tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16628713829477276632024-02-24T13:45:53.283-07:00Norma Bastidas“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert PineNorma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-9630576882526945892014-07-14T22:51:00.000-06:002014-07-14T22:51:30.421-06:00 So you want to start?
<blockquote>Never let the fear of sticking out keep you from playing the game. Babe Ruth </blockquote>
Is crazy the amount of emails I receive lately about how to start, either a fitness program or start fundraising for organizations using races as a vehicle. My response is you just to do it, there is usually no magic formula. Most people just started to hear about me but I been doing races for almost 9 years, I just started with 1/2 marathons, marathons and ultras close to my house, I didn't care, i just entered anything that was available to me, my fundrasing goal was simple,just emailed a few of my friends to pledge me to the cnib, it all just took off from there. the reason why i have been so successful is due to passion, from the beginning, there was no doubt i loved what i was doing. I had many setbacks and things didn't go to plan always, even at those moments I refused to quit.
I view set back as opportunities to adjust my strategy and to keep ego in check. Humility is very important when doing difficult races or advocating for a cause. Humility makes you work hard, you don't take things for granted and you take responsibility fully. Just remember Lance Armstrong, while the work he did is of great value, his ego is what drove him to take the lies to such extremes, he put his ego ahead of his principles, and the problems was that he had to continue the lies to keep protecting his ego. Things would have been so different if he had admitted to cheating, gotten 6 months as penalty and returned to competing, the crazies thing is that we all would have forgive him because of the important work he was doing, but his ego wanted more, wanted the absolute adoration, he wanted the seven wins, the fairy tale.
While I been blessed with amazing opportunities, my views of success have not changed, I wouldn't have been called myself a failure when i only raised 200 dollars and did a half marathon, success is waking up with a purpose, working hard and following through. Winning races and fundrasing millions while cheating is not success. We all know what we need to do, is our ego that is keeping us form achieving it, " what if I only run one block?" " what if nobody pledges me?" I advise you to just go for it, walk for 30 minutes if you must first, ask your family to sponsor you at a race even if you only collect 50 dollars is a lot more than if you didn't try, don't let your ego dictate success. Passion cant be stopped or ignored, just go out there and shine and the rest will follow.
<blockquote> No dejes que el miedo de quedar eliminado en el juego te detenga a jugar. Babe Ruth</blockquote>
he recibido muchisimos correos preguntando me como comenzar, a veces me preguntan de comenzar a correr u otras veces de como recaudar dinero para alguna causa utilizando carreras. Mi respuesta es siempre la misma, que es lo que te detiene? solo se necesita la voluntad, es todo. Lo que no sabe muchas personas es que ya tengo 9 años compitiendo y recaudando fondos. Empeze con carreras de corta distancia cerca de mi ciudad y recaudando donaciones entre mis amigos, es porque he llegado tan legos es solo porque desde el principio le puse toda mi dedicacion y lo hice con mucha pasion, para mi no importaba si solo eran 200 dollares o que habia recaudado. Tampoco me rendi al primer obstaculo o cuando falle en mi objetivo, aunque no me gusta perder eso es muy bueno para mantener el ego en linea. La humildad es muy valiosa cuando= estas realizando hazañas dificiles o cuando estas trabajando para una cause, solo necesitas a Lance Armstrong para darte cuanta que dejar que el ego guie nuestras decisiones no es bueno. Si el desde el principio hubiera reconozido que habia echo trampa solo hubiera sido penalizado por 6 meses, con el trabajo tan importante que ya estaba realizando para el Cancer nadie se hubiera sentido defraudado, pero el ego lo llevo a tomar decisiones extremas y tuvo que continuar con las mentiras para seguir protejiendo a el ego.
Es una bendicion que mi trabajo en la comunidad y mi pasion por el deporte extremos haya llegado tan lejos pero no lo llamaria mas exitoso, para mi el solo echo de levantarme por las mañanas con un proposito, preseguir mi sueños hasta el final sin jamas rendirme eso es exito, el ganar y llegar lejos haciendo trampa y minitiendo no es exito. Todos sabemos lo que tenemos que hacer para alcanzar nuestros objetivos, pero el ego nos paraliza, " que tal si solo corro por 10 minutos y no puedo mas?" " Y si nadie me dona dinero cuando corra la carrera?" Asi que mi consejo es el mismo, empieza que nada te detenga, si al principio solo puedes caminar por 30 minutos eso es mejor que el estar sentado por horas, y si solo recaudas 50 dolares para tu causa eso es mejor que si no hicieras el esfuerzo. No dejes que tu ego dirija tus acciones. la pasion es contagiable y no se puede detener o ignorar, solo empieza a perseguir tus sueños y lo demas te llegara a tu vida porque tus acciones positivas van a traer resultados positivos. Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-43047986001011088712013-08-06T10:12:00.000-06:002013-08-06T10:12:53.713-06:00Tijuana's International Marathon<blockquote>
When words are both true and kind, they can change the world. ~ Buddha</blockquote>
I ran Tijuana’s marathon these past weekend. International Network of Hearts invited me to join them since they were the featured charity of the run. I was excited to be part of it, for training I need to run as many marathons in the next six months as I can but the most important reason was that I was looking forward to finally meeting one of my heroes.
My boyfriend Kevin and I arrived the day before to a full schedule that included catching up with some of my childhood friends, picking up the race package and meetings with the entire team of my next project 25in25 where I am going to attempt to set a record of completing a long course triathlon a day for 25 days from Cancun to San Diego. In early 2014 I will be swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 128 miles and running 26.2 miles a full marathon/ day for 25 days. You are probably wondering a couple of things right now, can it be done? And/or why?
As much as I love to run, I love adventure more. It’s getting tough to join the races that I want to do, they fill fast and some are by invitation only. I love that the ultrarunning scene has gone mainstream, after all that is part of being part of the social network community to share my experiences and inspire others to try new things. The disadvantages are of course is that then I am scrambling with everybody else to run races. So is time to find a new sport in the extreme adventure scene, ultratriathlons.
If there is one thing that separates me from others isn’t talent or ability but my brain sees things differently. Most people gets discouraged when they see odds like one in a million chances, I think I want to be the ONE! So I quickly get to work.
Right now the longest ultratriathlon race is the double deca in Monterrey Mexico, 20 times the distance of an Ironman in 20 days, or 20 in 20 days, everything about it appealed to me, especially when I heard that only one person finishes a year and very few attempt. When I heard the struggles of Alma, the director of INH I knew it was time for a new project to raise funds for her shelter and awareness about human trafficking.
I open up about my history of abuse and violence, even as a survivor of human trafficking where I can’t thank God enough for having had the incredible fortune of having escaped before I had been sold. When I talked to Alma about her girls, and Marisol’s story of her incredible journey I spent many sleepless nights wondering why me? Why did I escaped and not Marisol? Our lives would have probably been parallel, I knew that I could never make sense of things, there are is no meaning behind tragedies like that, the only thing I could do was to make something positive out of it.
Marisol was sold as a young girl to a man that took her to the USA, having a very sick mother she willingly follow him thinking that she was going there to work to pay for her mother’s medical bills but ended up being sold over and over again for sex as well as becoming her captors sex slave. What breaks my heart is when Marisol talks about going to prison being one of her happiest day, the day she was finally freed from the horrors of her slavery and it was the day she went to prison for a crime her captor committed. Marisol spent 17 years behind bars still deprived of her freedom but compared to the prison she had lived it was paradise. Its being two years until she finally regain her freedom fully, having her sentence reversed and declared innocent with the help of a catholic nun that advocated for her.
Finally meeting her after the marathon, her first in freedom, having ran in prison to keep sane, it was incredibly powerful and symbolic for her but bitter sweet for me, I am happy she is finally free from the horror she lived but I also know that it’s difficult to escape the nightmares. My biggest pain is that even though she was a victim, and forced into that lifestyle, she has limited limitations, not because of her abilities but because of our society. The stigma will follow her forever, she will relived the shame and humiliation that sex crimes bring, sex crimes aren’t about sex, they are about taking your dignity away, trying to destroy the very core of human existence. “ You could have escape, obviously you liked it" was one of the comments she heard recently.
I admire Marisol's strength, her ability to handle everything so positive and with class. Sitting there across her I felt the closeness that comes with being able to be yourself, to be accepted and understood.
I like meeting other victims, I feel less alone, yes even after all these years and my Facebook friends I still feel lonely sometimes. The loneliness that one feels when you are silenced, when you loose your voice and identity because society wants you to be somebody else. " I know what happened to you but I don't want to hear about it" the loneliness one might feel when coming out as gay " I acknowledge you are but I don't want to know anything about it" the shame that that brings, like there is something wrong with us. Marisol and I took turns telling out worse moments like we needed to purge our souls even for a second.
Marisol is the strong one, I am the lucky one. Even through all my pain, I had the support of my family, that was always the source of my strength, I don't know if I had not given up if I had been in her shoes.
So doing a documentary to hopefully influence a chance is something that at least let's me sleep a bit better a night. Compared to the difficult journey she still has ahead of her my 25 Ironmans in 25 days are a walk in the park in comparison. I will be following the trafficking route from south to north, passing through towns to empower the community, to have each one declare, not in my neighborhood, a very powerful neighborhood watch program.
I have faith in humanity, I have faith that Marisol will have plenty of opportunities ahead of her, that she will be celebrated as the amazing survivor she is, a proof that goodness does succeeds against evil and that one day she would not only live an abundant life but she also finds a person that would look into her eyes and say, I am here to chase your nightmares away.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfphhezXWTmDyVbpsPbLZkKK5cyiIoRf0CodVdXVCE97tJcR-M44rqaDHshKIOI0H0MKlnHZKtUUJ1Gpt2morl0USpKSDLJVKMN1yigSVobUVKxXCkIuqvB0_fmJVFYXgxpL2vMuO_8Yk/s1600/16594_634244016593615_1416391061_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfphhezXWTmDyVbpsPbLZkKK5cyiIoRf0CodVdXVCE97tJcR-M44rqaDHshKIOI0H0MKlnHZKtUUJ1Gpt2morl0USpKSDLJVKMN1yigSVobUVKxXCkIuqvB0_fmJVFYXgxpL2vMuO_8Yk/s400/16594_634244016593615_1416391061_n.jpeg" /></a></div>Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-18318689360892273892013-05-30T23:31:00.000-06:002013-05-30T23:31:05.628-06:00The Road Less Traveled
The last week I have broken down crying for no apparent reason in the oddest places, in my driveway, on a bathroom stall just before my swim. I assumed it had to do with all the training I been doing and the energy that it takes to coordinate the massive effort that it is to pull intense workout out hours on top of all of the other very important and time consuming responsibilities I have, like raising tow very different teens and work.
I finally figure out what it was when I pulled my sons travel itinerary for his upcoming trip to Toronto to do the training and ultimately bring his guide dog home. Then and there the overwhelming feeling came rushing.
No matter how much I tell myself this is not because is any indication that Karl is getting or will be getting worse, Is just for independence, it just tears me apart. I still hate he is affected by his condition, as much as I did the first time I head the diagnosis. Karl is one of the bravest people I have known and he is also the sweetest.
I feel the last few weeks it’s like we are back to the beginning and I am fighting ignorance and discrimination when some places wouldn’t allow him with his dog. Eventually, the gym apologized and is allowing him to bring his guide dog with him, but only when I threaten to sue them and take the story to the press. Luckily Karl was never aware of it but it made me realized that this fight is far from over and he still has a lot of discrimination to overcome.
If anything it had renewed my commitment to continue working to raise awareness and funds to help end blindness and visual impairment. Brett Wilson gave generous donations to both cnib and Foundation Fighting Blindness on our behalf and Operations Eyesight Universal was on the running to receive a grant form the Endure Foundation one which I am an ambassador, but this is still not enough.
I know that once more, Karl will come home with his dog and make me feel that everything is OK by taking everything with the positive attitude he always has. But as usual, I know I will spend many more sleepless nights figuring out a way to get more donations.
Throw in the fact that I also speaking in LA about Running Home and you have a ticking bomb. I still hate the fact that that story exists but I don’t hate it as much as the fact that is still happening. I just watched the news about the rescue of the three women that were held captive. The joy of the families, the horror of the public when they realized that such monster was living near them, then the further victimizing of the brave young girls, “ the door was left unlocked in a couple of occasions and you didn’t escape?” Every time I hear that it breaks my heart that we are still liberating abusers of any responsibility by placing blame on victims, let me make this clear, nobody deserves or wants that. Something else bothers me, what are we doing to prevent this from happening to anybody else? Is not true that we don’t know this is happening, this is happening right now, young girls are being taken against their will and forced into slavery. I am not saying that these young women had it easier but how is that different than the thousands of girls locked into rooms, deprived of their freedom and forced to perform sexual acts. What I don’t understand is why if we are we all not doing more to stop this from happening?
I guess you can say that loosing sleep is part of reaching that place in your heart that says “enough” I refuse to stay silent any more.
My book seemed to touch a lot of people deeply and I make no apologies, if you think is painful reading detail account of being victimized, try living it. I will never be OK, I have leaned to not only survive and thrive considering my past but make no mistake, there will not a single day will pass that something will take me to the deep pain I felt, the fear and the shame I was made to learn. Luckily for me, I have work so hard in building dreams where once nightmares lived.
My frustrations are from being unable to accept limitations from others, or myself, all I know is that I don’t have to accept that the cure for blindness will not be here in time for my son or that human trafficking is such a difficult and complex problem than a single individual fighting to end it will not have a significant impact. Nobody has the right to tell me what my hopes and dreams have to be. In the world I am working towards, my son Karl can see perfectly the face of the woman he will fall in love with and I will never read that an other child or woman disappeared.
I made a commitment to my son that day we sat down on my front steps when he was 11 and afraid of what was happening,that I was going to do everything in my power to fight this diagnoses until the end of my days. After that day, I embarked on a journey and there is no turning back.
<i>Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.<blockquote></blockquote></i>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1JUeu7-PCMKog0qIj_yMyfWMfoR_SGOLaBwvG55H3vRBpIq-dSA-o9Wr1vM0szDz0uJchrbl_57rzSDrMIQ7Nsock7zbc0Kt19zQGo3QS7qgOZhIr9xLCHPO3Qa-0BrATP0iz3YIPs0/s1600/photo-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1JUeu7-PCMKog0qIj_yMyfWMfoR_SGOLaBwvG55H3vRBpIq-dSA-o9Wr1vM0szDz0uJchrbl_57rzSDrMIQ7Nsock7zbc0Kt19zQGo3QS7qgOZhIr9xLCHPO3Qa-0BrATP0iz3YIPs0/s320/photo-2.jpeg" /></a>
Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-58227937497232947802012-11-30T20:08:00.000-07:002012-11-30T20:08:51.076-07:00You know you are an endurance athlete when..<blockquote>"Anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing" Hunter S. Thompson</blockquote>
Back training for my next adventure, super excited and motivated. I am still ironing some details but will announce it as soon as it's all finalized.
Of course back training means back to being OCD about training, it drives everybody around me crazy including my kids so I compiled a list in no particular order of things that I have done that seem unusual to everybody else and if they make sense then you, my friend are an endurance athlete.
* Your went into labour at the gym (or your partner) and thought " the water hasn't break, I am sure I can finish this set"
* Your kids took all their naps on a baby jogger
* your kids art work of you are always a drawing of you on a bike, running or any other action scene.
* you know all the bathrooms in a 70 mile radius of your house as well as spots that you can use in case of an emergency that offers privacy
*You have more than one health club membership and they know you by first name in all of them
*you have said no to a paid trip to an exotic destination because it interferes with your training
*You buy your underwear at athletic stores
*If you have relieve yourself by using a freshette and/or have been on an adventure where you have to pack your waste and carried back with you
*You have no medical training but know what a Piriformis, Gemellus superior, Illotibial band is and it's location
*When people ask you " How did your workout work today go?" you replied " Which one?" without irony
* While reviewing changes in your work schedule, holiday engagements, vacations with the family and such you start organizing your workouts in your head right away
*You have been dropped at work so you can run back home
* You have arrived to a party drinking a protein shake
* You have left a party early to run back home to have your friends pass you 3 hours later on their way home
*You have been told by sports psychologist that you might have an obsessive personality
* At a party, you dread the question " So, what do sports do you do?" because it only leads to an all night Q&A
* People that know what sports you play avoid you because they still don't know what to think of you
*You get super excited when you hear your favorite sports nutrition products launch new flavors/ products
*People don't recognize you without your training gear on
* Some of your races not only start and end on different calendar days but also in different countries
* You have friends that you made in towns with a population of less than 10
* You have been to Antarctica and the Arctic
* You start cutting corners on grooming to squeeze more workouts in your day
* you have incredibly weird tanlines
* You don't watch live TV anymore but PVR your favorite shows and watch them at 5am on your treadmill or bike
*When your friends and family try not to push your buttons because is that time of the month they are not referring to PMS but to tapering
*If this list made you smile not cringe, YOU ARE AN ENDURANCE ATHLETE
Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-28986367347703345502012-11-16T17:01:00.004-07:002012-11-16T21:21:12.329-07:00A letter to my son Karl<i>"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."Lao Tzu</i>Today you are 18 years old my beautiful son. I hope I still have many opportunities to tell you how amazing you are. As my first born, we have grown together, I am sure I have let you down many times and you have patiently accepted my shortcomings because you understand underneath it all the immense love you mother has for you. I want to let you know you were wanted very much. I didn’t always take such a good care of me. But when I met your father I suddenly realized that I was going to be a mother one day and took the steps necessary to make sure that I gave you the healthiest start. No more smoking or drinking for me. I was 25 when I quit and 27 when you came into my life. We have faced many challenges together. You were just a little boy when you watched you mom stay in bed all day, unable to take you to school because of all the fighting she and dad were having, you were so worry for me and brought me cheerios to bed and tried to make me laugh. Never once you complained when I woke you up one evening and took you away from your big home and toys and moved you to a tiny apartment. I am forever grateful how you comforted your younger brother that cried because now mom was never home going to school full time. I will never forget both of us studying together for finals, sharing pencils and stories. How you lovingly taught you mother the correct order of all the hockey gear that I had to put on you before each game and how you laughed when I asked why didn’t you just choose soccer!Thank you for making me feel so proud when I stood alone at your grade 6-graduation feeling inadequate and guilty and just to feel my chest exploded with joy when they announced your name as the winner of the citizen award of excellence.But that was only the beginning of your amazing strength, as life throw the biggest curveball yet. Just when things were settling back, we had a home and I was now expecting a promotion to management when we learned that your recent clumsiness had a name and a diagnosis, cone rod dystrophy. My own genes gave you undesirable genes and you were now going blind and you were only 11 years old. Once again you were the source of my strength when you came into my bedroom once more to stroke my hair and tell me that it was OK, that I could stop worrying because it was only your eyes. ONLY your eyes. Once again things got though for us as I lost my job, you never complained to that money was tight again. There is not a single day that goes by that I am not in awe of your strength and beauty. You continue to inspire everybody around you to be better simply because your light shines brighter than the darkness than sometimes surrounds us. You still continue to never complain focusing on the positive instead of the negative like the time when you call me excited that you had been approved for a guide dog never once stopping to dwell on the reason why you need a guide dog. You are kind and generous soul that now is you who encourages me to follow my dreams and passions, when I decided to run 2600 plus miles to Mexico you never once question my ability or judged me, you held my hand and said “ Mom, this is something you need to do for you, because I like to see you happy” but went even further by making sure our favorite shows were taped so we could watched them together as a family and I could just pick up being your mother when I returned home easing my guilty for leaving you and your bother for three months. This morning when I hugged you the roles have reversed, you are not the little boy that I held at the hospital 18 years ago, at almost a foot taller it is me who feels safe in your arms Happy Birthday Karl, thank you for being in my life. I am forever blessed to be your motherI love youMomNorma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-30237148047314796892012-03-25T00:05:00.000-06:002012-03-25T00:05:37.271-06:00Running Home- Final preparationsIs almost time to go! I have a few weeks until I start my run home. I am very excited but also full of nervousness. Almost like being pregnant, you cant wait to have the baby then when you are due to give birth you start asking yourself questions like " am i ready?" <br />
I got home to an empty house, my kids were off with their dad to Miami. It was nice to be able to just focus on the details of Running Home, I got a new tarp tent so is very light. Is madness figuring out where to be since I can't run on interstate highways, I have to avoid highway number 5 and some bridges. I have gotten the preparation to the point where I can sleep at night, not awaking every 2 hours panicking because I am not sure how to go across the Washington- Oregon border. The next most important thing is lightening my pack, hygiene is vital but not appearances so no deodorant. Safety is important so yes to technology no to extra clothing, reverse and wear. I am sure i would go thought it over and over it before is ready but i am getting there. <br />
<br />
I haven't being training since i ran Modesto Marathon last Sunday, my hip feels better but the lack of training was a bit hard on my confidence, after all training hard is what allows me to feel that I can run all the way to Mazatlan. <br />
<br />
Whenever I am start to lack confidence I tell myself the same thing I tell my kids when they say " I am never going to be better" or " I am not good at this" <br />
It takes 10,000 hours to archive excellence on anything. I read an article about this somewhere, cant remember where but what the article talked about some scientist that had done research to figure out if being great at something is nature or nurture and they figure out that is nurture, nature takes care of the type of talent such as Olympic marathoner vs a 3:10 marathoner but nature can't do anything of you don't nurture it. <br />
<br />
When i tell my kids that, it makes sense, they automatically know they are just being impatient, have they really tried for at least 10,000 hours before deciding they are never going to be any better? I am just excited now for the opportunity to get that much closer to my better self. <br />
What I am most excited and proud about Running Home is that is simple yet it touches on what is important, we all have the ability to make it from Vancouver Bc to Mazatlan Mexico, it might take some 5 years and others only a month what matters is that we all can. I will be scrapping by on my run surviving on very little. I didn't want to have sponsors that might taint my judgment, safety will always be first, second I wanted to show to some that in the age of fancy sponsorships adventure is what you make of, don't get me wrong,I have a long list of adventures that I need funds for but right now I wanted the simplicity or creating a project that wasn't going to be shelved until i had the funds. <br />
The one thing I am most grateful of is the amazing support of my family, without their support it would have being impossible to dream as big as I do. <br />
I might not talk to you before I go, I need to focus on what's in front of me and spending time with my family.<br />
<br />
My brother Carlos in Mexico will be once more managing my social networking when I can't. This is truly an amazing opportunity,I can't tell you how excited is to be going back home. Until then, don't settle for anything before deciding if this is the best you can do. <br />
<br />
“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” Matsuo BashoNorma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-9195835574801621952012-02-19T19:13:00.000-07:002012-02-19T19:13:10.222-07:00Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr Seuss<blockquote>"You can get so confused<br />
that you'll start in to race<br />
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace<br />
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,<br />
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.<br />
The Waiting Place..."</blockquote><br />
Time goes by painfully show when you are waiting. As a single mother, I understand that there are a lot of things that I don't have much control, that doesn't make it easier for me to control my frustrations when I am sidelined because of an injury or scheduling conflict. <br />
<br />
To prepare myself to take off for two and half months off there is a long list of things that need to be checked off. I usually start from the least to the most important? why? If its important it will be very likely to be done anyway, but the menial tasks such as preparing my house so my mom can live here comfortably while I am gone is not vital to my run but something that is the right thing to do. If i leave organizing my closet so she can have space to hang her clothes when I am overwhelmed and ready to leave will not be done. So the last few months my life has been consumed with boring but necessary tasks of making sure my house runs as smooth as possible while I am gone. <br />
A pleasant side effect that the performing endless mind numbing tasks such as laundry is that it make me yearn for an open road and adventure. After all you are never going to find a bumper sticker that reads " I rather be cleaning toilets" The reverse will be true after my run to Mexico I will savour the normalcy of being at home if only for a short while.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"On and on you will hike<br />
and I know you'll hike far<br />
and face up to your problems<br />
whatever they are."<br />
</blockquote><br />
The hardest part now is being present on my current life, to be a mother, a personal trainer, a sister, an actress on a TV Show. I am physically here but mentally I have to make a conscious decision to be part of my life. My pack is ready to go and I take it out of my closet every day and reorganize the contents everyday. A form of meditation that allows me to then check into my current life. <br />
<br />
The difference between an addiction and a passion is it how it affects your personal life. A passion makes you a better person and an addiction feeds your insecurities. Is that understanding that makes me appreciate the other part of my life, knowing my kids support what I do make me want to be a better mother, yes, sometimes I need to have long conversations with my youngest about his fears about my safety. Fear is all relative, safety is an illusion, once you open the door where do you stop, do we stop our kids from playing hockey? how about football, gymnastics. Do we stop going backcountry skiing for fear of avalanches? I do agree that there are sports or activities that carry more risks but is impossible to eliminate risk 100%. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>"All Alone!<br />
Whether you like it or not,<br />
Alone will be something<br />
you'll be quite a lot.<br />
<br />
And when you're alone, there's a very good chance<br />
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.<br />
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,<br />
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on."</blockquote><br />
I might have to delay Running Home until May to allow my mom to recover from the surgery that she had to undergo for some skin abnormalities. It was hard to come to terms that I am not leaving soon, like telling a child Christmas would come February instead. I am ready and excited to start, I have everything I need and have no desire to buy any fancy equipment,it will be just me and a beautiful road the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_101">US Route 101,</a> So if you run into me and like my friends say, you will know exactly the moment when we know we have lost you, is the look in my face that tells you that I am there already taking in all the beauty and challenges that I am sure to conquer. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>"And will you succeed?<br />
Yes! You will, indeed!<br />
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)<br />
<br />
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!<br />
<br />
So...<br />
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray<br />
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,<br />
you're off to Great Places!<br />
Today is your day!<br />
Your mountain is waiting.<br />
So...get on your way!"<br />
Dr. Seuss</blockquote>Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-27273820191165403092012-01-20T21:33:00.000-07:002012-01-20T21:33:30.551-07:00Running Home- The book second previewI am still getting ready for my run. Things are going as scheduled. The beauty of being able to just run from my house unsupported give me the freedom that If I don't feel my kids are ready for me to go, I can just postpone. <br />
<br />
Training had being going well until two weeks ago, I was showing signs of over training. After two weeks finally I felt whole again. That and my piriformis is making it hard to run this week. Not a major concern, I just have to be more creative while training. <br />
<br />
The hardest part is writing the book, I have had to walk away several times. Is strange and difficult since I have to be emotionally involve in the writing to make it truthful and make justice to it but also emotionally absent to criticize the style and organize the content around the thousand memories floating around my head. <br />
<br />
The best way I can organize my memories is by choosing the stories of the audience I hope will one day read my story. <br />
<br />
I was at the Doctors yesterday, I was there to make sure that my fatigue was not due to something more serious such as anemia. I had my doubts but I need to make sure I am at top of my fitness before I embark on a 2600 mile quest. <br />
<br />
The Doctor listen to my request, asked me to fill a questionnaire and left me in the room. As soon as I saw the form I recognized it. It was to assessed depression. He came back and told him my symptoms where strictly physical not emotional. He apologized but clarified that most people that suffer from extreme fatigue is mostly from depression. I explained with as much detail the reasons why it couldn't be. Only a person who has been there could know. Like a wine connoisseur would explain the differences in grapes from one region to an other to a novice. After I explained how I had no problem enjoying my life, hanging out with my family, watching Mexican soaps with my sister or driving across town to taste the best hot chocolate ever. I just felt tired after running only two hours. He seemed horrified that I wanted to ever run more than two hours! but agreed that people who are experiencing depression felt no more pleasure or desire on the things once gave them joy and I just seemed irritated that I couldn't do more. <br />
<br />
After my visit it became clearer. The people that I want to read my story are those who are experiencing pain. Not to reinforce their notion that life is unfair, quite the contrary. To make them feel that life is fair but sometimes you need incredibly courage to claim what destiny has for you. <br />
The book idea only came in full force when I sat at the Vision Quest Conference. I sat there listening to new developments on the sight saving research that is almost at a point where it would benefit my son Karl but I couldn't just write a cheque so they can keep going. I came home determined to find a way. My journey is about violence because my life has been marked with terrible violence but it really is the same thing. Karl's condition makes him a target for all kinds of abuse because he is vulnerable. from bulling to domestic violence and that is something I will fight until the end of my days. <br />
<br />
Here is the next few pages of the chapter. there would be no more updates after this one. the next few pages where incredibly hard to write and I prefer to keep going forward and not look at those pages again. <br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
Running Home.<br />
<br />
Is hard to know when my story truly begins. Knowing my parent history is not hard to imagine how my life evolved the way it did. <br />
I was born in Mazatlan Mexico, the last of 5 children born to two young parents.<br />
My parents relationship was difficult but so where the lives of most Mexicans that we knew. You just made the most of what you got, at least we had a roof over our heads and eat three meals, even if they were simple, we had food. We grew up in a small house, two rooms for all 7 of us, and we always had relatives living with us too, it didn’t matter how bad we had it, there was always always someone worse off than us that needed our help. Our bedroom resembled a hospital ward with rows of beds pushed together. <br />
<br />
I can’t say that I ever saw my dad drinking but things where not normal. He was always out and when he came back he would wakes us up to keep him company or watch TV at 2am. Things always turned quickly .One moment we would be singing along, playing and the next minute someone was being punished.<br />
Being the youngest I was spared of the worse physical punishments, I was the one mom sent to calm my dad when he became enraged. It was difficult to hear him punish my siblings, even after he quit drinking; disciplining them as he called it never really went away. <br />
My mom came from a better family, she really never had interest on my dad, he was poor and of a different class. But she liked the attention he gave her so one day my dad offered to take her home, a simple, seemly harmless act that changed her life.<br />
My dad got carried away, didn’t stop. Ashamed and feeling remorse he stood at my grandparent’s house asking for forgiveness and to take responsibility for what happened. <br />
My grandfather refused to allow my mom back home being disgraced, she left right then.She left with my father, a man she barely knew. My parents married a few weeks later in front of a couple of friends only; neither of them was 16 years old yet. <br />
In spite of how it began, I never got the impression that my mom didn’t love my dad, the contrary, they seem deeply in love, years later my mom would tell me the truth. She was practical; no sense on dwelling on things but she never loved my dad.<br />
<br />
I have never doubted that there is a God but after what happened next I started to think he has a sense of humor. My dad eventually quit drinking. One evening after coming home drunk, he found my brother Hector helping our sister Muneca with her sawing project. He didn’t want any sissies at home, he said, just before punishing Hector so severely he had to be taken to the hospital. When he found out what he had done the next morning he finally admitted he had a problem and walked to his first AA meeting<br />
<br />
I wondered many years how my life would have been if I had been born to a father who didn’t have a drinking problem. I know better now that to wish thing to be different but for many years, when I was in pain, imagining a different life for myself was the only way of coping.<br />
<br />
After my dad quit drinking, almost overnight things improved dramatically, my dad got a promotion and we moved to Culiacan, Mexico. We settle in a modest neighborhood but it was luxury compared to the last home. These are the memories I cherish the most about my father; the kind loving man and I believe that even my mom started to fall for him too. I saw a man who stood firmly for injustice, a man whom never refuse help to anyone even if it meant he would go hungry himself.<br />
<br />
But things didn’t stay happy for long, all the years of heavy drinking, stress and smoking finally caught up. One evening while we were at the movies. Dad started to feel ill. I was sitting on his lap and my mom was next to us, he felt nausea and mom gave him a hard time for eating too much junk, she asked me to stay behind with my siblings as she took dad home. That would be the last time I saw my dad. By the time the movie ended and we all walked home they where loading him into an ambulance. He had a massive heart attack and died three days later.<br />
<br />
I was eleven then, I was the only one to not cry, I loved my dad but he had only been my real father for the last two years and even though he had been sober, we still walked on eggshells waiting for the day he came home drunk again. It seemed that it hit my mom the hardest, gone was the strong woman. She became frail almost birdlike. My three older siblings, Carlos, Hector and Muneca became the breadwinners overnight. They where 18, 16 and 14 and were responsible for themselves as well as my sister Lourdes, my mom and me.<br />
<br />
I have to admit that I started to breath a little easier. I falsely thought that things where about to improve for us now that we didn’t have to worry about my dad ever drinking again. I was soon to be proven terribly wrong. What I didn’t know was that as bad as things where at home, dad had somehow protected us from all sorts of evil. With him gone and mom on a fog things could only get worse and I was about to find out about how much. If being the youngest had protected me from the worse at home, outside our house it only made me the most vulnerable.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-8672514219022087552011-12-30T17:46:00.000-07:002011-12-30T17:46:37.479-07:00“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”I was recently looking for equipment for training my clients; one of them suggested I try to search Craig’s list. I was shocked to find tons of stuff. Most of the headlines read “hardly used” so as the New Year approaches a lot of you will be making their resolutions I been thinking a lot about what makes someone quit. I don’t make New Year resolutions; I am of the mentality that as soon as I realize I need to work on something or change something right then is the right time. How many times have I heard the “ I will quit smoking after New Years/my vacation/ my birthday” I just think to myself, why? Is that going to be your last Vacation/New year/? You eventually have to manage being around other people who smoke so do it now! <br />
<br />
But if you are considering making some health changes you all have my support. Here are some common mistakes.<br />
<br />
Start small. <br />
As an endurance junkie this might sound hypocritical but my ‘small’ might not be ‘your’ small. All journeys start with a single step. I often see beginners take on to much and that adds to disappointment and quitting because you are setting yourself to fail. If you are a beginner establishing a routine is the most important, be realistic about how much time and effort you can commit and go for it. I have a daunting goal ahead of me but I broke it into smaller tasks and then applied it. I started with establishing running without a day off first, then increased my distance then added the heavy pack. If you are thinking of bettering your time start by adding speed training to your routine on what you think your body can handle safely, once or twice and don't worry if you don't hit your target every time, you will hit your desired pace once, then twice and so forth. The most important here is that you are trying to change your behavior and mentality, non runner to runner, slow runner to faster runner, couch potato to gym goer. <br />
<br />
<br />
Stop making excuses.<br />
<br />
It hard for everybody and sure there are times that is harder for us than for anybody else but is that the real reason why you are not doing it? My past success on overcoming challenges is that I take ownership always, I spend more time trying to figure out what I contribute to the problem than what other did. I can’t control others but I have control on my actions. Sure I been victim of unfair circumstances that I had little control of it but I took ownership 100% on how I reacted to it and how much I let it affected me. Sometimes it will be hard or impossible because of injuries or commitments but that is never the reason to quit. When it becomes hard for me to train because of circumstances I focus on the other things that I need like planning the logistics of my quest or getting ahead on my responsibilities. So when the window of opportunities opens again I am ready! Stop looking around to find excuses of why you can't do it and start spending time focusing on how you can make it happen. Remember that you become better at what ever you spend most energy on, an if the energy is spent on making up excuses you will just become better at finding more excuses and is that really what you want? I remember the first time I was criticized for running ultras way back when I started, somebody was telling me about a conversation of somebody who was trash talking about me " who do she think she is?" she has only been running for a few months. My friend was upset until she noticed I was smiling, she was puzzled " is fabulous" I said "A few months ago everybody pity me, no body wanted my life, all people where talking about about me was did you hear? now somebody wants my life!i had just gone for something that person had made excuses for to not do and that's why he was upset because I was about to show him that it could be done of you only had the guts to do. Stop making excuses and go for the life you want. When you find yourself at rock bottom learn to rock climb. <br />
<br />
<br />
Commit<br />
<br />
This is a big one. I see lots of new runners or people at the gym at the beginning of the year and just fade away the next few months. Why? Anything that is worth having takes effort. Like a marriage, at the beginning is all butterflies and excitement then it turns into responsibility and doing someone’s laundry, but is all on what you focus on. When I decide I want something I embrace all aspects of it since they are all integral part of the whole project. <br />
The moment you decided to take charge on your health you didn’t say “ I will get healthy until it gets too hard or boring” Is exciting to start something because everybody is supportive and excited for you too. “ Go for it” “100% behind you” In no time things change when it starts affecting your old life, all of a sudden you are not cooking all 3 meals from scratch or changing the sheets every two days or meeting your friends for a drink every Thursday. I took a long break last year, I was getting pressure from everywhere and continuing at the pace I had been going was not possible. Both of my kids needed me home, Karl because of his condition, teachers struggled to find the right plan for him and needed my full attention as he adapted to his new school, Hans' grades started to plummet so I needed to take charge, while I knew that his lower grades where more about the social distractions in particular video games, I swear you can see a pattern of lower grades every time Call Of Duty releases a new edition I was being blamed for it. "You focus on saving the world more than me” First of all I don’t give up much to conversations like that, I want my kids to be givers not takers. Like I told Hans, instead of thinking that I am favoring sons you should be on your knees thanking God every night it wasn’t you the son who was going blind because the odds where just as high. What bother me is not that it was true, but what if he though so? I spend a year and a half watching SNL with both of my boys and making 100’s of Waffles for sleepovers until Hans had no excuse for bringing C's home then he had no choice but to admit what i knew. “ You are right mom,I haven’t had the best attitude towards learning lately and blaming you was the easiest way of justifying it” <br />
<br />
Through it all I never lost my commitment towards my goals, I simply had to exercise patience, deal with setbacks as they came and maybe had to modify my plans a bit. <br />
<br />
I wish you much success in the next year and all others to come; there is nothing more rewarding than taking control of one’s life. I am know as an incredibly stubborn person and that has cost me some friends or relationships but if somebody doesn’t respect your decisions they shouldn’t be in your life anyway. The way I see it, this is my life and I am in the driver seat. I am often surrounded but the most talented people in the world and I am blessed for that but not even then do I sit back. I surrounded myself with people better than me not because I want them to take care of me but to learn and grow. Is irrelevant of who they are, the way I see it, in my life, I am the president and CEO of my destiny.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-26118649401127823382011-12-12T23:05:00.001-07:002011-12-13T10:06:10.207-07:00Running Home- The book previewI haven't post in such a long time. Somewhere down the line things became so complicated. I like the way my life is right now but I also miss the simplicity of what running used to be for me so I am going back to the basics again. <br />
I created Running Home A Journey To End Violence, a project that will take me from my house in Delta, BC where I live to Mazatlan Mexico where I was born. I decided it was time to write the book i been meaning to write. I wanted to go to Everest before I did that, I was so focus on making it happen. A lot of people that knew about my desire to climb have always been worry about the dangers, I have never been afraid, i know that if somebody tells me it cant be done is only because they can't picture it themselves. We all fear something, and my fears aren't mountains, I respect them, but I don't fear them. Then I realized what my fear was, standing up to my past so I couldn't delay writing anymore. <br />
<br />
I started writing it a few months ago and I became almost paralyzed, is hard reading my journals again, I keep them because I will not deny who I am. <br />
I am so much different than the woman of those pages, but to write the book I had to take myself back to those times, it's not easy, the only thing that helps me get through it is to know that I am not there anymore. <br />
<br />
<br />
Here is the preview of the first pages, is a rough draft, many more corrections will be done before it will be published.<br />
But I wanted to share it with you, the people that through this blog has held my hand when it got really hard for me. Thank you :) <br />
<br />
<blockquote>I open my eyes but I can’t see. Everything is blurry. I blink several times to see if that helps and try to move. I am facedown, I can feel and taste the blood pooled beneath me. Just then all the senses come at once, the sharp pain on my head, on my face, I hear the TV on the background and I am surprise that is in English, I have been living in Japan for about 4 years now, I moved to Tokyo at age 19 on an entertainer visa and most of my circle speaks Japanese. My eyes adjust to the intense light, I recognize the place, I been here before many times. Is the apartment of a guy I just dated, an American model that went back home a few weeks prior.<br />
<br />
I try to get up but when I move I get nauseous and dizzy so I just roll to my side and lay on a fetal position. Then I hear him and I remember, his roommate! I ran into him last night. “ Well, sleeping beauty, you are finally up” He sounds upbeat and not very concerned that I am laying on his floor bloody “ What happened? ‘ I ask. “You had a bit too much to drink and you fell and hurt yourself” Sorry I said, deeply embarrassed but also confused. <br />
<br />
When I saw him at the club I was on my way to meet some of my girlfriends before heading home after working late. Jason, a tall, all American boy was standing by the entrance and introduced me to his new roommate. “ Watch her” he told him“ Norma the fiery Mexican likes dating my roommates” Then he handed me a drink, I didn’t want to drink last night but I didn’t want to be rude either. Just one I thought. <br />
Sure I have blacked out before, but this time was different, all I had was one drink, and then I don’t remember anything else.<br />
<br />
Jason strokes my head as I lay there, I close my eyes again overwhelmed by the pain now being insufferable. Then I hear the sound of a zipper being undone. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I am a liar and a coward. Sure I didn’t intended to lie but by not speaking up I might as well be lying. All I ever wanted was to not hurt anymore<br />
<br />
I successfully created a new identity for myself and almost got away with it too, married, had kids and formed a family. Nobody that meets me have an idea of what really went on my head for many years, the shame, the fear, the rage, all they see is a good mom. But I couldn’t build a house out of sand, all of a sudden I am watching it all being washed away, the divorce and later my oldest son diagnoses left me raw. <br />
<br />
I been so busy fighting a dragon, one mean beast call blindness that is threatening my son that I didn’t notice it at the beginning. All of a sudden people around me are calling me brave,or amazing. All I am doing for my son is what I should have done for myself a long time ago. My kids are too important to not have the amazing life that they deserve. I feel uncomfortable with being praised, maybe because most of my life I have been accustomed to being told what I had done wrong. <br />
<br />
I am an ultra distance runner. Since 2007 I have run long distance races all over the world, even a record on all 7 continents. I started running when my oldest son Karl was diagnosed with Cone Rod Dystrophy. I don’t remember much about that day, Doctors were struggling to figure out what was happening to him. I remember the words <i>progressive, incurable, might lead to blindness</i>. Karl was relieved, he had been telling us that he really had trouble seeing, Doctors didn’t believe him, they didn’t see anything wrong until one fine Doctor knew what to look for. <br />
<br />
I was devastated; I though that life was being cruel in the most despicable way. I have never doubted that there is a God; many times I have trouble accepting that terrible things happen, even under his watch. <br />
<br />
Running became my escape. I wouldn’t say that running saved my life, only I could do that. Over the years I have understood that nobody or nothing except for my attitude can save me or complete me. I have no control on things or people. The only thing I can control is my attitude and the choices I make.I decided long ago that I didn’t want to live my life in pain or suffer anymore,I have chosen to be positive no matter what, to have faith that this is where I am suppose to be. <br />
<br />
Running is what I did to take the edge off when I felt the pain was becoming unbearable. It wasn't always that way, the unhealthy me used to burn herself with cigarettes when pain became too much. But not anymore. I have work so hard to build my new life and be the healthiest mother my children could have. The day after my son was diagnosed I went for a long run, I wanted to run until my skin came off but it didn’t instead I felt better when I returned home. During those long runs at 4am in the darkness I felt stronger finally. All the memories that I had worked so hard to erase came slowly at first, but once I allowed one memory to appear I couldn't stop them all from coming. I had wrongly assumed that if because I had never allowed myself to think about it they would eventually fade.I was standing at the eye of the storm. <br />
<br />
Since the day I sat at the Doctors office with my oldest son Karl, I have fought a lot more than a terrible diagnose. Shortcuts lead to dead ends and I had encounter mine, the only way out of it was through it. <br />
<br />
When I started running ultra races, some people asked me what I was running away from, what they didn’t know was that I was running towards something. It was time to look at evil in the eye; I was ready to confront my past. <br />
<br />
Here is my story<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</blockquote>Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-70624380016107865152011-10-03T10:22:00.000-06:002011-10-03T10:22:28.845-06:00Last weeks training plans.What a week has been. It seems like the minute I posted that I was ready and excited to start the new training plan the universe decided to play a trick. It was time to use my own advice. I had the training plan ready but ended up change it to managed my fatigue and crazy unscheduled events that happened. <br />
First of all, let's look at the beginner training plan. For my son Karl whom by Doctors orders had to start exercising more was a bit difficult, the goal for me was to have him use to the idea that 3 times a week we was going to exercise. My other son is in the same school with him so he now walks to and from school, a 1.5 mile round trip, he was self conscious before walking alone and maybe tripping in front of the other kids that walk to school. He likes martial arts but he wasn't loosing weight so I added strength training twice and spinning once, I taught him to use the machines since the idea is that he is comfortable going to the gym. I gave him an easy routine the he can follow on his own, i did them with him a couple of time now I work out nearby so he can ask me questions but mostly i let him do it on his own just supervising that he is adjusting the machines properly and using proper form. <br />
<br />
Here is a sample<br />
Leg press 2X 14 reps<br />
Leg curl 2X 14 reps<br />
Leg extension 2x 14 reps<br />
Chest press 2x 14 reps<br />
Lat pull down 2x 14 reps<br />
Biceps 2X 14 reps<br />
Triceps 2x 14 reps<br />
crunches 2x 15 reps<br />
<br />
I tried to avoid free weight for Karl, is very intimidating for him to be standing in front of all the other guys. He has been coming with me for two weeks now and he is more confident, not sure I can say he enjoys it but the more comfortable he becomes the easier it to convince him to go. <br />
My advise for beginners who want to run i would advice to start walking, I really like Jeff Galloway's training plan to run walk. Like i said the most important at the beginning is to get used to the idea of setting the time aside. The length of the walk will depend on your motivation and fitness level so no excuses, we all know how to walk, if you are really ambitions, try walking for 4 minutes and running for 1 until you reach the desired time. <br />
Leticia is an intermediate level, her running plan is simple. She is planing on running a 10k in 5 weeks, not ideal to start training only 5 weeks prior but she is fit and had run on and off for years, summers are busy with the family so she takes a break form running and does yoga and hikes a bit. <br />
Her running schedule was 2 miles a day for 5 days and a long run of 4 miles on Sunday and two short hills added to the Wednesday run, she can mix walking and running.<br />
<br />
Strength training is circuit training at my house with dumbbells and resistant bands with 1 minute rest between sets for a total of three sets. <br />
Lunges<br />
burpees<br />
bent over dumbell row<br />
pushups<br />
squats<br />
v sits<br />
triceps kick backs<br />
Dumbbell shoulder press<br />
<br />
She warms up with 5 minutes of skipping, she loves the fast pace and we usually play latin music so it feel very bootcamp, she gets bored at the gym so we keep it fun. <br />
<br />
My sister and I train together, she is fit and highly motivated, her Doctor too told her to loose weight, she practically lives to work out so my plan for her was to increase the intensity of her workouts and to spice it up, she is been doing the same things for a long time so her body has adapted nicely to the training load. <br />
her running was similar to Leticia's but i took her trail running with me, she also was able to handle more distance. 4 miles a day for 3 days and two days of 3 miles with hills added on Wednesday. <br />
<br />
Her strength training was the routine i do, day 1 upper body, day 2 lower body, day 3 rest, day 4 full body, day 5 rest, day 6 full body. I love super sets, working one major muscle group then adding a dynamic core exercise or plyometrics. More sport conditioning. <br />
<br />
On the days we work upperbody i hit the same muscle with 2 or 3 exercises, like Incline bench press, decline bench press and dumbbell chest press on ball. on the days that we work full body we go over the major muscles groups, once or twice depending on time or how tired we feel. <br />
<br />
My running didn't go as planned. I had intended for a week of 54 miles and ended up way short, had trouble physically and mentally. I decided to just go with how I felt, i ended up riding my bike a couple of times instead of running. <br />
<br />
My kids both got sick, Hans had Streptocouccus infection and kept me busy, the Karl started to have major nosebleeds that I had to go to the ER when i came home and it looked like a scene of Friday the 13 ( he didnt think was funny, when i said, were is the chainsaw) I know better than to speak if you take your child with what looks like signs of trauma to the ER. The nurse asked me to not speak and asked Karl instead, how often do they happen and how often are the this bad? when did they started? I couldnt remember when but Karl remembered clearly, in grade 4 he said, I got hit by a football on the playground and then I started to run into the playground often after. It was true, that was the first time I had been called for Karl, that was the first time the teachers told me that something was wrong. My heart sunk. The next person to walk into the ER was a male around my age, he was accompanied by family as well, he was clearly in distress, his companion spoke this time, he didn't speak English. " He is an alcoholic" You do know we are not a rehab, the nurse said, we can stabilize him but cant do more than that. We all sat in the wait room, them and us, holding bloody towels and buckets. I wanted to stand and punch that man, hard, to hit him until it hurt, to ask him why, he was physically perfect but seemed determined to trow it all away. But I didn't, his family was in pain, and really I dont know what possible can drive somebody to that point in life. <br />
<br />
The next few weeks I will be working hard on laying the foundation, I am exited about possibly running Badwater but I also know that right now is when I need to lay the foundation to the success. If i jump to soon into training then I will be scramming at the end to make sure my kids are OK. <br />
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I hope this help you a bit, the way i figure out, we fall into one of these categories.<br />
stop making excuses and just go and do what you can. Need to be more consistent.<br />
Are stuck in a rut.<br />
or like me continue doing what you love but ignore what you dislike which is usually what you need to work on the most. <br />
my next post will be about nutrition a very important but often overlooked part of training. <br />
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Qué semana ha sido. Parece que el momento en que publique que estaba muy emocionada de iniciar el nuevo plan de ejercisio el universo decidió jugarme una mala pasada. Era el momento de usar mi propio consejo.Yo había preparado el plan a seguir, pero termine cambiandolo porque la semana estuvo muy ocupada y no me sentia bien. <br />
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En primer lugar, vamos a ver el plan de formación para principiantes. Para mi hijo Karl, que por órdenes de los médicos tenían que comenzar a hacer ejercicio era un poco más difícil, la meta para el fue que él haga a la idea de que tres veces a la semana que tiene que hacer ejercicio. Mi otro hijo está en la misma escuela con él asi que ahora camina a la escuela, como unos 2 kilometros de ida y vuelta. A él le gusta las artes marciales, pero no estaba perdiendo peso, así que he añadido pesas dos veces por semana y bicicleta una vez, le enseño a utilizar las máquinas para que él se siente cómodo de ir al gimnasio. Le di una rutina fácil de la que puede seguir por su cuenta, que los hice con él un par de veces ahora vamos juntos pero yo hago lo mio y si tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda estoy disponible.<br />
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He aquí una muestra <br />
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Leg press 2X 14 repeticiones <br />
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Leg Curl 2X 14 repeticiones <br />
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Leg extension 2x 14 repeticiones <br />
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Chest press 14 repeticiones <br />
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Lat Pulldown 2x 14 repeticiones <br />
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Bíceps 2X 14 repeticiones <br />
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Tríceps 2x 14 repeticiones <br />
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2x 15 repeticiones abdominales <br />
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Ha venido conmigo durante dos semanas y que esta más seguro, no puedo decir que lo disfruta, pero ya no se queja tanto de ir. <br />
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Mi consejo para los principiantes que quieren correr es que empiezen a caminar, me gusta mucho el plan de entrenamiento de Jeff Galloway qye es de alternar correr y caminar.Como ya he dicho lo más importante al principio es hacer rutina. La duración de la caminata depende de su motivación y nivel de condición física que no hay excusas, todos sabemos cómo caminar. <br />
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Leticia es un nivel intermedio, su plan de entrenamiento es muy sencillo. Ella quiere correr 10 Km en 5 semanas, no es lo ideal para comenzar a entrenar sólo 5 semanas antes, pero ella está en forma y ya ha corrido esa distancia, los veranos son ocupados con la familia para que ella hace yoga generalmente en los veranos.<br />
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Su horario de entrenamiento es de alrededor de 3 kilómetros por día durante 5 días y una larga carrera de 6.5 kilometros el domingo y dos subiditas cortas añadido a la carrera miércoles, se pueden mezclar para caminar y correr. <br />
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El plan de Leticia es entrenamiento en circuito en mi casa con pesas y bandas de resistencia con 1 minuto de descanso entre series por un total de tres sets. <br />
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Lunges<br />
burpees<br />
bent over dumbell row<br />
pushups<br />
squats<br />
v sits<br />
triceps kick backs<br />
Dumbbell shoulder press<br />
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Salta la cuerda por 5 minutos para calentar. le encanta el ritmo rápido y por lo general música latina por lo que se siente muy bootcamp, se aburre en el gimnasio, así que siga siendo divertido. <br />
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Mi hermana y yo entrenamos juntas, ella está en forma y muy motivada, su médico también le dijo que para bajar de peso, ella a estado haciendo las mismas cosas durante mucho tiempo por lo que su cuerpo se ha adaptado muy bien a la intensidad de entrenamiento. <br />
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Ella corre la misma distancia que Leticia, pero me llevó a correr conmigo a el monte y senderos. Tambien puede correr mas distancia que Leticia, 6.5 kilometros por día durante 3 días y dos días más de 4.5 kilometros. <br />
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Su entrenamiento de pesas era la rutina que hago, el día 1 parte superior del cuerpo, el día 2 parte inferior del cuerpo, el día 3 de descanso, el día 4 de cuerpo entero, el día 5 de descanso, el día 6 de cuerpo completo. En los dias de solo la parte superior por ejemplo trabajamos el mismo grupo muscular con 3 ejercicios distintos de el mismo grupo muscular tambien añadimos un ejercicio de núcleo dinámico o pliometría. Más deporte acondicionado. Como salto de banco despues de una session de squats. <br />
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Mi entrenamiento no fue como estaba previsto. Tenía la intención de una semana de 54 kilómetros y terminó manera corta, tuvo problemas físicos y mentales. Me decidí a ir sólo con lo que sentí, que terminé subiendome a la bicicleta un par de veces en vez de correr. Se supone que haria, 12 kilometros al dia con 24 el domingo. solo alcance a hacer 7 kilometros al dia ciando entrene a mi hermana. <br />
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mis hijos los dos se me enfermaron, Hans tenía una infección Streptocouccus y me mantuvo ocupada, Karl comenzó a tener sangrado de nariz que no pude parar asi que teve que ir a la sala de emergencias cuando llegué a casa y parecía una escena de pelicula de miedo. ( no se rio cuando le dije que parecia Jason de la pelicula Halloween) Si llevas a tu hijo a la sala de emergencias es mejor que el hable, la enfermera de la sala de emergencias me pidió que no hablara y le preguntó Karl las preguntas, ¿con qué frecuencia ocurren y con qué frecuente son tan graves? ¿Cuándo comenzó? Yo no podía recordar cuándo, pero Karl recordaba con claridad, en el grado 4, respondió, fue golpeado por una pelota de fútbol en el patio y luego empezo a tropezar con las cosas y paredes. Es cierto, esa fue la primera vez que me llamaron por Karl, que era la primera vez que los profesores me decían que algo andaba mal. Mi corazón se hundió. El siguiente en entrar en la sala de urgencias era un hombre de mi edad, iba acompañado por su familia, se notaba que estaba grave, su compañero habló este tiempo, él no habla Inglés. "Él es un alcohólico" Usted sabe que no somos un centro de rehabilitación, la enfermera dijo, le podemos estabilizar pero no puedo hacer más que eso. Nos sentamos en la sala de espera, ellos y nosotros, rodeados de tuallas llenas de sangre y cubetas para el vomito.. Quería ponerme de pie y golpe que el hombre, duro, lo golpearlo hasta hacerle daño, para preguntarle por qué, era físicamente perfecto, pero parecía decidido a tirar su vida a la basura. Pero no lo hize, su familia estaba en el dolor, y realmente no sé lo que es lo que le sucedia para conducirlo a ese punto en la vida. <br />
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Las próximas semanas voy a trabajar duro, quiero correr el campeonato de Badwater asi que necesito trabajar mucho. Espero que hayas encontrado algo que te pueda a ayudar con tu entrenamiento. Despues hablaremos de nutricion.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-79232608798903212072011-09-25T01:23:00.000-06:002011-09-25T01:23:51.194-06:00Are you ready?If anybody ever asked what would be my most important personality trait it would be that I am incredibly naïve. I really believe that things are possible, even when confronted with hard fact of why I will never succeed as long as I can picture it clearly in my mind then is possible. Time and time I have succeed but most important time and time I have failed, is then when being naïve had helped me tremendously, when that happens I never hear, they are right, I hear, what went wrong and what do I do to improve it? <br />
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I came back from TransAlps believing that I am improving, that my running is getting stronger and that I am on the right path to a fantastic Badwater race if I am selected again. Even though I got sick, I finished closed to where I should be, after all, anybody who finished ahead of me was truly better, some will always be, but some where only better for the time being, and that’s why sports are fun, at least during training we can all dream that we are the world champions, Olympians, sure every time I go to a race I am proven wrong but when I am back home training I believe again I will be the one on the podium next. In real life I am single parent, over stretched and always worry about my next paycheque, in training I am the next big star.<br />
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Motivation number one, it allows me to dream.<br />
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I recently went out on a date, sure I been asked out before since Charlie and I broke up but this is the first time I actually went to my closet to find my “ date” clothes, which btw, they smelled funky, like they been on a box under my bed ‘cause they were. It was somebody I have known for a very long time, back when I was in sales and wore nice suits and expensive jewelry. We never really took the next step; even then I knew that our priorities were not the same. He is a very successful man, he had been married once and it helped him realized that family and kids was not what he wanted, sort of George Clooney. We sat there, at the restaurant, from the distance, maybe things hadn’t changed much but looking closely I have changed draatically. He was distracted by one thing, my funky bracelets, gone is the Tag Heuer. Replaced by a functional Timex Ironman. The red bracelet I wear is more a symbol than anything, when I was climbing Aconcagua, one of the guides was wearing a simple read thread around his left wrist, after a few days of being stuck on a tiny tent together, I finally asked why, he told me that his girlfriend was a very superstitious person, that this was his first job as an assistant guide, he had been a porter for 5 years prior and finally was promoted, his girlfriend had put it on to ward of jealousy and envy since the other porters where going to resent him for sure, he told me he thought it was all silly but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I am not superstitious, I lean more towards science, but I told him to take it that I meant that she care, let her love you, I told him. Last year every seemed to go wrong, my sister is very superstitious and was telling me all the things I needed to do to, I jokingly said that as things where going, I was willing to dance with a chicken under the moonlight, and while you are at it to put the read thread, she found a read thread on her sawing kit, as she was putting it around my arm I realized that she truly wished me a better life, I have had it ever since, I bought a more durable one in Spain on a recent trip, one for her one for me, Oprah and her friends might have their marching diamond rings, my sister Muneca and I have matching red bracelets. I after telling him my story I realized that nothing had changed, we were still not right for each other, “Your kids will be gone in a few years, can you imagine the trips we can take?” I told him that it would be more likely that I would then sell everything and move somewhere I can do the things that I love the most every day, trail run, climb and live a life of service, I can’t picture me living in Monaco. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisIa9kF8RywHWQWQDQlMzs7-g4S9tA5SzfcYrswKYiV68y_oMjdVNJ3124tdjwlFmQgD_ix76xZQ1S7UsjM50YfZXduNjLBPufD9vxRbVTCENcaBAMAwYH8_C3useYh3HZ91QYk25LW4/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisIa9kF8RywHWQWQDQlMzs7-g4S9tA5SzfcYrswKYiV68y_oMjdVNJ3124tdjwlFmQgD_ix76xZQ1S7UsjM50YfZXduNjLBPufD9vxRbVTCENcaBAMAwYH8_C3useYh3HZ91QYk25LW4/s400/photo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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That was a few days ago, today, I went out on the perfect date, a lot of sweating and little clothing on a beautiful trail, as I run, I felt strong, free, happy. We all get lonely sometime, but if I date or choose to be with somebody it will be because he is right for me not because I am lonely. <br />
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Motivation number two, running makes me happy<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxA6SEcqMhFdLkrXdKjmSewnltwrYkugkWrZNtTIIFukLk6bDuZRpr6TlxrVpSvJFgk4HLKEDAqYAyiBo2eDAdPB4f2p7Q6pFjms3bONPzn3IgQPhJG2LDzJr7SiOSS90vZSy60O-VeTI/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxA6SEcqMhFdLkrXdKjmSewnltwrYkugkWrZNtTIIFukLk6bDuZRpr6TlxrVpSvJFgk4HLKEDAqYAyiBo2eDAdPB4f2p7Q6pFjms3bONPzn3IgQPhJG2LDzJr7SiOSS90vZSy60O-VeTI/s400/photo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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A lot of people know that my dad died very young, not a lot of people know of how he died, a massive heart attack. I was 11 years old, we were at the movies, I was sitting on his lap when he felt chest pain, and my mom and him left leaving me and my siblings to watch the rest of the movie. That was the last time I saw him. He died three days later my oldest brother was in the hospital room when it happened. My dad was 41 years old; he had been an alcoholic most of his life, finally quitting a few years before he died, he had a very troubled life, his escape had been alcohol all his life, he tried doing right by us, working hard to send us to private schools even though he didn’t earn much. After quitting his smoking increased and he seek comfort food. When he died, life got much harder, he left his young family very vulnerable, that is really when my nightmares began, I though the worse I was ever experience was watching my dad loose his temper against my sibling but unfortunately when it comes to evil, there are many shades. As a single parent I experience stress often, some are manageable some are overwhelming, by choosing a positive outlet I am looking after me and ultimately protecting my kids. It might seem hypocritical that the same woman who dreams of one day climbing K2 also worries about being there for my kids, there are not the same, my dad died of a destructive lifestyle and I found my passion. Sure, because of my kids I slowed down, you can have it all, just not at the same time. I am patient<br />
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Motivation number three, running allows me to have a positive outlet to stress. <br />
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I can go on and on, the more I give it meaning the more likely it is that I will stick to it. Your reasons might be very different than mine, what matters is, that they have meaning to you. <br />
You can spend the rest of your life making excuses of why you never accomplished the things your always wanted or you can start working on the steps to get you there. Dreams don’t come with an expiry date. <br />
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Estas listo?<br />
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Estoy tan emocionada! vamos a cambiar nuestras vidas! Creo que el primer paso para cualquier cambio será el compromiso. Anthony Robins dijo una vez que nuestro comportamiento está guiado en dos principios simples, el de buscan el placer y / o evitar el dolor. Así que primero tenemos que estudiar en profundidad lo que consideramos el dolor y el placer. No hay ninguna razón para que te dé consejos sobre entrenamiento y nutrición, a menos que primero te convenzca de que el viaje a un mundo mejor, usted, yo, nosotros vale la pena.<br />
Se podra difícil, a veces muy duro y más entre comprometidos que estemos los mejores serán las probabilidades de que usted tengamos éxito.<br />
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Yo me trato bien. No siempre fue así, muchas veces en mi vida que no me trata bien, no hay problema, lo que importa ahora es que finalmente me dije hasta aqui. Ese fue el primer paso de muchos a seguir. Con los años, cada paso en la dirección correcta consolidó mi camino.Así que echemos un vistazo a mi motivación.<br />
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Si alguna vez alguien le preguntó cuál sería mi rasgo de la personalidad más importante sería que soy muy ingenua. Realmente creo que las cosas son posibles, incluso cuando me enfrento a dura realidad de la razón por la que nunca tendrá éxito siempre y cuando me lo imagino con claridad en mi mente, entonces es posible. Muchas veces he tenido éxito, pero lo más importante es me michisimas mas he fallado, es entonces cuando ingenua me ha ayudado enormemente, cuando eso ha pasado nunca pienso, están en lo cierto, pienso, que salió mal y qué puedo hacer para mejorar?<br />
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Volví de TransAlps con la certitud de que estoy mejorando, que mi carrera es cada vez más fuerte y que estoy en el camino correcto a una carrera de Badwater fantástico si soy seleccionada de nuevo. A pesar de que me enfermé,terminó cerca a donde debo estar, después de todo, cualquiera que terminó por delante de mí era realmente mejor, algunos siempre lo será, pero algunos que sólo es mejor para el momento, y es por eso que los deportes son divertidos, por lo menos durante el entrenamiento es que todos podemos soñar que somos los campeones mundiales, olímpicos, cada vez que voy a una carrera me doy cuante que no es asi, pero cuando estoy de vuelta de entrenamiento en casa creo que de nuevo voy a ser la proxima en el podio. En la vida real yo soy madre soltera, muy ocupada y siempre se preocupada donde llegara mi proximo cheque de sueldo, cuando corro soy la próxima gran estrella.<br />
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Motivación número uno, que me permite soñar.<br />
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Hace poco fui a una cita, seguro de que me han invitado a salir desde antes de Charlie y yo rompimos nuestro compromiso, pero esta es la primera vez que realmente me fui a mi armario para buscar a mi ropa de salir, que por cierto, que olía a raro, como ha guardado, porque ahí la encontre en una caja debajo de mi cama . Se trataba de alguien que conozco desde hace mucho tiempo, cuando yo estaba en ventas y llevaban trajes buenos y joyas caras. En realidad, nunca llegamos a más, desde entonces yo sabía que nuestras prioridades no eran las mismas. Él es un hombre muy exitoso, que había estado casado una vez y le ayudó para darse cuenta de que la familia y los niños no era lo que el quería, una especie de George Clooney. Nos sentamos allí, en el restaurante, desde la distancia, tal vez las cosas no habían cambiado mucho, pero mirando de cerca yo que he cambiado drasticamente. Me di cuenta que se le quedaba viendo a mis pulseras, ya no uso el Tag Heuer. Ahora lo e reemplazado por un Timex Ironman muy funcional. La pulsera de color rojo que uso es más un símbolo que nada, cuando yo estaba subiendo el Aconcagua, una de las guías que llevaba un hilo simple rojo en su muñeca izquierda, después de unos días de estar atrapados en una tienda de campaña pequeña finalmente le pregunte por qué , me dijo que su novia era una persona muy supersticiosa, que este era su primer trabajo como asistente de guía, que había sido un portero durante 5 años antes y, finalmente, lo habian promovido, su novia se lo había puesto el hilo rojo para protejerlo de la envidia ya los porteros otros donde lo va a resentir con seguridad, me dijo que pensaba que era una tontería, pero no quizo herir sus sentimientos. No soy supersticiosa tampoco, me inclino más hacia la ciencia, pero yo le dije que para el significaba que ella lo queria mucho y queria protegerlo, dejate queres le dije. El año pasado casi todo me salio mal, mi hermana es muy supersticiosa y me contaba todas las cosas que tenía que hacer, en broma le dije que haria lo que quisiera cont al de perder la mala suerte, si quieres bailo con una gallina cuando salg ala luna llena! Ella me puso el hilo rojo, cuando lo estaba poniendo alrededor de mi brazo me di cuenta de que realmente me deseaba una vida mejor, lo he tenido desde entonces, me compré uno más duraderp en España en un viaje reciente, uno para ella para mí, Oprah y sus amigos pueden tener sus anillos de diamantes pero mi hermana y yo Muneca tenemos nuestras pulseras rojas. Cuando le conte la historia a mi cita me decirle que mi historia me di cuenta de que nada había cambiado, que todavía no eramos adecuados el uno para el otro ", pero tus hijos casi se van de tu casa en unos años, ¿te imaginas los viajes que se pueden tomar?" Yo le dije que sería lo más probable que cuando eso suceda lo mas probable es que vendere todo y me mude a algún lugar donde pueda hacer las cosas que más me gusta todos los días, correr en montaña, trepar y vivir una vida ayudando a otros. Eso fue hace unos días, hoy salí a la cita perfecta, sude mucho e use poca ropa en un bonito sendero, mientras corro, me sentía fuerte y feliz, libre. Todos nos sientimo solos en algún momento, pero nunca quisiera elegir a alguien por la soledad, solo sino porque es la persona adecuada para mi.<br />
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Motivacion número dos, correr me hace feliz<br />
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Mucha gente sabe que mi padre murió muy joven, no mucha gente sabe cómo murió, de un ataque masivo al corazón. Yo tenía 11 años, estábamos en el cine, yo estaba sentado en su piernas viendo la pelicula cuando sintió dolor en el pecho, mi mamá se lo llevo a casa dejandome a mí y mis hermanos para ver el resto de la película. Esa fue la última vez que lo vi. Murió tres días más tarde, mi hermano mayor estaba en la habitación del hospital cuando ocurrió. Mi papá tenia solo 41 años de edad, el había sido un alcohólico la mayoria de su vida, finalmente, dejar de beber unos cuantos años antes de morir, tuvo una niñez muy tragica, su escape había sido el alcohol durante toda su vida, trató de hacer lo correcto por nosotros, trabajandoduro para enviar a las escuelas privadas, aunque no ganaba mucho. Después de que dejo de tomar siguio fumando y comiendo mucho buscando refuguio a los demonios que lo consumian. Cuando murió dejó a su joven familia muy vulnerable, que es en realidad cuando mis pesadillas comenzaron. Y siempre pense que vivir con un padre alcolico seria lo peor que me succederia, pero desafortunadamente cuando se trata de maldad hay muchos matices. Como madre soltera que experimentan estrés con frecuencia, algunos se pueden controlar otros no. Es por eso que yo busco encontrar algo positivo que me mantenga de mente sana tambien. Por la elección de un escape positivo me estoy cuidando a mí y tambien protejo a mis hijos. Puedo parecer hipócrita que la misma mujer que sueña con un día en escalada K2 también se preocupa por ser buena madre para mis hijos, no es lo mismo, mi padre murió por su estilo de vida destructivo y en cambio me encontré mi pasión. Claro, porque de mis hijos, ahora no empaco todo y me voy a escalar las montañas mas peligrosas, se puede tener todo, pero no al mismo tiempo. Soy paciente<br />
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Motivación número tres correr me permite tener una salida positiva a la tensión.<br />
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Puedo seguir y seguir, entre mas razones pueden encontrar es mucho mas seguro que ustedes tengan éxito tambien. Sus motivaciones seran muy diferentes a las mías, lo que importa es, que tengan significado para ustedes.<br />
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Puede pasar el resto de su vida inventando excusas de por qué nunca has logrado las cosas que tu siempre has querido, o puede empezar a trabajar en los pasos para llegar hasta allí. Los sueños no vienen con una fecha de caducidad.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-65596126295706039382011-09-18T02:28:00.000-06:002011-09-18T02:28:57.308-06:00TransAlps race reportTransAlps Race<br />
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Just got back form TransAlps race. It was a race to remember. <br />
I arrived in Kempen Germany a few days before the race; I was to meet my teammate for the first time in his hometown before heading to the race about 7 hrs away. I lot of people warned me against running such a grueling race with a stranger, even one of the race organizers wanted to make sure I understood that it was risky since on such events even the best of friends have disagreements. Even though I had a couple of minor problems with my teammate before the race I decided that since we had talked about expectations, I wasn’t fast, that he could do better if he wanted to place. My teammate said, “You have endurance, that’s all that matters.” So how bad could it be? <br />
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I loved Germany, people are friendly and everybody welcome me warmly, we did a couple of interviews, my teammate was know in his small town for having won the worlds triathlon for his age group a few years back as well as wining local races. <br />
Problems really began once we started on the road to the race, I seemed whiny when I complained of long drives with just water and eating snacks, I have been know to be very cranky if don’t eat well, I really dislike junk, I crave kale and other veggies and salivate at the thought of quinoa with beans and nuts. <br />
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The race began at Oberstdof, Germany on Sat 3th, Stage one was a gentle 27.2 K with 1806 of elevation gain and 1496 of elevation lost finishing in the town of Hirschegg, Austria. I felt great that day, running hills has never been my strength and that day was no exception, when my teammate saw me run up hill for the first time he had the look of a man who just saw his girlfriend for the first time without her Victoria Secret’s push up bra, a bit disappointed. But on the downhill we caught up and finish a strong 31st team, now since I have run with some of the people on the race I knew that finishing 31st was a dream. <br />
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Stage 2 was a grueling 53.2K with 2481M of elevation gain and 2913M of elevation loss, I felt OK but for some reason I wasn’t as fast a s the day before, my legs where tired but on a long day especially so early on the race slowing down wasn’t too bad, it ended in Schruns, Austria.<br />
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Stage 3 was delayed due to bad weather and the stage was re routed but still was 43K long; I had a hard time, the wind the rain. Many people would quit these day, including Spain’s elite mountaineer Edurne Pasaban. We arrived cold and tired to Switzerland. We been camping and cabin fever was taking place significantly now, the excitement of the race was now over and the reality that we still had 5 more days of these was starting to weight in my teammate, he was unhappy and there was no holding back. <br />
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Stage 4 was 39.9K long with 2339M of elevation gain and 27M of elevation loss, the weather was milder but I felt tired and my stomach hurt like somebody punched me hard, it hurt to breath, I stayed behind with a group and that’s where I realized that a lot of people where feeling the same, some of the people on the back had done TransAlps before and place quite well but for some reason a lot of us feel sluggish and incredibly tired. The two Americans I was talking to both partners were out and were now on their own, slow but on their own, I tasted freedom,” you mean I can do that?” they say sure, a lot of team had now split for many reasons. My teammate caught up to me and I mention that we could do that, I said, “I know you been unhappy and that you where talking about how hard it was to go slow since you are use to running fast, I have a solution, we can become solo and we go our own place” this is what I said, I swear that you would have thought that I said “ you know teammate the girls and I where noticing how small your feet are, and you know what they say!” All the passive aggressiveness was now gone and it was full blown argument. He flipped.<br />
Now, I usually keep details out of my blogs, I had a similar incident while climbing, is the very nature of doing something physically demanding and having different personalities causes frictions every time. I have thought about the incident many times, is not the argument is the words are spoken while angry that matter at the end. He called me a liar and a pretender, that stung, that if he had know that I was such a terrible climber as well as a slow runner he would never have asked me to come, I didn’t want to run the race with a stranger, I said no for about 6 months, repeatedly telling him that there were many better runners than me, but he didn’t want to hear it,” you have endurance, that’s all that matters” he said. Eventually I said yes, after all it was TransAlps race and I have always wanted to run it. <br />
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Later I found that he had heard about me through an article at Runners World magazine, unknown to me. The article refers to me as an elite ultrarunner, that’s why I shun the world athlete when talking about me, I am average at best and I don’t mind it one bit. I am average on a not so average group, the ultrarunners. I was ready to pack and go home, except for feeling lousy that day, I thought we where doing great, I recognized a lot of the runners and knew it was a very elite group, plus yelling at your teammate on day 4 of 8 days was a bit premature, like yelling at your pregnant wife for being the fattest at the delivery room, long ways to go I thought. I didn’t take it lying down, the old me would have try to smooth it over and try to get thought, now I didn’t put up with it one bit. Eventually I told him that it was possible to finish as a team but we could never be friends afterwards. Advise to guys, in an argument, stick to the issue; this is not the time to tell her that you hate her mother as well. We arrived In Scuol, Switzerland second last and I moved to camp with the other runners and left him to car camp with his friend.<br />
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Stage 5 was a short day, 6K but vertical, the nice thing was that we not only got to sleep in a bit, we also stayed at the same town for a couple of nights, it was nice to have some time to sightseeing. It was a great day for my teammate; he was able to run hard like he had wanted, I felt better now that I was able to sleep and eat when I wanted, car camping with my teammate and his friend meant that I had to ask when I needed something, and often I had to wait until they where ready to help me. <br />
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TransAlps organizers and volunteers are among the best I have seen. They accommodated our needs fast and without a hassle, not easily done when you have such large group but it always felt like a local 5k to me not like the large elaborate event like it was.<br />
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The next few stages where my favourite, I was now feeling stronger and healthier, it still hurt to breath deeply but it was not as strong, I started to take Ginko Biloba, something that I use when I mountaineer, it suppose to help with altitude, Stage 6 was 37K and 1332M elevation gain and 1474 of elevation loss, we where now running up one mountain, the past stages we had to run up two or three, and the downhill was dreamy, I have always loved running downhill, is my favourite, is like dancing, by now my teammate was starting to feel fatigue, and I was feeling better, I could see the face of disappointed when I caught up to him quickly, the downhill was 16K, we later laughed because he was actually begging for an uphill so I could slowdown, he run downhill well but he was far from light. All I could think when I heard the pounding was” ouch, he will hurt tomorrow” this stage was also the most beautiful. We entered Italy though a canyon. These are the moment where I feel, this is why I do it, not the version of non runners, the addiction, the runners high, so many times I have wish for a runners high, no luck, mostly is painful but if you let go and relax then something happens, after so many days of being in pain and having everything hurt, it didn’t, I felt great, running to feel better after being sore from running, too long, like drinking alcohol to cure I hangover I thought. <br />
The body is a wonderful machine, it will adapt to the changes and excel, we don’t stop exercising because we are to old, we grow old because we stop exercising. <br />
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Stage 7 was the stage that I feared the most, we had to climb to over 3000M that day, I hardly slept fearing timing out. We started in Mals at 8am as usual. That day more people quit, the leading Salomon ladies, quit because of injury I was told, also many people simply couldn’t face one more long day and simply walked away, there are never right or wrongs, we all reach different breaking points. It was not mine yet. You have no idea ho wit felt to stand on top of that big mountain with plenty of time to spare, and nothing but downhill ahead, I caught up to my teammate and decided on the plan to run without stopping on the last aid station and run straight to Schanders. <br />
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With stage 7 behind and only stage 8 to finish, I felt pretty confident about finishing as long as we didn’t fall and break anything. At only 30K and 1700 it was a fast day, by now the pain was completely gone and I could take full breath, no more painful shallow breaths. The climb went fast and stayed with my partner most of the time or not far behind, by now I was observing other people around me to figure out the best way to go up and realized that the best runners where hunched over when climbing, I became the Hunchback of Notre Dame and climbed faster than I had, finally I was getting a hold of things and it was my last day, the excitement, the beauty of the mountain, I run the hardest I have run in a while, I guess you can say I experience the runners high, I was 100% taken by that moment, nothing else matter, not the early struggles, the pain, nothing, I felt completely taken by that moment. We run that day the best we had done, 272K. I think we all operated on a high that day, in spite of passing over 200 runners on the last 18k we still crossed the finish line 38th mixed team. I didn’t care one bit, I was happy to be there, to have done. My teammate was finally happy, I had run him into submission; finally he had a bit of what he had been searching on a partner. I cant help if he felt disappointed, if he looked at me and realized, that he was capable of doing the same things that I had done, that I was not extraordinary or especial. I didn’t feel regret or embarrassment, yes, he could do it, the only difference between him and I was that I HAD done it. You know when people said that they hate certain painter’s work because it looks like something they could do? Well, you didn’t and that’s the difference. That what I teach my kids, the world belongs to the once that dare, talent is nothing if you are unwilling to do the work.<br />
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Everybody wants to learn a new language, very few people are willing to do what’s necessary to learn it, I speak three only because I am not afraid of making a fool of myself and I am willing to work hard. <br />
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I could show you lots of pictures of the race but there is one that I love the most, the one that will stay with me. Is the face of the last person to cross the finish line, the last person to complete the race, you can see the sweepers behind her, celebrating her, I stood there watching arrive, you could see she was using every ounce of energy and courage to continue, I saw her the day I got sick, she was struggling, a lot of us struggled one time or an other, for her, the struggle was daily but she continued, I had face a day where I didn’t know if I could do it and it was scary, she did the race everyday afraid yet she choose to continue and give her best anyway. I stood there yelling, “ you are amazing” and I meant it/ It’s a shame that some people will never learn that as much as I admire all the people that stood on the podium at the awards dinner, I admire people like her too, how could I be disappointed of anything Sure I came motivated and excited to train after all I want to see my best, what that is will not be up to me, if I go to my next race and I am the woman on the picture I hope you will know that I will feel noting more than amazing. Go and take chances, you can spend the rest of your life waiting for the right moment but maybe the right moment is now. Go and take chances, you can spend the rest of your life waiting for the right moment but maybe the right moment is now. fear can hold you back if you let it paralyze you or it could be the force that drives you, I can tell you that i fear more not trying that not succeeding. <br />
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Acabo de volver de la carrera TransAlps. Ha sido una carrera para recordar. <br />
Llegué a Kempen Alemania unos días antes para encontrarme con mi compañero de equipo por primera vez en su ciudad natal antes de dirigirnos a la carrera alrededor de 7 horas de distancia. Muchas personas me advirtieron que no hiciera la carrera con un desconocido, especialmente una carrera agotadora y dificil como el TransAlps, incluso uno de los organizadores de la carrera quería asegurarse de que yo entendía que era arriesgado, pues en tales eventos, incluso los mejores amigos tienen desacuerdos. A pesar de que había un par de problemas menores con mi compañero de equipo antes de la carrera, decidí que ya que había hablado acerca de las expectativas, que no soy muy veloz, que incluso él podría hacerlo mejor si fuera con otra corredora. Mi compañero dijo: "Usted tiene la resistencia, que es lo que importa." Entonces, ¿que malo podía suceder? <br />
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Me encantó Alemania, la gente es amable y todo el mundo me dio una calurosa bienvenida,hicimos un par de entrevistas, mi compañero de equipo era conocido en su pueblo por haber ganado el triatlón mundos para su grupo de edad hace unos años, así como ganar carreras locales. <br />
Problemas realmente comenzó una vez que empezamos en el camino a la carrera, a el le pareci un poco enfadosa cuando me quejaba de sed y hambre, si me conocen saben que me pongo de muy mal humor si no como bien, no me gusta la chatarra, me encantan los vegetales.<br />
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La carrera comenzó en Oberstdof, Alemania, el sáb 3 º, la primera etapa fue corta, solo 27,2 K, con 1.806 de subida y 1.496 de desnivel acabo en la ciudad de Hirschegg, Austria. Me sentí muy bien ese día, correr montañas nunca ha sido mi fuerza y ese día no fue la excepción, cuando mi compañero me vio correr cuesta arriba por primera vez, tenía el aspecto de un hombre que acaba de ver a su novia por primera vez sin su super sosten de Victoria Secret un poco decepcionado. Pero en el descenso nos pusimos al día y un final fuerte 31o equipo, ya que he corrido con algunas de las personas en la carrera asi que sabía que terminar 31 fue un sueño. <br />
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La etapa 2 fue un 53.2K agotador con 2481M de desnivel y 2913M de la pérdida de altura, yo me sentía bien, pero por alguna razón que no corri tan rápido como el día anterior, las piernas cansadas, pero donde en un día especialmente tan temprano en la carrera de desaceleración no fue tan malo, terminamos en Schruns, Austria. <br />
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La etapa 3 se retrasó debido al mal tiempo, pero todavía fue de 43K, tuve un momento difícil, el viento la lluvia. muchas personas abandonarían la carrera ese día, incluyendo la élite alpinista de España Edurne Pasaban. Llegamos con frío y cansado a Suiza. Estabamos acampando y ahora el estar durmiendo en un camper se estaba haciendo insoortable, la emoción de la carrera había terminado y la realidad de que todavía tenía 5 días más de ellos fue a partir del peso de mi compañero de equipo, no estaba contento y no había vuelta atrás. <br />
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Etapa 4 se 39.9K largo con 2339M de desnivel y 27 millones de la pérdida de altitud, el clima era más suave, pero me sentí cansada y me dolía el estómago como si alguien me hubiera golpeó duro, me dolía respirar, yo me quedé con un grupo y ahí es donde yo se di cuenta de que mucha gente se sientia igual, algunas de las personas en la parte posterior había hecho antes TransAlps e uncluso habian quedado en un lugar bastante bien, pero por alguna razón muchos de nosotros nos sentimos muy débil y cansados. Las dos estadounidenses que estaba conversando conmigo ese dia sus parejas estaban fuera y ahora, ahora corrian pos su propia cuenta .sentí el sabor de la libertad ", quiere decir que puedo hacer eso?", Dicen que, una gran cantidad de equipo se habían separado ya de muchos razones. Cuando alcanze a mi compañero le comente que podiamos corer individual: "Sé que estas frustado y que donde dijiste que era difícil que ir despacio ya que estas acostumbrado a correr rápido, tengo una solución, podemos llegar a ser solista y seguir a solas.", esto es lo que le dije, te juro que por la reaccion de el crearas que nos estabas riendo de el, comos si enlugar de eso le dije” Hey estabas comentando que tienes el pie chico y ya sabes lo que dicen! "Toda la agresividad pasiva se fue y todo el renconr salio a la superficie. por lo general trato de no hablar mucho de los detalles de mi blog, tuve un incidente similar cuando escale Mt McKinley, es la naturaleza de hacer algo físicamente exigente y con personalidades diferentes causas fricciones en todo momento.He pensado en el incidente en muchas ocasiones, no es el argumento son las palabras que se hablan con la cabeza caliente que al final cuenta. Él me llamó mentirosa y farsante, que si él hubiese sabido que yo era una corredora tan mala nunca me han pedido que venga, yo no quería correr la carrera con un extraño, le dije que no por unos 6 meses, en repetidas ocasiones le decía que había muchos corredores mejores que yo, pero él no quería oír ", que tiene resistencia, que es lo que importa", dijo. Finalmente le dije que sí, después de todo era la carrera deTransAlps y siempre la habia querido correr. <br />
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Más tarde me enteré de que había oído hablar de mí a través de un artículo en la revista Runners World, algo que no sabia .El artículo se refiere a mí como una ultra corredor élite, es por eso que no me gusta que me llamen atleta y menos elite, a mi me encant acorrer y participo en muchas carreras pero no soy de las mejores. Ese dia despues de el pleito, Yo estaba lista para empacar y regresar a mi casa, me senti mal ese día, además gritar a su compañero de equipo el día 4 de 8 días fue un poco prematuro, como gritarle a su esposa embarazada por ser el más gorda en la sala de partos, deje de corer y camine el resto de la carrera ese dia. Finalmente le dije que era posible correrla hasta el final como un equipo, pero nunca podríamos ser amigos después. Llegamos a Scuol, Suiza casi al último s y yo me mudamos al campo con los otros corredores. <br />
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Etapa 5 fue un día corto, 6K, pero vertical, lo bueno fue que pudimos dormir un poco, también nos quedariamos en la misma ciudad durante un par de noches, que era bueno tener algo de tiempo para hacer turismo. Fue un gran día para mi compañero de equipo, pudo correr duro como él quería, me sentía mejor ahora que yo era capaz de dormir y comer cuando quería, cuando acampaba con mi compañero y su amigo pedir Cuando necesitaba algo.<br />
Los oganizadores deTransAlps y voluntarios son de los mejores que he visto. Nos falicitaban ayuda a nuestras necesidades rápidamente y sin ningún problema, no seria fácil de hacer cuando se tiene gran grupo tal, pero siempre me sentí como si estuviera corriendo una carreara local de 5k en lugar de una carrera tan elaborada como esa. <br />
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Las próximas etapas fueron mi favoritas, me estaba sintiendo más fuerte y saludable, aun así me dolía al respirar profundamente, me dolia menos, comencé a tomar Ginko Biloba, algo que uso cuando escalo, se supone que debe ayudar con la altitud , Stage 6 era 37K y desnivel 1332M y 1474 de la pérdida de altura, que donde ahora subiendo una montaña, las etapas anteriores tuvimos que correr dos o tres, y la bajada fue de ensueño, siempre me ha gustado correr en bajada, es mi favorito, es como bailar, por ahora mi compañero de equipo estaba empezando a sentir la fatiga, y me sentí mejor, pude ver la cara de decepción cuando me reuní con él rápidamente, el descenso fue de 16K, que más tarde se echó a reír, porque en realidad estaba pidiendo una cuesta arriba para que yo pudiera desaceleración, que correr cuesta abajo bien, pero estaba lejos de ligero. Todo lo que podía pensar cuando oí los golpes era "le va a doler todo hoy en la noche!", esta etapa fue también la más hermosa. Entramos en Italia a través de un cañón. Estos son los momentos donde me siento feliz, donde se porque me gsta tanto esto. no la versión de los no corren, que es adicción, no es una adiccion, es passion!, me empeze a sentí muy bien, despues de sentirme mal por corer tantos dias, lo que necesite fuen corer mas! como beber alcohol para curar la Resaca.<br />
El cuerpo es una máquina maravillosa, que se adaptará a los cambios y sobresale, no dejamos de hacer ejercicio, porque estamos a los viejos, nos ponemos viejos porque dejamos de hacer ejercicio. <br />
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Etapa 7 fue el escenario que más temía, que teníamos que subir a más de 3000m de ese día, casi no dormía por temor a tiempo de espera. Empezamos en Mals a las 8 am como de costumbre. Ese día, más personas abandoraron la carrera, como el equipo femenino Salomon, debido a una lesión me dijeron, también muchas personas simplemente no podía soportar un día más largo y simplemente renunciaron ese dia, todos tenemos un punto de ruptura. No fue el mío todavía. No tienen n idea como me senti cuando puse pie en la cima de esa montaña grande, y lo que restaba de el dia era mi parte favorita, la bajada. me encontré a mi compañero corrimos el resto de la etapa sin parar hasta que llegamos a Schanders. <br />
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Con la etapa 7 y sólo detrás de la etapa 8 hasta el final, me sentí muy segura de terminar con tal de que no me cayera y me rompiera nada. En 1700 sólo 30K y fue un día mas facil, ya que el dolor había desaparecido por completo y pude recuperar el aliento completo, sin dolor. El ascenso fue rápido, los ultimo’s dias estuve observando a otras personas a mi alrededor para encontrar la mejor manera de ir hacia arriba y me di cuenta de que los mejores corredores se jorobaban al subir, me convertí en el jorobado de Notre Dame y subi más rápido los ultimo’s dias. El último día, la emoción, la belleza de la montaña se apodero de mi el100%. Me olvide de los pelitos el dolor, nada más importo, <br />
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Corrimoss ese díade lo mejor. Pero a pesar de pasar más de 200 corredores en los última 18k cruzamos la meta como equipo mixto 38. No me importaba lo más mínimo, yo estaba feliz de estar allí,. Mi compañero de equipo fue finalmente feliz,<br />
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Que lastima que el se sintio defraudo, decepcionado,el se dio cuenta de que él era capaz de hacer las mismas cosas que yo había hecho, que yo no era extraordinaria o especial. No me sentía remordimiento o vergüenza, sí, que podía hacerlo, la única diferencia entre él y yo era que yo ya lo había hecho. Usted sabe cuando la gente dice que odia el trabajo de pintor como picasso, ya que se ve como algo que podía hacer. Bueno, no lo hizo y esa es la diferencia. Les enseño a mis hijos, el mundo pertenece a los que se atreven ha vivir plenamente y no le tienen miedo al trabajo duro. el talento no es nada si no estás dispuesto a luchar duro. <br />
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Todo el mundo quiere aprender un nuevo idioma, muy pocas personas están dispuestas a hacer lo necesario para aprenderlo, hablo tres, porque yo no tengo miedo de hacer el ridículo, y estoy dispuesto a trabajar duro. <br />
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Podría enseñarte un montón de fotos de la carrera, pero hay una que más me gusta, la que va a quedarse conmigo. Es la cara de la última persona en cruzar la meta, la última persona en completar la carrera, se puede ver las barredoras detrás de ella, la celebración de ella, yo la vi llegar, con el rostro de determinacion y el coraje para continuar, yo la vi el día que no me senti bien, ella ya cansada, para mi solo fue un dia largo, para ella, la lucha era a diario, pero, continuó, ella decide continuar y dar lo mejor de ella de todos modos. Cuando paso frente a mi le grite, "eres increíble" y lo dije en serio /¿cómo puedo estar decepcionada si das lo mejor de ti que esperas ve I toma roesgos. Da lo mejor de ti no esperes. Puedes pasar el resto de su vida esperando el momento adecuado, pero tal vez el momento es ahora.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-47021799146236820822011-08-29T02:09:00.000-06:002011-08-29T02:09:28.527-06:00new websiteHi everybody. to simplify my life and to make it easier to share, I am now blogging on my website, this page remains live the same way i keep all my journals. It been am amazing journey and it just keep getting better and better. <br />
I am off to TransAlps tomorrow. Wish me luck and visit my website if you want to read about my 70k run yesterday the Great Canadian Race from Squamish to Whistler go to my new blog <a href="http://normabastidas.com/blog">here</a>Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-37132333648547476602011-06-12T21:10:00.000-06:002011-06-12T21:10:11.288-06:00MEN WANTED…For Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success…(Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Ad)Things are settling down after the madness of the Oprah Winfrey Network, slow down in terms of exposure,"back to normal" for me is back to training and working hard. <br />
I am grateful for it,there are some things that i can't seem to stop thinking though,I was happy with the results of the documentary, it was positive and great exposure for the charities. One thing that I didn't predict was that some members of my family would end up being disappointed in me.<br />
When the news reach my home town I did and interview, the final result was fantastic, not entirely accurate, I haven't summit all the peaks for example but overall the tone was right. When the reporter asked me about my childhood in Mexico I made the comment that it was humble, we didn't have a lot, something that was true,that didn't go well with some members of my family. My mom's family are well off, she was brought up on a comfortable environment but she married a very poor man,while her family had money, we didn't, not biggie, in my mind i had all the basic necessities. A lot of it was hand me downs some from my moms wealthier cousins but to a child that never matters, except for the fact that I have more male cousins than female so when the boxes arrived my better looking sisters got the girls clothing leaving me with boys clothes, I was dressed as a boy until about 12. <br />
But some families don't like to talk about it, is shameful, I wonder what my mom would say if it became known that my father was a raging alcoholic? oops. <br />
This is the life that shaped me, I loved my dad but that didn't changed the fact that I also feared him, that the years he was sober, two, before he died of a massive heart attack where the best of my life. <br />
But families like to keep things like that secret, don't air your dirty laundry, is nobodies business. I am going to tell you the problem with that.<br />
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I am more proud of my mom and my siblings for doing it in spite of everything, they taught me to move on, to stop wishing for things to be different and just deal with what you have. Is very weird to be embarrassed for not having much, there is no shame on that, I would be more embarrassed if I had been raised with money but was not a decent person. <br />
I know that by sometimes being very direct I hurt people that are close to me, but I realized that the people who benefit the most of my blog are the most vulnerable, sometimes I am like a Wedding publication, you need me for a short period of time, and sometimes is a deeper relationship. I once met a woman who suffer from depression who could quote entire pasagges from this blog.<br />
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So why? the problem with secrets is the shame, there is no secret that I have been attacked several times, more then I care to name, while that is traumatic enough, the most damage was done on how it was handle it, some people genuinely thought that they were protecting, we all know that once you open up about abuse your life and decisions get questioned,the most humiliating moment have been after the attack, friends refusing to take me to the police because some where illegal, the police in Japan parading my dress and telling me that no wonder I had been dragged from the streets. For the record the dress made me look very pretty but it was far from trashy, but that should never be an issue. In Singapore for example, when an intruder broke into my hotel room the Police scolded me for not wearing pajamas to bed,they knew because i ended up running out of my room to find help, sadly a woman is not safe at home either. On every occasion the attacker could have been found and prosecuted but none of them were,partly because I behave like a victim, once attacked, full of shame I never pursue it farther as soon as they start blaming me for it. <br />
And this is where the problem lies, I have so far been safe, and i think it comes with making the decision that never again will I be let victimized,I don't have to be afraid to go out, or to wear make up, that is also a behavior of a victim,is never your fault, of course I practice common sense but there was a period of my life that going to the store in daylight made me hyperventilate,never again but if am ever attacked i will stand up for myself no matter what, I think that that is making me less of a target, is well researched that a woman that shows confidence has less chances of being picked.<br />
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You matter, we all do, I have been playing with the idea of writing a book for a while,I have been approached several times, but to me it has to be meaningful, not about telling people all the things I have accomplished, but it should be about convincing the reader that no matter the circumstances happiness is possible.<br />
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That is why is so important to do everything in my power to make sure my kids have the life they desire, I want them to feel that they matter, that nobody has the right to take their dreams away or hurt them on any possible way, physical or emotional. <br />
Why do it by ultrarunning or climbing? Adventure is a true sign of emotional health, it serves no purpose other than to feel alive, we don't dare to dream when our bare necessities are not been met. To somebody who is in a tough place getting out of bed is a struggle, forget convincing that person to run a marathon, but i want to show them that getting out of bed is not only possible, making it all the way up Everest is also possible and fun.<br />
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So go ahead, you matter, dream hard, don't let anybody tell you different. <br />
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Que locura, todo esta volviendo a la normalidad después de la locura de el documental de Oprah Winfrey, aunque normalidad signifique que estoy otra vez ocupada entrenando y trabajando.<br />
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Pero me alegra porque eso es lo que me gusta mas de todo lo que ago, hay uans cosas que me preocupan, estas últimas semanas, yo esta muy feliz con los resultados del documental, la exposición fue positiva y grande para las organizaciones benéficas. Una cosa que yo no predijo que algunos de los miembros de mi familia se sintieran decepciónados.<br />
cuando la noticias llegar a Mexico e hice la entrevista, el resultado final fue fantástico, no del todo exacta, no he echo cumbre a todos los picos todavia por ejemplo, pero el tono general fue muy bueno. Cuando el periodista me preguntó sobre mi infancia en México yo le respondi de que habia sido humilde, algo que era cierto, pero algunos miembros de mi familia se ofendieron. La familia de mi mamá biene de dinero, ella se crió en un ambiente cómodo, pero se casó con un hombre muy pobre, mientras que su familia tenía dinero, nosotros no lo tuvimos hasta que pudimos trabajar por nuestra cuenta,la verdad que yo no recuerdo mi niñez con carencias, todo la basico que nesesitamos lo tuvimos, no fue hasta que ya era mayor que me di cuenta. <br />
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Pero algunas familias no se acostumbra hablar de eso, es una vergüenza, me pregunto lo que mi madre habría dicho si se sabe que mi padre fue un alcohólico? oops.<br />
Esta es la vida que me formaron, a mi padre lo quize mucho pero eso no cambia el hecho de que yo también le temía, que los años en los que vivio sobrio, dos, antes de morir de un ataque al corazón, fueron los mejor de mi vida.<br />
Pero en familias esas cosas se mantienen en secreto, la ropa sucia se lava en casa. Voy a decirte el problema con eso.<br />
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Estoy más orgullosa de mi mamá y mis hermanos por haberme dado todo lo que necesite a pesar de todo, me enseñaron a seguir adelante, a dejar de desear que las cosas sean diferentes y luchar con con lo que tiengo. Es muy extraño que te sientas avergonzado por no tener dinero, no hay vergüenza en eso, a mi me daria mas verguenza si tuviera dinero, pero no fuera una persona decente.<br />
Sé que a veces por ser muy directa lastimo a las personas que están cerca de mí, pero me di cuenta de que las personas que más se benefician de mi blog son los más vulnerables, a veces soy como una publicación de bodas, si me necesitan para un período corto aqui estoy, ya veces es una relación más profunda. Una vez conocí a una mujer que sufre de depresión que podría recitar mis palabras de este blog.<br />
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Entonces ¿por qué? el problema con los secretos es la vergüenza, no es ningún secreto que yo he sido atacada vilentamente varias veces, más de lo que quisiera acordarme, mientras que es bastante traumático, el mayor daño se hizo en la forma en que se manejo, algunas personas se pensaba realmente que estaban protegiendome,muchas veces la persona que pone denuncia es atacada personalmente, el momento más humillante han sido después de los ataques,amigas que se niegaron a llevarme a la policía porque en algúnas de ellas eran ilegales, la policía en Japón desfilando mi vestido y preguntandome, este vestido TAN corto traias? Que conste el vestido no era muy provocativo, tal vez un poco llamativo pero eso no es el caso. En Singapur, por ejemplo, cuando un intruso entró en la habitación del hotel la Policía me regañó por no dormir con pijama, se enteraron porque al despertar sali corriendo para buscar ayuda.lamentablemente la mujer no está segura en su casa tampoco. En cada ocasión, el atacante podría haber sido encontrados y procesados pero ninguno de ellos lo hicieron, en parte porque me comporte como una víctima, una vez que me empezaron a decier que en parte yo habia tenid la culpa yo llena de vergüenza decidi no seguir con la denuncia.<br />
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Y aquí es donde radica el problema, un dia decidi que nunca jamas me hiba a dejar que me trataran asi, nunca jamas sere víctima, no tengo porque que tener miedo a salir , pero si alguna vez mas sere atacada te aseguro que jamas dejare que nadie me trate asi,lo mas curios es que desde el momento que decidi eso no he estado en peligro mas, hay estadisticas que dicen que si una mujer da un aire de autoridad tiene menos posibilidad de ser abusada. <br />
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Tengo tiempo pensando hacerca de que sera el libro que escribire, si lo voy a hacer quiero que sea para ayudar a las personas que lo necesiten.Tratar de convencerlos que no importa las circumstancias tu te mereces ser feliz.<br />
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Por eso es tan importante hacer todo a mi alcance para asegurarme de que mis hijos tengan la vida que se merecen, quiero que se sientan que son importantes, que nadie tiene el derecho destrozar sus sueños o hacerles daño físico o emocional.<br />
¿Por qué ultramaratón o escalar? Aventura es un verdadero signo de la salud emocional, no tiene otro proposito que por divercion y para sentirse vivos, trata de convencer a una persona que esta deprimida a que quiera correr un maraton. Pero si ellos me ven que tan lejos he llegado desde donde se encuentran espero que se decidan a soñar. <br />
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Así que adelante, que importa, sueña, no permitas que nadie diga que no puedes.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-1881849243646592012011-05-22T22:35:00.000-06:002011-05-22T22:35:12.740-06:00I am IronmanI am so glad i survived Ironman. I had so many doubts about coming to Texas to do my first Ironman, when I registered for it i just sold my house had some extra cash and i was sure i was going to be able to train for it properly, then life happened. <br />
Every race has been less than ideal this year, i decided that since the last two years I was busy doing all the races and climbs to help the charities i had to put my kids needs on the side so now they come first, life is all about balance, while my kids don't expect me to drop everything for them all the time they are times that they do, now is one of those times, recently i have slept little worrying about my kids, Karl's eye condition and Hans strong personality,I get to see their teacher more often than the gym now days, Karl's teachers worry that he is falling behind, while he stands strong saying that they are overreacting that he is doing just fine, Hans teacher has long conversations with me about him been uninterested in class, of course we both know he discovered that girls don't really have the cooties. <br />
So the best thing to do is to let go and work with what I have, running is still my priority so most of the time was spend running, the other available time was to add some biking or swimming, it was very rare to have a week when I had a chance on doing all three sports. <br />
I arrived in Houston with my kids, the reason why I choose Ironman Texas was because my ex husband lives here, sort of, he lives in Tunisia but has a house in Houston so who was going to be looking after my kids was solved, place to stay was also solved and last he could buy all of us tickets with his miles, with limited money this was too hard to resist, also is one of those opportunities that my kids adore, when both parents are at the same time together, something that my kids cherish and my ex and I tolerate, I strongly believe on maintaining a relationship with the father of my kids something that has cause me a share of arguments on my relationships. <br />
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I was very worry about not making the time limit, on the flight I was telling Hans about this but he had a pep talk with me, it is fantastic, Hans was telling me that I could do it, that at least I had to show up and try my hardest, by him voicing those words they would be forever imprinted on his brain, those words had a deep meaning now. I was feeling very confident now until we pass through immigration, as usual the officers wanted to know the reason for a our trip, Ironman, I replied, he looked at me and without smile said," You don't look like an Ironman" I wanted to say a lot of things, that I run ultras and all that but the truth was that I had never done Ironman so that was true,Hans however had something to say "you don't know my mom" that's all he said, Karl had a big grin. I just realized how deeply our bond is and that they are proud of me just like I am of them. Ironman was going to be hard but to teach my kids valuable lessons was very worth it. I know how they will remember me. Go through your pictures, the ones that will remain when you are gone, they will tell your story, how many are of you holding a drink or sitting on the couch? I can tell you that I have very few of those. <br />
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The welcome dinner was different than the usual than ultraraces, you could sense of pride in he room, you belonged to an elite private club. I sat with some strangers, three of us were about to do Ironman for the first time, the rest were veterans, of course the veterans wanted give us advise, the really fit veterans always said, "you will be OK, you have 16hrs to finish, plenty of time" the not so fit ones, the ones that sneaked by more than once had a different view, to them even attempting Ironman you had to prove that you were worthy of calming such title. Talking to one of them in particular, a middle age man on my table, it felt more like and interrogation than a conversation,"So of course you done at least done a half", wow, you must have an incredible coach then if you feel confident that you can finish" "a group to train with? "No?!, why would you think you will have a chance!" by now he was clearly annoyed, middle age who brought a date to the dinner clearly to impress her, judging by his clothes and physique he had more money than athletic abilities. I told him that i run far not caring to chat with him anymore, Mr.CEO was determined to not let it go, I could tell that people around him had to prove themselves to him. Well, how many of your races last for 12hrs." you are right,not many, most of them are over 24hrs, I cant believe that I will be home tonight after ONLY 12 hrs. this will be a treat to me. <br />
Of course i was very intimidated by Ironman but i was not about to let him know of that. <br />
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Race day came, Saturday 5am about 2600 competitors stood at Woodlands Lake for the 2.4 mile swim, because of the water temperature reach the high temperatures they call for a non wetsuit swim but you had the option to use a wetsuit and not be considered for placing of Kona slots, since there was not a fat chance of that happening and I needed all the help in the water i decided to go on the wetsuit corral with about 500 others. I was dreading the swim, i was close to tears when lady standing close to me notice my nervousness and held my hands and said a prayer, then at 7, 10 minutes after the pro start we were off, I stayed behind to avoid been trampled since i knew I was going to be on the back, I alternating from free style and breast stroke,I had tried swimming the distance at my community pool, but things are different, there was some talk this morning at the awards ceremony that the course was probably marked wrong and had been longer than usual, i would not find out about this until the next morning.I tried my best but it seem to go on for ever,as we were coming into the finals stretch I could hear people screaming I thought they were cheering but they were basically telling us to keep going or we would time out, this was going to be a very familiar scenario through the race. I was so glad to be out of the water 2 hrs and 14 minutes later,but now the next part was going to be just as tough,I had not done a ride longer than 60 miles.<br />
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Although they called for thundershowers it was just overcast and no rain, it was still warm but the sun was hiding behind the clouds and I was so thankful, I had a hard time from the begin, my arms ache form the swim and my neck too from cranking my neck to see where I was going on the water, I was already 25 minutes more out of transition that I had originally anticipated so I just suck it out and try to go hard, I kept playing two mantras on my head to overcome the fatigue, " you don't know my mom" and 'I am Ironman" I wanted more than anything to tell my kids that I did it, they believe i could, obviously the distance wasn't going to be an issue but ability was, at the 60 mile turn around and first cut out, i made it with 5 minutes to spare,I did calculations on the speed i was keeping and knew it was going to be tight, I went hard again, every time a looked at the 10 mile markers i had to smile, this was the farthest I had ever gone, I pedaled hard again leaving behind all the excuses that I wanted to give to not come to the race, also behind were the tears that I shed out of frustration the last few months. I reached transition in 8 hrs and 14 minutes with 10 minutes to spare, I was the last one to make it, everybody behind me had either drop out or timed out, I have never work so hard to be allowed to run a marathon, finally things were fine, I knew there was not way i was going to time out anymore, for the first time I relaxed.<br />
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It was almost 6pm but it was still very hot and humid, the course was a 3 loop course with aid stations every mile or so. It seem the whole town was out, it was like been in Boston, the music the people cheering, music everywhere. I want to thank people that make signs for their friends, o runner name Brent had his friends and family go to a lot or trouble to make some amazing ones, " 112 mile bike ride, because 110 would be wimpy" " congratulations, you made it to Ironman, bad news you are now broke" <br />
I was happy to make for some of the lost time, I fell good enough to run, lots of people were walking by now, the heat seemed unbearable, the air stations were offering iced sponges and had hoses out to spray us, in Ironman lingo, the run is the hardest, your quads are thrashed and the body has been pushed to the max and you still have 26 miles to go, is here on the run where I saw lots of people collapse, stumble and drop in front of me, the sounds of sirens was constant through my run, 15hrs 26 minutes total I crossed the finish line and it was the best feeling, made even better by having my kids watch me, I can't tell my kids that they can do anything, I have to show them. <br />
I loved everything about Ironman, the thrilled the fast pace the aura, I don't think that I will be doing an other full unless I train harder, but I can see me doing half's for fun,I like doing to many other things than to focus on just one sport.<br />
I have been wondering many times when I am just to overwhelmed with everything that its time to hang the racing flats, why compete, why not just train that way there is no pressure but races give me the peace i seek, no matter how hard my life gets out there it doesn't matter,we are all equal, no status, no race, no background of course were you place is many times determined by one or all of the factors but at the starting line we are all the same, after crossing the finish line we all win at some level. To me knowing that I am shaping my kids life in a positive way its most valuable than a gold medal.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrYYRElCD6TkbL9o9yqqSLhzuZH78tjPbDlhKRmETgigdRrDA320JN-OWeHMHYZfr2GLxVVESOww5eS7taCFxf60_xVIWVtivRqBerM-UzuoxMJDEqWw9KTb3TK_hqeHK5piGekMJstA/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrYYRElCD6TkbL9o9yqqSLhzuZH78tjPbDlhKRmETgigdRrDA320JN-OWeHMHYZfr2GLxVVESOww5eS7taCFxf60_xVIWVtivRqBerM-UzuoxMJDEqWw9KTb3TK_hqeHK5piGekMJstA/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Estoy feliz de haber sobrevivido Ironman. Tenía tantas dudas acerca de venir a Texas para hacer mi primer Ironman, cuando me registré acaba de vender mi casa tuve algo de dinero extra y como era Septiembre me imagine que iba a ser capaz de entrenar correctamente, pero la vida nunca sale como la planeamos exactamente.<br />
Cada carrera ha sido menos que ideal de este año, he decidido que, dado que los últimos dos años que estuve ocupado haciendo todas las carreras y escaladas para ayudar a las organizaciones benéficas yo tuve que poner a mis hijos las necesidades en el lado por lo que ahora son lo primero,hay que buscar el equilibrio, mientras que mis hijos no esperan que yo deje todo por ellos todo el tiempo si lo esperan de ves en cuando.Ahora es uno de esos momentos, recientemente he dormido poco preocupada por mis hijos, La vision de Karl y la personalidad fuerte de Hans, ahora voy a la escuala a verme con los maestros de mis dos hijos con más frecuencia que ir al gimnasio, los profesores Karl se preocupan de que se está quedando atrás, mientras él se mantiene firme diciendo que son exageraciones, que el está muy bien, el profesor Hans tiene largas conversaciones conmigo acerca de su desinteresado en clase, por supuesto, los dos sabemos que hay una sola razon esta facinado con el sexo femenil. <br />
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Así que lo mejor que puede hacer es no obesesionar y enfocarme con lo que tengo, correr es mi prioridad sigue siendo así que la mayoría de mi entrenamiendo es correr, el tiempo disponible alterne entre andar en bicicleta o nadar.<br />
Llege a Houston con mis hijos, razón por la cual elegi Ironman de Texas fue porque mi ex marido vive aquí, más o menos, él vive en Túnez, pero tiene una casa en Houston por lo que se no me tuve que preocupar en quien iba a cuidar de mis hijos, el lugar quedarse se resolvió tambien y el último también se podría comprar todos los boletos con sus millas, con el dinero limitado esto era demasiado difícil de resistir.<br />
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Yo estaba muy preocupada por ser eliminada porque me tardaria mas de el tiempo designado, en el vuelo le decía Hans que que me preocupaba mucho eso, lo fantástico, Hans me decía que yo podía hacerlo, que por lo menos tenia que intentarlo, estoy seguro que esas palabras quedaron tatuadas en su cerebro,esas palabras tienen ahora un significado mas profundo profundo para el,al pasar immigracion, como de costumbre, los oficiales querían saber la razón de nuestro viaje, cuando dije al agente de immigracion que venia a Houston para hacer Ironman , el oficial me dijo, "No te ves como un Ironman" Quería decir muchas cosas, que yo hago ultras y todo eso pero la verdad es que yo hasta ahora no hecho el Ironman eso es cierto, sin embargo, en cambio Hans no se quedo callado "usted no conoce a mi mamá" eso es todo lo que dijo, Karl tenia una gran sonrisa. Me di cuenta de cuán profundamente el vínculo entre mis hijos y yo y que se sienten orgullosos de mí como yo soy de éllos. Ironman iba a ser difícil, pero enseñar a mis hijos lecciones valiosas vale la pena el intentarlo. Yo sé cómo se me va a recordar. a traves de imágenes, cuando ya no estemos,esas imagines van a contar tu historia, ¿cuántos de ustedes tienen mas fotos donde están sosteniendo una copa o sentados en el sofá? te puedo decir que tengo muy pocos de esas.<br />
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La cena de bienvenida fue diferente a la habitual de ultramaratones, se palpaba el sentimiento de orgullo por él ambiente, el sentido de pertenecer a un club privado. Me senté con unos desconocidos, tres de nosotros pretendiamos hacer el Ironman por primera vez, el resto eran veteranos, por supuesto,los veteranos nos aconsejaban. los que se veian que eran muy buenos me decia, "usted va a estar bien, usted tiene 16hrs para acompletarlo un montón de tiempo" los no tan buena condicion daban un punto de vista diferente, para intentar siquiera Ironman tienes que demostrar que eran dignos de perseguir ese título. Hablando con uno de ellos, en particular, un hombre de mediana edad en mi mesa, fue como un interrogatorio que una conversación, "?Así que, por supuesto, has hecho por lo menos el medio Ironman?", wow, debes tener un entrenador increíble si crees que puedes acabarlo ",?"¿No?!, ¿Por qué cree que vas a poder!" se le notaba que estaba molesto por mi arrogancia, Mi compañero de mesa, era de edad mediana y trajo a su novia nueva a la cena obviamente para impresionarla, a juzgar por sus ropas y el físico el tenía más dinero que las habilidades atléticas. Solo le dije que como estoy acostumbrada a correr ucho a la mejor eso me ayudaria. La verdad es que ya no tenia paciencia para esa platica pero el señor Presidente estaba decidido a no dejar la conversasion asi, se nota que el ha de ser duro con sus empleados y demandar lo mejor siempre. Bueno, ¿cuántos de sus últimas carreras han sido de mas de 12 horas. "Tienes razón, no muchas, la mayoría de ellas son de más de 24 horas, no puedo creer que voy a estar en casa esta noche después de solamente 12 horas. Esto será un placer para mí.<br />
Por supuesto yo estaba nerviosa por el Ironman, pero no le queria dar el gusto.<br />
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el sábado 05 a.m. cerca de 2700 competidores, 265 de ellos de Mexico, nos reunimos en el Lago Woodlands para nadar los 3.8 kilometros , debido a la altas temperaturas si querias calificar a Kona o querias ganar el uso de traje de neopreno no era permitido, pero que tenía la opción de utilizar un traje de neopreno ,ya que no había una posibilidad de que yo calificara para Kona o que ganara decidi por usar my traje nepreno ya que necesitaba toda la ayuda en el agua. Yo estaba temiendo la nadada, yo estaba a punto de llorar cuando una señora que estaba cerca de mi se dio cuenta de mi nerviosismo y me cogió las manos y dijo una oración para las dos, a las 7 e la manaña la carrera empezo yo me quedé atras a proposito para evitar ser pisoteada,yo había tratado de nadar la distancia en mi piscina comunitaria, pero las cosas son diferentes, las corrientes, y miles de otros nadadores que te rodea. Despues me entere que esta manaña que hubo una discusion que tal vez la distancia habia sido mas larga de lo que deberia ser. Yo por supuesto no sabia esto todavia, la verdad que me tomo michiso mas de lo que yo habia anticipado. Cuando entramos en el tramo final yo podía oír los gritos pensé que estaban saludando, pero los gritos eran mas bien porque si no nos apurabamos el tiempo se nos acababa y no nos dejarian seguir.Eso me paso much durante la carrera. Yo estaba tan contenta cuando por fin sali del agua 2 hras y 14 minutos despues, pero ahora la siguiente parte iba a ser tan difícil, yo no había hecho un viaje más largo de 90 kilometros.<br />
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A pesar de que el pronostico habia dicho lluvias, termino no lloviendo solo estuvo nublado,hacia calor pero nada comparado para las temeraturas regulares de Houston en este tiempo. pero el sol se escondía detrás de las nubes y yo estaba tan agradecida, al principio se me difculto mucho me de dolian los brazos por la nadada tan larga, en la bicicleta tuve dos mantras en mi cabeza para superar la fatiga "usted no conoce a mi mamá "y" Yo soy Ironman "Quería más que nada para decirles a mis hijos que so lo termine. alrededor de el kilometro 96 se encontraba el primer corte si no llegabas ahi para antes de 1:40 te mandaban a casa, ahi me di cuenta que para hacer los 179 kilometros completos en el tiempo que decian tenia que darle duro, cada vez que miraba a los 10 marcadores de milla tuve que sonreír, cada kilometro despues de los 90 era mar lejos de lo que siempre habia hido en bicicleta, como que con cada pedaleada dejaba atrás todas las excusas que pensaba al por que no deberia de venir a Ironman, también deje etrás de las lágrimas que he derramado por la frustración de los últimos meses. llegué a la transición con 10 minutos de sobra, yo fui la última en salir de la transision 2 hacia la corrida de maraton, ahora por primera vez me relajé, pro fin no tenia que preocuparme por ser la mas lenta.<br />
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Eran casi las seis, pero todavía estaba haciendo mucho calor y estaba muy húmedo, habia areas para tomar agua y gels en cada kilómetro más o menos. Parecia quetodo el pueblo habia venido a celebrar,la gente animando, música por todas partes. <br />
Yo estaba feliz de que por fin podia recuperar parte del tiempo perdido, me senti bien y decidi correr, ahora si mucha gente tenia dificultad, el calor era insoportable,en las estaciones de ayuda estaban ofreciendo esponjas con agua helada y tenía mangueras para rociar a nosotros, bien dicen que la etapa mas dificil de Ironman es en el maraton. Tus piernas ya no dan masy el cuerpo has sido empujado al máximo y aún tienes 42 kilometros por recorrer, es aquí donde vi un montón de gente tropezar y caer delante de mí, los sonidos de las sirenas de las ambulancias se escucharon constante, cruzando la meta fue la mejor sensación, aún mejor por tener a mis hijos ahi, El decir a un hijo que confie en si mismo no es tan eficaz que el mostrarselo, hechos no palabras.<br />
Me encantó todo acerca de Ironman, no se si podre darme el lujo de hacer otro, la vedad es que la unica forma seria si o dejara los otros deportes y me dedicara nomas a ese y no se si quiero, a mi me encant ala aventura tengo corazon de gitana.<br />
Estoys ultimos meses me he preguntado mas de una vez el porque todavia pongo tanto esfuerso en participar en eventos como el Ironman ¿por qué competir, ¿por qué no solo entrenar y no competir de esa manera no hay presión, pero las carreras me dan la paz que busco, sin importar lo duro de mi la vida es, no importa, cuando llego a una carrera a competir cuando estoy parada esperando que comienze en ese momento todos somos iguales, no importa las clases sociales, no importa la raza, ni nada, por supuesto que al cruzar la meta ahi es donde se nota la diferencia pero la verdad después de cruzar la línea de meta ganamos todos en algún nivel. Para mí saber que estoy unfluenciando a mis hijos de una manera positiva su más valioso que una medalla de oro.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-39021622154596480222011-05-08T23:53:00.001-06:002011-05-09T00:10:09.156-06:00“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.”Lionel HamptonIs so hard to write right now, I am for the first time having a hard time explaining my feelings. <a href="http://www.oprah.com/own-extraordinary-moms/Web-Exclusive-Norma-Bastidas-Takes-On-Seven-Summits">Extraordinary Moms</a> aired today. There are so many thoughts racing on my head. I never anticipated that we were going to be showcased with the likes of Christina Amanpour, Hilary Clinton and Rossy O'Donnell, been associated to Oprah Winfrey is enough to want to pinch yourself, been attached to all the amazing women featured it made me feel like "Why me?" <br />
I have always know that there is no such a thing as an act without consequences,sooner or later you will have to face them. I try to live my life the way i believe is right for me, i refuse to believe that there is not going to be a cure for my son Karl, i need that if i am to kiss my son every day, to me doing what i do is no different than any mother would do for their child. <br />
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What Extraordinary Moms did and allow me to reach wider audience to hopefully inspire more people to dream harder and work together to find a cure. To convince more people of what i have already known, <i>nothing is impossible</i>. <br />
One incredibly surprise was to learn that when the news arrived to my hometown, it was received with ecstasy and they want me to come to Sinaloa to speak to local schools, it seems that somebody from the Governor's office read my comments about me wanting to inspire kids to stay in school, to not choose a life of crime, when i heard that it was probably the most emotional moment for me, this is incredible in many levels, to be able to save even one child of a terrible fate will mean that my life is that more meaningful, after all, i was one of those kids, i am forever grateful for the insight of knowing that shortcuts eventually end in tragedy, that though hard work and the stubbornness to not quit it was were i would find a way out poverty. <br />
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The negative side of such exposure thankfully was small, and it came on the form of having to listen the advise of well intended people who thought that i should somehow turn this into a cash cow, it was very frustrating, I know that we all need money and if i could find money without compromising what i am about it would mean that i would better focus on my cause, finding a cure and helping others live the life they were mean to live. I believe that as long as i work hard on those things everything will be OK. I would love nothing more that to have my house paid off, but if i put that on top of my list unfortunately that means that finding a cure would be second or even third because with making money comes pleasing your boss. That is the reason why i try to fund my own expeditions as much as i can. Is frustrating for a lot of people close to me to know that I am choosing this, that if I wanted i could make my life easier but that would mean choosing different paths. <br />
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I am aware of the consequences and how it affects everybody, it is hard, the plan is to continue working hard to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes and when is not possible to fund my own expeditions work hard to be better at the sport I am choosing a level that i am recognized for my athletic abilities to attract sponsors that way, this is extremely hard given my physical limitations that i cant change such as age and ability and also given that i still have my kids full time and they always come first but i am sure going to work hard to try to accomplish that. <br />
Sacrifices mean that until i find a flexible well paid job, i take whatever i can get to supplement my income, and sometimes that might even mean cleaning homes, i have never felt that i am above anything but it was hard to go back and start form the bottom after reaching management level, i particularly remember bringing my youngest son Hans to one of the homes because he was sick and didn't go to school, it turned out the house was one of his classmates, a girl in his class, i could see he was embarrassed, he sat in the front porch and i gently teased him that if i found a note that read " I love Hans" tucked in her room i was sure to let him know, that made him smile but I am also aware that I am also teaching him something positive, he will forever respect anybody no matter what their status is. <br />
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My own embarrassment lasted even less, what ever felt the first day i cleaned a strangers home is nothing compare to the pain i feel when i hear my son ask me what's for dinner <i>while</i> he is looking at the plate, mash potatoes, perogies, pasta, ravioli they all look the same mass to his eyes.Or when he asks me which bottle among all the ones on the bathroom is the hand soap because unknowingly i kept buying different brands of soap depending on what was on sale. That stabs me in the heart deeply, the pain sharpest i have ever felt in my life. I am thankful for been able to experience it fully, for the sharp awareness, that is what fuels the desire to wake up every day with a purpose beyond wanting a better car or neighborhood.<br />
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So is maddening when somebody suggests that if i work on polishing my speech i could even have a career as a public speaker, this is about my son about dedicating my life to making his and anybody else like him that is vulnerable a better world, if i improve naturally in the process i am ok, but i refuse to stand in front of the mirror to practice, i want my heart to always speak first. One even suggested that Karl might be getting a big big to have his mother advocating for him, imagine that person facing <a href="http://www.teamhoyt.com/">Dick Hoyt</a> and telling him that his son Rick might be getting a bit to big to be carried around on a stroller, there is no more powerful bond than a parent-child bond and no matter how old my kids are I will always be their mother. <br />
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So i don't expect the road to get any easier, I am here for my kids, make no mistake, when the last article is shelved i will still be waking up early to make sure that i am doing everything i can for them. That's OK with me, i cant imagine a better life than the one I already have. <br />
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Español<br />
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Es tan difícil de escribir ahora mismo, estoy por primera vez, tengo dificultad para explicar mis sentimientos.Hoy salió al aire el documental Madres Extraordinarias. Hay tantos pensamientos de que me pasan por la cabeza. Yo nunca hubieran imaginado que ibamos a formar parte de de ese grupo que incluia celebridades con la talla de Christina Amanpour, Hilary Clinton y O'Donnell Rossy, con el solo echo de ser asociado con Oprah Winfrey es suficiente como para querer pellizcarse, pero que nos hayan incluido en ese grupo de todas esas mujeres increíbles me hizo sentir como "¿Por qué yo?"<br />
Siempre he sabido que no hay tal cosa como un acto sin consecuencias, tarde o temprano tendrás que enfrentarte a ellos. Trato de vivir mi vida como creo que es correcto para mí, me niego a creer que no vallan a encontrar una cura para mi hijo Carlos, necesito pensar asi para poder besar a mi hijo todos los días y no llorar de dolor, para mí hacer lo que que hago no es diferente que cualquier madre haría por su hijo.<br />
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Lo que el documental hizo fue permitirme llegar a un público más amplio para inspirar esperanza a más gente a soñar más y trabajar juntos para encontrar una cura. Para convencer a más gente de lo que tengo yo ya se, que nada es imposible.<br />
Una increíble sorpresa fue aprender que cuando las noticias llego a mi ciudad natal, fue recibida con con fervor y quieren que yo vaya a Sinaloa para hablar con las escuelas locales, parece que alguien de la oficina del gobernador ha leido mis comentarios acerca de mi deseo de inspirar a a los niños a permanecer en la escuela, para no elijan una vida de delincuencia, cuando me enteré de eso, ese fue probablemente el momento más emotivo para mí, esto es increíble en muchos niveles, el poder salvar a un niño de ese terrible destino significa que mi vida es más sentido, después de todo, yo no fui mu diferente a ellos, estoy eternamente agradecido por haber tenido la sabiduria de que tomar los caminos faciles no llevan al bien, que es con el trabajo duro y el no darse a rendir al final es lo que tra mas satisfaccion. <br />
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El lado negativo de dicha exposición por suerte era menor, y llegó en la forma de tener que escuchar los consejos de personas bien intencionadas que pensaban que yo de alguna manera debe convertir esto en una mina de oro, fue muy frustrante, ya sé que todos necesitamos dinero y si pudiera encontrar el dinero sin poner en lo que estoy en ello significaría que mejor se centraría en mi causa, la búsqueda de una cura y ayudar a otros a vivir la vida que se significa vivir. Yo creo que mientras yo trabajo duro en las cosas todo va a estar bien. Me gustaría nada más que para tener mi casa, dio sus frutos, pero si pongo que en la parte superior de mi lista por desgracia eso significa que la búsqueda de una cura sería el segundo o tercer incluso porque con lo que el dinero viene complacer a su jefe. Esa es la razón por la cual trato de fondo de mis propias expediciones tanto como puedo.<br />
Soy consciente de las consecuencias y cómo afecta a todo el mundo, es difícil, el plan es seguir trabajando duro para crear conciencia y recaudar fondos para causas nobles y cuando no es posible financiar mis propias expediciones trabajar duro para criar a un nivel que estoy reconocido por mi capacidad atlética para atraer a patrocinadores de esa manera, esto es extremadamente difícil dadas mis limitaciones físicas que yo no puedo cambiar, como la edad y capacidad, y también teniendo en cuenta que todavía tengo a mis hijos a tiempo completo y siempre son lo primero, pero estoy seguro va a trabajar duro para tratar de lograr eso. Claro que lo mas frustante para cierta gente es verme batallar sabiendo que si dejo todo esto atraz puedo conceguir mas dinero. Pero yo se que en mi corazon no podria ser feliz asi nunca mas. <br />
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Sacrificios significa que hasta que encuentre un trabajo flexible que page bien, tomo todo lo que me ayude a pagar mis gastos, ya veces incluso he limpiado casa ajenas, yo no me siento que estoy por encima de ese tipo de trabajo, pero es dificil haceo despues de haber llegado a un puesto de gerencia, me acuerdo especialmente de un dia que me toco llevar a mi hijo más pequeño Hans a una de las casas porque estaba enfermo y porque no fue a la escuela, resultó que la casa era uno de sus compañeritas de clase, yo podría ver que él estaba avergonzado, pero también soy consciente de que cambia para siempre de una manera positiva, que siempre respetará a todos de ahora en adelante, no importa cuál sera su situación economica.<br />
Mi vergüenza propia no es nada en comparación con el dolor que siento cuando escucho a mi hijo preguntarme qué hay le estoy dando de cenar cuando le ofresco su plato , puré de papas, pastas, todo eso es la misma masa ante sus ojos. Eso me clava en el corazón profundo dolor, el más agudo que he sentido en mi vida. Estoy agradecida por poderlo sentir en carne propia, eso me ayuda a despertar cada día con un propósito mas produndo que el de querer un mejor auto o en mejor vecindario.<br />
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Así que es desesperante cuando alguien sugiere que si yo trabajo en pulir mi imagen talvez hasta podría incluso tener una carrera como figura publica, se trata de mi hijo acerca de dedicar mi vida que él y todos más como él, que estan vulnerables, tengan un mundo mejor, si yo mejoro de forma natural en el proceso eso esta bien, pero me niego a estar delante del espejo para practicando como actriz de televison, yo quiero que mi palabras salgan de mi corazón siempre.<br />
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Así que no espero que el camino va a ser más fácil, estoy aquí por mis hijos, no se equivoquen,aun cuando el último artículo se haya publicado hacerca de mi, yo todavia me despiertare temprano asegurarandome de que estoy haciendo todo lo posible para ellos. Pero yo no puedo imaginar una vida mejor que la que ya tengo.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-74086632301057851012011-04-17T11:45:00.000-06:002011-04-17T11:45:27.044-06:00Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken. ~Robert BraulGot an email from the race organizers welcoming me to<a href="http://www.transalpine-run.com/alps_cross_start.htm"> TransAlsp</a>, it was a great morning waking up to that news. The story of how i got invited is interesting, Bernd Meyer whom I never met has been asking me to be his partner at the race, I declined but he kept emailing me with reasons why i should consider his offer. Better judgment told me not to go, I am not the best at teams, specially the ones required to stay close through the course, mountaineering is different because you are usually walking roped together, behind each other, so even though i am surrounded by people, it still gives me some space. But races like TransRockies and TransAlps, you run together all the way, my problem? there is not escape. i love the solitude of climbing and running long distance,I enjoy going for a run with my best friend Nadia talking and laughing once in a while but is a completely different matter to be out a race for 3 to 5 hrs a day, a week at a time talking. I know where to push her buttons so after a few hours together, i told her something that i knew would get her upset and then she speed off only to wait for me at the checkpoint to cross it together, she never knew why i did it. I cancel on Bernd several times, he likes to talk too so i was very hesitant about it, but something kept telling me that i should consider going, here is an opportunity of a lifetime and i should be taking advantage of it, his sponsors are paying, second, i get more fan mail from Germany that any where else, actually, i only get request for sign pictures from Germany, the first time i showed my sister Muneca the email, I was asking her if she saw a sign of this been a joke, why will anybody want a sign picture of me? Muneca looked at it and said that it looked legit so i send the picture away, then other requests started to arrived. Then i got word that i had made the cover of <a href="www.trail-magazin.de/">Trail Magazing</a> that was all i needed to decide that I should go to TransAlps,so i started focusing on running again i am also working hard at been more of a team player. <br />
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I am well aware of my short comings, just as i am well aware of the consequences. Every act has a consequence, your life is a direct reflection of your priorities. I strongly believe in taking full ownership of my life, it strengthens the commitment to the choices i have made and it helps me decide, some choices are hard to make, we all have choices, when we struggle is when we are making the ones we are forced to make, they are not the ones we want to make. <br />
They are some people that know me well and can tell you that i might be the most unsympathetic person in the world, Nadia gave me for my birthday a "whining" sand clock, not for me but for her, it saved our relationship, she got one minute of release and for me a time when i could just say, OK, time is up. I work harder on two things, either changing the situation or accepting it, there is no middle ground, the word has never made any progress but just having countless of hours of just talking about a problem, now you know why politics is difficult, you have a lot of smart people terrific at identifying a problem but not great at action. <br />
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The problem is not the wasted time, the problem I see if the choices you make while you feel you have no choice. "I might as well just give up and eat myself to death, I am never going to loose weight" <br />
Sometimes acceptance is just patience, contrary to what some people believe, i don't enjoy been single, i dislike the choices i have to make in order for me to be in a relationship, it took me a while to figure out that, yes it was me, it was not until i met Charlie that i realized that. Somebody that believed was right for me didn't workout at all, after we broke up i did almost what an alcoholic does and made amends, contacted some of my past relationships to apologized," sorry remember when I told you that it was really you? sorry, i guess it turned out, it was really me."<br />
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I am well aware that as long as i am committed to the choices that i make, the amount of time i spend training, raising my kids alone, and the involvement with my charities, i have to suck it up and not complain if i spend Saturday nights folding laundry while my kids are out with friends. <br />
Of course this is not an easy thing to do, with every choice there is consequence, i disliked making the call to the charities telling them that i was aborting all future climbs because my fiance needed me and and spending the money in helping him instead, as much as i disliked calling Charlie and telling him that i couldn't do it anymore, they where both equally devastating and it brought criticisms no matter what direction I took, so as usual i had to relay on my judgment to make the decision and made myself ready to face the consequence. Sometimes the choice is made for me, like my involvement with the charities, i get cc'd on every conversation Karl school aid with the visual aids specialist for the school district, like the one below.<br />
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"<blockquote>Can you get speech to text software for Karl's computer? His typing skills are very poor and we believe his eyesight may have deteriorated since school started- he couldn't use it at school so much but he would be able to use it at home for essay writing. It is necessary to 'train' the software to your own voice so he should have some help getting this accomplished?"<br />
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After that email i knew i needed to call Charlie. But i take full ownership of it, i stand by the outcome fully understanding that while, i don't have to be involved on the charities, after all who is going to say is my fault if Karl goes blind but i will have to face it everyday asking myself, did I do everything I could?.<br />
I am working on several things that might bring the quest back, I needed to go back to working so it's taking a bit longer than I would like to but this opens many opportunities to maybe do more and better I hope. So everyday I am still living my life with purpose, when the time comes I want to be ready.<br />
Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken. ~Robert BraulNorma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-46278805326926061022011-04-09T00:14:00.000-06:002011-04-09T00:14:08.327-06:00Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark TwainI been thinking lots about why i persue time consuming and diffuclt paths since really nobody is watching all the time, why not just skip a work out or eat poorly? we have the life that we deserve, happines and kindness attracts that, more happiness and kindness. <br />
I am working on the most difficult job because it has a very superficial angle, yet i work with people sometimes 20 years my senior and i feel right at home, i am very comfortable with who i am.<br />
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There are a few reasons of why living a healthy life is worth it.<br />
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From age 25 to age 30 i wore glasses full time, with time as i took better care of myself, it progressed to only for reading or driving until i stop wearing them al together, in my last eye exam a month ago i was told my vision is 20/20<br />
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I am 43 and turning 44 this year, my skin is healthy and hardly feel the need to wear make up <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq34jicH4rW5citsi-QOZj6Q-qMtwK2CgqnMQIU03gbr6PRCDa3nxN7GFIGdnxetkewGgQyxCcJzXq3vPaZNYYmD1sZiMjBS_bjTxSqWhhD816n2Mji-61WR84syWOLOOmsdYog7pGrUM/s1600/IMG00146-20110408-1636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq34jicH4rW5citsi-QOZj6Q-qMtwK2CgqnMQIU03gbr6PRCDa3nxN7GFIGdnxetkewGgQyxCcJzXq3vPaZNYYmD1sZiMjBS_bjTxSqWhhD816n2Mji-61WR84syWOLOOmsdYog7pGrUM/s400/IMG00146-20110408-1636.jpg" /></a></div><br />
, not Halle Berry but so much better than famous party girl Lindsey Lohan's skin)<br />
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I was dignossed with depressions in my teens and early twenties and had lots of health problems that couldn't be diagnosed, most doctors attibuted it to genetics ( daugter of an alcoholic and raised in poverty), finally one smart Doctor told me that it was my lifestyle that unless i changed it was only getting worse. It has been 20 years since the last time i had to say in bed because of stress or depression, or had to self medicate with alcohol or cigarets, and except for my Mexican temper that shows up once in a while( i am soo not a pushover) i am very happy, genuinely, deep in my core happy.<br />
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I have deep and meaninful relationships with people close to me, my kids, family and friends. Kindness brings internal and external peace while i adore to participate in events that are full of drama or exciting i crave order and peace in my personal relationships, things get chaotic from time to time and they are dealt with when they raised but there is no need to bring anymore chaos into my personal life. <br />
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Is not necessary to make big changes right away, for me it has been a long road to find mysellf here, it started with minor changes then major ones like quitting smoking at age 24 and then drinking. I never did it for health or vanity, it was simply because i was tired of treating myself badly, is in funny we are great at nurturing others but terrible at nurturing ourselves? self compassion is a very difficult thing but is the best gift you can give yourself and to the ones close to you. <br />
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So what is it? <br />
With me started with one word " enough" as in I am enough and i had enough, i am very glad i been journaling since the age of 12 is great to see the progression and also when i was ready i was able to see that sometimes i wasn't kind to myself, maybe i believed that i deserved it but it took one brave day to say enough, of course it was just the beginning, i took many steps back but just as many forward and that is what i needed, to just take the first step to accepting who i was.<br />
So kindness start with you, you can't give what you don't have.<br />
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here is the actual entry of in my journal July 19, 2002 ( coincidentally is the year of my divorce)<br />
"it's almost midnight, the clock is turning to the 19th day and today is the start, the beginning and it all start with a single word, enough.<br />
I had enough of living my life complaining for what i don't have or what it should have been.<br />
I's enough of me waiting for the perfect man, job, or my kids been at a right age to be fully happy and fulfilled.<br />
It's enough with just what the universe has granted me<br />
I am enough. <br />
from this moment i promise to never compromise my life anymore.<br />
I will respect me<br />
I will believe in me<br />
I will not compromise anymore<br />
I will work had to accomplish the things i believe i can<br />
I will not seek an easy way out<br />
I will honor my believes<br />
I will do what i takes.<br />
Because I am worthy of a great life and all i need is he courage to take control of my life again".<br />
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Of course there were days that i cried after that entry but i went back over and over to it and i still do when i find myself at cross roads i go back to remind myself of the things that matter to me and also to avoid making the same mistakes. <br />
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Why am i sharing? i know there are some people out there that are having a hard time right now that need a friend, i want to extend my hand and say the same things i told myself almost 10 years ago, you are worth it, just have the courage to make the changes necessary to have the life that is meant for you, kindness starts with you.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-28407609415178846782011-04-05T13:22:00.000-06:002011-04-05T13:22:18.501-06:00you know you are at Coyote Two Moon when..You know you’re at C2M 2011 when:<br />
10. Your fellow runners are adorning propeller hats, butterfly wings and jungle bells.<br />
9. You receive a free dermabrasion treatment on top of the ridge with your paid entry fee. Courtesy of Mother Nature.<br />
8. Your Race Director is wearing a Pig costume.<br />
7. You’re headlamp is doing no good, cause your breathe is so hot in the cold air you can’t see through it.<br />
6. You reach Howard’s Creek “Love Shack” and are offered Peace, Love and Merlot.<br />
5. The “Rockstar” volunteers offer to help you change your clothes, cause your damn fingers won’t work anymore.<br />
4. There’s a rubber snake on top of the ridge in a blizzard. What the…<br />
3. You find yourself running down Cozy Dell in a pair of platform sneakers made of mud, but don’t remember putting them on.<br />
2. Chicken broth seems like the next best thing since sliced bread.<br />
And the number 1 reason you know you’re at C2M 2011 when:<br />
Every runner, crew and volunteer has returned safely off the mountain.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-3083864448866832352011-03-31T21:03:00.000-06:002011-03-31T21:03:07.435-06:00Coyote 2 Moon- CorrectionsBoy did I get in trouble. I want to clarify somethings about my race report, i hope it didn't come through as a whiner, I just wanted to tell you <i>my</i> experience. Never did I intent to make anybody that organized or volunteered at C2M responsible for what happened. On the contrary, I received plenty of emails from Chris the RD to be prepared for, and I am quoting him, CaCa weather. <br />
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There was a couple of things that Chris called me on, and eventually even cost me to be penalized on the final results.<br />
Is not Coyote 2 Moons but Coyote 2 Moon, no s.<br />
Is not a race but and event, although i disagree with that, I am sure if you are in the back you will think of it as an event if you are in the front you will think is a race. <br />
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The loot bag was <i>not</i> full of irrelevant paraphernalia, although i am still waiting on his response on the meaning on the stir stick from Best Western, two 2009 agendas and pamphlets such as Elvis Presley's impersonator show in Vegas.<br />
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and the most important clarifications was that they <i>were</i> aware of my absence, I think that Chris and everybody involved did an amazing job at getting everybody down from the ridge safely. When i finally was able to find help my main concern was to notify that i was safe, and when I approached a volunteer at an aid station later he told me he had no knowledge that there was any talk of asking about any stranded runner, so there my understanding that they had not realized yet that i was not at any of the 3 operating aid stations on top of the ridge, i was not surprise or anything, given the sudden nature of the weather and the amount of people that needed to be looked after. <br />
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I am sure that everybody is wondering how can i even get lost, I made many mistakes and i was aware of the risks, nothing too dangerous, but I have always respect nature, i knew i was safe, I can run for along time so keeping warm was not a problem but is the outdoors after all and i never take it lightly, the best thing is to thing ahead of what the problems might be, in my case, when I worried is when the wind became to strong and i was worried that if it picked me up and send me flying they will not have found my that easy and if i get hurt and became unable to move that could be trouble. <br />
Rule number one, always know when to turn around.<br />
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I also shared with Chris that I felt fully responsible, i knew i was ill prepared, i was already struggling at the beginning, some people might think that i had no place there but think that i do, i wanted to be there, i will probably never have a life that is optimum for that kind of adventure, by choice, my lifestyle is 100% based on my priorities, I could do more but that would mean that i spend less time doing the things that my kids need from me, is their time now, not mine, in a few more years they will be gone and then i can pursue my passions fully.<br />
But as hard as it will be i still want to participate such events, I have the feeling that my life will always have these kind of obstacles, I lived for my family, but i much rather be there for them and push through a race or a climb than give up on that kind of lifestyle. I am also aware of my limitations so I am careful about not finding myself in a situation where I have to cut my arm to free myself. <br />
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Bottom line, I highly recommend C2M. Coyote 2 Moon is for anybody that is looking for a challenge, elite or not will feel at home.C2M, is a lot of fun but the course is challenging enough for anybody even at the elite level, so don't skip it if you are serious about other well know races like WS.<br />
The volunteers are nicest and most dedicated people I have ever met on an event, I mean, one of them gave me his socks so i could continue, they wanted me to continue as much as I did, they didn't have to care but they did. <br />
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I left the original post, everybody experiences things differently,I want you to read both sides of the story, also it reflect the chaos on my brain that usually happen after something like that, and trust me, this is not the last time you will find me in a chaotic state again, Ironman here I come!Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-76334687047441345702011-03-21T18:26:00.000-06:002011-03-21T18:26:33.688-06:00Coyote 2 Moons race reportWell, this one is for the books. This year’s C2M race is one to remember for anybody that participated. Sat night at midnight the race director cancel the race due to unsafe conditions when a blizzard and high winds. The RD had the daunting task of getting everybody down the ridge safely. Organizers and volunteers were so busy trying to keep the shivering runners warm scattered in 3 different aid stations that nobody realized I was missing, lost and desperately tying to find shelter.<br />
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Pre race activities included an evening of bowling and if you wore the best costume could earn you bonus points, the picnic had us all singing, fail to join in the fun and you earn boner points, it was amazing watching such serous runners like Karl Metltzer so relaxed bowling in a costume just days before that race. Make no mistake; the race is competitive and very challenging. The race package included great quality items such a Patagonia jacket but the majority of the items on the loot bag were useless items such a stir stick from a cheap hotel bar, last year’s calendars, or irrelevant pamphlets from places that aren’t even in the area .<br />
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I started on the M3 group; we start from slowest to fastest with the intention that everybody finishes in a 4hr window. My start time was Friday at midnight, two previous groups first as early as 6pm, while Howard drove to the start and tried to nap for a few hours, I ended up trying to relax back at the room watching my favorite novela Eva Luna .Jack and John kept me company pretending to be interested on the story line when they knew and I knew the only reason why they let me changed the channel was that Latin soap actress are easy on the eye. <br />
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Finally at 11:30 I decided to go to the start line at Thatcher School field, It had been raining already, I was dreading it for many reasons, I was hugely undertrained and the weather forecast was calling for a storm Sunday morning so while I stood there in the rain with 10 other runners in the rain waiting for our start and I was already questioning my decision. As soon as they waved us good-bye and we set off I could feel my excitement increasing and I started forgetting about the rain. I stayed behind with Mark and Ty who insisted on calling me Ramona, it was hard to see with all the fog but it helped that the road was wide enough to run chorus line like and all three head torches complimented each other. I found the course challenging in the way that is hardly ever flat, either straight up or down, but not very technical, at least not the first 50 miles. It was fun running together and howling at the moon, a C2M tradition I am told. The 10.9 mile trail to Sisar Canyon was almost without incident, 100 yards from the air station a creek had spilled over the road and form a pond right in the middle, I slipped and fell getting wet, when I arrived to the CP yelling “ my bike, where is my bike” they looked at me wondering what I was I saying, “I didn’t realized it was a triathlon, I done the swim part now I need my bike.” <br />
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Next was Topa Aid station on mile 17.2, I started falling behind, the chilly night and wet clothes where a horrible combination, again it was a steep climb ,when I arrived I was mildly hypothermic, I was really disappointed that I could potentially drop out so early, thankfully volunteers were kind, they took my clothes and dried them on the bonfire and they sat me on a warm car wrapped in a blanked, in about an hr I was ready to head out again, with drier clothes and volunteer Matt’s socks.<br />
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By the time I was on my way to Rose Valley aid station I could see how far behind I had fallen, I was about two hour behind the group I had been running with, the only good thing was that Canadian Jenn Segger who had started at 3am was smoking the course, Jann is all class, i had the pleasure of going for some Mexican dinner with her and Bruce other Canadian and talented runner. <br />
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By the time I reach Topa Aid station and 32.4 miles later the very fast 100 runners such as Karl Meltzer had reach Topa for the first time and where already on their way to Rose Valley aid station, I had started 10 hrs earlier and in no time were going to pass me. As they went by I looked disappointed said, “ what? I am not going to win it?” One of them yelled as he was passing by,” Remember to hydrate and you just might!”<br />
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Even though it was a bit warmer I was still feeling a bit cold, and by now I had trouble keeping food or drink, out of nowhere the fastest registered female runner who was wearing a hat with a propeller tap me on the shoulder, as it is a C2M tradition, the fastest and slowest runners wear the hat, I had just been passed by the fastest female making me officially the slowest female on the course so I had to wear the hat, great, the only thing worse now I though is that if I got to Ridge Junction Aid station and I found out that my high school reunion was been held there AND my high school crush was still hot and recently single. <br />
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By the time I arrived I was shivering again, I sat there wondering if this time I was going to drop out, I sat there watching the 100K runners who had started Sat morning starting to come through. Again the volunteers went out of their way to warm me up and send me on my way, a few quesadillas later I stood there shivering ready to go when Luis Escobar pronounced “ lets make a vapor barrier out of a garbage bag!” so after 40 minutes wearing a garbage bag and the propeller hat I set out again, “living the dream” I thought. The most amazing thing was that not a single one of us thought “ wait a minute, this is a bad idea, maybe she should just go home” The truth is that while I had been previously been embarrassed because I was so slow, after almost dropping I was determined to finish. <br />
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It was back to Rose Valley Aid Station, by now it was raining again, I must have been a sight when I started descending to the next aid station, “ I know” I said when they smiled when I came around “ hard to believe I am still single” by the time I left the aid station the weather started turning for the worse, I was nervous, I had lost my map when I fell on the creek so I was now relying on course markings on the course and anybody that had participated on C2M, course markings are very few. As the weather turned and night came the last two runners who were behind me passed me, two elite runners who were tracking for a record finish, as they passed me I told them that I was know for my amazing negative splits so they shouldn’t write me off as competition so easily. As they passed they told me to turn right at the top of the road and turn left at the trail marking. By the time I go to the top of the ridge it was storming and I had trouble raising my head to see where I was going. I was worry since I was going to an area that I had not gone yet and was worry about missing the turn, after an hour I decided to turn back to Ridge Junction Aid station that I was sure it was the exact opposite direction. For 4 hours I struggle with the wind and the cold, by now I was desperate to find shelter, I decided to turn back to lower ground because the wind was picking up and I was worry that it was going to blow me off the mountain, I also started to hallucinate, I am sure because of the lack of sleep and dehydration, I saw army men on winter fatigues laying on the ground ready for action, the bushes turned into beasts and fought each other, bus stations, kids jumping rope, alligators, the hallucinations were incredibly detail, also fatigue and the cold was making me sleepy so I sang hard to force my brain to wake up, sadly the first song that came to mind was The Wheels on the Bus.<br />
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What to do? I needed to make a decision, I was still safe but I couldn’t possibly wait for anybody to come and find me, I didn’t know that they had already cancelled the race but it would have been irresponsible if they had allowed the race to continue. At this point I considered calling for help, I always carry my spot satellite for emergencies and I had my cell phone but I didn’t want to endangered the lives of rescuers unless it was absolutely necessary and at this point things were still under control, plus i had absolutely no idea where i was so it was going to take longer for them to find me that for me to find shelter. it would be an incredible irony that I have been in inhospitable places for races but it will be in California where I would be saved from a winter storm.<br />
The one thing I decided to do was to find a road, Rose Valley Aid Station was at the parking lot of the park, I knew the had dismantled the aid station because we were not scheduled to go back but I notice a couple of guys that were camping, they had stood there watching us go through the gate with amusement, I was hoping that they were still there also there was a bathroom that I could use for shelter. As I started to run downhill the snow turned into heavy rain at lower altitude I knew that if the guys were not there I was in serious trouble, there is no such a thing as i couldn't run to save my life, after running over 50 miles i had no problem running hard, if i could only do that at races!<br />
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Fortunately when I got there about 45 min later,I could see two tiny tents, it was almost 1am so they were asleep for sure. For a few seconds I thought about how ridiculous it must look, been awakened by a strange woman wearing a garbage bag and a racing bib. <br />
I told them that I needed help, fortunately Brian and Tony turned out to be Navy officers, they recognized that they needed to act fast, as soon as a stop running I got cold quickly, in a matter of minutes I was slurring my words, the boys took matter as seriously as an official mission.I was out of my clothing again (to clarify I always wear under armor sports underwear that look like biking shorts in case I need to change on a race, but listen to your mother and always wear clean undies) Brian later told me that when I started shaking and my eye rolled back he knew it was serious. They are both trained for medical emergencies so I could not have stumbled upon better help. After a change to dry clothing, water and some food I was feeling better, fatigued but I was still hallucinating so the boys chaperoned me to the race start to notify the RD that I was safe and sound and to pick up my car, then later drove me and my car to my hotel because i was not in driving shape, I am telling you chivalry is not dead, Brian and Tony's wives are very lucky women. <br />
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I arrived to my room close to 2am and my roommates arrived about 30 min later, one by one, Harold, John and Jack were all taking turns with the stories, Harold was showing signs of hypothermia as well, apparently I talked lengthy but made little sense. <br />
The next morning we woke up to the damage, fallen trees everywhere, most of C2M crew vehicles had to be left at the ridge, the roads disappeared on the mud slides and they called a group to volunteer to bring down a radio guy who was unable to get down by himself, I looked at my shoes quickly but Harold was not as fast as I was and ended up helping bring him down. <br />
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Overall, there were no serious injuries, amazing considering that there were about 100 participants and some of them where caught by the storm wearing nothing but shorts and singlet. There was talk of this been the last of C2M’s edition since last year weather created havoc as well, not sure I agree with that. Trail races especially ultras always carry a degree of danger, is part of the allure, if I was somebody that didn’t want that kind of risk I would sign for a road race. Besides from the incredible discomfort the fact that I managed to remain calm tells me that this is were I belong, sure there were times while I was running wild to try and find help that I thought, “damn, I need to quit doing this to myself” but I knew that that was not possible anymore, at dinner last night, sharing a bottle of wine with Harold and Jack the talked turned to races that we had done and I could feel my heart rate go up with excitement at the talk of some races that I haven’t done but are on my bucket list, they don’t call it passion for nothing. <br />
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“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Helen Keller.Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-42043766258812806572011-03-15T22:05:00.000-06:002011-03-15T22:05:30.340-06:00Dream bigIn a few days I will be running <a href="http://coyotetwomoon.com/">Coyote 2 Moons</a>. I am unreasonably nervous, i couldn't put it into words, the dreading feeling, until I had a conversation with Jack who is generously helping me with the logistics and letting me crash at his hotel room floor " if you find space" apparently i am not the only ultrarunner wanting to save money. He was asking me about my reluctance and I realized I felt like a plane crash survivor, I was feeling guilty for wanting to continue with my life knowing that Charlie is not free. Yes, I had nothing to do with it yet I feel terribly guilty. I have wanted to just lay low and work at a Starbucks for a while but it seems I am not good at it. It seems crazy after I yelled to the world that I wanted to do something about my son's condition how could I back away now? the great thing about taking some time off to sort things out was that it was a wonderful time to take care of the things that where neglected, having moved to Vancouver proved to be right,as hard and time consuming as it turned out to be, my kids could not be happier or healthier, I get to see my sister Muneca everyday and her family, scheduling things with her help is so much easier that I wonder how did I ever do without her. like now, I just get to leave and she takes over until my ex-husband comes to town for the kids for spring break.<br />
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Once I made up my mind I could feel the excitement building up, in a few days I will be with some awesome people that I have never met on an amazing adventure, the joys, the pain I will savour it all. <br />
I am starting a series call dream big, I want my life back, all of it, I am going to stand tall and admit that I want more from life and I am not afraid to go for it. I am fortunate to be given the opportunity to live this life, a life of adventure that I have learned to love and refusing it will be ungrateful to the universe that had so generously offered to me in the first place. <br />
I can see my life clearly, I will probably not die wealthy I like love my family too much to watch my bank account get bigger and them struggle ,I find it weird that some people just write a check to a charity get a tax receipt and dont really take the time to see if there is a niece who can't afford school tuition or a sibling who lost a job, I might not have a big bank account when I die but I will die as someone who lived fully and I hope my kids follow suit.<br />
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For C2M surviving will be the main plan, I haven't run 100 miles without stopping since Iron Horse Ultra in 2009 so it will be smart to stay conservative and see what happens. Howard is in my start group and I will be shadowing him all the way, Howard finish shy of 30hrs last year and he said it was hard. <br />
I am starting to stay awake at night dreaming of what else I want to accomplish, it feels so good to have dreams and goals again.<br />
So my question to you is, if I gave you permission to dream big what will it be?<br />
"Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined."- Henry David ThoreauNorma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-84547508600052110472011-03-01T02:42:00.000-07:002011-03-01T02:42:36.919-07:00Coyote 2 Moons part 1I close my eyes and think, when i open them i am afraid to think again. So many things going though my head. I didn't think this was important to share, even i get tired of me, but if i don't write i will not go to sleep and i am tired.. I am still trying to figure out if i should go to Coyote 2 Moons or not. I been working hard to find a balance,is not easy, after all the last few years have been all about extremes. I am trying to be responsible and be home more for my kids, and it;s working, grades are going up and the house is livable even if i die a little everyday looking at the world continue, mountains to be conquered,races to be run, but i truly believe that things can happen i just have to be patient. It will be a tragedy if i become in love of trying to save the world and forget about my kids dreams, right now the most important thing for me is to make sure my kids dreams and hopes do come true, just like any other parent on an endless schedule driving to and from lessons and homework. My kids are happy, I count the days until my next race, or continuously day dream about my next adventure, I am so grateful for that, not sure what i would do if i didn't have that.<br />
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Today I found out i failed part of my final, not to worry she said, the truth is that with so much going on is no surprise, taking classes, training, kids and constantly traveling to see Charlie was difficult for me to concentrate on my classes and had to postpone quite a few to accommodate my trips to the USA, since i broke my hand and the programs had to be written by hand i had to wait until the last minute to submit them and they were not my best job, but i had to submit them and i missed several key parts of the programs, and now it might be to late the deadline to get it done has past, i can do a better job for sure but i have to start all over again since there is a time limit to finish the program. Sometimes I feel like my life is one giant game of chutes and ladders. After the call I sat on the car thinking, "What happened?"" I even had my wedding dress picked" I know that true life is for better or for worse but i have seen plenty of for worse, i am so ready for the better part. <br />
Is no use trying to quit, i have tried before and i just delay things, I quit acting before when i found myself stressed and unable to manage the pressure of such industry, i have tried to reinvent myself many times over, to take college classes, to try to be taken seriously but i should never worry about what other people think and I should have follow my passion. Here I am now, working as an actor again, i think is ironic that i didn't think that i was pretty enough to be in the industry, and now i found myself nocking on doors and having the very same door that i closed before opening, now that my hair is going grey and the wrinkles stay even after i have stopped smiling. <br />
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But i guess maybe i needed to take a long detour, so i could be ready for my life. The wonderful thing about been older is that i completely refuse to quit, I want this life so badly that i am willing to wait for as long as necessary, more than the acting, adventure is where i feel at home, so yes, i am not sure how i will manage but i will make it to Coyote 2 Moons 100 mile ultra and ironman, Tx and i will also ride across Canada this summer, life owes me that, I am a good mother and i deserve to do the things that are positive and make me happy. After all is for my kids own good, the reason why they are dreaming big is because they feel safe at home, safe to dream big and nobody will laugh at their dreams no matter how unattainable they might seem. <br />
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So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.<br />
Christopher ReeveNorma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662871382947727663.post-71639676085421556182011-02-10T11:05:00.000-07:002011-02-10T11:05:02.333-07:00USA v Charles R. EngleWell, i guess now since sentencing happen, we are all allowed to talk about Charlie's case, I decided to post Charlie's dad's letter since there is nobody more passionate about the case than his dad, as a parent i can relate that a parent will do anything if he or she feels that a child has been treated unfairly.<br />
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This will be the last time i will make reference about the case, I decided to post it since Anonymous is determined to tell us all how wrong Charlie was, let me say something, i sat thought the trial and listen to all the evidence and not once did i feel any different about Charlie, we have our problems but they were never about how i think he handle this situation. <br />
Also there is a great documentary regarding the housing crisis <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/28892719/">CNBC House of Cards.</a> <br />
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"Ref: USA v Charles R. Engle<br />
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia<br />
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Judge: Jerome B. Friedman<br />
Prosecutor: Joe Kosky<br />
Defendant: Charlie Engle (Charles R. Engle, Jr.)<br />
US Government, IRS, Criminal Investigation: Robert Wayne Nordlander<br />
Nordlander’s Supervisor: David Kalil<br />
Kalil’s boss in Charlotte, NC: Jeannine Hammett<br />
Hammett’s boss: Michael Thomas, Director of Field Operations for the Southeast Region<br />
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This trial began September 28, 2010. Sentencing took place on January 10, 2011.<br />
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There were 15 Counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, false statements to banks, and money laundering lodged against Charlie Engle. The United States dropped one count of providing false information to HSBC Bank before the trial started. The Jury found Charlie not guilty on the other count of providing false information to Shore Bank of Cape Charles, VA. The Jury found Charlie not guilty of money laundering. The bulk of the charges which resulted in guilty verdicts (12 Counts) involved faxes and Federal Express regarding loan applications and settlement papers. As a layman, I remain confused as to how one can be found not guilty of providing false information to the banks named in the Indictment, yet be found guilty of fraud. <br />
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It is important to note here that there were no Counts involving tax issues even though this was an IRS tax investigation. Indeed, this whole sordid affair started as a tax evasion investigation by Robert Nordlander, whom we consider to be a rogue IRS agent, but the United States Government was not able to find any tax code violations. They used what they called a “confession” by Charlie to start an investigation into bank fraud. The “confession” was not a confession. It was a statement regarding two stated income loans which Charlie obtained. Charlie was never advised by any lender that he was getting a stated income loan. This alleged confession to an IRS Undercover Agent took place four years after the loans for Yarmouth and Mason Street were obtained, and represented Charlie’s description of what he came to learn later was his involvement in a couple of “liar’s loans”, and his knowledge that his loan broker attributed a $400,000 annual income to him when the loan broker knew very well that Charlie did not earn $400,000. The Government asked everyone to believe that Charlie confessed to getting liar’s loans, when neither lender testified at trial that they had advised Charlie that he was getting a liar’s loan. Remember, Charlie disclosed all employment information as well as his tax returns to this broker. The Underwriter was a Bank of America company and this company, Impac Funding, had the responsibility to verify Charlie’s assets since this was a SIVA loan (stated income, verify assets). The United States Government knew very well that Impac did not verify assets and other material requirements for the underwriting of this loan. They simply were pushing loans out the door as most of us now know. We had a Judge and Jury who seemed not to know anything about the housing bubble bursting and the subsequent collapse of the mortgage industry due to the subprime lending practices of such banks as Bank of America, through companies such as Impac Funding, and at that time, Countrywide, which later became a Bank of America company. Judge Friedman stated in open court that he had never heard of a Stated Income loan, yet he refused to allow an expert witness to testify as to the lending practices prevalent in 2005-06. These lenders were tasked by the banks with selling these loans and then bundling them into bonds and derivatives for sale to investors, many of whom were foreign entities. Did Kosky, Nordlander, Friedman, Noll, Hammett, or Kalil know anything about what occurred during those 2005-06 days of toxic lending? How could they not? Could they possibly be that uninformed about current events? Together, they convicted what might be the only borrower in the United States of bank fraud regarding Stated Income loans. Charlie’s loans involved no victims. Not one person, other than Charlie Engle, lost money on those loans. He lost almost $100,000 in down payments. He lost the properties and the equity in them. He lost his credit. He lost his means to make a living. He lost his freedom and is going to prison because he got duped into taking two stated income loans on investment properties. Charlie had bought at least 15 properties in his lifetime and made money every time. There were never any issues legally or ethically about these prior purchases and sales. He reported and paid his taxes on all of those transactions. It is an honest way to make a living. The United States Government tried to portray Charlie’s real estate investing as a criminal endeavor. These last two properties, Yarmouth and Mason, turned out to be big losers, for many reasons. Robert W. Nordlander is the main reason for this tragedy. He is a liar and a manipulator. He lied to the Grand Jury, and he lied to the trial jury. He lied to his Supervisors, Kalil and Hammett, and they blessed his lies by okaying his requests for investigation, even after he had to drop tax issues as the basis for his investigation. He used tax evasion as the basis for performing surveillance on Charlie and his friends, for searching Charlie’s garbage, and for impounding Charlie’s mail. What did these efforts turn up? Nothing. So he went back to the well one more time to get an Undercover encounter approved. It is widely known that when there is no evidence of wrongdoing, the next measure for law enforcement is to get a confession, in any way possible. In this case, an agent from Myrtle Beach, Ellen Burrows, was used. I have copies of the confession and copies of the internal IRS memos memorializing the confession. Again, I will say this was not even close to a confession. Nordlander spun the conversation with the Undercover to fit his story. Nordlander’s version of a confession is not only inaccurate, it is intended to deceive. <br />
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There were two properties involved: 3118 Yarmouth, which Charlie acquired through a 1031 Exchange, whereby he exchanged a property he had owned for 7 years for the Yarmouth property. His share of the proceeds from the 1031 Exchange was $66,000, which was paid by Towne Bank to Charlie’s Bank of America account at the time of the closing of the Yarmouth escrow. The other property was a condo located at 115 Mason Street in Cape Charles. Charlie had placed a $5000 deposit two and a half years prior in the form of an “option to purchase” for a fixed price of $250,000 upon completion of the under construction condo. Thus, both properties designated in the Indictment were properties which Charlie had long investment ties to and were in no way impulse or short term purchases (schemes) as the United States Government tried to insinuate. The original Mason Street purchase for the option price of $250,000 was executed by a full documentation loan whereby Charlie provided all documentation requested by Shore Bank and its Underwriter. The United States Government, through the person of IRS agent Robert W. Nordlander, introduced a letter of intended employment and claimed that said letter was falsely concocted and part of a scheme to mislead the bank into making the loan. In fact, if the bank had done its required due diligence, it would have found that the letter, which was written by a colleague of Charlie’s named Robert Coyne, was a 100% accurate description of a venture that was underway and in which Charlie had invested $25,000. It is very important to note that this project was only under way a short time and would not qualify as employment for loan purposes anyway, since two years is required for a chain of employment to get a loan. The lender either knew this or should have known this. This was just more misleading information used to try to bring down Charlie Engle. It worked. None of the lenders did the requisite due diligence on these loans. Unfortunately, Charlie’s attorney was unable to grasp the importance of using the lack of due diligence to impeach the lenders’ testimony and the United States Government worked diligently to paint Charlie as a thief and a liar, when they knew very well that it was not true. Consequently, we were not able to pin down the lenders in the eyes of the jury. For many reasons, we are exploring civil remedies against the lenders at this time. It is also important to note here that the trial jury was less than stellar. That’s all I will say about that at this time.<br />
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This case started, according to Agent Nordlander’s testimony to the Grand Jury and at trial, when he read a newspaper article about Charlie Engle and his athletic exploits as an ultra-marathoner and a top endurance athlete. Nordlander stated that he was curious how a guy like this could earn a living and travel around the world and compete athletically. He stated that he was certain that Charlie was not reporting taxable income in order to support his lifestyle. It turns out that this “lifestyle” theme is somewhat of a fad among US Attorneys’ offices. Neil MacBride, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, an Obama appointee, stated for the press that Charlie “manipulated the mortgage industry” to support his lifestyle; a remark that is totally false and misleading. It is difficult to believe that someone as high up the food chain as MacBride could accuse a single borrower, with no victims, of manipulating the mortgage industry by getting duped into taking a couple of stated income loans. Charlie had never heard of a stated income loan in 2005-06, and the lenders didn’t explain to him what they were or why he was getting one. As a matter of fact, Charlie was fedexed the subject loan applications, which were all filled out by the lenders, and told to return them in a matter of an hour or two, in order to meet the close of escrow deadline. This was part of their scam. Not only did they never review the loans with Charlie, they forced him to sign as much as 50-60 pages of loan docs in a few hours and return them immediately. Charlie never met any of these lenders face to face. These loans had 2/28 ARM’s, resettable every 6 months, based on the LIBOR, and were interest only, starting at 7.5% interest. These loans were so toxic that it wasn’t safe to be in the same room with them. Charlie, nor anyone, could have ever serviced these loans. When the housing market collapsed, because of these kinds of loans, Charlie quickly and wisely defaulted. He would never have been able to make those payments, even though he serviced the Yarmouth loan for almost a year. The condo went from an appraised value of $415,000 in 2006, to $124,000 today, and it is not selling at $124,000. Something is very wrong with those numbers. What really went on with that condo? What does the Government know that they have not revealed? The Yarmouth house went from $555,000 to less than $275,000 today. The Mason Street condo sold in foreclosure for more than Charlie owed, so there was no loss to the bank or anyone. Whoever bought it though has lost a ton by now. The Yarmouth house sold for $292,000, generated a foreclosure loss for B of A of approximately $262,000, an amount which the US Government has asked Charlie to repay. Are they blaming Charlie for the collapse of the housing market? Nordlander writes in an internal IRS memo that Charlie indeed caused the collapse of the US housing market. Yes, I have it in writing. Charlie should not be tasked with paying this loss to a bank which caused this problem to begin with. Has the Government asked any of Bernie Madoff’s victims to pay him back because they stopped paying into his funds?<br />
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This case is an embarrassment to me, to US citizens everywhere, and to the United States Government. They have ruined Charlie Engle’s life. He lost speaking engagement contracts, endorsements, magazine article fees, and so much more. We don’t know why this occurred. Nordlander claims he was just reading his newspaper. Frankly, I don’t believe him. I believe he had another motive and we are looking into that possibility currently. He testified also that if he saw a person driving a nice car, like a Ferrari, he might run the tags, and pull the driver’s tax returns to see if it looked like he could afford such a car. How did we get to this point in the United States of America? Is our Government so morally bankrupt that they have to delve into citizens’ private lives when there is no visible sign of wrongdoing? Actually, sponsors were paying for Charlie’s travels. Nordlander, Kosky, and Neil MacBride hammered Charlie’s lifestyle at every opportunity, and how he was defrauding banks through second mortgages to get money to support his lifestyle. In fact, I have an internal IRS memo from Nordlander to Kalil and Hammett stating that Charlie Engle appeared NOT to be living a “lavish” lifestyle. Notwithstanding that statement, they continued to tell the Grand Jury, the trial jury, and the press that Charlie used unlawfully obtained money to support his lifestyle. This is just not true. They used a journalist/goon named Tim McGlone in Norfolk to spread their propaganda. First he reported erroneously that Charlie took loan money to finance his run across Africa. Elementary fact checking would have proven that to be not true. His most recent contribution to the Government was describing Charlie’s loans as over a million dollars in an article after the sentencing took place. Of course, they counted the Mason Street condo, which was originally purchased for $250,000, and paid off in full on a refinance for $300,000, as $550,000 in purchases. By counting the condo twice, they simply continued the thread of deception which they engaged in from day one. They wanted to use that million dollar figure. At the end, the restitution amount shrunk to $260,000, and that was simply due to default and foreclosure. That property would have lost its value whether it was sold or not sold. All properties lost their values during this time frame.<br />
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Charlie obtained $66,000 from the proceeds of a 1031 Exchange. This was totally legal and the United States Government did not ask Charlie to repay it. The same is true for the $80,000 he received from the “cash out refinance” of the Mason condo. He paid $250,000, with $50,000 down payment originally, and months later refinanced it for $300,000 against an appraisal of $400,000 and withdrew $80,000 in equity. This was perfectly legal. Charlie left even more equity on the table. The transaction was called a “cash out refinance”. There was nothing deceptive about that. Remember, the property was later sold in foreclosure for more than the $300,000 loan amount. The statements by the Government that Charlie took $146,000 from second mortgages was simply not true. There was one second mortgage involved in the three transactions and that was for $111,000 on the Yarmouth property. That $111,000 was a purchase money second mortgage, and went directly to the Seller. Furthermore, the Government, as late as Jan. 10, 2011, at the sentencing was telling the Court that Charlie had caused the banks to lose $405,000. In fact, based on discovery provided by the United States Government before the trial in September, 2010, the Mason condo was sold in foreclosure for $312,000. So why did Nordlander, Kosky, Kalil, and Hammett continue to insist that the banks lost $405,000? I can only surmise that they continued to lie about the numbers in order to confuse the real issue, which was that subprime lending practices had caused the housing bubble to burst, and not individual borrowers who were coerced into taking stated income loans.<br />
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We just found out that Charlie is to report to Beckley, West Virginia, on February 14, 2011. Of course, they wouldn’t send him to Butner, which is about 55 miles from Greensboro. Then he would be able to see his sons and friends regularly. The Government certainly wouldn’t want that. We have no idea why this Prosecutor, Kosky, or the Probation Officer, Jeff Noll, would misrepresent the truth so blatantly and aggressively against someone like Charlie. Noll’s presentencing report was so amateurish as to be embarrassing. It was filled with errors and misstatements of facts. He requested that Charlie serve 47 months in prison. There was a federal sentence handed down in Seattle recently to two individuals who caused the IRS to lose out on $240 million in taxes in a tax shelter scheme. The sentence: 50 months. The question remains: why did these United States Government people want so badly to put Charlie Engle in prison over two stated income loans, and no victims were involved other than Charlie. <br />
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Charlie has helped many, many people get off drugs and alcohol. He is active to this day in that regard. He was instrumental in helping to raise over $6 million for H2O Africa, with the Matt Damon Foundation. Charlie starred in a documentary, Running the Sahara, narrated by Matt Damon. He did this in the middle of this property mess. Yes, he definitely was trying to make some money to support himself and service his debt, including child support payments during this time. He was committed to his sport and he was trying to turn it into a way to make a living. The United States Government repeatedly accused him of trying to make money to pay his child support and living expenses. Since when did that become against the law in the United States of America? Nordlander is someone we understand to a point. Let’s just say he has “shortcomings”, which might explain some forms of envy vis a vis a Charlie Engle, but it doesn’t explain his propensity for lying under oath, which I look forward to disclosing. He should be indicted for perjury. More troubling is how his Supervisors, Kalil and Hammett, justified using a tax investigation to trample on Charlie’s Fourth Amendment and other rights, and to investigate every aspect of his personal life only to toss it aside, and substitute bank fraud because of a conversation with an IRS Undercover in Mimi’s Café in Greensboro, NC. The IRS had everything but a SWAT Team involved in the Undercover operation. They were armed and there were seven or eight of them. They spent over 660 hours admittedly on this investigation at a cost to the taxpayers of probably more that $2 million. I don’t know the real amount. They do. And what is the outcome? Charlie is to spend 21 months in prison and repay Bank of America $262,000 for a default and foreclosure, which is only one of millions caused by the subprime lending practices of banks like B of A. There is nothing else to the case. It was so simple and so void of substance that nobody, including the jury, the Judge, our attorneys, the prosecutor, and the IRS, could understand it. The jury is a topic I will address later.<br />
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One lender is an admitted liar and a felon. He forged his own parents’ signatures on a loan application. Nordlander never mentions his name, which is John J. Hellman, Jr., of Priority Financial, in any internal IRS memos that I can find. One Grand Juror asked Nordlander if the loan officers might be indicted. Nordlander and Kosky deflected the question and no answer appears in the Grand Jury transcript. They clearly avoided making a response to the Grand Juror. This Hellman character has not been sentenced yet. I am watching with great interest to see what he gets for a sentence. To his credit, he did not admit to any scheme with Charlie, since there was none, which is what the Government had charged Charlie with publicly. He simply said that Charlie told him that he was making $32,500 a month, a figure so implausible that it would be comical if the consequences were not so severe. The loan application he wrote for Charlie was revealed by a handwriting expert hired by the US Government to have been initialed apparently “by someone other than” Charlie Engle, and signed by someone who might or might not be Charlie Engle. Would that be reasonable doubt? I have in my possession four other loan application pages signed by John Hellman. All four are clearly signed by different people. This lender was churning out stated income loans, but you won’t learn that from the United States Government. By all rights, all borrowers who received Stated Income loans involving John J. Hellman, Jr., through Priority Financial, or Impac Funding should have been notified that he was under investigation for falsifying income on loans. How many such loans were brokered by Hellman that involved Stated Income loans? The Government withheld this information from the Grand Jury and provided no testimony at trial as to the extent to which Hellman brokered these loans. Why wasn’t Charlie notified that this person was indicted for falsifying Stated Income Loans? The lenders certainly should have notified everyone who received a loan from Priority Financial or any Bank of America company. There are lots of unanswered questions. A big one would be: how many Bank of America/Countrywide/Impac Funding executives have been indicted for subprime lending practices?<br />
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The other loan by Linda Gaskill of Shore Bank in Cape Charles attributed an income of $15,000/month to Charlie. Charlie denies telling her that, but at the same time, Charlie had bank deposits in 2005, the year that loan was applied for, of $247,000, with an income of over $180,000, so there was no falsification anyway. The United States Government lied about that income to the Grand Jury and to the Trial Jury. Thus, there are only two loans in question, because the third loan was a full doc loan which was fully repaid by the refinance. Of the two, we have a forgery on the loan application of one, and the stated income in the proper amount of $180,000 on the other. So how did this happen? When the tax investigation scheme created by Nordlander proved not to be viable, he was probably embarrassed to have wasted so much Government time and money, so he lied to his Supervisor about the tax evasion, in order to bring in the Undercover.<br />
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It is also noteworthy here to clarify the degree to which these lenders went to avoid knowing Charlie’s income. On four occasions, two by Linda Gaskill at Shore Bank, and two by Hellman’s staff at Priority Financial, the lenders had Charlie’s employer at Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, on the telephone to verify Charlie’s employment. They both aggressively made certain to let this person know that they did NOT want to know Charlie’s income. Hellman’s Underwriter even wrote in black and white bold print on a Verification of Employment form which the employer, Rob Davis signed, “NO INCOME NEEDED, THANKS.” Did the United States Government know this? Of course they did. They had a copy of the Verification of Employment form described above. Furthermore, this does not explain why both lenders did not order and read Charlie’s tax returns. He signed 4506 Forms giving both of them permission to access his tax returns. The fact remains that these lenders wanted to be able to put down an income figure necessary to fit the requisite ratios needed by the Underwriters to approve the loans. They assured Charlie that he was already pre-approved and requested that he trust them and just sign and return the forms. Not only did the United States Government know this, the United States Government encouraged these practices by turning a blind eye to all regulation regarding these subprime lenders.<br />
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The fact, though, remains, that those liar’s loans cost Charlie a lot of money and he, and only he, lost money because of them, so what kind of a confession would that be? We will let US public opinion make a determination about this case. I asked Brad Miller, Charlie’s North Carolina Congressman, to monitor the case; not to get involved, but to monitor it. He blew it off. We shall see what others say about this case.<br />
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I have the documentation to back up what I have written in this paper/complaint, particularly regarding Charlie’s innocence of the income falsification charges, which is what the entire case was about. I want to state here that even if Charlie had misstated, exaggerated, or falsified his income, he should not be going to prison. Millions of people were duped into taking stated income loans during 2005-06. It was such a corrupt lending tactic that the US Senate in May, 2010, banned further use of stated income loans. If the US Government arrested all of the people who were duped into falsifying their income on stated income loans during that period of time, the judicial system and the prisons would be full for many, many more years. Anyone who is minimally current regarding the lending/banking/housing crisis knows the role that stated income loans played in the near destruction of the US economy. How then could Judge Friedman, the Jury, Mr. Kosky, Mr. Noll, Nordlander, Mr. Kalil, Ms. Hammett, and US Attorney Neil MacBride have such a low level of awareness regarding the current events now and in 2005-06? The United States is still in economic trouble because of subprime lending practices by banks such as Bank of America. It is appalling that these people could be so ignorant of the facts. I ask again. What was the real reason for the viciousness and mean-spirited IRS lynching of Charlie Engle?<br />
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I am a US Army veteran, having served from 1966-69. I volunteered my services because I thought it was the right thing to do. How proud am I of my Government now?<br />
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Richard Engle"Norma Bastidashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02620882379191195366noreply@blogger.com13