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| Week 1 |
3 Miles |
June 15 |
| Ran 3 miles and my knees started to hurt. My time qualifed me to be in the 14 mile a minute pace group. I'm reaaly out of shape and it was real early to start running. | ||
Week 2 |
4 Miles |
June 22 |
| 4 miles was easier with the run/walk method. It was better than the 3 mile run, my knee did not hurt and I ran twice this past week, about 45 minutes. | ||
Week 3 |
5 Miles |
June 29 |
| I recruited my friend Barb to join me in the AIDS run in Honolulu. She hates me for it. She did great on her first day. 5 Miles went OK, I did my 2 training run during the week and felt good. I'm starting to get in shape again. YEAH! | ||
Week 4 |
6 Miles |
July 6 |
| Hurt my left foot playng tennis this past week so I didn't get to run so I stayed around for support. | ||
Week 5 |
7 Miles |
July 13 |
| Off this week to rest my left foot. Didn't do the training runs and was bummed I didn't get to run, just when I thought I was back in shape. | ||
| Week 6 |
8 Miles |
July 20 |
| Ran 8 miles today, my knees hurt, my left foot hurts. Slept 1 hour after the run. It was a big shock after being off for two weeks and not having run the training runs during the week. I should have slowed down my pace and not ran so many miles. I know I'll regret tis day. | ||
Week 7 |
9 Miles |
July 27 |
| Off this week, hurt my left foot again. Want to rest it for the longer runs, havn't been running the training runs during the week. I feel out of shape again. I start my 12 week tennis tounament this Sunday, I hope I can keep up with both activities. I'll be training for the Marathon on Saturdays and playing the Tennis tournaments on Sunday, hopefully by then end of the year, I'll feel healthy, I just need to stop hurting myself, started taking HA Joint Formula by Purity Products, a supplement to help my aching joints. | ||
Week 8 |
10 Miles |
Aug 3 |
| My foot still hurts so I'm taking this week off again. | ||
| Week 9 |
12 Miles |
Aug 9 |
| This is my first time at the Santa Monica site. It's a lot cooler by the beach. I talked to coach Monica and she suggested that I only run 10 miles since I missed the past two weeks... I ran the 10 miles and my foot didn't hurt but the last mile my left knee started to tighten up. They had peanut butter and jelly sandwich for us after the run, I ate about 4 cause I was so hungry, as soon as I got home I was so tired I took a 2 hour nap, didn't even shower, I was that tired. Next week is an easy week, but the following week the coach wants me to run 13 instead of 14 miles. Till then, off to my maintenace runs. | ||
| Week 10 |
6 Miles |
Aug 17 |
| This week I ran with Barb, the one I recruited to take this journey with me. She is pictured with me laughing. We ran a maintenance run on Thursday for about 1/2 an hour. We hurt a little, but we got through it. The 6 miles this morning was a breeze, my knee hurt about the 4 mile make and I re-arranged my Knee Bands and the pain went away, gotta love those bands. After the run we went to Brunch at Steve's place (out pace leader) and made a fantastic breakfast. Thank you Steve! | ||
| Week 11 |
14 Miles |
Aug 23 |
| I actually ran 13 miles. Since my last long run was only 10 miles, coach Monica only wanted me to run 13 miles, she will have me run 16 miles in about two weeks. I did it! I ran 1/2 a marathon. It was great running in Santa Monica, the weather was overcasted and cool, better than running in Griffith Park where I heard was very hot. My knees started to hurt around mile 12.5, I walked off the pain and continued to the finish line. After the run I ate lots of peanut and jelly sandwiches they had for us. I went home, took a shower and took a one hour nap, my body was beaten up and wanted to rest. I streched after I woke up from my nap. The following day I took a 1/2 walk to keep my legs moving, it actually help, because I don't feel sore today. Next week should be easy, it's only going to 7 miles, I thought those words would never come from my mouth. | ||
| Week 12 |
7 Miles |
Aug 31 |
| This week was easy. I ran with the Griffith Park team today. | ||
| Week 13 |
16 Miles |
Sep 6 |
| Today, I ran with the Santa Monica team. It was the big 16 mile run. Didn't think I would finish because of my knees. The weather was great, nice and cool with a slight breeze. I loved it. My left foot hurt at about mile 14 but ran through it. I need to but a new pair of shoe because the ones I'm wearing are old and they are losing their support. I did it! | ||
| Week 14 |
8 Miles |
Sep 13 |
| I ran 8 mile on my own at Griffith Park this past week. I felt a little ill, my stomach was upset but I still ran, it was enjoyable, not painful. I ran with my knee bans and I felt good. On Sunday, I played in my tennis tournament and I injuried myself again, I hurt my left foot, it Monday night and it's still sore, I've iced it on Sunday and Monday, we'll see if it feels better for my big 18 miles run on Sunday. Wish me luck! | ||
| Week 15 |
18 Miles |
Sep 20 |
| Missed this run due to my injury. Twisted my right foot playing in my Sunday tennis tounaments. I was upset that I missed it but Coach Monica suggested I rest and let it heal properly before I run. | ||
| Week 16 |
9 Miles |
Sep 27 |
| This run took two hours, not bad after my foot injury, hopefully, I'll be injury free before the marathon, please pray for me. Next week is the BIG 20! Can't wait, I'm excited and scared, If I finish the BIG 20, then I'll know I'll be able to finish the marathon. | ||
| Week 16 |
20 Miles |
Oct 4 |
| I DID IT!!!! Since I miss the 18 miles run, Coach Monica suggested I only run 19 miles, A 3 mile increment from my last long run, which was 16 miles, would be better for my body to handle. So I ran 19 miles, I was nervous about running that long and didn't get much sleep the night before. I got up at 5am to prepare and headed off to Santa Monica. The weather was great, overcast and it looked like it was going to rain. The whole group started to walk to the starting point, down by Shutter Hotel while I was driven to the first mile marker to join the group, since I was only running 19 miles. By the time my group reach the 1st mile, I was frozen, it was so cold and couldn't wait to start running. The first mile I started feeling pain in my right inner thigh, I told myself, not now, I just started, so when we took our walk break, I massaged the pain out, by mile 5, I could'nt feel the pain, the running help warm up my legs which helped ease the pain, sounds weird, but it worked. Running south on Venice Beach, then turned around north towards Santa Monica, it started raining, it was a welcome surprise, when I say rain, I meand Los Angeles rain, which translates to Mist Sprinkles. It lasted for about an hour and it stopped. I told myself every five miles I would eat something. I split the powerbar I had into fours so that it last till the end. I found that was not enough, luckly, along the course they had pretzels, nuts, M&M's, and raisons. I was very grateful because that keep my energy up, on mile 16, I had some goo, goo is this very nasty pasty tasting substance that marathon runner ingest while running, contain lots of protein and caffine, that goo was remarkalble, I had lots of energy when I finish my 19 miles in 5 hours, I was very proude of myself that I finish, inspite of all my injuries. Today, Sunday, Oct 5th, my foot hurts, but I still have to play, at least, two hours of tennis, I will take it easy so that I won't injure myself. Next week, I will miss another run, I will be in a Wedding in Las Vegas, I will be the Man of Honor at Lisa Gallions Wedding. I have to prepare a speech, which I'm very nervous about. Wish me luck. Next long run, 23 MILES. | ||
| Week 17 |
8 Miles |
Oct 11 |
| I'm at a wedding in Las Vegas, my good friend Lisa Gallion is getting married and I am the Man of Honor...it's my first and I have to prepare for a speech... very nervous | ||
| Week 18 |
10 Miles |
Oct 18 |
| I hurn after the run because I didn't run last week. | ||
| Week 19 |
23 Miles |
Oct 25 |
| I did it! I took 4 advil before the race and I had a cortizone shot for my right rotator cuff and helped keep me pain free. After the run Coach Monica advise I don't take advil and switch to tylenol, it's safer for me. | ||
| Week 20 |
8 Miles |
Nov 1 |
| My toes hurt... | ||
| Week 21 |
10 Miles |
Nov 8 |
| Didn't sleep last night and the run was difficult... | ||
| Week 22 |
26 Miles |
Nov 15 |
| Didn't get much sleep before the run, it was hot and was very restless, don't know if it was nerves or... I arrived at Santa Monica race site at 6:30am, still groggy from last night, I stretch a bit, they gave an inspirational story about one our marathon runner who struggled with HIV and how the organization really helped him through it. I got teary eyed and was even more inspired to run. We started off fine and in the distance, we saw the fires in Santa Barbara, we smelled a bit of smoke but not strong. after mile 15 more fires had egined around L.A. By mile 20, the air was getting bad and it became unusally hot for Santa Monica, the run just got harder. On mile 24, my group decided to walk, this was a good thing becuase my left knee started to stiffed and hurt, we walked the last 2 miles and finished at 7 hours and 22 minutes. They had Hawaiian BBQ for at the end of the run, I had blisters, my foot was swollen and I was exhausted. Was it worth it... YES, because I felt that I contributed to a GREAT cause and I felt good. | ||
| Week 23 |
8 Miles |
Nov 22 |
| Week 24 |
8 Miles |
Nov 29 |
| Week 25 |
8 Miles |
Dec 6 |
| Week 26 |
26.2 Miles |
Dec 14 |
| In Honolulu...Waikiki Beach... the first thing I'm going to do is go to the north shore and get some shrimp. | ||
Life's journey takes us to
so many places,
May your always lead to
JOY and BEAUTY.
Current Donations to date: $3376.00
As you can see, I am training for the 2008 Honolulu Marathon, which will take place on December 14, 2008.
From June until December, I'll be logging nearly 500 miles in this six-month training program put on by the National AIDS Marathon. It's an exciting journey. And even though I'll be getting up at the crack of dawn, and I may have my share of aches and pains, I know it will be worth it.
The money I raise will benefit Whitman-Walker Clinic, the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Their Clinic provides direct medical care, food, housing and other really important AIDS services -- to help keep people alive until there's a cure.
I hope you will come out to cheer during the marathon. But whether you can be there or not, I hope you will show your support now with as generous a contribution as you can make.
Thanks for your generous support.
Sincerely, Patrick Garcia
If you know of some one who have passed away from AIDS and would like me to put their name on my web page, I will be more than happy to. Please email me at rickgarcia317@gmail.com
7/8/2008 Barbara Holliday $100.00
7/9/2008 Derick Jay Mitchell $25.00
7/11/2008 Mark Low $50.00
7/11/2008 Kevin Pusateri $40.00
7/13/2008 Tina Lee $25.00
7/15/2008 Jimmy Burns $28.00
7/22/2008 Barbara Holliday $100.00
7/29/2008 David Condra $100.00
7/29/2008 Philip Reza $25.00
7/29/2008 Mark Hoebich $25.00
7/29/2008 Dennis Weber $28.00
7/31/2008 Rachel Reinitz $25.00
8/3/2008 Yolanda Ybuan $50.00
8/6/2008 Grace Wang $25.00
8/13/2008 Maria Pia Miniati $25.00
8/13/2008 Debbie Smith $50.00
8/13/2008 Evelyn Jimenez $50.00
8/13/2008 Marissa Panlilio Durazzo $50.00
8/13/2008 Carolyn Zacharski $25.00
8/14/2008 Carl Andersen $25.00
8/14/2008 Carolina Lancaster $50.00
8/14/2008 Carmen Konen $100.00
8/14/2008 Maida Miranda $50.00
8/15/2008 Anthony (ton) Garcia $25.00
8/15/2008 Rosario Mandolado $50.00
8/15/2008 Mirasol Panlilio $25.00
8/15/2008 Susan Janeight Garcia $25.00
8/15/2008 Christian Garcia $25.00
8/20/2008 Kathy Griffin $25.00
8/22/2008 Linda Mixon $50.00
8/23/2008 Minerva Panlilio Tompkins $25.00
8/23/2008 Lawrence Epstein $1,000.00
8/26/2008 Robin Cohen $100.00
8/26/2008 Maria Schneider $50.00
8/27/2008
Dorie Konno $50.00
8/28/2008 Orlando Alexander $50.00
8/28/2008 Joanne Divito $100.00
8/28/2008 Orlando Alexander $50.00
8/30/2008 Raymond Shreeve $50.00
9/4/2008 Elizabeth Trenholm $30.00
9/7/2008 Remy Garcia-Muna $200.00
9/7/2008 Jason Robertson $50.00
9/9/2008 Norma Serrano $50.00
9/9/2008 Robin Phillmore $25.00
9/13/2008 Bobby Solorio $100.00
9/18/2008 Denise Zimny $50.00
9/24/2008 Rickey Viloria $25.00
9/29/2008 Candy Brown $25.00
10/7/2008 Tracy Williams $25.00
10/27/2008 Mark Baird $25.00
11/12/2008 Rebecca Barnard $25.00
11/12/2008 Josie Calabrese $25.00
Tommy
Muna
Camelo Millan
Daryl Highsmith
Marty Douglas
Rick
Sullivant
John Francis Lopez
Randy Wickstrom
Christopher
Chadman
Rickie
Massey
Randy
DiGrazio
Charles
Ward
Bob Thompson
Jimmy Roddy
Timothy Smith
Chris Chadman
Michael Peters
Danny Strayhorn
Kenny Miller
Spencer Henderson
Steve Marder
DJ Rosenthal
Steve Merritt
Carlton Johnson
Eddie Heime
Ross Miles
Jerry Grimes
Keith Keen
Ron Field
Michael Fullington
Lene Costello
Gary Chapman
Frances Morgan Chapman
Clifford Allen
John Oliverio
Jesse Nichols
Kevin Oviatt
Daniel Paredes
Stanley Perryman
Roy Smith
Stephen Stucker
Jay Van Horn
Glenn White
Tony White
John Calvert
Victor Heineman
(If you have pictures
of any of the above,
I will gladly post them)