by ·Comments Off on 2013 Stockton Run Against Hunger

Stockton, California, is well known for being many things, like being the epicenter of the real estate boom then bust, the crime capital of the nation (a few years ago), and for being known as a city to go bankrupt in 2013.

There is at least one positive thing going on Stockton’s side–it’s dedicated people and the Stockton Run Against Hunger–hosted by the Emergency Food Bank (EFB)of Stockton.

Every year, this event gets bigger and better.  In 2013 they were estimating that about 5000 people will participate in this event.  This is good for the EFB since the proceeds for this all goes towards funding the acquisition of food and support for those that truly need help.

2013 Stockton Run Against Hunger (kids event)

2013 Stockton Run Against Hunger (kids event) (source: Forlanda)

If you just enjoy running, the course is very flat.  It makes for a good training run whether you are doing 5K or 10K.  Just be aware that if you are looking to do a PR, make sure you are close to the front since people don’t really pay attention to the pace placards that are intended to help people place themselves with the appropriate group at the starting area.

If you don’t put yourself in front, be ready to do a lot of “zigging” and ‘zagging”.  Regardless, it still makes for a good training run.

Next year I look forward to doing the 2014 Run Against Hunger.  If you are in the area, make sure to check it out.

by ·Comments Off on St. Joseph’s 5K Fun Run/Walk for Wellness

It’s 2012!  Most people are resolving to do something or to quit something.  Why not start the year off with a 5K wellness run or walk?

Well if you are up to it, join others in Stockton on Saturday, 21 Jan 2012, at the St. Joseph’s 5K Fun Run/Walk for Wellness.

By the way, the proceeds to this event goes to the community.  Specifically, all proceeds will benefit St. Joseph’s CareVan. St. Joseph’s CareVan Mobile Health Clinic provides health care services for over 4,000 low-income, medically underserved and vulnerable populations in Stockton. The CareVan decreases unnecessary hospitalizations including Emergency Department visits and help patients in finding “medical homes”.

OK.  Aside for this noble cause, run or walk for your own wellness to get a good start on 2012.

You can register online, and the cost isn’t too much–$30  ($10 for youth under 10).  On 15 Jan 2012, the price goes to $35.  The event starts and finishes at 1800 North California (at St. Joseph’s Maple St. entrance).


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One of my life’s goal is to run at least one marathon–a 26.2 mile run.  To that end, I’ve been reading about various information on how to do it.  One inspirational book I recently read was “50 50” by Dean Karnazes.  Dean is an endurance runner.  He set out to run a marathon everyday for 50 days; he achieved it!

This tells you what the human body can do if the mind is set to do it.

In his book he lays out a training plan for would be marathon runners who has never done one before.  I summarize it for you here:

Week Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 Rest walk 20 min Rest walk 20 min Rest walk 20 min walk 20 min
2 Rest 10X: walk 1 min, run 1
min		 optional: walk 20 min 10X: walk 1 min, run 1
min		 Rest 10X: walk 1 min, run 1
min		 10X: walk 1 min, run 1
min
3 Rest 7X: walk 1 min, run 2 min optional: walk 20 min 7X: walk 1 min, run 2 min optional: walk 20 min 7X: walk 1 min, run 2 min 7X: walk 1 min, run 2 min
4 Rest 5X: walk 1 min, run 3 min optional: 10X: walk 1
min, run 1 min		 5X: walk 1 min, run 3 min optional: 10X: walk 1
min, run 1 min		 5X: walk 1 min, run 3 min 5X: walk 1 min, run 3 min
5 Rest 4X: walk 1 min, run 4 min optional: 10X: walk 1
min, run 1 min		 4X: walk 1 min, run 4 min optional: 10X: walk 1
min, run 1 min		 4X: walk 1 min, run 4 min 4X: walk 1 min, run 5 min
6 Rest run 2 miles optional: 7X: walk 1
min, run 2 min		 run 2 miles run 2 miles Rest run 3 miles
7 Rest run 3 miles optional: run 2 miles run 2 miles run 3 miles optional: run 2 miles run 4 miles
8 Rest run 3 miles optional: run 3 miles run 3 miles run 3 miles optional: run 3 miles run 5 miles
9 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 3 miles run 4 miles run 3 miles optional: run 3 miles run 6 miles
10 Rest run 3 miles optional: run 3 miles run 3 miles run 3 miles Rest run 8 miles
11 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 4 miles run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 9 miles
12 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 4 miles run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 8 miles
13 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 5 miles run 5 miles optioanl: run 4 miles run 10 miles
14 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 5 miles run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 11 miles
15 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 4 miles run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 9 miles
16 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 6 miles run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 12 miles
17 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 4 miles run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 13 miles
18 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 6 miles run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 14 miles
19 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 5 miles run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run  9 miles
20 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 6 miles run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 15 miles
21 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 6 miles run 6 miles optional: run 4 miles run 16 miles
22 Rest run 4 miles optional: run 4 miles run 5 miles run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 10 miles
23 Rest run 6 miles optional: run 4 miles run 6 miles run 6 miles optional: run 4 miles run 18 miles
24 Rest run 6 miles optional: run 4 miles run 8 miles run 6 miles optional: run 4 miles run 20 miles
25 Rest run 5 miles optional: run 4 miles run 6 miles run 6 miles optional: run 4 miles run 12 miles
26 Rest run 7 miles optional: run 4 miles run 5 miles run 4 miles Rest MARATHON:  run
26.2 miles

Critical points to remember:

  • Make sure you are hydrated every 6 miles
  • Watch what you eat before a run
  • Get good shoes; any minor annoyance can become serious when extended for many miles; you can get blisters or irritate a knee or hip

To track your progress, think about signing up for an account on active.com.  There you can get a free account to help manage your training.  You can even map out running routes around the neighborhood.

Another site where you can track your progress is at nikerunning.nike.com.  There is you use a Nike + enabled shoe and a sensor, you can easily track your distance, calorie usage, time, and pace.  Information is logged on their site where they provide you with fancy looking graphs to see how you are doing.  And if you’ve gained around 1 year of experience, you can use their training plan there to achieve better marathon races.