New Years Resolution...

Heyyy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holidays. With the new year approaching, talk of resolutions becomes common. For me it's always the usual lose weight, be more active, find a new job - however this year it has taken on a new importance.

Whenever I went home for the holidays I would feel under the weather -- I would often write this off as my allergies to the cats we had or that there were people smoking in the house. It never bother me too much but this time when I came home I asked that people smoke outside from now on to see if that made a difference. Turns out that wasn't one of the only triggers because when we went out to Christmas Eve dinner, the combination of the smoking, a fireplace, a live Christmas tree and a dog all sent me into an asthma attack so bad I had to go to the ER.

While there, one of the first things me and my mom talked about was if there were any other medications I was taking for my asthma. Latley I'd only been using an inhaler, even though in the past I've taken preventative medications like Advair and Singulair. I'd taken these back when I was having a lot more trouble with my asthma, but recently, since I'd only needed the inhaler once every few days, I had stopped taking them.

What I learned is that even though my asthma isn't bothering me, taking medications other than the inhaler could have prevented my Christmas Eve asthma attack.

And with that, I have promised myself that in the new year I am going to go to an allergist to be sure of what allergies I have, and also a pulmonologist so he can assess my asthma and put me on the proper medications to make sure I never have an attack that's so bad that I end up in the hospital again.

Looking forward to Spring...

Springtime is probably my favorite time of year in DC -- despite the horrible allergies -- mostly because of the Cherry Blossom festival. One of the festival events I've always wanted to take part in is the 5K they hold every year. (There is also a 10-mile race but I'm not skilled enough for that one yet!) The event is so popular, last year registration was full within a few hours of opening. This year, they changed the system. Those who wanted to participate had to put their name into a lottery. Yesterday I received the news that I was accepted into the race.

Looks like come April I'll have to stock up on Claritin!


For more info: http://www.cherryblossom.org/5krunwalk.htm

Come on out tonight!

New Routine.. Lets see how long this lasts

Since returning back to DC my schedule has been non-stop busy. Even though I'm not working late, my evenings have been filled with other activities like Christmas shopping (which I'm now done with - I feel quite accomplished), happy hours, meetings, etc. I used to enjoy going to the gym around 8pm, but with the way my schedule has been lately, I'm just getting home and am more hungry than anything by that point.

Though not a morning person, I decided to try waking up earlier and going to the gym for half an hour. Lucky me, the gym I go to is on the first floor of my building, so I don't have to worry about going very far. Let me just say I have no idea why I didn't start doing this months ago. Getting on the treadmill and walking/running really helps to clear my head before starting the day, and the energy I go into work with is 10x greater than usual.

After my eat-fest back on Long Island during Thanksgiving, I was feeling kind of discouraged because of the lack of free time I'd have when going back to DC. I'm now feeling reinvigorated and reinspired.

The one con - The distance I've been able to run hasn't changed much since I don't feel fully awake 'til the end of my workout.. but I'm trying to get to the gym at night once a week to try and work on this.

I usually go through phases with workouts, but this is one routine I think I'm going to be able to keep up for quite some time!

Even athletes need their inhalers...

David Beckham revealed something about himself yesterday -- He has asthma. Check out THIS article from the UK's Daily Mail.

More reading material..

For my birthday this year I was given an Amazon Kindle, which is probably the coolest piece of technology I've owned in a long time. Throughout my life I've been an avid reader and recently have not been taking as many trips to the bookstore as I'd like to. Now, with this gadget, I look forward to the time when I have nothing to do but sit around and read.

Mostly I've been reading a lot of chick-lit, however today I finally took the initiative to see if they had any books/magazines on running available. First thing to come up was THIS and they had a number of other books with advice on how to start training and avoid injury.

When I go home next week I'll have tons of free time (and very little access to a gym), so while I'm sitting on the couch and eatting all day at least I'll be learning and formulating my workout plan for when I get back to DC. It's much needed -- I went to the gym for the first time in a month the other day and was STRUGGLIN'.

Now that I'm finally feeling better (up and running!) from that cold that had me out of commission for almost a month, it's time to really start focusing.

Fannie Mae's Walk to Help the Homeless

This Saturday, November 21st, is Fannie Mae's 22nd annual Help the Homeless Walk here in DC. Last year was my first time participating in the walk, which starts out on the National Mall and passes by the Jefferson and FDR Memorials. Altogether, the route is about as long as a 5K, or 3.1 miles. It is quite scenic compared to other Walks that I've participated in based around the National Mall. Hopefully with all of the warm weather we've been experiencing lately, this year's walk will be warmer than last years (which was really REALLY cold).

My hectic work schedule has prevented me from taking the time off to participate this year -- but this truly is a great event. Homelessness is a nation-wide problem that is a lot more common than we think. Registration costs from $15-$30.

Follow Help the Homeless on Twitter and Facebook !!!

A few steps backwards?

It's been forever since I've last written, and unfortunately I really haven't been doing much of anything.

The changes in weather and the onset of all of the cold weather have left me feeling quite under the weather. This cold, or whatever it is that I have, has put me slightly outta commission for the past 2 weeks. I've still been able to go to work but any sort of physical activity has been off limits, leaving me pretty stir crazy when I am actually home..

For a better understanding of the effects cold weather has on people with asthmas, click HERE and HERE

Looks like it's time to start wrapping myself up in pashminas whenever I go outside!


On a side note, one of my volunteer projects with the PR committee for Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation event, has their Facebook and Twitter pages up and running. Check it out! :)

A few shoutouts...

Since moving to DC in July of 2008, I have been spending my spare time getting involved with some really great organizations...

In August of 2008 I became a part of Greater DC Cares, which is basically a huge network connecting anyone who wants to volunteer with community service groups and events in the area. Due to my work schedule, I do not get to participate in a lot of their afternoon volunteering events, however, this past year I was able to be a project manager at both Servathon and the 9/11 Day of Service. Both of these events help to raise money for Greater DC Cares, which it uses to provide volunteers and services to thousands of non-profits in the DC Metro Area. On both these days volunteers perform community service projects benefiting local organizations. Having the opportunity to help out the National Park Service and the DC Firefighers Burn Foundation this year has really been amazing.

In January of 2009, I became involved with the DC Habitat for Humanity PR Committee. The committee meets once a month to come up with ideas and plan new fundraising events, take part in local festivals and events as the face of DC Habitat, and also to spread word and get donations for home dedication ceremonies. Since getting involved, I have attended quite a few happy hours all around DC and been able to check out some places I wouldn't normally have gone to. At the most recent meeting, someone had the idea of creating a house costume for someone to wear to get more people to come up to the Habitat booth at local festivals. Just a few days ago, myself and a few others constructed the costume -- it was a great way to express creativity that I haven't done in years. The great thing about DC Habitat is that you can get involved as much as your schedule allows.

Just this month I became involved with the planning committee for 2010's Taste of the Nation, an event to benefit Share our Strength. Still in the early stages, I am not sure what my role in this will be, but I have expressed an interest in the PR and Marketing committee, so we'll see how that goes. There are about 10 different planning committees.. it was hard choosing which one to get involved in.

I am always looking for ways to do more. I'll be sure to update my adventures more often.

New running shoes...

I've been looking for a new pair of running shoes since mine are just over a year old and have been through hell and back. I came across these and they seriously are the probably the most bizarre sneakers I've ever seen. Since I haven't bought sneakers in a while I didn't realize how much of an investment they were. Any suggestions for what I should be looking for in a good pair of running shoes!?

And so it begins...

Taken this morning at the AIDS Walk Washington 2009

This morning was the 2009 AIDS Walk Washington - a 5K Walk/Timed Run to benefit the Whitman-Walker Clinic. 1 in 20 adults in Washington DC has HIV, the highest rate in any city, so this event was not only important to raise money but also awareness. According to the AIDS Walk website, this years event raised over $760K!

Running on just enough sleep and iced coffee in hand, I ventured over to Pennsylvania Ave this morning to participate. Aaaaand next year I'll be participating in the timed run! Gonna start really hitting the gym and being healthier this Monday...(or maybe Tuesday!)

Any advice/information you have for me is greatly appreciated! Feel free to leave comments and holla (or tweet) atcha girl!

3 more photos after the jump!

Just a few days away...

I'm holed up in my apartment right now with an achy muscle in my right leg. I haven't been able to go to the gym since last Thursday(ish?) which has me feeling not too good.

Anyways, I guess I better rest up for Saturday... and figure out a better way to ease myself into running so that things like this don't happen more.

Looks like a few more days of laying around and snacking.. I'll be making some changes -- real soon.

I've never been much of a gadget person but...

Image courtesy of amazon.com

...I've always wanted a pedometer! I walk as much as I possibly can, so I'm interested to see how far I actually make it every day. Just don't call me a nerd when you see me walking around with this in my pocket!

So I'll never be able to beat this...

...and I'd like to think the BBC stole their inspiration for their article from my user name (Though that's obvi not the case!

Just another reason to love Eddie Izzard.

Keep on runnin'!

---Raquel

Maybe I'll try something new...

I just read that, for school-aged children with asthma at least, getting the flu shot is especially important because they experience much worse symptoms.

I've never gone to get a flu shot in my life, and although the last time I was diagnosed by a doctor as having the flu was when I was 8, every winter I seem to catch the same bug. The cold aggravates my asthma much more than it usually does and I feel fatigued very easily. It keeps me off my game for about a week (sometimes more) each winter.

Managing my asthma better experiment #1: Getting a flu shot and seeing how it helps me out this winter!


Update: Found this on the CDC's website. Looks like someone's gonna come face to face with her fear of needles in the near future.

One step at a time..

For the first time in I don't know how long.. I attempted to run on the treadmill in my gym. It wasn't nearly as scary as I though it would be.. I guess I was so discouraged because I can't make it very far running outdoors -- but it was not that difficult. In fact, in total, I ran a mile. That might not seem like too much, but it's kind of a big deal for me. It's the little accomplishments that count.

That was just the motivation I needed to get started on this adventure. I am least looking forward to the cold winter months, since cold weather is one of the main triggers of my asthma. That will put a little bit of a damper on my training.

Anyways, lately I've been doing research to learn more about asthma, and it has already given me a much greater understanding of the condition I've been living with my whole life. For those of you who don't know too much about it, heres a start:

According to the Merck Manual, Asthma can affect anyone at any age, and is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. Despite the increase in people developing asthma, the number of deaths from it continues to go down from year to year. There are two types of asthma: Allergy and Exercise induced. Allergy testing proves to be very helpful when diagnosing the severity of and what is triggering a person's asthma (if it is suspected that they are suffering from allergy induced.) However, not all allergens necessarily cause asthma attacks -- the person must keep in mind what they are allergic to and how they typically react to it. For exercise induced asthma, the amount a person can exhale is tested before and after exercising.

When I was younger, I went through most of this testing. My Asthma is induced by both allergies and exercise. As a result, I gravitated towards taking part in indoor non-athletic activities for a lot of my high school and college years.

I have heard a lot of stories all of my life that keeping active is a great way to lessen the burden that Asthma can have. I don't know why it's taken me so long to finally do something about it, but better late than never I guess. With each post, I will include another fact about Asthma that I have learned throughout my research. In addition to the Merck guide, the American Lung Association is an AMAZING resource for more information about Asthma.

Goal for next week: get to a mile and a half on the treadmill (since it's much easier than running outdoors.) Week after that: Attempt an outdoor run.


Thanks for the support! :)

First Post!

For the past 22 years of my life, I have been letting asthma get in the way of something that I have always wanted to do -- run. It's not that I can't run, I just don't make it very far. Having to run the mile in high school was always the most stressful experience.. Getting it done in the 13 minutes they give you is a more daunting experience than you might expect.

I've finally decided to make a change. Over the next year (actually more like 13 months), I am going to train and take part in various different run/walks in the DC area, all with the goal of being able to run a 5K. My start and end point is going to be the DC AIDS Walk/Run 5K, being held this year on October 3. By next years, I want to be able to run the complete 5K.

Getting involved in the community is something that has always been very important to me, and I am excited to also use this experience to support, raise awareness and money for various organizations that are doing a lot of good.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/runraquelrun