I did it!!!!

Well, it's all over.

I can't believe it.

What an amazing experience. Seriously!

We left Cameron Park at 3:00 on Saturday in order to make it on time to the 5:00 Pasta Party in San Francisco four our PETA Pack Team. Unfortunately, we didn't think there would be traffic on a Saturday afternoon.....and we didn't arrive until sometime after 6:00. We drove around in circles attempting to find parking, but eventually gave up and decided to meet Justine for dinner instead. She took us to what I thought was a lovely Vietnamese restaurant. However, my husband had a differing opinion. Reason Number 4534596456 to be a vegetarian: You don't have to worry about food poisoning. Mike ordered what he thought was curry chicken, but what came out of the kitchen was definitely not chicken. It was a mangled meat in an odd brown color. He wouldn't touch it. I however, had a lovely meal consisting of crispy chow mein noodles with steamed veggies and fried tofu. I was in heaven!
We went to Coldstone afterwards because I was still hungry. Running makes you eat like a horse, no lie. I wolfed down a Like It of Birthday Cake Remix, and we wandered around the mall for a while. Then we went back to Justine's and got all comfy and sat around talking......
.......until 12:30am. And I still wasn't tired. I was so hyped up for the 5k that I couldn't sleep at all. I bumbled around the room getting things ready and after what seemed like a good hour, looked at my watch before I settled in to bed. 12:47am. Great.

I finally fell asleep, and after what felt like 5 minutes, my 5:30 alarm went off. I jumped out of bed, half because I was startled and half because I was excited. I put on my running outfit and woke up my disgruntled husband, and out the door we went. Not before leaving the Kamariotis Family a thank you note, of course. =)

We left before dawn. I was in awe that there were actually cars on the road. We arrived in the parking area at 6:30, and it was packed. Runners were milling around everywhere, and the parking lot was already full. I could not believe it. How could this many people voluntarily get up before dawn to go running???? So Mike dropped me off at the shuttles and went to find a parking spot near the finish line.

I was so nervous. And cold. It was a balmy 44 degrees outside and there I was wearing my running pants and a t shirt. Again with the insanity of it all!!! We boarded the bright yellow school bus shuttle and I could feel the excitement in the air. People were yelling "GO TEAM!" and clapping their hands. They were wayyyy too chipper for 6:30 in the morning.

By the time we got to the start area, it was around 7:00. I found the rest of the PETA Pack members, went to the bathroom in the lovely port-a-potties, and downed the first of my two Cliff Shots. Chocolate flavor, of course. Then came time to line up! My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to give up!!! I made sure to stretch for the entire 20 minutes I stood waiting for the start. I stretched out my rebellious calves, and had an internal chat with them. I explained that they just had to get through 3.1 miles, and they'd never have to do it again. I wasn't sure if they agreed, but I felt better.

The start line was packed with spectators, and I could barely hear the mumblings of the announcer. I was hoping he didn't say anything too important, like "The 5k is cancelled, you are all running 13 miles!!!" because I couldn't hear a word he was saying over the noise of the 10,000 excited runners. They put on some booty shakin' music and led group stretches. Again, I couldn't hear, so I just followed what everyone else was doing.

Then they had a lovely woman (I assume she was lovely, but I couldn't see her so I have no idea) sing the National Anthem. Now call me a Rainbow Girl, but I was trained to always put my hand over my heart and shut the heck up when the National Anthem is being sung. However, the other 9,999 runners apparently weren't Rainbow Girls. I was a bit uncomfortable standing there like that while the people around me giggled and talked, and occasionally stared at me. But you know, whatever. It's all about the respect, right?

Next they invited some dude from a Fire Station or something to countdown to the start. I want to know how to qualify for that job. "Hey, can you count backwards from 10? Great, you're hired!". My heart beat with greater intensity with every number closer to 1. I just wanted it to be over. Finally, we were off! And.....walking? Everyone was walking! I couldn't believe it! Then I realized exactly how far away from the start line we were! And who wants to RUN to the start line?

As soon as we reached the start, our group took off like a stampede. It was kind of amazing. All the spectators were screaming and cheering. I felt like an Olympic athlete. And I'm sure the 80 year old woman next to me did too.

Mile One was really tough. My body couldn't believe I was actually doing this. Neither could I, but I wanted to keep going. I was able to jog the first 1/2 mile or so before my calves began to ache. Apparently they did not agree to my pep talk earlier. I stopped and massaged them and stretched out against a curb. Then I kept going.

After Mile 1, I was ok! My calves became numb somehow, and I was able to jog more. The run was so beautiful! We ran through Golden Gate Park, past the botanical gardens, a waterfall, and a ton of beautiful scenery. Sometimes I was so entranced by my surroundings that I forgot to focus on my running.

My only real issue during the run was a pretty major one, in my opinion. Blame it on the Vietnamese food, but I had the worst possible gas through the entire 5k. Of course, what can you do? You can't just let it out, with all those people around! So I had to grin and bear it for 3.1 miles. Only without grinning. Because that would be weird.

After what seemed like forever, one of the super-friendly-chipper volunteers on the sidelines said "LOOK! You're almost there! Half a mile left!". I couldn't believe it! I was almost done! There was no way I was going to walk the remainder of my 5k. So i picked up the pace and ran the rest of the way. I could see the finish line. It was amazing. Tears came to my eyes as I crossed the line. I just ran a 5k. The furthest I have ever run in my life. And the furthest I ever plan to.

My wonderful husband was waiting for me, and took some not-so-flattering pictures. We'll just forget about those.... Then we walked around the Race Expo for a while. I heard these Expos are awesome. Free samples, and all sorts of cool information. However, along with all the cool stuff are some pretty annoying and cruel people handing out flyers. What for, you ask? Well, more 5ks and marathons of course!! Who thought of this idea? "Here, you just finished a 5k! Don't you feel amazing?! Wanna do another one next weekend?". I wanted to slap these people.

So we walked back to the car, which coincidentally, was parked 3847586 miles away. Mike swore it was the only spot he could find, but I think he wanted to see how far I could go before I died.

Afterwards was the PETA Pack Party at the beautiful Fort Mason, right on the marina. We had a blast. Tons of yummy vegan food and ice cream cake!! I even got an award for "Best Effort"! How exciting!!! We were also given these amazing goody bags full of awesome stuff. WAY better than the Wicked rain poncho I got at the race expo.

We had been invited to 2 different superbowl parties yesterday (we're popular, I know), and I was SO looking forward to them. I am a huge football fan, and there is nothing I love more than football and stuffing my face. It's definitely more enjoyable than running. However, Mike and I were so exhausted (me from running, him from being up at such an unnatural hour) that we literally came home and crashed. We slept for 4 solid hours. It felt amazing. Until I tried to get out of bed.

OY the pain. I was convinced that my body was giving up. My hip joint hurt so bad I could barely get in and out of bed. I wanted to die. I got up and ate some leftover pizza, took enough Advil to sedate a horse, and went back to bed.

This morning I woke up feeling somewhat unsettled. I wasn't as sore, but I had a strange feeling of let down. I find it similar to the feeling you get after your wedding. You've spent months planning and/or training, and then it's over. No more daily emails from Chipper Alex. No more mandatory runs around the lake. No more pestering family and friends for donations. It's really over. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that this isn't such a bad thing, but I'm still in a bit of a funk.

I went for a lovely massage at 11:00 this morning. The masseuse was lovely, and she really worked out some of the damage I had bestowed on my body in the last couple of months. Then I treated myself to tea and a lovely lunch at a cafe nearby, and now here I am. Blogging away.

Again, this has been the most incredible experience. I have changed as a person; I have met amazing people; I have raised money for an organization I care deeply about. All in all, it's been amazing.

Thank you so much for everyone's support and donations and love. I couldn't have done this without you. Truly. I would probably be lying on the sidewalk at Mile 2 right now.

So put a mason jar aside and start throwing your pocket change in it, because I'll need donations again next year!!!!


<3 Jen

nineteen hours.

In 19 hours and change, I will be running 3.1 miles along the beautiful coast of San Francisco.

How excited am I???

Actually, more nervous than excited. I'm worrying about making it on time, missing the start, and the whole host of other things that might go wrong. (i.e. I end up in an ambulance because my body quits at mile 2)

We are leaving for San Francisco in 2 1/2 hours, so this will be the last blog post you will read before I finish the race. I feel a bit sentimental. This blog has become an outlet for me to share my triumphs (and, um, losses) with the world. And as much as my joints hate me, I had fun.

I just want to take this moment to thank absolutely everyone. Thank you to the people who read my blog and left me encouraging comments. Thank you to the people who came to my spaghetti feed. And most of all, thank you to everyone who donated their hard earned money towards a cause that means so much to me. I have the best family and friends anyone could ask for!!!!


Wish me luck!!!

Fundraising DEADLINE!!!

I just wanted to again, thank everyone who graciously donated to my amazing cause, PETA. I also wanted to let you all know that it isn't too late to donate if you haven't already!

The official deadline for donations is.....

Saturday, January 31 at midnight.

If you haven't donated, and would like to, please go to my website:

http://www.active.com/donate/PETAPack/jencar

I really appreciate everything you guys have done for me! I am forever grateful for your help in raising money for PETA!!!!

2 more days 2 more days!!!!

Well, I officially have a massage appointment on Monday at 11:00am.

I can't wait! It's going to be so amazing right after the Big 5k. That is, if I don't die during the Big 5k. That might be a downer.....

Today and tomorrow are officially my last days to do any sort of training to get ready. We are supposed to taper down this week, but I just really feel like I'm not ready!!!
So I'm going to focus on Power Walking. I'm going to power walk 3.1 miles tomorrow and see how I feel. Hopefully if I don't die walking, I won't die too much running. That's my logic anyway......

I'm starting to get really nervous. Not even about actually running. I'm nervous about getting there and starting on time! I don't know San Francisco very well, so all the directions for the parking and shuttles might as well be in Swahili. I hate not being able to visualize where I'm going. I'm so nervous that I'm going to get lost and miss the shuttle and therefore miss the start!! Sheesh I need to calm down. I'm staying with my lovely Justine and her lovely family, and I plan to leave their house in South San Francisco shortly before 6:00am (oh dear lord). That will give me a whole hour to go a 23 minute distance and catch a shuttle to the start. I think I can handle that.....I think.

Not that I will want to be running at that horrifying hour of the morning. I can tell you right now, my alarm will go off and I will do one of the following:
1) roll over and go back to sleep
2) throw up
3) cry

Then I'll probably get my ass out of bed and get going. I didn't train for 2 months for nothing! I haven't run 5-6 miles per week for nothing!!! I am WOMAN! I can do this!!!

I will post a status report tomorrow!

Four. Days. WOW.

I just looked at my countdown clock and realized I am going to be running a 5k in 4 days.
What was I thinking when I signed up for this???
I was also looking at the Race Web Page, and realized that it's actually called The Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5k Fun Run.

5k FUN Run? Who ever decided that a 5k was anything about fun? I can think of a lot of things that are more fun than running a 5k. Sleeping, new episodes of Grey's Anatomy, or eating a nice piece of cake. None of these involve running, which, in my opinion, is the opposite of fun.

I've gotten to know Cameron Park Lake pretty well over the last couple of weeks. Yesterday I actually attempted 2.5 miles (attempted being the key word), which meant I went around the lake twice. I don't know why, but there was an absurd amount of geese out yesterday. I mean, they're always there, but yesterday there were literally gaggles of them, so to speak. I was bopping along, trying not to succumb to the pain in my......well, whole body, and I saw one of the aforementioned gaggles on the trail ahead. Usually they just kind of waddle off to the side of the trail when you run by, but not these guys. They were feisty. One decided to chase another one just as I was approaching, and they both took to the air......right towards my head. I ducked (hahaha) and threw my hands up in the air to shield the oncoming kamikaze geese. When I finally looked, they were peacefully on the ground beside me pecking at bugs. And fellow trail runners were looking at me like I was nuts. It was great.

Stories like these are what I am going to miss most about training. I won't miss the running at all, but I'll miss the geese and the fellow runners (even the 80-something year old man who kept pace with me yesterday and the 10 year old boy who lapped me the day before).

I'm considering keeping with the training schedule around the lake, but with power walking instead. Damn I am a good power-walker! I power-walked the entire second mile yesterday and it was great! I almost puked when I was done but I felt good, man. Really.

Today, every ounce of my body is in pain. I'm glad I have a desk job because if I had a crazy job that involved, like, moving, I'd be in trouble. I have muscles that I never knew about, and they're all screaming at me at the same time.

So today I'm taking the day off to rest. Mostly because I'm pretty sure if I actually drove to the lake and got out of the car, my body would collapse in protest just LOOKING at the trail.
So tomorrow I power-walk 3.6 miles. I'm not going to attempt running it, just getting through it to see how it feels. It will probably feel horrible. Then the next 2 days I'll add some jogging, and hope for the best after that. I'm leaving for San Francisco on Saturday at 3 to eat some amazing pasta with some amazing PETA people, spending the night with my lovely Justine and her amazing family, and then running the not-so-amazing race on Sunday morning.

To be honest, I'm scared to death! I've never done anything like this before, and I know I can get through it. I just worry that by the time I finish it will be dark and the food will be gone......

Wish me luck in all my spandex glory on Sunday!

my running outfit.

.....needs some work.
I thought I was all good with the running clothing, but yesterday I realized not so much. I'm good from the waist up. I have my Nike sports bra and my BRIGHT pink UnderArmor Shirt, both of which have amazing "wicking" agents to "wick" the sweat right off my body! Amazing. So I had those down, and I thought that my terry lounge pants would suffice as running pants. They even have a stripe down the side! That means they're sporty, right?
Well, they are kind of baggy, and the longer distance I run, the more the extra fabric rubs and causes unspeakable pain.
Suffice to day, these pants are more geared toward the stationary type of exercise, like lifting weights.......or reaching for the remote.
So today I am off to TJ Maxx, birthday gift card in hand (thanks Scotty!!) to purchase a new pair of tighter, less chafier running pants.
I will let y'all know how it goes and what I end up with!!

the lake.

SO.
I've been running, roadkill and all, on Cameron Park Drive, much to the dismay of most of my family and friends.
Today, I discovered that the under-appreciated Cameron park Lake has a jogging trail! With mile markers! WHAHOO!
So I drove down to the lake today and did my run there. It's 1.2 miles all the way around the lake, and by the grace of G-d, I can actually do that. If you had asked me about running 1.2 miles 3 months ago, I would have laughed at you. Now it's like "1.2 miles? no biggie. pshhht!"

Another awesome thing about running around a lake: the scenery! It's gorgeous. Especially at sunset. Of course, the park is supposed to close at sunset, so if you're still watching the sun set while you're running, you'd best get your ass moving to the finish line before they close the gate on you and you have to spend the night with the ducks.

Of course with the awesome comes the not-so-awesome. There are a few not-so-awesomes about the lake.
1) Duck crap. It's everywhere. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying more to do a complicated cardio dance than a run because I have to dodge all the, ahem, piles.
2) Random floating fluff. I'm really not sure if it's some sort of plant or if it's duck feathers. It's white and fluffy and it floats randomly through a good quarter mile of the trail. I accidentally inhaled some today. Not fun.
3) Lake-smell. This also is only about a quarter mile of the trail. It basically smells like a moldy bathroom. But hey, whatever makes me run faster, right?

So those are the only not-so-awesomes, and I think it's totally worth it. No roadkill, no hoots nor hollers. I think I can live with it! haha.

So the other day my aunt was like "HEY! I have this totally awesome book you should read!". Ok, so my aunt doesn't actually use the phrase "totally awesome" but it was something like that. Anyway, she lent me this book that you all should read.

From the cover it seems like one of those crappy "YAYYY YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!" books. Trust me, this book was written by one of us. It was written by a Sacramento woman who, like me, went from couch potato to marathon runner. Except, not like me, she's actually running a full 26.2 mile marathon. WOW.
Anyway, it's about her training, and it's absolutely hilarious. I literally laughed out loud about every 2 pages. Read the Amazon plot summary, I'm horrible at summarizing without going on and on and on and.....well yeah.

In other, more important news, my Spaghetti Feed was an AMAZING success! I had some crappy friends who didn't show up, but my family really pulled together and made up for those crappy friends! I was able to raise $100! WOOHOO!
Also, I have had an amazing number of bay-area people I don't know donating to my cause. This is amazing, and I'm pretty sure I have the Amazing Alex to thank for putting the word out about me. Here's a summary of how wonderful and amazing these people are:

* Lisa Towell and Dave Cortright: $250 (WOOOOOOW!!)
* Beth Levinson: $150
* Dyanna Csaposs: $50
* Thoi Pham: $50
* Jane McCurdy: $30

I have never met these people, and they have collectively donated $530, which is 53% of my goal! I did have the honor to meet Beth at the PETA Holiday Party, and she is wonderful. I am really hoping to meet the rest of this amazing group of angels at the race or at some point!

Also a HUGE thank you to the many friends and family who have graciously donated. I will be making a list to put on my blog at the end of the fund raiser so everyone can see how wonderful and amazing you are!

In the mean time, if you haven't had a chance to donate, you have 11 days and some change! Here is the link in case you didn't get it the first 16764565489 times I posted/sent/texted/yelled it:
http://www.active.com/donate/PETAPack/jencar

I'm officially right now at 68% of my goal, only 32% more to go! That's only $320!! WHAHHOO!