Come on US...Let's Cheer on MEB as he brings the GOLD back home!

Lets Give a shout out to MEB and wish him luck bringing the Gold to the US...(and San Diego!) Hit him up on twitter (@RunMeb) and his Facebook "fan page" ~> Meb Keflezighi... SHOW HIM SOME LOVE GUYS!

#RunNasaraRun: Let's run the...2012 San Diego Rock n Roll Half Marathon!

Ok...ok...ok... Firstly I want to thank First Lady Benson and Stepping Higher, Inc. for sponsoring my run and constantly supporting me in my quest for wellness in our communities! Now...let's talk about this run. Well...the day before (June 2nd) I organized, with the sponsorship and assistance of ING Kids Rock (also...a special shoutout goes to John Nunn, a 2012 Olympic hopeful in the 50K race walk, for his assistance.) We took students from Nubia Leadership Academy out to get fit and experience the fun and excitement of an organized, (semi) competitive run (kids were involved, so they are no losers, only winners!) This was fun and a little stressful but mostly fun!

After the kids run, we went to the annual Expo in the downtown Convention Center and it was GREAT as usual! Vendors, vendors and more vendors and I had to also pick up my racing bib. I was also "given" a $30-40 parking pass "out of the blue" and that was a blessing because it allowed me to park at the "finish line"(Sea World) before the race began.

Now, the morning was a little challenging because I was looking for my shorts at 4 am and couldn't find them. I found some cool red shorts, but they didn't match so I went with my black shorts which happened to be missing the drawstring. I didn't think it was a problem because I had safety pins to hold them up...BOY...THAT CAME BACK TO HAUNT ME!!

We started the race in Hillcrest along with the other 40,000 runners and proceed to trek 13.1 miles to Sea World...yay! ;-/ I had recently sprained my calf muscle that week in TKB, but I couldn't back out because I had to "do what I gotta do"...right? Well, I was cool for the first 4 miles, then Mr. Calf started acting up. Now, I'm foolish sometimes and I deal with the pain, but believe it or not, that wasn't the worst of it...the worst came when I had to constantly pull my shorts up FOR THE WHOLE RACE! Stupid, stupid, stupid!! I should have just wore the non-matching red shorts and ran a comfortable race, but noooooooooo...I have to match and it cost me my sub-2:00 time! I ended up running it in 2:05 (not bad, but those shorts messed me up...Lol!) Other than the "wardrobe malfunction" the race was great, the course was great the music...the music...the music?? It wasn't my "cup of tea" so of course I had my headphones on the whole time (Thank you Snuggbuds) Oh, yeah...there was that ONE group playing "California Love" by Dr. Dre and 2Pac which got me HYPE right when I was passing the Mission Valley YMCA.

Overall it was a great time and I look forward to the 2 month break before my next Half Marathon. We will be attempting to kick butt in the Vista Half Marathon (formerly the Big Money Half) on August 11th and then the America's Finest City Half on August 19th! Wish us luck!


PS: Thank you Mr. Tracy Morris and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Western Region and Nubia Leadership Academy for sponsoring me for these runs! 


Also...Please it is not too late to donate towards the ~> "Dash for Dad" run to benefit Prostate Cancer research. (Anything is helpful)  I'll be running in December 2012 at the Rock n Roll Half in Vegas for this cause which has personally affected me, with my father passing at the young age of 55, and knowing that it affects countless lives across this planet!


#RunNasaraRun

Check this out: "How to avoid an Exercise Plateau!"

"What a Feeling!"

Great feeling: "I love walking into a Fitness class I have to sub and people looking at me like I'm a leper, but 60 minutes later they are asking for my business card!"

#RunNasaraRun...Let's talk about La Jolla Half and The Safari Run!

Greetings all... Let me continue sharing my Half Marathon experiences! The "Drive for 1:45" continues and since I didn't blog as they happened so I'm catching up before I do my next one in August! Again, I'm doing 10 Half Marathons this year on my 43rd year on this planet and I hope to raise money for the these causes such as cancer ~(Please consider donating), diabetes, etc..., inspire others to get moving and get fit and finally for my own satisfaction and accomplishment!

La Jolla Half 2012

This was a run with a BEAUTIFUL view of lovely La Jolla communities, the ocean (We ran from Del Mar Fairgrounds to La Jolla Cove!) and the lovely hill or "KILLER HILL" at Torrey Pines State Reserves. Maaaaan, it kicked my butt! It was never ending! lol! Somehow I made it through (I had several people yelling at me to keep going!) and ended finishing the run with a 2:11... it was also the first time I tried Island Boost. Island Boost is an "all natural endurance energizer" with glucose and coconut water and it not only tasted good, but it gave me an extra "kick" while running.  I was battling a "funky" knee the whole time, but made it through despite those Lovely hills! I'm gonna do this one again next year! (and I won't let the hill slow me down again!)

Safari Half 2012

I guess the La Jolla Half served as a "training" run for this one, which happened to be a week later. I kicked butt on this one...I actually broke the sub-2 hour mark with a 1:59:58! Whoo-Hoo! I ran hoping to see Lions, Tigers and Bears (Oh My!) but I guess they were all sleeping..lol! Anyway, it was a fun run starting at North County Fair Mall in Escondido and ending in the SD Wild Animal Park. I was unaware of their "Killer Hill"...though it wasn't nearly as bad as Torrey Pines. 

NEXT BLOG...San Diego Rock n Roll! 

#RunNasaraRun: "The Drive for 1:45"

Greetings ALL...I originally decided to do 7 Half Marathons this year, but through the sponsorships of several people and organizations I am able to do 10! So firstly, I would like to thank the following: First Lady Rachelle Benson and Stepping Higher, Inc, Tracy Morris and the Western Region Phi Beta Sigma, Inc., Maritza Johnson and the Friends of Nubia Foundation, Zerocancer.org and all the donors! Most of these runs benefit Cancer research and we all know that cancer has affected so many of us, our loved ones and friends. (Personally I lost my father to prostate Cancer)


     Well...I was supposed to write a blog about each run, not just for the enjoyment of the public, but I want to keep this bit of "Sirius Fitness" history to pass down to my kiddies! Anyway, better late than never. I have decided to summarize the 5 1/2 Marathons I have already done and BLOG the next 5 in the several upcoming months. My main goal is ALWAYS to "Finish", but my ultimate goal is 1:45 minutes, hence the title of this blog... "The Drive for 1:45" (wish me luck!) The main difference with these NEXT several runs is...I will actually train for them this time (lol!) 


Lets Go:

San Diego Half Marathon 2012

"Great inaugural run and nice course. This was a very organized run and it was my first long run since the 2011 Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon in San Diego. I was told not to participate due to sciatica, which was still bothering me... but I had to push through. Yes...I ignored my physical therapist! ;-(  I felt good, ran a 2:11 and during the run I ran into Brian Catacutan, who will be running several 1/2 Marathons this year as well with his fiancee, Jenn Vela. Some of my "partners in crime" who ran were, Mark McCloskey and Tracy Willis. I can't wait until 2013!"

Hollywood Half Marathon 2012 

"This was a lot of fun because I got to travel to HOLLYWOOD! The family came along for the ride and for support and it was a GREAT Inaugural Run! Lights, Cameras, Red Carpet...Yeah! This was also an organized run, nice course and nice sights to see in the Hollywood community! Now...I was doing great until mile 11 and then... Calf number one cramped up and guess what happened two minutes later??...Calf number two cramped up. (I guess I didn't hydrate enough!...my bad!) I was ROCKING and ROLLING up until that point but I wobbled and hobbled across the finish line with a 2:12

NEXT BLOG I will briefly summarize my experiences with:

La Jolla Half and the Safari Half!

Sirius Fitness' Upcoming Runs!

Greetings folks...not only is this the year that I am "personally" participating in 10 Half Marathons, but I am still promoting and participating in several 5k's and more... Join me and consider participating in some or ALL of these runs!  

2012 Sirius Fitness Schedule a.k.a. #RunNasaraRun

  July

Kaiser Permanente Bolt to the Q 5k~07/21/2012 Saturday 7:30 am
Start: San Diego Chargers Training Facility (Chargers Park) 4020 Murphy Canyon, San Diego CA Finish: Qualcomm Stadium - 50-yard line 9449 Friars Road San Diego, CA 92108
REGISTER


San Diego Blood Bank 5K Walk/Run 5K~ 07/29/2012 Sunday 8:00 am
Start/Finish: Embarcadero Marina Park North at Seaport Village. Walk/Run along scenic Embarcadero Marina Park North. Free food/drink, entertainment and prizes. Proceeds benefit the lifesaving programs and services of the San Diego Blood Bank.
REGISTER

 August 

 Vista Half Marathon~ 08/11/2012 Saturday 8:00 am
 1200 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista, CA
 REGISTER

35th America's Finest City Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk~ 08/19/2012 Sunday 7:00 am
The Half Marathon begins at historic Cabrillo National Monument and ends in beautiful Balboa Park. REGISTER

2012 End of Summer Fire Run 4 Mile Run/Walk~08/26/2012 Sunday 8:00 am
Prospect & Girard Street, La Jolla to Mission Blvd & Felspar, Pacific Beach
REGISTER

September

11th Annual Boot Camp Challenge 3 Mile Obstacle course Run. (run as an individual, a 3-person team, or 5-person team)~ 09/29/2012 Saturday 9:00 am
Honor's Lawn 3800 Chosin Avenue, MCRD San Diego, CA 92140 (enter gate #5 by taking I-5 to the Washington St. exit. Head west to Gate #5)
REGISTER

  October 

Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon ~ 10/28/2012 Sunday 7:00 am
L.A. LIVE Downtown- Los Angeles, CA
REGISTER

  November 

12th Annual Silver Strand Half Marathon Run & 5K Run/Walk ~11/11/2012 Sunday 7:00 am Start: Coronado Finish: Imperial Beach
REGISTER

11th Annual Father Joe's Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk ~ 11/22/2012 Thursday 8:00 am
San Diego Museum of Man 1350 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
REGISTER

 AND THE CULMINATING EVENT...

DECEMBER

Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon~ 12/02/2012 Sunday 4:30 pm
Las Vegas, NV (THE STRIP!!)
REGISTER

 ...and maybe more! We will add more if needed! Come and run with us, support us and get FIT with us! SIRIUS FITNESS is on the MOVE! #RunNasaraRun