I’ve received the last notifications of the organization and all forms are filled out. For those who can’t make it to the South Bay there is an actual live webcam! Visit www.rnrsj.com to view the finish line! The magical race number to watch: 7179. I expect to run a 2:30hr time so with the start at 08:00AM I should cross the finish line around 10:30AM.

And for those living near San Jose come see me finish! Start and Finish is at the Plaza Cesar Chavez and since this is a Rock and Roll ½ Marathon event, tons of entertainment is offered. For the runners there is a live band every mile (13 bands). At the finish line there is the Festival. Lots of bands, beer and an expo!

Of course I will follow up on this post with the end result and how things went. I’m excited! Now I have to compile a Marathon playlist to accompany me on my race…

As you might know I started the C25K (Couch to 5K) last year. Basically a program to get you running a 5K within 12 weeks. Since I’ve completed the program I’ve been running 5K on a regular basis. I’m extending these runs lately and for the past two weeks I’m running 8K (Kilometers) almost daily. You can find my full schedule at twiike, runner+ and the Nike+ running websites.

The challenges on the Runner+ website are a great motivator as you try to outrun your fellow runners. It’s quite competitive but I must say that the running community, although always on the run (pun intended), is a pretty relaxed. You know what I’m talking about once you become a runner.

My favorite time to run are the early mornings. No traffic, cool breeze and it is just stunning to see the sun come up. I’m privileged to run in California. Not only for the weather but the views are amazing. I run through walnut orchards towards a dormant volcano (Mt Konocti) and passing some vineyards. Yes, I’m blessed.

So yeah… 4 months to go. San Jose, here I come!

For now a quick post about Memorial Day Weekend. Since I’m a freelancer a ‘day off’ sounds kinda weird now. I’m having so much ‘free’ time a holiday has a new meaning to me. Not sure how to describe it but it doesn’t feel like a holiday…

Below some pictures of fresh herbs and vegetables from our garden. In the morning we went on a kick ass canoe trip at Anderson Marsh. Water was so still, simply amazing. Fish were jumping all around us. One made it almost in our canoe. Trippy shit… Anyways.. Enjoy the pics!

So this morning I hit the track again along the creek and ran for a 5K. My first K was way too fast since I just got of the injury. I slowed my pace down to a 10′45″ /mi. I was amazed I actually could run a 5K! Haven’t run for 23 days and being a couch potato just 3 Months ago I was pretty happy with the result.

I finished the 5K in 32′27″ which was faster I was aiming for. Anything close to 35 minutes was my goal. Maybe a short run tomorrow?

I think the above picture says it all. I FINISHED the C25K! My initial plan was to run yesterday but with temperatures in the mid 90’s (32C) I didn’t feel comfortable running in this condition.

Today was a different story. Temperature dropped to 78 (25C) with some cloud cover. Perfect to end my program! I ran my usual route along the creek and I told myself to start slow. Hitting the 1K spot I was running a 09′38″/mi race. Way too fast! My normal pace would be 10′00/mi and I tried to slow down. After the 1K I zoned out and didn’t bother checking my split times until I hit halfway point. I still was on a 09′38″/mi schedule!

I felt so confident and strong that I decided not to check the time anymore but instead trying to focus on the 5K. My last 500 meters were the most difficult ones and once my iPod told me I finished the 5K Lance Armstrong congratulated me (not in person, duh… but it’s build into the iPod nano) with a new PR for the 5K: 29′58″!

I shouldn’t be focused in speed so much since I’m still a novice runner. Gary of ‘hitting the wall’ has an excellent post about it: The No-Need for Speed. I will remember this next time but I guess my adrenaline got the upper hand…

So what’s next? First of all I’m proud of myself finishing something. I’m pretty impulsive when it comes to new fads but I know running will be a keeper. Tomorrow I will sign up for my first race (scary!) and I intend to run at least 3 X week, preferable 5K. I will continue this until the end of 2008 and as a pre-resolution for 2009 I will start the OHR program beginning of January.

I also want to thank the readers of this blog and giving me positive feedback. Especially Daisy, thanks for the many inspirational and motivating comments! I’ll be virtually running your graduation day (tomorrow?) with you! You can do it!

Enough talk! I’m sure I will dedicate lots and lots more posts to running and give you updates as a runner!

Keep on running!

This morning I felt great and throughout the day I didn’t feel any pain or aches. I still was undecided if I should run since on sunday I felt some pain. what the heck… Just go for it. If it doesn’t work out I’ll take another resting day.

when I arrived at the trail I simply felt great. I did a good amount of stretching and a decent warm-up. My calf muscle was cooperating and was well. Since I was so motivated to finally run again after a 5 day drought and a minor injury it kinda got it my head to run a 5K instead of the 30 minute run or 3 miles (4.83 K). why not go al the way and see were it ends?

I have to say that this was my best run so far! everything was just in sync. No pain, no aches, just me running at a steady pace. I started slow just to avoid another injury but after 1K I knew this was going to be a good run… and it was.

5K in 31″30′. I wasn’t fixated on the time, I only wanted to run a 5K. The time would be nice as a benchmark but halfway through my run I knew I was going fast (relatively ). My last 400 meters I increased the pace a little bit since I had plenty left!

So basically I reached my goal of running a 5K. Why on day 2 of week 9? I just needed a confidence builder for my graduation day. I felt so good this afternoon that I couldn’t pass the opportunity to run a 5K. Does this mean I finished the C25K? No! I still need to run W9D3. I owe it to myself to finally finish something. I didn’t start the C25K and not run the last day of it. That would be stupid…

So 1 more day to go and I already feel kinda sad for leaving the program. No more C25K after graduation day…

The next few minutes I stretched it out and tried to loosen up the muscle with no effect. I continued the run but the cramp was too much. A probable cause could be the track which is slightly slanted at a certain part of the course. I think my feet are trying to adjust the slope which causes my muscles to correct in a forced way…

Could be dehydration, not enough stretching, warm-up etc. I thought I was good to go but apparently I wasn’t. I still managed to get something of a run at the last kilometer and covered a distance of 3.12 miles in 36′56″.

I guess I have to pay a little bit more attention to my body on my next run…

we played tennis for 2 and a half hours! I didn’t realize we played this much but on Sunday my body was aching. So many new muscles were activated I barely could walk… Still I decided to go on a run, hoping it would be okay but my body stopped me at mile 2.5

I still finished the 3 miles but the last half mile I had to walk. Just couldn’t do it. Once again a sign your body needs some rest to recuperate from an intense workout. So I’m counting last Sunday as a dress rehearsal for Week 9 which I probably will start on Tuesday.

The best part was that it didn’t feel like 30 minutes. I just kept on going and going… I was back at the West end of the creek, a long stretch passing vineyards and horse stables.

Running on this trail is so relaxing (I never thought of running as relaxing!) and before I knew it I completed 3 miles.

I guess I gave myself a head start, moving into week 9. Week 9 will be three runs, 30 minutes each and Day three will be graduation day! Not sure when this day will be. I’m kinda ahead of my runs, running every other day now so theoretically my graduation run is on Wednesday. I’d rather run it on a Saturday or Sunday… We’ll see.

It was actually perfect weather for a run. I was a bit tired since I ran my session right after coming home from work. Unfortunately I can’t run in the mornings anymore simply because it’s too dark! My working hours are from 07:00 to 15:30 so that’s why I run my weekdays sessions after office hours.

So nothing spectacular on Day 2 although I do like to be back on my original trail. It gives me a lot to look at, city streets on my right and the creek on my left. The occasional crack heads under the bridges, bikers, runners, cats, dogs and patrolling police officers, all using the same trail…