January 2010 Archives

Saturday Run - Jan 16, 2010

By Anil on January 16, 2010 3:43 PM | 0 Comments
Today, we took advantage of what Colorado has to offer and did a trail run on the Mesa Trail at Chautauqua Park in Boulder. I had never done a trail run before and this was pretty hard and a very good workout. I couldn't do the normal run-walk as the trail was unpredictably difficult, and there was plenty of walking, especially when it was icy and/or steep. Unfortunately, I didn't have Yak-Trax to help with the icy portions, but I took it easy so that I wouldn't get hurt.  

Overall, I actually had fun, even when we got a little lost and ended up doing more on the trail than expected.  I know I'll be sore for a while.  I am looking forward to the next trail run and now I know what to expect.

Saturday Run - Jan 9, 2010

By Anil on January 9, 2010 7:22 PM | 0 Comments
Today, we started ramping up our long runs.  I ran nine miles today for two hours on the Highline Canal Trail.  It was actually not so bad.  It's amazing how mental running can be.  The first half hour, it was cold and the body didn't want to move. I spent most of that time thinking to myself that I should probably just do a half marathon instead of a full. It was hard not to think that way.

The trail that we run is a single long trail, so you have to go out and then come back. So, I kept pushing myself until I hit that one hour mark. Then there was no way to go but back. And it seemed so much faster to finish it up.  By the time I was done, I was a little sore, but I felt great.  

I'm definitely ready to do a half marathon, but I have that full marathon in my sights now.  It's a long ways away...I'll get there.

Saturday Run - Jan 2, 2010

By Anil on January 2, 2010 9:24 AM | 0 Comments
Another cold day today running in Wash Park.  It was a short run today, more like a 5k.  I'm glad it was short because I think I wasn't feeling it today.  I didn't sleep as well as I should have last night, and I think I am still feeling the 5k on New Years Eve. I ended up with more of a mental block than I would like. 

I guess that's fine for today, but it reminds me that I need to make sure I'm doing the right things to get to my end goal.  

Running to Save Lives

By Anil on January 1, 2010 11:13 AM | 0 Comments
I've always felt that I was pretty damn lucky.  My cancer experience was a blip in my life. With catching it early and having positive people in my life supporting me, it was an episode that only lasted five months. Hodgkins Lymphoma is a well research cancer, so the treatment protocols are well known, and there's a high success rate.  But there are many other types of cancers out there that still have no cure.

So, in November, I decided to commit myself to running with Team in Training, which trains me to run a marathon, while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. While LLS is dedicated to blood cancer research, I do this in dedication to my friends and family members affected by cancer, as I believe that any cancer research can cross any boundaries.  I keep the following people in my heart during my training...

  • Michele Arora
  • Reshma Arora
  • Venkat Meka
  • Lakhpat Pujara

I am also doing this for myself. Noone knows what could have caused my cancer. So, my goal is to live a much healthier, more natural lifestyle. Running will help me achieve that goal. I hope to be a lot more fit at the end of this, lose about 10-20 pounds from my midsection, and do something that I can sustain afterwards.

Marathon training at this time of year in Colorado is quite different than when I trained in 2006 in the Bay Area.  Not only do I have to contend with the altitude, weather can be an issue.  The first long run I did was on the Highline Canal Trail on an early Saturday morning in December.  It also happened to have been during a cold spell.  It was in the single digits and it was snowy.  Someone posted a video of the team in action that day. Since then, I've also been running in the evening when it was dark and just as cold and snowy.  

Yes, I'm crazy. I definitely feel like a true Coloradan now.

I've committed to raising $3800 by April 24th. It seems like it's a lot, especially with this economy. I don't like asking people for money, as they may also donate to other worthy causes, including some of the fundraisers that I've already done prior to this.  But, in all, $3800 is a drop in the bucket to what is needed to help those affected by cancer.  So, I'm hoping that people will be as supportive as they've been in the past.  

For those who want to donate, you can go to my team in training page. I'll be writing about my experiences here on this blog during this time so you can make sure that I'm doing what I said I was doing.  

Thanks to everyone for their support!

Goodbye, 2009...Hello, 2010

By Anil on January 1, 2010 12:05 AM | 0 Comments
Here we are.  The new year. I don't have much to really reflect on, but I can certainly say that 2009 was a lot better than the crappy 2008 year.  I'm a much happier person.  In a way, I am happier than I've been in a couple of years.  I have a bit of control over my life now, and I am feeling that 2010 will be a much better year for me.

Health-wise, life is good. Still in remission. I think a lot of that has to do with how I deal with what I do with myself. While I do eat out, I tend to also try to be careful about what kinds of foods I put in my body. I'm more of a believer in organics and natural foods.  I haven't lost the weight that I hoped to, but I think I'm in better shape.  My cousin commented to me that I'm probably a lot more fit than I think. I was able to do a 14'er without really training specifically for it. I can still keep up while playing kickball or football. I am ending the year training for another marathon. That's helping me keep active during the cold winter months. And that's also helping me with my weight loss goals. Definitely have a way to go, but feel good about it.

I started volunteering more. I work at the Children's Hospital in the cardiac and pulmonary floor. It hasn't turned out the way I was hoping.  I was hoping for more interaction with people, and it tends to end up being just myself and watching parents with their kids. In the new year, I'll probably be tweaking this and trying to find a more rewarding position, perhaps on the oncology floor. I also began spending more time with charities like LLS. I raised money for the Light the Night walk in October. The marathon training I'm doing is with Team in Training for LLS.  I will be continuing this in the new year.

Work wasn't especially challenging this year. That was good because it allowed me to be really flexible with my time. In the new year, I'm a bit more focused on my career. I'm moving into a new position that should allow me to learn some new skills. My goal is to be more visible up the chain and to deal with more customers so that I feel better about the kind of work I do.  And this new project should be able to use the skills that I've learned the last couple of years as well.

Even though I don't like being single, I'm much happier now. Dating has been interesting. I am active online as I don't meet as many people in the real world as I would like. Of course, as I'm still single, nothing serious has come out of that...yet.  Sorry, no specifics really to share. I'm still chugging away, and I'm not frustrated...yet. While I would like to meet someone for a more serious relationship, I enjoy meeting some cool people.  

I don't think I have any specific for my resolutions this year.  I've been saying that 2010 will be the year of my upgrade.  While I've pretty much started already, but I'm pretty much going to be focused on myself.  Out with the old stuff, as I still have stuff from my marriage like dishes that I want to get rid off.  Stuff like that.

That's pretty much it.  Let's make this year a good one.  Happy New Year, everyone!!

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