Training for the Marathon Part 2

Marathon Training Update!

Hello friends and supporters!  I had planned on doing at least a monthly update --- but I am long overdue!!  I do want to thank those of you who have donated to this cause already.  It is because of you that I kept up the training, sometimes against all odds.  When I’m too busy, it’s too cold, I don’t feel well, etc., I remember all of you, and your commitment and generosity inspires me to do it!  There were several times I knew I wouldn’t have gotten up and out of bed early in the cold weather without your support!

So a lot has happened since I first announced that I would be running in the Chicago Marathon with Team Taller de Jose back in March.  Of course the first major obstacle was just the mental part – thinking to myself, really, I’m going to do this? What did I get myself into? I can’t do this…. Etc. etc.  This meant that my first goal was simply to begin building my confidence.  “Official” training didn’t start until May 16^th, but I wanted to be in a really good place before May so that I’m starting already feeling like those long runs will not be a problem and wanting to be in a place where I could actually run a half marathon at the start of the training season.  I had read somewhere that I actually shouldn’t increase my mileage too much until closer to the race (as in probably during training season) so that I don’t risk injury and over-training.  However, because of my traveling, Coach Mark recommended that I do increase mileage, understanding that when I travel I may not be able to run at all or may not be able to run long distances. 

My first trip was “local” – as in within the U.S.  I was in San Diego for the School Social Work Association of America conference and board meeting.  This was fantastic.  I had perfect running weather and got a good start on my “building confidence” goal.  Most of the days I was there, I ran along the bay, enjoyed myself, and did okay – was slower than I would have liked, but I could do the distance I set out to do.  Of course, then I looked online for places to run in San Diego and noticed one place that was listed as “beginner” and had hills.  Well, for my flat lander self from Illinois, those hills did not feel like “beginner” hills!  They kicked my butt! I was very glad I chose beginner hills!   Here’s a picture from one of my runs along the bay.  I would be embarrassed to show you pictures of the “hills”

Next, I had two more “local” trips.  I was invited to do a professional development workshop at University of Maryland and then the following week at Eastern University in Philadelphia.   I was able to do both outdoor running in VERY cold weather and some indoor treadmill running on these trips.  Did I mention I was freezing!  I wasn’t adequately prepared for my outdoor runs as I was trying to pack light.  Nothing like freezing cold weather to make you want to run REALLY, REALLY fast to get it OVER WITH! 

Following this trip, we had our wonderful colleagues from Mexico and Ecuador visiting Dominican University as well as a colleague from Ireland doing field research with the Chicago Irish community.  The colleagues from Mexico and Ecuador arrived the weekend of the Shamrock Shuffle.   In solidarity, my husband ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8 k with me.  This was also a wonderful opportunity to meet and run with my team – Taller de Jose!  Here is the picture of our group.   

Lots of eager faces running for a great cause! I hope this picture is inspiring to many of you regarding the small but mighty group of people running to raise money for Taller de Jose.  For those who don’t know, Taller de Jose offers accompaniment to people, connecting them to services and services to people.  Accompaniment is a way of walking with people, listening to people fully, being present, and doing your work with love.  Those receiving services feel they are treated with respect and experience the power of  being heard.  While other organizations have experience a drop in undocumented or unauthorized service user, Taller de Jose’s numbers have continued to grow, which is a testimony to the trust that the community has with them.   If you would like to donate to this cause at the end of the update, I will post the click and pledge link.  Here is the link for Taller de Jose in case you would like to learn more about them:

http://tallerdejose.org/wordpress1/index/

In April, I was off to Germany and then Azerbaijan for some work related to the Fulbright project.  This was an ideal opportunity for training.  I had the opportunity to run along the river in Frankfurt.  Actually because I could withdraw money from an ATM and was having a hard time exchanging dollars oddly enough in Europe, I had no money for public transit.  I couldn’t pay with credit card either because I had no pin number for my credit card as I do not use them for cash.  So I had no choice but to walk or run everywhere.  I think I averaged about 10 miles of walking per day, plus 4 miles of running.  On one of my runs, it got kind of dark on my way back, and I was actually kind of scared because I was running on a fairly deserted path (don't tell Rolando please), so this was quite a motivator to run fast and furious.  Yep, I had pretty good time on that run.  

Once I got to Azerbaijan, my goal was to run at least one half marathon by the time I left the country.  The first week, with some jet lag and a tight schedule, I only got about 3 runs in including the first day I arrived.  I could wait to run along the Caspian Sea.  As I have said, this is one of my absolute favorite countries for running.  The weather is perfect, the sea is beautiful, and if you want hills, you got ‘em.  Plus, it’s really safe and I can go out even at night if I want.  The boulevard along the sea is always busy with people.  Indeed, my running benefited tremendously from being there.  I also was able to get back into a routine of morning runs the second week I was there.  I ran long distances along the Caspian Sea.  I didn’t make it the full half marathon because of time constraints, but I did run at least 8 miles about three times.  I went out for three days to a beautiful region area and was able to get in a daily 30 minute run before work started.  Even though they were short runs, because of the mountains, they improved my long distance running immensely.  When I got back to Baku and ran along the Caspian Sea again, I totally kicked butt and ran fast and effortlessly for about 6 miles, and completed a total of a little over 8 miles.  I also went on an “easy” hike – yeah right, it was a steady and steep incline for 3 miles.  It was amazing, but again, excellent training.  Hiking those mountains is one of the best ways to train for the marathon.  Seriously.

I then spent a week in Chicago before going off to my next destination.  When I arrived I had a beautiful mother’s day package from my Atzin.  What an amazing, wonderful, and thoughtful son.  He bought a Polar watch for me with all the bells and whistles to assist in my training.  I used it that week, and again, felt like I made some very good progress.  I did tempo runs, Fartlek runs, long runs, easy runs, etc. according to the training schedule I had written down.  Rolando also gifted me some wireless headphones to go with my new watch for Mother's Day.  The watch downloads music so I no longer have to carry a phone, IPod or anything.  Feeling good, strong, and ready to train for that marathon!  One of the things I liked about this new device is the feedback it gives me.  So when it rates my workout as "extreme," I feel like a total bad-ass!

Then comes Guatemala with my colleague Jack and 11 amazing Dominican students.  Going to Guatemala is like going home for me.  I have so many wonderful relationships and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to visit human rights defenders and friends in this country.  It is such a beautiful example of continued resistance and resilience of a people.

I start out well, running on 6tha calle, a street blocked off from traffic with only pedestrian traffic allowed.  Which I don’t have a picture of course, because I go out running with absolutely nothing, giving the safety precautions I have to take when I run there.  I was looking forward to the hikes in the Ixil area because they are arduous and long.  While I don’t run in Ixil, I get excellent training with the hikes on those mountains.  However, I began to not feel well.  All my old symptoms were coming back – weak joints (I sprained one ankle on a hike), pain in all my joints - knees, ankles, hips, elbows, among other symptoms.  I was in constant pain when I sat, when I walked, when I woke up, when I went to sleep.  It was seriously awful.  One day I just cried, mostly because I’m so used to being active and I was in so much pain, and it was just constant – no relief.  The only thing that felt good was lying on the bed with my pillows under all of my joints (knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, etc.).  I was frustrated and did not feel well.  I think the eating of certain things in Azerbajian that contained wheat and too many sweets, combined with the corn, wheat, and beans in Guatemala took their toll.  I got back to Guatemala City from the Ixil area and cleaned up my diet.  Despite this, the symptoms did not decline.  Slowly but surely, a day before I was leaving, I finally got some relief.  I was only in pain on part of my body and it came it went, so I had some relief – that I could manage.  However, my ankle was still hurting and I couldn’t run. 

Despite challenges with my body, I left Guatemala tremendously inspired by the many men and women human rights defenders risking their lives to demand justice and things like clean water, consultation before imposing mega projects likes hydroelectric dams or open pit mining.  These women and men have survived war, genocide, militarization, criminalization, death threats, and the loss of their loved ones through extrajudicial killings, massacres, or disappearances.  I thank them for sharing their stories.  It is a gift to be in their presence and earn their friendship. 

Finally, I’m off to Nicaragua to meet social workers and understand more about the history of social work in this country. What an amazing place!  I love it and love the stories I am hearing from so many people who wanted to share their perspectives on politics and their experience during the war.  Well, guess what? I’m in the land of the song: “We are children of the corn” – they eat corn in everything! And that is one of the foods that causes the inflammation, pain, and other problems.  Oh crap.  Okay, so my ankle is feeling better – still hurts, but I feel safe walking and the little inn where I am staying has a small pool where I can do laps in the pool.  I joined a gym for the week I am here as well.  So I’m surviving physically trying to totally not lose the gains I made in Azerbaijan, Germany, and Chicago.  I have a few moments close to tears thinking “I can’t do this.” I am worried about getting back on track with my eating and getting my health back.  Really this not eating well affects me in so many ways, maybe not visible to people, but yes, it does impact me in ways you don’t even know.  I am very committed however, to get home, figure out how to get my health back on track ASAP, and continue training.  

I do feel incredibly blessed that I have had the opportunities to meet such amazing women and social workers, and just other folks who have worked hard for a just society and work hard for peace and human rights.  I’m going to take this inspiration with me and hold it close to my heart as I run for the silent heroes back home.  All the undocumented men and women, who are heroes every day they go to work, pick up their children at school, go to church, or reach out for help.  I run for them.  I run to spite all the conditions and economic injustice that led to circumstances where they had to leave their family or community.  I run to make my own country a safe place for new immigrants and people of color who have lived in the country for generations but are still seen as foreigners or not true “Americans.” 

Thank you to all my friends and supporters.  If you would like to donate, please go to this link where you can make a donation.  I have committed to raising $1,500 and I'm only 1/3 of the way there!  I've got a lot of work to do! 

https://connect.clickandpledge.com/Organization/tallerdejose/campaign/chicagomarathon2017/fundraiser/LeticiaVillarrealSosa/Donation/