Cupcake Marathon Progressive Virtual Race Report

Cupcake Marathon

It's Like A Marathon
But With A Cherry On Top
The Green Girl ran in her first Cupcake Marathon progressive virtual race.

The Cupcake Marathon went from Monday, March 14th through Sunday, March 26th. The requisite 26.2 miles could be run over the course of the two weeks.

Sunset at Mile 1.5 of the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k

I started off the Cupcake Marathon with the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k.

As I ran, I reflected on the victims and survivors of the both the Canterbury earthquake last year and the recent Christchurch earthquake.

Along with Sole Runners, Barb and Miyuki, I dedicated the St. Patrick's Day Half Marathon to the Run For Japan challenge.

Sole Runners dedicating their St. Patrick's Day Half Trail Marathon to Run For Japan.

I paid homage to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami as I ran.

I thought about how the Japanese culture teaches perseverance with patience and dignity - a philosophy known as gaman がめん.

I enjoyed visiting the Run For Japan site and seeing the pictures of all the runners who participated across the globe.

The Green Girl with Jay from Tri2Thrive at the LA Marathon

I even managed to squeeze in some mileage from a real marathon when I ran with Jay from Tri2Thrive at the wet and windy LA Marathon from the Sole Runners aide station at Mile 18 to the finish line of his first marathon.

I was honored to be able to run with Jay - first marathons are such a special and memorable event.

Even I was surprised when the last couple miles of my Cupcake Marathon were on a treadmill at the new gym at my work.

The Green Girl at the Cupcake Marathon Finish Line

Since Mr. Green Garmin drowned in the LA Marathon rain, I don't know what my official Cupcake Marathon finish time was.

Thank you so much to Jason from Cook Train Eat Race and Christel from Silly Girl Running for dreaming up and putting together the Cupcake Marathon!

Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k Race Report

The Green Girl's Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k bib

The Green Girl's Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k was a day late due to circumstances beyond the Green Girl's control.

I decided I'd would honor Christchurch by watching the sun set on my run. I've always felt like the singularity of the Sun and Moon in relation to the Earth epitomizes the fact that we all inhabitants of the same planet.

Hill at Mile 1

Hilltop Park in Signal Hill is a good place to view the sunset because the location offers a panoramic view of the Los Angeles basin. I visited Hilltop Park for an Earth Day Run sunset last year.

The route started out with a gradual incline and then there was a big hill at Mile 1.

This was definitely a challenging 5k. I ran out of steam about halfway up the hill and ended up walking the last quarter of the hill.

Hilltop Park

When I reached Hilltop Park, I sat down on the edge of the west side of the park and peered out into the sunset.

I thought about my friend, Darren Humphries, and all that he and his family have gone through in such a short period of time. I know that their angel, Elijah, is watching over them.

Sunset at Mile 1.5

I reflected on the victims and survivors of the both the Canterbury earthquake last year and the recent Christchurch earthquake.

The clouds resembled strokes of a paintbrush against the blazing sky. I pondered Mother Nature's power for both creation and destruction.

When just a glimmer of the sun's sphere could be seen on the horizon, I continued my run.

View of Downtown Long Beach at Mile 2

It may seem hard to extend our gratefulness and appreciation to the time in which we live and the challenges it presents-to financial crisis, global climate change, terrorism, wars, energy depletion, and any other disasters looming on the horizon. It would be much easier to appreciate an era of good feeling, peace and calm stability! But difficult times are also times of growth, of new insights and opportunities, of creativity, and of emergence. David Spangler

Join The Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k

The Green Girl is going to participate in the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k.

New Zealand's second largest city, Christchurch, was recently devastated by a 6.3 earthquake.

If you would like to show your support, please join the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k.

Participation is simple:

• Make a minimum donation of NZD $5 (roughly US $3.69) to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake fund
• Tell the world about the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k
• On March 12th or 13th, wear red and black, and run 5k for Christchurch

Bloggers can even submit a link to race reports and and they will be featured on the Run for Christchurch Virtual 5k Blog.