FFF Diva Operation Boot Camp "Biggest Loser" Competition: DAY 2

FFF Diva Challenge: Operation Boot Camp "Biggest Loser" Competition

DAY 2: Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Topics to cover: (not in any particular order)
1. 5k Run for the Homeless in Fremont (3.1 miles)
2. New Year's Non-Resolutions
3. Running 1010 miles in 2010

5K Run for the Homeless in Fremont: htttp://www.runforthehomeless.org
It was an excellent run. My sister Leilani, friend Dennis, and I ran our first 5K of the year! Our times: Dennis ran 36 minutes, Leilani ran 48 minutes, and I ran 45 minutes. The last time I ran a solo 5K was back in September for the 5K Bubba Gump Race for the United Way and I ran in 38 minutes. I definitely need to practice short runs again. Haha. However I must share two things:

-Every race I choose a person to use as my pace setter or race marker. There was a woman in her late 30s that I was trailing the majority of the race and I finally caught up to her right after mile 2. When I reached her I motioned to her to remove her iPod headphones and told her "I know you don't know me, but I want to say I have been following you since the start line. Your pace is fantastic and I wanted to reach you to say that I am inspired by you. Remember with every step even if you don't know it someone is inspired by you. Keep up the great work!" She was really nice about it and surprised I said that. I only said it, because it was true. If it wasn't for her steps and pace I would not have run as fast as I did today AND the best part was we crossed the finish line together!

-After the race a woman came up to me (as I was chugging a water bottle) and in a kind voice said: "I don't even know you but I am so proud and impressed by you. You ran the whole race at the same pace & never stopped. I ran, then stopped to walk, but started run again because I saw you running. Well I just wanted to share that with you." I thanked her and wished her a Happy New Year. I walked away with a smile on my face.

New Year's Non-Resolutions
My sister Leilani doesn't believe in creating New Year's resolutions because usually when we make resolutions they usually don't get completed. So to follow in tradition I decided to make some non-resolutions:

-Achieve goal weight: 150 lbs.
-Complete full marathon (26.2 miles)
-Complete a race each month (5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon, or marathon)
-Run 1010 miles in 2010 (at least 2.76 miles a day)

I know these goals sound lofty, but the reality is that I have been training and conditioning my body & nutrition to achieve these goals. I have lost about 45 lbs since May, I ran a 1/2 marathon in October, and have been participating in a 6am outdoor boot camp. I feel 2010 is going to be my year. I know it!

Running 1010 miles in 2010
I joined a Facebook group today with an interesting goal: Run 1000 miles in 2010. I thought it was sooooo neat that I joined the group & started calculating my miles:

1 mile yesterday + 3.1 miles today = 4.1 miles (so far in 2010)

How it works:
Not to run fast, or far, to win, or even to live forever.
Run to know that you are alive.
You can do this.
Only 20ish miles / week.

Description:
Running and community. The rest is pretty much self explanatory. Join us and Run 1000 Miles in 2010!

I decided that I wanted to run 1010 miles in 2010 instead because I liked the way it sounded. When you break it down it's 2.76 miles a day or roughly 20ish miles a week. I can do it. I know I can!

Well it's time to jet. My sister and I are going to the gym for PM cardio. Let's see if I log more miles tonight.

Much love,
FFF Diva Mo

P.S. The party photos are from my friend Vanessa's New Year's Eve party in Santa Cruz. My sister Leilani is in the red dress. We are too cuuuute.

FFF Diva Activity: Running the 5K Bubba Gump Race at Great America, 09.20.09

Bubba Gump himself giving away chocolates to all of the runners and their families! I didn't partake because it would slow my running down!

My friend Megan ran the race with me! She completed the race in about 35 minutes. I completed the race in about 42 minutes.

The race started at 8:05am at the amusement park Great America!

I ran representing Operation Boot Camp! Gotta represent!

The Race Details

Join 1000+ Runners and Walkers at Great America for this 7h annual truly unique 5K Fun Run and Walk inside of No. California's most thrilling Family Park. Run alongside Forrest Gump himself and past all of your favorite characters and attractions, and into lunch from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at the finish. All to benefit the United Way of Silicon Valley. Parking and admission to Great America after the race are free!

About the Charity-United Way of Silicon Valley

United Way Silicon Valley is in the business of creating meaningful and tangible change in Silicon Valley. We have identified the critical issues facing people in our community and we are taking action by bringing together individuals, groups, ideas and resources to find real, lasting solutions. That's change. That's what matters.

And how they help!

Established in 1922, United Way Silicon Valley is an independent local affiliate of United Way of America. We are a nonprofit charitable organization, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of local community and business leaders. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community. For more information about United Way Silicon Valley, visit www.uwsv.org.

FFF Diva Activity: Running the San Francisco Plate to Plate 5K Race at AT&T Park (8.31.09)

This photo is directly on the field of AT&T Park. The MOST EXCITING part of this race is the fact you run around the bases and jump onto homeplate! It was very exciting and thrilling to be running on the field with the spongy grass underneath my feet and running my fingers along the padded walls surrounding the field.
FFF Diva Activity: I wore my OPERATION BOOT CAMP shirt to represent! Last time I ran a 5K race was in May 2009 for the Marin Human Race. During that race I ran it in about 52 minutes. For the San Francisco Plate to Plate I ran it in about 42 minutes! PROGRESS! P.S. GOOOO GIANTS!

I am honestly surprised at how well I did for this race. We started at McCovey Cove, ran across Lefty O'Toole's Bridge, down Embarcadero, did a u-turn up Embarcadero, ran into AT&T Park, ran around ALL OF THE BASES, and landed on homeplate.

The month of August was my best month of morning cardio boot camp. Special thanks to the OPERATION BOOT CAMP staff and campers. At the beginning of the month I ran my personal mile at 14 minutes and 30 seconds. After 30 days I ran it again at 13 minutes and 26 seconds. For the end of September camp I will get it under 13 minutes! Watch me. I attended ALL days of camp last month accept for when I went to Washington D.C. for work for a week & when I trained an international delegation for the U.S. Department of State in San Francisco---work related of course. I am so stoked for my improvements this month!

Interested in joining me or learning more? Go to: http://www.operationbootcamp.com/

An Update of Sorts

Hello friends and family,

Just wanted to give you all an update about our progress for Leilani and I recently...

First and foremost: Thanks for all the support regarding our quest to be on the NBC show The Biggest Loser, however we are asking politely to not ask us about our progress because we won't tell you. We don't want to jeopardize our chances, so thank you in advance for not asking. : )

Other updates:

Leilani joined Operation Boot Camp with me! Yay! 6am outdoor cardio is always the best. Please keep encouraging Leilani to attend! She recently was diagnosed with asthma, and we are monitoring her while she exercises, but we don't want it to prevent her from success!

Leilani hosted a fundraising scavenger hunt in downtown San Jose. She was able to raise almost $50 for her $85 registration for the San Jose Rock n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in October. I already paid for my registration, but Leilani wanted to fundraise! Please support her cause.

Plate to Plate Race 5K Run/Walk in San Francisco is the last Sunday in August. Leilani and I are participating! If you want more information please check out the website: http://platetoplate.org/. You would be supporting the non-profit Project Open Hand.

We have become icons at the gym with our pink and jeweled FFF Divas shirts ("Fierce, Fat, Filipinas" soon to be "Fierce, Fit, Filipinas"). People have been requesting shirt orders. It's really flattering. Pictures of the shirts soon to follow. They are great because they have our names on the back and have our goal weights. For example: Leilani 150 and Maureen 155. If you are interested feel free to ask us.

Until next blog,
Mo and Leilani ^_^

My new addiction: RUNNING

RUNNING: The FINAL frontier. These are the running adventures of a young fat woman trying to lose weight named MO. Mo's mission for the next 6 months is to train to run a half marathon in October and eventually a marathon within the next year in Hawaii. This running mission is to explore strange new leg pains; to seek out new life with significant weight loss and new positve body image affirmations; to boldly go where no young and fat Filipina has gone before.

Okay, so with the slight Trekkie tribute you can tell I watched the newest movie rendition of Star Trek. Haha. By the way it totally rocked: WATCH IT!

Where was I? Ah yes, running.

This past Saturday my sister Leilani, my cousin Ate Lisa, and my friend Cecille (among other co-workers) ran the 5K Marin Human Race. This was the first time I had ever run a long distance, especially outdoors (huge difference).

I was running with experienced/trained runners:
1. Leilani ran a 1/2 marathon last October--cold turkey, no training
2. Ate Lisa ran the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles) 5 years ago
3. Cecille is training to run the 12K Bay to Breakers this Sunday
4. And then there was me who never really ran accept for a Sanrio Hello Kitty sale.

Out of 685 possible timed runners I was #637 on that list! I ran 5K (3.1 miles) in 52 minutes and 27 seconds. I was sooooooo proud. Next 5K I will definitely beat that time!

In any case I am making a pledge to myself of goals for the next 6+ months:
1. Run 3 miles a day inside the gym on the treadmill (however, try to run outdoors if possible).
2. If I can't go to the gym and run, then run 3 miles outside, however if that is not possible at least run 1 mile for TIME.
3. Train to run the San Jose Rock n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in October 2009.
4. Train to run the Honolulu Marathon 10K portion in December 2009.
5. STRETCH EVERYWHERE.
6. Go to Operation Boot Camp EVERY DAY.
7. Buy a new pair of running shoes when I reach 500 miles.
8. Purchase new insole inserts especially for my shoes that are flats.

I believe there are more goals, but I think that this a good start for now.

Below are links for more information about the races I want to participate in AND the overall results of the Marin Human Race.

Marin Human Race Overall Results:
http://changeofpace.com/Results/MHR09/5KOVER.TXT

San Jose Rock n' Roll Half Marathon:
http://www.rnrsj.com/home.html

Honolulu Marathon:
http://www.honolulumarathon.org/

Quote of the Day: (this is printed on my blogging ideas journal from a close friend)
"She discovered her real measurements had nothing to do with numbers or statistics."