This is my cross country page where you will find links to my favorite running sites
and other places to go. I know some people are like "Running? Why the hell do like running?" But I just do. It's something me and my friends share...I guess it's fun for us... We were in our high school Cross Country Team and participated in other running events like LA Marathon. Yeah, all four of us--Sodany Kream, Viviana Quijano, and Janet Huyhn--ran the LA Marathon XI on March 3, 1996! It was our sophomore year at Gabrielino High School and we just decided to join SRLA (Students Run Los Angeles). [No it wasn't out of boredom that we join...certain people just influenced us] SRLA is a running club that encourages students to run the marathon, it still exists today, its free to join! And you get other services, and free stuff! We trained for 5 months participating in dozens of SRLA sponsored races such as the 10k Malibu Dolphin Run and the half-marathon Culver City Friendship Run. Training wasn't that grueling...it was actually fun. Incidents of puking a whole Power Bar, and recovering from injuries, admitting to each other about having purple toes(e-mail me for an explanation), waking up at 6 in the morning to put in your 3 miles, sprinting your last k to impress a really cute runner...most people would think training is a drag...but it's when you really have the most amazing time. I guess training is about psyching your self up, testing your commitment, edurance and all that shit it takes to run a marathon. It gives you discipline. In the end, you take all that, and wait for the start gun to fire. And when it does, remember to pace your self, don't compete with whose next to you. Have fun and laugh at the freaks that try to get on tv, like The Fat Elvis Impersonator. Take one step at a time, and before you know it, you'll be on Hollywood Blvd. on your 20th mile, 6 more to go! Remember all the hard work you put in, all the aches and pains of training, don't give up just because of a side ache! Jog it off! When you see the 25th mile mark, I'm sure you'll be glad you continued. It will be exciting to see all happy faces of spectators cheering for you and supporting you all the way to the finish line! And when you get that really heavy medal...and you think "it's worth it", that's when you get that sense of accomplishment, of pride. Then you realize the prestige of the marathon--that it's not just a simple thing, it's an acomplishment that nobody can ever take away from you.
Important people me, Vivi, Sod, and Janet like to thank are Coach Mariette, Coach Frank Green (Pancho Verde) and Coach Diaz thanks for all your hard work, commitment and moral support...and for cooking all that pasta the day before the race. :)
