in the medical tent when a 36 year old runner coded; he would die later that evening, the second to succumb that day. The first was an elderly man who collapsed in the stadium a few minutes after I finished. Two runners picked him up in the spirit of the Comrades and carried him across the finish. Unfortunately, by then he was dead and all resuscitation efforts failed. For 10,033 others (83.5% of those who started), each has a story about how they finished the 2007 Down Comrades. It was a year when Bruce’s Down record set in 1982 was finally broken by nearly 4 minutes. The first 30 male finishers did so in less than 6 hours!!! As for me, I discovered that I had finished in the top 30% of men 60 years or older and third among 60 year olds from the States. I finished 22nd of the 48 American runners of all ages. I learned a great deal about running an ultramarathon. Nutrition and hydration still are issues for there came a point where my stomach simply could not tolerate another gel, another sip of energade (pretty foul stuff), or even water for a time. The Comrades salted baked potato was a hit. I also learned what I need to do differently in training for such a race. Bruce suggested that during and immediately after the race, the predominant thought might be something like: “What was I thinking?” But as soon as a thought like: “If I only had done this or that comes, well….” then he knew that you’d be back for another Comrades. He also observed that you hadn’t really run Comrades until you had finished both a Down and an Up Comrades. So, all other things being equal, I will return to South Africa next June to run the 2008 Up Comrades. And this time Elli will hopefully accompany me. South Africa is a fascinating place. Cape Town is very similar to San Diego and Constanzia to Napa. The social realities are extremely complex, but the progress that has been made since 1994 in education, healthcare, wealth distribution and having a stake in the country’s economic well-being is not insignificant. Housing remains a particularly nettlesome issue, especially in the face of squatter’s rights. Crime and fear of crime are dominant themes of everyday life in the cities and the suburbs. The destruction of the moral fabric provided by tribal life is a systemic flaw in the society which when coupled with lack of skills and work is at the root of native crime and fear of it. Alan Paton ends his prescient work with sentiments that ring true sixty years later: “For it is dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing. But when that dawn will come, of our emancipation, from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear, why, that is a secret.” My experience was so rich due to Lindsey, her family, their friends Thomas and Lizzie, and the Phila Jabula team from Orange County. I am so grateful for their welcoming me into their inner circle and sharing their lives and experiences. Many thoughts are churning within me about the next steps in my relationship with South Africa. When they coalesce, you will be hearing more from me. I leave on July 12th for my next African adventure. I will be joining an expedition of 14 people to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I have heard that it is harder than Comrades. We’ll see. I will carry Dad and Uncle Tom with me on that trip as my guides for it was in the end the role they played in my life when they shared this earth. All peace, Bill
Posted at 1:28 PM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)
Team Phila Jabula Comrades in Health trip to South Africa
It's been over a week since the team limped into the Phinda Game Reserve. I actually have had a difficult time articulating Comrades. I think it's an experience you can only fully understand by being present, either as a participant or spectator. Whichever way you experience it, it is rich and memorable - deeply so. Do I think everyone HAS to do Comrades? NO. Do I understand why people go back 10 times for that coveted green number? Absolutely. Do I understand why you run it in the first place? NO. Do I know why anyone battles through the pain for more miles than you ever imagined you would run? NO. I can't explain a whole lot but I am crystal clear on the fact that I believe we all have incredible amounts of untapped potential. When we have the courage to explore the areas outside our comfort zones, I believe we truly experience joy. And that's what Comrades did for me, it was a completely painfully joyful experience!! :-) In 5 years of training, I have trained countless people who dig their heels in and resist attempting one thing or another. When they finally step outside of their comfort zone and dabble in the unknown, they're amazed at their experience (note experience, not necessarily accomplishment). NEVER has anyone ever told me that they are sorry that they did what they didn't want to do. Donna P hates mud but loved the Mud Run. Sheila refused to go over the wall and was elated when she did. Tammy dug her heels in on Comrades and it was her favorite part of the trip. Traci never camped before and climbed half dome. Allison resisted writing it down and then discovered the wisdom of knowledge. Tracy M was told she could never run and today her runs are her joys. The list of stories is long and the joys are bountiful. Is it just about running? NO. But running is one of the easiest and most accessible means of exercise and it's where we can easily plot our progress. My sister, Denise, told me just today that she knew she had made progress when she walked .2 miles more than the night before. She felt good about herself. As the instigator of Team Phila Jabula (I say instigator because it was a bit of a plot trying to get people to go and do the unthinkable for a hefty chunck of change half way around the world), I thought it only fair that you read about one of the "fools" who joined the Team rather than my one sided version. I knew it would be a fantastic journey because I'd been there before. BUT, perhaps not everyone would see it that way. However, each person on the trip already has a yearning desire to return... Below is San Diego Bill's experience. Who is he? Bill saw our article in Runners World and emailed me just 5 weeks before we left for South Africa. Bill started running 2 years ago and is 60 years old - he wanted to celebrate his 60th with Comrades!! I knew then that he would fit right in. For me Bill engendered so much of what myself and many others aspire to - he had a zest for life without the trappings. My sister described Bill in words I had to look up...:-)  "inimitable, indefatigable and utterly endearing." He was a humble soul that was unafraid to get down and dirty - literally (he cleared the most disgusting blocked, black dirt filled drain in Kayamandi with his bare hands.) He traveled with carry on's only, he wore no watch and woke up and went to bed by his body clock. He is representative of one of the many faces that embodies the Comrades Spirit. Each time I forwarded his perspective of Comrades out, I received an email back that said - I'm bawling. To the numerous Comrades runners and spectators that chatted with me along the way, encouraged, motivated, felt my pain - a great big thank you. Each person that participates makes this a spirited event that is unmatched. My family was a huge support to all of Team PJ with the Spiderman sign. The Spidey stood out in the crowd and meant a crew of undying support - Denise, Shirley, Donna, Marc, Julie, John, Chloe, Robs and Nadia. A heartfelt congratulations to Lori, Bill and Tammy for their amazing day on June 17th! You are a huge inspiration to others. Last but not least, my husband and running partner Marc, congratulations on your run - you are and always have been a winner for me! We're working on posting pictures so please be patient... Lindsey
Posted at 1:28 PM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

6/7/2007

Ambition with Heart
... so all of you Roughfit members who have toiled, slogged and driven yourselves for the past two years to achieve your ambition of travelling to SA ... here you go in 48 hours!  Cheers to all of you!  What an incredible accomplishment and your ambitions have such HEART!  You are such a stalwart and generous group of people and I salute you all for the tremendous effort each of you have contributed (physically, emotionally and with a commitment that has been solid) to bring a piece of comfort and hope to the community in Kayamandi.  Here's to your courage, your bravery (in tackling the Comrade's Marathon ... Wow!) and your success!  All the very best of luck to you all!
Posted at 4:24 PM by shiloe | Category: Category 1 | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)
Team Phila Jabula Comrades in Health trip to South Africa
After months of training the team is zipping their bags up to head to the airport for an adventure of a lifetime. My sister, Wendy, said it so succinctly yesterday, “Even gaining entry into this marathon is an accomplishment worthy of praise and awe!” I am so incredibly proud of this project. Once again, Rough-Fit members have helped make a vision a reality. In all honesty, there were times when I thought my vision was a fantasy. Who would want to go to South Africa and make a difference? Why would they want to do that? And then, on top of that, why would they want to train for months to endure a whole lot of pain? I am not sure I know the answers to these questions. But I believe a simple answer is because they can if they want to. Anyone can. I have had people from all over the world contact us to join in the spirit of Phila Jabula next year. Imagine that, people across the world want to join us in being “Alive with Joy.” Yes, we’re local but I believe we have huge commonalities with the global community. And while Comrades is not the most extraordinary thing one can do, it’s enough to make an ordinary person tackle extraordinary undertakings – like seeking a deeper understanding of the plight of the poorest of the poor. The path of least resistance would be to turn a blind eye. But, once again Rough-Fit members have risen to the occasion and chosen to look deeper into humanity. Team PJ is more than Comrades. Yes, it’s about physical, mental and spiritual endurance. But, it is also a gesture of reaching out to comprehend life outside the boundaries of our everyday comfort zones. My sincerest appreciation to EVERYONE who donated in cash, time, clothes or who has in some way contributed to this initiative. My thanks to the Rough-Fit team (Jeannine, Tammy, Liz, Marc & Francios) who spent countless hours for the past year on PJ tasks. To quote Winston Churchill, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Thanks again and be PJ today! Lindsey
Posted at 3:37 PM by Love it Do it | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

 Better Health Survey
Survey Name: Better Health Survey
Survey Description: Better Health Survey
Time Created: 8/4/2007 1:04 PM
Number of Responses: 6

 ‭(Hidden)‬ Admin Links
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink Register / Join