Running Diaries: Starting to Run

I remember I started running exactly a year ago, Summer 2010. I had tried running a few times before that, but I was never really committed to the sport; I'd run for a few days and stop for a few weeks. 

For me the hardest part about starting to run was getting over shin splints. I used to get the worst shin splints and that's really the reason why I gave up so many times in the past. It could have been my shoes, or the fact that I had no idea how to run (form); the fact that I was way out of shape (even though I used to lift weights, I HATED doing cardio); the pain from shin splints; or a combination of all these factors.

I started running after I went on a short run with one of my friends and couldn’t even run a mile straight without running out of breath while she could have kept going for miles and miles. I couldn’t keep going, not because my legs were getting tired, but because my lungs just couldn’t keep up. I never smoked, I mean I’ve smoked a few cigarettes in the past, but I’m not a big fan. I’ve never bought my own pack of cigs, lets put it that way.

During Summer 10' for some reason I started running again, but this time I was determined and I really wanted to get in good shape, so I didn't quit, and now I LOVE RUNNING. The first few months were pretty tough, I’m not gonna lie. I couldn’t run 3 miles, so I made it my goal to be able to run those 3 miles without having to stop, no matter how long it would take. I would have been happy if I were to run 2 miles without having to stop and walk for a while. I then started going on short runs every other day until one day it got easier, I went for a “Long run” one weekend and got my first 3 miler down. This really was a milestone for me and it was one of those runs that you wouldn't forget about,  I was really the happiest kid at that moment; it felt like reaching a new level or something.

Well, after that, I started going on 3 milers every weekend and then I thought I was in good enough shape to start running hills, so why not? I live in Oregon, and the hills is where you want to go if you want to get in shape in NO TIME.

I started running hills approximately 2 months after I started running; the first hill I ever ran was Bald Hill, Corvallis. There’s many different ways you can attack the hill and the good thing is that they’re all really short and easy, so it’s a really good start. When I first ran Bald hill I noticed how different and how much harder it was to run up even if the slope wasn’t that steep. I liked the challenge so I started going to Bald hill every weekend. I’d do a few flat runs during the week, but Saturday morning turned into my ritual, I’d get up early in the A.M, have a huge breakfast and get ready for the hills. I did this for the rest of the summer, and my lungs got a lot stronger. I was running way faster on the flats and without trying that hard. I loved what it felt like to be able to keep a 6 min/mile pace for a long time (15 minutes for me) and how we can really push limits we put on ourselves, so I started going on more intense runs on the flats during the week. I’d always just go for time, I’d warm up 10 minutes or so and then I would just BOOK IT and run fast for as long as I could possibly go.

I was going on fast runs during the week and I was running hills every weekend. I did this for a few months and without even realizing it, one day I noticed that I was in better shape than what I originally planned for, and for the first time I felt like I wasn't running, but floating, I was running like a deer, fast and efficient. That day I was going for a 45 min run, I wasn't running for speed, or even for distance, I was just running. I ran and I found the perfect pace, it was pretty fast but my breathing completely synched with my body and I felt like everything was just going past me, I was cruising.

I don’t know how else to explain what this run was like, but it was one of the many runs to come that I was simply on auto-pilot, relaxed (even thou I was going fast), not thinking about anything, just enjoying the moment and appreciating all the hills and trees, and different trails where my legs would take me, it was a GOOD RUN.

My goal that day was to simply run for 45 minutes, but then 45 min went by and I was feeling pretty good so I kept going, I wasn’t even tired yet and that was about to be my longest run at the time, I was listening to music, and I ran for 1.5 hours. I didn’t realize how far I ran until I got back home, and when I mapped it I had ran a little over 10 miles, and that was my first 10 miler.

Six months before my first 10 miler I didn’t even think I would ever be able to go for 5 miles, but it just kind of happened. My first 10 miler set the limit to where my “Long run” was, and I decided to see how much longer I could go for, so I started training for distance. I want to see how much I can take and how long I can possibly run for.

I’m skipping the details of a great chunk of my running history, but what happened after my first 10 miler was that I started running about twice a week (Didn’t have a lot of time with school/work), and I would ALWAYS go on a long run on the weekends. The long run was my ritual. I loved being able to run for 8/10 miles at a time and explore the city, the different trails and the hills around Corvallis.

It’s been about a year since I first got a good pair of running shoes, and now my longest run has been 20.5 miles (I honestly never thought I'd be able to run that far). I don’t have any specific goals like “I want to run a Marathon” I just want to see how long I can possibly run if I keep training, and hopefully one day I will be able to run 50 miles or more. I also bought my first road bike, but that’s a different story for another time. 

Running, even though I used to say it sucked, is AMAZING. I just didn't know any better. Everyone has different reasons to run, some run because they want to lose weight; others because its healthy and its good for you; and a few because it helps them get through their days. I run because I love to see progress, I like how your hard work really does pay off, how you can learn so much from a bad run, how your form gets better and running gets easier as you run farther and actually pay attention to what your body is doing; I like how not too long ago, 3 miles was my limit and now I've learned that limits are really just boundaries one sets on their own little minds. 

There's people out there who can go for over 100 miles and still push it, people like David Goggins who really do inspire some of us. Running is not just a sport, its a way to forget about your problems even if its just for a while, a way to reward yourself with a more efficient body, its a time to relax and think about what's going on in your life, or a time to just go and think about NOTHING. Running is simply good for your mind, body and soul.

Lifting 360

Four years ago I came to College and my life took a 360. I used to play guitar all through High school and I used to swim, but I was never really interested in sports. I used to swim because I had to for school (We had to pick a sport, and swimming was the best option), but I hated swimming (only because I had to swim thou, now I love it) and I never even thought about running, getting on a bike, or even lifting. I was way into other stuff. I taught myself how to read music, play the guitar and the piano. I played for a few years and I learned a lot of music theory in the process, I even had a band and we got really close to record our album. But then I graduated and College Life was a lot different.


Well, my freshman year in college I decided I wanted to get in the best shape I could and work hard to stay like that because I want to grow old and still be able to run, bike and go sky diving without getting a heart attack on the process.


I started lifting weights and fell in love with it, I gained a considerable amount of weight in the two years that I was dedicated to the sport, and I thank my friends Chris and Roland for teaching me how to lift/how to EAT. 


Before I started lifting I used to weigh around 110lbs and I'm 5'5 so I've always been hella skinny. That wasn't really a problem for me at all though, but when I started lifting I could see progress month after month, and when you know that what you're doing is really working, and you can see results, it feels good, so I kept doing it.


I lifted because I liked it, and it was fun; I love going to the gym and knowing that a few years ago I was this really skinny kid who couldn't even do a few pull ups, and now is able to do pull ups with +45 lbs using the dip belt; I love what it feels like when you get a good pump and you push hard rep after rep; or when you weigh in and you can measure your progress, not just on the scale but also in the gym; when you start getting stronger and you can handle heavier and more difficult lifts, like dead lifts. I didn't really have any major goals when I used to lift, I just did it because it was fun. Some people play video games. I lift, play guitar, the piano, run, practice gymnastics, and do many other things that I never thought I'd be able to do just four years ago.