Tuscan Sole

2006-12-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

circa 2004

2006-12-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Under The Tuscan Sun

On The Road

After 5 months of hard-core training and anticipation, Marathon Day finally arrived, Sunday November 26th. I landed in Florence, Italy the Friday before, early in the morning. Well, early for me, 9:30a. My flight left Thanksgiving morning so no Butterball for me. I flew through Chicago and onto Frankfurt, where lo and behold, I connected with three other marathoners, two from Los Angeles and one from Chicago. (The AIDS Marathon Team consisted of runners from LA, Chicago, D.C., and San Francisco.) We shared our training stories, fears, and marathon tips and headed for our "plane" (and I use that term lightly - think crop-duster) for the 1 hour hop to Florence. We arrived to cloudy skies and cold, which did not bode well for the run. Undeterred, we shared a cab to our destination, the Hotel Baglioni. Later that afternoon we met up with the rest of the marathoners who arrived on the group flights.

With one and a half days until D-Day, everyone was excited. I think the Baglioni staff was overwhelmed by our enthusiasm. We were told to take it easy, and not walk around too much or overexert ourselves prior to race day. So, I headed off to the Marathon Expo with my new pal Danny to collect my runner number and race kit. Danny was a seasoned Italy veteran, so he had a feel for Florence and knew exactly where to go. It was all I could do to keep up! We hopped a bus across town to the Expo where we got our gear and checked out the merchandise booths. On our way out, we perused the official list of marathoners posted outside the Expo until we found our names. Yep, we were there - no turning back!

Pre-Race Night - Pasta Anyone?

I began to gather my gear on Saturday. The weather looked awful, dark, menacing rain clouds, a slight wind, and cold, cold, cold. Fortunately, I had brought along multiple layers of running clothes, a bandana, a rain poncho, and three pairs of padded running socks, in addition to my other acoutrements. I did a little sightseeing that afternoon and headed off to the Pasta Party that evening for some carb loading and a little revelry with all the runners. Admittedly I was nervous, so it was good to get a pep talk from the coaches and get some pre-race advice from previous marathoners. The AIDS Marathon staff was phenomenal and they did an excellent job of helping us to get ready both mentally and physically. The partay wrapped up around 9:00p. A few gunners decided to get in a short run that evening, but I declined. It was off to beddy-bye for me, or so I thought.

Marathon Day Arrives

Needless to say, my nerves did not settle and I was up at 1:30a. I think it was a combination of jet lag and anxiety. I tossed and turned and drifted back off around 3:30a. My wake up call came 2 hours later. Breakfast was at 6:30a, and I tried to eat light as having a full stomach weighs me down. But, I also knew I needed the energy for the run so I had a bit more than usual. I ran back upstairs and packed my belt - salty snacks (crackers, pretzels, peanuts), energy gel, energy blocks, kleenex, disposable camera, rain poncho, ibuprofen cream, sunglasses, water bottles with Gatorade, extra socks, and baggies of Gatorade powder for mixing later.

I ran downstairs and outside to the lobby parking lot where there was a sea of yellow AIDS jerseys. Much to our surprise, the cold, ugly weather we had seen had passed. It was cool and just a few clouds in the sky. The race start time was 9:15a and we were meeting up at 7:30a and walking to the staging area. More cheers and good wishes and we were off through the streets of Florence, waking people up with our loud, raucous antics. The staging area was next to the Arno River, so we walked along and got some amazing views.

Once at the staging area we got a look at the "competition" and were in awe. There were scores of elite runners of all ages, creeds, and colors, looking tan, taut and fit, and clothed in various costumes. It was very impressive. Six-thousand runners would be on the course. We picked up our jaws from the ground and scurried over to the porta-potty for a pre-race pee. Once relieved, we had to somehow find our way onto one of the many buses that would take us up the hill to the Piazza Michelangelo, the starting point. This was the most hilarious part of the day. The elite runners were pressing to the front of the line and squeezing onto the first buses that came to the busstop. We were clearly outmatched. So, we called on our secret weapon, Garth, to act as a human battering ram and get us onto a bus. When the third bus came, he sacrificed himself for the team, forced his way to the front, and pressed his body to the door, keeping the wolves at bay. Once the door opened, we pushed on through and barely squeezed in, laughing all the way. It was a scene straight out of a National Lampoon film. Packed like sardines we made it up the hill, and were let out at the Piazza to a beautiful panormic view of Florence. After re-grouping ourselves at the back of the pack, we waited for the start, which came 40 minutes later at 9:08a. And we were off!!

The Run

The sun was shining and the temperature was around 70 degrees. My team, Grete Waitz, stayed together in a pack at the start. We were running downhill the first two miles, through an exclusive neighborhood of small villa looking houses. The residents, which included two adorable 4-foot nuns, were cheering us enthusiastically. Further up the road, the onlookers were cheering "vai, vai, vai." In the heat of the moment we thought they were saying "die, die, die." But, we quickly recalled the coaches telling us that people would be yelling "vai", which means "go!" When we would slow down they would say "quickly, quickly, quickly." There were young and old up that morning, and lots of people cheering us from their balconies and windows in their pajamas and with bed hair and their pets. It was really cute. By the time we hit the bottom of the hill layers of clothes were flying through the air faster than at a half-yearly sale at Nordstrom.

The course was set out in kilometers, so it was difficult trying to calculate distances. The metric system was never my bag. Fortunately, true "mile" markers were set out at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25. Our group separated into subgroups of 4-5 and I ran with team members Garth, Jennifer, and Eliane. We were on pace and feeling good at the beginning. For me, the start is always sluggish and I get my wind about half-way through. I was worried about refreshments, despite all that I packed on my belt, but there was lots of water at the start and a pretty good tasting sports drink. We passed an elderly couple that had set up their own little snack table outside their small store. They had fruit, pastries, and if I remember water. It was touching - they were so excited to do it. We made their day! The loudest yells came from the AIDS Marathon cheerleaders. These were our coaches, friends and family members who had assembled at various points along the course.

My body began to cry out at the half-way point. Most of the course was on pavement, but it was harder and more unstable than back home. I felt my feet begin to tingle with pain, especially the more I slowed down. Not even the bellows from the crowd of "la bella negra" could appease me at that point. So I made the decision to break away from my group. It was hard because I wanted to fight through together with them. But, I knew I had thirteen more miles to go and if I kept slowing down I'd never rev back up and run through the pain. I slowly eased my way forward but kept looking back as often as possible to make sure they were alright. I connected with a group of AIDS Marathoners from D.C. and ran with them for a distance, ultimately ending up running with Danny and Marlena from LA. They too had separated from their group, but due to injury. Danny was suffering from an I.T. band problem and Marlena a knee problem. I ran with them for about three miles and Garth came along as well. We separated off from them, and set ourselves on a manageable pace.

At about mile 18, Garth and I met two AIDS Marathoners from D.C. We struck up a conversation and one of the runners, began shouting to us that we were "heroes, heroes, heroes." We in turn yelled the same thing back to her. But, she kept saying "No, no, you are heroes, thank you, thank you, thank you." At first, I thought we would continue this cat and mouse thing for the next several minutes. Then she shared that she was a 20-year survivor of HIV and that she had lost her sister to AIDS several years back. She fought back tears and wanted us to know how much she appreciated what we were doing and that our efforts were heroic. Garth and I quickly let her know that she was the hero, hands down, and I was touched by her courage. It was an amazing moment. Imagine this woman getting this diagnosis and at that point in time feeling like life was over, there was nothing left. And there she was, 20 years later, running a marathon in Florence, Italy and at the moment we saw her, running down Via Ricasoli past the Galleria dell'Accademia where Michelangelo's masterpiece"David" stood. Short of the emotion of the moment, she looked strong, vibrant, and healthy. In fact she looked like she could hoist me on her shoulders and carry me the last 8 miles! And on any other day I might have asked her to! Meeting her reminded me, once again, why I was running and all thoughts of achy feet and muscles faded away for the time.

The final few miles took us out of the city and into an expansive and breathtaking park. And when I say breathtaking, I mean breathtaking -- all my breath was gone! The park itself was gorgeous, and reminded me of Central Park. By this time, the runners had dwindled and the elite runners were across the finish line, and resting somewhere with their feet kicked up and a bottle of chianti. In the park we were supposed to reach the 20 mile point and it seemed like an eternity before we did. Garth and I separated, and I ran the balance of the course alone. I would encounter runners here and there, but most people by this point had decided to walk it in or go at a nearly walking run pace. The park route was essentially a large U, so as I made my way down the neverending straightaway I knew what was waiting for me on the other side. It was only 3-4 miles but it seemed like every mile I had run up to that point was re-packaged into the park route. I felt like I was on the Bataan Death March, nothing but a long, hot trek before me. To make matters worse, I ran out of water and most of the water stops were depleted. It was really pitiful because the park was so lush and green and I could see myself sprawled out on the grass with a good book on any given day, but I couldn't truly appreciate it. Runners were struggling all around me. By this time of day, around 1:30p, it was much hotter and we were running in direct sunlight. I started to feel dizzy and nauseated, so I knew dehydration was setting in. I beckoned to a passing runner who shared some water with me and I was back in action.

Out of the park, the last miles were seemingly insurmountable and I thought about sitting down on the curb several times. My feets had failed me and were on fire. Oddly, the faster I would run the less they would hurt. It was only when I slowed down that they began to throb. But, it was all I could do to push myself to go faster. An AIDS Marathon coach came up to me and cheered me on, telling me I had 2.5 miles to go. For the record, it was not 2.5 miles. I'll never believe that!! Everytime I turned a corner I would look for the finish line and nada. This went on forever, forever I say. The Italians really stuck it to us at the end. When I did turn that last corner at the Piazza Santa Croce I finally saw the bright, blue, blow-up finish line. Or so I thought. Once I got there, I had to turn another corner onto a red-carpet and the end of this carpet was the true finish line! Nevertheless, I crossed the finish at 5:54 hrs and grabbed my medal.

I'm A Marathoner

I met up with my teammates and we all reflected on our experience and tried to soothe our aching and rapidly tightening muscles. There were many AIDS Marathoners left out on the course. It didn't feel right going back to the hotel, knowing that there were others still out there struggling through, and I recalled how lonely my last 2 miles were. So, a group of us stayed behind and Danny and I walked back out onto the course to encourage those that were making their way in. They were battle weary, but relieved as they meandered back. I saw one guy who had injured his hip and walked with his body tilted to the side, in obvious pain. He crossed the finish line. The marathon staff began to take down the finish line and course markers, and it was getting dark, the crowds and other runners long gone. We had word that there were approximately 10 AIDS Marathoners, out of our original 425, still out there. With the course shutting down and no markers, they had gotten lost. We didn't want them to suffer the indignity of having run all those miles without someone there at the end to cheer them home. So we waited it out, about 15 of us, and set up on the red carpet with signs in the dark. Garth and I were about midway on the carpet and another group was at the finish line with medals they had requested from the marathon staff. The last runners came on through in a blaze of glory from all directions. We feted them and headed off for our long walk back to the hotel with our medals snug around our necks.

With that, it was done. I'm a marathoner. I hobbled around for a few days, popping Tylenol PM and vicoprofen, but the pain was completely gone by Thursday as was the great weather - the Tuscan sun was no more. We had a grand feast at a restaurant called Trattoria 4 Leoni on the Tuesday following the run. The waiter, Marco, grabbed the menus from our hands and set about to create a feast for champions, while setting the mood by playing music by The Doors. The chianti was flowing (finally!), the food exceptional, and the mood was festive, a perfect ending.

One of the coaches sent a post-marathon e-mail with the following quote: "Pain is temporary, but pride lasts a lifetime." I would agree. This was an amazing, amazing experience I will always remember. I'm still shocked by the fact that I, a person who is the epitome of the phrase "non-athlete", the one who detested exercise in all its variations, actually completed a marathon. As I travelled through Italy, I would tell people I had run the marathon and there was instant excitement in their eyes. I felt like a rock star, even with my 5:54hr time!

But the true stars are people like the woman from D.C. and others from our contingent who are fighting a daily battle against AIDS and living their lives to the fullest. Someone told me before I headed over not to let a "fat lady" or "one-legged runner" beat me. And that I should run to win, that I have an ego to protect. But, it was never about any of that for me. I'll catch the Kenyans next time around. I went to be a blessing to others and to be blessed in return by the experience. And I have been blessed many times over. People would also ask me why I was running, if I knew anyone with AIDS. Well, yes I do. I know of millions of people with HIV/AIDS. I know of them all too well. And hopefully, the contribution I've made will help at least one of them "run" another day.

Best,

Rochelle (aka La Bella Negra)

Pictures Galore:

You can see photographs of my running adventure by clicking the following link (once on the page, CLICK "SLIDESHOW" to view them more easily):

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbOGbFw4cN2Low

You can also see photographs of my further misadventures in Italy by clicking on the links below (again, CLICK ON "SLIDESHOW"):

(1) Tuscany (Florence and Cortona [site of my favorite film, "Under The Tuscan Sun"])

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbOGbFw4cN2Lq4

(2) Rome

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbOGbFw4cN2LmI

(3) Venice

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbOGbFw4cN2Lsg

Let me know if you have trouble with any of the links. You can e-mail me at tuscansole@yahoo.com. Enjoy!

2006-11-05T01:29:00.000-08:00

Celebrate Life

Yipes, Its been awhile since I've updated my blog! But, I'm glad to report that things are going very well. I completed what can only be described as the most monumental challenge of the training program. Its called the Celebration Run. And celebrate we did after completing 23 MILES! Yes, I said 23 MILES! It was a long hot 90 degree day, but my team stayed together and there was plenty of water and energy snacks along the course. We ran from Santa Monica High School, to the edge of Marina Del Rey, back along the beach all the way to the edge of Malibu, back onto the beach again and up into Brentwood, and then back to the school. We spotted Captain Awesome and Wonder Woman out on the road and they cheered us on!

But, nothing inspired us more than what was shared before we set off that morning. It was a letter from an AIDS/HIV victim who wanted to tell his story and express his gratitude to AIDS Project Los Angeles for all the services and support they have provided to him in his battle over the years. It was all we needed to remind us why it is that we run and for me, how we should celebrate life no matter our circumstance. Yes, traveling to Italy will obviously be a once in a lifetime for many of us. But, truly, the six months of training and sacrifice, and fundraising efforts, we do gladly and willingly for people like the author of this letter. He is why we run. I've reprinted the letter, as typed, below.

As always, thank you for your support and encouragement. Next stop - Italy!

Best,

Rochelle

********************************

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I have been HIV positive since the first test was available in 1985. I remember going in thinking "If life is fair, I'm a dead man." I was right. When I went in for my results, they told me two things; "you're infectious, and you should get your affairs in order, you probably have 6 - 18 months to live." I thought that would be the most devastating day of my life. Then, like so many others, my closest friends started dying.

I was already an APLA client when I awoke one December morning and thought, Oh my God, I'm going to live, now what? I knew how to get every possible benefit I'd felt entitled to. I even got indignant when I thought I should be getting more. Through all of those years, no matter my attitude, not one person at APLA ever made me feel judged. Thank God, they never told me what they were really thinking! I'd been on disability for a few years already, not using it to any advantage whatsoever. When I decided to change that, I started with APLA.

You guys hooked me up with Voc Rehab. I went back to school for the first time since High School (1981). John Reilly was my first go-to. I must have sat with him 2 or 3 times over the course of almost a year before it finally became safe to consider the possibility of getting off of SSDI and entering the workforce, again. He was so patient and thorough that moving forward became my only option.

Nelson Gomez kept a roof over my head with housing assistance. But he also did more than that. He was constantly reinforcing every little step I took towards Independence. He wasn't subtle about it either. His encouragement often propelled me to take the next step.

I am still a client of the APLA Dental program and intend to be until I don't qualify anymore. You have a great staff over there. They have always made me feel like a Valued customer. I trust them completely! They are patient and caring and my teeth are in great shape because of them.

Jason Roundy was an amazing help when he came into my new job and trained me how to register all of our clients into the new prescription program.

Mr. Thompson, APLA has been the most consistent source of support for services and benefits since the day they opened their doors! APLA has kept up with the changing needs of its clients through all of these years.

I was really afraid of letting go of the security of government assistance for a very long time. I know there are others like me who aren't even aware that a whole second chance at a full life awaits. I'm still in school full time, but I'm also counseling substance abusers with HIV in our community and now find myself sending you clients, myself. Thank you APLA for living up to your word. You have truly been my springboard back to a real life.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

2006-10-20T05:27:00.000-07:00

Head 'Em Up, Move 'Em Out

Alright, its time for me to whip myself back into shape. Sadly, I have fallen off the wagon and I've fallen hard. Landed straight on my bum in fact, as the wagon train pushed on up the trail without me.

It all started back on the praire, oh 20 miles back. Yep, that's the last run I completed way back on October 7th. Not a step since then - no cross-training, no maintenance runs, nada. Sigh. Perhaps I've hit the proverbial wall. Its Broken Down Mountain for this cowgirl.

On the bright side, I'm told that its good for me to get some much needed rest as the Marathon is only 5 weeks away. And my feet have been bothering me. But, I disagree - I think, nay I know, I need to keep my body in condition. So, I've whistled for my pony and tightened up my saddle and I'm headed back out onto the range. Today is the day!!! Its all mental from here.

I've got one more long run on October 28th. Its billed as our celebration run, as we pay homage to all we've accomplished since June. We'll all meet up in Santa Monica to join forces for this challenge. After that, its just the Marathon with a few short recovery runs of less than 10 miles each sprinkled in.

Thank you to all who contributed - with your help I've reached my fundraising goal of $3800.00. Hallelujah! However, any monies I can raise above this would of course be of service to APLA. If you'd like to donate or increase your contribution, the instructions are in my introductory statement (to the left).

Ciao,

Rochelle

2006-10-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

Buon Compleanno (Happy Birthday)!

Its my birthday, its my birthday, gonna partay like its my birthday! Lol! Yes, Saturday, September 30th was the big day - the anniversary of my 21st birthday. And, partay I did but not like you think....or in any way I might share on this blog. What happens on the streets of LA stays on the streets of LA!

For you curious types, I will only say that on that bright, shiny mornin' I partayed with my teammates down the streets of Burbank on a 9-mile jaunt. What a great day it was and we had a blast, celebrating not only my birthday but that of my teammate Garth who had been out of town and finally rejoined us for this run. I thought we had lost him to the east coast forever. We didn't realize how much we had missed him until we were nearly accosted by a rabid bike rider and we heard his familiar, protective bellow -- BIKE!!! Like Pavlov's dog we instinctively and without a moment's thought as to what we were doing, only heeding that rich baritone, shifted to the curb to save ourselves. It was curious how we did so in unison and we all laughed and wondered how we had survived without him these past four weeks.

So, another celebration of the big "21" and another reason to have a celebratory "beverage"...or two. What is that saying about life: each day you get another chance to try all over again. That's what being "21" has done for me, given me hope, happiness, youth and a plethora of second chances. I know I'll get it right one day soon, and then its on to "22." I can't wait to see what's in store for me!

Speaking of the roaring 20s, that's what's on deck for this Saturday -- a cool 20 mile run. Maybe I'll treat myself to Janet's new CD "20 Y.O." as inspiration for the big day and to remind myself where I am in life!

That's it, that's all folks. As a parting gift, here is some quick Italian (courtesy of my handsome APLA program rep, Jared) to try out on friends:

1. Hello – Ciao (pronounced chow)
2. My name is – Mi chiamo (me key-ah-mo)
3. Please – Per favore (pair fah-voray)
4. I don’t understand – Non capisco (known cah-pees-co)
5. Excuse me (to get by) – Permesso (pair-mess-o)
6. Thank you – Grazie (grats-say)
7. Yes – Si
8. No – No
9. Goodbye – Arrivederci (ah-reev-ah-dare-chay)
10. “Yo Momma so Italian she spits meatballs” – Sua Madre è cosí italiana che sputa delle polpette di carne

Arrivederci,

Rochelle

2006-09-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Elite 18

Well, who'd a thunk it! I actually completed an 18-mile run this past weekend. Whoa! I was told by the coaches that if we could complete 18 miles we were pretty much set for makin' it through the marathon. Heck, I guess if you can run 18 what's 8 more! So, I'm feelin' pretty darn proud of myself. :-)

The tricky part this weekend was taking on one of those pesky Griffith Park hills at mile 14. Coupled with the heat, it was pretty tough but not impossible. I had to concentrate on just puttin' one foot in front of the other, no matter how vertical the hill felt and how intensely the sun was burnin' my forehead. Once at the summit, then came the sweet victory of the turn around and descent -- pure nirvana. It felt good to get that run out of the way and I feel closer to being ready for Florence.

As for progress on other fronts, my fundraising deadline came and went on September 22nd. I was able to raise $3050 -- a hearty thank you to all for your support!!

I am a bit shy of my $3800 goal, but I will continue collecting until race day. So, if you'd like to donate you may still do so. Just follow the directions in my blog intro.

ALSO, be sure to stop by the way too cool blog of my fellow Grete Waitz teammate, JR (no, not Ewing!), and offer your support: runnerla4119.blogspot.com. Its all about teamwork and she's got some hilarious outtakes and stories on our runs and news on great events in support of APLA! Check it out!

That's all for now folks!

Rochelle :-)

2006-09-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

CDC Urges Routine AIDS Testing

Today the Center for Disease Control (CDC) urged that people between the ages of 13 and 64 be routinely tested for AIDS. See link to article below.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/09/21/cdc.test.ap/index.html

2006-09-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

Study On AIDS Deaths in NYC

Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060918/ts_nm/aids_deaths_dc

Summary: "An analysis of 68,669 New York City residents infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, found that of those who died between 1999 and 2004, 26.3 percent died of something other than HIV. Cocktails of drugs that suppress the virus have been credited with allowing HIV patients to lead near-normal lives, and once- or twice-a-day dosing now makes them more manageable. Physicians everywhere must remember that most of their HIV-infected patients will survive to develop the diseases that plague the rest of us."

2006-09-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

Easin' On Down The Road

An easy 8 miles this past weekend and no worries. Only the searing pain on the bottom of my feetses as I near the end of the useful life of my trusty ole Asics. I hate to let them go, but its time to switch over to my bright, neon orange Saucony's. The Asics got me through the half-marathon in '04 and halfway through training for this marathon. But, I do not dare use them for the 18 miles we have to run this weekend lest I stumble. Sigh. In memoriam, they will sit atop my office shelf where I will stare at those baby blues fondly.

Yep, 18 miles Saturday. Well, actually Sunday for me as I will be doing Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. A teammate put the distance in perspective this way:

18 miles = 2 roundtrips across the Bay Bridge or 8.75 roundtrips across the Brooklyn Bridge
18 miles = 1-way trip along the 10 from West Covina to Huntington Park
18 miles = 1 roundtrip from Echo Park to Beverly Hills on Sunset Blvd.
18 miles = 6 times around the Rose Bowl (not the just around the Bowl, but around the parking lot, Rose Bowl, and part of the golf course)

A heady task for us all for sure!

Ciao,

Rochelle

2006-09-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

A Soldier's Story

Check out this video of a soldier stationed in Kuwait, tackling a marathon. A true hero many times over.

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=6dd8b9d4e8fbe9c664c9fb9b91882d3e.683520&fr=yvmtf

2006-09-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

CNN AIDS Special

Be sure to watch "Where Have All the Parents Gone" on CNN presents, Saturday, September 23rd @ 8:00 p.m. This program will examine the orphaning of children due to the AIDS epidemic. Its presented by Christiane Amanpour, clearly the best news journalist on television today.

2006-09-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

Grete Waitz...

for no one!

Here we are, in all our splendor, the G-Park Florence Marathoners! Yes, that's me in the rear with the big hair!

My team is one of 16 AIDS Marathon teams training at the park. Our team is named after a famous marathoner.

Here, we are posing after completing our 14 mile run a few weeks ago.

2006-09-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

Sweet 16

Whoa, this one was a bear. I guess this is what is meant by the phrase "turning point"! I had to really fight for this one, as my hips and lower back gave me mucho problemos. Lots of burnin' and achin' towards the end of the run, around miles 12 and 13. But I sloughed on through, snacking on ClifShots and Propel to take my mind off the pain. There was also a gang of handsome young men, running shirtless and lapping me repeatedly, who provided a welcome distraction! That's what I get for slacking off on my maintenance runs during the week. Naughty, naughty, bad, bad. Never again!! I'm told I also need to stop running on my heels and push off on the balls of my feetses.

Thankfully, I can pull it back together since we have an 8-mile recovery run this Saturday. There was the sweet feeling of completing the miles, but then came the realization that I have a lot more work to do. Its off to the gym for this speedy marathoner!

Ciao,

Rochelle

2006-09-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

Fighting AIDS in India

Attached is a link to an article detailing the AIDS fight in India:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060912/hl_nm/aids_india_state_dc_1

2006-09-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

DONATE TODAY!

Only $950 to go to reach my $3800 target!

Fundraising deadline September 22nd!

Help me reach my goal by making your tax-deductible donation today.

Donate in one of two ways:

ONLINE: You can make a donation by visiting the Training Program's website at http://www.aidsmarathon.com. Once on the site, simply click on "Sponsor A Runner." My training site is Los Angeles , so click there, and my runner number is 4606;

OR,

BY MAIL: Submit a pre-printed donor form. I can send the form to you by e-mail or snail mail. Just post a comment to this message by clicking "Comments" and provide your address.

Thanks for your support!

Rochelle

2006-09-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

Motorin' Along

All is well on the road to Florence. Another breezy recovery run of 7 miles this past weekend, so no worries. Looking forward to this weekend when we take a leisurely jog of 16 miles. I'll be replacing my shoes tomorrow and switching to a fresh pair of Asics, which I hope to break in somewhat before Saturday. The heat has returned, and unfortunately we're setting out late at 7am from G-Park. :-0 Much water will be needed.

** FUNDRAISING DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 22ND **

Yes, you still have time to stick it to Uncle Sam and make your tax-deductible donation. Thanks to the support of many, I am at $2,200, so only another $1,600 to go! PLEASE, submit your contribution TODAY and help me make it down the home stretch.

Catch ya'll next week. Ciao!

Rochelle

2006-08-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

14 Miles and A Countin’

It was earrrrrrrrrly Saturday mornin’ when the Greta Waitz Warriors headed out to Griffith Park for our 14-mile run. We were itchin’ to get started and after a rousing send-off started on our way, energized and inspired. I re-introduced myself to my 9 teammates who wondered where the heck I’d been. I explained how I had gone on to, presumably, cooler pastures in Santa Monica only to find no relief from the heat and thus
I had returned to G-Park with my tail between my legs.

The run was great, except for a monstrous hill. We really had to push ourselves, aching muscles and all. One of our troopers showed brute strength by completing the run AND the hill while battling asthma without his inhaler. After seeing him fight through, I had absolutely nothin’ to complain about. The best part of the run was coming DOWN the hill, as I could feel the nimble muscles of my glutus maximus gettiin’ a good workout.

After the run, we relaxed, iced and stuffed our faces with the bevy of food graciously provided by another team. All in all, a fantastic end to a challenging run. Its hard to believe that we are over half-way to 26 miles. Next week we have a 7-mile recovery run and the following weekend its 16 miles. I’ve been feeling really good at the end of the runs still. For some reason, I get a burst of energy as we near the finish line. Maybe I missed my calling – I could have given the Kenyans a run for the money!

Ciao,

Rochelle

2006-08-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Out of Control: AIDS In Black America

ABC aired a special on its news program, "Prime Time", last week. Here is the related article and links to video clips:

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2346857&page=1

2006-08-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Senator Barak Obama Raising Awareness in Kenya

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/26/AR2006082600138.html?sub=AR

2006-08-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

Keepin' the Faith

Well, we're a headin' on into the deep end of the pool. This past weekend was a breezy, 6 mile recovery run. Next week its onward to the big kahuna -- 14 miles!!

My plan is to fuel up with lots of protein and carbs towards the beginning of the week and lots of water as it gets closer to Saturday. I'll have to bring out my trusty performance enhancing substances -- I mean Gu gels and water belt, for sustenance during the run. This is no task for the meek for sure! All prayers, shout-outs, and postive vibes are welcome!

REMINDER: FUNDRAISING DEADLINE IS AUGUST 25TH

Its the down to the wire for donations. My goal is in sight, but I have some distance to make up. But, I'm keepin' the faith -- I've prayed long and hard and I know I'll make it! I'd love to raise more than the $3800 target and really make a difference for AIDS Project LA. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get your donations in by Thursday. Donating ONLINE is the best way to ensure your contribution is posted by the deadline. As always, instructions are listed to the left.

Thank you for your support!

Rochelle

2006-08-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

48 Marathons in 47 Days - Whoa!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/08/15/thompson.marathons/index.html

2006-08-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

World AIDS Conference

Check out this MSNBC article for information on the conference:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14321770/

White House AIDS Intiatives

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/hivaids/

And, here are two related conference articles, the first on the call for HIV Prevention for Women and the second on the impact of the disease on the African-American community:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/canada/articles/2006/08/14/
anti_hiv_tactics_for_women_urged/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060815/ts_alt_afp/
healthaidsrace_060815010727

2006-08-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Rest for the Weary

Alas, no run this week. I decided to take advantage of the break in our run schedule and rest my weary bones, particularly my knees. I will be back in action this Saturday for the 12 mile run. Of course, I've already done 12 miles due to my snafoo on the weekend of the 29th. So, technically I'm ahead of the game...at least that's what I'm tellin' myself. ;-)

More to come this weekend!

Ciao,

Rochelle

2006-08-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

DONATE, DONATE, DONATE!

FUNDRAISING DEADLINE: AUGUST 25TH.

Its down to the wire, time to get those donations in! My fundraising goal is $3800.00 and I'm a lil over 1/3rd of the way there. So, things are gettin' desperate.

PLEASE help me reach my goal and donate TODAY. Donation instructions are to your left, in my profile statement. You can forward this blog to any friends or family interested in helping and getting a hefty tax deduction in the process.

ALSO, you can win a $200 Coach gift certificate by participating in my Fundraising Challenge. Just corral a minimum of $500 from your friends/family by August 25th. Drop me a post if you'd like more details.

Thanks for your support!

Rochelle

2006-07-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

No Place Like Home

"When I think of home, I think of a place where there's love overflowing. I wish I were back there, in that place I've been knowing."

Thank goodness for cool climates! I went home to the Bay Area for the weekend and welcomed the cool SF Bay breeze. Goodbye to the choking humidity, rising body temperature and profuse sweating that has been LA. As Dorothy said, there's no place like home Toto!

Off I went, trekking through my hometown of Fremont (former home of such diverse talents as Kristi Yamaguchi and MC Hammer) early Saturday morning where a comfy 68 degree temperature welcomed me. I decided to run at Lake Elizabeth, the site of many a game of dodgeball, kickball, tetherball, volleyball, soccer, ballet lessons at the dance center and tortuous study sessions at the library, in my otherwise blissful childhood. Sadly, in all my years I never took the time to learn the actual distance of the path around the lake! So, there I was runnin' my 2 miles to the lake, 4 laps around the lake at 1.5 miles each (or so I thought) and 2 miles back home for a total of 10 miles. Thought I was snug as a bug in a rug - not! Come to find out the perimeter of the lake is actually 2 miles, which means I ran 12 miles! Amazingly, I was no worse for wear - it felt good! I guess you can chalk it up as a lil' extra credit - I see it as a lil' extra play time in the park, just like old times.

Check out the pictures I snapped below to view one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen, and one which holds a special place in my heart.

Ciao,

Rochelle

(Note: click on the pictures to make them larger.)

2006-07-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

Sunshine and Summertime

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up and knows that he must run faster than the fastest lion or he will be eaten, and every morning a lion wakes up and knows that he must run faster than the slowest gazelle or he will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." -Unknown

Well, the sun did come up and I was a runnin'! If only I could have run somewhere where there was no sun! I'm sure I echo the sentiments of many, as we go through this seemingly interminable heat wave. Every week I hear there is a supposed cooling trend coming, but a friend told me there are reports this heat could continue until October. Yipes! I like a sunshine-filled day and all, but this is more than we should have to endure! Who can I talk to about this?!

Alas, I did get my 9 miles in with sweat dripping from every imaginable crevice of my body! There was no reprieve, even at the beach in Santa Monica at 7:30am in the morning. I have to admit it was a challenge and I was definitely sluggish. It felt like I was carrying an additional 20 pounds. Normally, I don't drink much water when I run, preferring to hydrate plentifully the day before and afterwards. I may sip here and there during the run, but yesterday I downed five bottles of water -- 3 to hydrate the inside and 2 to douse the outside. Everyone on my team struggled it seemed. The toughest parts were the stretches where we ran in direct sunlight along the beach trails and up the hill onto Ocean Blvd. from the beach. Our goal was to try to stay together, so we took walk breaks where necessary. It felt so good to cross that finish line!

The funny thing is in Italy we won't be running in the sun. Last year it actually rained and in general its around 60-65 degrees in Florence in November. I sure look forward to that after Saturday. Next week -- 10 miles!

Congrats to my team, "German Silva" -- great job people, honored to be in the hot, sweaty trenches with ya!

Let's all try to remember those who are unable to truly escape the heat and are suffering the most during this time. On Sunday I served at a mission in San Bernadino and it broke my heart to see people coming in for food and shelter, literally drenched in sweat from the heat. Their clothes clung to their bodies and some were clearly suffering from severe dehydration. One woman came in with a tiny baby and the best she could do was keep a wet cloth on the baby's head. Unfortunately, we did not have air conditioning but we were able to keep the ice water and ice tea flowing. They were very grateful. So, I implore you to keep an eye out for people who may have a need as you go about your daily travels.

Best,

Rochelle

2006-07-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Victory!

Whew, my feets did not fail me - I beat the heat. In order to avoid dehydration and heat stroke, I took to the streets at 5:45a again. It was warm, but not completely unbearable. I logged in my 8 miles in just about 90 minutes with nary a sweat on my brow. Overall, the runs are getting more comfortable and I'm feeling light on my feet, particularly in the last half of each run. So, this bodes well for me in terms of my finish at the actual marathon. The finish line closes at six (6) hours. If I remember correctly, I finished the half-marathon slightly above three hours. I feel like I'm in much better shape this second time around, so I have no fear that I can wrap up Florence within the timeline.

My biggest concern right now is FUNDRAISING. I checked my total donations and got a huge shock. I have to re-double my efforts and get creative to get my totals up. If anyone has any suggestions, send 'em my way. Or better yet, if you know of someone with deep pockets that's even better!!

Well, that's it for now. I'm going to go out and have some fun to celebrate my progress!

Be Well,

Rochelle

2006-07-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

PBS Special: Frontline - The Age of AIDS

In May 2006, the PBS program Frontline aired a comprehensive special on the AIDS epidemic called "The Age of Aids." I did not see the program, however I became aware of it while watching CNN. I am posting here an excerpt of the Introduction to the series below, as well as a link where you can view the entire program online and read related materials.

Introduction:

"Before we knew what it was, it was already with us. Before we knew how to halt it, it was with the world.

On the 25th anniversary of the first diagnosed cases of AIDS, FRONTLINE examines one of the worst pandemics the world has ever known in "The Age of AIDS." After a quarter century of political denial and social stigma, of stunning scientific breakthroughs, bitter policy battles and inadequate prevention campaigns, HIV/AIDS continues to spread rapidly throughout much of the world, particularly in developing nations. To date, some 30 million people worldwide have already died of AIDS.

Filmed around the world in 19 countries, "The Age of AIDS" features interviews with major players in the battle against HIV/AIDS: scientists, including Dr. Jim Curran of Emory University and formerly with the Centers for Disease Control, and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute for Allergic and Infectious Diseases; political figures, including former President Bill Clinton, U2 front man and AIDS activist Bono and evangelist Franklin Graham; and innovative activists, including Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Quilt; Noerine Kaleeba, founder of Africa's first AIDS support organization; and Mechai Viravaidya, "the condom king" of Thailand."

Link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/aids/

2006-07-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

We're Havin' A Heat Wave

Looks like the weather will present a formidable challenge this weekend! The forecast is temperatures in the 100s on Saturday. Last Saturday, Week 6, I was able to beat the heat by shifting my run to early Sunday morning. I hit the road at 6:00 a.m. for my 7 mile trek through the streets of Pasadena. There is nothing like getting started on the day, before the hustle and bustle of local traffic clouds the streets. I was able to complete a course from Alhambra to the edge of Old Town and back just as the sun came up. Even with my start, it was still pretty warm, probably around 70 degrees as the hour approached 7am. I laced up my old Asics, which I had used to run the Half Marathon in October 2004 and they did not fail me. No aches and pains to report on Monday or Tuesday, nor on my maintenance run during the week.

My strategy for the Week 6 run is to try and arrive in Santa Monica at 5:30 a.m. and set out by 5:45 a.m. I need to complete 8 miles, so I hope to be wrapping up as the sun peeks over the horizon. I don't know if any of my fellow runners will make a similar adjustment, but I think its the smartest move considering the forecast.

Otherwise, all is well on the marathon journey. I've lost a considerable amount of weight so I'll be working with my nutritionist to beef it up, literally and figuratively!

My major concern now is fundraising, as I've hit a wall. To date I stand at $250, which is far afield from the $3800 I need to raise. I've come up with some ideas to put monies into the proverbial fundraising coffers which I will be sharing over the next few weeks. But, if you're reading this blog and haven't donated, I'm counting on you so please take a moment to do so. Donation instructions are listed in my introductory statement. And also, please do share my blog with other friends, family, and foes who can lend to this effort. Thanks!

Ciao for now!

2006-07-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

AIDS at 25

Here are two articles that show us where we are after 25 years in the fight against AIDS.

Disease Denial in the African American Community http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/06/05/MNGJ0J8H7P1.DTL

The World Still Trying To Catch Up http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/04/MNG6EJ88TR1.DTL

Off and Running!

2006-07-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Why 'Tuscan Sole' you may ask. Well, 'Under The Tuscan Sun' is one of my favorite films and I have always wanted to visit Tuscany. Looks like I'm going to get my chance.

Its week 5 of training for the big marathon. We're running 7 miles this week which will be a challenge considering I haven't worked out in MONTHS. I'm a little concerned about the hot weather so I've decided to switch training sites to Santa Monica. The ocean breeze should help keep my body temperature under control. And you can't beat running along the beach, right?!

I'll be reconnecting with my ace buddy from law school, Rebecca, the person who first introduced me to marathon running. She is a veteran having run several marathons over the years. I'm looking forward to seeing her again - its been ages - and getting some running tips. ;-)

So, I guess I'd say all is well. A few aches as my body adjusts to actually having to work out. But, its no problemo - I'm up for the task!

Feel free to write back with words of wisdom, running tips, thoughts on fighting AIDS, travel advice, etc. I look forward to hearing from you!

Rochelle