Run for a cause

Follow me: @titacabrera

What is it that drives yo to run? What is it that you think of when you are in a race? feeling tired?

When i'm tired during races, I think of "Miguel Angel", my nephew... he passed away last year, and around his first death anniversary, I ran... and days before I told myself i was gonna improve my time cause I was dedicating my race that day to him. 

Don't get me wrong, is not a sad story; he motivates me and I'm determined to be a better auntie for all of my nephews and nieces, because we never know what's really coming up next.

The point of this is that wishing I could've done anything for him, I realized I couldn't back then, but everyday we got the chance to honor life and help others by supporting different causes.

Talking about this with my best friend, she reminded me of when a group of friends from college were raising money for another who got cancer, they were running and "selling" the kilometers as if it was a bet on "till which km they would get to". They really put effort on it. This is now becoming something more serious and permanent, this group of friends started to do this continuously to raise money for different charities.  I'm waiting to have the complete information about this, but this is really extra motivation.

Also, I wanted to go to the Chicago Marathon, my schedule that date was compromised, and now that it's free, it's sold out; the one way to participate is to run for a charity, which is really great cause you get to train with a special group (if you live in Chicago), or get the training program sent to you, and you fundraise around 1,000 dlls to get your entry into the marathon.  They have several charities you can support if you want.

Also other marathons, like NY, Seattle, Portland, etc.

This time i'll be running in Mexico City, for our kids; i'd love nothing but to run internationally supporting other charities; unfortunately these two dates are a month away and I've been told I have to leave 2 to 3 months between marathons, specially if I'm a beginner.

Bottom line: IF YOU ARE TO RUN, WHY NOT RUNNING TO HELP OTHERS??

Is a very noble cause and something to think of if you feel like you can't anymore...

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @titacabrera

You can also watch this video of Chad Johnson (football player), who runs for a charity and races a horse... and wins...

Here are some of the links where you can find further information on this:

1. NY Boston Marathon charities
2. Chicago Marathon charities
3. Runners Web: Run for a charity
4. Bupa Great Run charities

Running APPS: Nike vs. Adidas

Follow me: @titacabrera

I wanted to keep track of my distance when i started to run for 10k, so I started using Nike+ and Adidas MiCoach... these are running tools to keep track of the miles you've run, speed, time, calories burned and even offer a plan to train for an specific objective. They both speak to you and tell you when u complete another kilometer, and you have to register in the brands website to use both and get a username.

Nike+ has two versions, one that can be used with no internet and is combined with the sensor in Nike+ running shoes; and another called Nike+ GPS, with this you don't need the sensor, cause each step is measured by the GPS on your smartphone, keeps track of your route, elevation, kind of soil, etc etc. If you run indoors, you might wanna get the first one (free), or the bracelet that comes with the sensor and then sync to your laptop. Of course you gotta have the shoes that hold the sensor, identify them with the Nike+ logo on the sole.

If you got a smartphone, download the Nike app with GPS, is like $2 dlls, but is really nice, it syncs automatically and goes "live" with your facebook, when u start a new race, its posted on facebook asking your friends to cheer you up, so you hear some screaming and clapping while u run, that means someone "liked it" on fcbk or posted something... u can read it afterwards.  When I've been tired and about to stop, I've heard that and really gave me some mental stamina.

Also, the fact that Nike has an online community that u can make challenges with, play "tag", or make a running team with your friends or random people, is great, you are not alone.

So thats nice from Nike app.... BUT at the end is about keeping track and having an idea of your training. With Nike+ u can see the suggested training online, in your laptop, but you can't have it in your phone as in "tomorrow my training is planned to run 14k"... you get that with ADIDAS MiCoach.

I really love this one for that, cause i can see graphs online, but also a calendar, which tells me when i have to run and how long, the kind of training, and this tells you to speed up or go lower, according to the "zones" (or intensity level) that you gotta work according to your training that day. What I love with this is that I can be really objective and see if I missed a training, I see it on my track, so I can't fool myself... it's there...

The online program from Adidas also includes other kinds of workout (not necessarily running), according to your gender and what you might wanna work, call it strength, resistance, flexibility, etc.

Adidas also gives you a grade on your training, according to your timing, speed, consistency; and you can sync it with a heart rate device, to get an even more accurate training.

Another good thing is you don't need a sensor or special shoe gear, its all by GPS.  Great if you have a smartphone, not so great if you don't.

BOTTOM LINE:

I love that both have an online platform, I would add to Adidas the cheering part and sync with fcbk or twitter; I would add to Nike the training program track on the phone, not just the "select kind of training", what if you didn't check the site before, you would be running randomly, not to your program.

I used both at the same time... its kinda lame... I'd pick Adidas, plus i can use a heart rate device (I'll get it next week).

I SOOO wanna try the new Nike Fuel bracelet... and maybe it'll be usefull in a different way that might lead me to use it better.

For now, I'll use ADIDAS MiCoach app to hear and train according to it, but i use the Nike bracelet with the sensor, so when I sync, I still have both platforms updated.  That's cause my best friend gave me the bracelet as a present... else I don't think I would've gotten it... but I really do like it.

WHAT YOU GUYS THINK? YOU USE ANY OF THESE APPS??

Follow me: @titacabrera

42k... why?

Twitter: @titacabrera

I gotta start by introducing myself. I'm Martha Cabrera (but everyone calls me Tita). I'm 28 years old, born and raised in Mexico City and work in marketing.

I've been a "sport billy" since i can remember: track & field, basketball, dancing, cheerleading, flag football, etc. I competed in national and international tournaments and thought that after college my days of competing were pretty much over (since top age in Mexico is 25 years old for varsity sports), and me having a full time job, would leave me with no time to compete and most of my workout would be to try and stay fit, not really competition level.

As time went by (3 years), I became undisciplined and intermittent with my training... call it jogging, ballet, weight lifting, etc... cause I wasn't working for a specific goal more than staying fit or relaxing, so I did it couple months then quit, then again and so on.

For a former athlete, is not about having or not a "love handle", is more about having a goal, train hard with your team, challenge yourself, getting tired, frustrated, back on your feet, and win... compete.

After years and years of training at least 4 hours a day and not having much time for partying; I became a PARTY MONSTER! yayy! and don't get me wrong, i don't regret it... I had a lot of fun... but i was going against all i ever built... being hang over or smoking was just incongruent with me, and weird to people around me who knew how into sports I was.

I realized how much i missed competing, and needed a "new project", starting running 10k with my girlfriends, and really enjoyed it, being with "my team". One day I thought of how hard would it be to run a marathon... all the mind and body preparation... so I decided I wanted to do that, plus is how my all-time addiction started with: Olympic Games. Yes I'm an OG junkie, and love all the history around it. My next thought was "why I took so long on deciding to train for this?".

I didn't know if I could do it... discipline wise, but after some breakthroughs I realized THIS IS ONE OF MY DREAMS. I'm determined to live my dreams, and become a better version of me everyday, by setting goals, really high ones... hard, and remember that there's nothing I can't do.

I got really inspired by Constantina Tomescu... who won gold in marathon during past Olympic Games, in Beijing 2008. She was 38. So... me saying i was done with competing by 25... i was so bullshitting and searching for excuses.

I started this blog to reach others that might feel identified with this... that might be looking for a new passion, challenge, inspiration or a new direction in their lives... and do whatever you'd like. For me is this now: 42k.

For the more experienced, I hope u can share training tips, follow up, cheer me up (and let me cheer for you too)... and create a community of runners who share with others not just the physical effort that this implies, but all the mental preparation, own barriers and how to overcome... this is a reflection of how we live our lives, plus lets be honest, we get enough self conversations during all those kilometers, why not sharing??

I invite you to follow this blog, share your journey with me, and let me know what u think about what I'll be posting. You can also follow me on twitter @titacabrera

Mexico City International Marathon is this coming september 2nd, 2012.

I got 160 days to go!

Constantina Tomescu 2008

Here's Constantina: http://www.topnews.in/sports/constantina-tomescu-2008-olympic-games-track-field-23658