I am thankful to all the following donors: ● Vaja Family ● Eli Felicitas ● Friends of M Vaja ● Navnit Damji ● Ranjan Jina ● Friends of P Makwana ● Pravin Kaka ● Prafula Makwana ● Saroj & Anita ● Nimuben Agheda ● Nisha Shah ● Rajnesh Nand ● Anonymous ● Dhirubahi Parmar ● Bhavanbhai Parmar ● Kantilal Makwana ● Budhiben ● Shantaben & G Parmar ● Prabhaben ● Kamuben ● Narendra Shah ● Govindbhai Kawa ● Mr & Mrs P Makwana & Family ● Mansukh Makwana ● Jayendra ● Chandandas ● Bhanuben ● Manjuben Kawa ● Labhuben ● M Parmar ● Anonymous ● Kala Morar ● Rekha Jina ● Anonymous ● Madhavji Savji Makwana ● Anonymous ● Prakash Gajjar ● Anonymous ● Krishna ● Light Hall School ● Gordon Kaka ● Jyotsna ● A Well Wisher ● Babu & Gita Gajjar ● Janki Valambhia ● Pooja Sarda ● Parshottam Masa ● Manju Kaki ● Urvashi Amrat Chandegra ● Bharti Mistry ● Sangeeta Jina ● Narendra Patel ● Anonymous ● Andrew Chin ● Vaishali ● Maruti Nandan ● Anonymous ● Jai Swaminarayan! ● Shane Garner ● Chaitali ● Sunaina ● Someone Inspired By You ● Anonymous ● Saurabh (Sunny) Talwar ● Vikram Bandarupalli ● Millie & Shamyo ● Anonymous ● Anonymous ● Anonymous ● Jain Patel ● Preeti & Prashant ● Mike Morris ● Kapil Aggarwal ● Anonymous ● Let there be cure for someone who needs it !! ● Roneel Naidu ● Shally Stanley ● Chetan Patel ● Jay A ● Mansi ● Pierre E ● Shubham Garg ● Sonal Solanki ● Jai Shree Krishna ● The Nand Family ● Gandhi & Sarda Naidu ● Achim Fehlker ● Acumen Solutions ● Randy F ● Jon W ● Varsha ● Nathan Kemler ● Sailesh ● Damit ● Sridhar Iyer ● The Staples family ● Nick & Russ ● Bharti Solanki ● Save Them All Please ● Margie Johnson ● Tye and Jane ● Anonymous ● Go Dipa! ● Anonymous ● Krunal Pattni ● Anonymous ● Minnie ● Anonymous ● Diya, Shivam, Pari & Tushar ● Rak Gajjar ● Sandeep ● Saurabh ● Anonymous ● Human ● Roop G ● Anonymous ● Anonymous ●

Monday, June 30, 2008

Monday Pinks...

Most people suffer from Monday Blues... Right now, I have Monday Pinks... "What?" I hear you all cry...

Once upon a time... lets get to the chase... I had planned to run/walk to the Man of Mystery's house this evening, and then get a ride back to my apartment. Anyway, with the weather being great here in sunny CAlifornia, I wore my strappy shoes, and have ended up getting a blister on my right heel. Hence, the Monday Pinks... and no run today. :(

Nike Home/Away Gymsack Maroon/WhiteI think the 75minute walk around San Francisco this lunchtime looking for NikeTown may have had something to do with the Monday Pinks!

At least now I have a bag to carry all my accessories in! And Maroon is the nearest color I found to pink. Grey compliments pink.

And so, you may have come to realize, or may be a little unsure or hesitant to ask... So let me confirm: "Yes, I am co-ordinating my run."

Sunday, June 29, 2008

1.89 Kilometers = 1.17 Miles !

I am such a blonde* at times! I know I have to run 23.1 miles before the race day. And I thought I had to complete 5 miles on the race day to get a medal. And if I completed 3.1 miles, I wouldn't get the medal... So, what do you see here? Well, I found out that its not 5 miles I need to complete. Its actually 5 kilometers which is 3.1 miles!

I have just come back from a 1.89 k run/walk, which is equivalent to 1.17 miles! Google is my friend.

And so to answer my family and Ro2's question: Yes - I have been for a run today! I nearly did do the Phoebe run... but there were people at the lake, so I decided against it!

* Apology to all blonde people who may be reading this, but if you see me, you'll know this is the most ridiculous comparison one can ever make!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

5 Weeks Left! - 28 June "Got Milk? No? Go Run!"

I must go on... My body does not want to co-operate with me. My legs had decided to send some pain messages via the nerve network to my brain, hoping that heart would intercept and overule the brain's decision making power...

Well, legs had another thing coming! After some painful negotiations, and phone calls from old friends and new, I decided to venture out. 1.65 miles return from Safeway! Well, I needed some milk. You know the ad "Got Milk?" Well, mine is "Got Milk? No? Go Run!" And there is no Google map for this. I used my Nike iPod Sports kit, which is working well. I just need to get a better backpack to carry my cell, keys, purse, water bottle and anything else I may have!

By the way, the phone calls had nothing to do with me deciding to run or not... Mo was at a garage getting her car fixed. I know reception is bad where I am, but I am sure she said she was at FatBoy! And one of the first things Ro2 asked was "Did you go for your run?"

Either the run is going to kill me, or encouragement from my friends and family! Keep it up guys!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Traing Day 10 - 1 Mile on the Treadmill

I finally managed to get all my iTunes songs off one computer onto another and then onto my iPod Nano. I'm all kitted out, with my Nike shoes, the iPod and the Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

My pulled muscle isn't pulled anymore, and my right ankle doesn't hurt anymore! I did one mile on the treadmill again in 9 minutes! Whoohoo - I am getting there!

Either this Marathon training/run will khock me out completely, or I'll end up looking like Kareena Kapoor in Tashan! She's become a size zero. Well, I can dream at least!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

6 Weeks Left! - 21 June

OMG! 6 weeks left!

My right ankle hurts! :( Got to keep going though... well, not today though. Going to a Barbeque Birthday party...

Friday, June 20, 2008

Training Day 9: 1.4 Miles - And 2 Dozen Bananas!

Traning Day 9 - 1.4 miles!Friday evening - and my workout consisted of walking to buy 23 bananas. No, I don't have any apes or chimpanzees as pets, although my apartment did smell like a monkey's zoo!

I also ended up pulling a muscle after Wednesday's workout!

Back to the bananas - Milk Chocolate and Pecan covered forzen bananas, and White Chcolate with Coconut and Toffee crunch frozen bananas! Yum yum! Its all for a party tomorrow.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Training Day 8: 1.4 Miles - Over The Half Mark!

Training Day 8 - 1.4 milesWhats the best way to start the day before working? A good brisk walk! 1.4 miles and I'm halfway over my progressive total!

I needed to go to a UPS store. On the way there I saw a FedEx Kinkos store. I was tempted to go to this, since it was nearer! BUT I didn't! I'd already planned my miles from home, so stayed with the longer distance!

Whoohoo! Hows that for dedication now!

Whoohoo! $1400 Raised - 93% of Target! - Which Calls For An Increase!

Target 93% of $1500 One month ago on May 20th, I set up my website, and received my first donation. My initial target then was to raise $1000. I did wonder whether I would reach my target. As the donors started pledging, I saw my little blue thermometer and the gauge on my raise-o-meter increase!

On June 1 I reached 91% ($912) of my target, so I raised it to $1500. Come this morning, I've reached 93% ($1400) of my second target!

All this hard word calls for another raise! My target is now $2000! Never had I thought I could get this far! I know I can do it - with your help!

Come on, if you're reading this and haven't yet donated, now is a good time! :)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Training Day 7: Swami - The Personal Trainer! And 1 Mile!

Swami IM's me today asking whether I was going to the gym. And I knew I had to! Especially after all the good advice I received from My International Fitness Guru - ex-playing Professional Rugby Player coach yesterday!

Pink Treadmill! Swami showed me how to program the cardio equipment and use the weight machines, and showed me how to use the weight dumbells. 10lbs! I can swing a 10lb bag of carrots that need juicing, but the weights were just too weighty for my skinny arms! I did say that I wasn't going to cartwheel or handstand the race. To which I received a stern reply "you need to work on the whole body!" Sorry Swamiji!

I am exhausted! I ran one mile on the treadmill within 10 minutes! I know I need to get this down to 8 minutes, so will persevere. I also did some weights. For my legs and arms. Don't ask me which muscles. Its all a bit too much to take in! I am just so tired!

All in all, an hour or so in the gym! And I am exhausted! The main thing is that I am clocking up the miles. 11.1, and 12.2 to go before the race day! Whoohoo!

My daily horoscope for today stated: "Today's Full Moon in philosophical Sagittarius floods our consciousness with powerful feelings that arise from the most hidden reaches of our subconscious mind. " Aha! So that explains why I was at the gym today!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Advice From My "International Fitness Guru - ex-playing Professional Rugby Player"

So its nearly 10pm, and I've finished working... Hmmm... so, to cut things short so I can watch "Ace Of Cakes" on the FoodNetwork channel, I'll just paste some of advice I received today! I also need to find a decent picture of the Superstar ex-playing Professional Rugby Player from somewhere... with his approval of course! So, here goes the advice - applicable to all!

It all started off with a discussion about wobbly legs:

Guru: Lots more water, cause your legs will always feel wobbly
me: Ok Doc. Sports
Guru: Seriously, if you start training, it's something your body has not done for a while so you need to focus on getting your body ready to run
me: Yes, actually, my diet in CA is very different to when I was in the UK. I have one of those power juicers, so am always juicing. My friends think I'm nuts.
Guru: Juice is good
...
Woman StretchingGuru: Ok when you get to the gym you need to do the following: Warm up which will mean a 5 mins brisk walk on the treadmill or 5 min bike ride at a brisk pace
me: Ok [add a few nods for the full imagination]
Guru: you need to do this to raise your pulse rate. So you will actually feel a little warm, as the blood flow around the body increases
me: Ok [more nodding]
Guru: The reason it increases is because internally your muscles are working and therefore heating up. So the body gets rid of excess heat by increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin, then you need to stretch. And thats all major muscle groups

Guru: Brianmac - warmup So stretching, you need to focus initially on all the major muscle groups. Legs, arms, chest, back
me: Ok [even more nodding]
Guru: So legs = Calves, hamstrings, quads hip flexors and abductors and adductors. Chest, or top half of the body, abdominals, pectoralis major and minor. Back = Latisimus dorsi (AKA wings. These allow you to move your arms above your head and down again)
me: Okay, I am going to need to Google to see where these muscles are
Guru: Arms = Biceps, Triceps etc . Don't worry I'll send you an appropriate link. Finally the most important one baring in mind you're running is you glutious maximus. Aka you bum
me: Cheers!
...
Body MusclesGuru: So all of those need to be stretched before you even think about doing anything over a long distance. The first step is knowing where they all are and what they do. The next step is getting your body used to them working again. So for the first few days of using them you will be in pain. This is normal
me: Yes, pain, no gain
Guru: After that you then need to work on your stamina. Basically, thats getting your heart and lungs used to working together to pump oxygenated blood around your body economically for you to use whilst excercising. At the moment thats not happening. Hence why your legs were wobbling after a short run
me: Yes - stamina is what I need to be able to do this, and hence all this advice is great!
Guru: Yes stamina is what you need, but you need all the other stuff to be working before your stamina can be of any use
me: Exactly! And that I wasn't all aware of!
...
Guru: Mayoclinic.com - health - stretching good site for basic stretching techniques
me: Excellent!
Guru: Also very simple one of the major muscle groups and their names Wisc-Online
me: oooh
Guru: This is actually better img - quamut - chart
me: Awesome dude!
Guru: and finally wikiHow -Prepare-For-a-Long-Distance-Run great tips for the day before
wikiHow - Prepare-For-a-Long-Distance-Runme: Well, I have running shoes, and legs to get started with
Guru: To be honest, the nutrition side of it you need to do from now. So lots of carbs, fibre and water just to get your body used to eating and taking in this type of energy. You will feel tired initially but that will go.
me: Okay, you can be "My International Fitness Guru - ex-playing Professional Rugby Player"
Guru: Haha! Brilliant

Later this week, I have a Swami teaching me how to use the equipment at my Gym... Watch this space!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Training Day 6: Soul4Souls - Changing the World - One Foot at a Time!

Training Day 6 - 1.8 milesWoohoo!

I walked 1.8 miles today! I am back in the swing of things!

Special thanks to Mo who picked me up from the shopping mall!

And for the record, Mo only purchased one item from Macys!

Nike Women's Shox Remix + III Running ShoeI participated in the Sole Destination program where I purchased my new shoes from. When I purchase a new pair of shoes and donate my old pair, I recieve $5 off my new pair! Its all part of the charity for Soul4Souls.

Soul4Souls


This running lark I've got myself into is certainly doing good for others (and not my credit card!)

Saturday, June 14, 2008

7 Weeks Left! - 14 June

Seven weeks left, and have raised $1130! Am deeply touched by many of the supportive messages donors have left me! One which touched me deeply is from a previous colleague of mine, Charlene "Dearest Dipa: Thank you for doing this for ALL of us!" It really made me realize that I am doing something! I am making a difference, and its only because of your support! I thank you all!

It has been 2 weeks since I've done any training. The last week I was in England I was working ridiculous hours. This followed a week of jet-lag, and my body recuperating. I have recovered from my jet-lag, kind of... but am ready to rock and roll, and RUN! Roll on Sunday, when I start up again!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Inspiration...

If anyone sees me running like Phoebe, then thats because its so much more fun!

Saturday, June 07, 2008

8 Weeks Left! - 7 June (Back in CA)

8 weeks left... It's been a crazy week, working very long hours so I didn't get round to any walks or runs. :(
Emoticon on treadmill!
However, I am back in CA now! Whoohoo! Completely jet lagged, still need to unpack and then start my training again!

One thing I know for sure is that this time, in 8 weeks I'll have completed my race and uploaded a picture of my medal!

Watch this space for updates! :)

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

WHO (World Health Organization) - Cancer Facts

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. From a total of 58 million deaths worldwide in 2005, cancer accounts for 7.6 million or 13% of all deaths.

Deaths from cancer in the world are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 9 million people dying from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million dying in 2030.

The most frequent cancer types world wide are:
  • Among men (in order of number of global deaths): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal, oesophagus and prostate.

  • Among women (in order of number of global deaths): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical.
Source: WHO (World Health Organization)

Monday, June 02, 2008

Monday's Are Always The Hardest!

Although I walked 2 miles today, I cannot count the miles! These 2 miles are general everyday miles, from the train station to my client site. And since Monday's are the hardest and I've not walked, I had to put something up! (Plus, it gives me a chance to play with HTML code!)

Rail Station to Client Site Lunchtime: Client Site to Marks & Spencers
Lunchtime: Marks & Spencers back to Client Site Client Site to Rail Station

Well, I guess this is the bright side in my car breaking down!

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Training Day 5: 1 Miles and a Whopping $200 Donation!

Training Day 5 - 1 mile!Friday was a long walk day for me, so Saturday was a day of rest! Today, I decided that I must walk at least one mile.

Target 91% of $1000





I came back, to find that I had been sponsored $200!

Whoohoo! I have reached 91% of my target!

So, now its time to up my target to $1500.

Where is Adil? Well I know one thing, our $200 sponsor has A-big-dil