A while back I posted a picture I took at the Surf City Half Marathon of a Blind Runner and their ‘guide dog’. I got a lot of comments about how inspiring it was and I have to say it was truly inspiring to me too. I think that seeing people overcome struggles is one of the most pivotal things that can happen in sports and I think that reading stories and seeing others achieving their goals is not only awe-inspiring but also humbling. It’s moments that happen where you realize how lucky you are. How sights and sounds are every day occurrences to us and might not be to everyone around us.

A reader left a comment that she was actually was a ‘guide dog’ in her track club and I was immediately interested. I wanted to hear more of her story and how she took part in the events! So below is her story and how she works with Joe a blind runner. Read on about Laura and be inspired!

Have you ever thought “I wonder what it would be like to be blind?” or “I wonder what it would be like to be deaf?” I know I have, and as a runner I can’t imagine doing my sport without either my sight or hearing.

For the past several months I’ve had the pleasure of being a “guide dog” for Joe, a blind runner in SacFIT running group. Joe is a 30 something runner who lost his sight in his teens due to a disorder where the retina’s detached in his eyes.  Since then he’s been blind but lives by the motto that he’s going to fall down and he’s going to bump into people, but he will get up and keep trying.  Joe is an active participant in Goalball, a Paralympics sport designed for blind athletes.  He’s played in many countries and just recently went to the Lake Placid, NY for the Paralympics team tryouts.

My running relationship with Joe started at the track workouts in Fall 2009 when our head coach paired us up.  Now trust me, I was very apprehensive about running with Joe at first.  I had seen him run with our head coach before, but still, having someone’s direction in your hands, even when you’re just running around an oval can seem daunting.  But I thought, “Why not give it a shot?”

When Joe and I run we are tethered together by stretchy phone cord.  I have one end and he has the other and he runs just off my right shoulder.  He’s able to keep pace with me by running next to me, listening to my feet and bumping my arm every once in a while to be sure he’s still in the right place.  I give him cues like when we are going into a turn and when we are coming out or if he’s drifting too far away I give the cord a slight tug and he moves back into place.  I give him a heads up if we are going to fast or too slow, but he pretty much just runs along side and keeps pace.

On the trail runs it’s pretty much the same thing, except there are many more variables such as trail conditions, bikes, holes, when to fuel and drink water, etc. Joe and I still run tethered together, he stays on the trail while I run in the dirt on the side.  As a group we yell cues for bikes, potholes, etc. so he pretty much knows everything that’s going on while we are out there.  We also do hand signals to assist the two deaf runners in our group.

I have come to really enjoy my time on the trail with Joe.  We discuss many different issues and he teaches me a lot about the things he’s been through and how he’s working to help the blind community.  I also feel good in helping him to achieve his goals.  He’s hoping to run a half marathon this year with our training group.  Last year he ran the California International Marathon relay, which he said he really enjoyed. My goal is to just provide the best running environment possible for Joe so he can achieve his goals. I’m proud of him for coming out, putting himself out there and running. He’s an inspiration to me and many other people in our training group.

Thanks for Sharing Laura! :) I found the story to be interesting and I hope you did too. Today is a rest day for me and tomorrow morning I have 5 miles. Thankfully the weather has been wonderful all week!

xoxo

So I recently was introduced into the world of deliciousness that is commonly known as Oh Yeah! by a friend. Now, I’m NOT a protein bar girl. I don’t like eating them, I never thought they ‘worked’ to make me feel full and I never felt any great ‘benefits’ that they say these bars have. I have tried a lot of different ones and most of them taste gross and chalky, or leave a little something more to be desired. Or I’ll eat one that has roughly 200 calories and still be famished afterward. Not exactly the best feeling. Then I got recommended these by a friend and once I tried them, I seriously couldn’t believe that they were so delicious AND made me feel full after a run. Sometimes when I need something just after running and I don’t want to shove my face full of food that I would later regret. I’ve tried numerous different bars but never had the feeling like they were doing anything until I had the “Oh Yeah!” bar.

First off, the flavors they have are incredibly delicious. I don’t even like almonds and the almond one might even be my favorite! I really found that they are good and a few other people have tried them and been surprised by their great flavor and tastiness. I also can eat half of one full bar and be completely full. They also make a smaller size, the ‘good grab’ size, and it is a great size to run with and to eat after a run.

I have tried three different flavors, the Peanut Butter and Caramel, the Almond Fudge Brownie and the Chocolate and Caramel. I REALLY like the Almond Fudge Brownie. The best part about the bar is the gooey inside that you can kind of see on the picture of the bar cut in half above. It’s so delicious.  I have to admit, I really like all three flavors which is rare! I really would check them out if you want something to snack on after a run that has some protein in it and make you feel full. I was super skeptical but I’m glad to say that I will be getting more of these at GNC to stock up after runs. It’s funny because I can tell the ’scale’ of how much I like a product if I would actually spend money on it… and these I definitely would I even ate one on my 17 miler a w hile back and it was delicious! Here is a link to the Oh Yeah! Product page.

This morning I finally got in a great 5 mile run and am starting to regain confidence for LA. I don’t know why but I haven’t been able to get in the longer miles I’ve hoped but I just have the 20 miler this weekend to nail and once that is done there isn’t much else I can do. I am feeling stronger overall but my running is just down. Luckily I beat the storm coming in back to my house though. A soggy Danica is not a happy Danica at all.

xoxo

So this weekend I woke up Saturday morning and heard it pouring rain. Not just pitter patter, little drizzle here and there. No, this rain was like down-pouring going to flood the area my car was parked rain. Again. I seriously haven’t ever seen it rain this much or this hard so much pretty much my entire in my life. I got ready for the 5k and went out to my car where it was flooded and I just kept thinking that if I ran in the race I would most likely get sick. I have my 20 miler for LA Marathon training next weekend and having the immune system that I do, I had the gut feeling to forgo the 5k to keep my health up and not jeopardize my 20 miler.

I was a little disappointed that I decided to not go but I made it up by biking 5 miles later and doing weights at the gym. I know I made the right decision in the long term though and I’m glad I’m not sick. I also have been icing my lower back on and off because it has been a little sore. Then Sunday I realized that it’s pretty much game time for LA Marathon. 20 days away and I need to step it up. I have been slacking lately and not really been focused on training consistently. So back to the gym I went where I kicked my butt into high gear. I worked out for two and a half hours and swam 2000 meters, which is 40 laps. I was exhausted by the time I got out but felt better and back on the training train.

I really need to focus on these next few weeks as it’s crunch time and I need to get in my miles and make sure I am adequately prepared come race day. Today is thankfully a rest day, and I’m a little sore from yesterday and getting back after it, but I’m looking forward to a good 7 miler tomorrow morning and hitting it hard these last few weeks before the big race. I can’t believe it’s already March! Where does the time go? I’m starting to think about races after LA Marathon too. There are a few races around here that I’ve been looking at and I’ve posted an article on the Examiner about some local races to check out.

Now that the Olympics are done, I’m sad, but I’m looking forward to the drama tonight that is the bachelor!

So the 5k was a bust, but I don’t have seal cough and am laying sick in bed, so that is a win. Check back in tomorrow for a review of my favorite Oh Yeah! Bars :) They are my new life source!

xoxo

So one of my favorite companies, those who make the iFitness belt, which I reviewed here, sent me a new and improved belt with some cool aspects like gu holders and a nice big pouch and a number holder as well. Since I don’t eat gu’s I gave the belt to my gu-guzzling friend Aron who reviewed the belt today. I really value her opinion and know she would tell me the truth about the belt. I wanted to try it out but since I don’t eat gus or ever carry them, I thought it would be better to give it to someone who was consistent in gu taking. So with that being said, check out her blog for a review of the latest addition to the iFitness belt family.

Last night I was cleaning out some things and went through my purse because it was getting a little heavy. You know you’re a runner when…

That’s right. I found a slew of running goods in my purse.

First we have sport beans, which are a delicious fuel that I use when running. Then we have shampoo by Paul Mitchell? I was even surprised at that one, and I have no idea where it came from. Then I have a tasty Oh Yeah! grab size bar, which are my new favorite things and I will have a review of those coming up soon, because I can’t live without them. Then two different kinds of Nuun, my favorite hydration.

The yellow and black tube is my all-time favorite chapstick with SPF in it. I swear by it. It’s by Hawaiian Island Creations which sounds a little random, but I can’t get rid of this stuff and I used to swear by Burt’s Bees. Then we have Claude the Garmin and some sport wrap that I sometimes use as a headband which I learned how to do during my soccer days. Speaking of the purse too, I got it as a gift. :)

I had no idea that I had so much running related stuff in my purse! I was surprised I didn’t have some socks or something else random in there. This morning I went for a great4 miler and it will be my last run before the 5k tomorrow morning in Irvine. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow morning but I hope to come in right around 22-23:45 minutes. Should be fun, pending  rain! Eeek!

This is my last down week before my big 20 miler next weekend that I need to ramp myself up to run. I have been feeling good without any soreness or injuries so hopefully a solid week, and a good 20 miler will put my LA Marathon anxiety at ease. I wrote up an article about scheduling fall races and some great races around the Southern California area, so check it out if you are interested!

So off to the weekend, running and still not eating meat! (which I sadly miss, but I had bomb crab nachos last night)

xoxo

I knew I would have to squeeze in a run this morning. I haven’t ran since Tuesday morning and even though the sheets were so warm and my bed was practically screaming for me to stay there, as I shuffled out onto the hardwood floors I knew I wouldn’t regret it. Morning runs are by far the hardest for me. I love sleeping in and I love being warm and snuggly in my bed. I just got new sheets to and there is nothing better than crispy sheets!

So last night, when I fell asleep it was raining. I was worried it would still be raining when I woke up, but to my excitement it wasn’t and I laced up my shoes and got ready. Nice how the biggest decision in my life this morning was whether to wear capris or shorts and a long sleeve or a short sleeve. I opted for one of my fave long sleeves and as I strapped on Claude and my iPod, I had one of those moments where everything seemed like it was clicking together and I would have on of those glorious runs, where it seems like you can run forever and your legs will never get tired.

As I stepped outside the clean rain washed air welcomed me and I started off on the familiar five mile path I travel around through town. There’s something about damp concrete that has just been washed from the rain. Everything is so clean and fresh and overwhelming. While I was running I just felt like everything was working together. It’s those runs that happen rarely, but when they do it’s like finding a lost diamond ring. They renew everything and remind me why I do run.

Yesterday someone asked me what I do for fun. I responded with, “Running.” It’s true. I enjoy and love to run. I do run for fun.

xoxo